November 6, 2024

"Mr. Vance will become the nation’s youngest vice president since 1953, when Richard M. Nixon..."

"... who celebrated his 40th birthday just days before inauguration, was sworn in as Dwight D. Eisenhower’s vice president. John C. Breckinridge, who was 36 when he assumed office in 1857 as James Buchanan’s vice president, holds the record for the nation’s youngest vice president."


With Trump limited to one last term, Vance embodies his hope of continuing his vision and influence into the future. We've just seen a Vice President fail to acquire the distinction needed to convince American voters that she was presidential material. You could say she was tapped awfully late and suddenly thrown into the arena. But it was obvious from before the start of Biden's term that he lacked what it takes. I thought, when he was sworn in, that within a few months he'd be out and Harris would be President.

She was on notice, and she was given specific areas of responsibility. Do you remember what they were? The border... but what else? Here's how Politico put it in July 2023:
Like some other post-Mondale vice presidents — Al Gore for example — she’s been assigned to head up specific policy areas, like abortion and reproductive rights, voting rights and immigration, as well as some other foreign policy assignments. She’s also leading the National Space Council.

Too late for her now, but JD Vance can take a lesson from her failure. He's the frontrunner for 2028, and he needs to perform and to put himself in a position to run on substantive merit, which is something Kamala Harris did not trouble herself to do.  

88 comments:

Captain BillieBob said...

Well, Vance wasn't raised in middle class household so he has that to overcome.

edutcher said...

I think that was in Trump's mind. He wanted somebody to carry on his work.

Captain BillieBob said...

Politics moves at a rapid pace these days so if Vance wants to run for the office of the president he should start running today.

RideSpaceMountain said...

I think more highly of JD than I ever did before, but if it comes down to a primary in 28 between him, DeSantis, Hawley, or Vivek, I'm going to support DeSantis or Hawley. Especially Hawley.

Dixcus said...

"You could say she was tapped awfully late and suddenly thrown into the arena.

That's a really interesting way to put "executed a coup."

Kamala Harris wasn't "thrown" into anything. She, along with Nancy Pelosi, Barack Obama and several others, orchestrated the first American coup since an FBI Deep Stater conspired with two Washington Post reporters to force Richard Nixon from office in a Deep State-led coup.

Every one of these people needs to be in prison but I just don't think Donald Trump has the aptitude to understand this.

ron winkleheimer said...

"if it comes down to a primary in 28 between him, DeSantis, Hawley, or Vivek, I'm going to support DeSantis or Hawley. Especially Hawley."

Why? I'm not trying to be snarky, I just think that that is a good conversation to have.

rehajm said...

…yes, he has a record…and something he can stick in the air to see which way the wind blows. What are his policy priorities? I’ll take a DeSantis or Hawley over sweet talking

rehajm said...

Clooney in exile

donald said...

She didn’t have the mental capacity. She had enough low cunning to stab that miserable piece of shit in the back. That will be her career highlight.

reader said...

Since we’re already thinking of four years from now, I’m pretty sure Newsome is delighted with this election. He has been conspicuously absent the last couple of months.

tim maguire said...

If Biden were a successful president, Harris would have won last night. If Trump is not a successful president, it doesn't matter what achievements Vance racks up in the next 4 years.

Yancey Ward said...

If Trump wants Vance to be the heir apparent, he needs to give him more than just some sort of off books portfolio to run. The VP's office is a lousy place from which to run for President. If I were Trump I would make him one of the big cabinet posts- Secretary of State or Defense. DeSantis is going to have a huge advantage since he will be coming off a great run as Florida governor with two years to run for President.

Another old lawyer said...

I too thought Biden would be gone early in 2021, and told one of my D colleagues prior to the 2020 election I didn't think he'd make it to Memorial Day 2021. I neglected to apply the Mel Brooks rule - "It's good to be king." - and then didn't take into account the Evita corollary - "It's even better to be queen when there's a figurehead king." - in making my prediction.

Kate said...

JD was "thrown into the arena" at the same time as Kamala. He barnstormed all the media shows, killing it. At last night's victory speech, Trump called on JD to speak and he was immediately ready with a quick, strong-voiced pitch. His boss wants him to succeed (unlike Joe). I'm not worried about JD.

n.n said...

With the exception of rape-rape, women have ultimate reproductive rights. Accompanying emigration reform, immigration will not be a compelling choice. With Musk commanding, engineering, America is back in space, baby.

Dixcus said...

Still waiting to see who Trump selects as his wartime consigliere.

n.n said...

Trump AdVanceIng... congratulations, gentlemen.

tim maguire said...

The Reps have a lot of young talent and not all of them will reach the top. I would support DeSantis in your scenario because, while he may not be a great campaigner, he has proven himself in crises. Vance and Ramaswamy are good talkers but short on accomplishments--they have lots of time to change that. I don't know enough about Hawley.

dbp said...

The thing about Harris, is that she's never really needed to work very hard: Her parents were both extremely intelligent and she probably could have gotten into a highly selective school. Instead she chose Howard; a decent school, but it isn't Berkeley or Stanford. For law school, same thing.

In California, getting nominated as a Democrat ensures you will win, so she never had to work at developing political skills.

Harris floundered in the Democratic primary but was chosen by Biden, who promised an African American woman.

Having never learned political skills or the habit of hard work, it would have been shocking for Harris to have suddenly developed these things.

tcrosse said...

It will be interesting to see if the Democrats learn anything from this experience, and who may be waiting in the wings.

Limited blogger said...

Good to see things will get back to normal now.

Bill, Republic of Texas said...

Anyone know what would happen if they kill Trump before he is sworn in?

reader said...

Four years and prop 36 gives Newsome four years to appear to clean up the dumpster fire in California.

n.n said...

Gabbard seems to be a credible candidate to lead a Summer after Spring.

hombre said...

If corrupt Dems get Trump to jail, Vance will take over for a while. I'm down with that! 😆

Bill, Republic of Texas said...

Shapiro too. Any thoughts on why the Philly machine didn't come through for Harris?

RideSpaceMountain said...

Honestly I'm still not convinced he's angry enough, or that the original line of thinking that made him anti-trump is completely extinguished. I believe that Hawley and DeSantis have better track records and more experience dealing with our enemies and their methods than JD does...but that could change over the next 4 years.

If Trump is Hitler to progressives, Hawley's platform makes him the devil. Everything from SCOTUS appointees to the right of Scalia to comprehensive voter and immigration reform to revoking the FCC licenses of the major broadcasting networks I am on board with.

Hawley and DeSantis know we're at war, I just don't think JD has that entire picture yet, but he's got 4 years to get his jar-head in the game.

Mr Wibble said...

I think that Biden was boxed in by promises to select a black woman, once it was clear that Keisha Lance-Bottoms had flubbed her response to the Atlanta riots, and that Stacy Abrams was too dangerous to be anywhere near the VP office.

They didn't realize how awful Harris truly was until they won, and she couldn't keep a staff, and wouldn't do the work necessary for the job. Hence why the "Biden-Harris Administration" stuff early on quickly faded away to just "Biden Administration."

Limited blogger said...

I don't hate Ms. Harris, I hate what she stood for.

RideSpaceMountain said...

Newsome is precisely one of my reasons for DeSantis or Hawley, I don't think JD (as he is at present) is up to the challenge of taking down the democrat's Patrick Bateman.

Mr Wibble said...

Right now, I'd lean towards Vance over DeSantis in 2028. The latter's resume comes across too much as "spent his life preparing to run for President", and he still comes across as awkward on the campaign trail. Vance is much more natural in both his demeanor, and his biography.

Drago said...

DeSantis cannot win a single blue wall state with his record of Paul Ryan toadying and globalist backed trade policies. And DeSantis has demonstrated conclusively he has about zero charisma and I suspect he has zero chance of holding together the working class coalition that has been built and needs to be consolidated and grown.

But time will tell. Never say never in politics.

Bill, Republic of Texas said...

That's my fear. I think this would have been a good election to loose. The economy has taken a lot of hard hits since Covid and Biden. I think the economy will be in real trouble next year and the incumbent will be blamed.

Big Mike said...

[JD Vance is] the frontrunner for 2028, and he needs to perform and to put himself in a position to run on substantive merit, which is something Kamala Harris did not trouble herself to do.

Please don’t take this wrong, Althouse, but it’s nice of a feminist like you to admit that Joe Biden gave Kamala Harris plenty of opportunities to demonstrate that she was up to doing the job of President of the Inited States, and she blew off each and every one of them.

Dave Begley said...

JD Vance is an exceptional talent. He will perform superbly.

Dixcus said...

She got where she is by lying on her back. She hooked up with the most powerful men in California and in return for sexual favors they GAVE her jobs. She never had to EARN anything because she spent her entire life trading sex for favors.

We're not going to have a hooker as President.

tcrosse said...

With Republican control in the Senate, Trump may have plans for the Supreme Court. He has talked about appointing some younger justices.

Yancey Ward said...

He would be the President-Elect and as his VP-Elect, Vance would become the President.

Aggie said...

Just my opinion, but I think JD Vance is not going to be a shy, retiring Vice President. I think he has steel we haven't seen yet, and plenty.

ron winkleheimer said...

I like Vance because he comes from extremely humble beginnings and can therefore relate to working class people which is important in a realigned Republican party that is courting the working class. Of course Trump didn't exactly come from humble origins, and he is able to relate to just about everyone. Vance is also very adept at handling the hostile press.

Michael said...

There is every reason to think that Trump will give Vance assignments where he can shine - possibly the same ones that Biden allegedly gave Harris (like the Border), so that his achievements will particularly stand out in comparison to her lack of same.

mindnumbrobot said...

The GOP's bench is deep, and although Trump may end up with up to 322 electoral votes, the fact somebody as unqualified as Harris was within sniffing distance should alarm people. Democrats ran the equivalent of a grilled cheese sandwich and yet the outcome was in doubt until the very end.

Mikey NTH said...

Four years is a long time. I'll wait and watch for a couple of years.

mindnumbrobot said...

I, too, believed Biden wouldn't make it past July 2021. Never underestimate the power of the Deep State. A leader is not required, only a figure head.

traditionalguy said...

James David has all of the tools needed to lead the USA. The #1 tool being a warriors courage. The #2 tool is a leader’s command brain.

We are indeed blessed.

RideSpaceMountain said...

There's a lot of tradeoffs, but I'm not past anticipating a rapid maturation of JD into a force that can tangle with Newsome or Big Mike (if you think they won't try to run a DEI 'woman' a 3rd time, think again). In a perfect world my boy Ric would be going for the 2028 national championship....but a man can still dream.

natatomic said...

Does anyone think the democrats will pull a last minute 25th on Biden and install Harris, just so they can say she was still the first woman president? Is that even an option?

Lem Vibe Bandit said...

The Kamala people announced she’s scheduled to concede from Howard University around 4 pm.

Democratic Paychecks for Perks/ Dems for Demolition of Democracy/ fake-cares 4-U said...

My comments keep vanishing again

Aggie said...

Precisely 'no' cooperation will be forthcoming from a Republican House to support that. The Democrats don't have the points for that lark.

Rocco said...

Dixcus said...

"We're not going to have a hooker as President."

She would have been President Side Piece.

Dogma and Pony Show said...

Last night demonstrated that the dems CAN'T simply pursue whatever idiotic, catastrophic policies they want and yet still count on winning through weaponization of the media, lawfare, big tech, and loose election laws. They have met their Waterloo. In order to stand a chance of beating Vance or DeSantis in '28, they are going to have to find a truly serious, competent candidate who has credible record and an actual vision for America's success. Gavin Newsom and his ilk need not apply.

planetgeo said...

I believe JD Vance will transform the Office of Vice President into a totally different position, with the active assistance of President Trump. He is not just brilliant, he also has Trump's energy, and he projects a vibrant, positive persona on the campaign trail. That's not something that every competent administrator/politician has, and specifically, it's not something that DeSantis (my former first choice) has.

We are watching the emergence and rise of a great new leader.

Howard said...

JD is definitely in the catbirds seat.

Maynard said...

I am not as down on DeSantis as Drago, but I much prefer JD Vance. He looks like an exceptional talent. I consider him a Reaganite.

As much as I appreciate Josh Hawley, he is too sharp witted and conservative to win purple states. DeSantis could do it, but he is more of an improved version of GW Bush than a Reaganite.

Howard said...

Why are you selling Trump, his coalition and the United States short? It's time to stop playing the victim card.

Howard said...

Reagan was the original neocon warmonger who instigated wars all over the Middle East and Central America. Without Ronald Reagan's policies in Afghanistan nobody would have ever heard of Osama bin laden. I don't think Vance resembles Reagan in any way shape or form.

Joe Bar said...

"if it comes down to a primary in 28 between him, DeSantis, Hawley, or Vivek, I'm going to support DeSantis or Hawley. Especially Hawley."

It's nice to have an embarrassment of riches. I think they all would do well. My preference is for the new leader to have executive experience. However, Vance is a Marine, and I want my Presidents to have military service in their background, even if it's as a shamming Lance-Corporal (just kidding.)

Joe Bar said...

The difference between Corporal Vance and Officer Harris is marked. They are polar opposites in ability, poise, and vision.

phantommut said...

He started running for 2028 when he went on Rogan.

Fetterman did the same. If he doesn't get Tulsi's I think The Big Man is the Democratic Party's future, brain damage and all.

MadisonMan said...

So much can happen in the next 3 years nationally and internationally. It's a lot of energy for not a lot of return to speculate on who will or will not be a viable candidate in 2027.

DanTheMan said...

But how neat were the lawns? Apparently that's a key factor...

Hassayamper said...

Anyone know what would happen if they kill Trump before he is sworn in?

If before the Electoral College meets, they would presumably vote for Vance, but wouldn't be bound to do so. If afterwards, Vance would automatically assume office as the Vice-President-Elect and then immediately take over the vacant Presidency.

I believe JD Vance will transform the Office of Vice President into a totally different position, with the active assistance of President Trump.

He will be President of the Senate and could have a great deal of influence on legislation if he chose to exercise the full powers of what is now a "titular see" of no consequence except for breaking tie votes. The Democrats would howl, and the grandees of the Republican senatorial ranks would resist it more quietly but hate it just as much. But it's right there in the Constitution and there would be nothing to stop him. Sarah Palin was the first person I recall discussing this fact.

Mike (MJB Wolf) said...

She got a scholarship intended for children from impoverished or difficult circumstances. She has always taken shortcuts and cheated.

Mike (MJB Wolf) said...

Ya I gave up on two other threads.

Mike (MJB Wolf) said...

I hope so.

mikee said...

To start with, Trump should name Vance the Border Czar. Just sayin'. It would resonate, I think, in 2028.

Mike (MJB Wolf) said...

Really. Name all these wars he started. Or name at least one that lasted longer a few days.

Bruce Hayden said...

I want DeSantis as Attorney General. He’s a great administrator and inside player, and would know how to clean up the DOJ. What he is not is a great campaigner. Vance can out debate almost anyone, without losing his pleasant demeanor. I think that he would do just fine against Newsome, very quickly knowing his record and the problems with his reign in CA, and being able to have it at his finger tips whenever confronted. He has the ability to make pretty much every MSM Dem operative look like the idiot they are, without breaking a sweat. And that’s where I see him in the Administration - as spokesman and attack dog, where needed, leaving Trump to mostly act Presidential. Pence was just too nice, and really not quick enough to do that job.

Eva Marie said...

“If Trump wants Vance to be the heir apparent, he needs to give him more than just some sort of off books portfolio to run”
No heirs apparent.
We have a lot of potential Presidential candidates in the Republican Party.
We, the Republican voters, decide who the next candidate for the Republican Party will be. That’s what the primary season is all about.

Maynard said...

What Howard forgot to mention was that Reagan restored our pride in America and defeated Communism - a mortal sin in the eyes of Democrat pinkos.

planetgeo said...

Speaking of the border, regardless of who gets put in charge of it, I suggest that President Trump should proceed using a series of wise, logical priorities. Rather than immediate general deportations, I suggest something like the following: first deport any illegals who have committed crimes here, then deport any who came here as felons from their country, and lastly, those who do not have any family or sponsor or means of self-support here to assure private housing and financial support (a previous condition for legal immigrants).

America needs to continue as a country that welcomes legal immigrants and which also is compassionate but not self-destructive and stupid in allowing an unlimited number of unvetted migrants. A reasonable strategy, such as the one I suggest, would reinforce that.

clint said...

I think it depends on the date. The electoral college will vote on December 17th and those votes will be certified by Congress on January 6th.

If Trump were killed before December 17th, who knows what the electors would decide to do? Same with Congress certifying things. In principle, we could end up with the house voting by state delegation among the top three choices of the electoral college, which would be utterly wild. If it happened after 1/6, I think Vance would step in automatically on Inauguration Day, and have to appoint a new veep.

Hey Skipper said...

Do you know what Willie Brow and the 2024 election have in common?

Harris went down on both of them.

Eva Marie said...

Let me just add: Trump’s job is not to secure the Presidency for JD Vance. His job is to fulfill the promises he ran on. Vance’s job is to help President Trump do that. The Republicans have the House, the Senate, and the Presidency. For the next 4 years they need to deliver on their promises and stop thinking about their silly careers.

Mr Wibble said...

That's my choice as well. I think he'd be excellent in the job.

Hassayamper said...

I agree with Eva Marie.

I'm pretty close to being dazzled with the eloquence and good sense Vance shows, but there are at least five other people in the Republican party of similar prominence and achievement who could do a good job in the Oval Office. Let a hundred flowers bloom.

JAORE said...

"JD was "thrown into the arena" at the same time as Kamala."
Great point. I'm irked by excuse #472 of why Kamala did not win, that she "only" had 107 days to introduce herself. Great googlie-mooglie. Even ignoring almost 4 years as VP she spent 106 1/2 days ducking and dodging ANY question of substance. 107 days? Hell 2,000 would not have been enough if she had her way.

ron winkleheimer said...

Yes!

bagoh20 said...

It's been a while since a presidential candidate picked a VP equal or more capable than themselves. It's a standard we should keep. The downward progression that left us with Kamala Harris was a terrible mistake. She is one of the least capable, and dangerously incompetent people I have ever seen in or out of politics. We dodged a meteor yesterday. Congratulations Americans. Well done, but it should not even have been close. She was far worse than 49 state losing Mondale.

Democratic Paychecks for Perks/ Dems for Demolition of Democracy/ fake-cares 4-U said...

Howie - It's just what we know about the Corrupt Soviet-Democrat Party corporate media+Hollwyood - who set the cultural agenda.

Greg The Class Traitor said...

Too late for her now, but JD Vance can take a lesson from her failure. He's the frontrunner for 2028, and he needs to perform and to put himself in a position to run on substantive merit, which is something Kamala Harris did not trouble herself to do.

Yeah, that pretty much says it all

Democratic Paychecks for Perks/ Dems for Demolition of Democracy/ fake-cares 4-U said...

This/ alert* I repeat - this alert.

CJinPA said...

'Vance was a disappointment. A huge disappointment. He let me down and he let the American people down.' - None of us would be shocked if, in endorsing his successor in 2028, it turns out Vance had fallen out of favor and Trump turns on him. Not saying he will, just saying we wouldn't be shocked.

Hey Skipper said...

Boy did I ever goon up the punch line.

Harris blew both of them.

Sheesh.

Skeptical Voter said...

I like JD Vance. I listen to him and he's both very smart and likeable. He grins too dang much, but that's just the political style. Trump said that he sent J.D. Vance into the teeth of the opposition media and "he obliterated all of them". I wouldn't use fancy terms like that--he simply kicked backside and took names.

He'll do okay. But he's going to face a tough primary field in 2028. And I say that like it's a good thing.

bagoh20 said...

Every time I'm convinced the American economy cannot overcome some disaster or malfeasance, it comes back strong. Our problems seem insurmountable, but our history still gives me confidence in some mysterious ability free markets seem to have. It just needs to be free enough.

Eva Marie said...

LOL, you blew the joke, she blew them both. I do that with jokes all the time.