In good if unsurprising news, theocrat Mike Pence will not be our next President. Trump’s Vice-President and insurrection resistor quit the Presidential race yesterday in Las Vegas, telling the Republican Jewish Coalition to elect “principled Republican leaders”—i.e., not Trump;
“After much prayer and deliberation, I have decided to suspend my campaign for president,” Pence, who previously served as governor of Indiana, told the audience. “Let me promise you I will never leave the fight for conservative values, and I will never stop fighting to elect principled Republican leaders to every office in the land, so help me God.
“We always knew this would be an uphill battle, but I have no regrets,” Pence added. “The only thing that would have been harder than coming up short would have been if we’d never tried at all.
“I urge all my fellow Republicans here to give our country a Republican standard-bearer that will, as Lincoln said, appeal to the better angels of our nature, and not only lead us to victory but lead our nation with civility back to the time-honored principles that have always made America strong and prosperous and free” [Ari Blaff, “‘I Have No Regrets’: Mike Pence Suspends Republican Presidential Bid,” National Review, 2023.10.28].
“No regrets”? How about regretting signing on in 2016 with the self-absorbed monster who has left the GOP hostage to an amnesiac cult of Constitution-hating insurrectionists determined to burn Congress, the Constitution, and America down to the ground? That cult has forced the GOP to abandon its Reaganite principles and anyone like Pence who dares remind the voters of those principles:
Pence framed the GOP primary as a battle between populism and conservatism, frequently decrying what he called “the siren song” of the former. He did manage to shape the debate in limited ways, pressing candidates like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to embrace a 15-week ban on abortion and assailing biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy over his lack of experience. But his calls on the GOP to rekindle their support for international engagement amid the wars in Ukraine and Israel fell flat. His own brother, Rep. Greg Pence, would not support a recent fundraising package for the European nation.
Pence may never have had much of a chance. Despite his long-held presidential ambitions — he weighed runs in 2012 and 2016 — he faced a GOP electorate that had soured on his Reagan-era brand of politics. He received only two endorsements from his barn-red home state’s Republican congressional delegation, from Rep. Larry Bucshon and his own brother [Adam Wren, “It Ended in Sin City. But Mike Pence’s Campaign Was DOA for Months,” Politico, 2023.10.28].
Even the Republican Jewish leaders in front of whom Pence surrendered forgot their principles and Trump’s own recent comments against Israel to cheer for Trump:
Of all the Republican presidential contenders who spoke at the Republican Jewish Coalition’s annual conference Saturday, Trump received the most sustained applause, with some in the crowd of over 1,000 people holding their iPhones aloft to get a picture of the former president.
He made no reference to comments he’d offered just two weeks ago criticizing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and describing Hezbollah as “very smart” in the aftermath of the attacks in Israel that had killed 1,400. Nor did the crowd seem to fixate on them.
“People judge him for what he does,” said Matt Brooks, the RJC’s chief executive officer, referencing elements of Trump’s record like moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, “as opposed to the noise.”
…“He’s got an incredible reservoir of goodwill in the Jewish community,” said Brooks. “He’s the frontrunner in a multicandidate field, and there are people supporting the other candidates as well. … But there’s no question, you saw by the response today, the strength of his support” [Alex Isenstadt, “The Stage Was Set for the Non-Trump Field. He Stole the Show,” Politico, 2023.10.28].
Republican have evidently decided the only way they can win elections is to play to the small, crass, mindless fringe who care not one whit for whatever principles a washed-up actor from California once professed and who just want to keep getting their jollies by seeing a washed-up reality-TV personality throwing insults at everyone on TV. Pence made that decision in 2016 when he agreed to serve under Trump. That decision has left him, like Mitt Romney, with no home in his own party.
The Reaganist principle of obsession with anti-government rhetoric is what formed the current anti-constitutional movement in the GOP. Return to Reaganism? No need. The modern GOP IS the very creature of Reaganism. Trump and Trumpists are the very embodiment of Reaganism. Reagan – worst US president EVER. ALL of his agenda was driven by an abhorance for government.
I went back into my pile and relearned that Mike Pence, who like Mrs. Noem, is just another christofascist raising money from the far white wing of the Republican Party because the members of that political party want to blow up America over social equity.
https://www.npr.org/sections/itsallpolitics/2015/04/01/395613897/sorting-fact-from-fiction-from-politics-on-the-indiana-law
Today, at the Conservatives with Common Sense breakfasting, we will have to ad lib the debates as the originally scheduled guest speaker is attending the Mt. Blogmore pheasant hunt today. Rest assured that grudznick will still deliver a quality Opening Rant, about the Pence haters.
Mike Pence hates Jews, too, grud.
Pence signed on with the idiot for two reasons. 1 – he was going to lose if he ran for another term as governor and 2 – he figured the moron would lose and leave him well positioned for the 2020 nomination.
His service as VP was abysmal. Constant fawning praise of the don and being a good capo doing what he was told; until Dan Quayle (!) told him he couldn’t.
If the eyes are the windo to the soul, to look into Pence’s is to stare into the abyss.
Pence never had a chance. The MAGA’s were never going to vote for him and the Democrats, of course, would never vote for this fake Christian who, for a brief moment in time, had a spine.
If my family and I had been threatened on Jan. 6 like Pence’s was you couldn’t get me to a witness stand fast enough against Trump. My goal in life would be to bring down Trump.
It’s sad that Pence magically appears as a ‘moderate’ when contrast to the modern republican party and those campaigning for the presidential nomination.
Days prior to Pence’s withdrawal, Peter Zeihan explains this is the 7th time the US political parties realigned. Zeihan thinks this realignment may require another 3-4 years to sort itself out. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4w0g-apV2o
Pence always seemed very dense and doctrinaire, rigidly of the Orthodox Conservative bent. that is why he rigidly adhered to Constitutional Principles and became an American Hero with Orthodox Republicans, who are few in number..
Cults are bad, unless they are good.
Tell me, is your Cult of Out-of-State-Name-Callers that much different than what Ms. Hubble and Ms. Taffy front, except that they are both so much prettier than you fellows?
Not surprisingly, Trump now contends that Pence should endorse him, before quickly adding that “people in politics can be very disloyal.” He refers, of course, to Pence’s choosing loyalty to one’s country, citizenry, constitution and conscience over capitulation to a stark-raving mad lunatic. I question whether any of the worst despots in world history has had a more distorted, delusional self-conception than Donald Trump has of himself. His TruthSocial rants, alone, prove that he is not only a terribly flawed character, but also a very sick one, too. And it’s hard to forgive his type of crazy.
One cult I know says “skraeckoedlan”, and grudznick’s close personal friend Lar can relate.
Anyone who uses a pseudonym and accuses others of being a name caller is an idiot.
Goat!
Damn, Lar, I have so many of your goats I have to eat at McD just to get a different taste.
The best goat meat is found at McDonald’s so bone on, appetit!
*grudznick dancing* *grudznick dancing* *grudznick dancing*
such as my hobbles allow, and the fellows who assist me
Lar, you did not hunt at the Blogmore hunt, but did they send you chili? In a package?
Okay.
I’ve met Sam Hurst but is he a Democrat? Except for Nick and Kevin all the rest of those men eradicating Chinese pheasants are Earth haters, right?
Lar, today was the hunt. Get over that grudznick and you were left off the invite lists. Get used to making your own chili. You are so deep in your own mind about this Blogmore Hunt business that you are probably loading your Subaru right now to come up and yell at Mr. PP about the style of shotgun he does not carry. Mr. PP is a horrible shot, he does not even try. As the kids say, “chill over your non-invite to the Blogmore hunt”. That’s what the kids are saying. Really.
It seems unlikely Mr. Nemec invited Mike Pence.
I have a Belgian Browning Light Twelve and can outshoot everyone who was invited.
Yet, you were not invited, Lar. Telling.
Indeed.
grudznichts name caller? You don’t know name callers you haybilly hermit. This is what the kids are saying about your kind.
“Get yo skin tone chicken bone google chrome no home flip phone garden gnome extra chromasone, metranome dimma done genome polblone lonochrome student loan indiana jones, overgrown flinstone x and y horomone, silvester styalone, seera lion, audisone professionally seen stilver petron head ass out of here bro grudzie!!”
Goat to grudznick
We should all convert to stupid blog handles here because why not?
No goats. Just bloats.
There are several factors that contribute to why GOP conservatives become addicted to unprincipled, amnesiac cults of personality.
– Emotional Manipulation and Exploitation: Cults of personality often employ various techniques of emotional manipulation, such as love-bombing, fear-based control, and mind control tactics. These tactics can create powerful emotional bonds and foster a sense of dependency on the cult leader or the group itself.
– Confirmation Bias: People naturally tend to seek out information that confirms their existing beliefs and ignore or reject evidence that contradicts them. This cognitive bias can be exploited by cult leaders who manipulate information and control the narrative to maintain power and control over their followers.
– Escapism and Vulnerability: People who are experiencing emotional distress, trauma, or feelings of powerlessness may be more susceptible to joining a cult of personality as a means of escaping their problems or finding someone to guide them. Cult leaders often prey on vulnerable individuals and offer them a sense of hope and purpose.
It’s often a combination of the above reasons.
Trump is a world class manipulator and South Dakota is his toy. Giving any attention to such a love starved majority is quickly repaid with total admiration.
– data extrapolated from Psychology textbooks
Trump is a total, juvenile jerk, with no sense of humor or humanity. He’s criminal in his intent and a pathological liar. He has no discernible leadership skills and is blatantly ignorant. What’s not for grudznick to like.
Mr. Blundt, as a fellow who normally pays attention, what must grudznick do for you to grasp the obvious?
Read this, Mr. Blundt. Read it hard, and twice.
Don’t make grudznick come over there and smack you, Mr. Blundt, for I have a fellow who does my heavy lifting and he has little tolerance for fellows like you who pay no attention to the real world
That SDGOP is hideously divided is the sip of Tranya for all humankind.
Don’t lie grudzie. We know by what you say what you really mean.
And grudz, what does your hero Trump do to repay you and you South Dakota “Trump Worshippers”?
He mixes up Sioux City and Sioux Falls.
But only because what he really means is “S*ithole Cities”.
Mr. Pence should have prayed 🙏 to his god before he ran and gotten some guidance at that time. I am sure his god talks to him, right? 🙏🙏🙏🙏🤞🤞🤞🤞✝️✝️✝️✝️
I think Pence comes to his religious and political views honestly, but I think they are all screwed up. I have a hard time finding Reaganism, let alone Trumpism, in the sayings of Jesus. I sort of cringe when I hear Pence making a big deal about his praying. He says this stuff all the time, and I sort of wonder about whether he needs to read the Book of Amos in the Bible. I’m an atheist, but Amos houses my favorite Bible verse: “I [God] want to see a mighty flood of justice, a torrent of doing good.” He says this after God chastises the fake piety shown by people who don’t do anything to ease the struggles of others far worse off than they are. There’s a lesson in there for so-called “conservatives.”
There’s your lesson, grudznik. You’re old. You’ve lived your whole life being nothing but negative. You’ve never made a difference for anyone or anything that wasn’t wasted and negative.
But it’s never too late to make changes in your perspective and actions, old man.
Begin by reflecting on your mindset. Find your purpose, Practice gratitude. Engage in acts of kindness. Surround yourself with positivity. Practice self-care.
Learn and grow: by acquiring new skills and knowledge, you can become better equipped to make a positive impact.
Changing ingrained patterns takes time, so be patient with yourself, grudz. Making a difference, even in small ways, can bring immense fulfillment and help you create a more positive and meaningful remembrance when you die. .
gee grdz, is it you, or is it every one of us who is negatively affected by the sheer inanity of stupid posts? yeah, sure, you have told each of us that WE are the problem. giving you a platform here is like giving thin skinned trump a platform.
Trump treason trial is underway in Denver.
$20 says Nikki Haley will become the front runner after Trump is eliminated.
https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/iowa-poll/caucus/2023/10/30/iowa-poll-shows-how-much-support-donald-trump-ron-desantis-nikki-haley-gop-candidates-have/71328322007/
god sure tells a lot of these Republicans to run. However, so far, she hasn’t told me to vote for any of them. I do wonder if the faithful like Pence feel abandoned or question their faith when getting a direct from the deity directive to run, then get blown out the back of the pack like he has been. What does it say to Pence when his god will not promote a candidate to success that is a true-believer? Does he become disenchanted with a party that seems not to produce the will of his god? How far does the GOP have to go denouncing the tenants of his faith before he will denounce the GOP?
Russian nationals, funneled money to Speaker Mike Johnson. Some of the same tied to our own Squishy Johnson’s gal pal, Butina. Birds of a feather. I’m sure Pence will land on his feet after all of this drama. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/mike-johnsons-campaign-contributions-from-company-tied-to-russia/ar-AA1iWNi6
“One of the men behind the company, Nikolaev, an oligarch with close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, was also found to have financially backed Maria Butina, a Russian citizen who lived in Washington D.C. Butina was sentenced to 18 months in prison in 2019 after admitting to acting as an unregistered foreign agent to infiltrate conservative political groups and influence foreign policy to Russia’s benefit before and after the 2016 election.”
Lovely, no wonder they don’t want to back Ukraine.
Republican’s pretend to hate government, yet lust for its power.
Then they weaken it via serial, systemic vacancies. These systemic vacancies also occur in SD state agencies. There ought to be a law that returns the funding for salaries and benefits to the general treasury fund for everyday there is an unfilled FTE position. Instead the funds are proxy slush funds for agency leaders to spend by the end of the fiscal year.
https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/31/opinions/gop-vacancies-mike-johnson-house-of-representatives-hemmer/index.html
ICYMI here is Adam Kinzinger talking to Terry Gross about how evil Trump and the Earth haters have become.
https://www.npr.org/2023/10/31/1209660418/rep-adam-kinzinger-on-investigating-jan-6-and-being-a-renegade-in-the-gop