Donald Trump’s pathetic rollout for his vice-president nominee, Mike Pence, could not have gone worse. It included uncontrollable leaks to the media, a canceled news conference that exhibited his weakness and indecision, an awkward announcement by tweet, and reports that he wanted to back out of the selection of Pence, but was told it was too late. Then there was a coup attempt in Turkey that totally shut #TrumpPence out of the news cycle. So how long before he says it was all a plot by Obama and/or Clinton to rig the system against him?
This morning Trump finally got around to making it official that Mike Pence would be his running mate. He ambled out onto the stage and took his place behind the podium. Then he spoke for nearly half an hour about – himself (surprise). When he eventually got around to Pence he confessed that “the primary reason” he chose Pence was because “he looks very good,” later switching to “party unity.” Neither of which are good reasons to put someone a heartbeat away from the presidency. He then assured his audience that “Mike Pence was my first choice.” Unfortunately, as noted above, Pence may not have been his last choice, but he was stuck with him.
The press was not particularly kind to Trump either. The general consensus was that he flopped in an epic fashion. His unfettered ego consumed the entire affair. Here are some examples of the reactions:
- Politico: Trump introduces Pence, eventually
Following a long windup with plenty of segues, the presumptive GOP nominee rolled out his VP pick. - Huffington Post: Donald Trump Makes Mike Pence Introduction All About Donald Trump
It took him nearly half an hour to even bring Pence onstage. - Washington Post: In introducing Mike Pence, Donald Trump keeps the spotlight on himself
At a news conference to introduce his newly announced running mate to his supporters, Donald Trump took the stage alone Saturday morning and then spent 28 minutes talking about all sorts of things with only brief mentions of Indiana Gov. Mike Pence. - USA Today: Analysis: Even at VP event, it’s all about Donald Trump
At the rollout of the presumptive Republican ticket, Donald Trump and newly minted running mate Mike Pence shared this: Both talked mostly about Donald Trump. - Slate: Mike Pence Eventually Gets to Squeeze in a Few Words at His Own VP Announcement
Donald Trump gets distracted. He had spent [the opening] speaking about his favorite subject, Donald Trump, and the many resplendent real estate and political conquests thereby. - Vox: Donald Trump’s introduction of VP pick Mike Pence was about Donald Trump
Donald Trump formally introduced Indiana Gov. Mike Pence as his running mate Saturday with a speech in New York City that was a testament to Trump’s greatest strength: talking about himself. - Jezebel: Donald Trump Briefly Paused Talking About Himself to Introduce Running Mate Mike Pence
Trump dedicated the bulk of his rambling speech to bloviating about his own accomplishments, committing many long, breathless minutes to congratulating himself. - The Telegraph: Donald Trump snubs running mate Mike Pence whilst introducing him to America
Donald Trump introduced his vice presidential choice to America today, in a bizarre speech that focused on himself and barely mentioned the man he was supposed to inaugurate.
And all of this failure was focused on introducing a man who Trump would have eviscerated in any other circumstance. After all, Pence called Trump’s Muslim ban “offensive and unconstitutional.” He supported both NAFTA and TPP. He favored intervention in Libya to depose Gaddafi and praised Hillary Clinton for her efforts. He signed legislation to expand Medicaid in Indiana as part of ObamaCare. To Trump, all of these things were supposed to be evidence of the evils of the Obama administration and Clinton’s bad judgment. So either Clinton’s judgment wasn’t bad after all, or Trump just tapped someone whose judgment he despises as his running mate.
How Fox News Deceives and Controls Their Flock:
Fox Nation vs. Reality: The Fox News Cult of Ignorance.
Available now at Amazon.
Donald Trump is doing us all a favor by demonstrating so clearly why he should never be president. The selection of a VP is often referred to as the first important decision an aspiring president will make. If he can’t handle this competently, God help us if he had control over the nuclear codes (or the economy or the environment or foreign affairs or the Constitution). Donald is an existential threat to America and the world.
Is this so surprising? Trump’s entire campaign has been about himself and only himself. The fact that he demonstrates that YET AGAIN is hardly considered newsworthy.
I believe that if Trump isn’t talking about himself, he has nothing to say.
What else would you expect yellow a–wipe, TDump? Something that made sense, in anyway? NEVER going to happen.