Take heart. There are options. You don’t have to vote for either Biden or Trump. While the pinch-hitters may not be political superstars, at least they’re not crooked or felonious or purveyors of runaway costs or migrant invasion. And they’re not on their way to jail or elderly housing.
The important thing is you have a choice. Don’t worry if you don’t recognize their names. And don’t worry about “spoiling” the election for the front-runners, who don’t deserve to win anyway.
Most prominent of the options is an independent ticket that features Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an environmental lawyer from America’s most famous political dynasty, and Nicole Shanahan, an exceedingly wealthy California-based attorney and activist.
Kennedy has uneven goals — some outstanding and some over-the-top extreme. On the positive side, he is openly skeptical of most government agencies, hates the border situation (“It must be secured”) and supports more legal immigration. All good.
TRECKER
On education, he urges expanded opportunity in the trades. And, although an unwavering Israel supporter, Kennedy, alone among campaigners, says we should stop involving ourselves in foreign conflicts. (“Stop racking up debt in overseas proxy wars.”) Right on.
On the extreme side, he is suspicious of vaccines and other medicines he doesn’t understand, and he doesn’t like pesticides or anything else that isn’t nature-based. Kennedy is the ultimate tree-hugger, all in for green energy. He’s also a bit wacky — a conspiracy theorist and apparent fan of outer space.
Shanahan brings some shared beliefs and lots of money to help get the duo on state ballots.
What are some other options?
A third-party group, No Labels, shut down several weeks ago. The air went out of the balloon when its founder, Joe Lieberman, passed away. Too bad because the organization, backed by a clutch of well-known politicians, had gained ballot access in 21 states.
But a whole bunch of other groups are still viable.
The Libertarians, for example, will field a candidate. Don’t scoff. Anchored by the Cato Institute, the Libertarians have a huge following in Florida and elsewhere. (One of my sons is a Libertarian.) The Cato Institute’s “Policy Perspectives” seminar in February filled The Ritz-Carlton ballroom in Naples. I knew some of the attendees personally and was astonished to learn they were card-carrying Libertarians. Their presidential candidate will get some votes.
Other names will appear in November. The Green Party is offering Jill Stein. Left-wing academic Cornel West, a loud dissenter, will be on some state ballots. He just tapped Melina Abdullah, a lefty Cal State professor, as his running mate. The Socialist Party and its offshoots have several candidates teed up, most notably Claudia de la Cruz.
Then there are a whole slew of lesser known groups, including the Constitution Party, the American Solidarity Party, the Prohibition Party, the American Independent Party and half a dozen others I have never heard of.
It’s a morass. But at least it offers a choice.
There is one final option. If, like writer Joseph Epstein, you can’t abide Biden or Trump and don’t like any of the other possibilities, you can always just sit it out.
Epstein writes, “I wish I could supply the name of a contemporary politician who I think is qualified for the job but, sadly, I can’t. Meanwhile, if you wish to be in touch with me about this on Nov. 5, don’t hesitate to call. I’ll be home all day.”
He won’t be the only one staying at home. ¦
— Dave Trecker is a chemist and retired Pfizer executive living in Florida.
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