[It's official] Justin Amash running for US Senate (R-MI)

[acptulsa]

If Amash was honest or intelligent (whichever you want to claim he is short of) he would offer up articles of impeachment based on arguably real grounds.

What makes you think he didn't? You assume that because nothing made it out of committee?

I mean the J6 prisoners that Trump was being accused of (and currently prosecuted for) colluding with to launch a coup and insurrection, the pardons would have been overturned and used as evidence of his guilt.

Now there's the true spirit of public service in a nutshell -- I let you go to prison so I don't have to because I'm more important than you.

[Swordsmyth]

What makes you think he didn't? You assume that because nothing made it out of committee?

If he did then he should say so.
And doing so wouldn't justify endorsing the kangaroo charges and court the deepstate ran.

Now there's the true spirit of public service in a nutshell -- I let you go to prison so I don't have to because I'm more important than you.

They all would have gone to prison anyway, and he wouldn't have been able to advocate for them or get back in office to do something about it.
And horrible precedents would have been set that would do far more harm. (I note you edited that part out of the quote)

[acptulsa]

They all would have gone to prison anyway, and he wouldn't have been able to advocate for them or get back in office to do something about it.

He could have done something about it before he left office. He didn't. He seems to have been more interested in the 2024 election than in them, in justice, or in you.

[Occam's Banana]

The wolves want you to help them expel the shepherd by foul means, and because you think he eats a sheep now and then you cheer for it.
If Amash was honest or intelligent (whichever you want to claim he is short of) he would offer up articles of impeachment based on arguably real grounds.

"ZOMG!1!! If we make it easier to boot commies, gun-grabbers, etc. out of government, the Deep State will win!!" LOL

I mean the J6 prisoners that Trump was being accused of (and currently prosecuted for) colluding with to launch a coup and insurrection, the pardons would have been overturned and used as evidence of his guilt.
A pardons would have conceded the precedent that the protests were indeed illegal insurrection and damaged our rights going forward.

(1) All of those accusations and interpretations were going to happen, did happen, and are happening, anyway, so he avoided nothing, and
(2) Trump easily could have used the pardons as a platform to explicitly reject such accusations and interpretation. (It's a technique called "using words to specify conditions".)

But he's a narcissistically image-obsessed coward who has no principles [1], so instead ...

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/...34804052844550

You do know that nobody had been convicted when he left office, right?

Charges (let alone convictions) aren't required prior to the issuance of pardons.

Blanket pardons would also have protected any fed agents in the crowd should we catch them in the future.

Trump easily could have exempted "fed agents" in the text of any pardons. (It's a technique called "using words to specify conditions".)

But he's a narcissistically image-obsessed coward who has no principles [1], so instead ...

Trump wants new FBI building

[1] And the hell of it is, having no principles still puts him ahead of Biden and others, who have bad principles.

[Brian4Liberty]

https://twitter.com/justinamash/stat...32693985161365

[Occam's Banana]

https://twitter.com/justinamash/stat...32693985161365

https://twitter.com/justinamash/stat...32693985161365
{Justin Amash @justinamash | 29 February 2024}

When I established an exploratory committee for Senate, I understood the challenge ahead. Running for office requires an extraordinary commitment, not just from the candidate but also from family, friends, volunteers, and donors. A campaign puts them through so much. That’s reason enough not to run for office unless there’s a clear path to victory and a high likelihood of success.

After thoroughly evaluating all aspects of a potential campaign, I’m convinced that no candidate would be better positioned to win both the Republican primary and the general election. That’s why, today, I’m making it official: I’m joining the race for United States Senate in Michigan.

The past few years away from Congress have given me time to reflect on the experiences that have shaped my life, the principles of liberty that inspire me, and what my tenure in Congress meant to the people of my community.

My parents arrived in the United States as teenagers in search of a better future—my father, a Palestinian refugee, and my mother, a Syrian immigrant. They instilled in me a love for America and for the values and principles at the heart of our Declaration of Independence and Constitution.

We live in the greatest country on earth, but the ideals that have made it great are increasingly taken for granted. People often feel helpless and hopeless, unheard and ignored by Washington, and trapped between opposing forces who reject America’s principles or don’t understand them.

So many times in my daily life, I’ve been approached by individuals who want me to know how much it meant to them that I did exactly what I said I’d do: that I upheld the Constitution regardless of the political consequences, that I read the bills, that I explained my votes, that I listened to the people I represented and held myself accountable to them in open town halls—giving them an opportunity to change my mind whenever we disagreed, and me an opportunity to change theirs.

I feel an obligation to get back to this work, but the circumstances of this upcoming election give it urgency.

Regardless of who wins the White House and Congress, the United States will remain deeply polarized. What we need is not a rubber stamp for either party, but an independent-minded senator prepared to challenge anyone and everyone on the people’s behalf—someone focused not on extending federal power so Republicans or Democrats in Washington can achieve their political ends, but on ensuring that Americans have the personal and economic freedom to pursue their own ends.

As I wrote when I launched my exploratory committee: We need a principled, consistent constitutional conservative in the Senate—someone with a record of taking on the bipartisan oligarchy, defending sound money and free speech, fighting the surveillance state and military-industrial complex, and protecting all our rights.

The advantage is ours in this battle, but that doesn’t mean victory will be easy. Mitch McConnell’s handpicked candidate, Mike Rogers, has built his career on expanding the power of the state at the expense of individual liberty, and the establishment will stop at nothing to get him elected.

But I’d take you over them any day.

Your financial support will be critical in this contest, so please give whatever you can at justinamash.com. These resources will support our operation to collect petition signatures to make the ballot and will allow us to build out our team across the state.

Please also sign up at our website to let me know how you can contribute your time and talents to this effort. I’ll need your constant advocacy over the next several months. Videos, memes, graphics, messages—anything you can do to get the word out—will make a big difference.

This is the land of liberty, and it’s on us to defend it. Thank you for standing with me.

[Brian4Liberty]

https://twitter.com/justinamash/stat...48715050516972

[Brian4Liberty]

https://twitter.com/USAB4L/status/1764028507343258066

[susano]

Don't think I've seen this here.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — The list of Republicans vying to replace U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Lansing, grew even longer Thursday, with former Congressman Justin Amash announcing he’s joining the race.

Amash, who represented Grand Rapids in Congress from 2011 to 2021, made the announcement on X, formerly known as Twitter.

“After thoroughly evaluating all aspects of a potential campaign, I’m convinced that no candidate would be better positioned to win both the Republican primary and the general election,” he wrote. “That’s why, today, I’m making it official: I’m joining the race for United States Senate in Michigan.”

Amash joins a Republican field that includes former Congressman Mike Rogers, R-Brighton, former Congressman Peter Meijer, R-Grand Rapids Township, businessman and economist Sandy Pensler, and others. Stabenow announced last year that she will retire at the end of her term, leaving the seat open. Long lists of candidates have emerged, Democrat and Republican alike.

https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rap...nate-seat.html

Mike Rogers needs to lose because he's a neocon. IIRC, his wife is a defense consultant or some such grift. Then there's a Jewish supremacist Democrap who will have the Satanic trifecta behind her. I haven't forgiven Amash for impeachment but it is what it is and I hope he wins.

[Matt Collins]

Hopefully he wins, but he has created so much bad will against himself that he doesn't have much of a chance. I hope I'm wrong.

[susano]

Hopefully he wins, but he has created so much bad will against himself that he doesn't have much of a chance. I hope I'm wrong.

Because of him and Peter Meijer, GR now has a pro war Democrap congress thing.

[spudea]

Didn't he leave the Republican party to be an independent? What a loser!

[Anti Globalist]

Wish him the best of luck but his TDS will most likely prevent him from winning.

[Brian4Liberty]

https://twitter.com/MassieforKY/stat...80362728632383

[Brian4Liberty]

https://twitter.com/WarrenDavidson/s...62997502042611

[Occam's Banana]

Justin Amash For Senate Money Bomb Space!
- LINK: https://twitter.com/i/spaces/1LyxBnjkmybxN

https://twitter.com/justinamash/stat...86974780735956

[Brian4Liberty]

From Mike Rogers @MikeRogersForMI

President Reagan said it best: "The problem is not that people are taxed too little, the problem is that government spends too much."

The Biden-Slotkin spending habits have driven the American economy to the brink. On November 5th, we stop them.

Mike Rogers knows all about spending too much as a government official. This Republican primary is no contest when it comes to our records. On August 6, we stop him.

Continuing appropriations bill: https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2011/roll179.xml
Amash: No
Rogers: Yes

Debt limit increase: https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2011/roll690.xml
Amash: No
Rogers: Yes

Bloated spending bill: https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2011/roll857.xml
Amash: No
Rogers: Yes

Omnibus: https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2011/roll941.xml
Amash: No
Rogers: Yes

Bloated spending bill: https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2012/roll451.xml
Amash: No
Rogers: Yes

Omnibus + Obamacare funding: https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2012/roll579.xml
Amash: No
Rogers: Yes

Reduce automatic spending cuts: https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2012/roll644.xml
Amash: No
Rogers: Yes

Increase tax rates + delay automatic spending cuts: https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2012/roll659.xml
Amash: No
Rogers: Yes

Spend more + cancel automatic spending cuts + suspend debt limit: https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2013/roll550.xml
Amash: No
Rogers: Yes

Spend more + raise spending caps: https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2013/roll640.xml
Amash: No
Rogers: Yes

1,600-page, trillion-dollar omnibus: https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2014/roll021.xml
Amash: No
Rogers: Yes

"Farm" bill loaded with subsidies and welfare: https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2014/roll031.xml
Amash: No
Rogers: Yes

OPIC subsidies for foreign investments: https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2014/roll208.xml
Amash: No
Rogers: Yes

Cut billions in corporate welfare: https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2014/roll377.xml
Amash: Yes
Rogers: No

Reduce Department of Energy spending: https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2014/roll400.xml
Amash: Yes
Rogers: No

Highway Trust Fund bailout: https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2014/roll414.xml
Amash: No
Rogers: Yes

Spending bill + Ex-Im corporate welfare bank: https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2014/roll509.xml
Amash: No
Rogers: Yes

1,700-page, trillion-dollar "CRomnibus": https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2014/roll563.xml
Amash: No
Rogers: Yes

https://twitter.com/justinamash/stat...81820269875388

[Brian4Liberty]

...

https://twitter.com/justinamash/stat...65268918071508

[The Rebel Poet]

They might.
He did support having the military pay for Trans surgeries and giving voting rights to illegal invaders.

Wait, you still have stage 5 Amash Derangement Syndrome?

[Anti-Neocon]

Wait, you still have stage 5 Amash Derangement Syndrome?

His brain is mush from his stage 6 Trump Rearrangement Syndrome. Everything else follows from that.

With Meijer out of the race, that at least opens up an opportunity for Amash. The Trumpies are going to go for Rogers so it's more about the rest of them.

[Bern]

From a couple weeks ago:

The Detroit Free Press editorial board endorsed former Rep. Justin Amash (R-MI) on Monday in the GOP primary for Michigan’s open U.S. Senate seat – taking a brutal swipe at former Rep. Mike Rogers (R-MI).

Rogers, who former President Donald Trump has endorsed, is currently leading the field to run in November for a seat that could potentially decide the majority in the Senate.

“Rogers’ transactional approach to politics, his ideological inconsistency and obeisance to former President Donald Trump render him a poor fit for this Senate seat,” wrote the editorial board of Detorit’s largest paper while explaining its decision to endorse Amash. ...
...

https://www.mediaite.com/politics/de...higan-primary/

I looked for some info on the Michigan Senate race this morning. Looks like Amash is trailing Mike Rogers for the GOP nomination and the (presumed?) Dem candidate Slotkin is likely to beat either of them in the general election. That's a shame.

[Occam's Banana]

"YOUR WELCOME" with Michael Malice #318: Justin Amash
https://odysee.com/@MichaelMalice:6/...l-malice-318:4
{Michael Malice | 03 July 2024}

Michael Malice (“YOUR WELCOME”) invites 2024 senate candidate and former US representative, Justin Amash, onto the show to share his thoughts on this year’s political races, what caused his evolution as a politician, and how the Israel Hamas war has deeply impacted him and his family.

JUSTIN AMASH
- https://x.com/justinamash
- https://justinamash.com

[Brian4Liberty]

https://x.com/justinamash/status/1816224501044244916

At times, maybe I haven’t been direct enough in my request (and need) for campaign funds.

I’ll be blunt.

Our internal metrics are excellent. We are winning this race for U.S. Senate. We have the better product by far.

But we don’t have the resources we need right now.

This evening I’ll have to decide whether to cut a significant portion of our planned final outreach to primary voters.

It doesn’t have to be this way.

We just need 1,000 people to give $100, or 100 people to give $1,000. I know that’s not possible for everyone, but if you support this campaign, and you can spare it, I’m asking for your help.

This is not one of those pitches drafted by a consultant. What I post here is genuine.

I’m writing this message because it’s serious. You can make a difference in the outcome.

Thank you so much.

[Brian4Liberty]

https://x.com/USAB4L/status/1820914547844338020

[Brian4Liberty]

https://x.com/USAB4L/status/1820918827758354857

[jmdrake]

When self-proclaimed constitutionalist Rep. Justin Amash (R-MI) endorsed impeachment of President Donald Trump, it shocked many conservative Republicans to see the former tea party favorite join in the Democrats’ witch hunt.
But Amash’s left-ward drift has been a long time in the making. One egregious example in recent years was Amash’s support of federally-funded elective surgery for transgenders in the military.
In 2017, Amash joined 190 Democrats and a handful of liberal anti-Trump Republicans to reject a proposal by Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-MO) to deny federal funds for the elective surgery of military personnel claiming they are transgender.
“We must confront these challenges by ensuring our defense dollars maximize the military’s readiness and lethality,” Hartlzer said. “That is why I’m offering an amendment to advance these goals by prohibiting taxpayer dollars from funding gender reassignment surgeries and related hormone therapy treatment for members of the military and their dependents.”


The measure could have saved up to $3.7 billion over the next decade by refusing to indulge these potentially mentally ill individuals with genital mutilation surgery and other health care services pertaining to their condition. The supposed fiscal conservative voted in effect to expend federal funds on this social project.
After feeling the heat from his constituents regarding this vote, Amash first passed the buck, blaming former Defense Secretary James Mattis to his support of military transgenderism.
“Sec. [James] Mattis and the White House urged us not to adopt Hartzler Amendment [and] all the administration wants is three months to review everything,” he said.
The administration never confirmed Amash’s statement. It does not seem plausible that Amash, who has emerged as the top opponent to Trump in the Republican Party, would take orders from his White House.

Always talking out of both sides of his mouth, Amash seemed to endorse the idea of federally funding transgender medical care when addressing his followers on social media.
“Those who serve in our Armed Forces deserve the best medical care,” Amash wrote on his Facebook account. “One question we must ask and answer, with the aid of the medical community, is which treatments are medically necessary and which are simply elective. With respect to transgender persons, we should focus on the best science, not the political or philosophical opinions of partisans.”
Other times Amash has worked with Democrats have included his vote against Kate’s Law, his voting down of a resolution condemning illegal immigrants voting in elections, and his protection of Planned Parenthood funding with Obama-esque ‘present’ votes.
Two primary challengers have already announced that they will be battling against Amash next year to be the Republican U.S. Congressional nominee in Michigan’s third district.

https://bigleaguepolitics.com/flashb...-for-military/

What about a distinction between what is necessary to achieve gender transition versus what is necessary because of gender transition? For those who have had vagioplasty, they have basically an ongoing open wound that has to be properly dealt with or else there is a risk of infection and death.

https://nursing.jhu.edu/magazine/art...-vaginoplasty/

Even those who de-transition, like Walter Heyer, have ongoing health issues.

https://virtueonline.org/review-tran...ors-walt-heyer

I was 50 when I had the breast implants removed, but the next few years were spent in confusion and counseling. In 1996, at the age of 55, I was finally free from the desire to live as a woman and changed my legal documents back to Walt, my biologically correct male sex. I still have scars on my chest, reminders of the gender detour that cost me 13 years of my life. I am on a hormone regimen to try to regulate a system that is permanently altered.

The amendment could have been better written IMO. There should be no money for helping someone to transition, but a case by case basis for meeting the actual health needs of people who have already transitioned.

[jmdrake]

https://x.com/USAB4L/status/1820914547844338020

I wish him the best (which means he's probably doomed).

[Brian4Liberty]

I wish him the best (which means he's probably doomed).

Unfortunately, that is likely. Liberty candidates are batting zero this year vs. the neocon swamp in GOP primaries.

[Matt Collins]

If Trump endorsed Rogers, then Rogers will win.

Justin isn't very smart which is unfortunate because he was at one time a better than average voice in Congress.

[The Rebel Poet]

Unfortunately, that is likely. Liberty candidates are batting zero this year vs. the neocon swamp in GOP primaries.

Yup. Michigan Republicans chose the deepstate because "orange man good".