Trump's Prop

[babylonsister]

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2017/10/mike_pence_has_become_trump_s_pathetic_culture_war_prop.html

Oct. 8 2017 8:07 PM
Trump's Prop
Mike Pence started out as a powerful veep. He's now Trump's pathetic culture war pawn.
By Mark Joseph Stern

snip//

It’s not surprising that Trump would seek to prolong a racially charged dispute in which he believes he holds the upper hand. It is more startling to see him deploy his vice president as a pawn in a culture war of his own creation. Pence did not take this job to perform demeaning tasks for the pleasure of his boss; he was expected to use his ties to the GOP establishment to help push Trump’s agenda through Congress. But following the administration’s failure to repeal and replace Obamacare, Trump seems to be repurposing Pence—and, in the process, testing the limits of his loyalty.

snip//

When Trump won, he understandably expected Pence to prove his usefulness by securing congressional victories. Pence has certainly served as a loyal foot soldier, refusing to speak a cross word about his boss and vigorously supporting his legislative priorities. But he also over-promised and under-delivered, particularly on health care. Publicly, Trump has never reprimanded Pence for his botched role in the Obamacare debacle. But it’s difficult to believe the president was not infuriated by Pence’s obvious ineffectiveness. What, after all, is Pence good for if he cannot secure Republican votes on the Hill?

We now have one possible answer to that question. On Sunday, Trump used Pence for the undignified purpose of reigniting his NFL flame war, a publicity stunt the vice president would never have come up with on his own. Pence is a reactionary, to be sure, but not an easily triggered provocateur like Trump; when theatergoers booed him at a performance of Hamilton, he defended their right to do so. Now, however, Trump is auditioning his second-in-command for a new role as a prop in the grudges he fosters to keep his white-working class base satiated. Trump may be punishing Pence for his past failures, or demanding proof of loyalty, or both. Regardless, Sunday’s charade is surely a new low point for the vice president. Pence teamed up with Trump to gain power and prestige in Washington. Less than nine months into his tenure, he is humiliating himself for the entertainment of a crowd that never much cared for him to begin with.

[Buns_of_Fire]

1. Sit. Lie down. Roll over. Beg. Good Vice President! Here's a Trumpy Treat! nt

[DK504]

2. Told the press to wait in the vans, he knew he would be walking out before walking in.

Of course he had a fundraiser to attend in California. Who the F would give these idiots money?

[Blue Owl]

3. Stunt Moron

n/t