So, explain it to me like I’m a baby at this (which I kinda am). Is RFK Jr. still being on the ballot good for Trump? For Harris? Both? Neither? I’m hoping bad for Donald.
I’ve read a few articles that indicate that even when someone is no longer campaigning, but their name is still on the ballot, there is a tendency for them to get a few percentage points of votes.
The polling seems to suggest that Kennedy tends to draw voters away from Trump, and not from Harris, because his anti-vax views tend to resonate with potential Trump voters, but not with potential Harris voters.
If those two factors prove accurate, Kennedy being on the ballot in closely-fought swing states may help Harris.
But, there’s a lot of « ifs » and « maybes » there.
It’s obvious that he’s been trying to help Trump all along, with the assumption that his name will attract more D voters than R voters. After Harris replaced Biden, he lost a lot of voters to her, so the assumption is that most of his remaining voters would otherwise vote for Trump. Hence why he’s trying to get off the ballot in swing states.
Why he’s not trying to get off the ballot in non-swing states is not so obvious. He’s not going to make a difference in New York, so who knows why he’s fighting to keep his name on in that state.
He’s trying to play it both ways. He wants to help Trump in swing states by getting his name removed, but getting enough votes nationally so he can broker more influence in the next election cycle (I think your party needs 5% to get campaign financing the next go-around - someone can certainly correct me if I don’t have that right).
Kennedy says he’s got a letter from the National Marine Fisheries Institute that says “Uh, Bobby, do you have a whale head? We may need to look into it.” (my guess as to the wording.)
Bobby’s response:
“This is all about the weaponization of our government against political opponents,” he said.
I guess the rule of law doesn’t apply to Kennedys. Or to former presidential candidates.
Share his outrage!
Not to defend RFK Jr, but isn’t there a statute of limitations that applies here? It’s pretty old news, and while worthy of a good laugh, is IMO a waste of the government’s time to investigate.
If he’s in continued possession of wildlife parts that cannot be held without a permit, he may be committing an ongoing offence. Or, they may want to reclaim the wildlife parts.
Dunno; have to wait and see.
Here’s everything you need to know about federal regulations on wildlife parts.
The most on point section:
Can you keep a protected species part found on the beach?
In some cases, yes, you may keep the part. You may collect and keep any bones, teeth, or ivory from a non-ESA listed marine mammal found on a beach or land within one-quarter mile of an ocean, bay, or estuary. You may not collect parts from a carcass or parts with soft tissues attached.
Any marine mammal bones, teeth, or ivory that you collect must be identified and registered with the nearest NOAA Fisheries Regional Office. You may contact the appropriate Stranding Network Coordinator in your region for assistance. Marine mammal parts collected in this manner may not be bought or sold.
A dead marine mammal with soft tissue is a stranded animal and you should report it to the nearest NOAA Fisheries Stranding Network Coordinator so that the animal may be sampled for scientific research purposes and properly disposed of. You may not collect parts from a stranded animal.
Parts from ESA-listed species, including threatened or endangered species, may not be collected without a permit or other authorization:
That’s from NOAA; here’s the Federal code of Regulations cite: 50 CFR § 216.26 - Collection of certain marine mammal parts without prior authorization. | Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (e-CFR) | US Law | LII / Legal Information Institute
Campaign recognition and cash.
RFK is a grifter and always has been. His hypocrisy in this arena is breathtaking; he pretends to be offended that the Democrats are using lawyers in terms of hurting his ability to run for President, and he himself is using legal warfare to manipulate what states he is or isn’t on the ballot in in an effort to hurt the Democrats.
Kennedy is about as fantastically egotistical as a human being can get, just as much as Trump, and I do not for an instant believe he holds any value or position higher than his own self interest and personal aggrandizement. He places no value at all in the most basic of ethical or moral virtues; it’s about him. Everything is him.
If he’s that much like Trump, could he be Trumps successor? I don’t think he has the charisma, but I’m no good at judging that.
The NOAA has confirmed that Kennedy is under investigation for the whale incident.
Hopefully there will be no rush to judgment.
Can anyone confirm if he has been near Springfield, OH in recent months?
Great question! That would explain a lot of strange wildlife goings-on around there.
SCOTUS is expected to rule on immunity based on his Kennedy family ties. His ‘running for President’ shtick having expired. Justice Thomas is consulting his Ouija board for guidance from Thomas Jefferson.
Naw, he’s just asking the Missus.
Especially the strange lack of whales in Ohio.
Heck, they’re migratory critters. You’d figure at least some of them would turn up in Ohio. 
Oh, no. Not again!