Posted on 07/16/2016 9:09:41 AM PDT by Kaslin
Donald Trump hit two home runs this week. The first, immediately following the horrific terrorist truck attack in Nice, was his statement in a media interview wherein he said that if elected, he would ask Congress for a declaration of war to combat global terrorism. The second was the inspired selection of Indiana governor Mike Pence to join the GOP ticket.
Before getting to Pence, let me linger a moment on Trump's declaration-of-war pronouncement.
For well over a year, I have argued for a Washington wake-up call whereby the president and Congress enact a formal declaration of war against ISIS and all other Islamic jihadist terror groups. These groups have declared war on us. We have yet to respond.
Following the tragic terrorist attacks in Paris late last year, French president Francois Hollande declared war on ISIS. It was an act of courage. But France had to go it alone.
France has been an American ally for about 250 years. It is a key member of NATO. But President Obama never stood shoulder to shoulder with Hollande and asked for a declaration of war against ISIS. Nor did he use American clout for a NATO declaration of war.
Why is this important? I believe a war declaration would show energy, urgency, determination and leadership -- not only to rally Americans, but to send a global message to the terrorists.
I recently interviewed former secretaries of state Henry Kissinger and George P. Shultz, as well as retired four-star general Jack Keane. They all endorsed a full-throated U.S. declaration of war. And they added that with such a declaration, the U.S. must be prepared to destroy ISIS in its safe havens in Iraq and Syria.
So when Donald Trump made it clear that this, in fact, "is war," deserving of a declaration of war, he distinguished himself. No one else has done it. Not Congress. Not Obama. Certainly not Clinton.
Trump's second home run was his selection of Mike Pence as his running mate. Down through the years, as a leader of the conservative House Republican Study Committee and later as the third-ranking member of the House Republican leadership team, he stood firm as a genuine and consistent conservative.
On economic policy Pence has held to the key building block of growth. He is a budget hawk who voted against President George W. Bush's fiscally bloated No Child Left Behind education bill and hyper-expensive Medicare prescription-drug bill. He said he would not support new middle-class entitlements. He was consistent.
Just over 10 years ago, Pence was voted conservative man of the year by Human Events. I did the interview and subsequent write-up. Pence described himself as "an unregenerate supply-sider" whose central aim is to marry supply-side tax cuts with strict spending restraint to expand the economy and get the budget into balance.
A few years ago, Pence spoke to the Detroit Economic Club. He called for sound monetary reform, tax relief, access to American energy, regulatory reform, and trade. New York Sun editor Seth Lipsky reminds us that Trump has stood for a stable and reliable dollar, including a standard to back it up. Pence stands for these same things.
In Indiana, which has been hard hit by manufacturing losses, job declines and shrinking wages, Governor Pence combined tax cuts with spending restraint to spur the Hoosier economy. In this important respect he would be an excellent spokesman within the industrial Rust Belt, which includes Iowa, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania. These states have all suffered similarly, but they're states where polling suggests Trump could carry the day in November. Pence helps get him there.
Contributing to GOP unity, Pence is a churchgoing evangelical family man. He believes that "the sanctity of human life is the central axiom of Western civilization." In this respect he will be an important bridge to social conservatives. And he might just soften the opposition of the Never Trump movement.
And Pence is well acquainted with the ways of Washington. He has strong ties to Speaker Paul Ryan and he is well regarded by GOP leaders in both the Senate and the House.
Finally, he will prove to be a tough and unyielding spokesman for the Trump ticket. Pence is a fighter. He will happily go after Clinton's awful record.
So this was a week where we learned a Trump-Pence ticket will seek to declare and wage war to destroy ISIS. We learned that the GOP ticket is pro-growth, ready for tax cuts and deregulation. And we learned that the ticket will be allied with traditional and social conservatives. With these credentials, Trump-Pence is in position to carry states in November that no Republican has won in decades.
It was also a week where Clinton's polls were like stocks looking for a bottom. Trump-Pence is a winner for the GOP.
Well I’ll be voting for Trump. Pence is not the fellow I would have chosen. Warren or any other dim will have him for lunch in a debate. At this stage we need will and action to save the nation. Pence has neither the will or power of personal belief to do so. I hope Trump does.
“The GOPe led senate will move to Impeach Trump within 60 days of the election.”
YOU NEED TO LAY OFF YOUR BONG FOR AWHILE!
Have you listened to Governor Pence’s remarks at the Trump rally a few days ago and his short speech today? He came across as very strong, very principled, and excellent at expressing his views.
Pence collapsed like a $2.00 beach chair when challenged by George Stephanopoulos on the Indiana RFRA.
He ran home with his tail between his legs, threw a lot of conservatives/evangelicals who backed him down the stairs, and wound up with a horrible replacement bill.
I don’t know much about Pence, but I think I know Trump reasonably well. I’m pretty sure he made it clear to his VP nominee that there weren’t going to be apologies and surrenders and “walk backs”. Take the position, hold the position, win the fight.
Pence may have collapsed in the past, but I think he has strong orders not to do so in the future. There’s just no upside to that.
No, Ted, that will not happen.
Your concern is noted.
O goody, a global war. Any particular enemy or will we just spend trillions chasing ghosts? No veteran would agree it is wise to start a global war.
We did not start it. We have been in it for about 2 decades.
Well, exactly what is the object of the declaration of war? ISIS? If they are obliterated another group will pop up under a different banner with the same objectives. The problem is Islam, and it’s all over the world. How do you send troops to deal with that? Considering western nations have welcomed the enemy into their countries wit open arms, how does a declaration of war solve that problem?
This is not some conventional army that wears uniforms and marches across borders. This isn’t another WWII. The only solution is to send all Muslims back to Muslim countries and let them have their Shia/Sunni fight until there are none left.
ummm the House has to impeach, not the Senate
Then the Senate would have to vote 2/3 to convict and remove from office.
I don’t think the Senate is so far gone that they will remove a President in the first 60 days in office, or anytime, for less than really major legal offenses. Hell, they didn’t remove Clinton the Perjurer.
If we declare war on ISIS can we use nukes??? (kidding I think)
I don't know what you're smoking, but it must be some strong stuff!
You want TWO Alpha males?
TWO 'bad' cops?
All who would do us harm.
I hope your extended family is in a REALLY safe place.
I hope your electrical infrastructure is hardened.
Let then pick which one.
Disrespectfully disagree.
The core of Trump's message ab initio was bringing more jobs back to US equals full employment equals wage inflation.
The intervening nonsense - the ISIS hydra, as the fruits of Bobo's labor - is not 'Trump being Trump'.
Trump being Trump is 'Watch me, I am the Greatest Negotiator, Democrat globalist corporatism has reached its nadir, I will rectify this on Day One.'
Pence is a reaffirmation of the nexus of Trump's true campaign - he made Indiana great again faster than most states after the Great Recession; ergo, I, Trump, will make the US great again in luxurious, Trumptastic fashion -- with some portfolio guidance from Mr. Indiana.
On that, Pence is the perfect pick.
On the true measure - who gets to ride AF2 to foreign funerals and visit nursing homes and preside over a very close 51-49ish Senate, it's also damn near the perfect pick.
As to Trump being Trump I want him back fighting and I want him to articulate a vision for the country in addition to bashing Clinton. In short I want him to kick ass again. Handlers be damned.
The more I hear the more I like the Pence pick, and I liked it already since the runners up (Fat CC, Newt, and a democrat General) make me sick.
Trump is powerful presence, he doesn’t need that in a running mate. He needs the conservative base and Washington exp., and Pence provides that.
We’ll see. He is a good man. I just think he is too nice a man. Not combative when needed.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.