Posted on 07/17/2016 2:07:26 PM PDT by OddLane
Without being able to peer into the mind of Donald Trump, it’s hard to discern what prompted him to pick Governor Pence. If we take his words at face value, party unity was one of the primary motivating factors. That undoubtedly played a role, although I doubt it will sway Republicans in the Dump Trump camp, whose obsession borders on the pathological and will undoubtedly persist through Cleveland.
My take is that this choice is a bid to boost the perceived statesmanship of the GOP going into November. The gravitas deficit, a la Dick Cheney and Gaffes Biden, who was at one point inexplicably believed to add stature to a presidential ticket, is something HRC’s media lapdogs have tried to play up throughout this campaign. Keep in mind, Donald Trump’s opponent is a woman who owes her political career to the slanders she professed in defense of a man who used the Oval Office as a brothel, but this is the world we live in.
-While some analysts have already mocked Pence’s pronounced lack of charisma, the truth is that this is one area in which the Republican ticket needs no artificial enhancement.
If Republicans had nominated another sacrificial lamb like Mitt Romney, a man who can be emasculated by the likes of Candy Crowley in front of a national television audience, then perhaps a fire-eater would be in order. However, Donald Trump is an individual who is not only capable of eviscerating his Democratic opponent and her myrmidons in the press, but relishes the opportunity. As Michael Malice has pointed out, Trump has already neutralized nearly the entire playbook the Democratic Party has used to great effect in previous campaigns.
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Usually, the VP is the attack dog, while the presidential candidate remains above the fray.
I find it refreshingly ironic that for the Trump/Pence ticket the roles have been reversed.
Personally, I would have chosen Christie, but Pence is not a bad choice. Newt would probably have been the worst choice, given his personal issues (affairs, treatment of ex-wife) and his tendency to run off at the mouth (sometimes brilliantly, sometimes not). It also disturbed me that Newt could not hold his own against Bill Clinton.
I think Christie would have been a fighter, but he has his own scandals and it would be have a NY Metro heavy ticket.
At least Pence is conservative and (seemingly) squeaky clean.
“It also disturbed me that Newt could not hold his own against Bill Clinton.”
IMHO Newt did very well against Bill Clinton.
It’s not so hard to figure out. It was a political calculation. A fine outstanding conservative and choice.
Christie is a RINO
Newt would have been a disastrous choice, although I've actually been enjoying his Facebook live-streams during this presidential race.
He's a much better commentator than politician, IMO.
The nevertrump idiots and others who just feel queasy about Trump are now going to have to come out in oppostion to one of the most conservative Governors as well. That is going to conflict with what they tell themselves they believe in.
Cognitive dissonance.
Second order of business: bring in moderates and independents.
That's coming right after the convention.
Trump and Pence and all his team will get that done.
Really? Newt admitted to getting flustered and confused when interacting with Clinton. It’s like Clinton’s persona turned him weak-kneed or something.
Also, consider this: Newt resigned, Clinton didn’t.
Didn’t Trump meet with GOP Congressmen a couple weeks ago.
Maybe they told him, pick one of us.
What role will the third party candidates play?
“Also, consider this: Newt resigned, Clinton didn’t.”
That is not a valid comparison.
The comparison is, Newt, with the entire media against him, resigned.
Clinton, with the entire media for him, did not.
A very significant difference.
Gary Johnson is sort of a left leaning liberterian. So, he will likely pull a few more votes from Trump than from Clinton, but will pull some from both.
If there is a Green candidate on the ballot, they might pull a few votes from Clinton.
It’s remarkable how little traction Jill Stein is getting, considering the Democrats just nominated a corporate shill who wants to militarize the entire Middle East and probably attack Russia.
There is only one reason for a Vice President. He is supposed to keep extremists from wanting to shoot the President, knowing who they would put in the White House after the assassination.
One of the arguments being made against Pence is that it makes Trump’s impeachment more likely, should they win.
I resent the establishment republicans who will not support Trump. They cannot see the bigger picture. The future Supreme Court appointments are enough reason not to vote for Mrs. Bill Clinton.
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