# Tulsi Gabbard is not running for reelection to Congress: what does this mean? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [October 25, 2019, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tulsi-gabbard-is-not-running-for-reelection-to-congress-what-does-this-mean/842266 "2019-10-25T05:36:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2019, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tulsi-gabbard-is-not-running-for-reelection-to-congress-what-does-this-mean/842266/1 "2019-10-25T05:36:44Z")
Tulsi Gabbard dropped a bombshell on Twitter tonight, she is not running for reelection to the House of Representatives. > She also skipped an event in Iowa tonight and appeared on the Sean Hannity show on Fox News. To me, this sounds like she’s planning a 3rd party run and wants to rat fuck the Democrats and be Jill Stein 2.0 or Nader 3.0 ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2019, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tulsi-gabbard-is-not-running-for-reelection-to-congress-what-does-this-mean/842266/2 "2019-10-25T05:48:33Z")
If only someone didn’t already point out this was likely… ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2019, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tulsi-gabbard-is-not-running-for-reelection-to-congress-what-does-this-mean/842266/3 "2019-10-25T05:54:33Z")
I mean, yeah. That’s exactly what Clinton predicted would happen, and DID NOT say that she was a Russian asset–just that Russians favor her. That said, she’s not really a Jill Stein, since she’s not on the left but more in the center. And the more centrist Democrats tend to be better at being practical and choosing the nominee, while the progressive side of the party is more idealistic. So I’d actually expect that she’d pull more from the Republican side–those who are conservative but can’t bring themselves to vote for Trump. At least, that’s my impression as someone who hasn’t really followed Gabbard’s campaign, and is just going on the few bits I have heard where she seems to push a more central position. ---
**Author:** ![galen\_ubal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galen_ubal/32/4440_2.png) [@galen\_ubal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/galen_ubal)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2019, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tulsi-gabbard-is-not-running-for-reelection-to-congress-what-does-this-mean/842266/4 "2019-10-25T05:56:37Z")
Probably running third party. As far as messing over the Democrats, well… > [@Nate Silver](#): > > I’m honestly not sure whether a Tulsi 3rd party run would help or hurt Trump. Her supporters mostly seem to be defined by the fact that they’re contrarian trolls more than that they’re anti-establishment liberals, and I think the contrarian troll vote is Trump-leaning? [From this twitter post.](https://twitter.com/NateSilver538/status/1187586141706506240) Dunno, myself. The hardcore MAGAts will vote Trump; the ones who voted for him last time because he was the “most interesting novelty” candidate may go to Gabbard, if they’ve soured on Trump in the meantime. ETA: Or those who voted for Trump because he’d “shake up the system” but have since soured, as well. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Colossus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.colossus/32/9423_2.png) [@Dr.Colossus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Colossus)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2019, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tulsi-gabbard-is-not-running-for-reelection-to-congress-what-does-this-mean/842266/5 "2019-10-25T15:42:44Z")
She might be jockying for a Fox news gig. ---
**Author:** ![Ashtura](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ashtura/32/2963_2.png) [@Ashtura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashtura)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2019, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tulsi-gabbard-is-not-running-for-reelection-to-congress-what-does-this-mean/842266/6 "2019-10-25T15:49:38Z")
> [@](#): > > I mean, yeah. That’s exactly what Clinton predicted would happen, and DID NOT say that she was a Russian asset–just that Russians favor her. Waitaminute, if Clinton is obviously referring to Gabbard as the third party spoiler, and explictly says that Jill Stein is “Also a Russian asset”, how can we reasonably conclude that she does not think that Gabbard is a Russian asset? I mean, if you can pinpoint who that “also” is, and it isn’t Tulsi Gabbard, I’m open to that. > [@](#): > > “That’s assuming Jill Stein will give it up, which she might not because she’s also a Russian asset. I mean – totally.” ---
**Author:** ![Ashtura](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ashtura/32/2963_2.png) [@Ashtura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashtura)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2019, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tulsi-gabbard-is-not-running-for-reelection-to-congress-what-does-this-mean/842266/7 "2019-10-25T16:25:06Z")
Also, if she doesn’t think Gabbard is a Russian asset, then why did her top aide say this? > [@](#): > > “If the nesting doll fits,” Merrill told a CNN reporter. “This is not some outlandish claim. This is reality. If the Russian propaganda machine, both their state media and their bot and troll operations, is backing a candidate aligned with their interests, that is just a reality, it is not speculation.” I think this “Oh I meant the republicans” is disingenuous backtracking on Clinton’s part. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2019, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tulsi-gabbard-is-not-running-for-reelection-to-congress-what-does-this-mean/842266/8 "2019-10-25T17:29:26Z")
At worst, she’ll pull some of those Dems who voted for Trump over to her. But the idea that this will hurt the Dems is kind of preposterous. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2019, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tulsi-gabbard-is-not-running-for-reelection-to-congress-what-does-this-mean/842266/9 "2019-10-25T17:35:01Z")
> [@Ashtura](#): > > Also, if she doesn’t think Gabbard is a Russian asset, then why did her top aide say this? > > I think this “Oh I meant the republicans” is disingenuous backtracking on Clinton’s part. If Russian media is pushing her, she doesn’t have to be in on it to be considered an asset. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2019, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tulsi-gabbard-is-not-running-for-reelection-to-congress-what-does-this-mean/842266/10 "2019-10-25T17:59:11Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > At worst, she’ll pull some of those Dems who voted for Trump over to her. But the idea that this will hurt the Dems is kind of preposterous. I think it depends on the nominee. She is in the “the system has been and is broken” space and she could pull off some marginal portion of that support, disillusioned with Trump, from Warren, while Biden won’t get it in any case. ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2019, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tulsi-gabbard-is-not-running-for-reelection-to-congress-what-does-this-mean/842266/11 "2019-10-25T18:22:00Z")
[Nate Silver Tweet](https://twitter.com/NateSilver538/status/1187586141706506240)… > [@](#): > > I’m honestly not sure whether a Tulsi 3rd party run would help or hurt Trump. Her supporters mostly seem to be defined by the fact that they’re contrarian trolls more than that they’re anti-establishment liberals, and I think the contrarian troll vote is Trump-leaning? ---
**Author:** ![Ashtura](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ashtura/32/2963_2.png) [@Ashtura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashtura)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2019, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tulsi-gabbard-is-not-running-for-reelection-to-congress-what-does-this-mean/842266/12 "2019-10-25T18:34:39Z")
> [@Lance\_Turbo](#): > > [Nate Silver Tweet](https://twitter.com/NateSilver538/status/1187586141706506240)… I think Gabbard is the person many republicans would vote for if they had to vote for a democrat. They don’t have to vote for a democrat obviously. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2019, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tulsi-gabbard-is-not-running-for-reelection-to-congress-what-does-this-mean/842266/13 "2019-10-25T19:05:50Z")
A Gabbard third party run is a bit of a wildcard. It might hurt the Dem nominee in some places, and possibly have little or no effect at all in others. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2019, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tulsi-gabbard-is-not-running-for-reelection-to-congress-what-does-this-mean/842266/14 "2019-10-25T23:16:45Z")
It would be nice, but improbable, if Sanders wouldn’t use the ‘Rigged!’ excuse every time he loses a primary this around. That could push some voters over to Tulsi so they can think that they’re showing up the DNC. Naturally, Tulsi is already pushing the rigged gimmick. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2019, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tulsi-gabbard-is-not-running-for-reelection-to-congress-what-does-this-mean/842266/15 "2019-10-25T23:48:13Z")
> [@Ashtura](#): > > I think Gabbard is the person many republicans would vote for if they had to vote for a democrat. They don’t have to vote for a democrat obviously. Which brings up the question, why is she a Democrat? Could she be a Republican posing as a Democrat all along? By running as a Democrat in a blue district, she gets votes just because there is a D next to her name. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2019, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tulsi-gabbard-is-not-running-for-reelection-to-congress-what-does-this-mean/842266/16 "2019-10-25T23:48:23Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > I think it depends on the nominee. > She is in the “the system has been and is broken” space and she could pull off some marginal portion of that support, disillusioned with Trump, from Warren, while Biden won’t get it in any case. > [@dalej42](#): > > It would be nice, but improbable, if Sanders wouldn’t use the ‘Rigged!’ excuse every time he loses a primary this around. That could push some voters over to Tulsi so they can think that they’re showing up the DNC. Naturally, Tulsi is already pushing the rigged gimmick. I agree with these two observations. Gabbard’s (presumed) 3rd-party run will help Trump most in the scenario ‘_Sanders is vocal about a ‘rigged system’ when he loses the nomination, so his voters go for Gabbard to spite the Democrats_.’ Trump would also be helped by a Gabbard run if a centrist (Biden or another centrist) is overly focused in messaging on ‘let’s get things back to the way they were in the good old days.’ There would be change-hungry voters who don’t like Trump, but would be revolted by an official Democratic message that ‘everything will be great if we just get rid of Trump and go back to the old ways.’ (And as mentioned in another thread, I’m another who believes that Gabbard’s ultimate goal is to land a nice lucrative job with FoxNews, after November 2020.) ---
**Author:** ![RioRico](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f04885/32.png) [@RioRico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RioRico)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2019, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tulsi-gabbard-is-not-running-for-reelection-to-congress-what-does-this-mean/842266/17 "2019-10-25T23:49:24Z")
> [@Dr.Colossus](#): > > She might be jockying for a Fox news gig. Not unlikely. Follow the money again. > [@dalej42](#): > > It would be nice, but improbable, if Sanders wouldn’t use the ‘Rigged!’ excuse every time he loses a primary this around. Bernie was never a Dem until seven months ago. Running in Dem primaries against Dems who’d worked in the party for years, you expect the party to do him any favors? He lost primaries to HRC in 2018 because more Dems voted for her. Duh. Will Gabbard stage a presidential run now, either as a Dem or an indy? Could happen. We still don’t know who’ll be running next year. The murky is so thick. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2019, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tulsi-gabbard-is-not-running-for-reelection-to-congress-what-does-this-mean/842266/18 "2019-10-25T23:49:31Z")
> [@Icarus](#): > > Which brings up the question, why is she a Democrat? Could she be a Republican posing as a Democrat all along? By running as a Democrat in a blue district, she gets votes just because there is a D next to her name. She’s a Democrat because in Hawaii you have no chance of being elected to Congress if you’re a Republican. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2019, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tulsi-gabbard-is-not-running-for-reelection-to-congress-what-does-this-mean/842266/19 "2019-10-26T00:14:23Z")
> [@Lance\_Turbo](#): > > [Nate Silver Tweet](https://twitter.com/NateSilver538/status/1187586141706506240)… > > > [@](#): > > > > I’m honestly not sure whether a Tulsi 3rd party run would help or hurt Trump. Her supporters mostly seem to be defined by the fact that they’re contrarian trolls more than that they’re anti-establishment liberals, and I think the contrarian troll vote is Trump-leaning? And the only reason we would not say the contrarian troll vote is 100%“safe Trump” is that what with so many of the likes of McConnell and Graham and so on having bent the knee to His Orangeness, many true contrarian trolls are likely to say, _“wait a minute, aren’t the incumbents the Establishment anyway?”_ ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2019, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tulsi-gabbard-is-not-running-for-reelection-to-congress-what-does-this-mean/842266/20 "2019-10-26T00:27:14Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > And the only reason we would not say the contrarian troll vote is 100%“safe Trump” is that what with so many of the likes of McConnell and Graham and so on having bent the knee to His Orangeness, many true contrarian trolls are likely to say, _“wait a minute, aren’t the incumbents the Establishment anyway?”_ You’d think so. But for some of these people “the Establishment” is ever and always the people who are ‘looking down on them’ and/or failing to accord them the deference to which they feel entitled. It doesn’t matter which party is in power—the rule of law people who look down on our Contrarians, or the bully-boy tribal ‘winning is the only thing’ folks, with whom the Contrarians identify. The Establishment is the people they hate—not necessarily the people in power. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tulsi-gabbard-is-not-running-for-reelection-to-congress-what-does-this-mean/842266.md?page=2)