North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum is quickly moving up former President Trump's list of possible vice presidential picks because Trump's team believes he would be a safe choice who could attract moderate voters, four people familiar with the situation tell Axios....
Two sources familiar with the Trump's thinking [sic] said he likes Burgum's measured demeanor and his gubernatorial experience — and sees Burgum as reliable and low-drama. Those are similar to the traits Trump cited in 2016, when he tapped Mike Pence....
They share one personal touch point, which the sources said occasionally comes up in conversation between Trump and Burgum: Kathryn Burgum is recovering from alcoholism, an addiction that Trump's late brother Fred Trump Jr. also struggled with....
ADDED: We talked about the Kristi Noem dog story yesterday, here, and I took a little poll. The results:
Posts
57 comments:
Don’t rule out the NoDak because of his wife! At least Doug is not a goat killer and bad shot.
No problem for me, but it is hard to see how we can ever have two straight white males on a ticket in the future. Tribalism is that deeply imbedded in society.
Foolish to pick someone from a safe Red State.
Pick someone who is #1 - articulate. Someone who can go out there and speak clearly and effectively - and harshly against the corrupt liar left machine.
Trump will blow it again. He does NOT have to attract "moderate" voters. And even if he did, picking a "Moderate VP" wont give him enough.
Trump needs impeachment insurance. That means a MAGA VP. Someone people like Schumer McConnell Romney and Collins will hate even more than Trump. They'll think twice about removing Trump from office over some bullshit nonsense if they'll get someone even worse.
And even if a more "Moderate VP" is needed Governor Bumstead is the wrong choice. ND is Republican state. And he has zero charisma. You might as well choose a cardboard cut out.
R C ocean - that makes no sense. Why or how would a MAGA VP provide impeachment insurance? (what does that even mean?)
Name this person please.
Is Axios pushing Bergum?
Will Trump listen to leftist media... and take that into consideration?
If so - dumb.
Trump has trouble surrounding himself with good people. A President needs to be able to do that.
Ann @ 9:39 - AGREED!
Trump has trouble surrounding himself with good people. A President needs to be able to do that
Concur. The next one that attracts Conservatives will have trouble, too…and the next.
Kind of silly to believe a VP pick will attract moderates to vote for Trump, innit?
Good people don’t enter politics. Once they start kicking the idea around they quickly learn it isn’t for them…
Doug Burgum is too nice, too rich, and too honest to be DJT's running mate; besides, he will never play the lackey role that Pence chose. A cruel animal killer from down-on-farm and dishonest politician like Kristy Noem fits Trump better but she might have to dye her hair to match that of Hope Hicks.
He's already got the Dakotas.
No one at Axios has access to anyone "familiar with Trump's thinking",
But "reporters" are required to deliver content each week, so here we are.
gadfly - At least everyone - left and right - agrees Kamala is an idiot.
She also helped fund BLM and Antifa terror + arson with her get of out jail free card funding.
Because justice is never in the cards for the racial left.
Ann Althouse said...Trump has trouble surrounding himself with good people.
The spoils of lawfare—they haven’t managed to bring down Trump, but they have made it expensive enough to support him that truly competent people conclude they don’t need that grief in their lives.
Trump would do well to pick someone like Tim Scott, who could further split the black vote and push Democrats a few more steps down the road to the rump regional party they have been becoming for the last 20 years.
Vivek would be perfect. He’s super smart and exceptionally articulate.
Ann Althouse: "Trump has trouble surrounding himself with good people."
There are so few "good people" to choose from it would be possible for any President? Particularly Trump, to "surround himself" with them.
In any event the question is moot given what the GOPe/dem alliance will do to keep him off the ticket and/or out of the White House.
Trump has trouble surrounding himself with good people. A President needs to be able to do that.
He used to, yes. He’s running a much better campaign than in 2020 (or even 2016) under vastly more challenging circumstances so I’m inclined to think he’ll do much better selecting his advisors and cabinet in 2025. He certainly had a better Secretary of Transportation, Secretary of Education, Secretary of State, Attorney General, and Secretary of Defense than the clowns Joe Biden has surrounded himself with.
Regarding a VP, I think Trump would be best served by picking a senator. I predict that he’ll have a Republican Senate but not by much. Someone who already knows the players and the ins and outs could be a valuable asset. I like Rand Paul and Joni Ernst. I note that Rand Paul survived a murder attempt by James Hodgkinson, plus two physical assaults (one of which left him seriously injured for months). I don’t think he will gonna go easy on any Democrats.
@Dave Begley, what can you tell us about Deb Fischer?
@Dave Begley -- hahahaha!
In the debates I liked Burghum. Bergum. Borg 'em. Okay, his name is difficult.
He's so peaceful and measured. I kind of want to see him next to Trump.
The VP's main constitutional role is president of the senate.
In the past century or more that has been diminished to a largely ceremonial role.
A strong Maga vp might, I would hope, be an activist senate president.
Sarah Palin promised to do this in 08 and it is one of many reasons I am in love with her.
If you have not read Carol's Master of the Senate.
LBJ took a booby prize, senate majority leader, and made it arguably more powerful than the presidency. He did it by leveraging nearly inconsequential powers into greater and greater powers.
A determined MAGA vp might do the same thing.
John Henry
I agree - pick Vivek and burn it down.
Might as well go out in a blaze of glory.
Trump is old. He’d likely live through another four year term. But it’s not a lock.
So picking someone solid is a must.
Picking a ditz like Palin or Noem would be stupid. Kamala is a ditz.
Burgum is a nice contrast to Trump, Biden, and Kamala.
LBJ started trying to exercise his powers as senate vp in 61. As before he started small. All he wanted was to be a guest at some meeting.
The party told him that if he continued, they would not love him anymore.
As he still had dreams of being president, he backed down.
That is the only real power anyone has over the vp. The vp has no boss.
Imagine a MAGA vp who realizes that the vice presidency is NOT a stepping stone to the white house and who does not care if the party loves him.
He or she could be revolutionary
John Henry
Why or how would a MAGA VP provide impeachment insurance? (what does that even mean?)
OK. If they impeach trump and remove trump from office - they get someone even worse from the establishment viewpoint. Someone More MAGA. Someone they don't like even more than Trump.
That's impeachment insurance, They went after Trump with Russiagate and the absurd Ukraine phone call because they knew if they won, Pence would be POTUS. Pence was a globalist and establishment stooge. He doesn't even support Trump in 2024. Biden is OK with him.
If the D's win back the House and Trump is POTUS, they will impeach him, again. They will make up something, just like they did before. I will bet every dollar I have. If you think the DC Democrats are acting in good faith or care about election results, you're crazy. And if there are enough D's and RINO Senators Trump will be gone. But if all they get for their trouble is someone "Worse", they'll wont.
People forget the liberal/left only went after Nixon was because Agnew had been forced to resign. He was replaced by Establishment stooge "Moderate" Jerry Ford. If all Watergate could've accomplished was give us President Agnew, the WaPo never would've gone after the story. They HATED Agnew.
"Trump has trouble surrounding himself with good people. A President needs to be able to do that."
He's had some duds but also many winners like Kayleigh McEnany, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Richard Grenell...
Burgum knows how to think outside the box.
Noem needs to learn to think outside the gravel pit.
"Trump's thinking [sic]"? I thought, "Really, Axios? [Sic]?" That's some straight-down-the-middle, just-the-facts, objective, neutral reporting, huh? Then I checked the Axios article, and I didn't see the "[sic]." Where'd the "[sic]" come from?
Ann Althouse said...
Trump has trouble surrounding himself with good people. A President needs to be able to do that.
The Deep State and corporate accomplices are the ones who have made sure that "good people" literally need to fear coming to the assistance of Trump or making a contribution.
Feds asked banks to search customer data for ‘Trump,’ ‘MAGA’ references after Capitol riot: Rep. Jim Jordan
https://nypost.com/2024/01/17/news/feds-asked-banks-to-search-customer-data-for-trump-and-maga-references-after-capitol-riot-rep-jim-jordan-says/
He seems like a pretty low-key and competent guy, but where are the electoral college votes?
Whenever I hear a GOP candidate say "We need to work across the Aisle" - I feel sick to my stomach.
that's the last thing we need. The democrat party is radical extremist woke authoritarian leftist. You do not compromise with extremist leftists.
TIL people “with gravitas” talk to Trump.
Thoughts on IA Gov Kim Reynolds for VP?
Way back I thought the R ticket would be Ron and Kim.
Trump has trouble surrounding himself with good people. A President needs to be able to do that.
No president has done that well in the past fifty years. It's the nature of the system.
I think this is Dem Spin. Lets encourage Trump to pick a VP from a state - they'd probably have to go to Wiki to confirm that ND is one - with the minimum number of electoral votes!
T
Lets face it - Trump craps on everyone - so it will be slim pickins'.
Ann Althouse: "Trump has trouble surrounding himself with good people. A President needs to be able to do that."
Wince: "The Deep State and corporate accomplices are the ones who have made sure that "good people" literally need to fear coming to the assistance of Trump or making a contribution."
Careful Wince. There are "republicans" on this very thread that will not abide any criticism of any GOPe-er or establishment deep stater that worked hand in glove with the dems to deny personnel and policy wins to the outsider President.
All GOP failures for the last 50 years, today and moving forward are the sole responsibility of DJT.
Just look at the last 18 months alone.
Fair warning.
Tulsi Gabbard, just for the fun of it.
Pence undermined trump from the beginning from the general flynn matter to the covid task force
Vance would be good
Tacitus: "I think this is Dem Spin. Lets encourage Trump to pick a VP from a state - they'd probably have to go to Wiki to confirm that ND is one - with the minimum number of electoral votes!"
Agreed.
There is a certain type of republican that claims to be aware of how the pravda media lie continuously...and still jump on every single one of these transparently BS stories.
See it at Althouse blog all the time.
Tacitus is correct- this is wish-casting by the Democrats. If the VP is a long-time Republican, then Trump should pick someone who has held statewide office in Wisconsin, Michigan, or, preferably, Pennsylvania. If Trump wants to go out of the box, Gabbard wouldn't be a bad political choice. I could live with Gabbard, but she would put an assassin's target on Trump's back since her politics are still pretty far left of center, and I would also worry about Trump dropping dead in a 2nd term from natural causes. So, safer overall to go with someone like Scott Walker or Pat Toomey. And if Trump doesn't want to go for one of those blue wall states, then Youngkin, or go female- there are choices there, even Nikki Haley would be ok- so would Ernst or Noem (I think the dog thing is meaningless).
George W. Bush was a recovering alcoholic and it didn't hurt his chances at getting elected.
If you can admit to that and maintain sobriety, people will respect you because they know that it's harder for you to remain sober than it is for most people.
“I don’t regret anything I said... I haven’t taken anything I said then back."
Mitch McConnell in CBS this very day, stands by remarks that former President Trump is "practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of January 6" and should potentially be held "criminally responsible"
Yep. That Trump. According to the GOPe suckups, if we could just get rid of him we'd have that "winning" GOPe team back in place baby!
'Pence undermined trump from the beginning from the general flynn matter to the covid task force'
He was always an empty suit. I never understood his appeal.
He is the worst kind of politician.
A sanctimonious hack.
Ask me what I really think : )
Lol.
I love Althouse polls. I absolutely adore Althouse polls.
Not for what they say about issues. It's never been about that. No; it's for what they reveal about this commentariat. And Althouse polls basically never disappoint. I will always love them.
Gabbard needs to burn a few more bridges before she would be a safe choice; 'safe' meaning a vp who would provide impeachment/assassination INsurance rather than ASSurance.
""Trump's thinking [sic]"? I thought, "Really, Axios? [Sic]?" That's some straight-down-the-middle, just-the-facts, objective, neutral reporting, huh? Then I checked the Axios article, and I didn't see the "[sic]." Where'd the "[sic]" come from?"
It came from me. Look at the whole sentence. You cut it off.
"Two sources familiar with the Trump's thinking [sic] said he likes Burgum's measured demeanor and his gubernatorial experience..."
The word "the" should have been cut.
Trump HAD trouble surrounding himself with good people. A President needs to be able to do that.
FIFY. Take a look at his top advisors at present. Pretty impressive crew. Trump does learn.
Trump's VP choice should be someone outside of holding office or entirely outside of politics. He should certainly not choose a sitting R Senator from a state with a D Governor.
Ann Althouse said...
"Trump has trouble surrounding himself with good people. A President needs to be able to do that."
If only good help weren't so hard to find.
The only disappointing thing about the Althouse Noem/Veep/dog poll is that it didn't go any further than the simple strategic thinking about the V.P.-pick aspect.
The fascinating thing to me about this story is the thinking behind these elements:
(a) Noem telling this story on herself for some reason (presumably because she wanted a story to illustrate herself as tough and capable of Trump-level cruelty);
(b) Noem doubling down on the story (very Trumpian) and essentially saying, "Yeah I did it and I would do it again and I'm not the least bit sorry that you don't get it...", and;
(c) The ultimate political calculation in Noem's version of TrumpWorld, where she believes that her brand of ruthlessness makes her a top-tier Trumpist. She may have been sleeping with Corey Lewandowski a little too often.
Banned Commenter, LLR-democratical And Violent Homosexual Rage Rape Fantasist Chuck: "Lol.
I love Althouse polls. I absolutely adore Althouse polls."
Uh oh.
Looks like creepy, greasy, Eddie Haskell-Chuck is making an appearance.
Which is not good because whenever Eddie Haskell-Chuck shows up, its just a matter of time before Sybil-like violent racist and misogynistic-Chuck makes an appearance.
As always, I pray for the safety and security of the small children in Chuck's neighborhood and around the Michigan Democratical Party Headquarters where I assume Chuck spends a great deal of time volumteering.
Oh dear Chuck, you really should restrain your projections.
Missed the poll. I think the answer is "Yes, obviously" but not for the obvious fact that she shot the dog. It's Yes because it's bad politics. Nothing more complex than that. Yeah, I know, tough ol' ranch woman and so forth. But nobody cares about that. They do care about the dog.
Chuck said...
The fascinating thing to me about this story is the thinking behind these elements:
Who is doing the thinking that you are projecting on?
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