CarolKing
Singer of songs and a vapor connoisseur
Vanity Fair Oct. 5, 2016
And Pence’s boss might not be pleased.
Indiana governor Mike Pence, America’s humorless gym teacher, almost managed to make Donald Trump look palatable at the vice-presidential debate Tuesday night, largely by ignoring all of the positions Trump has taken, or denying them altogether. This had the immediate effect of enthralling many Republicans, who for 90 minutes glimpsed an alternate reality in which the order of the G.O.P. ticket was reversed, while having the unintended effect of potentially angering Pence’s ostensible boss.
On the facts, Pence clearly lost the debate, giving fact-checkers several metric tons of material to work with the next day. (Indeed, there were moments in which Pence directly contradicted Trump in an attempt to make his candidate look rational.) But in terms of style, Pence was the clear winner. Weaponizing a Midwestern politesse, a soothing voice honed by years in talk radio, and a predilection for staying on message—even if it was the one he wanted, not the one his campaign has—Pence easily flustered Kaine, who charged eagerly into the debate as if he was prepared to take on Trump himself, only to find himself flummoxed.
Republicans, particularly those in the professional political class, were ebullient, falling over themselves to declare Pence the winner of their hearts. Several dozen G.O.P. insiders surveyed by Politico, who had bemoaned Trump’s debate performance last week, were universally pleased with Pence’s performance. One Michigan Republican praised Pence for being “calm, reasoned, on message and polite, [while] Kaine was arrogant, rude and defensive.”
On Twitter, the Pence love-fest quickly turned adulterous. “If the RNC would sell a PENCE 2016 sticker with Trump crossed off of it, I could buy it,” said Amanda Carpenter, formerly Ted Cruz’s communications director, joking that she hoped Trump would be impeached in January. “If Trump had been half as good as Pence last Monday, the race might look different right now,” National Review editor Rich Lowry declared. “Pence speaks the language of conservatives in a way Trump does not and cannot,” tweeted Weekly Standard writer Stephen Hayes, adding that his performance was bound to reassure Republican voters on the fence about Trump. The highest praise for Pence, however, came from commentator and bigly #NeverTrumper Erick Erickson, who suggested that Pence had a promising political career that might just survive Trump’s orange stain. “Pence has convinced me conservatives should not write him off for 2020 just by being Trump's VP nominee,” he wrote. “He was solid.”
With all the G.O.P. love for Pence, some speculated that jealousy could not be far behind. Several sources within the Trump campaign told reporters that the billionaire would likely be upset that Pence outperformed him. “Pence won overall, but lost with Trump,” a Trump adviser told Bloomberg’s John Harwood. “He can’t stand to be upstaged.”
I was just telling my husband this last night. I bet Trump is pissed at Mike Pence because he did better at the debate. He's so predictable. I thought this was a good article. IMO important facts were brought up regarding of what Trump has been saying. Kaine just said it in an annoying way by butting in.
And Pence’s boss might not be pleased.
Indiana governor Mike Pence, America’s humorless gym teacher, almost managed to make Donald Trump look palatable at the vice-presidential debate Tuesday night, largely by ignoring all of the positions Trump has taken, or denying them altogether. This had the immediate effect of enthralling many Republicans, who for 90 minutes glimpsed an alternate reality in which the order of the G.O.P. ticket was reversed, while having the unintended effect of potentially angering Pence’s ostensible boss.
On the facts, Pence clearly lost the debate, giving fact-checkers several metric tons of material to work with the next day. (Indeed, there were moments in which Pence directly contradicted Trump in an attempt to make his candidate look rational.) But in terms of style, Pence was the clear winner. Weaponizing a Midwestern politesse, a soothing voice honed by years in talk radio, and a predilection for staying on message—even if it was the one he wanted, not the one his campaign has—Pence easily flustered Kaine, who charged eagerly into the debate as if he was prepared to take on Trump himself, only to find himself flummoxed.
Republicans, particularly those in the professional political class, were ebullient, falling over themselves to declare Pence the winner of their hearts. Several dozen G.O.P. insiders surveyed by Politico, who had bemoaned Trump’s debate performance last week, were universally pleased with Pence’s performance. One Michigan Republican praised Pence for being “calm, reasoned, on message and polite, [while] Kaine was arrogant, rude and defensive.”
On Twitter, the Pence love-fest quickly turned adulterous. “If the RNC would sell a PENCE 2016 sticker with Trump crossed off of it, I could buy it,” said Amanda Carpenter, formerly Ted Cruz’s communications director, joking that she hoped Trump would be impeached in January. “If Trump had been half as good as Pence last Monday, the race might look different right now,” National Review editor Rich Lowry declared. “Pence speaks the language of conservatives in a way Trump does not and cannot,” tweeted Weekly Standard writer Stephen Hayes, adding that his performance was bound to reassure Republican voters on the fence about Trump. The highest praise for Pence, however, came from commentator and bigly #NeverTrumper Erick Erickson, who suggested that Pence had a promising political career that might just survive Trump’s orange stain. “Pence has convinced me conservatives should not write him off for 2020 just by being Trump's VP nominee,” he wrote. “He was solid.”
With all the G.O.P. love for Pence, some speculated that jealousy could not be far behind. Several sources within the Trump campaign told reporters that the billionaire would likely be upset that Pence outperformed him. “Pence won overall, but lost with Trump,” a Trump adviser told Bloomberg’s John Harwood. “He can’t stand to be upstaged.”
I was just telling my husband this last night. I bet Trump is pissed at Mike Pence because he did better at the debate. He's so predictable. I thought this was a good article. IMO important facts were brought up regarding of what Trump has been saying. Kaine just said it in an annoying way by butting in.
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on earth.
