The media outlets are buzzing with Donald Trump’s pick of Ohio Sen. J. D. Vance as his running mate. It’s not particularly interesting to me since I won’t vote for Trump in any event but I did have a couple of comments. First, Sen. Vance is a great pick if one of the objectives is for the VP candidate to fill a roles that VP candidates have traditionally filled: lightning rod. He will unquestionably draw and, possibly, relish a lot of criticism. He’s better suited for that than Mike Pence was.
Second, it certainly indicates that Mr. Trump is doubling down on the outsider thing. As a first term senator at the beginning of his term, Vance is still an outsider and his reputation is one of a critic of elites and the “Deep State”.
Unfortunately, President Trump is also doubling down on something I have criticized him for in the past: neither he nor his running mate understand how the federal government functions, how the Congress functions, how to get things done in Washington, or the constraints of the law. Maybe Vance will have more intellectual curiosity than Trump but I wouldn’t bet on it.
If it takes place, the vice presidential debate should be interesting. Vance is a pretty articulate guy which is not something you can say of Vice President Harris. Even her supporters mock her “word salad” style of speech.
The key attribute for a Trump VP is the ability to suck up and he has that in spades. A younger Lindsey Graham.
Steve
I think Vance is a good choice. He is really, really smart, well educated, successful in business, and has direct, first experience of Rust Belt and poor peoples’ problems. Whether or not his lack of inside-the-beltway experience a liability is debatable. JFK’s choice of LBJ is likely what got him killed, and LBJ’s Presidency was a failure.
Being an alumni of Yale law school; an editor of Yale law review, a clerk to a federal judge, and the spouse of a clerk to Justice Roberts; I suspect Senator Vance has a pretty clear idea of the constraints of the law.
I agree with the concerns of his lack of legislative / executive experience.
From a political lens; it’s a different strategy to then 2016; then Pence was brought in to reassure the traditional GOP base while Trump went after the untested and unknown “MAGA” electorate. This time Vance is to reassure “MAGA” which is the base while Trump goes after disaffected Democrats.
The underwritten story in the convention is Trump revamping the GOP policy platform; watering down portions dealing with abortion and gun rights.
Two points. First, just because you’re a lawyer does not mean you’re a good lawyer. Even if you graduated from Yale Law. He practiced law for slightly under two years. Any practicing lawyer will tell you that he or she learned more in their first years practicing than they did in law school.
Second, as I suggested in the post he may not care.
Next Generation.
Smart move on Trumps part.
Just about a180 degree move from career elite government.
I’m pleased, and I pray because the Iranian military still wants him dead and the Secret? service? Has lost credibility.