Free Republic

It goes without saying that Senator Jeff Sessions is popular with a huge number of Americans. It is also true that Joni Ernst, a war veteran, is a rising star in Republican ranks. Either would make wonderful Vice Presidents for different reasons. However, the trade-off is unacceptable. In the case of Ernst, she is sitting as senator in Iowa, at best a purple state. There is absolutely no guarantee that her seat would be won by a Republican. Why is that so crucial? The Republican majority in the Senate is only 4 senators. And this year the Republicans have 24...

Joni Ernst all but removed herself from Donald Trump’s vice presidential search, telling POLITICO in an interview that she wants to help Trump become president but that she’s focused on Iowa and the Senate, where the freshman senator said she's “just getting started.” The GOP senator met with Trump on Monday and received effusive praise afterward, with Trump predicting he will “see her again.” But it likely won’t be as his running mate. “I made that very clear to him that I’m focused on Iowa. I feel that I have a lot more to do in the United States Senate....

Breaking News http://www.cnbc.com/2016/07/06/bob-corker-withdraws-from-consideration-for-trump-vp.html

Joni talks to Mark Levin about the Democrats' "war on women" attacks, Obamacare's expensive and detrimental effects in Iowa, and how important it is to control our spending and balance our budget.

Washington (CNN)Donald Trump's much anticipated vice presidential pick is expected to be announced next week, a Trump adviser told CNN Tuesday... Does Trump want to double the bombast by picking a brash straight-talker who mirrors his own style, like New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie or former House Speaker Newt Gingrich? Does he prefer someone whose Washington experience and message discipline would counter his freelancing, like Indiana Gov. Mike Pence? Or does he want to elevate a rising star, like Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst or Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton? Pence and his wife Karen met with Trump at his New Jersey...

Joni Ernst manhandles Bruce Braley regarding his and the Obama Administration's failure to proactively counter ISIS.

Donald Trump on Monday spent part of his July 4th with Sen. Joni Ernst -- fueling speculation that the Iowa freshman senator could be on the short list of his vice presidential picks. Ernst told Fox News they had a "good conversation," adding, "I will continue to share my insights with Donald about the need to strengthen our economy, keep our nation safe, and ensure America is always a strong, stabilizing force around the globe." Earlier, Trump tweeted, "I look forward to meeting (Ernst) today in New Jersey. She has done a great job as Senator of Iowa!"

Donald Trump to Meet With Senator Joni Ernst, a Possible Running Mate By MAGGIE HABERMAN Donald J. Trump said on Twitter on Monday that he would meet in New Jersey with Senator Joni Ernst, Republican of Iowa, as he screens potential running mates in a series of meetings. One person briefed on the process, who was not authorized to speak publicly, said that the campaign began vetting Ms. Ernst in recent days as a possible vice-presidential pick. Jason Miller, a senior communications adviser for Mr. Trump, declined to comment. A spokesman for Ms. Ernst could not be reached. Ms. Ernst...

Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst is among the candidates being considered to become Donald Trump's running mate, a source with knowledge of Trump's vice presidential selection process tells CNN. Another source close to the process confirmed the information. It's not clear whether the freshman Republican senator and tea party star has received paperwork from the campaign or is just being scrutinized through the wealth of publicly accessible information about her. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Indiana Gov. Mike Pence are also being considered, the source said. A senior Trump campaign adviser confirmed Pence is being...

Donald Trump announced he would meet with Sen. Joni Ernst on Monday, one of several recent names dropped on his Twitter feed that are fueling speculation over his highly-anticipated vice presidential selection. "I look forward to meeting @joniernst today in New Jersey. She has done a great job as Senator of Iowa!" Trump tweeted early Monday. Ernst's name appeared in reports on VP shortlists over the weekend, and a senior Trump adviser confirmed to CNN that Ernst is being considered. Trump also doled out some conspicuous praise for Indiana Gov. Mike Pence and Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton, who have also...

Sen. John McCain is chastising GOP leaders for failing to embrace Donald Trump as the choice of millions of voters, laying out his most extensive views to date about Trump at the top of the ticket. He's also repudiating some of the presumptive nominee's comments -- particularly about prisoners of war. In a wide-ranging "State of the Union" interview in his campaign office in Phoenix, McCain criticized party leaders who are reluctant to back Trump, saying they are "out of step" with voters who have chosen the controversial businessman as the GOP standard-bearer. He defended Trump for being a strong...

The Washington Post published an article listing five candidates likely to be considered to be Trump's vice president. U.S. Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa is on that list. Ernst is Iowa's first female U.S. Senator. Ernst was not well known When she ran for the senate seat vacated by the retiring Tom Harkin. KWWL-TV caught up with Ernst and asked if she would consider serving as Donald Trump's vice president. "I would say, 'did my mother pay you to say that?', Ernst said. "But, no. I would have to consider it, but I love what I do in the United...

Which begs the question: Who is he going to pick as his vice presidential nominee? The short answer: No one knows. Trump relishes being unpredictable so trying to game out how this most unconventional of politicians will make his mind up is a bit of a guessing game. Add to that the fact that Trump's inner circle remains, largely, devoid of establishment types and you quickly get into a situation where the people talking don't know much and the people who do know aren't talking.

Jeb Bush stepped onto the fabled soapbox under a broiling sun at the Iowa State Fair here Friday and offered himself to voters as a sober adult campaigning in a summer of anger — a reformer, a consensus-builder, a competent executive who would roll up his sleeves and fix things. "I’m tired of the divides," the former Florida governor said. "I campaign the way that I would govern — out amongst everybody, no rope lines, totally out in the open." Then the fairgoers started asking Bush questions. They asked about the legacy of his brother, a former president. And his...

"These Seven Senators Will Decide if the Senate Totally De-Funds Planned Parenthood" The Senate will vote early Monday evening on a new bill has been introduced that will totally de-fund the Planned Parenthood abortion business. The legislation follows four shocking videos that have caught Planned Parenthood doctors discussing and arranging the sale of body parts of aborted babies. Following pro-life Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s announcement of a working group, Senator Joni Ernst and Senators Rand Paul and James Lankford, along with 21 cosponsors, introduced legislation to protect women’s health and defund Planned Parenthood, S.1881.

RED OAK, Iowa — Sen. Ted Cruz wound his way through the small towns and rolling hills of western Iowa last week, doing the gruntwork of retail campaigning: shaking hands, posing for photos, giving stump speechesand, most importantly: making entreaties for support in a state that could determine the trajectory of his presidential campaign. “Whether we win or lose, this race will be decided by the men and women gathered here,” he said last Friday to a group of mostly older people sitting on folding chairs in a conference room. Iowa’s first-in-the nation caucuses are often a high-stakes event for...

While seven GOP presidential contenders were in Boone, Iowa for Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) Roast and Ride over the weekend, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) was in North Carolina organizing his campaign in the state and meeting with party leaders. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) wasn’t in Iowa either, as he had events in New Hampshire. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush also skipped the Roast and Ride. According to the Raleigh News and Observer, Cruz needled Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) from afar, saying they “don’t fit naturally into any bracket.” “Either or both could choose to...

this forum is becoming a mouthpiece for cruz.

I was watching some of the Iowa interviews coming out of Senator Joni Ernst’s event on CNN this morning where several presidential hopefuls were strutting their stuff for primary voters. None of them really jumped out at me, but the interview by Dana Bash with the senator herself was definitely worth the price of admission. The reason dates back to last October when Hillary Clinton decided to dip a toe into the Iowa senate race in support of Democrat candidate Bruce Braley. The subject wasn’t anything to do with the issues of the day, but yet another ride on the...

Boone, Iowa — Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker hopped on a Harley Saturday to raise his profile in this early presidential nominating state.A half dozen other presidential candidates were on hand, but Walker was the only one to participate in the ride with U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and 300 other bikers. The 39-mile ride honoring veterans wove from the Big Barn Harley-Davidson dealer in Des Moines to the Boone County exposition grounds that will host the Iowa Straw Poll in August....Walker regularly promotes the motorcycle company headquartered in Menomonee Falls and owns a 2003 Road King that his wife Tonette...