UPDATED: What Does The Kanye West Announcement Mean?
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@kanyewest
We must now realize the promise of America by trusting God, unifying our vision and building our future. I am running for president of the United States ! #2020VISION
As a practical matter ...
1. Running for president would seem to preclude joining the Trump ticket as VP.
2. Running as a third party candidate is problematic as well, except as a write-in. Libertarian, Green, some other party? None seem like a good fit, and most probably have their tickets set--although not necessarily ballot access. Any of this would likely destroy the Dem party as currently constituted. It would not necessarily destroy West's ability to initiate a Trump-like takeover of the GOP in 2024.
3. Is this an attempt by West to muscle his way onto the Dem ticket as VP, in effect pushing the presidential nominee to the side? But there are serious problems here. How would this be reconciled with the Dem base--a black man talking about God, with a high profile recent history of getting close to Donald Trump? How would the Dems envision governing if they were to win?
I'm sure there are other considerations I'm missing, but that's a start.
UPDATE: Thinking about this, if we grant West credit for seriousness then we know that HE knows he can't actually win. OTOH, if he is serious--and his record of statements since Trump's election suggests he is--then he probably realizes that the current state of African Americans in American politics is toxic--for African Americans. The conclusion would be that he intends to change the current dynamic with regard to African American participation in American politics. That cannot be good news for Dems.