Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a former environmental lawyer who ran as an independent presidential candidate in the 2024 election before suspending his campaign in its final months, was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Thursday as the next Secretary of Health and Human Services in a 52-48 vote.
Kennedy’s nomination was supported by a majority of Senate Republicans, with only Mitch McConnell of Kentucky voting against it. Senate Democrats and the chamber’s two independents opposed his confirmation. He will now lead the Department of Health and Human Services, which is responsible for federal agencies including the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
President Donald Trump first announced Kennedy for the position following the 2024 election cycle. During the election, Kennedy launched a presidential bid of his own as a Democrat but later left the primary to run as an independent. He selected California attorney Nicole Shanahan as his running mate before ultimately suspending his campaign and endorsing Trump.
While on the campaign trail, Kennedy also sought the nomination of the Libertarian Party, where he was eliminated on the first round of voting at its national convention. He later formed a Joint Fundraising Committee with the Libertarian National Committee and over a dozen Libertarian Party state affiliates to support his candidacy while bringing in funds for the affiliated groups. The joint committee continued to operate even after he suspended his campaign.
Kennedy is also a lifetime member of the Libertarian Party, according to statements by the former Chair of the Libertarian National Committee made around the same time his nomination was first announced. The party previously hailed his nomination as a “momentous achievement,” describing him as a “Proud Lifetime Member.”
A screenshot of a Federal Election Commission filing indicates Kennedy became a lifetime member of the Libertarian Party in November 2024. However, some Libertarian Party members have challenged this claim, pointing out that his listing lacks an employer, occupation, and a verifiable address previously associated with him. IPR attempted to verify Kennedy’s membership by consulting a historical list of lifetime members once available on the Libertarian Party’s website, but that list is no longer accessible.
Measles and many other diseases, especially childhood diseases, are very happy at this development.
“I didn’t say anything about Chase. Not a fan of big government authoritarians, guys who have to be sued for trying to steal houses from the elderly, guys who want to ban food and medicine (I even support his obvious hormone use), Republican Lites of any stripe.”
You are saying something about Oliver right here, namely that you are not a fan of him. And fair enough. But you are not saying anything about Kennedy here though.
“Also think any who calls it ‘the jab’ is missing a few brain cells”
As opposed to what? “The poke”? “The poison syringe”? “The lethal injection”? “The Fauci-ouchy”?
They can’t be called “vaccines” because they do not meet any proper definition of a vaccine. For example the CDC’s old definition – before they falsified it to peddle these jabs – was: “a product that produces immunity therefore protecting the body from the disease”. None of the covid jabs meet that definition. (Not even Novavax, which Dr. Peter McCullough described as the only one that might be relatively safe to, though he wouldn’t recommend it if you have any agency in the matter!)
They do however meet the definition of gene-therapy, so that is what I call them: untested and unsafe gene-therapy. But there is no denying that “jab” rolls off the tongue more easily, and is more understandable to most people. So calling it a “jab”, certainly doesn’t make you look anywhere near as ignorant and/or dishonest as anyone who continues to erroneously refer to it as a “vaccine”.
“I think it’s obvious Hornberger was the ‘most libertarian’ candidate, […] If the Mises people wanted to be serious about supporting a serious libertarian-libertarian and against the ‘leftward’ slide […] they could have supported someone like that.
I think you may be “missing a few brain cells”, Greg :p
While Hornberger might not be as anti-libertarian as Oliver, ter Maat and Ballay, what makes him less unlibertarian than Mapstead, Olivier, Toad and Trump (incl. baggage) – let alone Rectenwald, Smith, Kennedy and Trump (excl. baggage)?
Also, I think it’s obvious Hornberger was the “most libertarian” candidate, and I’ve never been a big fan of the guy. If the Mises people wanted to be serious about supporting a serious libertarian-libertarian and against the “leftward” slide or whatever you want to call it, and not just MAGA-lite appeal to the podcast and MMA grifters, they could have supported someone like that.
I didn’t say anything about Chase. Not a fan of big government authoritarians, guys who have to be sued for trying to steal houses from the elderly, guys who want to ban food and medicine (I even support his obvious hormone use), Republican Lites of any stripe. Also think any who calls it “the jab” is missing a few brain cells but that’s not really relevant to the proper role of government.
“A big government guy who opposes consumer choice and freedom, a true Libertarian hero.”
An anti-medical fascism guy who supports informed consent and taking responsibility. No libertarian hero, but at least less unlibertarian than most in politics – in particular what the LP churns out these days (and I’m definitely not only talking about Oliver…)
“President of Eminent Domain and co-President Musk living off the government teat”
Neither Trump nor Musk is making anywhere near as much money as public servants, as they were as private citizens. And they are doing more to cut off – or at least to expose – the government teat than we’ve seen in many years. (No puns intended.)
“Chase Oliver lost badly, even to Kennedy, who wasn’t even running.”
Well, Oliver is less libertarian than Kennedy. All of the 2024 LP candidates were, with the possible exception of Rectenwald and Smith – and of course NOTA.
Kennedy is sort of like Trump without two terms of bad decisions and broken promises in baggage attached to him: Nothing too amazing, but less bad than most alternatives – certainly including Trump with his baggage taken into account, but perhaps not including Trump without considering his baggage…
Greg C is mad because covid jab and mask mandate supporter Chase Oliver lost badly, even to Kennedy, who wasn’t even running.
A big government guy who opposes consumer choice and freedom, a true Libertarian hero. Fits in well with the President of Eminent Domain and co-President Musk living off the government teat.
This on the other hand (cf. Tulsi Gabbard) is a good appointment. One of Trump’s best. Quite possibly even the single best appointment of his current term thus far.
See also:
https://independentpoliticalreport.com/2024/11/libertarian-national-committee-chair-in-dialogue-with-trump-on-cabinet-appointee/#comments
and
https://rumble.com/v65j3ks-can-trumps-appointees-make-america-healthy-again-maybe….html (All credit to Andy for sharing this one!)
“with only Mitch McConnell of Kentucky voting against it”
Remember when McConnell said his previous term would be his last and he wouldn’t seek re-election, yet here he is still freezing up, falling down and generally causing trouble all over the senate?
https://www.youtube.com/embed/gUlF1naMr3Y?end=20
“Senate Democrats and the chamber’s two independents opposed his confirmation”
Bad Fetterman’s monster! Go back to your Braddock PA dungeon laboratory and think about what you’ve done.