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Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Bidens decision to choose Sen. Kamala Harris as his running mate leaves President Donald Scared Trump with little choicehe needs to dump Vice President Mike Pence.

I know, its a shame for both Trump and Pence. The two seemed like a match made in a strange and wildly inaccurate version of heaven.

But Trump will see the fanfare the Harris pick bringsshes an energetic and experienced lawmaker, a former prosecutor and attorney general, and the first woman of color on a major party ticketand then hell look over at Pence and see a man as electrifying as a dollop of mayonnaise.

For a president who spends most of his time watching TV or tweeting about things he saw on TV, the telegenic Harris will be too much to bear.

Sure, the Trump campaign will start out, as it did moments after Bidens announcement of his vice presidential pick Tuesday, with attempts to smear Harris for having embraced the lefts radical manifesto (speaking of which, someone send me the manifesto, I didnt get it) and suggesting she will help Biden surrender control of our nation to the radical mob and open our borders and appease socialist dictators.

But Harris presents a problem for those whose thinking has been impaired by Fox News overexposure. Shes not a radical leftist of any sort. Shes a former prosecutor who, if anything, has a prosecutorial background that bothers the far left. A presidential primary campaign and years of public service mean shes already well-vetted, and her energy and relative youth compared with Biden, and with Trump, for that matter, will give the campaign a spark.

She doesnt suffer fools lightly and wont be easy for Trump to pin down with demeaning nicknames or sexist swipes. Im not saying Harris is perfect, or Biden is an unstoppable force. Not even close.

But Harris is a smart pick, and shell give Biden the thing Trump craves most: attention.

That will drive President Me-Me-Me nuts, and you can bet your membership to Mar-a-Lago that come the next round of not-so-great poll numbers, hell start seeing Pences personalityone part lightly salted mashed potatoes, one part guy whose faux-piety makes you kind of squirmyas a liability.

And dont think Pence is indispensable. Trump needed him the first time around to reassure/con evangelical voters into overlooking his history of being a womanizer, a foul-mouthed bully and, well, a Democrat. But Trump has fully Trumpnotized evangelicals. Theyve bitten the Trump-branded apple and he could pick the lyrics to a Marilyn Manson song as his running mate without losing voters.

Imagine the possible ways Trump could spice up his campaign by ditching Milquetoast Mike and firing up his addicted-to-being-fired-up base.

The most noted possibility is former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley, but she seems tied up lately in a dispute with The Popcorn Factory, an Illinois-based company that apparently messed up some delivery orders.

Haley tweeted Monday: Ok @PopcornFactory two messed up birthday orders missed delivery dates with no explanation. First time I gave you the benefit of the doubt. Second one tells me not to buy from you again. #DisappointedNephew.

Shes clearly not in a good position to join the Trump campaign right now. Thoughts and prayers. But there are other sensible vice-presidential suggestions to help get the Trump Train chugging:

An angry can of Goya beans. Not long ago, after the head of Goya Foods praised Trump, the president continued his demolition of political ethics by promoting several of the brands cans of beans. People in Trumps campaign are likely to think this will constitute diversity, and if the can of beans can effectively communicate a message of intolerance, it will perfectly augment Trumps reelection message.

The MyPillow guy holding a can of angry Goya beans. Trumps base LOVES Mike Lindell, the CEO and founder of MyPillow, a company that makes pillows that I assume cause liberals neck pain. Pairing Trump with Lindell would energize voters who admire TV salesmen, and the angry Goya beans would just be added value for the campaign.

A yacht emblazoned with Trump banners. This is likely to be Trumps ideal pick. He has repeatedly tweeted images of yachts and other large boats displaying Trump flags and signs with exclamations like: We love our boaters! Theres even a Boaters for Trump hat for sale on the Trump campaign website. So why not leverage this sensible appeal to Americas forgotten men and women -- the yacht owners who for so long have had no voice -- by ditching Pence and replacing him with a sleek Riviera 6000 Sport Yacht. The slogan writes itself: Trump/Yacht 2020: Make America Buoyant Again!

The bottom line is that Democratic excitement over Bidens choice of Harris has to be met with something splashy. And you couldnt make Pence splashy if you threw him off a Riviera 6000 Sport Yacht.

So go for it, Mr. President. Dump Mike and find the running mate of your reality television dreams. I hear Kanyes available.

Rex Huppke is a columnist for the Chicago Tribune.

Excerpt from:
Trump should dump Mike Pence, replace him with a yacht - Idaho Mountain Express and Guide

IndyStar journalists Chris Sikich and Robert Scheer talk about their experience covering Pete Buttigieg's campaign, from Iowa to the Carolinas. Indianapolis Star

Pete Buttigieg, who has nabbed a primetime speaking spot Thursday at the Democratic National Convention, chatted with IndyStar this week about Kamala Harris' matchup against Mike Pence, President Donald Trump's handling of the U.S. Postal Serviceand what his own future might look like in a Biden administration.

Here is the conversation with the former South Bend mayor and onetime presidential candidate, edited lightly for brevity.

Question: Why have you been campaigning so hard for Joe Biden?

Answer: Because so much is on the line. It's common in election years to say this is the most important election ever, but I don't think many people disagree this is the most important election of our lifetime. The nation, our democracy, is on the ballot. The country is in a national emergency. The credibility of our country is collapsing. The economy is in the worst shape its been in since the early 20th century. I never thought this was possible when I was running for president, but the stakes have actually gone up compared to the beginning of this year and I think anyone who cares where we are heading has to be as involved as much as possible in making sure this election goes well.

Q: How do you think vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris will fare against Mike Pence?

A: I think it's a great choice on Joe Biden's part. Of course her nomination is historic, but she's also somebody who speaks with great intelligence and precision as well as empathy. I think that's going to make her a very compelling contrast to Vice President Pence, who has come on board with an administration that is antithetical to every conservative value as well as every progressive value. She is somebody who is quite gifted when it comes to getting to the core of an issue. She has a talent for uncovering the central questions that are at stake, as you can see in the work she has done on Senate committees. That will serve her well in debating Vice President Pence, but I also just think the contrast.She understands from personal experiencewhat's at stake in this becoming a country where gender equality is real, where racial equity is achieved, where Black lives matter. She will be able to speak to that in a moment where that is exactly what the country is looking for.

Q: How should Democrats respond to President Trumps handling of the U.S. Postal Service?

A: Well, like many other things, the Postal Service should be completely free of political interference, and so the president's confession last week that he wantsit to be harder to vote by mail is a stunning admission of why he's motivated to undermine the Postal Service.One of the basic yardsticks of human civilization is the ability to deliver mail, and Americans ought to be able to do that at all times. And yet it's being actively undermined for political reasons. This is something you don't have to be a Democrat to understand. Asa matter of fact, seniors, rural votersand veterans are all among those who will disproportionately suffer from the attempts to undermine the Postal Service.

Q: Why do you think Donald Trump remains so popular in many parts of Indiana?

A: Well, first I think some perspective would be helpful. This is an exceptionally unpopular president by historical standards, but I do think there are many in Indiana who have grown up Republican and vote Republican out of habit. Even when you have a president who attacks Republican values too, it's a hard habit to break.If there was ever a year people should reconsider old partisan habits, it's this year. The way the president has behaved is a direct frontal attack not only on liberal values but on conservative values, too.

Q: What can Democrats do to break through in Indiana, especially in statewide races?

A: I've always believed there's no such thing as a permanently red state. We've seen Indiana go blue in electingJoe Donnelly and in voting for Barack Obama. I think we can do it again. I think it helps that we have really compelling candidates. I noted Dr. Myers, who is running for governor, put out areally compelling videotodayabout his experiences with race and medicine and leadership. I think the most important thing is to ensure that our stories are reaching as many Hoosiers as possible and I'll do my part to try to amplify those stories because they are so important.

Q: What was your biggest lesson from your own campaign for president?

A: The biggest thing that struck me was that Americans are more open to moving across party lines than you would ever guess by looking at the behavior of politicians in Washington. Time and time again, I'd be campaigning in rural areas and conservative areas on a progressive message that was also inclusive and I would see again and again Republicans talk about how enthusiastic they were to support this campaign without ever having to pretend to be something I was not. That really tells you we are in a moment that could change and realign some of this polarization that has gotten to be so deep, especially since we have a Republican president who does not behave according to any American values, conservative or liberal. That creates an historic opportunity to cut through some of these partisan divides. It's something that I felt as a candidate before, and it's something that I feel now as I look at what's happening around the country heading into November.

Q: I heard Joe Biden say you'd have a job in his administration if you wanted one. Would you seek a Cabinet post in a Biden/Harris administration?

A: Well, first we have to make sure there is a Biden/Harris administration, but of course I would love the chance to return to public service if that's what a new president decides and it makes sense. Right now, I'm laser-focused on doing my part to make sure that we have that change in administrations.

Q:What are you looking forward to at the convention?

A: Well, I'm looking forward to the innovation first of all. You know, we've been forced into this situation by a terrible emergency, but I think we all know that conventions were maybe ready for some changes.I'll be interested to see how we find new ways to connect. Last night I did an event with the Indiana delegation where the state party arranged a virtual dance party. So on the social side as well as the political side, I'm excited to see that. The most important thing is the show of unity. We're not pretending to agree on everything in our party, but we're going to deliverthe message that progressives and moderates and independents and even some Republicans are welcome in this effort to deliver this change we need before it's too late.

Q: What was a virtual dance party like?

A: It was interesting. You were able to see everyone's different styles, one little Zoom square at a time. It was fun.

Call IndyStar reporter Chris Sikich at 317-444-6036. Follow him on Twitter: @ChrisSikich.

Read or Share this story: https://www.indystar.com/story/news/politics/2020/08/17/q-a-buttigieg-trumps-handling-usps-kamala-harris-mike-pence/5599506002/

Excerpt from:
What Buttigieg said about Harris vs. Pence, the postal service and more - IndyStar

CLEVELAND, Ohio - As the presidential campaign season heats up, check out numerous face mask options available online to help support Donald Trump, Mike Pence and the Republican Party.

OfficialTrump2020Store.com offers a wide variety of colors and styles, featuring both reversible and one-sided masks starting at $24.95 each. Note: Keep America Great masks currently sold out.

Zazzle.com offers a wide variety of masks for Trump supporters, starting at $12.95 each. Walmart also offers a Trump 2020 mask for supporters featuring the presidents name in white on a black mask, retailing for $10.95.

Both Etsy and Amazon offer a wide variety of masks, either single counts or three-packs ranging from $5 to $17.50. Warning: Some mask options on both sites include profanity or inappropriate gestures.

Looking for mask to support the other party? Check out a selection of Joe Biden masks here.

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Show your support for Donald Trump, Mike Pence and the Republican Party with these face masks - cleveland.com

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. Vice President Mike Pence was in the Mountain State Saturday, visiting Governor Jim Justice at his Greenbrier Resort.

The visit included a round table discussion about the coronavirus, along with a fundraiser for the Trump and Pence campaign.

During the meeting, Pence praised Justices response to the pandemic, and said he will make sure the state continues to have the resources needed to protect vulnerable West Virginians.

Pence and Justice also discussed opening up the states economy. The vice president said both he and the president believe the nation must open its schools, and allow parents to get back to work.

But not everyone was thrilled about the vice presidents eventLast month, Governor Jim Justice lowered the Mountain States social gathering limit from 100 people to 25 people.

During a press conference last week, the governor was asked if the fundraiser he held at The Greenbrier violated those guideline, and the governor said he did not know much about the visit.

Now some West Virginia lawmakers are criticizing Justice, who owns the resort

I had an email from a constituent who is having trouble with unemployment shes a single mother. And were holding this big event at the Greenbrier? Under most circumstances most West Virginians couldnt afford to spend a weekend at the Greenbrier and now were hosting an event that costs $25,000 just to show up?? I find it disgusting, said Delegate Shawn Fluharty, a Democrat from Ohio County.

Top Republican officials from the state, including U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito, Rep. Carol Miller, and Rep. Alex Mooney were also in attendance.

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Vice President Mike Pence visits with Governor Jim Justice at the Greenbrier - WBOY.com

3) Which club did Pence write he was a member of?

A. Failed Politicians Club

4) Pence and his wife Karen have been married since 1985 and have three grown children. Which of these has Mrs. Pence NOT done?

A. Promoted art therapy as a mental health profession

B. Taught elementary school

C. Painted with watercolors

5) Pence described himself as . . .

A. A husband, father and small businessman in that order

B. A Hoosier, an American and a fan of moose tracks ice cream in that order

C. A Christian, a conservative and a Republican in that order

D. A child of God, of the heartland and, politically, of Ronald Reagan

6) Who is or was Greg Pence?

A. Mike Pences son, a Marine

Link:
Veep quiz: Whats your Pence-Q? - Lynchburg News and Advance