I don't understand the RNC's obsession with this "pledge." Look what happened in 2016- neither Jeb! nor Kasich endorsed Trump and Cruz essentially told Trump to go f himself in a primetime speech at the convention. It's meaningless.
I like Pence very much, but it would have been a courageous move to say "No, I will not support the nominee if the nominee is Donald Trump."
As Chris says, the best we can hope for is that Pence is crossing his fingers behind his back because we needs to get on the debate stage. And eff the GOP for insisting people sign that stupid "pledge".
The Republican Party can only hope that the Christie performance inspires the other candidates to lean into it a little harder.
I’m really tired of non-answer about supporting Trump by saying he isn’t going to be the nominee. Why? Because he’s got such stalwart opposition?
This is a party that has always proclaimed what a sacred document the Constitution is. Now they’re cult followers of a guy who has all but said he’d rip it up and flush it down his golden toilet. They’re all scared out of their minds of Trump’s followers and their own lack of a political future if they don’t kiss up to Dear Leader. Cowards.
Mike Pence is going to have that same day of reckoning that Pat Robertson is currently having. Whom did Pence serve:God or Trump?
He proves time and again the tenets he espouses in his brand of Christianity are farcical.
He has fawningly supported one of the most corrupt, amoral politicians in American history; the imbodiment of everything antithetical to Jesus-tenet Christianity.
For his support of Trump, Pence has ruined any surviving dignity he had left from his disastrous one-term religio-governorship here in Hoosierland.
I think most non-Trump voters hate doublespeak. Pence’s on this issue should be a total turn-off to any potential voters who might consider him. He’d be way more credible by stating he would never support Trump because he incited a mob “that wanted to kill me.” Now that would be a stunning statement that would capture people’s attention and respect.
The only thing that’ll stop Trump from screaming Election Interference - is the grave. It won’t be indictments, trials, or prison. We won’t be rid of him in my opinion, till he’s dead.
I think it's a VERY hard sell for Pence with donors. The base of the party doesn't like him. and the anti-Trump people also don't like him. I don't know where his money comes from, honestly. Maybe social conservatives and evangelicals not supporting Trump.
LOL …. That’s the same thing we thought about trump. As in, who would be stupid enough to support this guy. We all know how that’s turned out. Don’t we.
This column is headlined "Mike Pence isn't making sense." My question is, "What is so unusual about Mike Pence not making any sense?" Just sayin'....................
Pence's comments just make me crazy! Why can't all the nominees get together and say they won't support Trump as the nominee. What, is the RNC going to have debates without any of them?!!! Or, just give Trump's 2016 words back to them, "It depends who it is."
Sorry, I just don't get what Trump can do to them. Let them gang up on him. This idea that Trump has the power just baffles me; he's just a bully. His cult is a small segment of voters; maybe Chris Christie can take him down.
I think its more fundamental. These candidates are afraid of what Trump will do to them, period. Call them names, sic his sycophantic followers on them, etc.
Pence has no chance to gain the nomination. If people think DeSantis is not personable, lacks the ability to connect with people, etc., Pence is worse than that. He has proven where his loyalty is, it’s not the country. Yes, he gets an atta boy as doing the correct thing and following the constitution at a critical juncture, however, he can’t stand up to Trump and level him. The pledge is meaningless anyway, but to be evasive about signing it is being a coward. Anyone having a chance to get this nomination from Trump needs to be in his face and scream that he is a liar, insurrectionist, crook, grifter, etc., not deserving of the Oval Office, to be in the White House at all, ever again. Pence is a wet noodle.
Who is telling Pence that he ought to run? Is anyone clamoring for his leadership? I don't understand him believing that he has a chance at all, even if Trump were out of the picture.
I think he is driven by the fact that if he doesn’t run now, he is probably done in national politics. If he waited until 2028 he would have been out of office for a decade -- a lifetime in politics. So I think he feels like if he is going to run now is the time to do it. But I agree with you -- it’s hard to see the way he wins (or even challenges the front runners).
Only in the feverish brain of the Tangerine Tyrant is this spread "a lot." This is also, obviously, before the spit hits the fan with the several indictments coming his way. While this might increase his following by the MAGA cult, I seriously doubt indictments, and likely convictions, will further endear him to the general electorate. The Mango Menace lost the popular vote by ~7 million votes in 2020, and if he is the R candidate in '24 I would expect to see him lose by considerably more.
So, if we have to believe Mickey Pency it would be a bad sign to the wider world if Trump would be indicted for criminal behavior. Like keeping classified documents (he is not a reader-type..., so why does he even need them) or bringing democracy to an end by sending his army to the Capital, paying hush money to a porn star and so on. In real democracies in Europe and the wider world, we think it would be a very bad sign if this scroundel would NOT
be prosecuted, since in a real democracy nobody is above the law.
I don't understand the RNC's obsession with this "pledge." Look what happened in 2016- neither Jeb! nor Kasich endorsed Trump and Cruz essentially told Trump to go f himself in a primetime speech at the convention. It's meaningless.
TOTALLY agree. It's just a piece of paper. You think Donald Trump cares about a piece of paper? Please!
Yes he does, Chris, as long as the paper is marked "CLASSIFIED".
[Thanks for the softball! ;-)]
I like Pence very much, but it would have been a courageous move to say "No, I will not support the nominee if the nominee is Donald Trump."
As Chris says, the best we can hope for is that Pence is crossing his fingers behind his back because we needs to get on the debate stage. And eff the GOP for insisting people sign that stupid "pledge".
You like Pence very much? That's the first time i've heard that in at least five years.
The Republican Party can only hope that the Christie performance inspires the other candidates to lean into it a little harder.
I’m really tired of non-answer about supporting Trump by saying he isn’t going to be the nominee. Why? Because he’s got such stalwart opposition?
This is a party that has always proclaimed what a sacred document the Constitution is. Now they’re cult followers of a guy who has all but said he’d rip it up and flush it down his golden toilet. They’re all scared out of their minds of Trump’s followers and their own lack of a political future if they don’t kiss up to Dear Leader. Cowards.
Mike Pence is going to have that same day of reckoning that Pat Robertson is currently having. Whom did Pence serve:God or Trump?
I'm not sure what you are getting at, can you be clearer? ;-) /s
As is well known, Mike Dense is, well, dense.
He proves time and again the tenets he espouses in his brand of Christianity are farcical.
He has fawningly supported one of the most corrupt, amoral politicians in American history; the imbodiment of everything antithetical to Jesus-tenet Christianity.
For his support of Trump, Pence has ruined any surviving dignity he had left from his disastrous one-term religio-governorship here in Hoosierland.
I think most non-Trump voters hate doublespeak. Pence’s on this issue should be a total turn-off to any potential voters who might consider him. He’d be way more credible by stating he would never support Trump because he incited a mob “that wanted to kill me.” Now that would be a stunning statement that would capture people’s attention and respect.
I agree with this. I think treating Trump like just another politician is a massive mistake. Massive.
The only thing that’ll stop Trump from screaming Election Interference - is the grave. It won’t be indictments, trials, or prison. We won’t be rid of him in my opinion, till he’s dead.
I think this is right. I don't see any way he stops running -- or insisting he has won -- as long as he is upright.
Which cannot happen soon enough. The fatal hamburger, a smack in the head with a 9 iron, whatever.
The future is here Shawn...the Defendant-In-Chief is already starting with the rigged-election BS.
It makes no sense, other than setting up his victimization, to make such comments.
The MAGA Boobwaazie might just figure what's the use in voting since the system is corrupt.
Oh trust me I’ve already seen the screaming post on his Fake Social media site. It’s another doozie.
Nicely put, C.
I realize Mannequin Mike is driven by his ego (and that of Mother), but I can't understand anyone supporting his campaign with $$$$.
A phrase my mother would have used in reference to his donors, "Do those people have rocks in their head?"
I think it's a VERY hard sell for Pence with donors. The base of the party doesn't like him. and the anti-Trump people also don't like him. I don't know where his money comes from, honestly. Maybe social conservatives and evangelicals not supporting Trump.
LOL …. That’s the same thing we thought about trump. As in, who would be stupid enough to support this guy. We all know how that’s turned out. Don’t we.
And no. Pence made no sense. He flops around like a dying fish.
This column is headlined "Mike Pence isn't making sense." My question is, "What is so unusual about Mike Pence not making any sense?" Just sayin'....................
Pence's comments just make me crazy! Why can't all the nominees get together and say they won't support Trump as the nominee. What, is the RNC going to have debates without any of them?!!! Or, just give Trump's 2016 words back to them, "It depends who it is."
Because they are afraid. Afraid of what Trump might do to them if he somehow winds up as the nominee. It’s that simple.
Sorry, I just don't get what Trump can do to them. Let them gang up on him. This idea that Trump has the power just baffles me; he's just a bully. His cult is a small segment of voters; maybe Chris Christie can take him down.
I think its more fundamental. These candidates are afraid of what Trump will do to them, period. Call them names, sic his sycophantic followers on them, etc.
SAD!
Just show some balls and say, "No, I won't support Trump. He is a danger to the nation."
No debates because none of them will sign Ronnas loyalty to the nominee form? That would be perfect actually.
If they all joined forces that would be significant. It would show courage and conviction, and be a real blow to Trump (and Ronna).
There’s a WaPo opinion piece on this very topic suggesting that Pence & Christie do just that.
I will have to read it!
Pence has no chance to gain the nomination. If people think DeSantis is not personable, lacks the ability to connect with people, etc., Pence is worse than that. He has proven where his loyalty is, it’s not the country. Yes, he gets an atta boy as doing the correct thing and following the constitution at a critical juncture, however, he can’t stand up to Trump and level him. The pledge is meaningless anyway, but to be evasive about signing it is being a coward. Anyone having a chance to get this nomination from Trump needs to be in his face and scream that he is a liar, insurrectionist, crook, grifter, etc., not deserving of the Oval Office, to be in the White House at all, ever again. Pence is a wet noodle.
Actually Pence is more of a people person than DeSantis is.
The title of this piece is forever accurate
Typical Trump: Accuse everyone else of doing what you are doing and of being exactly what you are.
Who is telling Pence that he ought to run? Is anyone clamoring for his leadership? I don't understand him believing that he has a chance at all, even if Trump were out of the picture.
I think he is driven by the fact that if he doesn’t run now, he is probably done in national politics. If he waited until 2028 he would have been out of office for a decade -- a lifetime in politics. So I think he feels like if he is going to run now is the time to do it. But I agree with you -- it’s hard to see the way he wins (or even challenges the front runners).
Excellent point on his leadership.
Truly he leads from behind, if he leads at all.
In the movie "Spinal Tap," Derrick Smalls (bass player) is asked about the personalities of he and his band mates.
"Well, Nigel and David (the guitarists) are like fire and ice. So, I'd say I am like lukewarm water."
Ergo, Mannequin Mike is the Derrick Smalls of American politics.
Mother told him. And he always does what she says. And Chris is right too. He’ll be even less relevant in 2028 than he is now.
According to the RCP average TFG leads Mr Biden by 1.8%, with over ten percent either not stating a preference or leaning third party.
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RCP Average 4/28 - 5/31 -- -- 45.5 (TFG) 43.7 (Mr Biden) Trump +1.8 (Direct head to head poll) https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2024/president/us/general-election-trump-vs-biden-7383.html
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Only in the feverish brain of the Tangerine Tyrant is this spread "a lot." This is also, obviously, before the spit hits the fan with the several indictments coming his way. While this might increase his following by the MAGA cult, I seriously doubt indictments, and likely convictions, will further endear him to the general electorate. The Mango Menace lost the popular vote by ~7 million votes in 2020, and if he is the R candidate in '24 I would expect to see him lose by considerably more.
fnord
So, if we have to believe Mickey Pency it would be a bad sign to the wider world if Trump would be indicted for criminal behavior. Like keeping classified documents (he is not a reader-type..., so why does he even need them) or bringing democracy to an end by sending his army to the Capital, paying hush money to a porn star and so on. In real democracies in Europe and the wider world, we think it would be a very bad sign if this scroundel would NOT
be prosecuted, since in a real democracy nobody is above the law.