Trump's List of VP Picks - Corker, Christie, Ernst, Fallon, Gingrich, Pence, Sessions - WHAT DO YOU THINK? Thumbs up or down???

Corker is a Banker puppet insider. NO

That's my sense as well. Any thoughts about any of the others?

We already know Christie and Gingrich are not suitable. Gingrich is drooling over the prospect of being a heartbeat away from the Presidency. He is an opportunist, loves power.

Most everybody here seems to like Sessions, so he gets a thumbs up from me, too. I haven't heard anything bad about him, so he must be the best of the list.

Sessions and Ernst are the only good ones.

So you like Ernst? That's reassuring, I would like to see him pick a woman to go at Hillary. Can you tell us anything in particular you like about her?

So we understand that Trump may soon be announcing his VP pick and frankly, I don't think the field is that impressive, with the exception of Sessions. Maybe I just don't know enough about the others to comment adequately so please fill in the blanks for us with what you know about some of these governors!

Senator Bob Corker, Tenn - Helped Obama with the Iran deal. That's all I need to know.

Gov Chris Christie, NJ - Obama hugging liberal, but smart and sharp prosecutor. Not a great choice but I can live with him.

Sen. Joni Ernst, Iowa - Don't really know anything about her.

Gov. Mary Fallin, Oklahoma - Ditto, except she stopped some abortion legislation

Newt Gingrich - Smart guy but ridden with heavy baggage, older than Trump, and real Establishment guy

Gov. Mike Pence - Indiana - Don't know too much about him.

Sen. Jeff Sessions, Alabama - Everyone's favorite I think, esp about immigration.


I think that's the whole list at this point. I think his best pic in general would be a woman to openly attack Clinton and possibly Warren if she runs, but I don't know if either of these two is up for the job. I desperately hope he doesn't pick Gingrich - or Corker.

So what do you folks think? Please give any info you have about these pics - or if there's anyone you might realistically recommend. You never know who might be reading.....

I heard on our local news that Paul Manafort wants Pence. Sessions is also my first choice, but I don't have a problem with Pence. My mom knew him when she worked at the County Government Center. Many of Pence's views are similar to Trump's. [link to en.wikipedia.org (secure)]

Where did that list come from?

he should pick a woman

Col Alan West ?

Does Pence bring anything besides similar views - I mean a political advantage?

That's my sense as well. Any thoughts about any of the others?

Bump for visibility

Pam Bondi. A tough cookie Florida Attorney-General. Critically important swing-state Florida. Endorsed Trump, resisting pressure from GOP big-wigs to ditch her friendship with him.

Too bad Pam Bondi doesn't have a hispanic-sounding last name or at least a hispanic husband.

And unlike Sarah Palin, whom Katie Couric and the media turned into a big caricature liability for McCain in 2008... Pam Bondi can appeal to mainstream, moderate WOMEN voters, as well as making Undecided male voters horny.

Sure ideally, Trump needs someone from inside Washington to help him govern. But guess what? If Donald loses the election, it's all for nothing, anyway! That's why hee needs a risky Home-Run pick as a VP. Someone to excite and attract the mainstream majority of voters.

In other words: Newt Gingrich may have a wealth of Washington experience, but most people are repulsed by another fat, old White Guy (who dumped his wife when she got sick with cancer -- the media will spin it so that most American females are repulsed by Newt)

I like Chris Christie - even his "divinely-inspired" name sounds so close to Jesus Christ, so as it bring out evangelicals. But Christie is 5 years past his prime politically. His Bridgegate scandal hanging over his head. Just not appealing to Democratic voting females.

Gen. David Petraeus, both as a military commander and then CIA director, is a world-famous authority on terror and counter-insurgency -- which will become a huge issue in future elections. But Obama operatives destroyed General Petraeus because they knew he would be formidable opponent as a Republican VP in 2012 or 2016. Very shrewd, ruthless move by Obama. So DP is not an option for Trump anymore.

Gen. Stanley MacCrystal - see Patreaus. He doesn't seem to be interested in politics, may be being blackmailed over "war-crimes" committed in Iraq.

Who else? Marco Rubio? 3-4 years ago? Yes, Little Marco was a superstar in the making. Again, Florida is key to Republicans to win the WHite House..... But he got badly exposed as a choker under pressure starting with that 2013 water-bottle embarassment on live TV. Plus Rubio and Trump spilt so much bad blood, called each other such nasty names --> can you see all those Clinton ads quoting Rubio as calling Trump "a con man, a fraud"....????

Def. Sec. Bob Gates? Widely respected on security by both parties, but he's burned-out emotionally and is happy teaching in a university

Colin Powell? 10-20 years ago, would have been a helluva Running Mate. Maybe even first ever black POTUS himself. But in 2003, neocons set him by having him do their dirty work selling the Iraq War at the UN. Colin Powell's reputation destroyed. He felt betrayed and has been hating on GOP ever since. Even endorsed Democrat Obama in 2008. Getting to be too old, too.

Condolizaa Rice? - like Powell, is forever tained by Bush and the Iraq War. Highly overrated in her "expertise" on Russia, to be honest. Meh.


Ted Cruz? Even more bad blood with Trump than Rubio. Plus unlike the good-looking, reasonable Marco who would have appeal to average General Election voter --- Ugly Ted is a viewed as a radical and repulsive by most Americans (outside of hardcore Conservative, religious Primary electorate, that is)

Scott Walker? Would be nice for Wisconsin, but his stock plummeted when he choked early in the Primaries. Same as Rick Perry both in 2012 and 2016 election cycles. Got exposed as a lightweight. Very unimpressive debates. Lacking in intellectual depth of Newt Gingrich, or the foreign policy knowledge. Trump already faces those accusations from the media, last thing he needs is a mediocre running mate like Walker (who was his enemy in Wisconsin primaries, let's not forget and did lots of damage to GOP nominee chances)

Jeb? Again, like Chris Christie and Rubio, he is a former heavyweight who is long past his prime. Totally hates Trump. And as electorate has shown, most people in America want NO part of anyone named 'Bush' -- fairly or not, that's just reality.

Kasich? Yes, Ohio is just as important as Florida. But this guy utterly lacks in charisma, and doesn't like Trump, either. I guess Donald could overlook some things -- and pick Kasich as a last resort. But it would just that: if all other options fail. Color me uninspired.

Scott Brown? Another decent fall-back option. But NOT a HR. Brown ran in a very liberal state, so he had to take positions which would alienate him to Conservative, religious, Tea Party and Libertarian voter groups --- all of whom already view Trump with a suspicious eye (and make no mistake about: Donald needs all those groups to turn out in November, or he's toast against Clinton-Soros Machine)

Rand Paul? Appeals to Millenial voters, but unfortunately not as much as Bernie Sanders does. And Bernie will endorse Hillary. Again, Rand Paul has the same problem as his father: he's seen as a kook by most people, so his General Election appeal is inherently limited.


Another thing: picking VP as only part of Trump's challenge. But unless he scrambles all his resources to build a MASSIVE GOTV infrastructure & ground-game - and also learns how to sound much more professional, avoiding saying some of the stupid, offensive shit as in the Primaries.... none of this will matter