A reporter for the German TV channel Phoenix was caught on a hot mic expressing his frustration during live coverage of Donald Trump's inauguration on Monday.
I will readily admit that Vance is younger, healthier, more competent, and just as vile but better at not saying the quiet part out loud.
However, for whatever crazy reason, Trump has his fanatics, and Vance doesn’t have those. What’s left of the GOP are people that have learned the lesson of kissing the ring of Trump. That’s no room for anyone else to lead, submit to Trump. Make no trouble for Trump, do everything you can to advance whatever he says. Do not call him on craziness, you’ll only hurt yourself. As a result, the GOP is unified behind him, with no one even pretending they would ever hold him accountable for anything anymore (remember whiffs of rhetoric early in his first term about accountability, with that having out quickly and stomped out thoroughly with the repudiation of Romney and Chaney).
I don’t see Vance having that status. Without that status, I think vying to be the head of the party is back on the table. Infighting with the current leader becomes a plausible path forward. While he may chase his particular brand of vile agenda, he would be in competition with other GOP agendas.
I’m unsure.
I will readily admit that Vance is younger, healthier, more competent, and just as vile but better at not saying the quiet part out loud.
However, for whatever crazy reason, Trump has his fanatics, and Vance doesn’t have those. What’s left of the GOP are people that have learned the lesson of kissing the ring of Trump. That’s no room for anyone else to lead, submit to Trump. Make no trouble for Trump, do everything you can to advance whatever he says. Do not call him on craziness, you’ll only hurt yourself. As a result, the GOP is unified behind him, with no one even pretending they would ever hold him accountable for anything anymore (remember whiffs of rhetoric early in his first term about accountability, with that having out quickly and stomped out thoroughly with the repudiation of Romney and Chaney).
I don’t see Vance having that status. Without that status, I think vying to be the head of the party is back on the table. Infighting with the current leader becomes a plausible path forward. While he may chase his particular brand of vile agenda, he would be in competition with other GOP agendas.