Thread: Trump crowdsources candidates for VP pick

Trump crowdsources candidates for VP pick

By Jeremy Diamond, CNN
Updated 4:08 PM ET, Sat June 11, 2016

Tampa, Florida (CNN)As Donald Trump continues to eschew traditional methods of campaigning, he likely added on Saturday another first in the annals of modern presidential politics: polling a campaign rally crowd for ideas on who he should select as a running mate.


"Who do you like?" Trump said at an event here, putting his hand to his ear as the crowd erupted in a cacophony of names.

Trump repeated -- or appeared to repeat -- only a few proposed picks, including former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

"He says Newt," Trump said first.

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Gingrich has been floated as a potential vice presidential pick, but speculation swirled that he would no longer be considered after Gingrich unleashed on Trump over his recent racial criticism of a U.S. federal judge.

"They say Sessions," Trump then said, as the crowd continued to roar.

Sessions, who was the first sitting senator to endorse Trump, currently chairs Trump's group of foreign policy advisers and has been Trump's most vocal supporter in Washington.

A few seconds passed, and Trump leaned into the microphone to help another name rise above the fray.

"He says Condi Rice," Trump said, gesturing to another supporter.

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Picking Rice would undoubtedly be a bold move in an election season in which Hillary Clinton, has already made history as the first woman to lead a major-party ticket.

But Rice would also be an incongruous selection for Trump, who has railed against the Iraq War and the foreign policy of former President George W. Bush administration.

Rice served as Bush's national security adviser before becoming secretary of state and was one of the administration's most vocal advocates for the war, playing a key role in crafting the administration's Iraq War policies.

Before asking for the crowd's feedback on picking a running mate, Trump also praised former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who has been floated as a potential pick and has said he would be open to serving as vice president.

Trump has said that his shortlist is down to a handful of names and assured the crowd Saturday that "we have a lot of good people, you'll be happy."

The billionaire has said that he is looking for a vice president with government experience who can help him get his agenda passed through Congress. But he also said in a recent interview with Bloomberg Politics that "two veep finalists are respected military officials."

http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/11/politi...-running-mate/

This is why we like Trump. Those who say "you'll never get Congress to pass that", are dead wrong. Trump will empower the people much in the way that FDR did with fireside chats. That is how Trump will get things done to "Make America Great Again!" I believe Joe Apiro spoke at a Trump rally suggesting that the people are a secret weapon. When did Obama ever ask the people what they wanted? He's to busy dictating his personal agenda to the people. And we're sick of it!!

SCOTT BROWN FOR VP!!

35 Year Army Veteran Retired JAG UNIT Official, Army National Guard.

Former state representative, former state senator, former US Senator.

Former Member, Senate Veteran Affairs Committee.

Whomever is advising Trump on VP selections is doing a very poor job. Pay attention, Trump, Rice and Perry are both amnesty supporters!

MW, would you accept Rice as the National Security Adviser?

Originally Posted by joe s

MW, would you accept Rice as the National Security Adviser?

I believe she is currently an active member of the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). If I'm wrong about that, I'm sure someone will correct me.

Excerpt:

The CFR promotes globalization, free trade, reducing financial regulations on transnational corporations, and economic consolidation into regional blocs such as NAFTA or the European Union, and develops policy recommendations that reflect these goals.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counci...eign_Relations

So why would she even be considered? or she is not and that is just a name thrown out? She would never be able to work with Trump anyway.

Trump has already said he wants legislative experience and Rice doesn't have any. Trump has also said he would like some military experience, and Rice doesn't have any of that either.

SCOTT BROWN has both. 35 years in the army and 15 years in the legislature. 12 years in state legislature in Massachusetts and 3 years finishing out Ted Kennedy's term in the US Senate.

SCOTT BROWN FOR VP!!

Originally Posted by joe s

So why would she even be considered? or she is not and that is just a name thrown out? She would never be able to work with Trump anyway.

I will admit Rice is an accomplished woman in her own right. Supposedly she is an expert on all thing related to the Soviet Union. However, IMO, that does not equate to her being a good fit for a position in a Trump administration. Besides all that, being an active member of the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) should, in my view, make her a non-starter as a National Security Adviser.