Trump announces Pence will be his running mate -- discussion thread

[rob in cal]

   How does this play into the narrative that Trump is a modern day fascist demagogue? Does Pence offer balance to that?

[Xing]

So much for Trump's "crossover appeal."

[SATW]

It's a safe pick. That's why he's doing it. A safe pick is important for Trump

[Senator-elect Spark]

This is the safe pick.

[Gass3268]

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https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/house-bill/3/text/ih

[Gass3268]

[Lincoln Republican]

I am extremely disappointed it is not Gingrich.

I was so looking forward to having a field day with a Trump/Gingrich ticket.

[CactusJack]

Safe pick. Meh choice. It won't hurt or help him. He doesn't come from a state that Trump can pick off either and use a hometown VP bump

Gingrich is 73. Not an interesting new name, outspoken himself and has already been tarred and feathered. If Trump wins he could be Trumps Chief of Staff or something for a few years, but he would not have been a good VP choice

Christie is outspoken himself, and the media has already torn him down, calling him a lackey because he had the audacity to stand there near Trump while Donald gave a speech (He looks like he's a hostage hyuck hyuck!)  Plus he's overweight and his 15 minutes of fame as the GOP golden boy ended with his post Hurricane Sandy hug of Obama.

Pence is solid, but I think Trump could've found someone just as solid who at least provides a little bit of excitement. But overall he checks off plenty of boxes. Against Syrian Muslim resettlement in Indiana, when it comes to LGBT stuff he's well liked by the Christian right (Religious Freedom Restoration Act) he's anti Obamacare...

[Zache]

The Kaine-Pence debate will be a black hole of boredom, I expect.

[DINGO Joe]

I am extremely disappointed it is not Gingrich.

I was so looking forward to having a field day with a Trump/Gingrich ticket.

[CactusJack]

when push came to shove Pence opposed Syrian Muslim resettlement in Indiana.

[Badger]

Probably his best choice. Safe and helps with the base.

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

This is the most disgusting thing Trump has ever done. I feel personally hurt. I expected much more from him. A good reminder that he is just as human as everyone here but not one I wanted to think about.

[Gass3268]

Pence once wrote an op-ed that smoking doesn't kill, plus other goodies

[Dr. Arch]

This is the most disgusting thing Trump has ever done. I feel personally hurt. I expected much more from him. A good reminder that he is just as human as everyone here but not one I wanted to think about.

Trump, or any other Republican nominee for the foreseeable future, will never be in favor of the interests of our community.

[CactusJack]

heh. The liberal wackos at Buzzfeed were ready for Pence. I can just see Rachel Madcow, doing her usual bated breath routine, jabbing her pen at the camera, hard stop after each word.

"Do you hear that America? Mike....Pence...doesn't think...smoking...is harmful"

Anyway...smoking doesn't kill? ugh. That's such a mind numbingly stupid thing for Pence to say.

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

This is the most disgusting thing Trump has ever done. I feel personally hurt. I expected much more from him. A good reminder that he is just as human as everyone here but not one I wanted to think about.

Trump, or any other Republican nominee for the foreseeable future, will never be in favor of the interests of our community.

Give me a break, that ain't my problem with this complete and total loser.

[RI]

Meh. At least he's not Gingrich.

[Dr. Arch]

This is the most disgusting thing Trump has ever done. I feel personally hurt. I expected much more from him. A good reminder that he is just as human as everyone here but not one I wanted to think about.

Trump, or any other Republican nominee for the foreseeable future, will never be in favor of the interests of our community.

Give me a break, that ain't my problem with this complete and total loser.

Might as well go ahead and say what the problem is then.

[cinyc]

I can see Pence's appeal as a Pres nominee, honestly, but what does he bring to the ticket really? He's dull and a social archconservative. Doesn't make a ton of sense

Like Biden to Obama in 2008, Pence neither helps nor hurts the ticket. Sometimes, those sort of picks work for a candidate.

trump's best available option probably was a low risk-low reward, "do no damage" pick like Pence, but I think there is a slightly bigger risk than say Biden was due to Pence's untested national media experience and how socially conservative he is. I doubt he is going to turn into Sarah Palin, but the country is going in such a direction that I don't think that too many people will fall in love with the guy.

I think Pence was active on the whole Meet The Press/Face The Nation, etc. Sunday talk show circuit when he was in Congress.

[🦀🎂🦀🎂]

Pence could put Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania to the Trump campaign. He's a soothing Midwesterner, my type of politician.

Lol

[Nyvin]

Pence could put Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania to the Trump campaign. He's a soothing Midwesterner, my type of politician.

uh-huh....*rolls eyes*

[Redban]

Pence could put Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania to the Trump campaign. He's a soothing Midwesterner, my type of politician.

Lol no, especially Michigan and Pennsylvania.

Um, yeah, Michigan is near to Indiana. He plays well in that media market.

How did Paul Ryan play in Wisconsin or the rest of the Midwest?

Devil's Advocate:

There is a significant difference between Governors (e.g. Pence) and Representatives in the House (e.g. Ryan), particularly in the areas they represent. Ryan couldn't deliver Wisconsin or the Midwest because, as a House member, he ran for elections in one district. Pence, on the other hand, won governship by winning an entire state, which is broader than one district. Thus, it's reasonable to think that Pence, unlike Ryan in 2012, can deliver areas to a presidential nominee.

[Gass3268]

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Lol!

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

Pence could put Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania to the Trump campaign. He's a soothing Midwesterner, my type of politician.

Lol no, especially Michigan and Pennsylvania.

Um, yeah, Michigan is near to Indiana. He plays well in that media market.

How did Paul Ryan play in Wisconsin or the rest of the Midwest?

Devil's Advocate:

There is a significant difference between Governors (e.g. Pence) and Representatives in the House (e.g. Ryan), particularly in the areas they represent. Ryan couldn't deliver Wisconsin or the Midwest because, as a House member, he ran for elections in one district. Pence, on the other hand, won governship by winning an entire state, which is broader than one district. Thus, it's reasonable to think that Pence, unlike Ryan in 2012, can deliver areas to a presidential nominee.

The lowest energy state in the entire country. I'm done with politics. Trump is a freaking moron. I've had it.