Could Nikki Haley be Trump's running mate? Don't rule it out
By: Linda Feldmann (The Christian Science Monitor)
Does the outcome of the 2024 Presidential election hinge upon who Donald Trump picks for Vice President? Will the Republican Party allow Donald Trump the choice?
Let's face it, the electorate ain't overly enthused about a second Biden term. Kamala Harris has a natural talent for undermining efforts to improve her public image. Who is fired up to vote for Biden/Harris? That's a 'hold your nose' ticket. And Trump's only real appeal is that he has a good chance of removing Biden from office.
Speculation about Nikki Haley aside, whoever dares run as Trump's VP could well exert an oversized influence on the election. The conventional wisdom spewed by the unbiased liberal press is that Trump will want someone who will kiss his ass and stroke his ego. But it's difficult to believe that Trump doesn't recognize he won't be allowed to finish a second term. Even a half-with like Jimmy Kimmel can see that one coming. So, Trump's VP pick has the potential to change the entire political landscape in a single news cycle.
“There are more things in Heaven and Earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.”
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Who will be Donald Trump's running mate? With just a few months to go before the Republican National Convention, the presumptive GOP nominee has reportedly been discussing contenders with friends and even guests at Mar-a-Lago, while his campaign is quietly vetting candidates.
Kristi Noem, the Trump-aligned governor of South Dakota who was once seen as a strong prospect, effectively quashed her chances after revealing that she deliberately shot and killed her family's puppy because she believed the dog was "untrainable." The backlash has been bipartisan and intense.
Recent reporting has suggested that Florida Sen. Marco Rubio is under serious consideration, in part because of his Hispanic heritage. Speculation has also centered on Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, author of a bestselling memoir on his Appalachian upbringing. Other names in the mix include South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.
One intriguing name has reemerged: Nikki Haley. The former governor of South Carolina, who dropped out of the presidential race in March, won a notable 16.5% of Republican votes in last week's Pennsylvania primary. With the Keystone State one of a handful that could decide the election, that could give Mr. Trump a strong reason to put her on the ticket.
Who will be Donald Trump's running mate? With just a few months to go before the Republican National Convention, the search is intensifying, with the presumptive GOP nominee reportedly discussing possible contenders with friends, insiders, and even guests at Mar-a-Lago, while his campaign is quietly compiling dossiers and vetting candidates.
Kristi Noem, the Trump-aligned governor of South Dakota who was once seen as a strong prospect, effectively quashed her chances of joining the GOP ticket after revealing that she deliberately shot and killed her family's puppy because she believed the dog was "untrainable." The backlash has been bipartisan and intense.
Recent reporting has suggested that Florida Sen. Marco Rubio - a former rival once dubbed "Little Marco" by Mr. Trump - is under serious consideration, in part because of his Hispanic heritage. Speculation has also centered on Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, author of a bestselling memoir on his Appalachian upbringing, while other names in the mix include South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.
After last week's primary in Pennsylvania, a crucial battleground in November, one intriguing name has reemerged: Nikki Haley. The former governor of South Carolina, who dropped out of the presidential race in March, won a notable 16.5% of Republican votes in Pennsylvania's closed primary.
One was Rich Kain of Sewickley, a suburb of Pittsburgh. A lifelong Republican, he voted for Ms. Haley last week and, though he says it pains him, plans to vote for President Joe Biden in November.
"Trump is a demagogue," says Mr. Kain, who owns a public relations firm.
But if Ms. Haley were on the ticket? "I'd have to strongly consider" voting for Mr. Trump, Mr. Kain says. He adds that given the advanced ages of both the former and current presidents, their running mates have taken on added importance this cycle.
With Pennsylvania one of just a handful of states that could decide the election, voters like Mr. Kain could offer Mr. Trump a strong reason to tap Ms. Haley as his running mate.
Whether he would be willing to do so - and whether she'd accept - is another matter. Ms. Haley, who served as ambassador to the United Nations under President Trump before later running against him, stayed in the 2024 presidential race longer than any other major primary challenger, as the race grew increasingly heated. Mr. Trump nicknamed her "Birdbrain"; Ms. Haley overtly questioned his mental competence and still has not endorsed him.
Still, one GOP strategist who recently visited Mr. Trump's Florida estate says Ms. Haley's name "has been discussed." While Mr. Trump's "Make America Great Again" base "despises her," this strategist says, they wouldn't abandon the former president over it.
And Mr. Trump himself is known for being transactional, with a history of patching things up with onetime adversaries. See the recent detente between him and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, another primary challenger whom he had mocked mercilessly. The two are now reportedly discussing joint fundraising appearances.
Ultimately, history shows it's the top of the ticket that matters, with running mates typically making little to no difference in terms of votes. That may be especially true in the case of a polarizing, spotlight-grabbing figure like Mr. Trump, experts say.
"Trump overshadows everything - whether he puts a mini-me in there or moves to the middle or tries to balance by race or gender," says presidential historian David Pietrusza.
Veteran political analyst Charlie Cook also dismisses the idea that Mr. Trump's running mate will matter much in November. And he warns against reading too much into a primary that took place after the nomination was already effectively decided.
But Mr. Cook acknowledges that Mr. Trump's choice of Mike Pence as running mate in 2016 helped "smooth ruffled feathers" with the GOP's evangelical base, particularly when Mr. Pence stuck with the reality TV star after the Access Hollywood scandal broke just before the election.
Six months before the 2024 vote, it's impossible to predict what will matter most. For Mr. Trump, the safest bet might be to try to reach a broader pool of voters with his vice presidential choice - someone who could potentially appeal to suburban women, or men who want a more moderate tone, or both. In a year in which abortion has become a thorny political issue for Republicans, Ms. Haley has shown she can thread the needle with "common sense" rhetoric that doesn't alienate the middle.
The bigger question for Ms. Haley might be whether she is willing to do what it takes to get the job. Vice President Pence was a loyal foot soldier to Mr. Trump until Jan. 6, 2021, when a pro-Trump mob invaded the U.S. Capitol to try to prevent him from presiding over the ceremony counting electoral votes for Mr. Biden. Mr. Pence went ahead with his official duties - a decision that constitutional experts applauded but that drew the ire of much of the GOP base.
Now Mr. Pence is a punchline. At the White House Correspondents' Association dinner last Saturday, Mr. Biden joked that at least "my vice president actually endorses me."
If Ms. Haley wants to run for president again in 2028, she may prefer to sit out the rest of 2024, calculating that attaching herself to the controversial Trump brand could be a negative.
"This vote in Pennsylvania wasn't necessarily pro-Haley," Mr. Cook says. "It was anti-Trump."
Why We Wrote This
Nikki Haley's strong showing in Pennsylvania's recent Republican primary may give Donald Trump something to think about, even if vice presidential picks don't typically move the needle in elections.
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Whoever Trump choses as a running mate could completely change the 2024 election in a single news cycle. Don't be surprised if Trump waits until the last minute to make an announcement. Will the Republican VP candidate be chosen at the convention?
She’d be a great choice imo. Plus it would give my friends on the left another person to bag on. They’ve been waiting for that with bated breath for some time.
Win - win
Whereas if Trump picked anyone other then Haley-- that would not be the case. (If Trump picked any other republican they would not have "someone to bag on".
Probably the best choice right now. With two elderly men running, the successor mattters more than usual and Haley is head and shoulders above Harris as presidential material.
I still think it will end up being DeSantis.
Can't have two people from the same state (Florida) on the ballot or that state can't vote for the ticket in the electoral college. So Trump would have to switch his legal residence and I can't see that happening.
Anyone who would vote for Trump because Haley is the VP candidate needs their head examined.
Having said that, I predicted months ago that it would be Haley. Her "principles" dont mean a thing.
Just be honest you are not going to like anyone that Trump chooses as VP.
We all know you are in the bag for Brandon/Harris- the worst President/VP combo ever.
Biden
Worst POTUS in history.
Biden is a very poor mans Trump ….. and that ain’t saying much.
I am happy to admit that, if applied to me, you will likely be correct . Anyone who would run as Trump's VP is immediately discredited in my eyes.
At least you are honest.
Now if you were only as honest about Brandon being the worst President ever.
I am honest about that too. Biden is nowhere near the worst PotUS. Get a grip.
WTF?
There is no candidate named Brandon running.
There is for anyone who still believes in Santa Claus and the tooth fairy.
Only took three posts. Not a record but close.
What is the actual record?
(Asking for a friend).
If Haley would run as Trump's V.P. she would immediately lose all credibility with me.
Haley will never be President, so she has nothing to lose being VP.
She still wouldn't be my pick.
Her popularity comes mostly from Democrats who will abandon her in the general; and TDS driven Establishment never Trumpers who will never vote for Trump anyways. Wouldn't matter who his running mate is.
Still, you would rather have 4 more years of Brandon/Kamala.
Very telling.
Why do you think she would never be PotUS? Not in 2024, but why do you dismiss her for the future?
A ridiculous hypothesis.
Trump is not an option. He is off the charts horrible for this nation. I cannot think of many politicians who would be worse for this nation than Trump.
Care to read? Real Trump supporters will never vote for her, period.
You were saying?
There is no excuse for supporting the Brandon/Harris ticket. What Democrats have done to this country is unforgivable. Four more years of this and we can kiss it goodbye.
Sure, Ronin, the nation will cease to exist if Biden is reelected. Emotional partisanship.
I don't know. I think she could bring in more moderate Republicans as well as undecided Independents as the alternative is leaving Harris in the #2 spot with a man well past the average life span sitting in the Oval Office.
I (currently) want Haley to be PotUS. But if she would agree to be Trump's VP, she would not only NOT get my vote but she would never get my vote in the future.
Well, at the least, her name was not bastardized this time.
Wow. No bastardization of Harris. . . we're beginning a trend here. /s
It's a wonder that congress has not passed "old age president" laws yet for the "mature elderly" which include anyone over 75 years of age. Wait. . . Donald is. . . oops!
Anyway, MAGA doesn't want Haley (the evidence of the primaries are proof of it). She is not conscienceless or ruthless enough. . . and she certainly has not learned this lesson of challenging 'everything' in court—that courts will allow!
Donald is in a class all by himself (as presidents go) for a reason!
If Haley would run as Trump's V.P. she would immediately lose all credibility with me.
Whereas now she has a lot of credibility with you?
Yes, given I evaluate her against other politicians.
Haley would be an interesting choice as she would be the most likely republican presidential candidate in 2028. I might reconsider not voting for trump if she were on the ticket.
Haley would never carry real Trump supporters on her own/
She burned that bridge during the primaries.
Frankly I am trying to figure out what Haley's appeal is other than to Democrats that were trying stick it to Trump during the primaries; and retarded Republican never Trumpers who wouldn't vote for Trump anyways.
Haley has proven herself to be Establishment. A word that I find detestable almost as much as Democrat at this point.
Of course I respect your opinion. Personally if by establishment you mean mote moderate or centrist that would be preferable to me at this time. It seems both far left or right are unwilling to compromise and would rather burn the country down than meet the other side in the middle
Without stating the obvious, Haley did a great job as a governor and a great job as UN ambassador for Trump. She has a lot to offer and frankly a little establishment is not a bad thing. It would help Trump win. I don’t doubt that for minute.
People who think it could never happen forget how hard Harris went after Biden in their Primary. And that’s just one example.
Full interview: Nikki Haley says Trump is ‘not qualified to be …
WEB Feb 14, 2024 · Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley dug in on her criticism of former President Donald Trump as unfit to hold the office again, arguing in an exclusive …
Haley doubts Trump's mental fitness for presidency - POLITICO
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Harris never said anything like that about Biden.
If it happens I will eagerly await the look on Haley's face, and her answer , the first time a reporter asks her if she will accept the results of the election if they lose.
Haley is no stranger a bedfellow with Trump than Harris is with Biden. I don’t expect agreement here. Some are too biased to think critically enough to make such connections.
You can bet your ass she thinks it on several occasions. As the meme said the other day, "The administration has asked Harris not to answer the phone "Is he dead" anymore.
Or.....Where the tests for STD's negative?
You sure she's smart enough to put a comprehendible sentence together? I'm not.
Besides the stated detestations, she is a woman. . .and there is nothing traditional about a republican woman president in the U.S. (At least not so far.)
Are you currently not wanting to vote for Trump?
(Are you actually thinking of voting for Biden?)
Correct
No
I would not rule anything out with politicians. I do not think it likely given Haley refused to endorse Trump, but I have been (greatly) disappointed by a number of politicians who I thought had sufficient integrity to NOT endorse Trump (especially after publicly stating that Trump is bad for the nation).
We are living in a time where the GOP (for the first time in my life) has devolved into a dysfunctional cult. There is very little that I will rule out at this point.
Yes, a cult of personality vs. a cult of intersectionality. Retarded,... isn't it?
It has nothing to do with a “cult” personality. Democrats have no one but themselves to blame.
Run even a mediocre candidate and this wouldn’t be happening. First Hillary and now Joe. Don’t blame Trump voters ….
Talk to GregTx, that was his language.
Now that is truly laughable 'logic'. You think Trump voters (and the GOP in general) should not be blamed for making Trump the presumptive nominee. Instead one should only blame the Ds for not putting forth impressive nominees.
Such a perfect example of (ridiculous) partisanship.
Now that is truly laughable 'logic'. You think Biden voters (and the DNC in general) should not be blamed for making Biden the presumptive nominee. Instead one should only blame the Rs for not putting forth impressive nominees.
Such a perfect example of (ridiculous) partisanship.
Hmmm?..
You failed to read what I wrote and instead falsely invent a position for me.
You even included this in your quote:
What does the word 'only' (that I had italicized and colored blue in my original comment) mean to you?
Do better than lame taunts, especially when your taunt is a function of your failure to read.
Whom do you blame?
Not at all. I merely inverted what you said.
What does "only" mean to you?
If you consider the inversion of your ideas "taunting" perhaps you're getting it.
I no longer am willing to participate in your vague games so be specific. Ask a complete, specific question and I will answer. (And I have already addressed this topical area in this forum, but I will do so again just to be clear.)
You totally screwed it up.
If you say so.
You cannot even admit your mistake. And apparently have realized that by asking a specific question you will get an answer that further illustrates your failure to read.
You're absolutely right, my mistake. I would have thought that a quote followed by a question would have been specific enough for a "critical thinker".
A good call on my part to not take your question seriously.
No, my mistake was bothering with the question to start with. Have a good evening.
Yes you made a mistake by attempting a gotcha due to your failure to accurately read what I wrote.
Don't you just hate it when people do that?
Accuracy and precision aren't the same thing. I read precisely what you wrote.
You then failed to understand that the word only (which I intentionally italicized and made blue) suggested that the Ds do have some blame for Trump being so close to the presidency.
This is something I have already discussed in this forum several times. People like you presume that because I am entirely against Trump for the presidency and hold the GOP responsible for enabling this scoundrel to be the GOP nominee that I do not also hold the Ds responsible for not picking a stronger candidate.
Not too surprising though since I suspect it seems impossible to a partisan that someone could actually see good and bad in the various parties and not translate everything to favor a particular party.
That said, the GOP has made the substantially larger failure. Trump is their nominee; they picked him! They had several decent candidates (e.g. Haley) who could have represented the GOP well as the first GOP female PotUS and the end of Trump. The GOP thus had a graceful solution. Not only would they be rid of Trump, but Haley would easily beat Biden. But they screwed that up.
The Ds, on the other hand, would have had to give up incumbency and it is difficult for political machines to do that. But, given Biden's age and poor popularity, that would have been the smart thing to do IMO.
The GOP, however, is the owner of the biggest fuck-up this election by far. They carry the lion's share of the blame for Trump being within reach of the presidency.
How do you apportion blame between the parties for the prospect of Trump being elected to the presidency? The parties, by the way, is meant in the inclusive sense: party operatives and the electorate.
How do apportion blame for Democrats giving us the worst President/VP in the history of the US?
But Trruuummmmppppp!!!!! Is no excuse for Democrats.
Just like it is no excuse for Democrats unequal enforcement of our laws; shitting on the Constitution; and trying to keep everyone not name Brandon off the general ballot.
Make a serious comment rather than spew emotional crap.
When your whole argument is But Trruuummmmppppp!!!!!!.
You don't have any argument.
This is why I cannot take you seriously. You apparently translate every argument (made by anyone) into a simplistic form. It is as if you are unable to follow the arguments and just reduce everything down to: "Is this negative or positive on Trump?".
you agreed with it. I was responding to you.
Nah, it’s spot on. Laughable is tagging it to be laughable.
Wrong. My comment was clear and concise. Dems want to win? Run a decent candidate. Trump is leading in most polls because of the shitty candidate they are running. Instead it’s just too easy for some to blame only the GOP or Trump. That’s just pathetic.
It would be erroneous to make such assumptions. Taking one comment and running with it like this usually is …. erroneous.
Where do you see that?
Yes of course, the Ds should have urged Biden to step aside. It is very difficult for a political party to push aside an incumbent who wants to run, but that is the position I have stated in this forum.
But you are arguing that Trump is the fault of the Ds for not running a better candidate. You ignore the fact that the GOP had a much easier and more direct path by choosing someone other than Trump as their nominee. They had decent candidates and all they had to do was vote for one of them and Trump would be gone. They could have nominated Haley and would get the first female GOP PotUS (she would have won) and be rid of Trump. A graceful, easy move and the GOP fucked that up.
To wit, I do not blame just the GOP but the GOP absolutely gets the lion's share of the blame. You, in contrast, appear to just blame the Ds.
Bottom line, you state that Trump voters should NOT be blamed for nominating Trump. Amazing that you can bring yourself to write such outrageously ridiculous crap.
Your words.
Not interested in spin that attempts to deflect from the meaning of that post.
I “said” no such thing. Stop trying to spin my words.
Dems have no responsibility or control over who the GOP nominates. They do have control over who they nominate. It’s that simple. Hard to understand why something so simple appears to be so confusing. And again, don’t waste your time on thinly veiled insults. They have no meaning here since I could care less.
gaslighting garbage
Another vague claim. More bullshit.
You quoted Greg Tx, not me. Do you see me voting up his comment?
Your comments are not serious.
That’s cool.
We feel the same way about each others posts here.
Exactly the same.
Opinions do vary
WTF?
Partisanship-- in a discussion about politics?
I am shocked-- absolutely shocked I tell you!!!
Don't rule out anything with the unbiased press, either. It's the press that continues to float these false narratives. It's been reported that as much as 40 pct of the electorate believe Trump has been treated unfairly. The press have become bigger liars than politicians.
What happens if there is a brokered convention? Trump doesn't have a VP pick for the primaries. Would you support a VP pick that promises to invoke the 25th amendment?
That being said after all that Hillary Clinton has wrought. And Clinton still tries to spew her lies to stir the cesspool. Trump ain't the worst thing to slither across the political landscape. Democrats have magically transformed state misdemeanor crimes into Federal felony indictments. And Trump is a cult? Really?
Fucking Nancy Pelosi endorsed burning cities and Trump is worse? C'mon man, get real.
I doubt it because there is little guarantee that the promise would ever manifest given the V.P. cannot simply execute the 25th on his or her own. Further, it depends on who the V.P. is. In short, almost certainly I would not support a VP under those conditions.
How anyone can possibly believe that Pelosi or Clinton (both of which I would never support) are even remotely as bad for this nation as Trump is a sad thing to behold.
Well, if Republicans don't win the Senate then it's doubtful that Trump could form a cabinet. Trump's government is going to be run by Biden holdovers anyway.
The VP could have more power over Trump than Trump would want. Whoever is the VP could oust Trump and then potentially be eligible for 12 years as President.
How can anyone say that with a straight face? You do understand that Clinton's Russian demagoguery increased the likelihood of a conflict between the US and Russia. Pelosi and Schiff's impeaching Trump over Ukraine certainly didn't serve to calm tensions with Russia. And Pelosi's stunt of leading delegations to Taiwan wasn't intended to ease tensions with China.
Clinton and Pelosi certainly didn't make the world a safer and more peaceful place. And they both did what they did only to win one stinkin' election; as if there weren't any consequences.
Do you actually think it likely that a VP could promise to invoke the 25th and successfully pull that off as you describe?
By recognizing how bad Trump is for the nation.
So far, the Republican primaries have been nuthin' but Trump. There isn't a Republican ticket yet. The Republican Party won't let Trump run without a VP. And there is a separate delegate vote for VP.
The Republican Party is divided, in case no one has noticed. Without a ticket during the primaries, a brokered convention becomes much more likely. So, yes, a VP could promise the convention they'll use the 25th amendment to capture moderate Republican delegate votes.
How? No one explains how Trump is bad for the nation. Trump certainly ain't more divisive than Barack Obama was. And Hillary Clinton dismissed half the electorate as stupid morons who can be ignored. You know, if Trump is attracting Black voters then its gonna take more than just a whiney huff to convince people Trump is bad for the country.
So, how? How is Trump so bad for the country?
Nerm, all Trump need do is pick a V.P. and the ticket is done. He (they) will be nominated. There will be no issues, the GOP is fully on board with Trump.
That said, if Trump is convicted of a felony, I am not so sure that will have no effect. So that could shake things up. But other than that, Trump is going to be the GOP nominee.
Oh give me a break Nerm. I have been explaining this for years now. In short form, it is horrible for this nation to have a loose-cannon, narcissist who thinks he knows more than anyone else in a position of such power. It is dangerous that this guy will surround himself with sycophants and thus lose the balance that helps keep a PotUS on track. Trump has demonstrated that he cares only about himself (not the American people, not the nation, not democracy, ...) and will resort to unconstitutional, illegal and entirely irresponsible behavior to get what he personally wants.
On and on. Thing is, if you do not understand why Trump is horrible for the nation at this point, there is no reasoning with you anyway.
“How is Trump so bad for the country?”
If strength of character (or even a semblance of same) is no longer a concern, then any endeavor, any excuse, or any evil becomes acceptable. His own often repeated statements are dangerous and damning…
“A man's character may be learned from the adjectives which he habitually uses in conversation.” ~ Mark Twain
How far we’ve come from “character doesn’t matter” when the president is a perjurer accursed of rape but with a d after his name.
Do you mentally blot out all the negatives of Trump???
“…a perjurer accursed of rape…”
Again, as it applies to all of us and cannot be repeated often enough:
“A man's character may be learned from the adjectives which he habitually [emphasis added] uses in conversation.” ~ Mark Twain
Lol. I've said since day one he's unfit to be President. I'm not the one battling what should be crippling cognitive dissonance to try and justify who I'm going to vote for.
It would be better for everyone if Democrats admit they don't care about Trump's character, or his sex life, or his honesty and just admit they hate him for the R after his name. It's embarrassing to watch so many democrats attack Trump for the same behavior they have no problem excusing when its one of their own.
Its embarrassing watching anyone try and pretend that Trump being elected wouldnt be the most shameful event in American political history.
I've read some Twain and don't recall that quote. Can you point out the source?
Yet you always take the GOP side of the issue. Your comments are predominantly anti-Biden and deflections from negatives on Trump.
I doubt that every D thinks that way. And surely every legitimate independent does NOT think that way.
So now we are left with who would be a better president? Haley or Kamala? because that is essentially who you are voting for if you vote either of the major party candidates. Nobody in their right mind thinks Biden can go 4+ more years, and Trump is going to self destruct mot=re likely than not, he can't help himself. so that leaves us with which VP do we want to lead the country, Anybody who says Kamala is an idiot.
Says the guy who will vote for a serial lying 86 year old man in cognitive decline whose aides spend their days plotting how to hide Joe Biden when walking in front of cameras to hide the alzheimer's shuffle.
"pause"
LMAO
Biden is the most honest decent man in America when compared directly to Trump.
Because I tend to support the GOP on issues.
ur comments are predominantly anti-Biden and deflections from negatives on Trump.
Because it is interesting to watch people freak out over the same things they excuse in others, with party identification being the only real variable. "Character doesn't matter" was a Democratic rallying cry in the 90s. Now those chickens have come home to roost.
I doubt that every D thinks that way. And surely every legitimate independent does NOT think that way.
Any Democrat or Independent who couldn't vote for a Clinton or Biden because of character issues has every right to mercilessly attack Trump without fear of being a hypocrite.
So Sean, you just penned a ridiculous exaggeration which includes blatant falsehoods and you expect people to think you are objectively viewing both Biden and Trump?
You have a hyperbolic, purely negative, fantasy view of Biden and grant Trump passes at most every turn.
Getting a blowjob and then committing perjury, having extramarital affairs, etc. is the kind of thing that could cause people to NOT vote for someone for PotUS back then.
Attempt now to compare that with all that Trump does. When considering character, Trump is the poster child for abysmal character. No other PotUS is even in the same league with this scoundrel.
He will be 86 when the next Presidential term ends.
the issue is the degree.
If you don't think's it incredibly severe, you are in denial.
do not spend their days plotting how to navigate Biden's walking.
Yes they do, and you'll ignore it because it doesn't fit the narrative you've created to justify supporting him.
and Trump will still be a piece of human garbage when the next presidential term ends.
Except all those things plus sexual harassment/assault/rape allegations and more, didn't did it? (at least for Democrats). Character doesn't matter in a President per Democrats as long as the economy is good, unless the President is Trump. Then character matters again.
Trump is only possible as a politician because of his good friend Bill Clinton.
Have you not noticed that the GOP has transformed into a Trump cult? The GOP that I recognized no longer seems to exist.
I favor a number of more traditional GOP policies which include well-managed legal immigration, fiscal discipline, individual responsibility, etc. But I sure as hell would not make ridiculous defense for Trump simply because he would likely make some policy decisions that I prefer. Trump should never be allowed access to the presidency. I do not care if Trump was 100% aligned with what I seek, I would fight against this scoundrel becoming PotUS because he is horrible for this nation.
I do not see that with the current GOP leaning crowd. It seems this group is 100% anti-Biden (no matter what Biden does it is always deemed wrong) and includes truly ridiculous, false hyperbolic, partisan crap. Yet, with Trump, this group sees no wrongdoing and defends him at every turn.
Not even remotely credible.
So? Biden is 81 now. Mel Brooks will be 98 in June and he is still making movies...
The difference in character between what took place historically and what is taking place now is staggering.
No PotUS comes even remotely close to the abysmal character of Trump. We are talking character flaws that manifested on occasion, with a fundamentally flawed, loose-cannon, irresponsible individual who clearly cares only about himself and will engage in unconstitutional, illegal, unethical acts to get what he wants even if that means throwing the nation under the bus.
Trump is the most extreme case (in living public figures) of abysmal character that I have seen in my lifetime. Certainly the absolute worst of our presidents.
You are now saying what I said for years!
Is this the first time you have read that from me??
that seems to be too kind of an assessment
As Trump Airs His Election Doubts, Many Supporters Say They Won't Accept A Biden Win In 2024
“I think that the powers that be on the Democratic side have figured out a way to circumvent democracy,” said Darlene Anastas, 69, of Middleborough, Massachusetts.
Poll after poll has found that a large proportion of the Republican electorate believes the only reasons Joe Biden is president are voter fraud and Democratic dirty tricks, buying into former President Donald Trump’s baseless claims about the 2020 election.
Trump continues to stoke those fires on the campaign trail.
He frequently airs false claims about his 2020 election performance and has leaned into defending his supporters who rioted at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. In an interview with Time this week, he said he would have trouble hiring anyone who believes Biden legitimately won in 2020: “I wouldn’t feel good about it.”
And on Wednesday, Trump said he may not accept the presidential election results this time either.
"If everything's honest, I'd gladly accept the results," Trump told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "If it's not, you have to fight for the right of the country."
The doubts Trump pushed last time around resulted in Jan. 6 and linger to this day. Now, there is a fresh cycle of skepticism, pushed again by Trump and many others in the Republican Party. And the views have firmly taken root with many of their followers, as interviews with 50 Republican voters across a dozen states showed.
The majority of voters who spoke with NBC News said they weren’t prepared to accept a Biden victory as legitimate, potentially setting up another presidential election — and potentially a volatile aftermath — in which a large part of the public refuses to believe the results.
Trump himself wouldn’t dismiss the possibility of violence around the election in his interview with Time: “If we don’t win, you know, it depends. It always depends on the fairness of the election.”
Democrats “cheat like crazy,” said George Crosby, 72, a veteran from Fitzwilliam, New Hampshire. “I think they cheated before, and I think they’re going to try to do it again, because they’re a bunch of communists.”
James Russon, 38, of Eagle Mountain, Utah, said, “There’s no way Biden could legally ... win without unfair means.” He added that the only way Biden could prevail would be through “cheating” or “a lot of deceased people voting.”
Randall Minicola, 62, of Las Vegas, said it would be “impossible” for Biden to win.
“I don’t think he’s got a following. I mean, you look who’s behind him — the only thing he’s got is ghosts behind him. That’s what I believe. Where’s the supporters then? Are they in the basement with him? I don’t think so,” Minicola said.
Yet you recently supported Chris Sununu and Nikki Haley, who turned out to be MAGAs.
You are unentusiastic about all Dems...
But yes, you're still coming around to it.
I was giving you credit for halfwaythere.
We are far beyond coming to reasonable common ground with such people.
The majority of 50 Trump voters interviewed by NBC say they will not accept a Biden win. While that may be a group only somewhat larger than a focus group, it is not meaningless. To be a Trump supporter to this extent it appears you have to be either stupid or disingenuous.
You use the same hyperbolic logic those claiming Biden is far left.
Well, that's true. Trump could just pick a VP. But that's ain't what has happened. And until Trump does pick a VP, a brokered convention is the most likely possibility. You really think Mike Pence would oppose a brokered convention? Or Mitch McConnell?
Ain't it amazing that Trump, by himself, while sitting in a courtroom under indictment, is running neck and neck with the Biden/Harris ticket. You'd think a VP pick could be on the campaign trail while Trump is tied up in court. You do realize that Democrats have forced Trump onto Republicans; there really isn't any other choice to remove Biden.
Yeah, I'm supposed to ignore that the same thing was said about George W. Bush. I'm supposed to ignore everything Barack Obama did. You do remember that Obama dictated DACA, played fast and loose with ACA to accommodate insurance brokers, used the military to decapitate the Libyan government and then covered up the murder of a US ambassador, fostered a civil war in Syria, tried to provoke Russia in Ukraine, and pretty much ignored the burning of Ferguson, MO. But, hey, Obama shed fake tears over the murder of white children by a mental incompetent who wasn't covered by ACA. Hell, even Black people didn't trust Barack Obama.
If Trump is compared to Reagan, Bush Sr., Clinton, Bush Jr., and Obama then he doesn't look that bad. Hell, Trump stacks up pretty good against Biden if your really honest.
Then we disagree, which we often do...
Frankly our comment tend to be similar.
This election will not be decided by the MAGA or the left. It will me swing states.
I will never back down till the MAGA lose.
If strength of character were a real concern then Bill Clinton would not be a revered Democrat and Hillary Clinton would never had been on the ballot as a Presidential candidate. Bill Clinton was disbarred as a lawyer; you gotta be pretty sleazy for that to happen.
Wasn’t his last movie in 1995, almost 30 years ago,Dracula: Dead and Loving It
This is what you wrote:
JR will not be voting for Biden when he is 86 years old.
What I think is that you and others exaggerate Biden's decline and ignore that of Trump's.
An obviously desperate retort.
Are you seriously taking such a low road and throwing that in my face? First, I did support Sununu right up to the point where he surprised me by supporting Trump. At that point, he was no longer credible to me. I operate on facts and will change my position based on facts. You have a problem with that?
Nikki has NOT endorsed Trump and I will give her the benefit of the doubt until she gives me a reason to not do so. As I noted in this article, if Haley were to be Trump's VP she would lose my support forever.
Where do you get this? Did you not pay attention to my comments when it was still possible for the Ds to nominate someone other than Biden. I gave suggestions of who I thought would make a good PotUS ... such as Governor Tim Walz.
That is obnoxious language. You should try to avoid gratuitously alienating people. You should know that I could easily make strong arguments against Biden and be in your face regarding your support, poke holes in your arguments, etc. But I do not do that because in general we are on the same page. So what motivates you to pick fights with me? Why not focus on those who are working against your interests and the interests of the nation with their blind and ridiculous support for Trump?
No, not even close. Mel Brooks last movie was 2023's History Of The World Part 2!
Sorry, I keyed on your words of movie and made. Mel wasn’t the Director or actor in this TV series. He did narrate it.
Sadly for you, both women are people of color . . . so you won't have MAGA at the end of that day! (And yes, somebody had to deliver this message - it's the elephant in the room).
Biden has a stenosis problem of the spine it has been reported, and well decency requires we respect it as a sickness. . .but now we have the politics of INDECENCY courtesy of Donald's 'doctrine."
I blame the entirety of the republican electorate for where this fall's election is trending. I blame them all! Every exit ramp to remove their "scythe" Donald they opted out on—anyone inclined to look saw the betrayal of our present democracy. . . which has brought us this far as a nation. . . for a republican chance to STIFLE, RUIN, and SUPPRESS/CONTROL the liberal progress of their fellow peers, colleagues, friends, and family in this republic!
The GOP's shift to a MAGA brand can not abandon/surrender/shun Donald as it would mean it would have to abandon its own takeover ambitions. Thus, and mark my words, there is only two more things which are to occur (first):
1. Donald will rename the GOP/MAGA party ASAP (as soon as possible - as a push to his legacy).
2. Donald, if all goes according to plan will declare himself a "god' for his accomplishments against all possible challenges.
For such are the tendencies of the persistently 'undefeated' in war and campaigns.
I do not blame them all. I blame every one of them who support Trump. Those who do not support Trump deserve respect. I suspect you agree with this.
I am not going to speculate on what a second term Trump in full narcissist mode might do. I will simply say that the electorate needs to get its act together to ensure that Trump never gains power to the presidency.
Of course, I could agree to not charge it to those republicans who have abandoned the 'ship' of Donald, but they saw him coming over the horizon. . . and like Mitch McConnell held their 'fire' until their own ship of state was ablaze and exploding. So I will remain partially upset with the lot of republicans who in the power centers of the GOP. If they could not envision it for themselves. . . "we," whomsoever we are gave the GOP ample warning of their impending doom as a political power and they ran headlong into the flames of Donald.
But charge my thinking to my account-alone.
One more consideration: MAGAs love to gaslight the country with the shit they propagandize as tacked to the bottom of Biden's shoes as a consequence of being president during a highly volatile time in this country, while deliberately and purposefully ignoring the 'pasture' of Shit Donald is staying in of his own making and relentlessness to push forward.
This is no accident, it is not subtle, it is brazen and yet amazingly it seems to hide in plain sight!
Donald is not on my 'shit-list' just because he is a republican; he is on it because he is a persistent misfit who disrespects and wishes to suppress anybody who is not a conservative under his control. I will always detest this man for this one aspect about his attitude and conduct.
This being said. I thank you for your indulgence just now.
lol ….. wow!
Please reread what you posted. Can one gaslight with the shit from someone else's shoe?
Brooks is Creator of the History Of The World Part 2 Series.
Great minds think alike!
Anyone with any political aspirations after Trump would be committing political suicide. I can't see a Haley or a DeSantis wanting to come within miles of whatever trainwreck this second admin would become were Trump to be elected. He almost has to get a true believer sycophant to back any dumb shit he may have planned.
We know for a fact Trump can't win the popular vote and a second run is certain to make him less so. Who wants that political stink?
After the Big Lie I was convinced the GOP would move on from Trump. What a major league embarrassment!
But I totally miscalculated the lunacy of the GOP. I am still trying to process how this party could devolve so quickly into a Trump cult.
And then, to top it off, Chris Sununu (who I wanted to see run for PotUS and who was a staunch backer of Haley) announces that he now supports Trump.
Fucking hell, evilone, these people have lost their minds.
So, sorry to say, I really do not rule out anything with politicians.
It's the base. The far right wing populists took over the Primary process in 2016 and have only gotten bolder.
Because the alt-right has hijacked the propaganda network to make the party line a 'you are either with us, or against us' mentality.
Most of these people will about face when it all blows up. It's much like the days right after Jan 6th when they were all saying how bad it was and how it was all Trump's fault... then two weeks later when the propaganda channels were giving them shit they all changed their tune. I also think this same issue is, in large part, why we are seeing so many political 'retirements' this year.
Sure... it's a weird world. One can strap a dog carrier to the top of a car and not get elected, but another can grab 'em by the pussy and give away state secrets and gets a cult following.
When will it blow up? Looks to me that Trump will be nominated and could actually be elected.
If Trump is elected and the idiots behind Project 2025 have as much influence with Trump as they think they do, then somewhere around a year from now. It will likely be historically violent before it ends.
If Trump does not get elected and Dems pick up seats the establishment will try again to take charge and overthrow the populists within the party.
I was afraid that this is what you had in mind ... the blowup during a second Trump term.
As a student of history (I seem to be a minority there) we've seen sometimes things have to get worse before they can get better.
More violent than college campuses now? more violent then when they were burning cities? more violent than during the progressive insurrection where they used armed force to declare parts of the US autonomous zones outside of the US laws and controls? more violent than that?
And they sure have the last 3+ years
Considering Project 2025 wants to declare martial law and use red state NG troops as law enforcement in blue states, I'd say exponentially worse.
It's been so horrible since jobs are up and crime is down.... Just horrible.
I am not questioning the notion of hitting rock bottom before a reversal occurs.
Anyone that runs with Trump will never be President.
Trump is so toxic to Democrats that are loyal to their brand- as commentors on this article have proven- that they will never vote for anyone who his VP. Also, most could not handle the TDS driven main stream media bashing them 24/7- which is all it would be.
So Trump needs a VP pick with no future political aspirations beyond being the next 4 years.
Tulsi Gabbard would be a decent choice in that regard.
She hasn't said anything to anger Trump or his base. She is a former Establishment Democrat that jumped ship- so she might bring in some outside independents and Democrats that realize Brandon just isn't worth voting for. She would tear Kamala apart on any debate stage.
It is independents who decide the presidency. In particular, independents in swing states. The Ds are not going to vote for an R so it does not really matter who it is.
Another good choice. Then my friends on the left could really spaz out with their Russia, Russia, Russia nonsense.
Wouldn’t that be a hoot. If so, she may as well just admit that every word coming out of her mouth is a lie from a political whore.
I guess that is better than being a real whore.
Abbott and DeSantis are CERTAINLY running for the V. P. slot under Trump. And they are MAGA 'princes' now striving to be under Donald: The MAGA Emperor.
DeSantis would be a liability given this will be a close election and he and Trump are both from Florida. The Florida electors (electoral college) would not be able to vote for both president and VP. Given Florida could be tight, this could be a problem.
Interesting. Thank you.