4 ms·

I’m Trying to Run for President, but the Democrats Won’t Let Me

5 points by ph0rque 11y ago

cjbenedikt 11y ago
That's Democracy for you!
ChuckMcM 11y ago
I like Larry Lessig but this is being more than a bit dissembling. He is quoted as saying he would pass one law and then quit.[1] And there are two huge problems with that, first Presidents in the US don't "pass laws" they sign (or veto) the laws that Congress passes. And generally if you're going to invest time and effort at becoming president and your just focussed on getting on law passed, how can we imagine you will do any of the other things you have to do as President (like stare down Vladimir Putin, or open up relations with Cuba)? If Larry really wanted to change the world he would not be making some non-serious PR campaign like attempt at running, he would actually try to make change. And to do that he needs 51 Senators and probably 300 representatives on his side. And to do that he either has to convince incumbents to sign on to his plan or help get people elected who believe in what he is trying to do. And yes that is a MUCH harder road than just throwing up a few ads and claiming you want to be elected to the highest office of the land, but it is the difference between a mission and a stunt. He is very much in stunt category here and so the rank and file democrats don't take him seriously. Donald Trump, for all is belligerence, has shown that you can get on to the political stage even when your nominal party hates you. The difference is that Trump can influence millions of people. So if Lessig continues to out raise other members of the party, and can influence his followers to get his message out, and convert more to that way of thinking. Sure, he will get on stage. But I do not believe for a second that he believes "running for President of the US" is as simple or as straight forward as running for student body president. It has never been so and will never be so. I think Larry knows this, but I could be wrong. [1] http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/view_from_chicago/2015/08/lawrence_lessig_presidential_campaign_donate_before_labor_day_for_citizen.html http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/view_from_ch...

5 points by ph0rque 11y ago

That's Democracy for you!

I like Larry Lessig but this is being more than a bit dissembling. He is quoted as saying he would pass one law and then quit.[1] And there are two huge problems with that, first Presidents in the US don't "pass laws" they sign (or veto) the laws that Congress passes. And generally if you're going to invest time and effort at becoming president and your just focussed on getting on law passed, how can we imagine you will do any of the other things you have to do as President (like stare down Vladimir Putin, or open up relations with Cuba)? If Larry really wanted to change the world he would not be making some non-serious PR campaign like attempt at running, he would actually try to make change. And to do that he needs 51 Senators and probably 300 representatives on his side. And to do that he either has to convince incumbents to sign on to his plan or help get people elected who believe in what he is trying to do. And yes that is a MUCH harder road than just throwing up a few ads and claiming you want to be elected to the highest office of the land, but it is the difference between a mission and a stunt. He is very much in stunt category here and so the rank and file democrats don't take him seriously. Donald Trump, for all is belligerence, has shown that you can get on to the political stage even when your nominal party hates you. The difference is that Trump can influence millions of people. So if Lessig continues to out raise other members of the party, and can influence his followers to get his message out, and convert more to that way of thinking. Sure, he will get on stage. But I do not believe for a second that he believes "running for President of the US" is as simple or as straight forward as running for student body president. It has never been so and will never be so. I think Larry knows this, but I could be wrong. [1] http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/view_from_chicago/2015/08/lawrence_lessig_presidential_campaign_donate_before_labor_day_for_citizen.html http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/view_from_ch...