# 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:** 7
### Author:  [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2023, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cenk-uygur-running-for-pres/991927/121 "2023-10-23T01:29:13Z")
> [@SunUp](#):
>
> It seems his application to the Nevada ballot has given him a controversy he could use to push this into court.
>
> All he needs to do is sue the Nevada elections authority to force them to allow his application to the ballot.
You think he can force them to make an unconstitutional law?
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### Author:  [@Hatchie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hatchie)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2023, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cenk-uygur-running-for-pres/991927/122 "2023-10-23T01:36:39Z")
(Edited for irrelevance.)
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### Author:  [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2023, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cenk-uygur-running-for-pres/991927/123 "2023-10-23T01:37:19Z")
Of course not. I pointed out it will get shot down in every lower court that sees the case. And I would be shocked if the Supremes granted cert after that happened.
But if you want (ETA: which is to say, if Cenk Uygur wants) to get the question before the court, a lawsuit about the denial is the way to do it.
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### Author:  [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2023, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cenk-uygur-running-for-pres/991927/124 "2023-10-23T01:40:03Z")
I removed the call to action. Don’t repost it or similiar stuff.
Thank you.
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### Author:  [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2023, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cenk-uygur-running-for-pres/991927/125 "2023-10-23T01:45:21Z")
> [@SunUp](#):
>
> But if you want (ETA: which is to say, if Cenk Uygur wants) to get the question before the court, a lawsuit about the denial is the way to do it.
If all the lower courts rule that it is unconstitutional, why would the Supreme Court not dismiss it out of hand?
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### Author:  [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2023, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cenk-uygur-running-for-pres/991927/126 "2023-10-23T01:47:30Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#):
>
> If all the lower courts rule that it is unconstitutional, why would the Supreme Court not dismiss it out of hand?
That’s what “denying cert” (the opposite of granting cert) is.
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### Author:  [@Hatchie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hatchie)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2023, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cenk-uygur-running-for-pres/991927/127 "2023-10-23T01:52:16Z")
Why do we have a Supreme Court? Why bother with lawsuits at all if they’re so controversial?
Point is, this should not be controversial! It should be an easy case of applying settled Constitutional law to a whole class of excluded people. Oh, the Supremes would never do that. Maybe, maybe not. Love to get them on the record anyway. Or get their refusal to rule on the record.
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### Author:  [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2023, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cenk-uygur-running-for-pres/991927/128 "2023-10-23T01:53:24Z")
The Constitution, and SCOTUS, just do not work that way.
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### Author:  [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2023, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cenk-uygur-running-for-pres/991927/129 "2023-10-23T01:55:59Z")
> [@Hatchie](#):
>
> Why bother with lawsuits at all if they’re so controversial?
This has absolutely _nothing_ to do with controversy.
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### Author:  [@Hatchie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hatchie)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2023, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cenk-uygur-running-for-pres/991927/130 "2023-10-23T02:06:23Z")
Yet Cenk, who’s by no means a fool, is pursuing this. Seems he thinks he can get something out of it. Might simply be that by making a stink, he can get attention, maybe he wants to see if he can goad the right into doing something stupid like defending the indefensible (they’re good at that). Nothing makes a bully look worse than attacking those at a disadvantage. I don’t know if it can succeed, but hard to see how it can backfire if played correctly (you let your opponent make your point for you, then bow out gracefully).
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### Author:  [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2023, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cenk-uygur-running-for-pres/991927/131 "2023-10-23T02:10:22Z")
Maybe you should think twice about supporting a candidate if that candidate is not constitutionally qualified and you don’t have a clue as to what his motives might be?
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### Author:  [@Hatchie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hatchie)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2023, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cenk-uygur-running-for-pres/991927/132 "2023-10-23T02:13:12Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#):
>
> The Constitution, and SCOTUS, just do not work that way.
As Mammy Yokum would say, “Ah has spoken!” (I’ll see your Pat Paulsen and raise you a Li’l Abner.)
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### Author:  [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2023, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cenk-uygur-running-for-pres/991927/133 "2023-10-23T02:14:40Z")
> [@Hatchie](#):
>
> Point is, this should not be controversial!
You’re right. It’s not controversial at all to state the fact that the Constitution says he’s not eligible to be president.
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### Author:  [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2023, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cenk-uygur-running-for-pres/991927/134 "2023-10-23T02:33:38Z")
With is misogynistic attitude, his lack of respect for the Constitution and his need for publicity, he might qualify for Speaker of the House.
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### Author:  [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2023, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cenk-uygur-running-for-pres/991927/135 "2023-10-23T02:35:38Z")
> [@Hatchie](#):
>
> Seems he thinks he can get something out of it.
My WAG would be that he hopes to get publicity, and money. Actually fomenting any serious discussion about changing the Constitution would be gravy.
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### Author:  [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2023, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cenk-uygur-running-for-pres/991927/136 "2023-10-23T02:58:32Z")
> [@Hatchie](#):
>
> hard to see how it can backfire
How about, _this_ SCotUS seeing it as the opportunity to define “natural born citizen” so as to (retroactively) exclude Barack Obama from holding the office of President?
It’s not like the term actually has a definitive meaning as anyone that remembers ‘Birthergate’ is all too aware of.
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### Author:  [@Hatchie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hatchie)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2023, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cenk-uygur-running-for-pres/991927/137 "2023-10-23T03:09:46Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#):
>
> Maybe you should think twice about supporting a candidate if that candidate is not constitutionally qualified and you don’t have a clue as to what his motives might be?
Besides instituting Sharia law on Day One you mean? I know exactly what his motives are. He spelled it out for us. Defeating a fascist takeover would seem to be one priority. How much is that worth to you? I don’t support a lot of what he has said and done (for starters, his taste in pop culture is atrocious) but he gets to play it as he sees fit. He’s not afraid of a fight (he’s at his most irritating when he goes on and on about what a bunch of cowards the Dems are) and I do agree that serious pushback is called for. So, I’ll put a bumper sticker on my car (it’s a doozy) and that’s probably as far as it goes. Fear not! When he ends his campaign, he won’t be refashioning himself as a third-party spoiler. And yes, I hope he gets somewhere with his challenge to one little embarrassing tidbit in the founding document, but that’s really just a sideshow. Could provide a small opening for him to get people to hear him out. **Now** how much would you pay?
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### Author:  [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2023, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cenk-uygur-running-for-pres/991927/138 "2023-10-23T03:45:45Z")
> [@Hatchie](#):
>
> Defeating a fascist takeover would seem to be one priority.
We’ve already got a president who’s batting 1000 when it comes to defeating fascist takeovers.
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### Author:  [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2023, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cenk-uygur-running-for-pres/991927/139 "2023-10-23T06:47:55Z")
> [@Hatchie](#):
>
> Why do we have a Supreme Court? Why bother with lawsuits at all if they’re so controversial?
>
> Point is, this should not be controversial! It should be an easy case of applying settled Constitutional law to a whole class of excluded people. Oh, the Supremes would never do that. Maybe, maybe not. Love to get them on the record anyway. Or get their refusal to rule on the record.
People being excluded isn’t the point. “Unconstitutional” is not a synonym for bad or unfair or even illegal. It means it goes against what is written in the constitution. The Supreme Court does not have the power to change the constitution. Just to pull some outrageous examples out of thin air, if the constitution said it was ok to exclude black people or women from voting then it would be constitutional to keep black people or women from voting. Even though it would seem unfair the Supreme Court could not rule against it. The only recourse would be to make an amendment changing the constitution. I’m sorry I couldn’t come up with a more realistic example.
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### Author:  [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2023, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cenk-uygur-running-for-pres/991927/140 "2023-10-23T07:10:44Z")
> [@Hatchie](#):
>
> Besides instituting Sharia law on Day One you mean?
No, I do NOT mean.
> [@Hatchie](#):
>
> I know exactly what his motives are.
But you said this not too long ago:
> [@Hatchie](#):
>
> Seems he thinks he can get something out of it. Might simply be that by making a stink, he can get attention, maybe he wants to see if he can goad the right into doing something stupid like defending the indefensible (they’re good at that).
Sounds to me that you are not sure of his motives.
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