It may be untrue, but the “JD Vance fucked a latex glove between two couch cushions and the detailed the experience in his book” really took off on social media. It’s produced some hilarious memes. With this guy (fucking weirdo that he is), this couch story seemed entirely plausible and I think that’s why it took off. Trump’s got a real doozy of a running mate on his hands. For many people, this image of Vance is now locked in.
The lettuce thing may be Liz Truss’s only positive legacy.
He did better last time. Someone nondescript with no skeletons. And Pence helped with the christian voters.
This seems a haphazard choice.
Maybe would’ve been better to have picked Sarah Palin or even George Santos.
There really isn’t any way for Trump to change his VP pick now, though, is there? The Republican National Convention chose Vance, and so that’s the name that’s going to be on ballots. I suppose that the Republican party could still instruct their electors to vote for someone else, and publicize that fact, but then you’d run into various states’ faithless elector laws.
He can still say that he wants to change his pick, of course, but that really doesn’t help him.
The RNC could still convene an emergency meeting to change the Vice-Presidential nominee.
The Democrats replaced Thomas Eagleton as their VP after the nominating convention in 1972. But they’ll start running up against state registration deadlines before too long.
Didn’t McGovern replace Eagleton with Shriver after the convention?
ETA: Missed it by that much…
AIUI, if Vance were to step aside on his own, as Thomas Eagleton did in 1972 (though he did so at George McGovern’s request), Trump and the GOP could then replace him on the ticket.
Not to beat a dead horse, but specifically Rule 9 of the Rules of the Republican Party provides that:
(a) The Republican National Committee is hereby authorized and empowered to fill any and all vacancies which may occur by reason of death, declination, or otherwise of the Republican candidate for President of the United States or the Republican candidate for Vice President of the United States, as nominated by the national convention, or the Republican National Committee may reconvene the national convention for the purpose of filling any such vacancies.
It is an interesting question what would happen if Vance fought being replaced.
Replacing Vance would be seen as an act of desperation, done in reaction to the democrats’ recent decisions. It’s showing weakness, and admitting to a mistake.
It won’t happen.
Is it possible that Trump didn’t really pick Vance?
Just like Trump nominated federal judges and justices picked by the Federalists, a man with his ego probably feels “apres moi, le deluge”** and doesn’t really care who his VP is. But the GOP, liking the votes and contributions Trump brings in, would love to set up a new Trump to keep the MAGAs onboard when Trump is gone. And they had a great excuse* in the Constitution, that Trump has to have a VP candidate, to silence any grumbling by Trump.
And Vance seems like that neo-Trump. He’s not exactly the same as Trump, of course. But he seems to “speak to” and capture the support of the same “forgotten” rural non-rich Christian whites as Trump. Unlike the more “country-club” old-school party leadership.
Trump doesn’t want a mini-me successor because he doesn’t want anybody as a rival and sees no need for a successor. But the GOP would love one. And IMHO they won’t let Trump get rid of Vance even if he could.
*They only do “but what if we didn’t?” when custom, tradition, an ambiguous rule, etc. stands in the way of what they want. They’re perfectly willing to cite the Constitution, law, or custom when it happens to enable what they want.
**Except he’d use a crude phrase with a couple of vulgarities in it, like the wanna-be mobster he is, instead of French. Something like “why should I give a flyin’ f#ck about who’s in charge when I’m f#ckin’ dead?”
Headline on Drudge today
The selection of Vance was certainly part of the quid pro quo with the neo-reactionary technocrats like Musk and Thiel.
Agree. Musk must love Vance
Of course they could replace Vance. Trump would wave his stubby little hand around, call him JD Vanity, or something, and the Republicans would wear out their erasers to change the by-laws to allow him to do whatever he wanted. It’s not like it’s illegal to be an unscrupulous political party.
But… but… his name has already been painted on the planes!
“If the couch hadn’t wanted to get sexually assaulted, it shouldn’t have been upholstered like that.”
If Vance starts getting widely ridiculed he’ll be “asked” to step down. The Don can’t abide being laughed at.
This was before he was famous no doubt. Once you’re a star you can grab the upholstery and they just let you.
Yeah, but the VP’s name is in tiny font. Earl Schieb can fix it in an hour, and for only $29.95.
I really hope Trump is stuck with Vance. I was delighted when I saw Vance was the pick. They really couldn’t have picked a more misogynistic VP candidate. Like women needed any more incentive to come out to vote.
But what if he doesn’t? He’s got as big an ego as any of the rest of them, and he knows that Trump can’t force him out. There’s really no leverage that compares with getting to sit in the seat one heartbeat away from the most powerful position in the world.