# RFK Jr Files to Run for President (Dropped Out on August 23, 2024) **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [April 6, 2023, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfk-jr-files-to-run-for-president-dropped-out-on-august-23-2024/982260 "2023-04-06T16:36:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 25
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2024, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfk-jr-files-to-run-for-president-dropped-out-on-august-23-2024/982260/481 "2024-05-27T02:08:09Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > Kennedy is simply not a good fit for the Glibertarians. He wants to address problems, without privatizing the solutions. The Glibertarians are not interested in using the government to solve problems, they just want to be left alone. Thinking back to the 2016 Johnson-Weld Libertarian Party ticket, I think Nicole Shanahan is clearly closer to being a real libertarian than former Massachusetts governor Bill Weld was, and that Kennedy might be as close to being a real libertarian as former New Mexico governor Gary Johnson was. For example, RFK Jr. strikes me as truly caring about getting us out of NATO. It’s true that RFK Jr is no libertarian isolationist when it comes to Israel, but that seems to me such a tiny country as to be a secondary issue when it comes to the anti-having-allies position of the libertarian platform. And when it comes to freedom to infect others with contagious diseases, Kennedy and Shanahan are perfect libertarians. RFK Jr was an existential threat to the Libertarian Party because there was a slight chance he would be seen as having bigly won the debates, and then actually win the presidency. Kennedy then would have had to ignore his libertarian ties, working with whatever party or parties controlled Congress. But I think this is also true of the now presumptive Libertarian Party nominee, Chase Oliver – except for the fact that the chances of Oliver winning in November is zero. With no congressional delegation, a third party candidate can never succeed in our system. Abe Lincoln, the first Republican president, was a moderate who over and over assured the south that even though he didn’t like slavery, he wouldn’t interfere with it in states where it was already established. Without radical Republicans in Congress pushing him to stay true to their principles, even a Lincoln could not have been a Lincoln. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2024, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfk-jr-files-to-run-for-president-dropped-out-on-august-23-2024/982260/482 "2024-05-28T00:56:21Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > Abe Lincoln, the first Republican president, was a moderate who over and over assured the south that even though he didn’t like slavery, he wouldn’t interfere with it in states where it was already established. I think Lincoln had plans to get rid of the Fugitive slave law, and ban any future slave states. Note that this follows along with his promise. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2024, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfk-jr-files-to-run-for-president-dropped-out-on-august-23-2024/982260/483 "2024-05-28T01:30:07Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > I think Lincoln had plans . . . One of the moderators is probably already pissed that I brought up this old chestnut in a Kennedy thread. What I might have better said that in the only two examples in U.S. history where a new-party president was elected — William Henry Harrison as a Whig, and Abraham Lincoln as a Republican — big congressional delegations for the new president’s party preceded the presidential win. The president-first approach, for a new party, makes no sense, in the U.S. system, because you need congressional support for your program. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2024, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfk-jr-files-to-run-for-president-dropped-out-on-august-23-2024/982260/484 "2024-05-28T01:36:16Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > One of the moderators is probably already pissed that I brought up this old chestnut in a Kennedy thread. Good idea, this should end here- maybe another thread? ---
**Author:** ![Chad\_Sudan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chad_sudan/32/4509_2.png) [@Chad\_Sudan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chad_Sudan)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2024, 9:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfk-jr-files-to-run-for-president-dropped-out-on-august-23-2024/982260/485 "2024-05-29T09:19:26Z")
Not great, Bob! But keep on chasing those right-wing voters! (gift link:) > **[R.F.K. Jr. Denounces the Removal of Confederate Statues](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/28/us/politics/rfk-jr-confederate-statues-removal.html?unlocked_article_code=1.vk0.kXEy.4vuEoYH5QDyM&smid=url-share)** > > The independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said on a recent podcast that he had a “visceral reaction” to the removal of statues glorifying Confederate leaders. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2024, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfk-jr-files-to-run-for-president-dropped-out-on-august-23-2024/982260/486 "2024-05-29T18:00:26Z")
Well, _that’s_ not going to win him many Biden voters. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2024, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfk-jr-files-to-run-for-president-dropped-out-on-august-23-2024/982260/487 "2024-05-29T20:12:56Z")
He is funded by MAGAS, his job is to suck votes from Biden. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2024, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfk-jr-files-to-run-for-president-dropped-out-on-august-23-2024/982260/488 "2024-05-31T19:07:01Z")
And we know how good he is at sucking. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2024, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfk-jr-files-to-run-for-president-dropped-out-on-august-23-2024/982260/489 "2024-05-31T19:14:40Z")
Speaking of sucking up, Junior has [denounced the verdict](https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4695959-rfk-jr-slams-trump-verdict-profoundly-undemocratic/) in Trump’s New York trial. Junior will stoop to any tactic to bring down Biden and the Democrats. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2024, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfk-jr-files-to-run-for-president-dropped-out-on-august-23-2024/982260/490 "2024-05-31T19:22:11Z")
This is good. It further aligns RFK Jr. with MAGA, and thus is more likely to take votes from Trump. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2024, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfk-jr-files-to-run-for-president-dropped-out-on-august-23-2024/982260/491 "2024-06-02T10:49:27Z")
The DNC says there may be some financial shenanigans going on in RFK’s Super PAC. > **[DNC files third complaint against RFK Jr. super PAC, alleging shady...](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/rfk-jr-super-pac-dnc-complaint-shady-fundraising/)** > > The Democratic National Committee accuses the Kennedy-linked super PAC American Values 2024 of not properly disclosing loans and repayments to hide that the PAC's largest donor is a Trump supporter. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2024, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfk-jr-files-to-run-for-president-dropped-out-on-august-23-2024/982260/492 "2024-06-02T19:37:48Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > The DNC says there may be some financial shenanigans going on in RFK’s Super PAC. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/2TnkJ8_BmSI/hqdefault.jpg "Surprise-Surprise-Surprise.flv") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TnkJ8_BmSI) ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2024, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfk-jr-files-to-run-for-president-dropped-out-on-august-23-2024/982260/493 "2024-06-02T20:19:57Z")
I’m confused. Isn’t shady financial shenanigans the purpose for existence for superPACs? ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2024, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfk-jr-files-to-run-for-president-dropped-out-on-august-23-2024/982260/494 "2024-06-03T00:18:17Z")
Worms in his brain and MAGAts in his PAC. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2024, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfk-jr-files-to-run-for-president-dropped-out-on-august-23-2024/982260/495 "2024-06-03T01:57:29Z")
Are the worms a proven diagnosis? I keep reading that two neurosurgeons agreed it was a tumor, but then a third guy, who had not been contacted, called out of the blue to say it’s this other thing and this other thing does not require surgery. This almost sounds like an excuse not to have surgery. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2024, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfk-jr-files-to-run-for-president-dropped-out-on-august-23-2024/982260/496 "2024-06-03T02:20:41Z")
> [@Yllaria](#): > > Are the worms a proven diagnosis? Of course not. Kennedy says that docs disagreed on that. But since he has not released medical records, it is not even proven that a single physician gave that as the diagnosis. I wouldn’t be surprised if Kennedy was told that a larvae, which would be a worm as an adult, was a possibility and jumped to the conclusion that it is definite. Based on this article, the symptoms Kennedy reported (“brain fog”) are not generally associated with having worm in your brain: > **[What Do Brain Worms like the One RFK, Jr., Had Actually Do?](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-do-people-get-parasitic-brain-worms-like-the-one-rfk-jr-had/)** > > Experts explain how certain worms can infect the brain and why they are an important global public health problem ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2024, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfk-jr-files-to-run-for-president-dropped-out-on-august-23-2024/982260/497 "2024-06-03T02:25:40Z")
Thanks. I’m guessing that the x-rays that are being shown are stock photos. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2024, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfk-jr-files-to-run-for-president-dropped-out-on-august-23-2024/982260/498 "2024-06-03T12:52:52Z")
Imagine the sort of person who thinks telling everyone worms ate part of his brain is a desirable thing. Now imagine that person running for President. So…yeah. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2024, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfk-jr-files-to-run-for-president-dropped-out-on-august-23-2024/982260/499 "2024-06-03T13:03:33Z")
According to the report in the N.Y. Times, the brain worm story was revealed by RFK Jr. in a deposition during divorce proceedings, and was intended to show that his wormy brain limited his earnings potential.\* So it doesn’t look like he’s been bragging about Das Worm, in fact it conflicts with the image he’s cultivated of a weight-lifting, vital, young (or at least less ancient than his competitors) falconer. \*his foggy brain didn’t prevent him from earning multi-millions from court actions, books and of course “Children’s Health Defense”. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2024, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfk-jr-files-to-run-for-president-dropped-out-on-august-23-2024/982260/500 "2024-06-04T19:22:18Z")
Innnteresting: > **[Fauci draws GOP ire but Kennedy may be making him a problem for Trump | CNN...](https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/03/politics/fauci-trump-rfk/index.html)** > > The public lashing Dr. Anthony Fauci faced on Capitol Hill Monday was illustrative of his enduring unpopularity with the GOP’s conservative base. Yet even as Republicans seek to capitalize on that dislike of the infectious disease expert, former... [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfk-jr-files-to-run-for-president-dropped-out-on-august-23-2024/982260.md?page=24) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfk-jr-files-to-run-for-president-dropped-out-on-august-23-2024/982260.md?page=26)