RFK Jr Megathread

[Progressive Pessimist]

What does Cheryl Hines see in him? Larry David is less awful.

[Anzeigenhauptmeister]

The favorite to win the Oklahoma and West Virginia primaries.

Don't disregard that Michigan is also an anti-bellwether state for Democratic primaries, and if I'm not mistaken, it will be the first primary state next year...

[Anzeigenhauptmeister]

A quick reminder: RFK participated in storming legislative branch buildings before it became cool...

For what it's worth: The exact same thing happened in Berlin last year - twice!
The first incident was instigated on August 30 when the protesters of the Querdenker movement, something like the German "branch" of QAnon, were told by one of theirs that Trump was about to arrive in Berlin in order to "free" them. The mob then proceeded to storm the Reichstag, where only three (!) policemen were put on standby to deny the domestic terrorists access. (Robert F. Kennedy was a guest of honor attending the rally that day, btw.)

The other incident occurred on November 18 when three AfD members of the Bundestag infiltrated Querdenker members into the Reichstag in order for them to harass, insult and threaten members of the Bundestag in the run-up to the passage of a restrictive anti-Corona bill. In the clip below you can see a woman called Rebecca Sommer, a former human rights activist and a refugees' aide, pestering and offending Economy Minister Peter Altmaier (CDU).

[Continential]

A quick reminder: RFK participated in storming legislative branch buildings before it became cool...

Was that the attempt which led to the arrest of that grandma who wanted to restore the monarchy?

[Landslide Lyndon]

The favorite to win the Oklahoma and West Virginia primaries.

Don't disregard that Michigan is also an anti-bellwether state for Democratic primaries, and if I'm not mistaken, it will be the first primary state next year...

Michigan is pretty reliable. It went for Carter in 1976, Mondale in 1984, Clinton in 1992 and Kerry in 2004. Obviously 2008 doesn't count since Obama's name wasn't even on the ballot.

[Anzeigenhauptmeister]

A quick reminder: RFK participated in storming legislative branch buildings before it became cool...

Was that the attempt which led to the arrest of that grandma who wanted to restore the monarchy?

No, that "Terror-Oma", who was arrested because she wanted to kidnap and kill our Health Minister Dr. Lauterbach, was arrested last year.

[Anzeigenhauptmeister]

The favorite to win the Oklahoma and West Virginia primaries.

Don't disregard that Michigan is also an anti-bellwether state for Democratic primaries, and if I'm not mistaken, it will be the first primary state next year...

Michigan is pretty reliable. It went for Carter in 1976, Mondale in 1984, Clinton in 1996 and Kerry in 2004. Obviously 2008 doesn't count since Obama's name wasn't even on the ballot.

That's technically not correct.

[Landslide Lyndon]

The favorite to win the Oklahoma and West Virginia primaries.

Don't disregard that Michigan is also an anti-bellwether state for Democratic primaries, and if I'm not mistaken, it will be the first primary state next year...

Michigan is pretty reliable. It went for Carter in 1976, Mondale in 1984, Clinton in 1996 and Kerry in 2004. Obviously 2008 doesn't count since Obama's name wasn't even on the ballot.

That's technically not correct.

I know, I corrected it.

[MichaelM24]

Assuming Biden runs, I think he'll easily lock up 85% of Democratic voters through the primary process. Certainly some will vote for Williamson, as the progressive alternative (assuming they don't vote for Jerry Segal, which I find highly unlikely). I can't imagine Kennedy Jr. getting more than 5% of the total votes cast, though, as being an anti-vaccine guy in the Democratic Party doesn't a victory make.

[AltWorlder]

RFK Jr. is too kooky and marginal to be seen as a plausible socialist/social democratic alternative in the line of Sanders. Truth be told, even Jimmy Dore or the People's Party grifters seem to fit that space better.

[Alben Barkley]

What is it with the worst Kennedys and attempting to primary superior Democratic incumbents?

[Horus]

What are the odds he endorses the Republican when he inevitably loses next year?

[Bleach Blonde Bad Built Butch Bodies for Biden]

What is it with the worst Kennedys and attempting to primary superior Democratic incumbents?

Huh. Didn't take you as someone who cared for Ed Markey all that much.

Also, I think Ted would've stood a better chance against Reagan. Carter was toxic and while Reagan probably still would've won, Ted could've minimized the downballot depletion.

[President Johnson]

What is it with the worst Kennedys and attempting to primary superior Democratic incumbents?

Huh. Didn't take you as someone who cared for Ed Markey all that much.

Also, I think Ted would've stood a better chance against Reagan. Carter was toxic and while Reagan probably still would've won, Ted could've minimized the downballot depletion.

Wasn't Ted pretty much finished with presidential ambitions after Chappaquiddick? He would have become the target for a Republican smear campaign and also be painted as superliberal North Easterner who's out of touch with middle America (similar to the Dukakis and Kerry playbooks later on). Carter also was still competitive in the South in 1980. He kept several of these states very close. What made 1980 an electoral landslide is Anderson's presence on the ballot, who took more votes from the Democrats. He might even have taken more from Kennedy as Carter was more moderate than him.

[Landslide Lyndon]

What is it with the worst Kennedys and attempting to primary superior Democratic incumbents?

Huh. Didn't take you as someone who cared for Ed Markey all that much.

Also, I think Ted would've stood a better chance against Reagan. Carter was toxic and while Reagan probably still would've won, Ted could've minimized the downballot depletion.

Wasn't Ted pretty much finished with presidential ambitions after Chappaquiddick? He would have become the target for a Republican smear campaign and also be painted as superliberal North Easterner who's out of touch with middle America (similar to the Dukakis and Kerry playbooks later on). Carter also was still competitive in the South in 1980. He kept several of these states very close. What made 1980 an electoral landslide is Anderson's presence on the ballot, who took more votes from the Democrats. He might even have taken more from Kennedy as Carter was more moderate than him.

Ted Kennedy was crushing Carter when he declared his candidacy in 1979. He was hurt by his rambling interview with Roger Mudd and later the Iran hostage situation which temporarily boosted Carter's approval ratings.
He would have probably done much better against Reagan if only because disenchanted liberals would have stayed in the fold instead of voting for Anderson.

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

What is it with the worst Kennedys and attempting to primary superior Democratic incumbents?

Huh. Didn't take you as someone who cared for Ed Markey all that much.

Also, I think Ted would've stood a better chance against Reagan. Carter was toxic and while Reagan probably still would've won, Ted could've minimized the downballot depletion.

Wasn't Ted pretty much finished with presidential ambitions after Chappaquiddick? He would have become the target for a Republican smear campaign and also be painted as superliberal North Easterner who's out of touch with middle America (similar to the Dukakis and Kerry playbooks later on). Carter also was still competitive in the South in 1980. He kept several of these states very close. What made 1980 an electoral landslide is Anderson's presence on the ballot, who took more votes from the Democrats. He might even have taken more from Kennedy as Carter was more moderate than him.

White Females and Latinos voted overwhelmed for Reagan due to CA if Teddy Kennedy would of been the nominee he would of won CA and the EC map similar to today except IA, VA and CO would go R and WVA D that's enough EC votes to get elected and VT and NH and ME goes D, Reagan, Bush H and Bush W were supportive like Nixon of comprehensive immigration reform and McCain , also Bush H and Bush W had Colin Power and made overtures to Urban League and NAACP unlike present day Rs

It doesn't bar him to run for 28 Bernie ran in 2016

[Bleach Blonde Bad Built Butch Bodies for Biden]

Never thought I'd agree with, or see, all the analysis of 1980 by Landslide Lyndon. My only critique is thar Anderson took more votes from Reagan,

But this discussion should probably be in another thread.

[Alben Barkley]

What is it with the worst Kennedys and attempting to primary superior Democratic incumbents?

Huh. Didn't take you as someone who cared for Ed Markey all that much.

Also, I think Ted would've stood a better chance against Reagan. Carter was toxic and while Reagan probably still would've won, Ted could've minimized the downballot depletion.

1. I typically don't like it when people challenge solid incumbents for no reason. It's not like JK3 had any real compelling case for why he would be a more effective senator than Markey; he expected to just coast off the Kennedy brand in MA. And while initially I liked him well enough, by the end of his campaign I had soured on him and was satisfied when Markey won.

2. Ted Kennedy was arguably a murderer. And my heart would 100% lie with Carter in any case, as a fellow "New South" Democratic Southerner.

3. Actually I think the Kennedys are overrated in general. LBJ>JFK and Humphrey>RFK as well.

[AltWorlder]

Oh nice this thread of mine

https://talkelections.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=474745

So, does RFK usurp the QAnon contingent?

[Landslide Lyndon]

I guess a Nina Turner endorsement is imminent.

[The Mikado]

The scheme will never die.

Some people see the world as it is and ask "Why?" I dream of things that never were and say "I want a piece of that action."

Ask not what your country can grift for you. Ask what you can grift for your country.

We choose to run a vanity bid for President and do the other things not because they are easy, but because they are profitable.

[President Johnson]

Did I read this correctly that he's also opposed to abortion? I don't know, when you spread anti-vaccine missinformation and oppose a woman's right to chose, you should be running a Republican primary. Does this guy support any Democratic priorities?

[The Mikado]

Does this guy support any Democratic priorities?

That people with the last name Kennedy are essentially royalty.

[This user has not been convicted of 34 felonies]

Did I read this correctly that he's also opposed to abortion? I don't know, when you spread anti-vaccine missinformation and oppose a woman's right to chose, you should be running a Republican primary. Does this guy support any Democratic priorities?

He was an environmental lawyer and seems to be fairly decent on climate change, at least as of...however many years ago. Might have become a denialist there as well. Money talks.

[Continential]

And he has officially announced.