# Cenk Uygur running for Pres
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cenk-uygur-running-for-pres/991927
**Category:** Politics & Elections
**Created:** [October 22, 2023, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cenk-uygur-running-for-pres/991927 "2023-10-22T17:08:45Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 26
### Author:  [@Hatchie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hatchie)
#### Post date: [November 24, 2023, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cenk-uygur-running-for-pres/991927/501 "2023-11-24T23:22:12Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#):
>
> I still believe that his true goal in all of this is greater visibility for himself, and more views of his videos.
I’m quite sure he has more than one goal; increased visibility for himself and his network is not something he’ll disavow and so what?
But he’s also doing it because he fears a Trump return, and incidentally doesn’t like being regarded as a second class citizen by an arbitrary standard (ie. not defensible in any rational way). So that’s three reasons; rank them anyway you like.
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### Author:  [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)
#### Post date: [November 24, 2023, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cenk-uygur-running-for-pres/991927/502 "2023-11-24T23:25:16Z")
Anyone who fears a Trump return and who is not a known, respected, credible primary candidate is a self important, delusional liability.
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### Author:  [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)
#### Post date: [November 24, 2023, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cenk-uygur-running-for-pres/991927/503 "2023-11-24T23:26:59Z")
> [@Hatchie](#):
>
> I’m quite sure he has more than one goal; increased visibility for himself and his network is not something he’ll disavow and so what?
There’s a difference between this being _one_ goal, and it being his _primary_ goal; you think it’s the former, while I think it’s the latter.
> [@](#):
>
> But he’s also doing it because he fears a Trump return
Then, Mr. Uygur, throw any political capital you may have behind _another_ candidate who actually has better than a non-zero chance of getting visibility and being an actual challenge to Biden, and who could stand a chance of beating Trump.
> [@](#):
>
> and incidentally doesn’t like being regarded as a second class citizen by an arbitrary standard (ie. not defensible in any rational way).
And, again, what he’s doing has pretty much a zero percent chance of even capturing any significant amount of public attention, much less changing the Constitution.
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### Author:  [@Hatchie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hatchie)
#### Post date: [November 24, 2023, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cenk-uygur-running-for-pres/991927/504 "2023-11-24T23:27:50Z")
He’s better known than Mayor Pete was, and that guy did surprisingly well. It all comes down to how effective you are at selling yourself.
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### Author:  [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)
#### Post date: [November 24, 2023, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cenk-uygur-running-for-pres/991927/505 "2023-11-24T23:29:37Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#):
>
> > [@Hatchie](#):
> >
> > I’m quite sure he has more than one goal; increased visibility for himself and his network is not something he’ll disavow and so what?
>
> There’s a difference between this being _one_ goal, and it being his _primary_ goal; you think it’s the former, while I think it’s the latter.
Don’t forget enhanced book sales, speaking engagements and potential Substack revenue.
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### Author:  [@Hatchie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hatchie)
#### Post date: [November 24, 2023, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cenk-uygur-running-for-pres/991927/506 "2023-11-24T23:31:05Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#):
>
> And, again, what he’s doing has pretty much a zero percent chance of even capturing any significant amount of public attention, much less changing the Constitution.
Well they don’t think so in Arkansas. Unless of course they weren’t paying attention. Either way, by allowing him a ballot slot, they have greased the slippery slope - good show!
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### Author:  [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)
#### Post date: [November 24, 2023, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cenk-uygur-running-for-pres/991927/507 "2023-11-24T23:33:52Z")
> [@eschereal](#):
>
> I believe that any American should be offended by the idea that the US government should take on the responsibility of rescuing them from a foreign entity simply because they are a US citizen.
Simply because they are U.S. citizens, Joe Biden has met with the families:
[Biden speaks with families of Americans believed to be held hostage](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/biden-set-speak-families-americans-believed-held-hostage-gaza-rcna120267)
> [@](#):
>
> “It’s my personal commitment to do everything possible, everything possible to return every missing American to their families,” said Biden, who said the U.S. is working “around the clock” to try to secure the release of any Americans held hostage in Gaza.
Note the repeated phrase “everything possible” as well as his singling out Americans.
I would eat my proverbial hat if Biden hasn’t asked his military advisors if U.S. special forces can rescue American hostages, probably recalling that nine members of the Israeli hostage rescue team were killed on October 7.
The only reason the U.S. hasn’t made a risky, U.S.-citizen focused rescue, with or without Israeli commandos, is that it isn’t possible.
The reason it isn’t possible is because Hamas, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, keep hostage locations well-defended and secret.
As for Dean Phillips, he does not know what he is talking about in this area.
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### Author:  [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)
#### Post date: [November 24, 2023, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cenk-uygur-running-for-pres/991927/508 "2023-11-24T23:34:07Z")
> [@Hatchie](#):
>
> Well they don’t think so in Arkansas. Unless of course they weren’t paying attention.
My money’s on the latter. Either the Arkansas application didn’t require the applicant to confirm that they are a natural-born citizen (which is what got him disqualified from the Nevada ballot), they didn’t pay attention to his truthful answer to such a question, or he lied on the form (which I hope not).
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### Author:  [@Hatchie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hatchie)
#### Post date: [November 24, 2023, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cenk-uygur-running-for-pres/991927/509 "2023-11-24T23:39:38Z")
Well he already did a little self-amending on his Nevada application, which is how he got denied there, so we can rule out willingness to deceive.
It’s fine. If indeed Arkansas screwed up by granting him a berth, they should try to take it back and see what happens.
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### Author:  [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)
#### Post date: [November 24, 2023, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cenk-uygur-running-for-pres/991927/510 "2023-11-24T23:40:15Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#):
>
> My money’s on the latter.
Or…it’s that he’s on the list of candidates who have _filed_ to be on the ballot; it’s not clear to me that he actually will be _on_ the ballot yet.
This article, dated this past Sunday (November 19th), from the Arkansas Democrat Gazette, says, “This is a list of candidates who _filed_ ((emphasis mine)) for state office during the week-long filing period at the state Capitol that concluded Tuesday.”
It may well be that that list has yet to be actually vetted by the state of Arkansas, and his candidacy has not yet been certified by the state.
> **[Complete list of Arkansas candidate filings | Arkansas Democrat Gazette](https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/nov/19/complete-list-of-arkansas-candidate-filings/)**
>
> This is a list of candidates who filed for state office during the week-long filing period at the state Capitol that concluded Tuesday.
Edit: this article on Ballotpedia, regarding that ballot, says the following:
> [@](#):
>
> Seven candidates have met the initial qualification criteria to appear on the March 5, 2024, ballot. In order to file, candidates had to submit paperwork to the secretary of state and state party, and submit either a petition with 5,000 signatures or a $2,500 filing fee to the state party.
It sounds like it’s possible that the “initial qualification criteria” in Arkansas are only the paperwork, petition with signatures, and filing fee.
> **[Seven candidates have filed to appear on Arkansas’ Democratic presidential...](https://news.ballotpedia.org/2023/11/16/seven-candidates-have-filed-to-appear-on-arkansas-democratic-presidential-primary-ballot/)**
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### Author:  [@Hatchie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hatchie)
#### Post date: [November 24, 2023, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cenk-uygur-running-for-pres/991927/511 "2023-11-24T23:45:52Z")
Wikipedia says he’s on it.
The primary happens on March 5 (my birthday, and one day after Donald’s DC incitement trial begins - I will be celebrating).
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### Author:  [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)
#### Post date: [November 24, 2023, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cenk-uygur-running-for-pres/991927/512 "2023-11-24T23:46:29Z")
> [@Hatchie](#):
>
> Wikipedia says he’s on it.
Wikipedia can be edited by anyone, so as a pure source of truth, just be a bit wary.
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### Author:  [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)
#### Post date: [November 25, 2023, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cenk-uygur-running-for-pres/991927/513 "2023-11-25T20:31:57Z")
If the claim in Wikipedia isn’t cited then ignore it.
If it’s cited, check to see how reliable the cite is.
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### Author:  [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)
#### Post date: [November 25, 2023, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cenk-uygur-running-for-pres/991927/514 "2023-11-25T22:12:16Z")
Name trivia in case anyone was wondering, Cenk is pronounced Jenk; it’s the Turkified form of the Persian word _jang_ جنگ, meaning ‘war’, derived from the same Proto-Indo-European root as English _gang_.
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### Author:  [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)
#### Post date: [November 25, 2023, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cenk-uygur-running-for-pres/991927/515 "2023-11-25T22:15:14Z")
> [@Atamasama](#):
>
> If the claim in Wikipedia isn’t cited then ignore it.
The line on Wikipedia reads:
> [@](#):
>
> Uygur was successfully placed on the Arkansas ballot.[[129]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cenk_Uygur#cite_note-129)
Citation 129 is the same Ballotpedia page which I linked to in post 510, which says:
> [@](#):
>
> The filing deadline for the Arkansas Democratic presidential primary passed on Nov. 14, 2023. Seven candidates have met the initial qualification criteria to appear on the March 5, 2024, ballot. In order to file, candidates had to submit paperwork to the secretary of state and state party, and submit either a petition with 5,000 signatures or a $2,500 filing fee to the state party.
Note that it does _not_ say that Uygur (nor any of the other six) are _confirmed_ to be on the March ballot.
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### Author:  [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)
#### Post date: [November 25, 2023, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cenk-uygur-running-for-pres/991927/516 "2023-11-25T22:47:24Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#):
>
> Note that it does _not_ say that Uygur (nor any of the other six) are _confirmed_ to be on the March ballot.
So it’s inaccurately representing the source.
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### Author:  [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)
#### Post date: [November 25, 2023, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cenk-uygur-running-for-pres/991927/517 "2023-11-25T22:47:49Z")
> [@Atamasama](#):
>
> So it’s inaccurately representing the source.
It does read that way to me.
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### Author:  [@Hatchie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hatchie)
#### Post date: [November 26, 2023, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cenk-uygur-running-for-pres/991927/518 "2023-11-26T00:17:23Z")
Please! No arguing! Details are thin on the ground, but we have until March to sort it out. Yes everyone knows Wikipedia is edited by mooks so let’s chill out.
I’ll let you know when the All Clear siren tells us it’s safe to come out of hiding.
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### Author:  [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)
#### Post date: [November 26, 2023, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cenk-uygur-running-for-pres/991927/519 "2023-11-26T01:49:10Z")
> [@Hatchie](#):
>
> Details are thin on the ground, but we have until March to sort it out.
I’ll sort it out right now.
Is Uygur a natural-born citizen? No. Therefore he’s not eligible and his application is denied.
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### Author:  [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)
#### Post date: [November 26, 2023, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cenk-uygur-running-for-pres/991927/520 "2023-11-26T01:53:09Z")
> [@Hatchie](#):
>
> Details are thin on the ground, but we have until March to sort it out. Yes everyone knows Wikipedia is edited by mooks so let’s chill out.
I’m just going to note that it was _you_ who posted:
> [@Hatchie](#):
>
> Wikipedia says he’s on it.
…as, apparently, a statement of fact, without any mention of the “Wikipedia is edited by mooks” until _after_ I said something along those lines.
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