s/o GOP debate thread, VP picks

[neverfstop]

Since every single national and state poll is giving trump bigly leads over the nearest challenger....it seems 95% likely he will be the GOP nominee unless he somehow ends up in jail (although GQP may still nominate him...).


So the debate yesterday was just an audition for his VP position. Let's discuss....

-I think Haley would interest the most "normal" GOP voters (just in case trump goes to jail or dies) & they can feel good they are voting for a woman
-Vivek is sucking up to Trump hard & seems to really be similar in personality/ideology (however crazy) to Trump, people like that he's young & different
-He's never picking Pence again, won't be Christie....

Here's Trump's interview with Tucker last night....not very well staged.

[sonrisa]

I don't think he'll pick any of them. I think he'll want a low profile lapdog, not someone who put their name on the ballot against him and seeks national attention. A Hope Hicks style VP.

Mostly because that is the toxic narcissist he is. But also because he doesn't need to "balance the ticket" or whatever other considerations people have in VPs. No VP is going to gain or lose votes for him. He also isn't going to collaborate with anyone or use them as an advisor like Obama/Biden. 

[DotAndBuzz]

He’d pick someone like Bannon or Roger Stone. Someone fully on board with fascism, hate, and corruption.

[StrawberryBlondie]

I think he'd pick someone like Jr. or Ivanka (if she or her husband didn't throw him under the bus).

[Beagle]

I think he'd pick Kari Lake or one of those other people who have never criticized him or sad anything negative about him ever.

[Pom]

Terrifying.

[mrsd2006]

Marjorie Taylor Greene

[Jalapeñomel]

Aug 25, 2023 8:48:15 GMT -5 mrsd2006 said:

Marjorie Taylor Greene

She’s been praying for this for 8 years now.

[msmerymac]

He's not going to pick someone as insane as he is. Pence kind of balanced him out. But Joni Ernst might be in the running. Tim Scott is mostly auditioning for it as well. (And as much as the GOP likes to say that they welcome anyone and aren't going to play the race card or identity politics, they still put out a press release about having the most diverse House delegation ever this year, plus Scott - or a woman - will let them say that they aren't racist/sexist because obviously they voted for someone who was Black/Female on the VP ticket!)

[sonrisa]

It looks like we have two camps here: those who think the politicians stand a chance and those of us who think it'll be someone from his personal orbit.

I'm firmly in the latter group.

It would have been Ivanka if she had played her cards right. I think his Mar a Lago caterer or Bedminster groundskeeper have a better chance than Ernst, Scott, Ramaswamy or even MTG. He'll want someone who owes their existence to him and who falls if he does.

The only politician who stands a chance in my book is Giuliani. (and Giuliani won't get it - Not because of the shit he pulled or any political calculations, but because he looked foolish with black hair dye running down his face while standing in the parking lot of 4 seasons landscaping. Trump loves corruption but he won't forgive humiliation.)

[StrawberryBlondie]

Serious question that I could undoubtedly Google but I am on a road trip and don't want to fall down a rabbit hole - does he HAVE to pick a VP or is that just the customary norm and good sense?

Cause I can totally see him trying to pull a one-man ticket.

[lilac05]

Aug 25, 2023 10:15:11 GMT -5 msmerymac said:

He's not going to pick someone as insane as he is. Pence kind of balanced him out. But Joni Ernst might be in the running. Tim Scott is mostly auditioning for it as well. (And as much as the GOP likes to say that they welcome anyone and aren't going to play the race card or identity politics, they still put out a press release about having the most diverse House delegation ever this year, plus Scott - or a woman - will let them say that they aren't racist/sexist because obviously they voted for someone who was Black/Female on the VP ticket!)

I think Joni Ernst or Kim Reynolds (Iowa Governor) would both be in consideration for him. Stupid Iowa…women moving women back in time at record pace.

[mrsukyankee]

Aug 25, 2023 21:55:48 GMT -5 StrawberryBlondie said:

Serious question that I could undoubtedly Google but I am on a road trip and don't want to fall down a rabbit hole - does he HAVE to pick a VP or is that just the customary norm and good sense?

Cause I can totally see him trying to pull a one-man ticket.

Yes, he does have to pick one as they are second in command and we have to have someone in that position.

[basilosaurus]

Aug 26, 2023 7:02:24 GMT -5 mrsukyankee said:

Aug 25, 2023 21:55:48 GMT -5 StrawberryBlondie said:

Serious question that I could undoubtedly Google but I am on a road trip and don't want to fall down a rabbit hole - does he HAVE to pick a VP or is that just the customary norm and good sense?

Cause I can totally see him trying to pull a one-man ticket.

Yes, he does have to pick one as they are second in command and we have to have someone in that position.

If you want to go originalist, wasn't vp the run up from opposite party? Or maybe runner up in same? I'm no scholar and got science degrees, but that difference of vp picks stuck with me.

[mrsukyankee]

Aug 26, 2023 8:02:29 GMT -5 basilosaurus said:

Aug 26, 2023 7:02:24 GMT -5 mrsukyankee said:

Yes, he does have to pick one as they are second in command and we have to have someone in that position.

If you want to go originalist, wasn't vp the run up from opposite party? Or maybe runner up in same? I'm no scholar and got science degrees, but that difference of vp picks stuck with me.

Originally, but it changed.

[Gato]

Nikki Haley would be the smartest pick. That might appease independents and centrist Republicans who are unsure about him and who he will need to win.

I have no confidence that he will do the smart thing, though.

[aurora]

To sonrisa's point, I think he will go for someone beholden to him after getting betrayed by Pence on Jan. 6.

What I don't know is if the R party is strong enough to override him (coerce him to go with someone more strategic).


ETA I should have put "betrayed" in quotes (how he thinks of it, not what actually happened)

[Michelle]

I think he'd stand a decent chance at winning if he picked Haley.

I hope he picks someone deplorable like Roger Stone. Sort of. I want to believe they wouldn't get elected. But i'm not so sure.

[fortnightlily]

Do we think Haley would accept a position as Trump's running mate? I'd like to think she's smarter than that...

[neverfstop]

Aug 28, 2023 11:07:57 GMT -5 fortnightlily said:

Do we think Haley would accept a position as Trump's running mate? I'd like to think she's smarter than that...

She worked for him before in his cabinet...all these people work for trump thinking they will be able to control or moderate him, that they can be the adult in the room making sure he doesn't make even worse decisions.  Given his chances dying before/during/after the election and/or being in jail, that's a high-pay off bet bet of her to make. 

[fortnightlily]

Aug 28, 2023 11:58:06 GMT -5 neverfstop said:

Aug 28, 2023 11:07:57 GMT -5 fortnightlily said:

Do we think Haley would accept a position as Trump's running mate? I'd like to think she's smarter than that...

She worked for him before in his cabinet...all these people work for trump thinking they will be able to control or moderate him, that they can be the adult in the room making sure he doesn't make even worse decisions.  Given his chances dying before/during/after the election and/or being in jail, that's a high-pay off bet bet of her to make. 

I know, but that was before he actively set an angry mob on his then-VP...

[StrawberryBlondie]

Aug 28, 2023 11:07:57 GMT -5 fortnightlily said:

Do we think Haley would accept a position as Trump's running mate? I'd like to think she's smarter than that...

She's the one I suspect isn't in the race to be picked as Trump's VP.

Not because I think she's a good person or is better than that or anything. But she strikes me as being in the race because she wants to be president.

[sonrisa]

Aug 28, 2023 12:00:59 GMT -5 StrawberryBlondie said:

Aug 28, 2023 11:07:57 GMT -5 fortnightlily said:

Do we think Haley would accept a position as Trump's running mate? I'd like to think she's smarter than that...

She's the one I suspect isn't in the race to be picked as Trump's VP.

Pence has my vote for ‘Republican least likely to take VP if offered.’

[StrawberryBlondie]

Aug 28, 2023 12:39:05 GMT -5 sonrisa said:

Aug 28, 2023 12:00:59 GMT -5 StrawberryBlondie said:

She's the one I suspect isn't in the race to be picked as Trump's VP.

Pence has my vote for ‘Republican least likely to take VP if offered.’

IDK I think he might.

[mrsslocombe]

Aug 28, 2023 11:07:57 GMT -5 fortnightlily said:

Do we think Haley would accept a position as Trump's running mate? I'd like to think she's smarter than that...

I think she would because if she turns it down, her future political career is dead. She'd forever be the one who rejected the Dear Leader.

But I don't think he'd pick her. He wants someone who a. won't draw too much of the spotlight away from him b. a yes (wo)man who won't stand up to him. I see him picking Tim Scott before her honestly. Haley has actually (mildly) criticized Trump in the past. 

I would have said Kari Lake a few months ago but she is SO THIRSTY I think she's too much of an attention whore for him. 

[cattledogkisses]

He wouldn't pick anyone who might steal the spotlight from him. For that reason my guess is that he'd pick some toady of his.

Pence has the personality of mayonnaise, so he was perfect until he "betrayed" Trump over January 6.

[penguingrrl]

Aug 28, 2023 12:39:05 GMT -5 sonrisa said:

Aug 28, 2023 12:00:59 GMT -5 StrawberryBlondie said:

She's the one I suspect isn't in the race to be picked as Trump's VP.

Pence has my vote for ‘Republican least likely to take VP if offered.’

I actually think he’s pathetic enough to accept the nomination again.