Posted on 01/17/2024 8:58:39 PM PST by SeekAndFind
There's been a lot of talk about Donald Trump picking Nikki Haley as his vice president lately, and that hasn't exactly been a popular idea among most conservatives. To be fair, the speculation has been driven by the fact that the former president's campaign steadfastly refuses to rule it out while having no problem panning prospects like Vivek Ramaswamy. Something is afoot.
But is there another? According to a new report, Trump is seriously considering Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) for the spot. Of note is that RedState's own Ward Clark called this recently.
Scoop: Donald Trump is seriously considering House GOP Conference chair @EliseStefanik as his VP. He's been mulling the idea privately with allies, raving about Stefanik's loyalty.
Our exclu on the veepstakes. w/
@katiadoyl @scottwongDC https://t.co/HBcdhhRq7i— Brian Schwartz (@schwartzbCNBC) January 17, 2024
“She’s a killer,” Trump said, according to the person at the event.
Ever since then, Trump and a growing group of allies have started to look more closely at Stefanik as a running mate, according to eight people familiar with the matter, including people in Trump’s orbit, Stefanik fundraising bundlers and former Trump administration officials.
(...)
“Stefanik is at the top,” said Steve Bannon, who was Trump’s chief strategist in the White House and the architect of his 2016 campaign strategy.
“If you’re Trump, you want someone who’s loyal above all else,” a Republican campaign operative said. “Particularly because he sees Mike Pence as having made a fatal sin.”
Trashing Republicans isn't what we do here at RedState. If there's a disagreement, and there are plenty of those to be had within the GOP, we handle it through analysis, not name-calling. I say that to say that Stefanik's possible issue isn't who she is as a person, but it's her record. What's on paper is what's on paper.
If someone doesn't want Haley to be vice president, would they really want Stefanik to fill the role? She's just as supportive of Ukraine (and has supported every aid package passed so far), and her voting record is even more liberal on social issues and spending. Stefanik's Liberty Score clocks in at an "F." Her Heritage score is 56 percent for this term (i.e. she's not a recently reformed conservative), with the average Republican representative rating being an 85.
Then there's the question of what Stefanik brings to the ticket. She's in a state that will not be competitive in 2024 (any suggestion to the contrary, just like in 2020, is delusional). She isn't liked by the conservative base of the party, but because she's so heavily connected herself to Trump over the last several years, she doesn't appeal to Trump skeptics either. What extra voters is she bringing along? A vice president who adds nothing to a ticket electorally would be a very odd pick.
That's not to say Stefanik hasn't had her moments. The questioning about antisemitism that she levied in a recent hearing helped get two far-left university heads fired, including Harvard's Claudine Gay (who was ultimately finished off by a plagiarism scandal). She's also facing censure (which will never pass) from the Democrats over allegations she helped "support" the January 6th "insurrectionists."
Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) will today introduce a resolution to censure Congresswoman Elise Stefanik for conduct unbecoming of a member of Congress, including her consistent support of insurrectionists who attacked the United States Capitol on January 6th 2021.
Making Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY) cry is always a positive in my book. Is that enough, though? Most Republicans have their redeeming qualities, but as an overall package, making Stefanik vice president would be a controversial move that could do more to divide than unite.
Is this just a blip on the radar, or is Trump seriously considering this? Who knows. I'm guessing his opinion on who to pick changes by the hour, and before this is all done, there may be some more surprises.
Everything President Trump does is controversial according to the media.
Wish fulfillment by the Assistant Democrats.
red state commentary is still nevertrump central, even after erickson left.
She doesn’t bring anything to the table that someone else couldn’t bring — without her downside. She’s a House member from a rural district that functions like a miniature welfare state. And I’d be hard pressed to ever trust a Harvard-educated career politician from New York under any circumstances. Stefanik’s resume reads like a Deep State political hack.
She wouldn’t be anywhere near the top of my list of VP candidates.
>>>Give Elise Stefanik a crack at Speaker for a litmus test, then get back to me . . .
I posted a link to a podcast the other day of Roger Stone and Jack Posobic saying Tulsi Gabbard was someone who they thought he could pick.
So the way things look, don't expect a conservative. Trump has said he seriously wants to try to win NY/NJ and no way he does that with a Kari Lake etc.
This gives me the same feeling that I had when Ronald Reagan chose George Bush to be his VP...
She’s smart and loyal.
Two desired qualities.
Elise has two high valued scalps ... Trump likes winners
There are more important qualifications for a VP than loyalty to Trump. Whoever Trump’s VP is will have a better than average chance of becoming POTUS during his second term, due to his age. I don’t know anything about Stefanik - a look at her Wikipedia entry lists “working in the George W. Bush administration, prepping Rep. Paul Ryan for his vice presidential debates”. Not exactly a confidence inspirer, and not something that makes me want her as president.
George Bush had creds from his WW2 experience, and we were in the cold war. Today's enemy is DEI and CRT - Elise is laser focused on those ... I trust her
Actually, it’s all speculation, but there is no way he is picking Haley.
Trump likes winners
>>>To be honest, I can’t figure out who should be Trump’s Veep.
I just pray he doesn’t end up with another Judas Pence.
Better Judas Pence than Haley.
As far as I know Stefanik has ALWAYS defended Trump and his supported his judges, and has NEVER been reported as saying crap behind his back.
In my opinion, she both EARNED the VP and will not backstab Trump.
Ditto - and will help him with the ‘Soccer Mom’ vote. That’s the demographic he lost most in the last election ...
You're more than likely to be ACCURATE with that assessment.
Elise ‘could be’ the bridge to the future, in the eyes of young voters... those that normally wouldn’t vote Trump, but would be willing to vote Trump if Elise were the future
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