The rise and rise of Evan McMullin (formerly Egg McMuffin)

[Simfan34]

So we may very well end up with an election where third party candidates receive electoral votes and more than 5% of the popular vote-- and these would be different candidates! I have to say, reading McMullin's bio on Wikipedia I have to say I'm impressed. While I'm not sure this qualifies him to be president-- although he's probably more suited, qualifications-wise, than Trump-- it's a CV that most people could only dream of:

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I mean, that's an impressive career, and this guy's only 40! Now he might be able to add "Was first third-party candidate since 1968 to win a state." If Hatch retires in 2018 I imagine he'd be an early front-runner, as a proven favorite son.

Also, considering he volunteered for the UN in Amman, he's certainly going to know where Aleppo is.

[Simfan34]

Here is his LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/devanmcmullin

I mean, I have no idea what his political positions are, but I can't help but envy his resume. He'd be qualified for basically any kind of professional (non-technical) work. I assume he's pretty conservative, but given what we've seen of Mormons I imagine he has a respectable amount of personal integrity.

Again, bearing in mind I know nothing about his views other than that they comprise "principled conservatism", I'd probably write him in had Sanders been the Democratic nominee and Bloomberg not run.

[Simfan34]

In the unlikely event he wins utah and the election is close enough that the electoral college gets deadlocked I can easily see the house voting for him over Trump

     President McMullin, eh? Barely knowing anything about him I would take him for President over our other options.

I'm saying that the scenario is very unlikely but I Have no doubt Paul Ryan and other house leaders would throw their support to McMullin in a heartbeat

He should have waited another week to name his VP. If he had he could've reeled in someone big.

He also sounds insufficiently conservative for this guy. That could only be good. It notes that "He’s a big fan of microloans and other ways to make African women into leaders and entrepreneurs." Microfinance may not longer be the hottest thing around but any person who prioritises development cooperation enough to put it on their platform will earn points from me.

To be fair I think his chances of winning Utah are being overrated by this forum. But he is, in my view, far more deserving of our attention than Jill Stein.

[Simfan34]

Huntsman is exactly the sort of person I'd see endorsing him. I still don't understand what compelled him to endorse Trump in the first place. I also bet Weld is thinking he chose to run on the wrong ticket.

Vosem also said this back in August:

Presumably this is an opening act for either UT-Sen 2018 or UT-Gov 2020? More likely the former.

Well, his chances just got 10 percent higher!

[Simfan34]

Actually, imagine if Jon Huntsman was running as the "independent conservative", with McMullin as his VP. I wonder how much better he'd be doing now.

[Simfan34]

Makes me wonder how David French or Tom Coburn could have done had they announced earlier, or how Gary johnson could have done if could act normal

Coburn has health issues, French is too unknown. Yeah, if Johnson could have run a solid campaign or if Weld were at the top of the ticket, they could have gotten 20-25% of the popular vote and quite possibly throw the election to the House.

My fantasy earlier in the year was Romney running as an independent. He thought about it, but I think he's genuinely exhausted from running and wants to spend time with his family.

...and this guy?

[Simfan34]

i am shocked how attractive, self-ironic and seemingly anti-sexist, anti-racist mister mcmuffin is.

where does the GOP hide such people?

They don't bother running under normal circumstances, and if they do, their handlers make them behave like reactionary fundamentalists to please The Base.

To his credit, there's no reason he couldn't have run on a Cruz or Huckabee-esque platform. Instead his stated positions are to the left of Romney, and closer to Kasich if not Huntsman.

[Simfan34]

this whole "cuck"-thing leaves the feeling the whole american nazi establishment is run by frat boys.

Their usage "cuck" itself carries, uh, racial overtones, so you get the impression they have a certain kind of genital fixation.

[Simfan34]

I urge American voters from coast to coast to vote for McMullin/Finn in states where they are on the ballot and to vote for them as a write-in in states where they are not on the ballot.

McMullin and Finn will restore honesty and integrity to the American political system.

Finally, Winfield, you've started speaking sense again!