"RFK Jr. sparks furor with possible Aaron Rodgers VP pick"

[Ted King]

https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/45...s-vp-pick/

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s consideration of New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers as his running mate is sparking backlash and raising fresh scrutiny over the athlete’s past controversial comments.

Rodgers is one of a few candidates that the independent candidate’s campaign confirmed is on its shortlist for vice president ahead of an announcement set for later this month.

I get these really clashing feelings when I see a picture of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Having first grown into political awareness when his uncle was president and his family became an icon for liberalism, I try to see them in him but I know under that familiar looking visage there is a goofball that is using his fame to give himself a forum that a regular Bob with his views would never get. It just gives me weird feelings. None of those feelings are particularly good toward him other than maybe compassion if it turns out that he has medical mental issues.

That his third party candidacy could be one of many sufficient conditions that could lead to Trump being elected is bad enough but Rodgers as a VP not only would stink because Rodgers stinks but... Wisconsin is probably THE pivotal Electoral College state in this election. Wisconsin is a state Biden can't afford to lose that he won in 2020 that he is shakiest in now. I worry that putting Rogers on RFK Jr.'s ticket could bleed a critical couple of percent of votes in Wisconsin. At his peak while playing in Green Bay, Rodgers had an almost 90% approval rating among Wisconsin voters.

I don't know. I'm so nervous about this election that maybe I'm over-worrying about these kinds of things. It just feels like the margins are so slim that there are so many things that can go wrong.

[Tiangou]

I'm getting tired of populism escalating the severely mentally ill and incompetent into the highest positions of power (and the consequent legal immunity for their actions).

[mrbigstuff]

I simply cannot imagine someone shifting their vote to RFKJr from Biden.* but I can imagine the other way 'round.



*ok, a few

[Ombligo]

The more he can do to turn off Democrats from supporting him the better.

[DeusxMac]

"He has also promoted the Tartarian architecture conspiracy theory."

"Adherents propose that demolished buildings such as the Singer Building, the original New York Penn Station, and the temporary grounds of the 1915 World's Fair were actually the buildings of a vast empire based in Tartary that has been suppressed from history.
...buildings, such as the Great Pyramids and the White House, are further held out as Tartarian buildings."

:nuts:

[Spock]

They deserve each other and we deserve neither.

[bfd]

Probably the "biglyest" danger a democracy (even a representative one) faces is that of having a crackpot take over the show. This is not to suggest that we should turn to a dictator as a remedy - though something like this is certainly what will happen if the crackpots and MAGAts find enough followers.

Authoritaritism is one of the most concerning threats in any democracy - and clearly the main threat in the USA right now. Dumbf (or more specifically, his handlers) will take as many as will follow him right down that pathway if simply given ample opportunity.

RFK, Jr is no Dumbf, but he is certainly another whack job who could easily find a slow parade of followers.

[jonny]

OhpleaseOhpleaseOhpleaseOhpleaseOhpleaseOhpleaseOhpleaseOhplease!

[gabester]

I can't see how an RFK Jr / Rodgers ticket in WI would do anything but split the vote amongst GQP voters who won't vote for Biden, which ought to lead to a Biden plurality in the state and all its electors.

Most likely similar effect elsewhere, Rodgers has for a long time cultivated his conservative credentials with his whole vaccine denialism and before that falling out with Olivia Munn mostly over differing political views of his family.

[Tiangou]

His people say Rogers is no longer in consideration.