Why did Trump choose J.D. Vance ??

[kentuck]

We have read that he was a close friend of Don Jr.'s and that his eldest son had a lot to do with Vance being chosen?

I don't know if that is true or not?

In my opinion, Trump wanted the weakest, most sycophantic, least threatening person he could find, that would never challenge him and would give him complete loyalty.

Voila! JD Vance!

He could not have found a less-qualified person to replace him if something were to happen to him.

It's almost like a double-barrel threat to the head of America.

[jcgoldie]

1. you're probably right that Vance doesn't threaten to take any of Trump's spotlight...

But from a strategic perspective he did win in Ohio which is surrounded by PA, MI and sort of WI.

[ProudMNDemocrat]

5. Indiana to the West. Kentucky to the South.

[Claustrum]

2. I think partly Vance was chosen to highlight Biden's age (and that backfired).

TBH, TFG has a stronghold on the MAGA party so whoever he chooses doesn't help him much anyways. He was never going to choose a "moderate" that would challenge his views. He needed someone who would follow his order and suck up to him at all times.

[no_hypocrisy]

3. Same knee-jerk decision-making that compelled John McCain to choose

Sarah Palin to be his running mate. Couldn't make a reasoned choice, so panicked and decided from the gut, not the brain.

[Walleye]

4. I guess Putin doesn't understand American politics as well as he thinks he does

[Johonny]

6. Because Vance is smarter than he appears

And played the family to get the post. He is angling for his own future. He doesn't give a shit about Trump 2024

[bucolic_frolic]

7. Because he's got something on him

best form of control

[pfitz59]

8. Follow the money!

JD belongs to Peter Thiel and Elon Musk. The 'capital' in his venture came from them.

[OnDoutside]

23. Yep there's a sordid story in there somewhere.

[Liberal In Texas]

24. Yep. The Veep nomination slot was basically purchased by the oligarchs.

I guess they want their puppet in the top succession position as they probably are betting on a good chance Fast Food Boy will check out in the next 4 years.

[FBaggins]

10. Intended to help with the three key swing states

PA/MI/WI

Supposedly the blue collar working class will like him

[jmbar2]

11. He was chosen by the Broligarchy

J.D. Vance is a shill for his ultra-wealthy and special interest backers – and they’ve returned the favor by pushing to put their lackey on Trump’s ticket.

CNN: “A day before Donald Trump’s deadline to pick a running mate, after months of private conversations with every corner of his orbit, the former president took a call from a new voice.

“That person, Tesla billionaire Elon Musk, was one of several people urging Trump in the final moments to select Ohio Sen. JD Vance.

https://democrats.org/news/j-d-vances-ultra-wealthy-silicon-valley-backers-celebrate-putting-their-shill-on-trumps-ticket/

[S/V Loner]

12. I think he was picked to take over...

as soon as possible if trump were to win. The GOP has been working this authoritarian plan for a very time. Trump is the tool to get them in the White House. Once that is done he will no longer be useful and Vance would be their guy. The GOP will make him an offer he can't refuse.
My take anyway.

[FalloutShelter]

18. Exactly what I think.

TSF is now, and has always been, the Trojan Horse.
What did the Greeks do once the TH got them into the city? They burned it.

Just sayin.

[Midnight Writer]

20. Yep. I don't think the oligarchs want Trump. They want Vance.

Recall that Trump, in 2016, wanted to be the face of the Administration but wanted the Vice=President to handle the real nut-and-bolts work.

The oligarchs are betting that either Trump will become incapacitated and Vance will take over, or that their man Vance in the White House will control policy decisions.

If Trump would win, I expect his bigshot supporters will immediately work to weaken him and promote Vance.

What a pit of vipers.

[Happy Hoosier]

13. The Rust Belt

The GQP doesn;t reallt care about suthenticity.... the rubes will believe whatever tale they weave, and the tale they are weaving is that Vance is a blue collar hero, Just Like Them (tm). Vance's brigade of bearded fake tough guys is a perfect example. They hope to strip off Michigan and Wisconsin, and maybe Minnesota with this pick. The fact that Vance is a gross phoney is of no import to them.

[hatrack]

14. He sure as shit didn't pick him for his public speaking skills and personal magnetism . . .

He's Thiel's bagman, there to do Techbro bidding once Trump encounters the Cheeseburger Of Destiny.

[moniss]

15. A page from the Nixon playbook.

Vance will be the Spiro Agnew of our times.

[Fla Dem]

16. Tech Billionaires told Trump to pick him.

How a network of tech billionaires helped JD Vance leap into power
July 22, 2024 at 6:00 am

By Theodore Schleifer and Ryan Mac
The New York Times
Last month, JD Vance flew to San Francisco to hold a fundraiser for Donald Trump and to host a private dinner afterward with two dozen tech and crypto executives and investors.

The location was the opulent Pacific Heights mansion of David Sacks, an entrepreneur and podcaster whom Vance had met through tech investor Peter Thiel. Vance, now 39, had worked for one of Thiel’s investment firms in San Francisco in 2016.

During the $300,000-a-person dinner that night, Trump, seated between Sacks and another tech investor, Chamath Palihapitiya, informally polled the room about whom to choose as his running mate. Even with another vice-presidential hopeful, Gov. Doug Burgum of North Dakota, in attendance, Sacks, Palihapitiya and others all had the same answer: Pick Vance, they told Trump, according to two people with knowledge of the exchange.

Break......

Vance’s stint in tech was crucial for forging connections with billionaire executives and investors, including Thiel, Sacks and Elon Musk, who owns the social platform X. Over and over, those men have funded Vance’s political ambitions, raised his profile among other wealthy donors and on social media, and lobbied Trump to choose him as his running mate.

More... https://www.seattletimes.com/business/how-a-network-of-tech-billionaires-helped-jd-vance-leap-into-power/

[Fiendish Thingy]

17. Cokey and Gums demanded he pick JD

Now they get to hang with one of the cool kids, instead of another geriatric billionaire like Burgum.

[delisen]

19. Vance comes with a Peter Thiel dowry of sorts

The PayPal billionaire Thiel has his own vision for America. He has backed Vance for many years and has opened doors for him. Not sure what he sees in Vance though.

While there are many other reasons Trump chose Vance, I think using other people’s money to finance the campaign is also an element in Trump’s decisions.

[Wounded Bear]

21. They thought it was going to be a "base" election. Vance is red meat for the MAGA base...

It looks very like Kamala is going to expand this election to involve more swing voters, which repubs can't attract. Thus the buyer's remorse on picking Vance in the first place.

Pres Biden was shrewd in delaying his announcement until after the RNC shitshow and Vance selection. Things just got interesting.

[Sky Jewels]

25. This is what I've heard as well.

They shot themselves in the foot by picking this creepy women-hating fascist POS. ... What a shame.

[malaise]

22. For tech money n/t

[TxGuitar]

26. Because the oligarchs' plan is to replace Trump ASAP if elected

Last edited Tue Jul 23, 2024, 11:46 AM - Edit history (1)

and they got their boy lined up and ready to go.

[StarryNite]

28. That's what I think too.

[StarryNite]

27. vance was being groomed for this position by the heritage foundation.

[kentuck]

29. There is one narcissist that is more scary than Trump.

Elon Musk.

He is much smarter than Trump and much more dangerous, in my opinion.

And he says he is donating $45 million a month to the Trump campaign?

He is looking to take over the MAGA movement and be the first true dictator of America.

That is his dream, in my opinion.

[spanone]

30. Because he was the absolutely worse canadidate

[Polybius]

31. Anti neo-con and fake populist, like Trump

Not as pro-war as the Republican establishment war hawks, also like Trump.

[GoneOffShore]

32. Seen on X - 'J.D. Vance is the Sarah Palin of Dan Quayles'