This from the man who put some of those outrageous words in George W Bush's mouth. "Mission accomplished" perhaps? It would seem that you're not really trying to gain back the GOP's credibility, but perhaps your own?
29
Hello Matt:
Trump "puts self-interest aside"? You must be joking.
Cheers,
Jeff Pucillo
Trump "puts self-interest aside"? You must be joking.
Cheers,
Jeff Pucillo
22
Pence DID ask to be put in this position when he accepted the VP slot. Did he not know Trump was a train wreck before? Also, I think your comment about Trump not being answerable to anyone is his entire downfall. With his ego, will he really heed any advice? He will surround himself with yes men who continually nod to his highness whims.
18
Birds of a feather...flock together. Pence was well aware of Trumps issues prior to flying to his nest.... Your point is moot.
17
Let the GOP carry this mistake to term. Isn't that how they roll?
38
What a ridiculous premise.....or is it just wishful thinking? The future is, mercifully, NOT in Mike Pence' hands or Trumps...just ridiculous. Good luck with that.
19
That you think it even remotely possible that a "political outsider who puts self-interest aside to battle Washington’s wrongdoers and set things right" is a plausible formulation suggests that you are as out of touch as the Donald himself.
The future of fantasy is in Pence's hands.
The future of fantasy is in Pence's hands.
11
Republicans, you created him. Your party is stuck with him. Now face the fact that, as Americans, you're going to have to vote for Hillary to stop him. Learn the lesson: Stop the dog whistles. Eventually, the whole wild, vicious pack shows up and chooses its own alpha leader you can't control.
34
You're talking about the Mike Pence who "prayed over" a heroin epidemic while people of state were contracting and spreading AIDS? The Mike Pence who attempted to bankrupt his state by pandering to bigots who wish to freely discriminate against Indiana's LGBT citizens? That Mike Pence?
38
Please don't drop out , Hillary landslide victory 59% to 41% bigots lose , in 4 years lot of old WWll bigots will be dead . Reelection landslide 61% to 39%
19
Sorry. You nominated him. And you are stuck with him
20
Unassuming? Pence? Have you SEEN his resume? He's so far to the right that he has no place in the White House, either. He's a religious fanatic, ordering funerals for unborn fetuses! Lost business for the state due to his anti- gay laws. He's hardly ready for prime time.
43
You're kidding, right?
14
Dance with the one that brung ya.
22
What????? So we substitute a loser candidate with a far-right wing cult Christian who would discriminate against women and anyone else who didn't bow down to his warped vision of Christianity???? NO! Better to stomp Trump into the dirt and discard both Trump and Pence (a desperate has-been) onto the side of the road. The Republican Party needs to lose this race in order to keep what's left of its hate blackened soul.
34
TOOOO LATE NOW! Donald's goose is already cooked and so is his running mate, just by association. Republicans, learn from this fiasco and give us a worthy candidate in 2020.
11
Since the NY Times is in the pocket of the Hillary for President campaign why should anyone believe or take any advice or suggestions that might strengthen the opposition as it comes from such a biased source? Is there a hint of a "fear factor" there?
6
Nonsense. Mike Pence is a Trojan horse. He is a Tea Party Republican. Look at what it took for him to allow needle exchanges in his state when an HIV outbreak happened in his state. He is not a profile in courage.
18
Mike Pence thinks like Trump does. Pence says that tobacco does not cause cancer, among many of his crazy ideas. We don't need Pence running things.
18
Pence is just shy of being as bad as Trump!
10
Trump needs to retire from everything...this election, his companies,
his now-toxic brand.
The empire he has so badly mucked up with this crazy president idea
could go forth as the 'Ivanka' brand, eh?
You need a rest and an exit, Ol' Donald. And the world will be spared
more of your nonsense.
his now-toxic brand.
The empire he has so badly mucked up with this crazy president idea
could go forth as the 'Ivanka' brand, eh?
You need a rest and an exit, Ol' Donald. And the world will be spared
more of your nonsense.
7
NO, NO, NO...NO!
First, Pence was "chosen" by Donald Trump.
Second, Trump (and the 20 per cent White Male Supremists that see Trump as the Great White Hope) deserve the humiliation a true Democracy can provide.
First, Pence was "chosen" by Donald Trump.
Second, Trump (and the 20 per cent White Male Supremists that see Trump as the Great White Hope) deserve the humiliation a true Democracy can provide.
19
One of the dumbest articles I've ever read. BUT! Everyone has an opinion just like everyone has one of those other things..yeah.
11
Are. you. crazy? Trump represents a part of the Republican party which needs to be disowned and repudiated... not to have excuses made for it... Republicans could have gotten rid of Donald several primary candidates ago, but instead they chose to be cowards. This column is the little boat chasing the yachts trying to avoid the hurricane...
15
You know what, Matt, you're an X-speechwriter: No one cares what you think. The collective intemperate hatred of the Republican Party is the Frankenstein that gave rise to the monster we call Trump. Bush is dumb as a rock; YOU were one of his speechwriters. What does that make you? I can tell you: the elastic in Trump's underwear.
29
I applaud The New York Times. We are living in dangerous times and, yes, I FEAR a constitutional crisis is upon us. Mr. Trump MUST GO.
3
GOP before country Mr Latimer, PUHLEESE! The dumb Donald pull out because Pence tells him? To quote Robert Deniro in the movie, Cape Fear:
" Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha....."
" Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha....."
6
"was a speechwriter for President George W. Bush."
And we should listen to him why?
And we should listen to him why?
13
The Republican Party should play patriotic role and call for a new convention for Unites States of America, only super power in the world. So many important Republican leaders including senators and House members have denounced Trump. Show your courage and it is the call for your and our country. Do not put your interest and party above your country. You can not take a chance to hand over the nuclear code to a mentally unstable friend of Putin. Trump is not and was never a Republican and his supporters call him Trumpian. Come to light , wake up and do the right thing. Bush Sr, Bush jr, McCain, Romney, McConnel, Paul Ryan, Lindsey Graham and other senior leader should not watch from side line. Do the right thing. Time is running out. If Trump is only racist and bigot, it is ok. But when is mentally imbalanced and unstable, it is dangerous to award presidency.
3
Tim Kaine should get Hillary Clinton to Withdraw.
10
Fat chance!
3
"Mike Pence did not ask to be put in this position..."
This of course is not true. He knew exactly who Trump was and he accepted The Donald's offer to be his running mate.
This of course is not true. He knew exactly who Trump was and he accepted The Donald's offer to be his running mate.
16
The writer of this article was a speechwriter for George W. Bush. He thus comes with a ready-made proclivity for fairy tales.
15
Sorry, just couldn't get past the fantastical part about Trump being a successful business man", ROTFLMAO.
What a joke, but in the upside down world of the GOP, failure (multiple bankruptcies) counts as success.
You deserve Trump.
What a joke, but in the upside down world of the GOP, failure (multiple bankruptcies) counts as success.
You deserve Trump.
14
Please having reasonable ideas. We want the crazy jerk at the top of the ticket to do as much damage to the Republican Party as possible.
6
"not yet"
What exactly would he be waiting for? The "new" Donald Trump to emerge?
What exactly would he be waiting for? The "new" Donald Trump to emerge?
3
Who knows, maybe this was Mr. Pence's grand scheme to begin with. Sign on but push the great one overboard at the most opportune time. He has a lot of help in terms of anti trump comments and "I'm not voting for trump etc".
2
An interesting hypothesis until the sentence “But he owes it to his party, his country, and the cause he has championed his entire life” However, America is low in Mr. Pence’s order of things as demonstrated when he stated “I’m a Christian, a conservative and a Republican, in that order.” America did not rate.
14
OK. Let's assume Pence can get Trump to step aside. Let's then assume Pence becomes the candidate. What do we have? We have a candidate who was picked by a proven bad idea to be his second in command. There is no way someone like Trump would have picked anyone who could be in any way his superior. So could you wind up with a candidate even lower on the food chain than Trump? I know, it's hard to imagine, but there you are.
9
Sometimes I can't believe what gets published in the Grey Lady.
13
You assume some smidgen of integrity from Pence and the republicans and that was lost a long time ago. Collins finally found a very small smidgen but she has been a faithful Mitch McConnell foot soldier for over 7 years no matter how destructive it was to the country.
6
I know it's sad, but this strikes me as funny. The GOP made Trump. And the media gave him the pulpit 24/7. Now, what to do?
1
A mild pence and a donald short -- but keep wishing.
3
Pence for president as an unelected nominee. This idea from Donald Rumsfeld's and George W.'s speechwriter. Thanks but we have had enough of your spin. Your republican made this sandwich, I pray the USA doesn't choke on it.
4
I'm curious, Matt: are there many crocodiles in Denial? I hear it is beautiful this time of year.
4
It would be fair to brand Trump a racist, sexist, and yes, a loser. Believe me.
2
Latimer, you live in fantasy land. Trump is already a loser, on so many levels, and yet that causes him no chagrin. Even losing the election would not dent his manifest self regard. Further, do you imagine than -anyone- around him, having been subject to his triangulation, scapegoating, and gaslighting, is anything more than a synchophant, including Pence ?
3
This is a pretty hare brained column. The imaginings, like Trump consoling himself, confident he had hand picked the next President are just plain dumb. This is not going to happen. Was this contribute the one who came up with the "greeted as liberators" line?
7
Trump is never going to be be president because he doesn't really want the job. Why would he give up his current lavish lifestyle? He will have to sit in daily long boring meetings while wonks drone on about things can not even begin to follow.
Pence is a religious fanatic. If you believe in gay conversion therapy, then you are a religious fanatic.
Maybe Ryan can fill the spot. He's spineless and is an ignorant person's idea of a wonk. If Ryan started wearing a pair of Perry glasses, he would be a shoe-in.
Pence is a religious fanatic. If you believe in gay conversion therapy, then you are a religious fanatic.
Maybe Ryan can fill the spot. He's spineless and is an ignorant person's idea of a wonk. If Ryan started wearing a pair of Perry glasses, he would be a shoe-in.
8
I'm unclear why Mr Latimer thinks Governor Pence has that kind of influence over Mr Trump.
3
Umm, no. It's the American people to decide that on November 8. No one gave Mike Pence or anyone else that power.
6
Deb: It hasn't been the Party of Lincoln since Lincoln.
12
Donald Trump - Even his fellow Republicans view him as
"The Mouth That Bored".
"The Mouth That Bored".
4
Perhaps Mr. Trump can drop out of the race by claiming that a bone spur on his heel has made his running impossible.
16
Trump would respond to Pence's suggestion by waterboarding him until he took it back.
7
Perhaps, Mr. Trump should claim that an ankle spur is preventing him from running.
10
This article is hilarious because it shows how deluded even "reasonable" Republicans are. Trump has shown what a farce your party has become. Dan Quale, Sarah Palin... Trump completes the sequence. Continue nominating spectacularly unqualified 1st or 2nd in commands and pretty soon your brand is trash. You now stand equally for stupidity and moral bankruptcy. This is a hero rescue fantasy. The type women in arranged marriages in the middle East have.
6
By signing on to serve in a potential Trump administration, Mike Pence revealed either his total misunderstanding of the Presidency or his unbridled and blinding ambition. Period.
4
Really? The Ridiculous Candidate should be cajoled into stepping out of the race? So that he can say he "hand picked" the president? Really?!!!! The Republican party should hang its head in shame and party leaders should stop pandering to this lunatic! I hope that more Republicans who hold office break party lines and do what is best for this country and come out against Trump!! And, when all the dust has cleared after this election, we should all think about how little the two party system serves the electorate. Simply stated, as proof in this election cycle, it doesn't.
3
As the kids say these days: I. Can't. Even.
2
Substituting Pence for Trump will only change the GOP party crisis from one understood as "bigotry" to one seen as "fundamentalism."
Fundamentalism is a global threat. Boko Haram, Wahhabism, and Southern Baptists bring hate, fear and extremism to the communities they impact. They all put their religion, fundamentalism, and 'group' above country.
Mr. Pence offered a preamble to his acceptance speech at the RNC where he clearly stated that the three most important things to him were christianity, conservatism and party--with NO mention of country.
Pence's fundamentalism is emblematic of the next GOP crisis that should be on the list once the party figures out that they have become a haven, and now a platform, for racial bigots.
Recognizing and addressing these first two problems should keep them busy for at least 20 years.
In the meantime, the growing list of RHINOs might consider making their way over to the Democratic party for a period of courtesy and rehabilitation. You can help us get big money out of politics.
GOP party redemption won't be coming from paid political hacks like Matt Latimar.
Fundamentalism is a global threat. Boko Haram, Wahhabism, and Southern Baptists bring hate, fear and extremism to the communities they impact. They all put their religion, fundamentalism, and 'group' above country.
Mr. Pence offered a preamble to his acceptance speech at the RNC where he clearly stated that the three most important things to him were christianity, conservatism and party--with NO mention of country.
Pence's fundamentalism is emblematic of the next GOP crisis that should be on the list once the party figures out that they have become a haven, and now a platform, for racial bigots.
Recognizing and addressing these first two problems should keep them busy for at least 20 years.
In the meantime, the growing list of RHINOs might consider making their way over to the Democratic party for a period of courtesy and rehabilitation. You can help us get big money out of politics.
GOP party redemption won't be coming from paid political hacks like Matt Latimar.
6
Mike Pence is not in any situation to convince Donald Trump to leave the Campaign. Pence is not the V. P.; so, if Trump did leave the race, he would not become President. In fact, the Republican Party would be in an even worse position than if Trump stayed. Besides, it just not in Trump's DNA to admit failure.
https://thetruthoncommonsense.com
https://thetruthoncommonsense.com
1
"The unassuming governor of Indiana" has absolutely nothing to assume about! He's an anti-woman Christian-supremacist homophobe, he's not very bright, and unlike the nightmare nominee, he's unutterably boring. I'd love to see him run - he'd be run right into the ground.
6
This means you are not respecting the american democratic process, which supposed to the best in the world. Either all the voters are duffers or you are.
1
Much better to keep Trump running; bring historic Republican defeat; and watch destruction of the party of the 1%.
3
Trying to catch the Tiger by its tail is very dangerous. It is better to allow Mr Trump to contest the elections and lose rather than withdraw. What about those who have supported him this far?
This is almost as ridiculous as the Trump/Pence ticket itself.
Almost.
Almost.
4
Honestly, this is one of the craziest ideas to come down the pike. Why would Mike Pence, a right wing nut if ever there was one, want to unstamp his ticket to the White House? If Mike Pence feels the GOP needs saving from Trump, he should never have signed on to begin with. Pence is part of the Trump problem, he isn't it's savior. Trump is going to be buried in the sewage of his own lies, temper tantrums, and his narcissistic, grandiose sense of himself. Mike Pence should simple share the dumpster with Trump. Good riddance to them both.
4
Everyone in American politics hopes someone else will do their job for them. We are now waiting for someone to
Convince Erdogan to step down. Now comes yet another Republican hoping Mr. Pence will somehow remove Mr. Trump. Your Party is constantly insulting the President with the charge that he is Irresponsible and weak because he has other people do his work. The Repubicans remind me of
the large number of countries constantly trying to destroy one tiny sliver of a country, Israel. Stop whining and do what adults do to make the best of a bad situation.
Convince Erdogan to step down. Now comes yet another Republican hoping Mr. Pence will somehow remove Mr. Trump. Your Party is constantly insulting the President with the charge that he is Irresponsible and weak because he has other people do his work. The Repubicans remind me of
the large number of countries constantly trying to destroy one tiny sliver of a country, Israel. Stop whining and do what adults do to make the best of a bad situation.
1
Pence will just pray Trump away. See how easy it is.
6
Mr. Latimer, why are you so late to the party? To anyone paying any attention to Mr. Trump for the better part of a half a century, these character defects were on full display. For one not there for a front row seat, they are an easy google search away. NOW you see that Trump is unfit? Shame on you. And shame on your party for carefully tending the fertile ground of racism, xenophobia and fear that has allowed Mr. Trump to take root and blossom.
7
Hogwash! Mike Pence is no Donald Trump! Who are you trying to fool? GOP voters had 16 candidates to choose from. Pence wasn't one of them, and They chose Trump!!! Let them have him! Who is Pence anyway? An unknown! The GOP created this Frankenstein monster during pursuit of their top priority of attempting to ensure Obama's failure. McConnell and other congressional GOP behavior has been treasonous, but I suppose they think they've been catering to their "base", the same base that chose Trump, BTW. They swore oaths of office, but repeatedly neglected their constitutional duties, even now refusing to consider a Supreme Court nominee. As though governance is a game or reality TV. As Colin Powell warned about Iraq (another colossal GOP disaster thanks to GWB and company) ... "You break it, you bought it".
7
So if Trump wins or does not lose by a landslide, he would NOT be a "racist, sexist, and ... historic loser"?!?
Mr. Latimer, do you have ANY values at all?
Mr. Latimer, do you have ANY values at all?
3
Right. It would be a great thing for the nation and the world if Trump were to withdraw. But it's just plain silly of this writer to entertain for even one second the notion that Pence might try to make it happen.
Mr Latimer, I imagine Trump supporters would say to Mr Pence:
Governor, I feel served by Donald Trump. I know Donald Trump from his reality show, his casinos, the debates and press conferences, which are really great. I feel Donald Trump is a friend of mine. Governor, you’re no Donald Trump.
Governor, I feel served by Donald Trump. I know Donald Trump from his reality show, his casinos, the debates and press conferences, which are really great. I feel Donald Trump is a friend of mine. Governor, you’re no Donald Trump.
1
I don't know what Matt Latimer has been drinking, smoking and/or taking but don't let it get out on the street!
1
Another editorial that just leaves me wondering if there are actually ANY Republican who doesn't embarrass both themselves and the party when they open their mouths?
3
Pence DID ask to be put in this position, by agreeing to run on the ticket with Trump. One way or the other, he will pay the price for his foolish decision.
2
Excuse me, Mr. Latimer, in what universe do you live? Are you suggesting that GOP nominee subvert the will of the people and step down of his own free will?
Wishful thinking, Mr. Latimer, but you're not getting off the hook that easily. You broke it, you buy it.
Wishful thinking, Mr. Latimer, but you're not getting off the hook that easily. You broke it, you buy it.
5
That is a far fetched proposal. Mike Pence practically unknown was chosen by Donald Trump as the highly conservative running mate.
Better plan let the voters awake and vote Mr. Trump out and either vote for Hillary Clinton or write in someone in their family .
Better plan let the voters awake and vote Mr. Trump out and either vote for Hillary Clinton or write in someone in their family .
1
Mike Pence was virtually sure to lose his re-election race in Indiana, for a lot of very good reasons.
4
I don’t see this happening. Pence asks permission from Trump before publicly disagreeing with him.
Trump will probably fire Pence at some point.
Your party has made cultivating racists, homophobes, religious fanatics and nativists an art form since Richard Nixon. Your never ending disdain for educated people culminated with Rick Santorum's cry of "the smart people will never be with us". The final outcome of that behavior is Donald Trump. He speaks plainly, simply and clearly using language that the anti-intellectual base of the Republican Party relates to. Unfortunately, he chose language devoid of dog whistles or any sort of subtlety; he's shouting it from the rooftops. This turn of events scares the daylights out of you. You wanted these people to vote their emotions, but you didn't want them to really exercise any sort of power. The paternalistic Republican elders would do that for them. Well guess what, this little Frankenstein you created with the Republican perverted version of a "big tent" doesn't take orders anymore. They've found a standard bearer and he's loving every minute of it. He running the biggest and most successful con in American history and he's laughing all the way to the bank. A sucker may not be born every minute, but enough are to keep Trump happy for a long time. Oh and you've attracted enough of them into your party to have Trump as your nominee for President.
2
"...and if he managed to receive Mr. Trump’s blessing, ..."
I actually laughed out loud at this startling both my wife and cat. The idea of the petulant Mr. Trump giving his blessing after a forced withdrawal is, frankly, entirely constructed from wishful thinking. There is no evidence, none, in Trump's entire biography that so much as suggests he might do such a thing. Most likely, he would turn his wrath and vengeance on the entire GOP. and, we've already seen that wrath for much, much smaller slights. I read that paragraph again, and again LOL.
I actually laughed out loud at this startling both my wife and cat. The idea of the petulant Mr. Trump giving his blessing after a forced withdrawal is, frankly, entirely constructed from wishful thinking. There is no evidence, none, in Trump's entire biography that so much as suggests he might do such a thing. Most likely, he would turn his wrath and vengeance on the entire GOP. and, we've already seen that wrath for much, much smaller slights. I read that paragraph again, and again LOL.
3
Not a chance, and if Pence took over, Trump voters would see it as betrayal. Down goes Trump! Down goes Pence!
And it makes Amercia Greater Again - because with this GOP team of losers, losing is winning.
But seriously, Pence is so extreme right wing with looney positions and with an Evangelical Christian background that seems anything other than Christian. He is a fringe candidate who only comforts 20% -- the whacko GOP base.
Down goes Trump and Pence!
Love saying that. It's good for your health and good for the country. Say it with me and smile - release the endorphins!
And it makes Amercia Greater Again - because with this GOP team of losers, losing is winning.
But seriously, Pence is so extreme right wing with looney positions and with an Evangelical Christian background that seems anything other than Christian. He is a fringe candidate who only comforts 20% -- the whacko GOP base.
Down goes Trump and Pence!
Love saying that. It's good for your health and good for the country. Say it with me and smile - release the endorphins!
2
Trump chose Pence as his VP candidate as Pence was and is the least likely to go rogue among the aspirants for that job. Besides this idea that anyone else could beat Clinton is flawed -- it will perhaps be closer but not enough to overcome the backlash of a GOP bloodless coup.
1
The power is with Rence, not Pence. Every dollar that the RNC spends on Trump is a dollar denied a down ticket candidate.
1
It is not up to Mike Pence to encourage Donald Trump to withdraw. And I do not see Pence (who is greatly overshadowed by Trump) as a leader.
2
If I were Pence, I'd tell Trump "I don't want to be your running mate any longer." Trump will never quit. He's too much of a narcissist. He's a head case. And for those on the right who are unhappy with the GOP and have come to realize that the GOP does not care about the middle class, my question to them is "Just come out of a coma???"
1
For the last year, it's been about the order of priorities: religion, party, country. Same of the choice selections are very disturbing.
1
I think the NY TImes Editorial Board is confused. They have forgotten that this country won't survive with professional politicians who believe they tell the citizens what to do, how to think, and what taxes we will pay and as a result, they live a lifetime of wealth, power, greed and corruption off the backs of the taxpayer until they die. Keep telling the uneducated, poor and middle class we know what is good for you and when you need it. How many of the ED Board struggle to make ends meet?
Were it not for his religious fanaticism, I would vote for Pence in a heartbeat.
In January I will become a full Canadian citizen with the full intention of renouncing the U.S. one that, quite frankly, embarrasses me. I'm 71 and have lived in Nova Scotia since 2010. While this would be my last chance to vote in a U.S. election, I choose to pass.
I can't believe that in a country of 320 million with 120 million registered voters you couldn't find two more detestable or reckless candidates to vie for the top office in the land and the most powerful in the world. If that's not embarrassment enough, nothing is.
No wonder Cape Breton is flooded this year with visitors and inquiries about immigration and British Columbia has already passed a law approving a 15% surtax on land purchases by foreigners.
“Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.” ~ MARTIN LUTHER
In January I will become a full Canadian citizen with the full intention of renouncing the U.S. one that, quite frankly, embarrasses me. I'm 71 and have lived in Nova Scotia since 2010. While this would be my last chance to vote in a U.S. election, I choose to pass.
I can't believe that in a country of 320 million with 120 million registered voters you couldn't find two more detestable or reckless candidates to vie for the top office in the land and the most powerful in the world. If that's not embarrassment enough, nothing is.
No wonder Cape Breton is flooded this year with visitors and inquiries about immigration and British Columbia has already passed a law approving a 15% surtax on land purchases by foreigners.
“Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.” ~ MARTIN LUTHER
4
Chortle of the day - This desperate Republican, clawing for solutions to the abyss his party has dug, thinks Pence can talk Trump out of running. Okay, here's what would happen: Trump denounces Pence as a weakling and traitor -- and picks someone else to run as VP. Republicans still don't get it: your Frankenstein monster will not be tamed.
1
Let's not overthink this. It is absolutely possible that Trump gets out for any number of reasons. How many of you would really scratch your head and say "I didn't see that coming"?
Hillary and the Democrats have only a Trump abdication to fear. They might want to use Ali's strategy and play rope-a-dope until the end of October to make sure he stays in.
Hillary and the Democrats have only a Trump abdication to fear. They might want to use Ali's strategy and play rope-a-dope until the end of October to make sure he stays in.
This is hilarious. You see no grass root movement to replace Trump with someone else, except the establishment, pundits and the media. You basically prove Trump and his supporters point that it is a rigged system. When the rigged system is threatened, you are all barking at the guy brought it to the discussion table. Democracy is a beautiful thing, here at home and around the world. One person, one vote. Your opinion as well as my opinion is one vote each.
I think Pence is much worse than Trump .It would have helped Trump if he had chosen a more liberal vice-president. Not an extremist.
3
Mike Pence surrendered his integrity when he accepted the vice presidential nominee nod from Trump and heaped praise on him. How does he walk that endorsement back and make himself a viable alternative? Sorry, but with his "full-throated" endorsement of Donald Trump, Mike Pence has shown he doesn't put the good of the country first.
1
Too late. The people have spoken. Trump is their champion who truly represents the minds of his many spineless supporters.
2
Trump already has an out when he loses. The system was rigged! The GOP betrayed him! The press treated him unfairly! He will try to use one if not all of these excuses to salvage his monstrous ego when Hillary wins the Presidency.
3
First of all, please stop calling the current Republican party the party of Lincoln. It hasn't been the party of Lincoln since Lincoln and certainly not since Reagan. Secondly, as amazing as it is to any one with a cogent thought process, Trump won! He won the primary race by a lot. You can't make him quit. It would be a total slap in the face to the voters who made the effort to vote. You built this monster and they came. Remember how you were going to rebrand after the Romney pasting? This is it?
3
This is just the latest little episode in the horror show that the Republican Party has become. There will more episodes, more desperate attempts by one mad scientist or another to eliminate the monster they created. Face it guys, you're toast. The monster's on a rampage, no stopping it. I'm not talking about Trump. I'm talking about the real monster, hysterical hate, that you cultivated, fed and nurtured for decades. Now it's tearing your party to pieces. It makes for a very entertaining spectacle.
8
Wow! I knew that the Repubs were desperate. But I have not read so pathetic and foolish a column, not to mention a shameless call to subvert the spirit of participatory democracy, and urge 'palace intrigue'. And this praise of Trump as a businessman, the lauding of Pence as some worthy in morals or thought. All this is laughable and contemptible.
4
Why? Pence is just as bad as Trump. He wants to tear the Constitution to shreds and turn us into a right wing Falwell type theocracy. His economic ideas are just as horrible as Trumps or Bush's or Reagan's.
Trump is just a loud, obnoxious arm of the same party; the Republican party; a party that believes in voter suppression and greed.
Trump is just a loud, obnoxious arm of the same party; the Republican party; a party that believes in voter suppression and greed.
9
It was clear that Trump's campaign is about unleashing the ugly "plurality" of the Republican party long before Pence joined. He knew exactly what he was signing onto, so why would he pull an about-face now? There is a very good reason why few high-profile Republican figures have yet to wholly and unreservedly repudiate Trump: they still hope he will win. All the hand-wringing and public conscience-racking by the bad faith contingent that suddenly doesn't have the constitution for this new havoc-mongering phase the Republican's long term divide-and-conquer strategy has now entered isn't fooling anyone. Any Republican now feeling queasy about the direction the party has chosen needs to take a good look in the mirror. You will see the same Republican that silently stood by or outright supported everything leading up to the present moment. And Donald Trump is your candidate.
2
The author hasn't been paying attention to what's been going on in Washington for the last seven plus years, namely, the consistent habit of the vast majority of Republican politicians to put Party before country. Don't count on Pence to do anything regardless of how badly the Donald behaves.
2
Donald Trump "may be unfit to be president." I'll take the judgment of the 50 GOP members of the security establishment who yesterday went a little further than that, and I will watch, with enormous pleasure, the slow-motion train wreck that is the Trump campaign.
2
At last reading of the polls, Trump was a few points behind the very qualified, very flawed and very connected Clinton. These articles contradict the rumour that the US is a democracy. They are also tedious, petty and beneath the dignity of the NYTimes, which failing its readership yet again with biased and prejudiced op eds and articles. Why not publish the article that many Democrats would like to see and suggest that Hillary, sometimes Rodham when it's needed, Clinton step down and a candidate that a majority of the citizens deem trustworthy replace her. Then Democrats would have someone to vote for with pride - not just because she isn't Trump.
1
And after Trump heroically offers to step aside for the good of his beloved Republican Party, Santa Claus will agree to accept the Republican nomination for President. Pence will be replaced on the ticket by the Tooth Fairy. Everyone will live happily everafter.
4
Fantasy. No matter, Hillary would mop the floor with Pence just as she will with the Donald this November. When the 2016 electoral map is finally drawn it should recall the map of 1972, Nixon v. McGovern, only this time in reverse - pure blue.
3
Actually, I'm glad Trump is the Republican candidate. I don't think Sec. Clinton could beat any of the other likely Republicans candidates.
If Mr. Latimar is not a NeverTrump advocate why is he even suggesting this scenario?
How could Trump's supporters view such a move by Pence as anything other than an attempted coup by the Establishment to install one of their own instead of the legitimately selected candidate of the party?
Besides, didn't Trump just read from a TelePrompter a speech that contained all of the Establishment's trickle down economic prescriptions while patiently enduring several disruptions by protesters? Shouldn't he be given more time to prove he can re-set?
Mr. Latimer is calling on Trump to put nation in front of party when worried Republicans down ticket candidates are obviously putting themselves ahead of everybody. The hypocirisy is breath taking.
This entire article strikes me as yet another attempt by a Republican to pretend that his party is not the Party of Trump, the party that he has worked so hard over the past four decades to build.
How could Trump's supporters view such a move by Pence as anything other than an attempted coup by the Establishment to install one of their own instead of the legitimately selected candidate of the party?
Besides, didn't Trump just read from a TelePrompter a speech that contained all of the Establishment's trickle down economic prescriptions while patiently enduring several disruptions by protesters? Shouldn't he be given more time to prove he can re-set?
Mr. Latimer is calling on Trump to put nation in front of party when worried Republicans down ticket candidates are obviously putting themselves ahead of everybody. The hypocirisy is breath taking.
This entire article strikes me as yet another attempt by a Republican to pretend that his party is not the Party of Trump, the party that he has worked so hard over the past four decades to build.
I am absolutely against Trump, and I thought Matt Latimer would provide some strong arguments on why Mike Pence should try to convince Trump to quit, and how he could do it. But I'm sorry, Mr. Latimer's arguments are so weak, I can't understand why this op-ed was even published. First of all, Matt Latimer wants Mike Pence to betray Trump -- why would he do it? Secondly, Trump has proved time and again he is not a person who can be convinced of anything. He simply does not listen to reason, and this is what makes him such a dangerous candidate. And thirdly, if he doesn't win the election, it will not impact his career as a businessman. He will still have a lot of supporters.
1
I'm reminded of snide conservatives when discussing unwed mothers and the problems they face. Their solution usually is "well, she should have thought about what she was doing 9 months ago."
Conservatives conceived this "Rosemary's Baby" about 9 months ago (if not longer), they should have thought about what they were doing then.
Conservatives conceived this "Rosemary's Baby" about 9 months ago (if not longer), they should have thought about what they were doing then.
3
"An accomplished businessman?" Although we have heard this before from Trump himself and appears to be his one qualification to be President, it has yet to be proven. Where are his tax returns?
7
Sure, maybe we could get a wingbat like Cruz or even Pence himself, who wae heading to the mens room before getting rescued by Trump. His best play is to be an Establishment loyalist and set himself above the blood bath road in 2020. n any case, Clinton and women, in particular would make mince meat out of hims this year. He caved once,, to corporations and others who opposed his marriage stands. He is not going to let himself go down another path to defeat by jumping off the Trump ship. No matter what the case Pence will be retired to Indiana soon enough.
1
This would be seen as nothing more than a Trojan Horse, deployed to put someone with a Christian litmus test into the White House.
No thanks. Ted Cruz already lost that battle. Trump would be bad, very bad. A theocracy under Pence would be far worse.
No thanks. Ted Cruz already lost that battle. Trump would be bad, very bad. A theocracy under Pence would be far worse.
2
If Trump were, for whatever reason, to drop out of the race, the nomination should rightfully go to Father Ted Cruz.
I'd rather have Trump in the White House than a hypocritical Christian wing nut like Cruz, or Pence for that matter.
I'd rather have Trump in the White House than a hypocritical Christian wing nut like Cruz, or Pence for that matter.
My humble suggestion: the whole GOP should commit seppuku as a sign of reverence for America. This would absolve them of any complicity in the Trump gruesomeness and cheer the rest of us up considerably.
1
Websites and SM in general are bombarding the public with a video supposedly "proving" that Hillary Clinton seems to be experiencing a mental and physical breakdown as campaign heats up. See this video--Bizarre Neurological Disorder Seizures, In Photos & Videos--
(Especially if you favor Clinton, watch this video if only to see what you might have to explain on SM, or in discussions with friends as this story goes viral from now until election. It's already on TV--you cannot pretend it won't become a national issue. Watch and then refute on this board.)
http://www.morningnewsusa.com/hillary-clinton-s
http://www.inquisitr.com/3393152/hillary-clintons-health-did-she-have-a-......
(Especially if you favor Clinton, watch this video if only to see what you might have to explain on SM, or in discussions with friends as this story goes viral from now until election. It's already on TV--you cannot pretend it won't become a national issue. Watch and then refute on this board.)
http://www.morningnewsusa.com/hillary-clinton-s
http://www.inquisitr.com/3393152/hillary-clintons-health-did-she-have-a-......
2
Are you joking, or do I have to wake up from a bad dream. Mitch McConnell has obstructed everything that could have been done in Congress for 8 years. Paul Ryan is either stupid (which I doubt) or dishonest, because his budget proposals are pure fantasy. Ted Cruz is an incompetent, and a nasty incompetent, who would see the US default on it's promises, and throw the whole Western World into recession and bankruptcy. What has happened to the USA? Is there any sanity left?
1
It's a little late in the game, even for wishful thinking, the only thing withdrawing from this election is a past that has fumbled away it's future.
1
It's not up to Mr. Pence, it's up to Mr. Trump to put the GOP - and the country first. If he simply acknowledges that the chances of him winning the election are very small, he really should step down and endorse John Kasich - which is the only candidate that has a chance of beating Clinton.
That being said, in my view our primary system needs reform. It shouldn't be just the top candidate that goes on to the general election. It should be the top two or three candidates from both parties.
That being said, in my view our primary system needs reform. It shouldn't be just the top candidate that goes on to the general election. It should be the top two or three candidates from both parties.
Wise words. But they're aimed at The Stupid Party about a nominee who doesn't care about anyone but himself. The feasibility of respecting a 'plurality of Republican voters' and their horrendous bigoted choice is what the doctor ordered since the GOP became emblematic of the prejudices of the Tea Party and the very stupidest aspects of FOX NEWS. The elites of the GOP have been fooling around with muted versions of these same awful policies for decades. This is where the GOP is now and they earned it and they deserve it.
I want to see Donald Trump get wailed on and lose 50 states. I'm not interested in someone else now assuming this nomination Trump won. I'm interested in seeing Donald Trump being the most reviled and rejected major party candidate ever to lose a presidential election. Because if he does, it's possible the Stupid Party will never recover. Leaving them little or no opportunity to plot to obstruct Hillary Clinton, ruin her and make her a one term president the night of her inauguration. They'll be too busy packing up their offices instead.
I want to see Donald Trump get wailed on and lose 50 states. I'm not interested in someone else now assuming this nomination Trump won. I'm interested in seeing Donald Trump being the most reviled and rejected major party candidate ever to lose a presidential election. Because if he does, it's possible the Stupid Party will never recover. Leaving them little or no opportunity to plot to obstruct Hillary Clinton, ruin her and make her a one term president the night of her inauguration. They'll be too busy packing up their offices instead.
The Republican Party is supposed to be the party of business, so let's put it in business terms. They should abide by an old business saying, prominently posted in many stores - You break it, you bought it. A majority of the Republican Party bought Donald Trump hook,line and sinker. Well now that candidacy is broke and now a minority want to return the unused portion and get a refund. Sorry. That may work in business, but not in Presidential elections. It's time for these Republicans to learn the lesson of the Edsel. You back a loser, the only thing to do is ride it out, then try something new.
While I believe Latimer comes from a place of good intentions, but the people who voted for Trump would be furious if their nominee was perceived as jettisoned by the GOP establishment. I think Pence would be the object of intense scorn by the GOP at large, not the beneficiary of Trump stepping down. I also think that Trump's ego would never allow him to step aside without a messy fight; he is too much the outsider to give the establishment Republicans what they want. The GOP would probably collapse as a national party after a battle royale pitting party loyalists against new comers.
Where to begin? How can we take anyone seriously who characterizes an obvious charlatan, proven liar, and remorseless swindler as a "successful business man". Oh well, that's not the issue anyway.
No one in the GOP, least of all Mike Pence, is going to spell out anything to Donald Trump. That should be abundantly clear by now to anyone with ears to hear, eyes to see, and, in the instance most alarmingly absent, a brain to think.
No one in the GOP, least of all Mike Pence, is going to spell out anything to Donald Trump. That should be abundantly clear by now to anyone with ears to hear, eyes to see, and, in the instance most alarmingly absent, a brain to think.
Trump is no establishment puppet. He is not controlled by ideology, nor by the GOP, nor by donors and special interests (like Hillary is). Trump is his own man, guided only by his love for America, to the desperation of republican elites which Mr. Latimer represents. It is way too early in the race for Trump to trow in the towel or to count him out.
1
Personally, I hope Trump does not withdraw ----yet. Each day that passes he demonstrates, somehow, another reason his own party is fleeing to the hills of non-support of his dangerous candidacy. Even large numbers of his own GOP fear for the safety of our country should he be elected. As do I.
1
This is very personal but I think might just be appropriate. Now that the tide has turned so strongly against Trump, I ask anonymous John, Cologne, Germany to reply to this as he replied to a comment on 26 August. In his reply he stated very clearly that he has friends and family members who will vote for Trump. He told me that they are not at all racist and are very decent people. He misunderstood my comment but his reply was a welcome piece of real data.
So since he spoke not for his anonymous self but for a number of friends and family it would be of interest to see if these decent non-racist American citizens are still going to vote for Trump. If not, for whom?
If you know John, please ask him for me. I have been quoting him since the 26th but he has not been heard from.
Only-NeverInSweden.blogspot.com
dual citizen US SE
So since he spoke not for his anonymous self but for a number of friends and family it would be of interest to see if these decent non-racist American citizens are still going to vote for Trump. If not, for whom?
If you know John, please ask him for me. I have been quoting him since the 26th but he has not been heard from.
Only-NeverInSweden.blogspot.com
dual citizen US SE
You're assuming something not in evidence: that Pence has a shred of intellectual honesty. But his record gives no hint that he would be capable of such a thing: evolution denier, global warming denier, smoking-causes-cancer denier, and so forth. The man literally cannot evaluate evidence if his life depends on it.
"Mike Pence did not ask to be put in this position..."--well he did say yes. Pence could have turned down the offer.
Any attempt to oust "The Donald" will deepen the GOP's division. Donald Trump has done a great job of placing homself in the position as victim of a rigged system. It is a message that resonates with his supporters. Losing the general election will be better for the party than any attempt to remove Trump from the ticket.
Let the process play out. After November the GOP can have its come to jesus time.
Any attempt to oust "The Donald" will deepen the GOP's division. Donald Trump has done a great job of placing homself in the position as victim of a rigged system. It is a message that resonates with his supporters. Losing the general election will be better for the party than any attempt to remove Trump from the ticket.
Let the process play out. After November the GOP can have its come to jesus time.
Mr. Latimer,
Your wistful idea to somehow extract the GOP from the catastrophe of their own making is understandable, but yet, the GOP needs to reckon with a savage defeat in November. The defeat will entail professional disaster and terrible aftermath for the GOP down the line in the house and senate and hopefully throughout the GOP's supporting network. This will ultimately be the most effective medicine to get at the root issues that infect the Republican Party.
Your wistful idea to somehow extract the GOP from the catastrophe of their own making is understandable, but yet, the GOP needs to reckon with a savage defeat in November. The defeat will entail professional disaster and terrible aftermath for the GOP down the line in the house and senate and hopefully throughout the GOP's supporting network. This will ultimately be the most effective medicine to get at the root issues that infect the Republican Party.
1
Since there appears to be no Constitutional mechanism in place to deal with the Trump Problem, why not take more expedient tack? Republicans could cut their losses and forego fielding a candidate this time. What a relief for everyone. I'm sure that 82 million just raised by Trump's campaign could be put to some good use.
1
Who are these people who think we are all a bunch of idiots and that only they have the knowledge, wisdom, and judgment to tell us what to do? I cannot imagine what the writer was on when he wrote this article, but it must have been some pretty weird stuff.
We are a democracy. The democratic process has spoken. Trump is the nominee. We did not appoint this writer to steer us back to the right track when he thinks we made a mistake. That is for the voters to decide.
We are a democracy. The democratic process has spoken. Trump is the nominee. We did not appoint this writer to steer us back to the right track when he thinks we made a mistake. That is for the voters to decide.
1
But presumably Trump has been nominated in all fifty states. Could A. N. Other be nominated? Or is the system so party-oriented that parties can switch their nominee up until the last minute?
Being a person born and raised in New York I find the idea of this piece reminiscent of asking for a do over after you realize the team you picked for the stick ball game is going to get wiped out. My advice to the right is to take the licking in November and start all over with some new players and a lot of new ideas. I find it ironic that right is trying to run away from the monster that it created. The pox on the right didn’t happen overnight it was nurtured over decades. The rights love of the divide and conquer rhetoric has comeback to bite them in the rear. The party that gave us Willie Horton, Law and Order and The Silent Majority now want us to believe it has a moral compass? The party of Lincoln has used wedge issues for years to push their agenda now it seems the agenda is pushing them. Maybe the required reading for the RNC after the beating they get in November should be the Tale of Humpty Dumpty. The line they should underline with a bold marker in the tale should be “All the Kings soldiers and all of the Kings couldn’t put Humpty Dumpty back together again”. Pence getting Trump to withdraw is like changing seats on the Titanic after it ran into the Iceberg.
Keep on dreaming. Trump will see this campaign through. The only solution is that Hillary must continue fighting hard to win the presidency. Trump will then dust himself off and Republicans will receive his wrath.
1
We can only speculate what Trump is hiding by not releasing his tax returns. Whatever it is must be pretty devastating. So let the speculation begin!
My own pet theory is that he has been telling the IRS that his political efforts are entirely a publicity stunt to enhance the Trump brand name, and therefore are 100% tax deductible. The IRS hasn't bought this, hence the audits.
My own pet theory is that he has been telling the IRS that his political efforts are entirely a publicity stunt to enhance the Trump brand name, and therefore are 100% tax deductible. The IRS hasn't bought this, hence the audits.
You are either property of Donald's or an enemy. Pence would be committing suicide to even confront his king with such heresy. The most disliked governor, hand selected by Don, Jr., Eric, and Ivanka and hubby would be invalidated by Trumpsters. This kind of convoluted thinking by Republicans is what got them into trouble in the first place.
1
Yikes, what a concept. Maybe Trump is so outrageous that the media has not really explored Mr. Pence as deeply s it should. Pence is even worse than Trump, he's just more discrete. Pence is the 3rd most right-wing member of Congress. He (and apparently the GOP platform as well) wants to end the separation of church and state and create a Christian theocracy. He wants to wage war across the Middle-East. He wants to cut taxes for the top and end government for the rest of us. He's about as extreme as one can get. and Yes he did ask for this position. The only thing worse than Trump is the GOP. It is time for their attack on the American People to end.
You call Trump an accomplished businessman? Not so fast, for not only one but at least four of his businesses went bankrupt. I am convinced that if he would not have inherited his wealth and would have had to work for some one else, he would have failed miserably especially since he generally opens his mouth before he puts his brain in gear and besides his attention span is next to zero.
2
Actually, Pence did choose to be in this position. Any thinking person could see Trump was a bully courting racists. Pence deserves no sympathy. He's an enabler of this lunatic.
1
The author assumes that something more than expediency attaches Mr. Trump to the GOP, and that Trump feels something other than contempt for GOP politicians. I doubt that either is true, and Trump is likely to blame tepid GOP support for his falling polls. The author is in fact, asking Trump to lose twice: to concede he can't beat Secretary Clinton, and to defer to the party of the 16 politicians he did beat handily. And the author imagines that Trump supporters will go quietly if their man is pushed aside. Good luck!
1
Dream on, Mr Lattimer. A narcissist such as Donald Trump will never voluntarily step away. He is blind to his own faults and fissures. Had he been Richard Nixon, he would have fought to the bitter end and been imprisoned. No matter the cost, no matter the ultimate humiliation, Mr Trump is a donkey for whom there is nothing but an illusory carrot and the end of what we hope is a short path.
Yes, Pence should do the honorable thing, and resign. Trump is unfit for office, a buffoon who must never see the insides of the White House. Surely Pence has come to realise that, as the rest of us have. But Pence can't offer himself as the Trump alternative. If he does that, he only proves himself to be ambitious, and self-seving.
I really would like to see an election that settles the matter of separation of church and state once and for all in the US.
There is no legislature in the US that is constitutionally entitled to respect any article of faith in legislation, but they do it anyway.
There is no legislature in the US that is constitutionally entitled to respect any article of faith in legislation, but they do it anyway.
2
If Trump wins it would the second Republican administration in row where the Veep runs the show. Trump would have already tasked Pence with running "foreign and domestic policy" while he devote himself to "make America great again"!
Also the presidency is "a job that requires negotiation, diplomacy, discipline, finesse and some semblance of intellectual curiosity". Did Bush have that? No! And still he did alright, didn't he? I rest my case.
Also the presidency is "a job that requires negotiation, diplomacy, discipline, finesse and some semblance of intellectual curiosity". Did Bush have that? No! And still he did alright, didn't he? I rest my case.
Not going to happen; these is a greater chance of Hillary withdrawing for being forces out due to emerging criminal scandals in the next few months than a fighter like Trump throwing in the towel. A week of bad polls from a concerted effort by the nearly entire US media and political establishment to attack him over... not very much really... does not mean much. After a while, these antic become the background noise and America will see a clear choice -- change from the outside or continued corruption from the inside. Get used to saying President Trump, it's going to happen.
Imagine a Republican putting country ahead of power for his political party. Hard to fathom after years of GOP party first and lack of concern for the welfare of the nation. The author must be living in his own dream world if he thinks Pence has the fortitude, dedication, intelligence and skill to get The Egomaniac to quit before his defeat.
Rather than intervene, we should let this farce play out. Trump will not win. A majority of Americans know that this self-centered buffoon would be a disaster for the country. However, in running for president, Trump has done a great favor for the country. He has brought the nonsensical Tea Party to full boil and its logical end. Perhaps now, as the GOP realizes that screwball candidates such as Sarah Palin and Donald Trump are damaging to the party, they will encourage more centrist and sensible politicians. And, as the Trump enablers are voted out of office, we can move away from obstructionist politics and get something done.
4
Here we have, yet again, another proposed way for the Republicans to get out of lying in the bed they've made for themselves.
I have to laugh at your soft criticism of Trump's in the first part of this article (the "mays" and "mights"), which amount to an apology for him. It is clear you are more invested in political consulting than counsel: branding, turning trash into roses, what "spins" and not anything that might be best for national government. That's your function and that is the "establishment" system that both left and right are so upset about. All you guys care about is winning! That's why Trump is there.
Mike Pence is not going to convince Trump to back out....your last Republican hope for winning. I find this article as craven and silly as Chris Christie and Paul Ryan's groveling in endorsing Trump. Then I too come of an age that remembers JFK, LBJ, Nixon, Carter, Reagan and (yes) Obama as people intent on governing with the smartest, most informed advisors, domestic and foreign.
You no doubt have made money figuring out ways to undermine Hillary for many years with smear campaigns or in the media echo chamber. Trump now is a hot potato for you guys in the spin business. Pence as replacement would be almost as bad, policy-wise; his only advantage is a relatively sane extremist Conservative. But he too cannot govern the US of A with those failed ideas from 35 years ago. Good luck with your business.
Mike Pence is not going to convince Trump to back out....your last Republican hope for winning. I find this article as craven and silly as Chris Christie and Paul Ryan's groveling in endorsing Trump. Then I too come of an age that remembers JFK, LBJ, Nixon, Carter, Reagan and (yes) Obama as people intent on governing with the smartest, most informed advisors, domestic and foreign.
You no doubt have made money figuring out ways to undermine Hillary for many years with smear campaigns or in the media echo chamber. Trump now is a hot potato for you guys in the spin business. Pence as replacement would be almost as bad, policy-wise; his only advantage is a relatively sane extremist Conservative. But he too cannot govern the US of A with those failed ideas from 35 years ago. Good luck with your business.
1
The Republican party does't have anyone to replace Donald Trump. Donald Trump is the result of too many people in the Republican party being left out of economic security. These individuals don't want to give up their Republican identity but they do want to give up the Republican economic policies. And, Donald Trump was the only candidate on the right tapping into the economic harm done to many of those in the Republican party. Mike Pence is just another Republican with the same old and tired policies of taking from the poor to pay for the rich. Good luck Republicans. You either have to change your policies or accept Donald Trump as the face of your party.
1
So Latimer is suggesting Pence ought to shoot Trump? Because I can't see any other way the unelected V.P. candidate can possibly get Trump off the top of the ticket.
1
Lot of ifs in this Op-Ed. If pigs had wings they'd be pigeons.
Once again, we have another Republican deluded by the idea that Trump will have a "come to Jesus" moment.
And who will be the prison chaplain that convinces the dead man walking to repent? Mike Pence. Trump's poodle.
I like my lapdog but I don't take advice from her.
And who will be the prison chaplain that convinces the dead man walking to repent? Mike Pence. Trump's poodle.
I like my lapdog but I don't take advice from her.
Why switch now? If Trump is replaced as candidate, who would replace him? Someone who wants to control government to make things nice for the very wealthy, and hopes to do it with the votes of racial hatred and religious bigotry? Because that's all you had with the dozen-or-so candidates for the nomination. Might as well go with the one who most effectively communicated that message.
Some seek power and high office and some have these thrust upon them, viz. Harry Truman, one of our best presidents some might say. In this case Pence, a former governor of a pedestrian state, is in no way qualified or desirous of the job. It is hard to say what republican might be qualified to be president - certainly not any of those 16 (or was it 17?) we saw in the field this spring. Time to bring back Mitt!
No thanks, i will take my chances that Trump will run and lose. Pence could win and he is way too anti-women's rights.
In your dreams.
1
Why has no attention been paid to Manafort's statement several month's ago that Trump had no desire to handle the bulk of the President's work, that he would function more as a Chairman or CEO, delegating the real work to his VP?
That will be the day when Donald Trump takes Mike Pence's suggestion to fire himself. That will happen the same day that Hillary Clinton withdraws from the race in recognition that she is a pathological liar not deserving of the trust of the American citizens.
Reminder to self: never read another piece by Matt Latimer. What drivel, from one of the Republican operatives who created the monster.
1
The republican electorate voted with their feet for Trump, if he was booted out or forced by a group led by Pence and people like the writer would this be advocating for a bloodless coup? This idea comes from people who took the country to a destructive was to promote American ideas of democracy.
This column is irrational. Pence took on the position of running mate with full knowledge of the self igniting rocket to which he was hitching his star.
Well, OK. And if Hillary takes a dive running against the new Republican candidate, we'll need to replace her with someone with a higher approval rating, too. From what you guys have been saying for decades now, she's a pretty awful piece of work who would entirely ruin this country. Why, this strategy would eliminate pesky elections altogether - we could just run an endless campaign!
Doesn't work that way. Trump is the Republican party's perfect karma, and the only thing to do with karma, as we flakey, airy- fairy, made-up-religion heathens like to say, is eat it.
Doesn't work that way. Trump is the Republican party's perfect karma, and the only thing to do with karma, as we flakey, airy- fairy, made-up-religion heathens like to say, is eat it.
By what measure is Donald Trump the "accomplished businessman" that the author refers to in his third paragraph? Mr. Trump's casinos went bankrupt, he is no longer a real estate developer because he disappointed his lenders and equity investors, and no one has bought a Trump steak in years, because the product flopped. (And why would a teetotaler put his name on a vodka? Did he personally select it? Like he personally selected the "faculty" at Trump "University"?) The only measure is the Donald's imagination. He won't show his tax returns, and he hasn't shown financial statements that would support his claim to business expertise, because they won't show it.
1
One thing your party could do is be more authentic, with or without Trump. Referring to yourself as "the party of Lincoln", while technically true, is somewhat laughable since your membership, policies and platform is really "the party of Dixiecrats". It is this type of disingenuous "messaging" (Frank Lutz style) that turn thoughtful people away from your party, so much so that Trump can dominate a primary, just as all the moderates have been replaced by Tea Party zealots at the primary level. These same Tea partiers would rather stop all governing, never compromise and keep making anti-voting laws faster than courts can overturn them. hardly "Lincolnesque".
As a result we get no fiscal policy, even though rates are now at zero, we have no infrastructure plan at the Federal (and in many states as well) - just come to Michigan to see the worst roads in America, thanks to a hopelessly paralyzed tea party legislature and accommodating "centrist" Governor.
So don't blame Trump, it's the entire party that is decayed and rotten.
As a result we get no fiscal policy, even though rates are now at zero, we have no infrastructure plan at the Federal (and in many states as well) - just come to Michigan to see the worst roads in America, thanks to a hopelessly paralyzed tea party legislature and accommodating "centrist" Governor.
So don't blame Trump, it's the entire party that is decayed and rotten.
Rules of the Republican National Committee require that the RNC, or a specially called national convention, designate a replacement in the event a vacancy occurs in the candidacy for president. The vice-presidential candidate is not the automatic successor. So, bad as matters now stand for the GOP, were Mr. Trump to resign the nomination, all other ambitions could be revived: Cruz; Bush; Rubio; Kasich; even Romney. What a wonderful prospect. Maybe the RNC would let Mr. Pence be left holding the bag.
"Mike Pence did not ask to be put in this position." Seriously? Of course he did. He solicited the spot as VP nominee, and all that comes with it. And The GOP leadership has made no secret of it for months that it would rather not see Mr. Trump as president. The Times really should not let even opinion writers get away with making such blatantly false and misdirecting statements.
Governor Pence knew the bed was on fire when he lay down on it. Dream on.
1
Everything Latimer says is true. Even having said that he's still overly charitable. Trump is an idiot of the first order; that is not something anyone can fix. He's a walking, talking, Dunning-Kruger model, that lies--and not for any reason other than to fill the air with the sound of his own voice. No one is going to stop Trump; an aneurysm might, or a heart attack, but no person is going to convince him he isn't qualified, or that he's going to lose.
If Pence resigned as Trump's VP pick, Donald would beckon to Chris Christie, who would then make skid marks. Next.
Even a Republican who thinks Trump needs to go, still doesn't get Trump. He says "Mr. Trump, an accomplished businessman" when the evidence is that Trump's only accomplishments in business is to profit from bankruptcy while stiffing people who worked for him and his clients. I can't believe any of the business people who support Trump would put their own cash into any of his projects (except, maybe golf courses).
1
Matt Latimer,
The “DONOR CLASS” and PAC (foreign and domestic) campaign contributors who are behind the “Dump Trump” movement and are also probably also in control of the Republican National Committee will probably direct the GOP delegates to vote for a Mainstream candidate for Vice President who will be indebted to the “DONOR CLASS” and PAC (foreign and domestic) in return for campaign contributors and will therefore obey their commands for access to US Treasury money VIA no-bid US government contracts after their elections.
Donald Trump himself is also probably a member of the “DONOR CLASS” of campaign contributors who probably buys the votes and services of our elected politicians when he needs new government laws created in his favor.
Donald Trump therefore knows how the corrupt US government system of “DONOR CLASS” and PAC (foreign and domestic) of campaign contributors controlling the US government works.
The "Dump Trump" leaders believe that Donald Trump is an interloper (a Muppet) jumping onto the stage, cutting the strings controlling these “Established Mainstream Republicans” and then pushing them off of the stage. This is making the marionette puppeteer “DONOR CLASS” and PAC (foreign and domestic) campaign contributors very mad about their potential loss of access to free money from the US public treasury into their pockets.
The “DONOR CLASS” and PAC (foreign and domestic) campaign contributors who are behind the “Dump Trump” movement and are also probably also in control of the Republican National Committee will probably direct the GOP delegates to vote for a Mainstream candidate for Vice President who will be indebted to the “DONOR CLASS” and PAC (foreign and domestic) in return for campaign contributors and will therefore obey their commands for access to US Treasury money VIA no-bid US government contracts after their elections.
Donald Trump himself is also probably a member of the “DONOR CLASS” of campaign contributors who probably buys the votes and services of our elected politicians when he needs new government laws created in his favor.
Donald Trump therefore knows how the corrupt US government system of “DONOR CLASS” and PAC (foreign and domestic) of campaign contributors controlling the US government works.
The "Dump Trump" leaders believe that Donald Trump is an interloper (a Muppet) jumping onto the stage, cutting the strings controlling these “Established Mainstream Republicans” and then pushing them off of the stage. This is making the marionette puppeteer “DONOR CLASS” and PAC (foreign and domestic) campaign contributors very mad about their potential loss of access to free money from the US public treasury into their pockets.
1
This is a laugh on so many fronts. First of all, the thought, repeated more than once, that Mr. Trump has the country's best interests at heart is almost farcical. Mr Trump seems to care only about Mr Trump.
But more importantly, it casts Mr Pence as a man of principle. Um, sorry, as soon as he accepted Trump's invitation to the ticket, he seems to have abandoned most of his principles. Not simply by saying yes, but by having to alter a number of his previously held "principles" to now be in line with Trump's positions. He clearly has showed he is no more than Trump puppet who must favour power over principles or he could never have said yes in the first place. He has allowed himself to become the latest in a long line of Trump acolytes. So why would you expect him to now do the "right thing"???
But more importantly, it casts Mr Pence as a man of principle. Um, sorry, as soon as he accepted Trump's invitation to the ticket, he seems to have abandoned most of his principles. Not simply by saying yes, but by having to alter a number of his previously held "principles" to now be in line with Trump's positions. He clearly has showed he is no more than Trump puppet who must favour power over principles or he could never have said yes in the first place. He has allowed himself to become the latest in a long line of Trump acolytes. So why would you expect him to now do the "right thing"???
Pence is a right wing bigot, just in the politician mold. If he replaces Trump hopefully he will be soundly beaten also.
Is Donald Trump the Al Capone of politics? Will his tax returns be his undoing? Calls for the Donald to release his returns make sense but to be taken seriously they must be released along with Hillary Clinton's transcripts to the Wall Street banks who paid her millions so voters can see what she promised them. Since so many of her supporters believe that she has nothing to hide, releasing her speeches will put Trump in a corner to release his tax returns. The Feds tried everything to take down Capone but it was his tax returns that brought him down. The same could happen to the Donald.
Matt Latimer,
I thought that Donald Trump might be our best chance to eliminate "PAY TO PLAY" from our US Federal government way of doing business, but I guess that Mr. Trump is now apparently determined to commit political suicide instead of becoming POTUS.
How stupid can anyone be to disrespect and then speak ill about a Gold Star Family!
This alone will probably cause Donald Trump to lose the election.
I thought that Donald Trump might be our best chance to eliminate "PAY TO PLAY" from our US Federal government way of doing business, but I guess that Mr. Trump is now apparently determined to commit political suicide instead of becoming POTUS.
How stupid can anyone be to disrespect and then speak ill about a Gold Star Family!
This alone will probably cause Donald Trump to lose the election.
2
wishful thinking..
Mr. Pence is the same person who not only accepted a co-pilot seat on this kamikaze flight , but has also literally stood beside Mr. Trump as he has spewed ridiculous and often times hateful nonsense. It seems to me Mr. Pence has demonstrated himself to be the very last person who would endeavor upon such a bold task. If he cared about the good of the party, and the good of the country, he would have never accepted any association with Mr. Trump.
So, Mr. Latimer, an establishment Republican, is recommending that the duly elected candidate, who ran as an anti-establishment Republican, step aside for someone from the Republican establishment. Hmm.
Exactly what message does this op-ed send to those disaffected Trump voters? I thought Mr. Trump was supposed to be the one who doesn't understand how damaging the things he says are and can't seem to learn from his mistakes.
Exactly what message does this op-ed send to those disaffected Trump voters? I thought Mr. Trump was supposed to be the one who doesn't understand how damaging the things he says are and can't seem to learn from his mistakes.
2
It's certainly unclear (at least to me) that Gov. Pence has the type of relationship with Mr. Trump, where Trump would accept any of his counsel. In fact, one presumes there is no one left living on this blue marble of ours who can claim to fill that position.
Gov. Pence can suggest Trump withdraw at his own suicidal peril. I'm not sure it would accomplish anything. Trump would just replace him.
What Pence could do, if he wanted to try to bring this circus parade to a halt, is to announce that after seeing the innerworkings of the whole carnival he's come to the conclusion it's all just a monstrous, vacuous advertisement for the new "Celebrity Apprentice" series and he wants no part of it.
No - he won't do that either. This ship is heading toward an ignominious end from which many wiser souls will depart before it disappears into our history books as one of the strangest experiments in democracy human society has ever conceived.
Gov. Pence can suggest Trump withdraw at his own suicidal peril. I'm not sure it would accomplish anything. Trump would just replace him.
What Pence could do, if he wanted to try to bring this circus parade to a halt, is to announce that after seeing the innerworkings of the whole carnival he's come to the conclusion it's all just a monstrous, vacuous advertisement for the new "Celebrity Apprentice" series and he wants no part of it.
No - he won't do that either. This ship is heading toward an ignominious end from which many wiser souls will depart before it disappears into our history books as one of the strangest experiments in democracy human society has ever conceived.
ML,
I disagree.
At this point a historic defeat of Trump at the polls is not only the best outcome for the GOP, the rest of us, and the world, but may be a requirement to purge this bacillus from the body politic.
This malevolent clown needs handed a good thrashing at the polls.
This is the fault of the GOP over the past 40 years, constantly chipping away at the electorate; now you have a Trump to deal with.
The GOP must do more than just stop Trump; they must change the GOP.
I disagree.
At this point a historic defeat of Trump at the polls is not only the best outcome for the GOP, the rest of us, and the world, but may be a requirement to purge this bacillus from the body politic.
This malevolent clown needs handed a good thrashing at the polls.
This is the fault of the GOP over the past 40 years, constantly chipping away at the electorate; now you have a Trump to deal with.
The GOP must do more than just stop Trump; they must change the GOP.
Mike Pence's embrace of Indiana's Religious Liberty Restoration Act as Governor of that state is more than enough to disqualify him from consideration as POTUS since it reveals his homophobic mindset masquerading as religious righteousness in the cause of a phony issue that Christians' religious liberty rights are infringed upon if they have to serve a gay person in a restaurant. No, I want the Trump/Pence ticket to stay in the race and go on to the ignominious defeat it so richly deserves.
Arguably a similar case on ethics and judgment can be made that Hillary should do the right & decent thing, and step aside as well. Maybe they could jointly announce it at their debate?
Party of Lincoln? Lincoln is turning over in his grave, my friends. Stop flattering yourselves. You are the party of Trump.
1
Make Mike Pence the nominee? On what basis? Pence got one vote -- Donald Trump's. If Donald Trump were forced to withdraw due to his own manifest unfitness, why would that one vote count for anything?
This is a theory that should strike fear in the hearts of the Democrats as well as a broad part of the electorate, as Mr Pence is a bigot and no-nothing (" His campaign site from 2001 made it clear that he did not agree with the scientific consensus around climate change, claiming that the Earth was “actually cooler than it was 50 years ago and that global warming was a “myth.”")
in his own right. True, he is more restrained and thoughtful than Mr. Trump, but that isn't hard to do.
in his own right. True, he is more restrained and thoughtful than Mr. Trump, but that isn't hard to do.
I don't think it would be out of character for Trump to dump this 'charade' as he would characterize it. It would be a kind of massive ego spectacular to basically 'fire' the whole process and say that it is so corrupt and good old boy that he would be ashamed to be a part of it. I mean come on, you can't imagine him pulling a once in a millennium stunt like that? I am one of those who believe he never believed or wanted to really get this far in the first place. Being POTUS is really not his kind of thing and with each passing day I bet he feels that even more. Dumping would be a place in history from which he can criticize everyone as fools until his dying day.
1
So the writer thinks the first female nominee for President should be challenged by a far-right Christian ideologue who believes every miscarriage and abortion should be commemorated with mandatory funeral services? I'd rather see Trump continue his suicide mission with the hopes that a chastened Republican Party might rise from the ashes of their November disaster.
What is the emoticon for dirisive laughter? Mike Pence is, at best, an after thought. Trump would just assume listen to the advice of a Mexican bell boy at Trump Tower as he would Pence, who, if you think about, is just another kind of bell boy carrying Trump's baggage.
Let's play out the scenario the editorial invisioned:
Pence: "Um, excuse me Mr. Trump, Sir. Might I please request that you consider --if it's not too much trouble-- stepping out of the race and letting me be president?"
Trump: "Interesting thought Mike, How 'bout F off you little turd blossom. Now go get me my coffee and be quick about it. Next time you have an idea, I will give it to you."
Pence: "But, umm sir... If you don't, I'll be forced to go to the New York Times and and and tell them that I don't think you're all that fit for office, Sir."
Trump: "Haaaa... Do, you remember how Cruz got booed just for not endorsing me... what do you think the base would do to you, you disloyal little rube? Especially after I tell them what I saw you doing to that poor innocent goat."
Pence: "But Sir, I never did anything to any goat."
Trump: "And it was a male goat, too! Disgusting. So sad."
Pence: "Ummm"
Trump: "Make sure my coffee is hot, Mike."
Pence: "Yes Sir."
Let's play out the scenario the editorial invisioned:
Pence: "Um, excuse me Mr. Trump, Sir. Might I please request that you consider --if it's not too much trouble-- stepping out of the race and letting me be president?"
Trump: "Interesting thought Mike, How 'bout F off you little turd blossom. Now go get me my coffee and be quick about it. Next time you have an idea, I will give it to you."
Pence: "But, umm sir... If you don't, I'll be forced to go to the New York Times and and and tell them that I don't think you're all that fit for office, Sir."
Trump: "Haaaa... Do, you remember how Cruz got booed just for not endorsing me... what do you think the base would do to you, you disloyal little rube? Especially after I tell them what I saw you doing to that poor innocent goat."
Pence: "But Sir, I never did anything to any goat."
Trump: "And it was a male goat, too! Disgusting. So sad."
Pence: "Ummm"
Trump: "Make sure my coffee is hot, Mike."
Pence: "Yes Sir."
2
Is it just me or do other people looking at the photo accompanying this (horrific and horrifying) op-ed see the top of Pence's head is flat? Looks a little like Frankenstein's head...
1
May be it is still true that each democracy gets the leader(s) it deserves. But I suggest the functioning of the US democracy should be reviewed thoroughly first. Self-reflection is urgently needed.
This is nonsense.
Mike Pence is not an "unassuming" moderate lamb. Sniff closer, smell the wolf in him. This is a man who would institute federal programs to reeducate and "convert" teenagers who have found themselves to be homosexuals. He's the man who has helped stop local authorities in his state, Indiana, from establishing their own common-sense restrictions on guns displayed in public.
He is an ideological fundamentalist pro-NRA Christian, chosen as VP for that reason ... to win over the Ted Cruz supporters.
If you're praying for a savior to resurrect the GOP, you should fall in your knees to somebody more honest. And fair.
Mike Pence is not an "unassuming" moderate lamb. Sniff closer, smell the wolf in him. This is a man who would institute federal programs to reeducate and "convert" teenagers who have found themselves to be homosexuals. He's the man who has helped stop local authorities in his state, Indiana, from establishing their own common-sense restrictions on guns displayed in public.
He is an ideological fundamentalist pro-NRA Christian, chosen as VP for that reason ... to win over the Ted Cruz supporters.
If you're praying for a savior to resurrect the GOP, you should fall in your knees to somebody more honest. And fair.
1
Latimer overlooks how Trump would be remembered now and later as a quitter. As a coward. As weak. As a guy who let a girl take the ball and run! He also seems to feel that Trump gives a hoot about his beloved Republican Party. Oh well, nuff said.
1
"Though Mr. Trump was not my first choice for the nomination, I found his attack on the established order appealing at times, even entertaining, and respected the wishes of a clear plurality of Republican primary voters. "
There are so many problems with this statement, one hardly knows where to begin. For starters, "Entertaining"? I thought that was one of the first failures of the Democrats/Liberals. The "clown car" for starters.
And then there is the self-serving appeal to "Love of country." The day the Republicans lost the right to make that pretense was the day Mitch McConnell made the appalling statement that their mission was to make Barak Obama a "One-term president." Love of party began at that moment to become the sole mission of the Republican party--obstruction, do-nothing, whine--a kind of sophisticated version of what their nominee is now endorsing and proposing.
So this morning-after regret is disingenuous at best and yet another sign of the dedication to self-interest and mean-spriteness that has been festering for many years. So you please don't blame the boil you ignored for becoming infected and life-threatening.
The way forward is not to replace one incompetent with another marginally less competent. Rather it is is go sit down and so a little soul searching that doesn't involve looking for ways to appear to be learning from mistakes, but how to make the mistakes more effectively.
How dare you make any claim to "the party of Lincoln?" How dare you?
There are so many problems with this statement, one hardly knows where to begin. For starters, "Entertaining"? I thought that was one of the first failures of the Democrats/Liberals. The "clown car" for starters.
And then there is the self-serving appeal to "Love of country." The day the Republicans lost the right to make that pretense was the day Mitch McConnell made the appalling statement that their mission was to make Barak Obama a "One-term president." Love of party began at that moment to become the sole mission of the Republican party--obstruction, do-nothing, whine--a kind of sophisticated version of what their nominee is now endorsing and proposing.
So this morning-after regret is disingenuous at best and yet another sign of the dedication to self-interest and mean-spriteness that has been festering for many years. So you please don't blame the boil you ignored for becoming infected and life-threatening.
The way forward is not to replace one incompetent with another marginally less competent. Rather it is is go sit down and so a little soul searching that doesn't involve looking for ways to appear to be learning from mistakes, but how to make the mistakes more effectively.
How dare you make any claim to "the party of Lincoln?" How dare you?
1
What a stupid suggest. I can see why this writer worked for George Bush. A President full stupid ideas. Remember the "Axis of Evil" that pretty much set the tone of the Bush years.
Living in Indiana, I'd just as soon they both went down in a flaming heap and were never heard from again.
In the new world of politics we turn to a part time speech writer to guide our future.
Interestingly, Mr. Latimer, in his list of Trumps faults, fails to include the Republican nominee's support for Putin, which casts an entirely new meaning on the term "red states".
Interestingly, Mr. Latimer, in his list of Trumps faults, fails to include the Republican nominee's support for Putin, which casts an entirely new meaning on the term "red states".
"It is not clear Mr. Trump will be able to master or enjoy the position" (of POTUS). You cannot write that sentence with a straight face, Mr. Latimer Btw, what part of Donald's attack on the established order did you find appealing or entertaining? Was it his opening salvo calling immigrants from Mexico rapists and murderers, or his belittling of the strong bench of G.O.P. candidates, so labeled, by Republican spokespeople, was it his exhortations to rally goers to get protesters outta here, his threats to beat them up? Was it the lies never acknowledged or retracted, no matter how outlandish? Was it imitating and mocking a reporter with a physical disability, or the final outrage, attacking a Gold Star Mother?
Your suggestion that Gov. Mike Pence should finesse Donald Trump into withdrawing is absurd and you probably know that. Trump picked Pence knowing he could control him. No amount of praying on the thorny problem of Trump as the Republican candidate for President of the United States will yield to Gov. Pence the solution, your party created the conditions from whence he grew, you are stuck with him.
Your suggestion that Gov. Mike Pence should finesse Donald Trump into withdrawing is absurd and you probably know that. Trump picked Pence knowing he could control him. No amount of praying on the thorny problem of Trump as the Republican candidate for President of the United States will yield to Gov. Pence the solution, your party created the conditions from whence he grew, you are stuck with him.
Is Latimer really afraid Trump will win? I think he's afraid Trump will lose. His concern is clearly for party, not for country.
1
More dreaming about a GOP coup by a man who used to write speeches for America's worst ever president, G.W. Bush.
1
Whew! Talk about a nightmare in the making. Actually, these two Republican candidates are already a nightmare. My mistake.
1
Poor Matt! He didn't oppose Trump in the primaries, but now he's unhappy with who he's got as a candidate in the general. I think they call this emotion "Buyer's Remorse".
And they call my emotion "Schadenfreude".
Trump is exactly the candidate the Republicans deserve. Because he is exactly the candidate who won their primaries. Hugely!
And he is a gift to the Democrats. Even, you might say, the gift that keeps on giving.
And they call my emotion "Schadenfreude".
Trump is exactly the candidate the Republicans deserve. Because he is exactly the candidate who won their primaries. Hugely!
And he is a gift to the Democrats. Even, you might say, the gift that keeps on giving.
I found this essay strange. It seems to be saying that Trump isn't fit to be President -- or even to continue to run for President -- not because he spews hate, or is a dangerous megalomaniac, or knows nothing about foreign policy and economics, but because he is a bad boy and won't contain his bad boy impulses.
I keep reading people claiming that trump will "master the job" or 'learn to act the part" or other such phases. Why on earth do these people think that putting someone who can't do the job in the position and then training him is a good idea? This isn't the Apprentice. He can't do the job. Period. Why don't people see that this fact disqualifies him?
1
"Mr. Trump...appears constitutionally incapable...to discipline himself to a consistent message or to restrain his worst impulses."
That was patently obvious to any sentient half intelligent citizen a year ago already. If veteran Republican operatives are only pulling their lazy brains out of the sands on this now, that only adds one more layer to the mountain of reasons why the GOP needs to die as soon as a possible, for the sake of America's future.
And once the GOP has deservedly joined the Federalists and Whigs and Know-Nothings on the scrap heap of American political history, the next step is to throw the utterly worthless and completely spineless Democratic Party establishment there too.
Political parties are explicitly NOT mentioned in the US Constitution, and for lasting, powerful and significant reasons. For most of US history they have been tolerated as necessary evils. In recent years they have become, incurably, just evils. Or, at least, the current two albatrosses have
That was patently obvious to any sentient half intelligent citizen a year ago already. If veteran Republican operatives are only pulling their lazy brains out of the sands on this now, that only adds one more layer to the mountain of reasons why the GOP needs to die as soon as a possible, for the sake of America's future.
And once the GOP has deservedly joined the Federalists and Whigs and Know-Nothings on the scrap heap of American political history, the next step is to throw the utterly worthless and completely spineless Democratic Party establishment there too.
Political parties are explicitly NOT mentioned in the US Constitution, and for lasting, powerful and significant reasons. For most of US history they have been tolerated as necessary evils. In recent years they have become, incurably, just evils. Or, at least, the current two albatrosses have
1
Mike Pence should resign. So should Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell and John McCain and Ted Cruz and all Republicans because they and their Party nominated a Sociopathic Narcissistic misanthrope. Republicans should resign because science is real as is global warming, because racism and xenophobia are inherently bad and anti-American, because women are real persons with rights that cannot be taken away to satisfy a religion, that religion is a personal private activity and not allowed in American politics, that the rights of the rich are not greater than the rights of all, that using fear and terror to motivate Americans is the work of terrorists and enemies of democracy. Republicans should resign because they do not believe in democracy and are trying to institute oligarchy. Republicans should resign because they do not believe that America is a special place founded by immigrants who favor immigrants. Republicans should resign because they are fundamentally impaired and distrust people who do not belong to their elite or serve their elite.
3
Pence was about to lose his re-election bid as gov of Indiana. What makes you think he could win a national election?
1
Almost by definition as a narcissist Mr. Trump is incapable of finding any fault within himself. We are left with the slim chance this 70 year old might suffer a health event in public that would render him either politically or actually unable to serve. A just God might smite him with a small stroke which took his ability to speak but did not take his life, morphing from the Greek myth of Narcissus to that of Tantalus.
The idea that Mike Pence could convince The Donald to drop out of the race is beyond laughable.
2
Well, the main advantage of Pence is that a Pence-McConnell-Ryan triumvirate would make short work of the Supreme Court and, with all branches of government subservient to a combination of Oligarchy and Theocracy, Democracy in America would be over, possibly for good.
2
Trump will never drop out. It is up to the American electorate to make the wise choice and drop him out. I honestly believe that the future of this country depends upon making this choice, as Trump is so obviously unqualified to be the President of the United States of America.
1
The same argument could, and probably be should, be made about
Tim Kaine. Both Kaine and Pence could perform a great service to this country.
Tim Kaine. Both Kaine and Pence could perform a great service to this country.
The scenario would be twice as likely were Pence something other than an American
As ye sow, so shall ye reap.
1
I hardly think of Trump as an "accomplished businessman". Let's have a peek inside the tax returns. Then let us decide how "accomplished" he is.
1
The Republican Party is responsible for nominating the monstrosity Trump. They get no easy outs.
1
"Accomplished businessman?" Accomplished huckster maybe.
1
Like a German opera... Consumed in flames!
Well, it seems many people can agree that something should be done. The will of the voters in the primary should not be a huge concern given the fact that almost no one votes in primaries.
In The Water is Wide a young Pat Conroy wrote in response to revealed deep ignorance, "That is ridiculous! That is completely ridiculous!" Seems to apply here.
What is it about Trump's personality or demeanor would lead you to believe he would ever gracefully abdicate his power? While Trump's policies change from sentence to sentence, the one constant is his singular focus on not losing. He may not even concede after the election. As such, your proposal has no chance of becoming reality.
There is a candidate with a real chance to defeat Trump, but she needs all the support she can get, from all sides.
There is a candidate with a real chance to defeat Trump, but she needs all the support she can get, from all sides.
4
How pathetic that it is necessary to propose the current Republican nominee be replaced by someone who never in anyone's wildest dreams would have been put forth as a serious candidate for President. Such desperation.
1
Dump Trump for Pence? That's like replacing hydrogen with helium. One's less volatile than the other, but both are gaseous lightweights. So man up Mr. Latimer! You're stuck with what you've got until November 8.
1
Hillary should turn herself in. Just as ludicrous, Hillary should turn herself in to the FBI for lying and go to jail. Why even write this stuff.
Nah, we don't want the Hoosier Loser, either. The die is cast, and will go down in history as the worst defeat Republicans have ever suffered. And, it's their own fault, and the fault of the voters who elected un-American Republicans.
Here's an idea...why doesn't the RNC put their money and support behind the third party (Green? Libertarian?) candidate, Dr. Stein. And just leave Trump in the race so he'll play spoiler and take votes from Hillary. That way, Stein and the RNC might actually have a chance. I'm not sure how they'll get along on issues and what not, but it can't be worse than current options. And, it would be a good way to rebrand the Republican Party, quickfast, like overnight. MIght actually be good for them.
At least it would make things exciting. And how awesome would it be if Trump lost to two WOMEN! He'd probably take all the credit for rebranding the Republican Party and keeping Hillary out of office.
At least it would make things exciting. And how awesome would it be if Trump lost to two WOMEN! He'd probably take all the credit for rebranding the Republican Party and keeping Hillary out of office.
It is incredibly naïve to expect the Republican Party to suddenly wake up and act in the best interest of the nation as whole. Nothing in their history suggests the capacity to do so.
Oh, ho, no you don't. Trump is the candidate the base has wanted for the last eight years, and I don't want to hear yet another chorus of "we would have won if we had the candidate WE wanted!" The best outcome for the future of the GOP is for Trump to get totally crushed. Otherwise, the party will still belong to the Limbaugh/Hannity crazies.
How can we end the "PAY TO PLAY" US government way of depleting the US Treasury into the pockets of the “DONOR CLASS” and PACs?
Donald Trump might have eliminated "PAY TO PLAY" but he is now committing political suicide instead of becoming POTUS!
I thought that Donald Trump might be the taxpayer's best chance to eliminate "PAY TO PLAY" from our US Federal government way of doing business, but I guess that Mr. Trump is now apparently determined to commit political suicide instead of becoming POTUS
Washington lobbyists representing the “DONOR CLASS” and the PACs (foreign and domestic) were probably very unhappy over the situation of losing their free access to taxpayer’s money from the US Treasury via the "PAY TO PLAY" US government “NO-BID” contract award system and control of US foreign policy from the elected “Mainstream” Democrats and Republicans in the US congress if Donald Trump is elected!
Donald Trump might have eliminated "PAY TO PLAY" but he is now committing political suicide instead of becoming POTUS!
I thought that Donald Trump might be the taxpayer's best chance to eliminate "PAY TO PLAY" from our US Federal government way of doing business, but I guess that Mr. Trump is now apparently determined to commit political suicide instead of becoming POTUS
Washington lobbyists representing the “DONOR CLASS” and the PACs (foreign and domestic) were probably very unhappy over the situation of losing their free access to taxpayer’s money from the US Treasury via the "PAY TO PLAY" US government “NO-BID” contract award system and control of US foreign policy from the elected “Mainstream” Democrats and Republicans in the US congress if Donald Trump is elected!
1
Sorry, Republicans, but Trump is your nominee because you let it happen. Enough of you thought that Trump was a good idea. But he is your candidate, and will be on election day unless he himself resigns.
America is not Walmart, where you can return a shirt because you discover it doesn't fit right. You bought a flashy shirt in Cleveland and, now that you took it home and tried it on, you are not free to bring it back for an exchange. Our elections don't work that way. He is your candidate, live with it.
America is not Walmart, where you can return a shirt because you discover it doesn't fit right. You bought a flashy shirt in Cleveland and, now that you took it home and tried it on, you are not free to bring it back for an exchange. Our elections don't work that way. He is your candidate, live with it.
Perhaps Pence is hoping that Trump, if elected, will then be impeached.
How could Pence go from endorsing Ted Cruz to accepting Donald Trump's proposal to be his running mate?
He knew Trump as well as anybody and now that he has accepted the offer there's no turning back. The same is true for Ryan and McConnell. There is no turning back. To suggest otherwise is almost funny and why I realize you can't possibly be serious. You may as well suggest that they join hands in the Senate chapel and pray that Trump will be smitten. They might already be doing so since they are probably already begging to be spared from eternal damnation for bedding with Donald in the first place.
He knew Trump as well as anybody and now that he has accepted the offer there's no turning back. The same is true for Ryan and McConnell. There is no turning back. To suggest otherwise is almost funny and why I realize you can't possibly be serious. You may as well suggest that they join hands in the Senate chapel and pray that Trump will be smitten. They might already be doing so since they are probably already begging to be spared from eternal damnation for bedding with Donald in the first place.
Trump has no fear of being labeled a "loser". If Trump loses it will not be because he is a "loser". He will blame the rigged polls, rigged media, and the rigged election process. How can anyone, including Pence, offer any convincing reason to someone with that mind set?
2
It's hard to understand why the Times publishes such absurd and impossible drivel. Its Editorial Board's open hatred of Trump and the evil Republican Party is in its own way OK, but PUHLEEZE, give us some serious commentary.....
2
Oh, please. If Trump dumps, or if Trump stays in and gets annihilated, either way he's exactly what he started out to be, a gigantic loser, and that's maybe the only thing we can trust him to know.
1
It seems that Republicans are so virulent in their hatred for Obama and Clinton that they are willing to propose and support for the presidency a man so unfit for, unready for, and incapable of holding the office. I cannot imagine Trump backing out before the general election. His ego is fed by his candidacy and that ego is limitless. He will lose (unless HRC has a cataclysmic moment) and he will cry "rigged" and the party will go along with whatever conspiracy theory he conjures up.
1
This was the best laugh of the morning, although the day is young. The first of several chuckles begins with the idea of Trump " self deporting," since the idea of intervening to ask him to bow out of the race parallels Romney's hilarious suggestion to undocumented aliens. In the Pence/Trump scenario, however,I imagine Pence would rather goose a wolverine than bear the brunt of the Donald's wrath.
It's also laughable to equate the Donald with the conservative who "puts self interest aside," since he has made it abundantly clear that he has no one's interests at heart but his own. Never had, never will. Here, the writer has seen the "pitfalls of the political outsider" but he is much too circumspect. What most thinking people see is the pitfalls of Trump.
And, "accomplished businessman?" Please. We all know what an accomplished con man Trump is, with thousands of lawsuits against him for his chicanery and several bankruptcies.
And as for poor Mr. Pence, the "unassuming governor" of Indiana,extremely unpopular there and unlikely to be reelected, he grabbed the nomination like a lifeline. In addition, it's a bit rich to call him unassuming, since he would like us all to assume the theocracy that he would iompose according to his religious beliefs.
I can't wait until the election is over, the boil is lanced, and we can start to repair the damage done to us internally and externally by this ignorminious fool.
It's also laughable to equate the Donald with the conservative who "puts self interest aside," since he has made it abundantly clear that he has no one's interests at heart but his own. Never had, never will. Here, the writer has seen the "pitfalls of the political outsider" but he is much too circumspect. What most thinking people see is the pitfalls of Trump.
And, "accomplished businessman?" Please. We all know what an accomplished con man Trump is, with thousands of lawsuits against him for his chicanery and several bankruptcies.
And as for poor Mr. Pence, the "unassuming governor" of Indiana,extremely unpopular there and unlikely to be reelected, he grabbed the nomination like a lifeline. In addition, it's a bit rich to call him unassuming, since he would like us all to assume the theocracy that he would iompose according to his religious beliefs.
I can't wait until the election is over, the boil is lanced, and we can start to repair the damage done to us internally and externally by this ignorminious fool.
1
"...he would be forever branded, fairly or not, racist, sexist...". It's not conditional, Mr. Latimer. He is right now, clearly, a racist, a sexist and a liar of stunning proportions. His "brand" is not "tarnished", as if a good polishing up will restore its former beauty. It has been ugly from the start. Now it is trashed, a heap of smelly garbage. Your idea for salvation of the GOP via Pence is absurd and juvenile. Also, please quit the "future of America" nonsense. What your really mean is the "future of the GOP" and that ship has sailed.
2
What does everyone expect? The run for the Presidency of this country is basically a popularity contest. There are more prerequisites in the Miss America contest. This is the hugest job in the land and there's not even a job interview. Our process is broken and our democracy is going to suffer for it, but you can't blame Trump. He's obviously incompetent to be President, but he won the Republican beauty contest, so he's running for President.
1
Mike Pence did not ask to be put in this position? Really?
Mike Pence accepted the VP nomination to run with Donald Trump.
You bet he put himself in this position. Mike Pence is not blind, nor deaf, nor dumb. He got what he bargained for, and for accepting to run with Trump, he's just as bad.
Mike Pence accepted the VP nomination to run with Donald Trump.
You bet he put himself in this position. Mike Pence is not blind, nor deaf, nor dumb. He got what he bargained for, and for accepting to run with Trump, he's just as bad.
4
I believe this is known as the "bargaining" phase.
1
Why write fantasy?
Were he to publicly repudiate his own running mate, or question his fitness for office, the Trump campaign would be unsustainable.
Um, wouldn't Trump seek to have Pence thrown off the ticket if he defected, not the other way around? Wouldn't he be thrown off the ticket by he RNC, which really wouldn't have another choice, considering Trump won 60% or more of the elected delegates to the convention? None of that has changed. Wouldn't the Trump campaign go on with some other running mate? (McGovern/Eagleton became McGovern/Shriver.) Those who support Donald Trump do so not because he chose Mike Pence as his running mate and would continue to support him, regardless of what Mike Pence says for the next 90 days.
Um, wouldn't Trump seek to have Pence thrown off the ticket if he defected, not the other way around? Wouldn't he be thrown off the ticket by he RNC, which really wouldn't have another choice, considering Trump won 60% or more of the elected delegates to the convention? None of that has changed. Wouldn't the Trump campaign go on with some other running mate? (McGovern/Eagleton became McGovern/Shriver.) Those who support Donald Trump do so not because he chose Mike Pence as his running mate and would continue to support him, regardless of what Mike Pence says for the next 90 days.
1
'He could command support from the sizable Trump faction...' No, he couldn't, and won't. End of idiotic suggestion. About what we might expect from a speechwriter for George Bush.
1
Yes Indeed, Pence has the temperament and the character more refine than Trump. Although, I don't know him much but what I can see is he is more diplomatic, more refined when speaking, and that's very important. He doesn't insult anyone and try to play nice. He is out there trying start a War which making the whole world nervous- if people don't want vote Hillary and therefore pick Trump-He is not a solution, Trump is actually the worst of the pick. So, we need another running mate..somebody that has the credential to become the next president without killing us by running his mouth or by saying his tax fix when fix is the rich.
Pence is an empty suit who sold out. The GOP needs a funeral.
2
This is just the inevitable result of the causes and country Republicans have spent their entire lives championing.
This is what your process and your leaders have produced. Maybe it isn't what you say you intended, but it is what you deserve.
Remember what Gen. Powell told you about Iraq?
If you break it's yours.
You can't run away from Donald Trump.
You ARE Donald Trump.
This is what your process and your leaders have produced. Maybe it isn't what you say you intended, but it is what you deserve.
Remember what Gen. Powell told you about Iraq?
If you break it's yours.
You can't run away from Donald Trump.
You ARE Donald Trump.
1
The actual scenario , if Trump wins, will be his resignation within 6 months of the inaugural . His children will implore him to return to the business he built. If Trump loses, the GOP will breathe a sigh of relief, plan 4 years of more intransigence and for 2020.
How about locking Obama in his office for a year, and starting this whole thing over?
I'd rather see Mike Pence tell Donald Trump to release his tax returns. Once seen, there will be no need for Mike to ask Donald to step aside.
1
Pence vs Kaine and I might watch the news. Not going to happen.
"Seasoned politicians learn what fights to pick, what half-victories to savor, how to make coherent points and how to increase their electoral base." What have these seasoned politicians done for us? Not much!
Nope, Mr. Latimer. Way too late. The party of Lincoln brought this narcissistic sociopath loser onto itself. It's stuck with the landslide loss that's coming, and with the chaos of years of reassembling itself to have order and meaning again--and to replace its 2016 hideous foolishness with some new level of the respect it has squandered.
1
In my view, Mike Pence is betraying his oath as a Marine officer and a Congressman, to say nothing of his Christian profession.
None of these are compatible with so much as tacit support for Eddie Stillson, let alone being willing to be Eddie Stillson's official toady.
None of these are compatible with so much as tacit support for Eddie Stillson, let alone being willing to be Eddie Stillson's official toady.
To think that Donald Trump would quit - which is exactly what he'd be doing if he stepped aside - is absurd. When he loses to Hillary, he'll put the best spin on it he can. He won't concede until well after she's declared the winner. He wIill spend an hour or more talking about all the great things he accomplished as the nominee. He will warn America about Clinton. He will tell her he's watching her. He will say this state or that state was rigged and the race was really closer than it seems. Etc. One thing he won't do is offer Clinton his support. He's a narcissist who will try to turn defeat into victory. He won't go quietly into the night.
1
"Even if he were to win the presidency — a job that requires negotiation, diplomacy, discipline, finesse and some semblance of intellectual curiosity — it is not clear Mr. Trump will be able to master or enjoy the position."
Really? It is not clear?
Really? It is not clear?
2
This just demonstrates once again how Republicans continue to fundamentally misunderstand the whole, sad Trumpf phenomenon.
The Republican Party was already primed for a Trump; years of playing on racial resentment and fear; an ever more rigid ideology that saw the solution to every problem in tax cuts for the wealthy and the diminution of government; policies that eventually left a sizable part of their base - white working and middle-class people - adrift economically and culturally.
Those same people love Donald Trump because he is a wrecking ball; they are not going to accept Pence, or anyone else at this point, as their new leader.
Trump is not going to drop out because he is afraid of losing. He has already shown us how he will deal with what most of the rest of us hope will be a landslide defeat: he will rail against the rigged system that denied him the presidency. It will be somebody else’s fault, take your pick - ISIS, Obama, liberals, the Republican elite, Mexican illegals. He has already conjured up the dark conspiracy that thwarts the will of all who adore Trump.
It’s too late, Mr. Latimer; time to swallow the medicine and do what’s best for the country - vote Hillary!
The Republican Party was already primed for a Trump; years of playing on racial resentment and fear; an ever more rigid ideology that saw the solution to every problem in tax cuts for the wealthy and the diminution of government; policies that eventually left a sizable part of their base - white working and middle-class people - adrift economically and culturally.
Those same people love Donald Trump because he is a wrecking ball; they are not going to accept Pence, or anyone else at this point, as their new leader.
Trump is not going to drop out because he is afraid of losing. He has already shown us how he will deal with what most of the rest of us hope will be a landslide defeat: he will rail against the rigged system that denied him the presidency. It will be somebody else’s fault, take your pick - ISIS, Obama, liberals, the Republican elite, Mexican illegals. He has already conjured up the dark conspiracy that thwarts the will of all who adore Trump.
It’s too late, Mr. Latimer; time to swallow the medicine and do what’s best for the country - vote Hillary!
2
No way Latimer. Your party created this mess. Now you gotta dance with the guy what brung ya.
6
Withdraw? Please no! Trump needs to lose, and lose badly. There's no other way to lance the boil other than for all of the major newspapers to be able to print some version of "Trump is a Loser!" as a headline the morning after the election. I hope in the coming weeks we can start thinking about what life can be like once this joke of a human being is defeated and the country can move on from this disgraceful episode.
1
That makes more sense than I've read in a long time. Mike Pence would make a good Republican presidential candidate. He is a seasoned politician and knows how to get things done. Mr. Pence would allow the Republican party to maintain their dignity and hopefully return to the party of Abraham Lincoln.
As a registered Democrat I would definitely give Mr. Pence consideration. I believe Mrs. Clinton would do a respectable job but she is fraught with her own demons.
Great op/ed piece!
As a registered Democrat I would definitely give Mr. Pence consideration. I believe Mrs. Clinton would do a respectable job but she is fraught with her own demons.
Great op/ed piece!
The normally quiet Governor's mansion down the street is now buzzing with security. They've even installed concrete barriers to near the street to protect the suddenly important candidate. (Really dresses up the neighborhood, thanks.)
Governor Empty Suit has gone from mostly irrelevant and reviled to feeling like a valued commodity. Sometimes people even listen to him! People pat him on the back for Indiana's record employment! And no one mentions the slide in wages.
If you think Pence will give that up, you don't know Pence. We do. The one "cause he has championed all his life" is himself. His bigotry and racism played well in the sticks (and Indiana still has a lot of that), but it's steadily dragged him down here in the cities.
The "Pence Must Go" yard signs are now changing to "Trump/Pence - Make America Hate Again".
It's a nice dream Mr. Latimer, but that's all it is. Perhaps you could use your forum to advocate on behalf of the sane candidate already on the ballot.
Governor Empty Suit has gone from mostly irrelevant and reviled to feeling like a valued commodity. Sometimes people even listen to him! People pat him on the back for Indiana's record employment! And no one mentions the slide in wages.
If you think Pence will give that up, you don't know Pence. We do. The one "cause he has championed all his life" is himself. His bigotry and racism played well in the sticks (and Indiana still has a lot of that), but it's steadily dragged him down here in the cities.
The "Pence Must Go" yard signs are now changing to "Trump/Pence - Make America Hate Again".
It's a nice dream Mr. Latimer, but that's all it is. Perhaps you could use your forum to advocate on behalf of the sane candidate already on the ballot.
I see you have been enjoying the best stuff from Colorado.
The horse is out of the......?
You have made your bed now you must......?
The horse is out of the......?
You have made your bed now you must......?
Latimer should remember that wishful thinking is such a very nasty habit. Mike Pence is not the solution to what ails the GOP.
1
He's disrespected and disregarded any and everyone that doesn't agree with his 1/2 truths, lies, and alibis and to his credit (sort of), he always has.
So Trump ain't quitting, after he loses and finishes tearing apart the GOP, as opposed to a gracious CONcession with SelfReflection and SelfAwareness abound,..
He'll give a speech like Mortimer Duke in "Trading Places" on the Floor of the Exchange screaming at everyone else and for them to "Open Back Up the Polls"!!
So Trump ain't quitting, after he loses and finishes tearing apart the GOP, as opposed to a gracious CONcession with SelfReflection and SelfAwareness abound,..
He'll give a speech like Mortimer Duke in "Trading Places" on the Floor of the Exchange screaming at everyone else and for them to "Open Back Up the Polls"!!
2
This is a ridiculous suggestion. Whether you like it or not, Trump has been nominated by millions of American voters and once again in November they can decide whether Trump is the right person to lead America. I believe in American democracy and the will of the people and I am confident that through the haze, Americans will elect a president who will fulfill his or her promises. If you care about the world and about the Muslims around the world, journalists will write about the terrorist attacks on innocent Muslims slaughtered in a Hospital in Quetta, Pakistan for which ISIS took responsibility instead of what Trump said in an interview. While we are engrossed in our elections, ISIS is on the march in regions where ISIS did not have hold but now has a stranglehold.
2
He refers to Mr. Trump as a man “wholly unfit for the office” whom may actually win it. As a former speechwriter for George W. Bush, Matt Latimer must have had that line already written from the campaigns of 2000 and 2004.
3
God help us if this wolf in sheeps clothing gets anywhere close to the White House.
2
"Mike Pence did not ask to be put in this position"
You don't get to be the vice presidential candidate without saying that you want the job. Pence clearly knew what he was getting himself into. It's not like Trump's character only recently became apparent.
You don't get to be the vice presidential candidate without saying that you want the job. Pence clearly knew what he was getting himself into. It's not like Trump's character only recently became apparent.
1
Trump is a "political outsider who puts self-interest aside"? Puts self-interest aside? And here's the more likely scenario. Pence makes the threat and Trump says, "You're fired."
I can hear it now.... "You're FIRED!!!" What else, honestly.
"If Mr. Pence truly believes Mr. Trump will be a capable president, then he should do nothing. But he owes it to his party, his country and the cause he has championed his entire life to reflect on this carefully."
Pence was a Democrat, who "pivoted" when he became a born-again Christian. Lifelong? Not so much. I don't know why everyone turns to Scrooge, when they do this, but I think Jesus would not approve.
Pence was a Democrat, who "pivoted" when he became a born-again Christian. Lifelong? Not so much. I don't know why everyone turns to Scrooge, when they do this, but I think Jesus would not approve.
People like you made him. Now you own him.
1
A dollar short. A day late. Trump remains the same inept, crude, and unworthy person he was before he invited Pence to run on the ticket with him. And Pence is equally unworthy for having supported Trump (not to mention almost every bigoted vote Pence has cast to date). Pence should not be heir apparent before the election.
1
Smart leaders know how to win, but recognize that this is not always possible. And when the evidence points that winning won't be likely, the smart ones will find the swiftest exit strategy to quickly cut loses and move-on.
Mr. Trump: polls are showing a very compelling picture of your future ahead. It's now time that you shows us how smart of a leader you are.
Mr. Trump: polls are showing a very compelling picture of your future ahead. It's now time that you shows us how smart of a leader you are.
1
Just because the NYT doesn't run comic strips doesn't mean it has no sense of humor. I can only imagine the frenzy at the TV studios as they try to get this election serialized for their fall schedules. A new genre of reality TV where the events in the real world happen days before showtime. Do they extend the Trump character's contract beyond November? Tune in.
And do police departments across the country have the resources to deal with 14 Mil angrier than usual Trump primary voters in the streets?
And do police departments across the country have the resources to deal with 14 Mil angrier than usual Trump primary voters in the streets?
Republicans should stop the charade if referring to themselves as the party of Lincoln. As the saying goes, he's turning over in his grave when his name is evoked to justify their longstanding selfish, racist and xenophobic policies.
1
Another pantload from a desperate Republican...shrug.
1
Six articles today about Trump, albeit negative and informative, but where are articles about the Democratic candidate? It's not enough to criticize the GOP and their candidate. The Times, and all other media, must give voters information about the Dems, something to get our teeth into, to fill the void. This one-sided reporting serves the Trump campaign by keeping his name and face in the public eye. Hillary isn't just sitting around reading the latesr polls; she's out there running a solid campaign. Let's hear about it!
2
I take exception to Mr Latimer's statement that Mr Trump is a successful businessman. He is in a fashion, if one condones his many instances of not paying his workers, a series of bankruptcies, the many lawsuits in which he is and has been involved. Not a really great resume.
Many other comments clearly put forth valid reasons Mr Trump is not fit for the office he seeks.
Many other comments clearly put forth valid reasons Mr Trump is not fit for the office he seeks.
2
The Republicans are really getting desperate now. If Pence did as you say, he'd end up in the witness protection program because Trump's followers would never forgive him, and they are a rabid bunch.
Rep. Paul Ryan's wife and kids are afraid to leave their house because Trumpkins are protesting outside the front door.
Rep. Paul Ryan's wife and kids are afraid to leave their house because Trumpkins are protesting outside the front door.
1
Good luck with that.
Face it, your party stinks on ice, nobody can save it.
Face it, your party stinks on ice, nobody can save it.
1
The voters made the decision. They wanted Trump. The voters also made the decision in 2012. They voted for Obama. So why won't the Senate acknowledge the will of the voters in 2012 and vote on Obama's Supreme Court nominee? Because it's not the voters they care about who voted in Obama. And evidently, now they don't care about the will of their own voters.
You are stuck with Trump. Just admit it and move on.
You are stuck with Trump. Just admit it and move on.
Just listen to Pence. He's Trump's poodle, there to defend everything the Trumpet says no matter how inane or crude. Pence decided by his acceptance to be VP to sell his soul for a few more minutes of fame, perhaps somehow thinking this will boost his "brand" for future endeavors. That is Stinking Thinking, aka TrumptThought.
Other than FOX "News" consultant, Pence's tying himself to the Trump bandwagon is much like McCain's VP choice in reverse. While McCain dumbed down, Trump smartened up. Either way, both tickets are losing propositions. A Trump/Palin ticket would have been icing on the cake for the GOP. It would have been a battle to the finish to see who one had the lowest IQ, and it would have been close.
DD
Manhattan
Other than FOX "News" consultant, Pence's tying himself to the Trump bandwagon is much like McCain's VP choice in reverse. While McCain dumbed down, Trump smartened up. Either way, both tickets are losing propositions. A Trump/Palin ticket would have been icing on the cake for the GOP. It would have been a battle to the finish to see who one had the lowest IQ, and it would have been close.
DD
Manhattan
This may solve an immediate problem of not losing by as large a landslide as Mr. Trump, but it would do little to address the forces within the Party that selected Trump in the first place. A crushing defeat now may be the only thing that can save the Republican Party for the future.
I think it is about time we all take a step back and state the reasons we like a candidate." Trump is crazy. Trump is nuts. Trump is a disaster. Hillary is a liar. Hillary is untrustworthy. Hillary would do or say anything to get elected."
This is all we hear. When you go out to dinner, and the waiter arrives, do you recite all of the items you don't like? Tell me who you like and why you like them! This message goes out to the media as well...We already know Trump is nuts and that Hillary is a liar.
This is all we hear. When you go out to dinner, and the waiter arrives, do you recite all of the items you don't like? Tell me who you like and why you like them! This message goes out to the media as well...We already know Trump is nuts and that Hillary is a liar.
1
If Pence were to go along, it would be the height of opportunism. Pence did not participate in the primaries. If Trump were to withdraw, the Republicans would need to find a way to let their base decide.
Except for that line in the third paragraph where he calls Trump an 'accomplished' businessman, this column is pretty good.
In the UK we have a very similar situation - but here, it's the liberal/left wing party that basically has a crazy, extreme. unelectable guy as the leader.
He's called Jeremy Corbyn. And has very extreme positions on most subjects. And he's often accused of racism - anti-semitism, and outrageous comments about Israel.
I think we just live in this sort of era, where some political parties are struggling to deal with a rapidly changing society. And they think the most aggressive, extreme candidate is the answer.
He's called Jeremy Corbyn. And has very extreme positions on most subjects. And he's often accused of racism - anti-semitism, and outrageous comments about Israel.
I think we just live in this sort of era, where some political parties are struggling to deal with a rapidly changing society. And they think the most aggressive, extreme candidate is the answer.
Come on Matt. Mike Pence is a Trump supporter and, as such, he himself is unfit for office too. Stop coddling Republican Trumpistas.
2
"Da plane! Da plane!"
Let the republican party collapse.
1
You say Trump should withdraw yet you never completely condemn or repudiate the vile and disgusting things he has said and campaigned upon. Let's not even discuss your abject failure to discuss his birther and conspiracy theories. It was the Republican Party that created Trump, not vice versa. Constantly distorting the truth, vilifying the opposition to the point of slander while lying to the American people and attempting to bar people of color from the polls. Yet, it is the Republican Party you are concerned most about, not the American people or the Presidency. Trump is a successful business man you say, but by whose standards? Certainly not Mike Bloomberg, Warren Buffet or Mark Cuban. Going bankrupt 4 times while scamming banks and bondholders and leaving thousands without work is not the definition of a successful business person, it is a fraud and scam artist plain and simple. You and your friends made Trump, now you are stuck with him and the agenda he champions which is merely the very essence of what the Republican Party has tried to stuff down the throats of Americans since Reagan , only spoken plainly if inarticulately and absent the code so all Americans can plainly see exactly what and who the Republican Party stands for.
Pence versus Trump? I choose Trump. He is a bloviating self-promoting, orange hued shape shifter. He believes nothing except that he had somehow lost because of others. He is angry and intolerant, and probably would be terribly ineffective as president.
Pence is s crazy true believer, who sounds reasonable. Much scarier.
Pence is s crazy true believer, who sounds reasonable. Much scarier.
Trump, "an accomplished businessman," whose accomplishments include six bankruptcies. failing to pay his bills, and allegedly defrauding students who attended his "Trump U," should be ousted by a failed politician who brought disgrace and economic calamity to his state.
No wonder people are sick of the GOP these days. Columnists like Matt Latimer prove once again that "his" party is out of touch with a majority of middle class and poor Americans, while discriminating against women, minorities and the LGBT community. What difference does it make whether Donald Trump or Mike Pence leads the Republican Party? Donald Trump exposes the true nature and vile essence of the GOP--Mike Pence is able to cover up the stench a little better. It's better for Americans to see the GOP for what it really is so that maybe in the future, voters will not be so blinded by its phony righteousness and self-serving obeisance to the wealthy.
No wonder people are sick of the GOP these days. Columnists like Matt Latimer prove once again that "his" party is out of touch with a majority of middle class and poor Americans, while discriminating against women, minorities and the LGBT community. What difference does it make whether Donald Trump or Mike Pence leads the Republican Party? Donald Trump exposes the true nature and vile essence of the GOP--Mike Pence is able to cover up the stench a little better. It's better for Americans to see the GOP for what it really is so that maybe in the future, voters will not be so blinded by its phony righteousness and self-serving obeisance to the wealthy.
What a dumb idea.
This is just about the looniest piece of nonsense you've published in a long, long time! Thanks for the morning laughter!
"The best option is one that can... help both Mr. Trump and his party save face."
Are you serious????
None of their faces deserves to be saved.
Are you serious????
None of their faces deserves to be saved.
Narcissistic megalomaniacs don't just quit, especially if they are this close to their goal. Don't count on this one to just drop out of the race.
1
It's high time that GOPrs learn a valuable lesson here...
One that comes from making ones own errors.
Enduring the consequences of choosing Trump to lead them could become a much needed learning for them.
They need to stick with that all the way to the bitter end.
One that comes from making ones own errors.
Enduring the consequences of choosing Trump to lead them could become a much needed learning for them.
They need to stick with that all the way to the bitter end.
1
They should withdraw together, hand in hand, heads hung low. Pence was very aware of who he was joining and did it anyway. He's done very little for Indiana, and on occasions been accused of insensitivity to the needs of lower income families and corruption. What in the world would he do for America? The time has come for the ones that look down to fall hard in the muck of their own making.
1
Oh Good Lord, this just ain't gonna happen! And... they don't even like Pence in Indiana. He's a lightweight and a Christian pastor. We don't need that. We need someone who is capable of being the leader of the free world. Hillary's the guy to do it! (if that's what you need to hear--pretend she's a man).
1
Sorry Mr. Latimer, he was elected and elections have consequences. You really do not get to change the rules in the middle of the game just because you do not like the result so far and you think you are now going to get stomped. Your choice now is to support him or to not support him. Switching to another candidate is simply not an option. If you are fearful of the mess Mr. Trump will make I submit to your two things: 1) you brought this on yourself, and 2) make sure you vote for someone else if the thought of a Trump presidency is intolerable.
43
The Grand Odd Party, the Party of Trump, is no longer so grand.
Mr. Trump has expressed concern that the election is rigged (perhaps from within his party?). Mr. Latimer, a party elite, advises a hostile takeover--the wishes of the rubes are to be disregarded...yet again (the wishes of the rubes have never been respected, fulfilled). The party rule is, the party elites choose the leader, the rubes line up (at the voting booth); rubes are not allowed to choose their leader.
Can the rubes be denied their chosen leader and the party survive? Has party elite, Mr. Latimer attended a Trump rally? Does he have the slightest clue of how passionate (incendiary) the rubes are? Would the rubes stay on the farm if their leader is played for a rube by the party elites? Even if Mr. Trump could be persuaded to give up his role as Simon, it is not likely his rubes would be willing to follow what an imposter Simon says.
Mr. Trump has expressed concern that the election is rigged (perhaps from within his party?). Mr. Latimer, a party elite, advises a hostile takeover--the wishes of the rubes are to be disregarded...yet again (the wishes of the rubes have never been respected, fulfilled). The party rule is, the party elites choose the leader, the rubes line up (at the voting booth); rubes are not allowed to choose their leader.
Can the rubes be denied their chosen leader and the party survive? Has party elite, Mr. Latimer attended a Trump rally? Does he have the slightest clue of how passionate (incendiary) the rubes are? Would the rubes stay on the farm if their leader is played for a rube by the party elites? Even if Mr. Trump could be persuaded to give up his role as Simon, it is not likely his rubes would be willing to follow what an imposter Simon says.
2
Donald Trump will be the new president, like it or not! He has the people behind him who support him in every state. So if Trump wins Ohio or Florida, or Pennsylvania and Wisconsin he will get the electoral votes to become President! It's very simple, only 4 states are in play! Its peoples will, and the people decide to turn right this time, i can see it myself. He has got millions of supporters while Hillary never had so many supporters!
Pence should actually try to reclaim what little dignity he has left and get himself to withdraw from the TP ticket.
Sorry, but the so-called "Party of Lincoln" is now the Party of Trump. You brought this upon yourselves and the nation. Own up to it! Take responsibility for your actions and just lose the election. Anything else is simply looking for a handout from the voters.
Pence? Yeah, right. An extreme social conservative will also damage Latimer's party. But even a hamster with a high trust raing could beat Clinton.
Let Donald run. The Republican Party has worked hard to earn such an esteemed nominee. Mile Pense is doing nothing of the sort. You are spinning fantasies to make yourself feel better. Best thing you could do is renounce your horrible party and vote for Hillary. What a scourge on this country your party become. An American tragedy.
You gotta be kidding? I'd love to see that bum Trump out of there,no matter how,but your idea is crazier than the garbage he spouts.Getting more heavyweight Repubs.to attack Trump is the best way,IMO.A massive,fatal coronary would be better.
Lattimer's arrogance is stunning! Who is he to place his judgement as superior to the will of the voters in the Republican primary. Does being a mere WH speechwriter give him some special insight of which we are not aware? Highly unlikely!
As an American but not ever a Republican, I cannot tell the Republicans what to do with their duly voted in leader in any way. I feel that it is fair for the NYT to allow an opinion piece of such a suggestion but just barely. To me, for the NYT to allow it is to become a vehicle of anarchy even if the gesture seems somewhat appropriate in its end, the old "end justifies any means" analogy.
Would it be right. NO! Not just NO, but "Hell No!" Regardless of how odious and distasteful the candidate, he is the one that the voters selected and he is the one, alone, who selected Gov. Pence, "Et tu Brute? Then die Caesar." To the cadre who got Mr. Trump so far, that would be worse than the tyranny of "Mutiny on the Bounty." While only morons would find a lot of things helpful in the overall discourse, it is sheer deepest folly to propose this.
NYT, rein in some of the hacks that you are finding down at the tarpit bottoms Show Mr Trump his due respect, present the truth and hope that love of country and good sense prevail.
Would it be right. NO! Not just NO, but "Hell No!" Regardless of how odious and distasteful the candidate, he is the one that the voters selected and he is the one, alone, who selected Gov. Pence, "Et tu Brute? Then die Caesar." To the cadre who got Mr. Trump so far, that would be worse than the tyranny of "Mutiny on the Bounty." While only morons would find a lot of things helpful in the overall discourse, it is sheer deepest folly to propose this.
NYT, rein in some of the hacks that you are finding down at the tarpit bottoms Show Mr Trump his due respect, present the truth and hope that love of country and good sense prevail.
This opinion piece completely demonstrates both the cluelessness and the entitlement of the white male dominated GOP.
Those of us who are women, or black, or Hispanic, or gay or Muslim -as well as those of us who love anyone who is - do not find Trump to be "appealing", much less "entertaining."
Those of us who are women, or black, or Hispanic, or gay or Muslim -as well as those of us who love anyone who is - do not find Trump to be "appealing", much less "entertaining."
Latimer is clearly deluded:
1)"respected the wishes of the clear majority of Republican primary voters. " In fact more Republicans voted NOT TRUMP than FOR TRUMP in the primaries.
2) "nominee has spent a lifetime equating the Trump name with success." A careful analysis of his business practices as demonstrated recently in NEWSWEEK proves otherwise. Multiple failures and shady practices. Currently an anathema to conventional lenders.
3) Pence was rescued from inevitable oblivion in his own state of Indiana by Trump. He is not likely to turn on him. He was picked for his blandness, not revolutionary fervor.
Latimer has to accept that political entropy has taken hold of the GOP and that deviancy is being defined further downward. He should start writing and selling concession speeches for various down-ticket GOP candidates. Much money to be made there.
3)
1)"respected the wishes of the clear majority of Republican primary voters. " In fact more Republicans voted NOT TRUMP than FOR TRUMP in the primaries.
2) "nominee has spent a lifetime equating the Trump name with success." A careful analysis of his business practices as demonstrated recently in NEWSWEEK proves otherwise. Multiple failures and shady practices. Currently an anathema to conventional lenders.
3) Pence was rescued from inevitable oblivion in his own state of Indiana by Trump. He is not likely to turn on him. He was picked for his blandness, not revolutionary fervor.
Latimer has to accept that political entropy has taken hold of the GOP and that deviancy is being defined further downward. He should start writing and selling concession speeches for various down-ticket GOP candidates. Much money to be made there.
3)
Mr. Pence? The pill of ignorance is most easily swallowed with the sugar-coating of religion. Science is real, no matter how devoutly you deny it.
Those suggesting it was a majority of voters who wanted Trump are fooling themselves. Trump barely made it above 40% in many of the states which suggests that actually a majority of Republicans did NOT choose Trump, but they've been bullied into it now.
The nihilism we are today is just a manifestation of the disastrous policies they've wrought on the 90% of Americans who have lost labor to the 10%'s capital.
Hoping Trump takes it all the way to Election Day when he will lose by historic numbers.
The nihilism we are today is just a manifestation of the disastrous policies they've wrought on the 90% of Americans who have lost labor to the 10%'s capital.
Hoping Trump takes it all the way to Election Day when he will lose by historic numbers.
This is the weirdest example I've ever read of shirking responsibility for your actions. Mr. Lattimer writes, "Mike Pence did not ask to be put in this position, to be sure..." In what universe?! He willingly accepted the position of running mate to a certifiable lunatic. Trump started digging his political grave long before the convention; Pence had plenty of time to vet Trump at the same time Trump was vetting him. Pence is no victim here, and he is in no position to play the hero.
My fantasy was that after Trump nominated him at the convention, Pence would take the stage and say, "I would not be this crazy dude's vice president if he were the last candidate on the planet. Good night." Then I woke up to what actually happened. Mike Pence needs to do the same.
My fantasy was that after Trump nominated him at the convention, Pence would take the stage and say, "I would not be this crazy dude's vice president if he were the last candidate on the planet. Good night." Then I woke up to what actually happened. Mike Pence needs to do the same.
You had me until you endorsed Mike Pence for president. Going from worse to bad is not the solution. At least with Hillary you go from worst to tolerable. Mike Pence would make the presidency a theocracy. He was a horrible congressman. He was in congress for 6 terms and never introduced or co sponsored a bill. And it is Pence who signed into law a bill that made it legal to discriminate against the gay community that caused even conservative business leaders to ostracize him.
Yes. Doing it this way would convey something at least close to party unity, and the RNC could choose Pence under Rule 9 rather than convening another convention which would convey division. Either Kasich or Cruz could be his running-mate. (Or were you thinking of your old employer's brother Jeb, Matt?)
DONALD MAY DUCK BUT--AS CHURCHILL SAID WE WILL NEVER WITHDRAW As if Pence had any common sense leave alone cents. Don't hold your breath for any fast response from Pence. Asked to act upon the crisis of the AIDS epidemic that has struck Indiana, he dragged he feet, then prayed on the matter. Pence failed to uphold his oath of office, to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution. He violated the First Amendment by basing his decision to approve a needle exchange upon his prayers rather than acting to uphold the Constitution by not establishing a State religion. I think that the US would suffer extreme afflictions were there a Pence presidency. That would be like jumping from the frying pan into the fire. We know what that's like already, since Trump has shown us what it would be like to have a president who is a combination of Nero and Caligula. Trump as President would fiddle while the nation burned and duck all presidential duties to travel to his newest purchase--the golf course in Scotland. When the going gets tough, Donald Ducks. And Pence Prays. I never thought that I'd even imagine that there were some virtues in the Chainy Dubya junta that could outstrip Donald's ducking out of his job duties and busying himself with Trumping his latest business failure.
"Mr. Trump, an accomplished businessman "
Pray tell, what accomplishments were they?
Pray tell, what accomplishments were they?
Folks-- this writer is endorsing a coup d'etat. No matter your politics this is a sick and dangerous idea.
Talk about clutching at straws...
2
Others have pointed out the most major flaws with this. Trump has his party's support. He wouldn't even consider such a proposal from Pence, whom he considers a dispensable sidekick like Christie was before. From my Indiana perspective I see another fatal flaw:Pence is a coward. Pence is full of bigotry for homosexuals, but when he gets the Republicans in the legislature to pass vile laws ... he then runs for the high grass when there is opposition. Several have opined that Pence would not have agreed to serve Trump if the governor's race hadn't gotten tough. Expecting Pence to have courage is like expecting Trump to usher in a new era of civility in campaigning. Mr. Latimer should go back to his previous craft and publish another paper on how excellent the Guantanamo prison is.
1
"If such an outcome were to occur, he would be forever branded, fairly or not, racist, sexist and, worst of all in the Trump lexicon, a historic loser." I say fairly, and I say so regardless of the outcome. One caveat: should he win, we will all be losers with him.
BTW: Trump is anything but "an accomplished businessman." Six bankruptcies? Why won't he make public his tax returns? While he was being audited by the IRS, President Nixon published his returns, and so have all major party presidential candidates since then. When asked why he has not made public his tax returns Trump answered, "None of your business."
"The worst-case scenario is that a man who may be wholly unfit for the office may actually win it. Mr. Pence is among the few who could stop this..."
No, actually, the American voters are gonna stop this. And that's the way it should be done.
No, actually, the American voters are gonna stop this. And that's the way it should be done.
2
"Mike Pence should get...... "
Seriously Matt, this idea isn't funny, it's pathetic. Have you seen that great short-short "Bambi meets Godzillla?"
And I know you have a pretty good sense of humor, even about Trump:
http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/08/2016-trump-insult-khan-ba...
The problem for the GOP is simple: the base wants Trump. After years of selling 'the southern strategy' and hate-o-tainment and moronity the GOP distilled its base down to the Trumpers.
All you NeverTrumpers, get a clue: asking Pence to bell the cat for you is just a mark of how pathetically defeated you are.
But here's some free practical advice -- who are Trump's creditors? It's reputed that they are Russian oligarchs and mobsters now ... but maybe that's not so?
Where else might Trump borrow money?
Trump's hotel and resort booking are tanking. He's killing his own brand, exposing all of his grifter moves to the public.
He's not going to last long, but it won't be Pence who tales him out.
Trump should remember the fate of Bugsy Siegel. You can cheat the little people all day, but cheat the wrong guy and you pay.
Seriously Matt, this idea isn't funny, it's pathetic. Have you seen that great short-short "Bambi meets Godzillla?"
And I know you have a pretty good sense of humor, even about Trump:
http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/08/2016-trump-insult-khan-ba...
The problem for the GOP is simple: the base wants Trump. After years of selling 'the southern strategy' and hate-o-tainment and moronity the GOP distilled its base down to the Trumpers.
All you NeverTrumpers, get a clue: asking Pence to bell the cat for you is just a mark of how pathetically defeated you are.
But here's some free practical advice -- who are Trump's creditors? It's reputed that they are Russian oligarchs and mobsters now ... but maybe that's not so?
Where else might Trump borrow money?
Trump's hotel and resort booking are tanking. He's killing his own brand, exposing all of his grifter moves to the public.
He's not going to last long, but it won't be Pence who tales him out.
Trump should remember the fate of Bugsy Siegel. You can cheat the little people all day, but cheat the wrong guy and you pay.
this column causes me to wonder what realm, other than reality, Mr. Latimer resides in.
I see a lot of Trump signs on the lawns in the town where I live. During the primary, he swept upstate NY decisively. The people I know who support Trump aren't going to be happy if somehow he is pushed aside. And that's how a lot of them would see it.
It's possible Pence could convince the children, but I think they have decided this helps their brand and that it will all be worth it. They seem to have learned at their father's knee how to make money from what might seem to others to be failure.
Donald Trump himself is another question. I think he's hooked on the cheers of the crowds and sycophancy of his entourage. What would it feel like to give all that up and go back to stiffing contractors?
I'd give quite a lot to hear Pence make his pitch.If he were successful, maybe he would deserve to be president.
It's possible Pence could convince the children, but I think they have decided this helps their brand and that it will all be worth it. They seem to have learned at their father's knee how to make money from what might seem to others to be failure.
Donald Trump himself is another question. I think he's hooked on the cheers of the crowds and sycophancy of his entourage. What would it feel like to give all that up and go back to stiffing contractors?
I'd give quite a lot to hear Pence make his pitch.If he were successful, maybe he would deserve to be president.
The NY Times, in its wisdom has decided who is entitled to be the next President of the U.S and will do everything it can to make that happen. To the Times It is irrelevant who won the majority of votes in the various Republican primaries. The presidency belongs to Mrs. Clinton and heaven forbid that voters may not want her.. It is hers by right, or is it?
The last Republican the Times endorsed was Dwight Eisenhower in 1956. We know where the Times stands. Let's let the voters vote. Mrs. Clinton may win or she may lose, but the voters have a right to vote and the Times must recognize that the final word belongs with the people- not a self appointed elite.
The last Republican the Times endorsed was Dwight Eisenhower in 1956. We know where the Times stands. Let's let the voters vote. Mrs. Clinton may win or she may lose, but the voters have a right to vote and the Times must recognize that the final word belongs with the people- not a self appointed elite.
This idea seems wishful thinking carried to the extreme. I wonder what the writer had before writing this piece.
What have you been smoking Mr. Latimer? Is this political advice or wishful thinking, borderline fiction? If Mike Pence had a tiny bit of integrity and self respect he wouldn't have become Trump's running mate!
There are so many things you got wrong here that I don't know where to start. Mike Pence is in no position to do anything against the boss, otherwise he'll be eaten alive. Trump doesn't care about losing, he'll just claim it was rigged and he's the rithous leader of the country.
There are so many things you got wrong here that I don't know where to start. Mike Pence is in no position to do anything against the boss, otherwise he'll be eaten alive. Trump doesn't care about losing, he'll just claim it was rigged and he's the rithous leader of the country.
1
The writer fundamentally misunderstands Donald Trump. Mr. Trump has no interest in anything other than his self-perception. He would love to have Mike Pence turn against him because it would give him the perfect excuse for failure. In the end, Donald Trump does not care about winning or losing. He only cares about keeping his ego intact.
I'm afraid the only thing that might make him even consider leaving the race is the prospect of an epic lose that can be laid squarely in his lap. There is a movement among conservative Republicans to do just that. It's something that everyone should encourage. Have a look at this.
http://www.holdingournosesforhillary.com
I'm afraid the only thing that might make him even consider leaving the race is the prospect of an epic lose that can be laid squarely in his lap. There is a movement among conservative Republicans to do just that. It's something that everyone should encourage. Have a look at this.
http://www.holdingournosesforhillary.com
Hay Matt, at this point I don't think that there is anything to be done that will salvage the Republican Party. The only thing more disastrous for the party than Trump loosing would be Trump winning. The later would result in the Republican Party being blamed for the disasters that will result from a Trump presidency.
21
NYT is not your audience Mr. Latimer. I'm pretty sure most of us would support your plan, though we wouldn't vote for Pence. You should be writing this in the WSJ, or better yet, go on FAUX news, where all the trolls are glued, and face the cameras while spouting this idea. Write to Mike Pence, Mitch McConnell, and Paul Ryan. Go for it. Maybe even have dinner with his three adult children and tell them to convince their father to drop out. End this insanity ASAP.
No, Mike Pence didn't ask to be in his current position, but he also didn't have to accept Trump's overture.
Pence may be slightly saner and a bit less publicly abrasive but, one really does have to question someone who would, willingly, become the running mate of someone like Donald Trump.
As far as I'm concerned, they're both bad, bad news.
Pence may be slightly saner and a bit less publicly abrasive but, one really does have to question someone who would, willingly, become the running mate of someone like Donald Trump.
As far as I'm concerned, they're both bad, bad news.
1
Although Trump is a disaster Mike Pence is not that uch better. Let's just let them both lose and elect Hillary president. She is better than both of them put together.
.
.
What is proposed here is impossible, or if not impossible than impossibly unwieldy. And it's certainly un-American.
Vice President Joe Biden told the delegates at his party's convention, "We're better than this." If memory serves, he returned to the microphone after his formal speech had ended to say, similarly, "Come on! We're Americans!"
He was right.
In America, the people don't get to vote on everything. But votes, when taken, matter. Mr. Latimer says that Mr. Trump received votes from "a clear plurality" of those who participated in the GOP nominating process. That matters. Mr. Trump endured travel, debates, attacks, media investigations, and legal hurdles. After more than a year of that, he was nominated by his Party.
Mike Pence, by contrast, is the Governor of a medium-sized state; before that, he represented about 700,000 people in Congress. He is "a Christian, a conservative, and a Republican", in that order. Note that party affiliation is third. Note that "American" is fourth, at best. While 17 people contended for his party's presidential nomination, Mr. Pence stood aside. He was on no ballot.
This is America. Ted Cruz got more votes than Marco Rubio, who got more votes than John Kasich. All got more votes than Mike Pence. When Scott Walker asked fellow candidates to step aside, that is when Mr. Latimer should have written about Mr. Trump leaving the race. But he was too busy being entertained by the Trump candidacy. Are we having fun yet, Mr. Latimer?
.
What is proposed here is impossible, or if not impossible than impossibly unwieldy. And it's certainly un-American.
Vice President Joe Biden told the delegates at his party's convention, "We're better than this." If memory serves, he returned to the microphone after his formal speech had ended to say, similarly, "Come on! We're Americans!"
He was right.
In America, the people don't get to vote on everything. But votes, when taken, matter. Mr. Latimer says that Mr. Trump received votes from "a clear plurality" of those who participated in the GOP nominating process. That matters. Mr. Trump endured travel, debates, attacks, media investigations, and legal hurdles. After more than a year of that, he was nominated by his Party.
Mike Pence, by contrast, is the Governor of a medium-sized state; before that, he represented about 700,000 people in Congress. He is "a Christian, a conservative, and a Republican", in that order. Note that party affiliation is third. Note that "American" is fourth, at best. While 17 people contended for his party's presidential nomination, Mr. Pence stood aside. He was on no ballot.
This is America. Ted Cruz got more votes than Marco Rubio, who got more votes than John Kasich. All got more votes than Mike Pence. When Scott Walker asked fellow candidates to step aside, that is when Mr. Latimer should have written about Mr. Trump leaving the race. But he was too busy being entertained by the Trump candidacy. Are we having fun yet, Mr. Latimer?
1
The idea that Trump supporters, who for the most part are capable of believing that Barack Obama is either not American born or even a Christian and might be assisting ISIS, would accept a traditional conservative like Pence is about as George H.W. Bush fantasizing about broccoli. No, Trump, whether he remains in the race till November or suffers a flare up of his bone spurs that prevents him from continuing the campaign, will doom the GOP in 2016.
1
Mr Latimer, I suspect we all grasp at straws in desperate times, but this article sets a new standard.
1
Couldn't even waste a minute reading this. This is headline is the stupidest thing yet. Mike Pence is a dupe. Does The Donald even take his calls? Does Pence even think he would?
"I found his attack on the established order appealing at times, even entertaining..."
Unlike you, Mr. Latimer, I have been horrified by Mr. Trump for a long time. But I'm glad you found his proposal to ban Muslims from entering the country or his statement about undocumented workers to be entertaining.
I'm curious, what made you finally change your mind?
Unlike you, Mr. Latimer, I have been horrified by Mr. Trump for a long time. But I'm glad you found his proposal to ban Muslims from entering the country or his statement about undocumented workers to be entertaining.
I'm curious, what made you finally change your mind?
1
The only trouble with this scenario is that Trump doesn't take advice from anyone. Pence is just another Trump lackey, and Donald barely even acknowledges his, er, apprentice. Besides, how many other candidates turned down the #2 spot on the GOP ticket before Pence signed on? He's as expendable as the red-shirted crew members on the Starship Enterprise. And Donald isn't so much Captain Kirk as Captain Queeg. Call him "Old Orangestain."
1
Fox News has already started to spin a narrative about liberal elitist media bias against their honest and earthy candidate. They use Trump's unpopularity as a stick to whip media pundits who have it in for Great Republican Agendas. They fear Trump, they say on Fox,because he will fight the socialist machine that has destroyed this country. Trump will not drop out! The push to get him out will be used as a weapon to keep him going.
Wishful thinking. That's all I can say after reading this article.
is this for real? in what world would the guy that accepted the vp position (under trump!) in the first place decide to self-sacrifice for the good of the country? pene clearly and deeply disagrees with trump on many issues and still took the gig.
14
Pence replace Trump? No, No, No!
The best outcome for USA is for Trump to loose by a very wide margin. That way the (non Trumpist) people of USA can take pride in the fact that they do *not* live in a racist country.
The best outcome for USA is for Trump to loose by a very wide margin. That way the (non Trumpist) people of USA can take pride in the fact that they do *not* live in a racist country.
This candidate merely reflects the state of the party. Break the mirror; the face remains.
2
Trump will finish the race and the Republicans will have to deal with all the messes left of it. The real test for them will not begin until after November.
3
No, Mike Pence has only one job in this campaign -- as was clear even to an 11-year-old boy: to try to walk back every lunatic utterance that spills uncontrollably out of Donald Tramp's non-stop mouth. That responsibility is Herculean enough. To expect more from him would be plain cruel.
5
"some semblance of intellectual curiosity"--Pence?
Ha, ha, ha. In this, at least, he is Trump's soul mate.
Ha, ha, ha. In this, at least, he is Trump's soul mate.
7
"Mr. Pence must put the country first."
Please tell us the last time a Republican candidate did that.
"Mike Pence did not ask to be put in this position..."
In a way, he did, by accepting the offer to run as the vice president to a flawed and unqualified presidential candidate. Frankly, I think Pence lacks the backbone to do what's right, providing of course that he has a clue about what that means .
Please tell us the last time a Republican candidate did that.
"Mike Pence did not ask to be put in this position..."
In a way, he did, by accepting the offer to run as the vice president to a flawed and unqualified presidential candidate. Frankly, I think Pence lacks the backbone to do what's right, providing of course that he has a clue about what that means .
5
Actually, I suspect a last-minute bait and switch with the Republican nominee would be their best shot at winning at this stage. I seriously hope the Dems have gamed this scenario in depth, and have a backup candidate of their own in the wings. Such is the depth of disaffection for both candidates that anyone vaguely sane looking as the GOP nominee would beat Hillary in a landslide at this stage. I suspect even Mr "low-energy" himself Jeb! would walk it in.
3
It may be time. Mr. Pence is highly regarded and could have an effective influence on Mr. Trump. Unfortunately, Mr. Trump may have become addicted to his adoring crowds at his rallies, and doesn't see that the folks there are just a small part of the country. As is mentioned elsewhere, Mr. Trump could gain the title of loser, a title he used frequently in the Primaries but would likely be devastating if applied to him, especially if it turned out to be a whopper of a loss. He may need a nudge and Mr. Pence could be the individual to do it. Life puts us in awkward situations at times and one certainly doesn't covert Mr. Pence and this task.
If Trump got elected, couldn't the congress impeach him? High crimes and misdemeanors? Intimidation, abuse of authority, conduct unbecoming? Trump checks all of those off his list each day before lunch.
3
Does that mean that any candidate, down in the polls, at any time before the actual election, can choose to withdraw in favor of a more popular candidate that might keep the original candidate's party in power?
And does it also mean that the secondary candidate not only doesn't need to win the primaries, he or she can also shorten the length of time the American public has to scrutinize the new candidate?
Really? This sounds reasonable to you?
And does it also mean that the secondary candidate not only doesn't need to win the primaries, he or she can also shorten the length of time the American public has to scrutinize the new candidate?
Really? This sounds reasonable to you?
2
Trump is right about one thing--the election process is rigged. That's because the primaries, the venue for picking a nominee since the 1968 debacle, are controlled by the extremist zealots of both parties. Trump is the nominee because 14 million or some such number of Republican primary voters preferred him over a huge field that split the vote. It was the perfect, rigged playing field for a reality TV personality who knew how to keep the camera on himself all the time. He shouldn't quit. Yes, it would obviate a humiliating and nearly historic public defeat. But honestly, he's taken us this far down the road, surely now we should all get to watch as a majority of 130 million American voters exclaim in unison, "YOU'RE FIRED!"
1
I wholly agree.
Johnson should have been President in 1961 not JFK.
Pence for President.
Johnson should have been President in 1961 not JFK.
Pence for President.
1
How would DT's 13 million ardent cult followers react ?
Aren't they the people with most of the 300+ million guns?
Aren't they the people with most of the 300+ million guns?
5
"Mike Pence did not ask to be put in this position"? Was he kidnapped and injected with drugs that made him believe that the Republican nominee was really Abraham Lincoln?
3
Yes, that's what we need. Another establishment Republican, a second-stringer to boot.
1
It makes more sense for Pence to withdraw to both humiliate Trump and for Pence's well-being and his place in history. It's nonsense to think that Pence has any sway with the candidate. The only thing that gets through to Trump is his fear of losing and being branded as a loser. Nothing matters more to Trump than his ego. He has learned to take down others to elevate himself. A person IS what they DO. Without the teleprompter, Donald Trump is a bully and always has been. No "reset" is possible when you're 80 years old.
1
Laughable. Like people don't know bait and switch when the see it.
1
All of this now...everyone in the GOP should have solved this ridiculous situation before it occurred but they didn't and are now left with this mess. And now think that Mike Pence can solve your problems....shame on you. You got what you deserved & may get even worse should Trump be elected.
Pence couldn't get his two cents in during 60 Minutes, what makes you think he could persuade the Donald to resign?
And, as a full-blown narcissist, it's not in Trump's DNA to resign. He's in this for the long haul. 'He's right, when everybody else is wrong.'
You say, Mr. Latimer, Mike Pence is in an unenviable position; HOWEVER, if he didn't want the VP position, he should have turned it down. Plenty of other Republicans distanced themselves, he could have also.
And, as a full-blown narcissist, it's not in Trump's DNA to resign. He's in this for the long haul. 'He's right, when everybody else is wrong.'
You say, Mr. Latimer, Mike Pence is in an unenviable position; HOWEVER, if he didn't want the VP position, he should have turned it down. Plenty of other Republicans distanced themselves, he could have also.
2
This isn't funny enough to be satire, but it might be a good scenario for "House of Cards".
1
I applaud Mr. Latimer for speaking out, as other Republicans are doing, to save their party, and in doing so their country. I also agree with all the naysayers who say it is too late. However to know there is a conscience amongst Republicans, and they haven't all lost their minds and souls as I had feared all these months, is a very heartening turn of events.
I have grave doubts Mike Pence would be perceived as saving anything for the GOP. But the fact that it is being considered gives me hope that people will step up - whether their motivation is party or country, from the potentially evil and certainly ridiculous path it is on with Trump at the helm.
I have grave doubts Mike Pence would be perceived as saving anything for the GOP. But the fact that it is being considered gives me hope that people will step up - whether their motivation is party or country, from the potentially evil and certainly ridiculous path it is on with Trump at the helm.
This is the funniest column I've read since Art Buchwald died.
2
Pence has not proven himself a man of reason. Just consider his policies concerning LGBTQ rights and women's reproductive rights. Trump's unfitness to be POTUS is not something that just made itself known. It was well documented by the time Pence accepted Trump's offer. Neither of them are doing what's best for the country or for the GOP. They are thinking only of themselves.
1
So you basically want Pence to stab Trump in the back for the sake of the G.O.P.? I cannot stomach either Trump or Pence, and you Mr. Latimer have put yourself on their level. The two men who might have made some headway in getting Trump to withdraw, Ryan and McConnell have endorsed Trump and stood by him no matter how odious his remarks. Mr. Pence has forsaken his "friend" Senator Cruz for Trump.
The horse has left the barn Mr. Latimer, it is too late to bring him back, and the best thing that can happen for this country is for Hillary Clinton to win by a landslide with coattails long enough to put the Democrats firmly in control of Congress. Then your Party can regroup and examine its soul as to why it ended up with a man as vile as Trump as its standard bearer.
The horse has left the barn Mr. Latimer, it is too late to bring him back, and the best thing that can happen for this country is for Hillary Clinton to win by a landslide with coattails long enough to put the Democrats firmly in control of Congress. Then your Party can regroup and examine its soul as to why it ended up with a man as vile as Trump as its standard bearer.
3
Oh for Pete's sake. Hasn't Latimer been paying attention to The Donald. The system's "rigged", folks, and Trump is putting out the mattress to catch himself when he falls. Once it's obvious to him - another month or so - that he's about to become the "biggest loser", Trump will disown the whole process, tell everyone he was 'disrespected' and go back to Trump Tower. The charade will end with a whimper .... then the RNC will circle the wagons and pick someone equally as sick and unqualified or worse .... might get Cruz after all.
3
This is a desperate fantasy. Mike Pence lost all credibility by agreeing to dance with the devil.
4
Meanwhile over at the Whig party crybaby asks for beets instead of broccoli.
1
This sounds like the script of movies where children murder their parents or siblings to get to the throne.
Republicans have really completely lost their mind.
You must now sleep in the bed you made.
Sweet dreams!
Republicans have really completely lost their mind.
You must now sleep in the bed you made.
Sweet dreams!
4
Mr. Latimer, Pence DID ask to be put in the position. He accepted the VP nomination.
Pence is as scary as Trump; he hides it better, though.
Pence is as scary as Trump; he hides it better, though.
2
Oh no! You Gop'ers don't get off so easy as a politically staged Pence mutiny. Not that it wouldn't be a pleasure to watch from the safety of the Hillary Camp. But it's going to end up even more badly than that I suspect. This, I predict is the GOP actually fracturing in front of our eyes. And more importantly, it will propel the political spectrum to include for the first time, a third party. Unprecedented in our country's history. Libertarian candidate (and my state of NM's former GOP Governor), are, going to split the GOP vote. I liked Gary Johnson when he was Gov here. Our books were in the black, he was pro recreational pot, and seemed to have a good head on his shoulders. This country needs to elect someone who will push for nationally legalized marijuana and hemp. Anyplace I travel to where that is the case, business is just booming! Trump is a megalomaniac, who doesn't understand anything about politics, and even less about business, as after all he has filed for bankruptcy 5 TIMES! Hello???
1
I voted for Donald Trump, and I want Donald Trump as president!! He's exactly what this country needed, unpredictable, loud, unafraid to speak what's on his mind.
Donald, show them who's the boss. Anyone you don't like, fire them!!!
Donald, show them who's the boss. Anyone you don't like, fire them!!!
1
The author was a speechwriter for George W. Bush. I see he has moved up to using 4- and 5-syllable words.
2
Wishful thinking--at best. Besides, Mike Pence is the decor VP. Trump's real VPs are John Miller and John Barren and they are back from investigating President Obama's birth certificate and ready to advise DT. The only problem is that DT is beyond help! This chaos could not have happened to a more deserving party....
2
What drivel.. Pence is a person of no stature: How could he get Trump to step down?
2
We would all love to get out of this nightmare of Trump's candidacy, but if Pence had a shred of decency or intellect, he would never have said yes to being the running mate of this fool in the first place.
2
Trump's been in the casino business, so in that sense we can look at this run as the biggest bet of his life and of his ego. If he wins the election he gets his name immortalized in the pantheon of the few. If he loses, will his image and ego be willing to face that? A question only he can answer, and the rest of us keep pondering it.
1
Mike Pence is a vicious awful man and far worse then Trump. His harsh and cruel anti-abortion law in Indiana led to a woman being sentenced to prison for 20 years for having an abortion. His anti-LGBTQ position led to an outbreak of HIV. His economic policies were terrible. Pence is a close-minded, self-righteous bigot. He's worse than Trump.
3
"Mike Pence did not ask to be put in this position". Um, I'm pretty sure he chose to accept the nomination for Vice President of his own free will. And I'm pretty sure he knew who he was tethering himself too. I believe it is true that a Trump withdrawal in this reality TV campaign of 2016 could scramble the deck at the last minute. But I am quite sure that Mr. Pence is not the candidate to become a last minute savior.
Columnist Latimer's literary agency must specialize in fiction. The likelihood, nay barest possibility of such an event as he lays out, is absolutely preposterous. Much as I wish the Shadow of the Rump had never fallen across this land of ours....this is a ridiculous scenario, good enough perhaps for a Tom Cruise-John Goodman B movie, but with ZERO chance of being more than a pipe dream. Why waste the column inches?? I mean, why not fantasize that Sarah Palin steps forth and repudiates her chosen leader - and thereby gains the lasting respect of a grateful nation? Get a grip!
1
You reap what you sow. You've made your bed for decades now, lie in it and force yourself to love the putrid stench.
1
Mike Pence? Really?
I will believe the former Republican operative who begins an op-ed with a simple admission of guilt. Tell me how you were wrong about how anger and revenge and self-pity are not policy and winning elections is not the same as governing. Tell us how, maybe, just maybe, a functioning government is better than the mess you made. Tell us how you're now ready to stop obstructing and playing to the crowd. Tell us you were wrong. Then I'll listen to what you have to say about the electorate and the candidate you have spent 50 years creating.
2
This is wishful thinking; Mike Pence will do no such thing. Though I have to say, it would be interesting to see something like this happen.
1
"if the party chose him as Mr. Trump’s replacement, and if he managed to receive Mr. Trump’s blessing, Mr. Pence could yet salvage this mess."
Less than 100 days and Mr. Latimer et al. are still saying "If . . ." As if either of those two big caveats are ever going to come true. You may have well asked for a pork-barrel pony from congress.
Less than 100 days and Mr. Latimer et al. are still saying "If . . ." As if either of those two big caveats are ever going to come true. You may have well asked for a pork-barrel pony from congress.
1
I disagree.
Mike Pence was picked to be a loyal lieutenant, not a usurper. That was the deal.
Live by the Trump. Die by the Trump.
You reap what you sow.
The GOP picked this terrible candidate fair and square. He is a fair reflection of their civil war, their nervous breakdown, or both.
Now they have to live with the results.
Good luck with that.
Mike Pence was picked to be a loyal lieutenant, not a usurper. That was the deal.
Live by the Trump. Die by the Trump.
You reap what you sow.
The GOP picked this terrible candidate fair and square. He is a fair reflection of their civil war, their nervous breakdown, or both.
Now they have to live with the results.
Good luck with that.
2
Wow! A commentator who worked for George W. Bush is ultimately calling for Donald Trump to step aside for the good of the country. I guess the old saying of the pot calling the kettle black - applies here.
2
I am so tired of the children in the republican party who pretend to be leaders, inaccurately invoke the name of Abraham Lincoln. There are no leaders in this party. I like Teddy Roosevelt, but none of the powers in the party have a clue. You will lose the election by probably the greatest landslide because you are myopic. Twitch at every failure, every attack, raise the same disproved theories of economics you've been wielding for decades. You have nothing. But you have proved something important. No businessman has an advantage as a leader, and this one, embarrassingly from my home town, has only the substance of a bully. But your party has been dedicated to the playground for most of my life, with a few bright exceptions. Grow up. That would be a start.
3
The face of the Republican Party is Trump. Own it and stop complaining. Your party is a hairs breathe away from the KKK. Time to admit you are a racist.
1
A semblance of intellectual curiosity? You mean like GW Bush? Please....I agree Trump is unfit but your party wrought this on itself over 30 years of spouting divisive venom. Pence is no savior...and his policy positions are odious to boot.
I'm so sorry that Mr. Latimer's political crush on Donald Trump is over, but this dangerous demagogue is his party's nominee. Just because his political defeat in November is becoming more and more certain every day, that doesn't mean that the GOP can change horses in the middle of the race.
The Republican party is a case study of Stockholm Syndrome writ large.
Wow - If this isn't a sign of desperation, what is!
1
"He does not need to take such a drastic action — not yet — but the prospect of his doing so, even if conveyed obliquely, might persuade his running mate to broker a withdrawal."
"If such an outcome were to occur, he would be forever branded, fairly or not, racist, sexist and, worst of all in the Trump lexicon, a historic loser."
Statements like these perfectly illustrate the problem with many Republicans out there who fancy themselves above this mess. Your party's nominee is, to put it bluntly, an unapologetic racist, sexist, and bigot, and he has confirmed that whenever his desperate party members have given him an opportunity to explain how he was misunderstood. He has also overtly challenged the separation of powers on which our government was built precisely to avoid tyranny. In short, he has done nothing to convince you he is not the world's next totalitarian dictator.
So, no, you are wrong when you say someone doesn't have to take drastic action quite yet. It was warranted a long, long time ago, and the fact that you and your Republican friends don't see that is a glaring indictment of your moral direction.
You are also disturbingly tone deaf when you state that "fairly or not" he may be branded a racist and sexist. Seriously, what more are you waiting for him to say before you'll agree that such a charge would be fairly leveled?
"If such an outcome were to occur, he would be forever branded, fairly or not, racist, sexist and, worst of all in the Trump lexicon, a historic loser."
Statements like these perfectly illustrate the problem with many Republicans out there who fancy themselves above this mess. Your party's nominee is, to put it bluntly, an unapologetic racist, sexist, and bigot, and he has confirmed that whenever his desperate party members have given him an opportunity to explain how he was misunderstood. He has also overtly challenged the separation of powers on which our government was built precisely to avoid tyranny. In short, he has done nothing to convince you he is not the world's next totalitarian dictator.
So, no, you are wrong when you say someone doesn't have to take drastic action quite yet. It was warranted a long, long time ago, and the fact that you and your Republican friends don't see that is a glaring indictment of your moral direction.
You are also disturbingly tone deaf when you state that "fairly or not" he may be branded a racist and sexist. Seriously, what more are you waiting for him to say before you'll agree that such a charge would be fairly leveled?
1
Mike pence -- useless, trumpian.
Does anyone imagine that the GOP could field any viable candidate at this point in the game? Asking Mike Pence to step up and pull the trigger that the cowards running the GOP can't or won't is as silly Paul Ryan endorsing their pet lunatic. You can't make this stuff up folks. But again, the real worry is an electorate who would even consider allowing this man to sit behind the same desk as FDR, JFK or even Bush the 1st. Every Republican leader should die of shame for bringing this fiasco on the nation. Patriots indeed.
3
Trump won the nomination fair and square. It is his to lose, which he will- big time. The best thing for the Republicans to do is to wait four years and make sure they have a respectable candidate to run against Hillary who, by then, will be the most unpopular president ever and will be easily defeated.
1
That is all we need. Pence, the fundamentalist, right wing kook in the Oval office. I love watching the implosion of this party.
3
Mike Pence? Thanks, but no thanks.
And please stop referring the the GOP as "the party of Lincoln". The modern Republican party has as much in common with Abraham Lincoln as Silvio Berlusconi has with Julius Caeser. So just stop it.
Try "the party of Nixon", "the party of Reagan", or even "the party of the Bushes". Any of these would be far more accurate. But like it or not, the GOP is in fact, for now at least, "the party of Trump".
And please stop referring the the GOP as "the party of Lincoln". The modern Republican party has as much in common with Abraham Lincoln as Silvio Berlusconi has with Julius Caeser. So just stop it.
Try "the party of Nixon", "the party of Reagan", or even "the party of the Bushes". Any of these would be far more accurate. But like it or not, the GOP is in fact, for now at least, "the party of Trump".
1
An "accomplished businessman"? You have to be joking!
Mr. Latimer - If you truly think that Mike Pence has a lick of sense & honor, you owe it to yourself to google, as follows: "Mike Pence" + "Shorja market" + "Baghdad" + "2007".
You will see numerous accounts that reported the sham that Mike Pence proudly participated in, following around John McCain in a stunt at a well-known Baghdad market in an absurd attempt to portray the sectarian violence had been tamed, which of course, was a lie. At the staged event, McCain and Pence were wearing flack jackets, were guarded by 50 heavily armed military personnel, and protected overhead by helicopters.
There were no Baghdad shoppers at the market - the whole sordid event was staged by the military with the visiting American politicians for the press. Pence equated the outing at the Shorja market to "a typical outdoor Hoosier market in the summer".
Days later, McCain apologized for the ruse; Pence did not.
Mike Pence is a shameless, bible-thumping phony. You're targeting the wrong politician if you're looking for someone with honor. Pence has no clue as to what "country first" means, and no interest in the concept.
You will see numerous accounts that reported the sham that Mike Pence proudly participated in, following around John McCain in a stunt at a well-known Baghdad market in an absurd attempt to portray the sectarian violence had been tamed, which of course, was a lie. At the staged event, McCain and Pence were wearing flack jackets, were guarded by 50 heavily armed military personnel, and protected overhead by helicopters.
There were no Baghdad shoppers at the market - the whole sordid event was staged by the military with the visiting American politicians for the press. Pence equated the outing at the Shorja market to "a typical outdoor Hoosier market in the summer".
Days later, McCain apologized for the ruse; Pence did not.
Mike Pence is a shameless, bible-thumping phony. You're targeting the wrong politician if you're looking for someone with honor. Pence has no clue as to what "country first" means, and no interest in the concept.
1
"Mike Pence did not ask to be put in this position." Well, yes, actually he did. He knew what he was signing up for. And Mr. Pence must know what Mr. Latimer won't face: if Pence (or anybody else) asked Trump to drop out, Trump would refuse.
What a remarkably twisted view Mr. Latimer presents. His analysis is excellent, yet he still manages to twist it to unsupportable conclusions. This is not putting "country first." It's my party uber alles.
If Mr. Latimer truly wants to put his country first, he should give up these mental gymnastics and support Hillary Clinton.
If Mr. Latimer truly wants to put his country first, he should give up these mental gymnastics and support Hillary Clinton.
Good luck with that.
I can't see Trump withdrawing for starters--he wouldn't be able to claim that the election was rigged. And he cares not for his party -- or his country -- so much. He cares only for Mr. Trump. And as for Pence...who said he would be the heir apparent? There is a long line of them waiting .... or have you forgotten the primary season....
I can't see Trump withdrawing for starters--he wouldn't be able to claim that the election was rigged. And he cares not for his party -- or his country -- so much. He cares only for Mr. Trump. And as for Pence...who said he would be the heir apparent? There is a long line of them waiting .... or have you forgotten the primary season....
Trading one kind of bigoted blowhard for another is hardly for "the good of the country." Pence may be a better political operator, but he's anything but Presidential material.
60
You have tried every which way to dethrone Trump -- from Khanning him at the DNC convention, to conning him with false narratives.
You want Pence to ignore 13,300,472 primary voters and do a Brutus on Trump now ? Shame on you.
You want Pence to ignore 13,300,472 primary voters and do a Brutus on Trump now ? Shame on you.
7
By all means, let's let "Period Pence" try his hand with the ladies. Trump might be a phony conservative and a proto-fascist rabble-rouser with a crippling case of narcissistic grandiosity, but Pence has a record. He is a proven hardline misogynistic social conservative of the exact type who should go down in flames in a 2016 general election.
1
Where do you people, corrupt pro Clinton media get the nerve to even entertain such a preposterous notion?
It is pitiable that you interfere with a democratic process.
If the Republicans were behind him, Hillary would have zero chance.
Rattan
It is pitiable that you interfere with a democratic process.
If the Republicans were behind him, Hillary would have zero chance.
Rattan
Intriguing idea, and it probably workable, but nothing that I know about Mike Pence tells me that he would put the country first in this manner. The kinds of Republicans that think of country before self have either 1) left the party years ago, or 2) already repudiated Mr. Trump.
Susan Collins just bailed on Trump.
it's going to be down to Trump and his toadies ... and the angry white loser GOP base.
it's going to be down to Trump and his toadies ... and the angry white loser GOP base.
I've seen things thee cannot imagine
A leg lost for a gold coin
it seemed crazy, though simple
It held together man's genome
That crazy X marked the spot
And led to a lot
A rampage over a world,
its' creatures subdued, but the one.
One still drags knuckles, small hands and all
Bellows, claws above all
And says. "Don't dare to take it from me."
Or no one will be free.
Skepticks pooh-pooh, not here they say,
It's been said before,
On different days.
And fascism always wins in the short term. Unlike the good prople, they love to kill.
A leg lost for a gold coin
it seemed crazy, though simple
It held together man's genome
That crazy X marked the spot
And led to a lot
A rampage over a world,
its' creatures subdued, but the one.
One still drags knuckles, small hands and all
Bellows, claws above all
And says. "Don't dare to take it from me."
Or no one will be free.
Skepticks pooh-pooh, not here they say,
It's been said before,
On different days.
And fascism always wins in the short term. Unlike the good prople, they love to kill.
I am a liberal who feels that Trump should not withdraw. You Republicans need to live with the candidate who articulates all of the things that you Republicans believe and speak about when you are behind closed doors. What you find to be offensive is that he says these things to the public. His offence is not hiding what you really believe. You Republicans have lived for decades on the strategy of using identity politics to lull gullible citizens to vote against their interests, and by so doing, support the oligarchs that fund you Republicans.
Most recent example: The North Carolina bathroom bill. It wasn't about bathroom access. It was about restricting city based minimum wage bills that your oligarch supporters didn't want.
It is time that you face the consequences of having a candidate who says what you Republicans actually think.
Most recent example: The North Carolina bathroom bill. It wasn't about bathroom access. It was about restricting city based minimum wage bills that your oligarch supporters didn't want.
It is time that you face the consequences of having a candidate who says what you Republicans actually think.
76
Trump isn't the Titanic. He's the tip of the rancid iceberg called the GOP
1
Let's see... Matt Latimer found Trump's attack on the established order "appealing at times, even entertaining," Even entertaining! Now there's an endorsement. If Trump is elected, says Mr. Lattimer, "it is not clear Mr. Trump will be able to master or enjoy the position." Mr. Trump might not enjoy the position. Now there's a consideration to keep the nation awake at night. And if Trump loses, "he would be forever branded, fairly or not, racist, sexist and, worst of all in the Trump lexicon, a historic loser." Fairly or not? What jury is still out on the charges of racism and sexism? Trump's campaign has been sheer hubris--or should I just say chutzpah?--from the moment of his historic descent down the escalator. Who in the history of this country has ever more richly* deserved to lose? *(No pun intended, at least not until we see the tax returns.)
1
Nice fantasy piece.
But would DJT really go down without a fight?
Clearly there is more to gain in sticking it out.
Can you imagine the response of the Donald?
... "Mike Pence asked me to step aside yesterday"
Mike , my response is... hell no I won't go!"
Crowd roars.
Donald pulls Pence"s dismembered head from the basket adjacent to the podium and displays it to the crowd in triumphant glee.
"What, no answer Mike? You're not worth a farthing now, Pence"
Raucous laughter and jeers from the crowd.
" I don't need no running mate. I am the savior of this nation! Rats will be exterminated! All hail Trump, the king!"
Overall Matt, A real good idea.
But would DJT really go down without a fight?
Clearly there is more to gain in sticking it out.
Can you imagine the response of the Donald?
... "Mike Pence asked me to step aside yesterday"
Mike , my response is... hell no I won't go!"
Crowd roars.
Donald pulls Pence"s dismembered head from the basket adjacent to the podium and displays it to the crowd in triumphant glee.
"What, no answer Mike? You're not worth a farthing now, Pence"
Raucous laughter and jeers from the crowd.
" I don't need no running mate. I am the savior of this nation! Rats will be exterminated! All hail Trump, the king!"
Overall Matt, A real good idea.
Ah, the irony! Mike Pence telling The Donald, "You're Fired." Trump is a very troubled man with a severe personality disorder that, if we adhered to mental health qualifications as we do for physical health, would disqualify him. But, the only real chance that Trump would withdraw is for his immediate family to confront him and urge him to do so. Anything, else is just the same type of grandiose thinking that is a central part of Trump's narcissistic personality.
1
Why would Spence want Trump to withdraw? Hasn't Trump told Spence that if he, Trump, is elected president, then Vice President Spence would run the government, a la a prime minister, and Trump would get to play Queen of the USA--do all the ceremonial stuff, vacation at the presidential retreats, etc.
Besides, Spence doesn't have another job to go home to.
Besides, Spence doesn't have another job to go home to.
What can Pence do? Put LSD in Trump's coffee? Lash him to a melting ice floe? Nice sentiments; but Trump is a narcissist and defiant/aggressive type who won't go away - especially if that's what the party leaders want him to do.
The great dealmaker might withdraw for a few billion dollars.
Huh
I have seen every thing now, I am not a Trump supporter and will not vote for him but this article is at best an example of what is wrong with the NY times.
You actually publish this nonsense. Mr. Latimer wrote a book and anyone reading this article should consider reading that piece of nonsense. Just to see
what it takes to be publish on the opinion page of the NY Times. His boss William McGurn question his motives as I do.
Mr. Trump is the Republican nominee elected by a majority of there voters, and some one who brought in large numbers of votes. I like the NY times am nervous about him and shudder should he get elected, but no more than I did with GW Bush. The times has been on the Hilary band Wagon and is clearly in her corner. That does not justify poor journalism or supporting the overthrow of a duel elected nominee of the Republican party.
Chuck From Ohio
I have seen every thing now, I am not a Trump supporter and will not vote for him but this article is at best an example of what is wrong with the NY times.
You actually publish this nonsense. Mr. Latimer wrote a book and anyone reading this article should consider reading that piece of nonsense. Just to see
what it takes to be publish on the opinion page of the NY Times. His boss William McGurn question his motives as I do.
Mr. Trump is the Republican nominee elected by a majority of there voters, and some one who brought in large numbers of votes. I like the NY times am nervous about him and shudder should he get elected, but no more than I did with GW Bush. The times has been on the Hilary band Wagon and is clearly in her corner. That does not justify poor journalism or supporting the overthrow of a duel elected nominee of the Republican party.
Chuck From Ohio
One point not raised in the op-ed is the offer made to Kasich to be the "most powerful vice president in history -- putting him in charge of all domestic and foreign policy" per CNN which Kasich confirmed to Jake Tapper. Why wouldn't Trump have made the same offer to Pence? How might this affect Pence's motives and decisions related to saving the Republican Party or the American people from President Donald Trump?
Like it or not, Republicans have spoken and the GOP has to obey its own rules. Neither Trump nor Hillary are getting my vote this year - the Libertarian ticket looks just fine.
Mr. Latimer, you are as delusional as Trump if you believe Mike Pence would ask Trump to step aside. Pence knew exactly who he was agreeing to run with--Trump has shown all of us who he is for decades, and shown us who he would be as president over the last never-ending Year of Trump. Indeed, Trump-hater that I am, I think it would be dishonorable on the part of Pence, who literally jumped at Trump's invitation to join his ticket, to be "the one" to ask Trump to step down. Pence, and all other Republicans, have had their chance for a year. More to the point, Trump will NEVER drop out. He's in it for the fight. When asked if he would be President if it were just handed to him--if he could be appointed--he said (paraphrasing) No, the fighting for it and winning it is what he craves. And, dropping out would make him that ever-dreaded LOSER. Finally, as we heard at the end of Trump's very bad, horrible week, he decided to cover his bases by announcing "the election is rigged", so if he loses it's because he's been robbed of his rightful presidential crown. (Of course if he wins, it'll be a different story.)
None of the other Republican primary contenders came close to beating Trump. He won. Period.
Overturn the will of the GOP electorate, and get away with it? The Republican elites are showing their true selves when they suggest this.
The GOP made its bed, and now it's going to lie in it -- no matter which candidate wins the presidency.
Overturn the will of the GOP electorate, and get away with it? The Republican elites are showing their true selves when they suggest this.
The GOP made its bed, and now it's going to lie in it -- no matter which candidate wins the presidency.
Too funny! What do you suppose Trump would do if Pence tried to get him to withdraw from the race? My guess is that Trump would explode. Like 50 pounds of TNT compared to the itty-bitty fire cracker in the Khan episode.
1
The only thing Trump is successful at is branding his name. If he drops out the name is tarnished. It will never happen.
He's better off losing by a landslide, where he can claim racial purity, or simply the one who speaks what everyone thinks. He may lose big, but he won't lose everything. He can claim he was the purest of Republicans. More tax cuts for the rich! Feel the trickle down.
He's better off losing by a landslide, where he can claim racial purity, or simply the one who speaks what everyone thinks. He may lose big, but he won't lose everything. He can claim he was the purest of Republicans. More tax cuts for the rich! Feel the trickle down.
1
Um, Pence very much asked to be put on this position. Live by the sword, die by the sword.
Good luck with that.
1
How about if Pence convinces Trump to withdraw, and then withdraws himself? That seems like a pretty good solution.
Give me a break! When have you ever seen a con man leaving the game he thinks he is winning? In addition, he is also a narcissist that enjoys the screaming crowds and seeing his face on tv, newspapers and magazines over and over again. Trump will never quit and I don't believe he will lose gracefully. He will incite his followers by claiming a rigged election, in fact he already has, and I just hope there isn't any violence created by his lack of consideration for the public good.
2
Trump took Pence as a way into the Koch brothers' pockets. There is no way for Pence to have any pull in this campaign. None.
In late September or early October when it becomes totally obvious that The Donald is behind by the biggest margin in history, he will find a pretext to leave the "rigged election" he has been talking about for the last few weeks. Let's hope that his intention isn't to become President for Life though some "non-electoral" method. I'm sure many of his supporter would be up for it.
1
If Pence were a person who put his country ahead of party or personal ambition, he would never have accepted Trump's offer of running on the ticket. The time to get republicans to stop being cowards was at the convention, not now. Trump is an apt representative of what the republican party has become, as this paper has documented.
3
This is a remarkable challenge set out to Mr. Pence, a die-hard conservative who showed a soft place in his heart when an AIDS outbreak in his state make him reverse his opposition to needle-sharing programs.
If Pence chose to follow Mr. Latimer's plan, could Mr. Trump just dump Pence and make a new pick of a more compliant VP candidate?
Given this risk, Pence would have to choose country over a personal commitment, and it seems unlikely that he will do this. One wonders, though, how Pence, day after day, can stomach the racism and bigotry that Trump keeps emitting. Does Pence really believe all of it? How many American and Judeo-Christian values will Trump have to violate in order for Pence to return to his senses? Has Pence also no decency?
If Pence chose to follow Mr. Latimer's plan, could Mr. Trump just dump Pence and make a new pick of a more compliant VP candidate?
Given this risk, Pence would have to choose country over a personal commitment, and it seems unlikely that he will do this. One wonders, though, how Pence, day after day, can stomach the racism and bigotry that Trump keeps emitting. Does Pence really believe all of it? How many American and Judeo-Christian values will Trump have to violate in order for Pence to return to his senses? Has Pence also no decency?
Sorry Mr. Latimer not Mike Pence. You have work Closely with President Bush, Donald Rumsfeld, Mitch McConnell, and Paul Ryan is your Friend. This is a terrible idea. Your conservative comrades have just about ruined this country.
3
Thanks Matt, I needed a good laugh. Mike Pence was not picked for his courage, and Donald Trump is not likely to listen to anyone else. No Matt, I'm sorry, you get another 90 days of Donald Trump, who is determined to lose big, rather than small.
2
While I wonder if Donald Trump fully appreciates what it means to be President, I doubt that at this stage he would drop out in this manner. We may see Gov. Pence drop out before anything. I have often thought the "other shoe will drop" in the Trump campaign. However, it has been like Imelda Marcos' closet dropping from the sky. Trump cannot help himself.
Trump is going to dump Trump. Once the magnitude of the beating he is going to take dawns on him, he will flee.
Two questions:
What if what is good for the Republican Party is directly opposed to what is good for our county?
Is there a senior level Republican with the nuances listed in this article that are needed to be our President?
What if what is good for the Republican Party is directly opposed to what is good for our county?
Is there a senior level Republican with the nuances listed in this article that are needed to be our President?
Difficult to take seriously someone who still refers to the Republican Party as the party of Lincoln given that the Republicans have followed a racist "Southern strategy" since the time of Dick Nixon.
3
Why would the likely winner in November withdraw? Who is this guy Latimer? Why would the NYT publish such nonsense? Do people think that the NYT may be highly biased against Trump? These insiders just can't stand the fact that they are "OUT"!!
1
I'll just bet Pence is hanging on every word from a guy who wrote speeches for Bush. You and yours are out, Latimer, and it's about time. Join the others and just start openly campaigning for Hillary while the adults in this country go about electing someone who will finally put the likes of you on history's trash heap, where you belong. I'm not sure which I'll enjoy more: watching the Clinton dynasty crash and burn one final time or crony capitalists like you rot like last month's tomatoes.
If Trump bows out now he will be branded, fairly, as a historic loser who won a plurality of the Republican base through racist, sexist, and xenophobic attacks, then turned tail before he had to face the voters. Given that his entire appeal is that he is a non-politician bucking the rigged system and the elites, it is the height of magical thinking to suppose that the "Trump Coalition" will welcome Mike Pence as their new figurehead.
I think TV's Seth Meyers had a more plausible solution. In exchange for dropping out of the race, NBC would give Trump his own TV show in which Trump plays the role of US President. He'd be able to wield power as he wishes, with scriptwriters making sure that pesky obstacles like Congress, the press and the Constitution bend to his will.
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Come on, you're whistling in the wind. Anyone who would consider being the running mate of that GOP nominee for president has forever tarnished what little reputation for decency he might have had. NOW you're expecting him to persuade that GOP nominee to withdraw? WHAT makes you think he would or even should do that? Are you suggesting that the last 13 months weren't REALLY "real" and now, only after this particularly grotesque week, someone should have a sudden epiphany? Ridiculous. You're looking for "decency" in ALL THE WRONG PLACES, my friend.
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Mr Lattimer. You are suggesting the American public allow an incredible "bait and switch" that would avoid penalizing the Republican Party for allowing conditions in the country to deteriorate to the point of nominating the Orange Catastrophy. It's a slick way to get a victory for the Republican Establishment. It's also totally transparent.
Neither the democrats nor the old school republicans understand Trump. if I was Clinton I would create one ad with Trump mocking the disabled, insulting a woman because she menstruates, insulting a tortured war veteran, insulting the parents of a deceased marine, insulting a woman who took a bath room break, insulting a woman who breast fed + his famous quote about dating his daughter + how he hopes his other infant daughter will have big boobs.
Then never respond to anything he ever says [because he is a grade A idiot - responding to him legitimizes him] but play this 15s video just before every time she speaks, while never ever mentioning him in what she says.
A huge chunk of republicans you will never get, but with this repeated video you will get a lot of honourable people to stay at home. the same video must be repeated endlessly, because the repetition of his words will convince those who do not like horrible people, and will put his horrible hard core on the back foot.
In sum: Ignore whatever he says. 20 times a day remind decent people that he is a foul creature.
Simple. But all the operatives are intellectuals and wonks and so don't get it.
Then never respond to anything he ever says [because he is a grade A idiot - responding to him legitimizes him] but play this 15s video just before every time she speaks, while never ever mentioning him in what she says.
A huge chunk of republicans you will never get, but with this repeated video you will get a lot of honourable people to stay at home. the same video must be repeated endlessly, because the repetition of his words will convince those who do not like horrible people, and will put his horrible hard core on the back foot.
In sum: Ignore whatever he says. 20 times a day remind decent people that he is a foul creature.
Simple. But all the operatives are intellectuals and wonks and so don't get it.
The GOP need to face it, this rrain wreck belongs to them as it's there making. All the rest of it is just background noise.
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This is great--thanks for the laugh!
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You do realize Pence was about to lose his reelection bid for governor of deep red Indiana to a Democrat, right?
"If Mr. Pence truly believes Mr. Trump will be a capable president, then he should do nothing."
"If Mr. Pence truly believes Mr. Trump will be a capable president, then he should be committed to an insane asylum.
"If Mr. Pence truly believes Mr. Trump will be a capable president, then he should be committed to an insane asylum.
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The author's ability to fantasize is without limit. He's writing about a man (Pence) who sold his soul to the devil. Republicans got what they wanted. My Indiana relatives are so happy that he will no longer be their governor.
Ted Cruz legitimately won the second place in the primaries......
It is not as if Trump IS President and his Vice President takes over the
top spot.....Pence is the VP nominee not the VP.
the guy that gets up to the plate is Cruz.....
Also, unworthy of the office....
It is not as if Trump IS President and his Vice President takes over the
top spot.....Pence is the VP nominee not the VP.
the guy that gets up to the plate is Cruz.....
Also, unworthy of the office....
Good luck with that. Your own words, Trump "appears constitutionally incapable of letting any slight go unchallenged". Do you really think if Pence threatens to resign that the leopard will change his spots?
Were Trump gone, I'd nominate Sopranos consigliere Silvio Dante for prez. "Just when I tought I was out...dey pull me back in." Infinitely more respectable.
Before Mr. Pence decides to overthrow Mr. Trump, perhaps he will want to go home and pray on it.
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Pence won't have to do a thing... trust me. Trump will fall face down into a Whopper with double cheese very soon.
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Are you completely insane?
Someone who didn't even run in the primaries when 17 others did, who was appointed by a nut largely because few others wanted the post, and who himself was probably going to lose his effort to retain the Governorship in a Republican leaning state?! This is the person with the political efficacy to represent one of our two parties as candidate for Presidency?!
Find someone else, perhaps Scott Baio.
Someone who didn't even run in the primaries when 17 others did, who was appointed by a nut largely because few others wanted the post, and who himself was probably going to lose his effort to retain the Governorship in a Republican leaning state?! This is the person with the political efficacy to represent one of our two parties as candidate for Presidency?!
Find someone else, perhaps Scott Baio.
It was very clear that the Trump candidacy is about unleashing the ugly "plurality" in the Reublican party long before Pence ever joined. He knew exactly what he was signing onto, so why would he pull an about-face now? There is a very good reason why next to no significant Republican figure has wholly and unreservedly repudiated Trump: they all still hope he wins. All the hand-wringing and public conscience-racking by the bad faith contingent that doesn't have the constitution for the new phase of havoc-mongering the party's long term divide-and-conquer strategy has now entered is not fooling anyone. Matt Latimer, David Brooks and their disingenuous ilk need to go home and take a good, long look in the mirror. What you see there, gentleman, will be a Republican. And Donald Trump is your candidate.
Mike Pence sacrificing his 15 minutes of fame? Please. When Trump goes down in flames, Pence will be able to convince some—at least himself—that he would be a viable candidate for the future. The Republican Titanic is sinking. The rest is a scramble for deck chairs. As for somebody taking Donald Trump out of the race, nobody would be nearly as effective as Donald Trump.
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What on earth makes anyone think the sociopathic narcissist Trump will withdraw? Pence means nothing to him; it's obvious. He does not listen to Pence now and won't ever. GOPs are tied to Trump all the way to the end. And it's their own fault. And the future of America is not in Pence's hands; soon enough, it will be in HiIlary Clinton's.
2
Pence, the guy who lets people contract HIV because fundamentally he judges them immoral. The guy who supports denying LGBT folk access to goods and services because, gee, they are immoral too. The guy who denies women the right to chose and to have control over their own bodies, who puts women in jail for having been subject to a natural physical event (is it 1/4-1/3 of all pregnancies that end in miscarriage or stillbirth?) because, hey, women are (wink, wink) immoral.
Yeah, that's a good idea. Run Pence as a way out of the mess Republicans created for themselves. I'm not holding my breath waiting for the GOP to take full responsibility for what they have wrought. It's not in their nature. So scapegoat Pence (who of course will take tons of votes away from Hillary in some alternate universe) and what will Donald do? And his supporters? The ones with all the guns? And what will you do with Donald? Gag him and roll him up in a rug and spirit him away? I'm guessing you think Pence would work for the GOP because you worked for the Cheney...er...Dubya administration. You have the wrong idea of the power of a VP.
It isn't Mike Pence who should get Donald to withdraw. If you want him to withdraw, the whole Party should together push him out. And Mike Pence was not intelligent enough to refuse the nomination, so he really wouldn't be any kind of replacement candidate. But I suppose you need some kind of name on the ballot. How about Oil Can Harry? He has yuge appeal!
Yeah, that's a good idea. Run Pence as a way out of the mess Republicans created for themselves. I'm not holding my breath waiting for the GOP to take full responsibility for what they have wrought. It's not in their nature. So scapegoat Pence (who of course will take tons of votes away from Hillary in some alternate universe) and what will Donald do? And his supporters? The ones with all the guns? And what will you do with Donald? Gag him and roll him up in a rug and spirit him away? I'm guessing you think Pence would work for the GOP because you worked for the Cheney...er...Dubya administration. You have the wrong idea of the power of a VP.
It isn't Mike Pence who should get Donald to withdraw. If you want him to withdraw, the whole Party should together push him out. And Mike Pence was not intelligent enough to refuse the nomination, so he really wouldn't be any kind of replacement candidate. But I suppose you need some kind of name on the ballot. How about Oil Can Harry? He has yuge appeal!
1
Psychopaths only commit suicide AFTER the hordes have breached the gates of Berlin and turned it to rubble, not before, however bleak the outlook. Up till then, they blame their subordinates and the German people. If Goebbels had offered his sword for Hitler to fall on, Hitler would have had him shot -- or hung from piano wire in the Gestapo basement.
Mike Pence is only marginally more palatable than Donald Trump. Or Ted Cruz. If you really want to save your party, you will need to throw over your right-wing Tea Party phony patriots and religious zealots. I have split my ticket many, many times... but wouldn't vote for any recent Republican. You are on the wrong side of history, my friend.
3
All Republicans, voters, office holders and candidates, as citizens of America, should renounce this abomination named Trump, who has bullied his way to front of the pack for the GOP canidancy for POTUS. It is inconcievable that anyone who has read and even marginally understands the founding documents of our country can honesty vote for a person who has no concept our country's bedrock principles.
1
"...Mr. Trump, an accomplished businessman..."
Multiple bankruptcies, unpaid subcontractors, 3,500 lawsuits, multiple bailouts by his daddy...
Multiple bankruptcies, unpaid subcontractors, 3,500 lawsuits, multiple bailouts by his daddy...
4
What about the Republican Party itself? It has failed the country by obstructing government and undermining a president who was elected during a time of national peril. The Republican Party is responsible for the Trump debacle and should own up to it.
3
"Mr. Pence must put the country first." Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha! Hoo boy, that's a good one! The satire just keeps getting more and more biting.
3
"Mike Pence did not ask to be put in this position."
Really?? Mr. Pence did not ask to be put in this position and he should now put his country first?
The Republican delusion continues.
Pence AGREED to be Trump's running mate. No one "put" him in this position but himself. Also, what has he suddenly learnt in the 2 weeks since the convention (that the rest of us already didn't know) that will make him "put his country first"?
Really?? Mr. Pence did not ask to be put in this position and he should now put his country first?
The Republican delusion continues.
Pence AGREED to be Trump's running mate. No one "put" him in this position but himself. Also, what has he suddenly learnt in the 2 weeks since the convention (that the rest of us already didn't know) that will make him "put his country first"?
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As far as I am concerned, Pence is also a danger to our nation. Anyone who wishes to remove science from the classroom, and replace it with creationalism has a closed, ignorant mind, and would lead this nation on a perilous path.
Keep the GOP ticket the way it is, and the good sensible sane people of this country will send the GOP ticket off to Hades where it belongs.
Keep the GOP ticket the way it is, and the good sensible sane people of this country will send the GOP ticket off to Hades where it belongs.
1
If I was Pence I would drop out of the campaign and save my political career.
1
Mr. Latimer is not asking Mr. Pence to put the country above Mr. Trump, but the Republican Party above Mr. Trump. At the moment it seems unlikely that Mr. Trump will be elected. The real danger Mr. Trump poses is to the Republican hold on Congress, and perhaps to the party itself. As a Democrat who loves his country, I would prefer that Mr. Trump not be the candidate. But if as seems likely he is the candidate, and the Republican Party suffers enormous losses, I will not be sorry.
1
Why trust the party who has done every underhanded, dirty, and despicable trick known to man since 1992 to get back to the WH?
This is one of the silliest, un-serious pieces I've read in the Times in a long time. Pence--someone who didn't run in the primaries, hardly anybody outside Indiana really knows at all, who isn't especially well regarded in his own state--is going to somehow unite the GOP and perform better than Trump in November in a national election? And before he can do that, Latimer thinks Pence can talk the biggest ego-maniac outside of Moscow into voluntarily stepping down as nominee? Trump wasn't especially excited to select Pence in the first place! He wouldn't think twice about accepting Pence's resignation and selecting someone else. Trump loves the attention and the feeding frenzy such events would create in the media.
3
This scenario depends on Trump caring about anything other than his own aggrandizement. Which he doesn't.
1
Far more likely that Trump will "fire" Pence and re-brand with a military man as his new VP pick. Any excuse for the move will do - "low energy" or "little Pence" or "look at that face!" or "lyin' Pence" - any of the phrases Trump threw wildly at the other GOP contenders will do, just so the divorce is sudden and final. As Trump drops in the polls, he has to blame somebody, and Pence is as good a target as Jeb, Marco, Carly and Ted were.
1
If Pence truly believes Trump would a capable president, Pence should resign.
1
Mr. Latimer's argument makes the fatal assumption that Mr. Trump is a rational thinker.
32
....and shortly thereafter, Pence should withdraw too.
1
Mike Pence was about to lose the governor's house in Indiana after one year. He was the only person who would take Trump's offer. He is a weasel - a born again Christian supporting Donald Trump of all people. He is in no way ready to lead the country. I mean it! He would be a disaster.
1
This sounds very similar to a lot of pieces I've read saying that Hillary should step aside for Bernie. Logical arguments perhaps, but as we've seen logic has zero value these days.
Only a Republican in 2016 could come up with this hairbrained half-idea.
The Times should stop publishing this nonsense. Report the facts. They speak for themselves.
The Times should stop publishing this nonsense. Report the facts. They speak for themselves.
3
Ah! I see we're at the bargaining stage in the agonizing GOP death spiral. Good. It figures that this bizarre fantasy should come from a wordsmith in the employ of George W. Bush.
How pathetics it all is.
How pathetics it all is.
I'm sorry, but according to my religious beliefs the Republican party should be forced to carry this campaign to term.
5
Right, I'm sure Republicans won't have a problem with handing the nomination to someone who didn't win one delegate let alone one vote in the primaries. In a year marked by anti-establishment sentiment, naming Pence reeks of the ultimate rigging of the game by insiders.
Latimer is just another GOP insider rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic, which is all they have been doing since Trump announced. There is not enough of the GOP left to ever win a presidential election again in our lifetimes. Trump was the most unifying candidate the GOP had this year, and he's falling like a lead balloon.
Mr. Latimer, it makes more sense just to disband the GOP. There is no one you can turn to who will not disgrace the party in this election. Disbanding the GOP is the most effective way for you and your brethren to disassociate yourselves from Trump.
Mr. Latimer, it makes more sense just to disband the GOP. There is no one you can turn to who will not disgrace the party in this election. Disbanding the GOP is the most effective way for you and your brethren to disassociate yourselves from Trump.
The ol' bait-bait-and-switch, eh?
1
Mr. Latimer, you are delusional. Governor Pence signed on for this job. If he believes that Mr. Trump is capable, he too is delusional.
1
This is a joke, right? Or just another example of the lunacy coming out of the Republican party. The Republicans have held their primaries and their convention. Their constituency has spoken. There are no do overs. They're all nuts, and Trump isn't the worst of them.
1
I think the New York Times would better serve our collective national interests by investigating why so many people want Trump to be president, and send those articles over to the Clinton camp.
Mr. Latimer's suggestion is a desperate gesture.
Mr. Latimer's suggestion is a desperate gesture.
1
Why is Trump referred to as an "accomplished businessman" in this piece? Multiple bankruptcies, failing to pay contractors, fraudulent endeavors such as "Trump U," etc. And he won't release his tax returns, so we don't really know what he's worth. Something tells me maybe it doesn't look great on paper!
2