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Trump’s VP Pick
Picking a running mate will be one of the most significant signals Donald Trump will give the electorate, and it’ll be a crucial moment to his path to victory in November. According to the Washington Post, the speculation is he’s vetting Governor Chris Christie, Newt Gingrich, and Senators Jeff and Bob Corker.
Sens. Richard Burr (N.C.), Tom Cotton (Ark.), and John Thune (S.D.) have also been bandied about in Trump Tower as options. Sen. Joni Ernst (Iowa) and Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin, who previously served in the House, are two of the leading women in the mix.
The only outright blunder would be Christie, who is wrong for many reasons, not least of which is that he’s another Northeastern bully (we need just one, thank you), he has horrifically bad political instincts (cheerleading the Dallas Cowboys in Philadelphia Eagles’ stadiums, hugging Barack Obama, overeating …), and is now widely seen as a joke and a toady.
Trump needs to reassure wavering Republicans that he’s serious and basically on their team, and could use some help with the game of inside politics and legislation. He also needs someone who will not get cold feet nor give the GOPe an incentive to impeach him so as to have “their man” (Corker?) inherit the presidency. A woman would be okay and might help a little with female voters, though it might also look weak in a way, and the two women cited aren’t exactly legislative masterminds.
Of those mentioned, I’d pick Gingrich, since he meets most of the criteria I cited. I’m sure I’m missing various aspects and possibilities. Your thoughts?
Published in General
Not exactly an A-List, but I would reckon that any Republican with a future doesn’t want to be tied to that boat anchor.
Christie is the closest match in terms of temperament and philosophy. It would be like a Clinton-Gore ticket, except instead of two “moderate” southern Democrats, you’d have two “moderate” northeastern Republicans.
Newt’s getting rather old. Some (relative) youth and ethnicity would be a nice balance, but it’s tough to think of someone who could provide that who would be willing to get on that Trump train. Little Marco doesn’t seem interested. Raul Labrador isn’t in the mix. Maybe Bobby Jindal? Younger, ethnic, well-spoken, policy wonk… but probably too conservative for the Trump.
Republican with a future? Is there such a thing these days?
Agree that Christie would be a bad pick for that reason. Not really sure if he has much of a philosophy and that’s not to say that Trump doesn’t. I think Trump is more conservative and more courageous. Christie’s a lot of bluster but really a wimp when his career is involved. Trump is different.
Newt is a bit old…
Jindal wouldn’t help the inside legislative need, but I’d still be happy.
Sessions would be great too. I forgot about him. Maybe the best of all.
Looks like the choice is obvious.
Tom Cotton would be great, he’s young, conservative, from the midwest with a military background. He would be a nice balance I think.
Ann Coulter makes the point in Michael Stopa’s interview that he should be careful he doesn’t get a squish or someone not committed and can be turned against him later:
So of course, I vote Newt.
Just by way of explanation for why this post disappeared for an hour, I was promoting it and mis-scheduled the publication time.
It’s an excellent post and I just emailed Franco to apologize as well.
Newt is one of the smartest guys around and could certainly help guide Trump through the fetid shoals of DC. He’s no squish, either. He’s also one of the few I watch on news shows. Thanks for this post, Franco.
I care more about the cabinet than VP. Newt would be good because Trump may listen to him, he’s too old to replace him so maybe next time we get a conservative. What I really want are adults in Treasury, State, DOD, and a fire breather at Justice to get rid of everyone hired in the last eight years and a strong personality at USTR.
Here’s a splendid “audition tape” from one of the potential candidates ……
Well … first of all, Juan ……....
I’d like to see former Senator Jim Webb on the ticket. I realize that’s unlikely, but if we’re gonna go populist, we should go full populist.
I don’t think this would be in Cotton’s best interest and I think he is smart enough to know it.
It’s about the country, not Tom Cotton’s best interest in all due respect. We need to defeat the left.
You never go full populist.
I see Trump as far more leftist that conservative, so I see no reason for Cotton to ruin his career by signing on with Trump.
None of the people on that list are going to move the dial on Trump’s fundamental electoral drawback: people already know him and a very high percentage of them view him unfavorably. The VP pick matters a little, but it won’t change Trump’s personality.
Christie, Gingrich, Sessions, and Corker have already ruined whatever positive reputations they once had, so the Trump Debacle Express might as well go with one of them and leave the others alone.
I suppose if he had a decent Veep running mate, we could elect Trump, impeach him as soon as possible and get a decent president that way… But of course, you are absolutely correct about Trump’s unfavorables. Nothing will change that.
There are serious questions about who will have a political future and who won’t in the GOP.
I’m beginning to think that Paul Ryan has about the same future as John Boehner and Eric Cantor.
Will the traditional GOP domain shield the Nevertrumpers from defeat in perpetuity, in either case? That is, in a Trump victory, or in a Trump defeat?
To me it looks negative in either case. By 2019 after the first term of the Clinton Administration, I fail to see what the rationale would be for a Bill Kristol-approved candidate.
I think the voters have already moved on. The game has changed. It’s just a matter of time until they catch on. The GOP isn’t so much the “stupid” party, a more accurate label is the “slow” party.
Trump is not a leftist, nor a progressive he may be more liberal but that is not a leftist. Also, he obviously loves this country, and would never have left our people out dry like Hillary did in Benghazi. Also, he is being advised by Newt and Jeff Session so I have faith he will put someone on the Supreme court who is not a left wing activist. If Tom Cotton can help Trump beat Hillary, then he should do it again it’s about the country not careers. The left is destroying this country and although I don’t think Trump is any kind of savior but he isn’t a leftist and will at least slow the leftward march down. This will take a long LONG time to walk back, but we need to slow this ship down Now
I understand why Gingrich is campaigning for the job as he approaches irrelevance, but can Trump really live with a VP whose fondness for the microphone matches his own?
Stipulating that I’m always wrong on such things, I would imagine that the right retired general would fit the bill: complements the image Trump is trying to present, makes the ticket more serious, especially if Clinton chooses some Lefty.
Moving on implies moving on to something. I don’t see that anybody has “moved on” to anything.
As a member of #IWouldNotVoteForTrumpIfTheElectionWereTodayButWhoKnowsWhatIWillDoInNovember, naming Newt as VP would make it me even less likely to support Trump.
The good side of Newt – he can be absolutely brilliant, creative and articulate on both offense and defense.
The bad side of Newt – he can do those good things and then five minutes later say or do the stupidest thing you’ve ever heard of.
He has no consistency or reliable judgement. He alienated his own Congressional team after leading them to victory, so the role of the VP as an effective point man with Congress is unlikely for him. He clearly cannot distinguish between a great idea and a horrible idea, though he is equally capable of coming up with either. Newt and Trump would reinforce the worst in each other as the most erratic and unpredictable ticket in American history.
If I were President, I’d have Newt as a special advisor. I’d keep him locked in an office and every once in a while would open the door and ask him “Newt, what do you think about X?”. I’d listen carefully to what he had to say, then close and relock the door.
Of those listed, Cotton would have the most positive impact on my decision.
I can agree that the left is destroying the country, but I think Trump is leftist in many ways. That’s where we disagree. Can advisers and the like walk this back? Meh. He doesn’t listen to much of anybody. He’s all about Trump. Cotton would be a fool to sign on to that. He’d have no influence and he’d be tarred with the Trump brush. Let’s not waste our talented young men on this. He can have Gingrich.
Who do you suggest Tom?
Oh right…no one is patriotic, except for your favorite candidate I think we (or myself and my compatriots) need a leader with a fondness for a microphone instead of one who is afraid of the microphone and afraid of the so-called reporters.
I also think a little ego and self-respect is a perfectly fine quality to have – especially the latter, how anyone would vote for someone lacking in self-respect and respect for his supporters is beyond me – instead of faux humility and deference to Candy Crowley and George Stephanopoulus displayed by our latest champion.
There’s a lot of things the American people should know and be educated on. More things that should have a healthy debate, and not on the left’s terms. Personally, I can’t wait for it.
This is a left wing trope you are trafficking in here. You know that. BUT, this IS where the GOPe and the left wing overlap.
I don’t think it matters.
Whoever he asks to be VP had better be satisfied being a potted plant for 4 years. There isn’t enough oxygen in the world for anyone else in the room besides Trump.
He ought to ask Dan Quayle. At least he gets someone with experience in the office and will reliably stay out of the way.