I think that would be a pretty canny political move.
It does seem to be one of the few issues they actually agree on.
Although if Biden does try that, you can assume Trump will loudly denounce all the vaccines without missing a beat. And especially that dangerous RSV one that was approved during Biden’s administration. Very bad.
And exactly zero of Trump’s supporters will even notice the substantive difference. They will however cheer loudly because their Hero made a noise with his face.
It sounds (and feels) very odd to say this, but golly I miss the day where Tea Party activists would rail on about those horrid “flip-floppers” amongst the Rs.
Well they were definitely less exhausting.
And better dressed.
And pass up an opportunity to take credit for something? Impossible.
Unfortunately this means squat in terms of whether Kennedy will take more votes from Republicans or Democrats. I think Republicans like him because he is a “Democrat” who is standing up to the other members of his party, and who can act as a spoiler against Biden. By the same token Liz Chaney was probably more popular among Democrats than she was among Republicans. But that doesn’t mean that they would vote for her over an actual Democrat.
My sense is that RFK jr will get very few votes, and most of those are from people who wouldn’t have voted for Biden if you put a gun to their heads, or a vaccine needle near their arms, which they think is the same thing.
Further, of those who would have voted if RFK jr weren’t in the race would have voted for Trump, or for some other 3rd party whackjob, anyway.
The saddest part for me is the symbolism. I’ve spent the past 60 years admiring his dad as the best hope the Democrats ever had for a progressive kick ass and take names administration. This is like Donald Trump jr. emerging in 30 years as a leftwing democrat–it just mocks his dad’s hard-earned brand.
ETA: my persistent misreading of the thread title is “RFK jr. flies…” which I think he’s got a better shot at than winning the Presidentcy.
So far, Kennedys and flying are a bad mix:
Here’s hooping RFK jr sucks at filing about as much as JFK jr sucks at flying.
don’t forget Uncle Teddy breaking his back around 1964 in a plane crash. And Uncle Joe dying in WWII in a plane. And Aunt Kathleen.
And the face-eating has begun!
It’s interesting that the trump side is worried about RFKjr stealing their votes when upthread we had some folks expressing concern that RFKjr was a threat to steal Biden’s votes.
Couldn’t happen to a nicer leopard.
I’m looking forward personally to Trump trying to imitate RFK jr.'s speech, and to his characterizing it: “Ya can’t unnerstan a word he says, it’s like all ‘Grrrah, errr-ah, grrooo’–he’s talking from the bottom of a well!” etc.
Strategy has shifted. Let’s see how things work out for him.
Done.
I think this is very bad – likely to siphon a critical percent or two off of low-attention Biden voters. Enough to throw the election.
Or not?
“Attorney Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s pivot Monday to an independent run for president met immediate resistance from Republican leaders, who have concluded that his new effort threatens to cannibalize their vote share next year, helping to reelect President Biden.”
When both teams are suddenly expressing fear, maybe he’s onto something.
Or he’s trying to sell his eventual withdrawal to the highest bidder, and ideally both.
Note that I personally don’t think Team Biden much gives a shit what RFKjr does. Absent evidence to the contrary I don’t think they think he’s going to harm their side. Team trump is actually worried or at least is acting worried.
Said another way, trump appeals to the insane voter. DeSantis tried to appeal to the insane voter. But sucked at it. He could deliver beastly insane-friendly policies, but he couldn’t rally the insane to be happy about DeSantis actually doing that. RFKjr is also trying to get the insane vote. But seems much better at connecting with the insane voter than DeSantis. trump (or his people) are right to be concerned about this.
Again, his constituency is the batshit crazy vote. No shortage of those folk.
Some of them just otherwise won’t vote.
Then there are Biden Republicans and Trump Democrats. Which group is overweighted to batshit crazy?
Trump attracts the batshit constituency more than Biden does and is more likely impacted more.
I haven’t seen much concern from his camp either. So either the Trump team is paranoid (which wouldn’t shock me) or they see some actual data to give them concern, and the Biden team doesn’t see that.
I’ve just discovered that he didn’t inherit the Fitzgerald middle name, so at least he’s not dishonoring that side of the family. Has anyone checked that he was really christened “Francis”? Or is the F just inserted in exasperation like between Jesus and Christ?
Everything that I am reading suggests he was born “Robert Francis Kennedy, Jr.”. My total WAG is that he was given a different middle name to differentiate himself from his father, yet given a name close enough to honor him.
RFK, Jr. has/had 10 siblings, and from what I can tell none of them have the “Fitzgerald” middle name, so I think the simple conclusion is that his parents just didn’t want to use it.