Who!?

 

Via ABC News:

Evan McMullin, a former CIA counterterrorism officer, will run for president as a third-party conservative alternative to Donald Trump, GOP operatives working to back the candidate told ABC News today. The operatives working on McMullin’s bid resigned from Better for America in order to work on his candidacy. The operatives from the group, a 501(c)(4) organization that cannot officially endorse or back McMullin’s bid, has been working for months on trying to select a candidate and get on ballots throughout the country. In some states, like Texas, they will likely have to sue to get on the ballot. A 501(c)(4) is an issue-based nonprofit that can raise unlimited funds and does not have to disclose its donors. It’s an extreme uphill climb, but they are confident McMullin, 40, can act as a disruptor who they hope can peel off some red states in a race where some Republicans are still resistant to Donald Trump.

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  1. Jon Gabriel, Ed. Contributor
    Jon Gabriel, Ed.
    @jon

    Since Gary Johnson and Jill Stein are already featured in the polls, shouldn’t McMullin be called a fifth-party candidate?

    • #1
  2. Tom Meyer Member
    Tom Meyer
    @tommeyer

    My political prognostications are — if anything — even worse than Troy’s, but this seems rather desperate, pathetic, and late.

    • #2
  3. Could Be Anyone Inactive
    Could Be Anyone
    @CouldBeAnyone

    Tom Meyer, Ed.:My political prognostications are — if anything — even worse than Troy’s, but this seems rather desperate, pathetic, and late.

    Unless this guy can get serious air time and magically get that 15% in the polls yes this is desperate but the first debate is in September so I guess they got a month to go.

    I am curious as to who would back him (aside from the Better for America 501c). The GOP National Committee has already pledged considerable money to support trump in the general and he himself has at least made some attempts at raising money which indicates some Republican donors have backed him.

    But it does speak volumes to the weakness of trump that such factions within the party would take things this far and so late in the race as to start a break away candidate.

    • #3
  4. Jamie Lockett Member
    Jamie Lockett
    @JamieLockett

    Well this seems dumb.

    • #4
  5. Theodoric of Freiberg Inactive
    Theodoric of Freiberg
    @TheodoricofFreiberg

    Way too late. Next.

    • #5
  6. The King Prawn Inactive
    The King Prawn
    @TheKingPrawn

    I hope he’s at least entertaining, otherwise such flailing will just be sad.

    • #6
  7. Gaius Inactive
    Gaius
    @Gaius

    Tom Meyer, Ed.:…this seems rather desperate, pathetic, and late.

    All true, but the fault for that lies with those who were in a position to make a timely and credible run and chose not to. I don’t blame Bill Kristol for the cowardice of Romney et al. but it stands to reason that his efforts crowded out others, like Better for America, earlier in the race leaving us with this eleventh hour attempt.

    All that having been said, McMullen has my vote.

    • #7
  8. J Climacus Member
    J Climacus
    @JClimacus

    Why not? I’m not voting for Hillary or trump so why not pull the lever for thi guy?

    • #8
  9. KC Mulville Inactive
    KC Mulville
    @KCMulville

    Before the whole glass shatters, it starts to crack, first with small chips, then with large shards. This may be a chip, but I hope the shards follow.

    • #9
  10. Casey Inactive
    Casey
    @Casey

    The best you can do is a guy whose grandfather was drinking buddies with John Wilkes Booth? Come on!

    • #10
  11. barbara lydick Inactive
    barbara lydick
    @barbaralydick

    Why is the Republican Party so determined to get St. Hill elected???

    • #11
  12. Marion Evans Inactive
    Marion Evans
    @MarionEvans

    He got a Master’s degree at Wharton, vs. Trump’s puny Bachelor’s.

    McMullin 1, Trump 0.

    • #12
  13. BrentB67 Inactive
    BrentB67
    @BrentB67

    McMullinMania? McMania? Gilmore for VP? A lot to work with here.

    I feel sorry for the guy and hope he enjoys his 15 seconds.

    • #13
  14. BrentB67 Inactive
    BrentB67
    @BrentB67

    barbara lydick:Why is the Republican Party so determined to get St. Hill elected???

    To ensure the continuity of the debt funded welfare state.

    • #14
  15. James Gawron Inactive
    James Gawron
    @JamesGawron

    Tom Meyer, Ed.: desperate, pathetic, and late.

    Tom,

    I think this is getting to the point of unbalanced. Obama’s eight years of total failure, not interesting. Clinton’s criminality, not interesting. Trump is accused of a microaggression again and it’s the end of the world.

    Get a grip.

    Regards,

    Jim

    • #15
  16. Could Be Anyone Inactive
    Could Be Anyone
    @CouldBeAnyone

    barbara lydick:Why is the Republican Party so determined to get St. Hill elected???

    My question is why does trump act like he wants her elected. I get that he likes Bill and Hillary, but if he was really a fighter, I would expect more from him.

    • #16
  17. Jamie Lockett Member
    Jamie Lockett
    @JamieLockett

    BrentB67:

    barbara lydick:Why is the Republican Party so determined to get St. Hill elected???

    To ensure the continuity of the debt funded welfare state.

    As if any of the top two choices this election would make a difference in that regard.

    • #17
  18. Jamie Lockett Member
    Jamie Lockett
    @JamieLockett

    James Gawron:

    Tom Meyer, Ed.: desperate, pathetic, and late.

    Tom,

    I think this is getting to the point of unbalanced. Obama’s eight years of total failure, not interesting. Clinton’s criminality, not interesting. Trump is accused of a microaggression again and it’s the end of the world.

    Get a grip.

    Regards,

    Jim

    What?

    • #18
  19. BrentB67 Inactive
    BrentB67
    @BrentB67

    Jamie Lockett:

    BrentB67:

    barbara lydick:Why is the Republican Party so determined to get St. Hill elected???

    To ensure the continuity of the debt funded welfare state.

    As if any of the top two choices this election would make a difference in that regard.

    I mostly agree, but Trump is a wildcard. He may do something insane like reduce the growth of spending.

    Hillary will sign anything and everything that spends money.

    • #19
  20. barbara lydick Inactive
    barbara lydick
    @barbaralydick

    Could Be Anyone: My question is why does trump act like he wants her elected. I get that he likes Bill and Hillary, but if he was really a fighter, I would expect more from him.

    Yeah.  I shoulda’ added that!

    • #20
  21. Spin Inactive
    Spin
    @Spin

    Jamie Lockett:

    James Gawron:

    Tom Meyer, Ed.: desperate, pathetic, and late.

    Tom,

    I think this is getting to the point of unbalanced. Obama’s eight years of total failure, not interesting. Clinton’s criminality, not interesting. Trump is accused of a microaggression again and it’s the end of the world.

    Get a grip.

    Regards,

    Jim

    What?

    Regards,

    Spin

    • #21
  22. Lazy_Millennial Inactive
    Lazy_Millennial
    @LazyMillennial

    This is too little, too late. Doomed from the start, no chance to succeed, background CIA-Goldman Sachs-Congressional R’s = “establishment-banker-GOPe is out to sabotage Trump’s campaign”, etc.

    That being said, he might help down-ballot Republicans by giving anti-Trump Republicans a reason to go to the polls. Also, I’ll vote for him, because at this point he’s a better choice for President than any of the other 4 choices.

    • #22
  23. Austin Murrey Inactive
    Austin Murrey
    @AustinMurrey

    There may be a deeper game in this, which I’ve posted about in the Member Feed.

    That’s right, shilling for my own articles. At least they’re at Ricochet instead of my own website. Although come to think of it…

    • #23
  24. Mr. Dart Inactive
    Mr. Dart
    @MrDart

    “McMullin … has some well-known GOP operatives working behind the effort, including Republican consultant Rick Wilson and Florida-based pollster and operative Joel Searby.” -ABCNews

    Sad.

    • #24
  25. Cato Rand Inactive
    Cato Rand
    @CatoRand

    I’m curious to learn something about him, but suspect I’m in a small minority in that regard.  Who is deluding themselves into thinking a guy without an ounce of name recognition will get traction at this point?

    • #25
  26. ToryWarWriter Coolidge
    ToryWarWriter
    @ToryWarWriter

    I took at look at his twitter feed.  Unimpressed.  If I want to vote for her unabashed neo-con Hillary is available.

    • #26
  27. Mister D Inactive
    Mister D
    @MisterD

    Jon Gabriel, Ed.:Since Gary Johnson and Jill Stein are already featured in the polls, shouldn’t McMullin be called a fifth-party candidate?

    Political math. It goes first party, second party, third party, third party, third party, third party…

    • #27
  28. Marion Evans Inactive
    Marion Evans
    @MarionEvans

    He worked at Goldman Sachs.

    McMullin 1, Hillary 0.

    • #28
  29. Mark Coolidge
    Mark
    @GumbyMark

    Mr. Dart:“McMullin … has some well-known GOP operatives working behind the effort, including Republican consultant Rick Wilson and Florida-based pollster and operative Joel Searby.” -ABCNews

    Sad.

    Yeah, once I saw Wilson was involved, I realized this was all about him trying to improve his cash flow during the fall season.

    • #29
  30. Mark Coolidge
    Mark
    @GumbyMark

    Marion Evans:He worked at Goldman Sachs.

    McMullin 1, Hillary 0.

    Given the amount of financial support Hillary has gotten, and continues to receive, from Goldman, I think it fair to say that GS now has two candidates this fall and I have none.

    • #30
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