The Quiet Disturber’s In
Former Vice President Mike Pence announced his White House run
The upcoming Republican Party primaries were set to be a walk in the park for the 45th US President, Donald Trump. No big names wanted to challenge the GOP’s unofficial commander.
Surprisingly, the race is setting up to be even more enjoyable than what we were faced with in 2016- when we got to know Trump the politician.
After Florida’s governor Ron DeSantis decided to oppose Trump, it is now Mike Pence’s turn to join the crowded field of Republican candidates. He filed the paperwork needed to run on June 5 and officially launched his presidential bid last Wednesday in Des Moines, Iowa. Later that evening, he did a somewhat predictable CNN town hall.
It was obvious he would run. Most vice presidents have the ambition to one day take over the presidency, just talk to Kamala Harris about that.
But his intentions became clear when he published his autobiography, So Help Me God. Mr. Pence has quite the resume that will distinguish him from some candidates on the campaign trail. He is a typical politician that the republicans can’t go wrong with. The former governor of Indiana from 2013 to 2017 was also a representative in Congress for more than a decade. Social conservatives will cherish him deeply on key issues like abortion. On that, he has never changed his mind, unlike Trump.
Trump and Pence were once close allies. We can affirm with no doubt that Pence has moved on from the MAGA ideology, and is now ready to rebuild the party’s credibility.
It is almost certain that he won’t be a contender for the top position.
Nevertheless, it is unusual for an ex-vice president of a candidate to run against the same candidate. It has in fact never happened before. Presidents who have lost a presidential election usually don’t run again. Never say never with Trump.
Mr. Pence has a lot on his mind and wants to settle accounts once and for all, especially after getting mistreated by his former boss on January 6, 2021.
During the Capitol insurrection, Pence was thrown under the bus by the president. He didn’t buy into the false accusations from some, which said that the results of the 2020 US presidential elections were illegitimate. Story short, Mr. Pence didn’t obey Trump and acknowledged that Biden had won fair and square. That was the day that the relationship between both men came to an abrupt end. It also didn’t help that Trump never defended him as people outside (and inside) the Capitol were screaming, “Hang Mike Pence”.
Donald Trump hasn’t changed. He has been repeating the Big Lie every chance he has had since losing to Biden.
Pence, an evangelist, could surprise. In the meantime, he needs to work on his charisma. Maybe him and DeSantis could take a few classes together to improve that aspect.
We now know who Trump is- Trump the candidate, the rally fanatic, as well as the unusual president. What he prefers to do is to campaign and debate with nasty and immature rhetoric. The author of the Art of the Deal will keep the same formula as he did last time around.
The republican candidates need to be prepared for that.
Chris Christie sure will be. He’s in for a rematch. After trying his luck in 2016, the former New Jersey governor will debate Trump and others once more, speaking his mind along the way.
Democratic Party: How about a change?
As the republican race gets under way, the democrats should think ahead and consider pushing Biden to retirement. The actual president has shown again and again that he can surround himself with talented staffers and key cabinet members who keep the lights on. But as a leader, Biden can’t meet the expectations.
At the same time, he probably wants a rematch against Trump in order to definitely put an end to the 45th president’s presidential hopes.
Biden would’ve been a great president a decade ago. He is the US’s oldest president and it shows.
With that taken into consideration, will the party politely ask him to step aside and force Democrat primaries? Will more democrat candidates mention their intentions to run in the upcoming presidential election.
For now, there is one candidate with a familiar name that wants to take his place. Robert Kennedy Jr. could definitely be in the other party given his stance on COVID vaccines and immigration. The only other Democrat challenger to President Biden is Marianne Williamson, who ran in 2020.
A new party is showing its face this time around: the People’s Party, a progressive alternative composed of a few of Bernie Sanders’s old supporters. It will be represented by Cornel West, a well-known left-leaning professor.
The first Republican primary debate hosted by Fox News will be held on August 23, in Milwaukee. The primaries will begin in 2024.
