Posted on 01/17/2024 8:58:39 PM PST by SeekAndFind
There's been a lot of talk about Donald Trump picking Nikki Haley as his vice president lately, and that hasn't exactly been a popular idea among most conservatives. To be fair, the speculation has been driven by the fact that the former president's campaign steadfastly refuses to rule it out while having no problem panning prospects like Vivek Ramaswamy. Something is afoot.
But is there another? According to a new report, Trump is seriously considering Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) for the spot. Of note is that RedState's own Ward Clark called this recently.
Scoop: Donald Trump is seriously considering House GOP Conference chair @EliseStefanik as his VP. He's been mulling the idea privately with allies, raving about Stefanik's loyalty.
Our exclu on the veepstakes. w/
@katiadoyl @scottwongDC https://t.co/HBcdhhRq7i— Brian Schwartz (@schwartzbCNBC) January 17, 2024
“She’s a killer,” Trump said, according to the person at the event.
Ever since then, Trump and a growing group of allies have started to look more closely at Stefanik as a running mate, according to eight people familiar with the matter, including people in Trump’s orbit, Stefanik fundraising bundlers and former Trump administration officials.
(...)
“Stefanik is at the top,” said Steve Bannon, who was Trump’s chief strategist in the White House and the architect of his 2016 campaign strategy.
“If you’re Trump, you want someone who’s loyal above all else,” a Republican campaign operative said. “Particularly because he sees Mike Pence as having made a fatal sin.”
Trashing Republicans isn't what we do here at RedState. If there's a disagreement, and there are plenty of those to be had within the GOP, we handle it through analysis, not name-calling. I say that to say that Stefanik's possible issue isn't who she is as a person, but it's her record. What's on paper is what's on paper.
If someone doesn't want Haley to be vice president, would they really want Stefanik to fill the role? She's just as supportive of Ukraine (and has supported every aid package passed so far), and her voting record is even more liberal on social issues and spending. Stefanik's Liberty Score clocks in at an "F." Her Heritage score is 56 percent for this term (i.e. she's not a recently reformed conservative), with the average Republican representative rating being an 85.
Then there's the question of what Stefanik brings to the ticket. She's in a state that will not be competitive in 2024 (any suggestion to the contrary, just like in 2020, is delusional). She isn't liked by the conservative base of the party, but because she's so heavily connected herself to Trump over the last several years, she doesn't appeal to Trump skeptics either. What extra voters is she bringing along? A vice president who adds nothing to a ticket electorally would be a very odd pick.
That's not to say Stefanik hasn't had her moments. The questioning about antisemitism that she levied in a recent hearing helped get two far-left university heads fired, including Harvard's Claudine Gay (who was ultimately finished off by a plagiarism scandal). She's also facing censure (which will never pass) from the Democrats over allegations she helped "support" the January 6th "insurrectionists."
Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) will today introduce a resolution to censure Congresswoman Elise Stefanik for conduct unbecoming of a member of Congress, including her consistent support of insurrectionists who attacked the United States Capitol on January 6th 2021.
Making Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY) cry is always a positive in my book. Is that enough, though? Most Republicans have their redeeming qualities, but as an overall package, making Stefanik vice president would be a controversial move that could do more to divide than unite.
Is this just a blip on the radar, or is Trump seriously considering this? Who knows. I'm guessing his opinion on who to pick changes by the hour, and before this is all done, there may be some more surprises.
Has Horizontal ever been described as ‘controversial’? Not that I know of.
Well....this isn’t coming from Trump....the Media makes up stories like a three year old.
The chick has no class, and no respect for the office she holds or the people she represents. If she had any decency or sense of decorum whatsoever she would not have said to Hunter, “...you have no balls.”
He should pick his son.
Trumps for 12 more years!
This gives me the same feeling that I had when Ronald Reagan chose George Bush to be his VP...
Why? I seriously doubt she would try to have Trump assasinated.
Unfortunately Trump needs to pick a woman or he will not win a general election. That said I hope he picks the one that is least emotional when hard decisions are made. Women make decisions based on emotion and that is something this country cannot have right now.
He’s not going to pick either one of them. They’re just burning electrons for nothing with articles like this.
Elise isn’t controversial. She’d be a smart pic’t
“She can’t do a thing with Trump’s judges—she’s a House member.”
Duh, thanks. It was something important, and she just kicked butt.
yawn.... ooo ahhh.... maybe, no foolin?
We’ll see...
I hope it doesn’t turn into another Pence situation or another what’s her face from Alaska situation. But then you got to look at what Obama selected.. was that in an insurance move or was Obama that f****** stupid.
> I still like and think it will be Kari Lake!<
Me too. If it is going to be controversial, make it controversial. The left will have a tantrum like we’ve seen before. It will be easily diffused with a “What do you have against strong women…….you sexist.”
Plus she has been very loyal to Trump.
EC
Lee Zeldin
SHE’S made herself anathema
Conservatives certainly need someone to carry the ball when Trump leaves office...someone who is honorable and who loves America
I think I would go with a young MAGA orator.
I don’t know that Vivek is the right guy, but he is a master at delivering and stying on message. We need someone that can reach young people and get them to listen to a sane voice.
The Deep State always wants any potential conservative candidates to have spy handlers. That was Pence's job in the previous Trump administration.
Yes, by all means go look. Just as I said, neither Trump or any of his advisors will rule Haley out as his VP when directly questioned about it, so you’re the actual liar, not me, for constantly claiming she has been ruled out. And your continued overuse of the word liar on an opinion forum is asinine, but since you insist, I will properly apply it, to you.
Just NO.
He should pick the Guy from North Dakota
Trump will be picking a woman VP. Bet on it.
Now, out of the available women, who does not have skeletons in their closet, is loyal, and has a good conservative score.
It is a VERY short list.
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