59 Comments

The case against Vance is that he has tattooed eyeliner. I can't imagine manly Trump thinks that's a good thing, but....now that I think about it....Trump himself is vain and uses all kinds of products and regimens to make himself look good. So maybe eyeliner is a plus.

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I appreciate Caputo’s reports and analysis of the hill, etc. I cannot believe I live in a country in which any of these sorry people could become VP. If you’re stupid enough to want to be trump’s VP after he tried to hang the last one, you’re not smart enough for the job.

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Another consideration in the case against Vance is his distractingly unsubtle used of eyeliner. It’s like Trump’s bronzer; does nobody tell these people how they appear?

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"FOR A MAN WHO LIKES TO PRESENT HIMSELF as a decisive alpha type, Trump seems deeply invested in surveying the opinions of others for the pick."

Because he's just smart enough to know that most others are much smarter and more disciplined than he is. Those of us who do pay attention can see that he's anything but a "decisive alpha type." He's not just indecisive to the point of paranoia, he's also a weak coward who always backs down the few times he's truly challenged (e.g. the Jeffrey Clark debacle). What he never does - because he never has to - is admit error or apologize. Because his addicted "base" forgives him no matter what he does. At some point a critical mass of them will either admit to themselves (if not to anyone else) that they have been conned, not so much by him but by his countless protectors, OR feel enough pain to make an uncomfortable choice for the good of their country. I wish that could happen before November, but don't have too much hope.

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There is no case for anyone who Trump would pick, from the country's point of view. That said, we must remember that Trump is far from the sharpest tool in the shed, and can be easily conned by someone much smarter, who could fake their loyalty. Unfortunately those who would do that, and did do that in 2016, have no interest in applying now. Not because of him, or even his far smarter helpers doing the vetting, but because they know now they'd be simply outnumbered by the Republic-hating authoritarians and shameless opportunists who found that his incorrigible instant gratification coincides neatly with their own selfish goals.

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The only two things on Trump's unofficial checklist of requirements that he can count on finding in one person are "loyalty" and "personal chemistry". They're also the only ones that he really wants, because someone with the others would have the makings of an independent power base, which he definitely does NOT want.

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These guys were all born yesterday… every day.

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Warm-blooded, air-breathing goldfish.

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Burgum would be best for Biden. Burgum is actually the most sane one and the most charismatic that would help Trump if this were 2016. However, Trump is so crazy that Burgum wouldn't help get any swing voters. The WSJ/NR Republicans have already gone in for trump so they will use any of these candidates to justify going back to him.

The big advantage of Burgum is if he and Kamala have a debate no one will watch it and it will limit her exposure. Whereas the others would draw ratings as they would be hailed the great next Republicans in right wing media. Burgum is Pence 2.0. Someone like a JD Vance could easily make her look feckless in a debate. I actually think Harris could beat Rubio in a debate as Rubio is always overrated with super-high expectations and it could be like when Biden schooled Ryan in 2012 after everyone in right wing media hailed Ryan as the next great GOP thinker.

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A Harris-Burgum debate should be broadcast at 11:00 in every time zone as a sleep aid.

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Does it really matter who he picks as a running mate? The pick will end up as grist for the mill. Hell, Pence was very disposable when he wouldn’t take the fall for The Orange One when he wouldn’t play ball re the electors scheme. What’s in a Trump admin for the VP?? Absolutely nothing, except a ruined reputation!!!

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If Rubio is running mate, a lot of Haley voters might use that as permission to vote for Trump regardless of their misgivings. Because they'll see Rubio as the future of the party.

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Rubio may speak Spanish, but Cuban-Americans are not in the same camp as Mexican-Americans. Cuban immigrants were greeted in America with wet foot/dry foot. Mexicans were deported. Rubio does nothing to attract Mexican-Americans.

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Personally I don't give a candy coated crap who or what he picks. What happened to the Bulwark's plan to discuss the Biden positives over the FG negatives (or FG anything) ?

I haven't seen much of that recently.

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I’m still bewildered that Trump is not in jail for treason and everybody is out here talking about a VP selection like its 1988 or something.

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Maybe he can pull his old cabinet and IG scam and appoint an "acting" VP. Then he can just change them out depending on if he needs to refresh the kowtowing sycophantsy.

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The VP is the only person a president can't fire.

I doubt he could appoint an acting Vp either

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Definitely sounds like something CFT would do.

Thanks for the reminder of 1.0

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It's going to be hilarious when he picks Katie Britt, figuring that the hoopla over the SOTU response speech has quieted down. Trump will then make them grovel like pigs for possible cabinet positions.

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Apprentice: VP is just the beginning.

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"DONALD TRUMP HAS AN UNOFFICIAL CHECKLIST of qualities he wants in a running mate: loyalty, political acumen, debate skills, fundraising ability, and personal chemistry. But in conversations with others about his possible picks, one factor stands out among all others.

“Does he look good on television?” Trump frequently asks. “Who’s the best on TV?”"

As is typical with Trump [sic] he is as concerned, if not more so, on the sizzle and smoke than on the steak. Not one of the three top contenders listed have more than just a modicum of political chops in their bag of tricks. Burgum and Rubio have been in politics for some time now but both are stagnant, and neither have expressed much solidarity with the woman/man on the street and have been profoundly hypocritical in their opinions of Trump [sic] and the MAGA (bowel) movement: Rubio since shortly after TFG was elected and Burgum when he cancelled his run for the RINO nomination. Vance's sole reason for being on the shortlist is his devotion to Trump [sic] and MAGA, and is a neophyte politically (a serious drawback). Furthermore, imo, none of them bring anything to the ticket that might sway the undecided voters to cast their ballot for TFG, they're simply more of the same ol' same ol'.

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"Alternately, he could announce his running mate immediately after he’s sentenced, which would counterprogram and take control of the news cycle."

The ongoing efforts by TFG and his proxies to continuously hijack the news cycle is an action taken by many pols, not just the RINOs. It is up to the media to prevent this (not that they actually will do it); Trump [sic] might light the fire, but the media is not required to pour gasoline on it. But, as we have all witnessed, the new business model for them is to generate as many clicks as possible to justify their ad rates, actual reporting on news takes a back seat to doing what is necessary to drive profitability.

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“He’s going to make the decision three times and change his decision three times, and do it whenever he wants. And we won’t know until he makes the announcement himself.”

And even after he announces his running mate it still won't be carved in stone until ballots are to be printed. Should his chosen one piss him off in any way, TFG will throw him (it's obvious at this point that it isn't a him or her situation, and any "her" will likely antagonize the MAGA misogynists while not gaining many points from non-cultists).

It's also interesting to note that Tim Scott's name isn't being mentioned as often in the VPOTUS sweepstakes. Could this be due to the racist animosity blatantly on display by the MAGAdroids? Again, nominating a POC could risk losing a small number of supporters, while not really influencing the views of the undecided. In a tightly contested race like the one we are currently witnessing, the loss of a few base voters could cost Trump [sic] the election -- and the same applies to Pres Biden.

fnord

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Well, the closest living equivalent to Cary Grant is probably Jon Hamm, who (unlike Grant) is actually eligible to be vice President since he was born in the US. However, the offer would probably make Hamm laugh; there's no way he would torch a successful Hollywood career to be Trump’s VP.

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I chuckled at the Cary Grant comment A. he was a Brit with questionably-fluid sexuality and B. progressively less culturally relevant with each passing year (but hey, the same can be said of the Republican party).

It reminds me of Jack Donaghy's search for a Republican celebrity in 30 Rock.

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LOL! Well, Grant was one of the first guys to endorse cosmetics for men to wear in public, which Don of the Heavy Orange Foundation obviously agrees with. I could see Trump and Grant bonding over the best hair care, the best make up, the best long tie to make you look slimmer, etc., though it would probably end there, since Grant was much smarter, funnier, more charming, more talented, etc.

Now I need to go watch “30 Rock”. Thanks!

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Something for Repubs to think about: the Orange Menace will be 78 in just a couple of days, and with his diet and lack of exercise he's more likely than Biden to have a coronary. Maybe they should be looking at who they might want to succeed him when the inevitable happens.

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