Faced with the chance to be vice president, Indiana Governor Mike Pence worked hard to win Donald Trump over. The 2016 veep candidate went all out to charm Trump and his court of familial advisors. Despite what was reportedly some last minute wedding jitters on Trump’s part with such a conventional choice, Pence won the nod and then proceeded to do what vice presidents always do: reverse any previous positions that might be in conflict with those articulated by the top of the ticket. In doing so, he demonstrated that those who believe Pence illustrates a sea change in the Trump campaign are kidding themselves.

By Friday night Pence, who denounced Trump’s call for a ban on Muslims travel to the United States as “offensive and unconstitutional” was saying he endorsed the latest iteration of Trump’s proposal. In the same conversation, Pence also pronounced himself not only in favor of Trump’s idea of a great wall along the country’s southern border but his new boss’s ludicrous pledge to make Mexico pay for it. If that wasn’t a strong enough proof of fealty to the Donald, he also said he was in favor of reopening the Trans-Pacific Partnership Trade agreement that he formerly favored, adding obsequiously that Trump was “one of the best negotiators in the world.” That’s a position that vendors who went unpaid by the billionaire would perhaps ruefully endorse.

But there’s no point carping about Pence’s newly slavish attitude toward Trump. Vice presidents aren’t paid to criticize or act as a check on their presidents. They are there to do their bidding and that means Pence’s conservative principles will be safely packed away until his time with Trump is over. Which is why all of the talk of Trump’s selection of Pence indicating that he is finally moderating or acting more like a traditional Republican is nonsense.

One thing it does mean is that contrary to those conspiracy theorists and cynics, who even now consider Trump’s candidacy to be something of a prank, are wrong. The reality star desperately wants to be elected president and was persuaded by the wise counsel of his family and whoever else has his ear these days that a safe, solidly conservative pick like Pence was the smart play when compared to the other finalists. Pence won’t generate much excitement, but this move should minimize defections from doubtful Republicans though most of were bending the knee to Trump anyway. They will be persuaded that voting for Trump is justified not only by the unacceptable alternative of Hillary Clinton but also because they’ll think Pence’s presence on the ticket indicates that a Trump administration will be recognizably Republican and conservative in nature rather than a radical departure from what the GOP has always stood for.

But it is on that point that they are deceiving themselves.
Even if you think there’s no significance to the fact that Trump’s rollout of Pence was largely about Trump, think about what will follow. In the still unlikely though quite possible event that Trump is elected, there will be many other Republicans who will take positions in his administration and thus choose ambition over principle and call it duty. But let no one be in any doubt that such an administration will reflect Trump’s views and spirit, not those of any conservatives who think they can influence or tame him. Having achieved power, he will not give it up but will be the same egomaniacal, unprincipled and controlling character he has always been. It will be a government driven by the sort of blood and soil ideas—protectionism and isolationism—that Trump has promoted while giving short shrift to the notion of limited government or protection of the Constitution, a topic about which he still knows little. With the exception of his hostility to immigration, his ideas will remain closer to those of mainstream liberal Democrats and even Bernie Sanders supporters than those of conservative Republicans, and he will govern accordingly. Principled House Republicans may think they can dictate what the next GOP administration will stand for and one wishes them luck in that regard, but if Trump becomes president, it is he who will call the tune.

A Trump administration will call itself Republican and will mean the Clintons and their fraudulent machine and damaging liberal ideas will be out of power. That will be enough for most Republicans, at least until he takes office and starts channeling Nixon and governing from the left. But what many of those who will acclaim Trump in Cleveland and use Pence as an excuse for doing so don’t realize is what cheap dates they have become. Trump has given conservatives nothing in order to consolidate his grip on the nomination in the past two months.

What is remarkable is the alacrity with which the GOP establishment not only fell into line behind Trump but also worked harder and showed more energy quashing opposition to him in Cleveland than it showed while working against him. In return for this, all they got was Pence, who is more interested in flattering Trump than in restraining his imperial and liberal instincts, which is the only kind of person he can tolerate in his inner circle.

In spite of Pence’s bland presence, the Trump campaign and a putative Trump presidency will be a function of the reality star’s attempt to transform a Reaganite conservative party to a populist Peronist cult of personality. The conservative cheap dates who will cheer his triumph in Cleveland will deserve the contempt a President Trump will show them if he makes it to the White House.

https://www.commentarymagazine.com/politics-ideas/campaigns-elections/mike-pence-trumps-cheap-gop-dates/

I'm not inclined at this stage to give you even a halfpenny Tom, let us see Dump pass the hurdle of the convention. I am very cynical about anything Dump does.As to liberal ideas being out of power, Dump is further to the left

They came up with a penetrating campaign logo . As usual ,Trump did not bother doing focus group analysis before they rushed this one out . If they had they would've gotten the sexual inuendo and the toilet paper reference.

https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=48389&stc=1


After a day of mocking on social media they pulled the logo .

They came up with a penetrating campaign logo . As usual ,Trump did not bother doing focus group analysis before they rushed this one out . If they had they would've gotten the sexual inuendo and the toilet paper reference.

https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=48389&stc=1


After a day of mocking on social media they pulled the logo .
The TP joke will always be with them. Also, Trump in the UK means f@rt, and pence means penny or cheap. Pence is in a quandry as to ideology. He's supposed to be the ultra-right wing, evangelical part of the ticket?

He opposes everything Trump stands for . Trump is for protectionism and Pence supported all the free trade deals. Trump says he opposed the Iraq war . Pence voted for it . Trump is pro-abortion (he has a history of it ) .Pence is a social conservative.

The TP joke will always be with them. Also, Trump in the UK means f@rt, and pence means penny or cheap. Pence is in a quandry as to ideology. He's supposed to be the ultra-right wing, evangelical part of the ticket?

Trump is a wild card . In the game of bridge no one quite knows which card the trump card will be.

He opposes everything Trump stands for . Trump is for protectionism and Pence supported all the free trade deals. Trump says he opposed the Iraq war . Pence voted for it . Trump is pro-abortion (he has a history of it ) .Pence is a social conservative.
Or something to appeal to everyone....

Or something to appeal to everyone....

Credible reports said that Trump really wanted Christie ,but his family inner circle understood that he had to balance the ticket. He looked unenthusiastic introducing Pence as his running mate . Actually he looked like he was about to undergo root canal.

Credible reports said that Trump really wanted Christie ,but his family inner circle understood that he had to balance the ticket. He looked unenthusiastic introducing Pence as his running mate . Actually he looked like he was about to undergo root canal.
And then promptly left the stage....

Pence signed a very hateful anti-gay law, is anti-abortion, doesn't believe in evolution or climate change, opposes the most sensible gun control laws, probably still thinks that vaccines cause autism and. Are the Republicans ever going to get over their Neanderthal views?

Being against baby killing is Neanderthal .... nice .

What do you define as " sensible "gun control. Why can't you be honest and admit that you don't want anyone to own any firearms ..that you want a repeal of the 2nd amendment .

The so called "hateful " law he signed was similar to a federal one and those in 19 other states .What you failed to mention was that he immediately moved to make revisions of the law that made it against the law for businesses to discriminate against gays. Both chambers of Indiana’s legislature passed the changes to the law . But that's ok . Let Evita run her campaign on gay rights and transformer bathrooms...... Real mainstream positions .

Being against baby killing is Neanderthal .... nice .
What happens to those babies when they end up disabled or belonging to a 14yo who can't take care of it or to a mother who already has six kids? The Republicans don't care once the child is born.


What do you define as " sensible "gun control. Why can't you be honest and admit that you don't want anyone to own any firearms ..that you want a repeal of the 2nd amendment .
Assault weapons? Every gun owner needs at least one of those....

What happens to those babies when they end up disabled or belonging to a 14yo who can't take care of it or to a mother who already has six kids? The Republicans don't care once the child is born.


Assault weapons? Every gun owner needs at least one of those....
What is an assault weapon. Every hunting rifle is designed as a semi-automatic. 'Assault rifles' is a term the left invented .


According to WHO there are 125,000 abortions per day worldwide. That exceeds your 14 year old scenario and is instead a worldwide infanticide movement . In the US that equates to 21 % of all pregnancies snuffed .

What happens to those babies when they end up disabled or belonging to a 14yo who can't take care of it or to a mother who already has six kids? The Republicans don't care once the child is born.


Assault weapons? Every gun owner needs at least one of those....

There are enough assault weapons to arm the entire population already, if a gun owner hasn't got one now they are not trying

What is an assault weapon. Every hunting rifle is designed as a semi-automatic. 'Assault rifles' is a term the left invented .
And all those assault rifle owners hunt....

According to WHO there are 125,000 abortions per day worldwide. That exceeds your 14 year old scenario and is instead a worldwide infanticide movement . In the US that equates to 21 % of all pregnancies snuffed .
Maybe women in the world should try birth control and also say no. Do you really want all those extra people in the world using up resources and polluting the planet?

Maybe women in the world should try birth control and also say no. Do you really want all those extra people in the world using up resources and polluting the planet?

seems to me they are using the killing of their babies as a form of birth control.

seems to me they are using the killing of their babies as a form of birth control.
Probably birth control is limited or unavailable. Maybe we need male control instead. After all, how did that fetus get there?

Probably birth control is limited or unavailable. Maybe we need male control instead. After all, how did that fetus get there?

You have to ask, you must be in control. The males are not the only ones to blame. With birth control pills readily available you have to ask why it is the female population still resorts to abortion as a form of birth control. The number of babies aborted is staggering indicating the problem is a moral one. There is one sure method of birth control

What is an assault weapon. Every hunting rifle is designed as a semi-automatic. 'Assault rifles' is a term the left invented .

Point of clarification. "Assault Weapon" is the media's fictitious term. An "Assault Rifle" is a thing, specifically a weapon designed for infantry use capable of both semiautomatic and fully automatic firing.

Point of clarification. "Assault Weapon" is the media's fictitious term. An "Assault Rifle" is a thing, specifically a weapon designed for infantry use capable of both semiautomatic and fully automatic firing.

Gotcha on the "specifically a weapon designed for infantry use" as well as "capable of both semiautomatic and fully automatic firing" that anybody can modify rather quickly and easily, and in the hands of such persons, or ANYONE, that THING can kill a lot of innocents, and even highly trained and armed public servants.

That's the whole problem, any loony, criminal, can get one rather easily despite the law, through many loopholes and restrictions. That good guy with a gun is never around, so we have to call a cop. I got nothing against cops, but will he be that well trained one, or some wannabe who ain't so well trained, experienced, or qualified? Or even a good cop period.

The media's "fictitious terms" is NOT the issue, or the problem.

Point of clarification. "Assault Weapon" is the media's fictitious term. An "Assault Rifle" is a thing, specifically a weapon designed for infantry use capable of both semiautomatic and fully automatic firing.

Let's try to put this in perspective, the weapons we are talking about are of military design adapted for civilian use, self loading, capable of rapid fire from a high volume magazine. In some countries these high volume magazines are not permitted. In others weapons of this configuration are not permitted

Let's try to put this in perspective, the weapons we are talking about are of military design adapted for civilian use, self loading, capable of rapid fire from a high volume magazine. In some countries these high volume magazines are not permitted. In others weapons of this configuration are not permitted

.....and yet the criminals manage to get their hands on them ;and if their intention is mass murder ,a bomb ,or a truck rental appears to be just as effective . The biggest mass killing in the US was accomplished with box cutters and a few planes. The next biggest was done with a truck full of common fertilizers. Nice was done with a rental truck driving over the victims.

You have to ask, you must be in control. The males are not the only ones to blame. With birth control pills readily available you have to ask why it is the female population still resorts to abortion as a form of birth control. The number of babies aborted is staggering indicating the problem is a moral one. There is one sure method of birth control
There's the old saw: "Women give sex to get love. Men give love to get sex." Plus, the "evangelical" teaching is that a wife does not refuse her husband's request for sex. Third-world countries do not know that pregnancies can be prevented. Or certain religions are against birth control. Birth control too often is frowned on or non existent.


.....and yet the criminals manage to get their hands on them
Most of the shooters have been young men who felt disenfranchised somehow. Rarely have they been criminals.

Many was the night I wondered if my sleep-drugged husband, hearing a noise in the dark house (me dealing with a sick kid or being sick myself) would shoot before asking questions.

Gotcha on the "specifically a weapon designed for infantry use" as well as "capable of both semiautomatic and fully automatic firing" that anybody can modify rather quickly and easily, and in the hands of such persons, or ANYONE, that THING can kill a lot of innocents, and even highly trained and armed public servants.

That's the whole problem, any loony, criminal, can get one rather easily despite the law, through many loopholes and restrictions. That good guy with a gun is never around, so we have to call a cop. I got nothing against cops, but will he be that well trained one, or some wannabe who ain't so well trained, experienced, or qualified? Or even a good cop period.

The media's "fictitious terms" is NOT the issue, or the problem.

What loophole? Are you talking about government regulation of private sales ?

And there are plenty of examples of people that carry preventing a crime in progress.

How easy is it to modify a weapon? Do you actually know what it would take?

.....and yet the criminals manage to get their hands on them ;and if their intention is mass murder ,a bomb ,or a truck rental appears to be just as effective . The biggest mass killing in the US was accomplished with box cutters and a few planes. The next biggest was done with a truck full of common fertilizers. Nice was done with a rental truck driving over the victims.

Not entering into the possession debate Tom we both know that someone will find a way whether that is assault rifles, hand guns, bombs or murder by motor vehicle or IED, I was just putting us on the same page when speaking about assault rifles. What happens is a terrorist becomes inventive in achieving the objective. Fertilizers are controlled because of what can be made from them, there is some logic in extending this thinking, but let us ask ourselves how many single shot weapons have been used in mass killings?

how many single shot weapons have been used in mass killings?

Do shotguns count? I can put 19 .30 caliber bullets downrange with every trigger pull.

Do shotguns count? I can put 19 .30 caliber bullets downrange with every trigger pull.

Well I suppose if they become the weapon of choice they will be banned too, but the point is a question of dealing death to multiple targets, we should include automatic shotguns in the definition of assault weapons if they are not already

Boy this RNC convention is quite the clown show and no one is happier than the comedians.

Boy this RNC convention is quite the clown show and no one is happier than the comedians.

Until the Repubics close their primaries to Democrat registered voters ,they will continue to nominate the weakest link. 12 million Democrats voted in this year's Republican primaries. The Dems don't have that system. Only registered Dems can vote in their primaries.

Trump could very well be an Evita plant. Trump was a lifelong Democrat (registerd on and off as political opportunity presented itself).He was a donor and avid supporter of the Clintoons. He's a corrupt 'crony capitalist' with "New York values". Still because of their crazy primary system ,he ended up being their nominee. And we are supposed to pretend to like it because "Evita is worse " .

Until the Repubics close their primaries to Democrat registered voters ,they will continue to nominate the weakest link. 12 million Democrats voted in this year's Republican primaries. The Dems don't have that system. Only registered Dems can vote in their primaries.

Trump could very well be an Evita plant. Trump was a lifelong Democrat (registerd on and off as political opportunity presented itself).He was a donor and avid supporter of the Clintoons. He's a corrupt 'crony capitalist' with "New York values". Still because of their crazy primary system ,he ended up being their nominee. And we are supposed to pretend to like it because "Evita is worse " .

You suggest Dilliary is smart enough to plant Dump amongst the Republicans but Dump is so far right he has almost come full circle and could be considered far left. Even if he started that way to spoil the choice and divide, the power trip has kicked in

You suggest Dilliary is smart enough to plant Dump amongst the Republicans but Dump is so far right he has almost come full circle and could be considered far left. Even if he started that way to spoil the choice and divide, the power trip has kicked in

He has many views to the political left of Evita ;more similar to Bolshevik Bernie's .I've seen their act over the years . Trump and the Clintoons are very close despite the rhetoric you are hearing .


https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=48390&stc=1

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/bill-clinton-called-donald-trump-ahead-of-republicans-2016-launch/2015/08/05/e2b30bb8-3ae3-11e5-b3ac-8a79bc44e5e2_story.html

Chelsea and Ivanka are good friends.

Chelsea and Ivanka are good friends.

We know the fix is in , it doesn't matter who is elected you are in for more of the same

How in the hell can you fix this broken political system? It must be disheartening.

Don't worry karma, Mr. Fix It, Donald the Dump will fix it, didn't you hear him? He told you he is going to do one of two things, either he will fix it or he will F### it

Trump sounded bombastic like a 3rd world dicator playing to the masses. It was almost as long as a 3rd world dictator's speech too. Actually ,that was the same way Bolshevik Bernie sounded . What's he doing these days ......heckling Muppets ?

Trump sounded bombastic like a 3rd world dicator playing to the masses. It was almost as long as a 3rd world dictator's speech too. Actually ,that was the same way Bolshevik Bernie sounded . What's he doing these days ......heckling Muppets ?

I'm surprised Tom that the assembled masses didn't salute him with their right arms outstretched

I'm surprised Tom that the assembled masses didn't salute him with their right arms outstretched


I think your confused. That would be the Hillary camp doing that.

I think your confused. That would be the Hillary camp doing that.


No I'm not confused, the Dump speech was full of authoritarian bravado, It is a wonder he wasn't thumping the rosterium. There are direct parallels between Hitler's speeches and Dumps. I was expecting him to say he was going to march into Mexico to gain living space for all those hispanics or was that ejecting all those hispanics. His embracing of Putin is also dangerous and the parallel was Hitler who embraced Stalin

No I'm not confused, the Dump speech was full of authoritarian bravado, It is a wonder he wasn't thumping the rosterium. There are direct parallels between Hitler's speeches and Dumps. I was expecting him to say he was going to march into Mexico to gain living space for all those hispanics or was that ejecting all those hispanics. His embracing of Putin is also dangerous and the parallel was Hitler who embraced Stalin

Nahh it was more like Mussolini :

"I am very glad to be able to express my friendly feelings toward the American nation. Friendship with which Italy looks at millions of citizens who, from Alaska to Florida, from the Pacific to the Atlantic, live in the United States, Italy is deeply rooted in our hearts. This feeling created by mutual interests so contributed to preparation of an even brighter era in the lives of both nations.

I greet with wonderful energy the American people and I see and recognize among you the salt of your land, as well as ours, my fellow citizens who are working to make America great.

I salute the great American people. I salute the Italians of America who unite in a single love of two nations."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5l_r8MG5II

Tom what was it Hitler said in Munich, Deutchland, and what did he do repudiate treaties, all along Dump has sung the same tune, America, repudiate TPP and NAFTA