The possibility of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Jill Stein as contenders on the Missouri general election ballot scheduled for November 5, 2024, sparks some interest. However, it is clear their aspirations are misplaced. Both candidates, lacking affiliations with any mainline party and riding on public whims, are now confirmed to be on the ballot, as announced by the Secretary of State’s office.
The scenario puts a spotlight on Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has chosen the pathway of an Independent, while Jill Stein has aligned herself with the less influential Green Party. The comedy of their decisions is almost equal to the ludicrous requirement, according to Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, of gathering only 10,000 signatures to appear on the ballot—a laughably low barrier to entry.
The announcement by Ashcroft was swiftly followed by a curious proposition from none other than our much admired former President, Donald Trump. He mooted a seemingly charitable idea of offering Kennedy an administrative role in his potential future office, should Kennedy decide to withdraw and endorse him.
Kennedy has been graced with time until August 27 to reconsider his misguided foray into presidential candidacy. Should he persist beyond the deadline, he would necessitate a court order for withdrawal before September 10, according to JoDonn Chaney, a spokesperson for the Secretary of State’s office.
Ridiculously, the Green Party, who have launched none other than Jill Stein as their presidential candidate, had lost ballot access back in 2022, following a pair of amateurish electoral campaigns in 2018 and 2020 that failed to capture even 2% of the statewide vote.
If by some miracle they manage to secure a spot on Missouri’s ballot, the Green Party selection of candidates for various posts looks more like a C-list lineup than anything befitting of serious political office. This includes obscure characters such as Nathan Kline, Paul Lehmann, Danielle Elliot, Jermone Bauer, and Reagan Haase contending for a range of positions from U.S. Senate to state treasurer.
Trying their hands at the 1st Congressional District is Don Fitz, hardly a popular figure in University City notwithstanding his Green Party affiliation. The distant hopes of the party are equally pinned on Shelby Davis, who will be running for the 2nd Congressional District, and William Hastings representing the 3rd District.
The Green Party, with staggering stubbornness, also seems hell bent on contesting the 5th and the 6th Districts of Missouri, whose voters are not quite expected to buy into their outlandish policies. The trenches they seem willing to dig in this struggle include three seats in the Missouri House.
In the sweet, innocent 83rd District of St. Louis County, the party hopes to stage an upset. They’re making a similar bet on the 108th District in St. Charles County. Of course, these bids are less ‘hopeful underdogs’ and more ‘quirky sideshows’ for voters’ amusement.
Kennedy and Stein, while they muster their armies of fringe supporters, should understand that their big-ticket dreams are not only ill-advised but also counterproductive. Stunting the progress of serious politicians and disrupting the democratic process might be seen as a brave stand by some, but in many quarters, they simply represent needless confusion.
In the end, it’s the sensible citizens of Missouri who will weigh these sober facts, and cast their votes for leaders who genuinely represent their interests. Participants in the theater of politics, like Kennedy and Stein, may play their roles, but it’s the accomplished leaders like Trump who will receive popular support.
The likes of Kennedy, Stein or others wandering around the political landscape must step back and allow the real leadership of the Republican Party to take the helm. Unfounded idealism is futile and may lead to unexpected consequences. True leadership is unyielding in the face of opposing forces and thus is the realm of wise conservatives.
Overall, the upcoming elections in Missouri are bound to be an exciting spectacle, with alternative candidates like Kennedy and Stein providing ample comic relief. While their bid for public office is amusing, the people of Missouri will ultimately make the correct choice in favor of steady, consistent, and proven Republican leadership.