A curveball in Trump’s Veep search: He’s seriously considering a retired general

[DonViejo]

Source: The Washington Post

By Robert Costa July 9 at 12:49 PM

After weeks of focusing on a group of current and former elected officials in his search for a running mate, Donald Trump is increasingly intrigued by the idea of tapping retired Lt. Gen. Michael T. Flynn in order to project strength and know-how on national security, according to four people familiar with the vetting process.

Flynn, 57, a registered Democrat but fierce critic of President Obama, previously ran the Defense Intelligence Agency.

-snip-

The turn toward a military figure is being driven by Trump himself rather than by his advisers, the people said, and comes as the real estate mogul is telling his friends that national unrest may demand a “tough and steady” presence alongside him on the ticket.

In Flynn, they added, Trump believes he would have a partner whom he trusts, based on their close working relationship over the course of the campaign on policy. And he likes the image of a businessman and a general coming to Washington as outsiders.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/07/09/a-curveball-in-trumps-veep-search-hes-seriously-considering-a-retired-general/?postshare=6911468082970714&tid=ss_tw

[Mass]

1. or not, considering that this is Robert Costa

So it may be pure BS that has been fed to Costa to cover whoever he wants. Who knows?

This said, if it is Flynn, expect the GOP to explode completely, and the guy is a perfect racist (which some may not like at all)

[Cosmocat]

2. By his standards, this would not be a bad pick

It would help firm up frayed Rs who might not be in his pocket, but are looking for a reason to vote for him/against Hillary.

Would probably be viewed favorable by the media.

[RBInMaine]

19. He's a loose cannon with a loose mouth just like Trump, praising Putin, etc.

[Cosmocat]

43. possibly

but, he still would be a good pick by Trump standards for the reason I noted.

[emulatorloo]

3. Flynn's sort of an anti-Obama hack, and did not leave DIA on good terms

Unfortunate Costa didn't do any more research.

[Bluenorthwest]

4. It's very hard to take the WaPost seriously on such things after this cycle in which

they just made shit up to attack the candidate they did not like. I consider it to be a very biased if not bigoted paper. They might just be lax and lazy but they look pernicious to me.

[DonViejo]

6. Then try reading Politico....

Trump's favorite general

Michael Flynn is more than a valued adviser to the presumptive GOP nominee. He's also a potential VP candidate.

By Bryan Bender and Shane Goldmacher

07/08/16 05:51 AM EDT


Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2016/07/donald-trump-general-michael-flynn-vp-225253#ixzz4Dw8CSWUJ

[andym]

5. Who am I? Why am I here?

Perot's running mate, Admiral Stockdale, sounding clueless in 1992.

[TeamPooka]

10. Stockdale redux. My first thought too. nt

[Spitfire of ATJ]

7. I heard he was chummy with Newt.

[winstars]

8. tRump: "I watch the generals on the shows"... I guess he actually has now met one. LOL

[Wounded Bear]

9. Proceed....

some of our worst presidents were businessmen and generals.

[MisterFred]

36. Though apparently they got elected... nt

[forest444]

11. If Flynn turns out to be Trump's running mate, Hillary will need Tulsi Gabbard.

I realize Wall Street is pressuring her to choose a TPPer like Tim Kaine or Joaquín Castro; but Hillary will need her military chops, as well as her almost unique ability to unify the party.

Flynn, moreover, shouldn't be underestimated - especially if some incident along the lines of the USS Cole bombing happens to take place in (of course) October.

[RBInMaine]

16. Wall Street Wall Street Wall Street...bla bla bla. Please change the recording.

[Chan790]

42. It's not really a recording when...

there has been at least one article a day for the last two weeks which includes some variation on the theme of "Wall Street's insiders and power-brokers are saying that unless Clinton chooses Kaine, they will cut off the money they have pledged to donate to her general election campaign." in a major US news-publication.

Don't blame us for it if that's what Wall St. is actually saying.

Personally, as no great fan or supporter of Hillary holding my nose to vote for her in 2016 and fairly-committed to pushing to see her primaried out of office for 2020, it would improve my opinion of her dramatically (enough to actually consider supporting her in 2020) if she'd explicitly-state that Kaine is no longer in consideration solely because Wall St. can bugger off if they think they can bully her. It would set a good precedent that she will not be pushed or bullied by special interests and that doing so will result in whatever these interests want being burned to ashes. It would end the allegations that she's beholden to all those interests ahead of the American public, the Democratic party and the American left-of-center.

1.) No Kaine.
2.) Explicitly because that's who the assholes want.
3.) Because Hillary won't be threatened or bullied.

[Judi Lynn]

40. You've got a real point there, forest444. We've all been likely to expect them every 4 years. n/t

[geek tragedy]

46. We don't need to add an Islamaphobe to our ticket

Last edited Sun Jul 10, 2016, 09:40 AM - Edit history (1)

to match theirs

Edited to add: see here:



http://www.alternet.org/civil-liberties/curious-islamophobic-politics-dem-congressmember-tulsi-gabbard

And here:

http://www.salon.com/2015/10/31/bill_mahers_nasty_new_islamophobia_recruit_real_time_turns_ugly_on_barbaric_muslim_beliefs/

and here:

http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/10212942.html

Also do a Google for search for her name and Breitbart--the articles will be disturbingly positive.

[Judi Lynn]

48. Where would you get the impression Tulsi Gabbard is an Islamophobic bigot?

Have absolutely NEVER heard that about this completely exceptional person.

[geek tragedy]

49. Here

http://www.alternet.org/civil-liberties/curious-islamophobic-politics-dem-congressmember-tulsi-gabbard

And here:

http://www.salon.com/2015/10/31/bill_mahers_nasty_new_islamophobia_recruit_real_time_turns_ugly_on_barbaric_muslim_beliefs/

and here:

http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/10212942.html

Also do a Google for search for her name and Breitbart--the articles will be disturbingly positive.

[Judi Lynn]

50. Hmmmmm. That's quite a load to see all at once. Had never heard a peep about any of it earlier.

Anyone who would even consider agreeing with Bill Maher on his grotesque Islamophobic ravings is not entirely OK, after all. Never, never would have guessed.

Sheldon Adelson. Jesus.

Never would have guessed. Thanks for the info. I am disappointed. Hope she rethinks her position as soon as she can wake up.

[geek tragedy]

51. Cheers nt

[Botany]

12. Nobody wants to run w/Trump

And if the General cares about his image or reputation he will not run w/Trump either.

[chapdrum]

13. "Donald Trump is increasingly intrigued..."

Thank you Washington Post for the helpful color commentary.

[NWCorona]

14. IMHO If this happens it's because Newt turned him down

[moonscape]

33. No way Newt would turn down even a remote chance to

run the govt, a la Cheney.

[NWCorona]

34. Agreed!

[Mz Pip]

15. Not surprising really

I've always thought he'd go for some retired military person. Superficially, it adds some foreign policy and national security creeds to the ticket.

[Charlie Brown]

17. Flynn was with Huckabee before he jointed team trump

That doesn't give him a lot of credibility as a sane, sensible voice.

Beyond that, military people are great candidates. They know how to speak, debate, etc. superlatively.

Does anyone remember Stockdale, that Admiral who ran with Perot in '92? Sheesh.

[RBInMaine]

21. Wes Clark is probably an exception to that.

[roamer65]

23. Wesley Clark would be a very good VP pick.

It would probably sway me Hillary's way in November.

[former9thward]

29. "they don't know how to speak, debate, etc. "

Maybe they need someone to feed them baby food and change their diapers. Your insult of people in the military is noted.

[Charlie Brown]

35. Ok, I corrected it.

You opened my eyes & I see that military people are great candidates. Thank you.

[stopbush]

18. If military experience was important to voters

we would have had Presidents Kerry and McCain.

[JI7]

22. most generals support Clinton so it wouldn't really matter

[red dog 1]

24. Trump said he has two generals on his 10-person VP short list

according to an article posted yesterday on BBC.com

From the article, about Flynn:
"A shoot-from-the-hip outsider with a penchant for questioning authority might not be the best way to complement Trump...And while Flynn is developing a loyal following, he has no name recognition...There's also no way of knowing how effective he'd be on the stump."
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-36678388


(I wonder who the other general is)

[GeorgeGist]

26. Mills

[red dog 1]

28. General Mills?

lol

[truthisfreedom]

30. Dollar

Or Insurance

[Cosmocat]

45. No one knew who Sarah Palin was

before McCain picked her.

But, the Rs and the "liberal media" absolutely FAWNED over her for a month or so until it became obvious to the point of not being able to deny she was a moron the likes of which we had not seen in politics (pre trump).

The same thing WILL happen if this guy is the pick. Rs will get all moist in the groin over him, the media will say how great of a pick it is, and he will spun BIG time to try to get Trump into the game.

Now, how he holds up over time will be the question, but honestly, if he was general, he can't possibly be Palin bad.

I am not saying it means trump wins the election because of it, but given how ridiculously stupid Trump is, this would be a real solid pick by his standards.

[Happyhippychick]

25. I'd be thrilled with that

It doesn't get him any help on an important state like Florida or Ohio

[Tal Vez]

27. I was kind of hoping that he would pick Allen West.

[pressbox69]

31. Let us know

when he vets quiz masters and telemarketers.

[Night Watchman]

32. Isn't That what Bill Kristol Wants?

Hey, Trump should do whatever Kristol says, since Bill has never been right about anything!

[lastlib]

37. Generals are not outsiders.

They don't get those stars by not playing the political games that make much of Washington what it is. And to give the military more political power than it has now is a serious recipe for disaster. As electing Trump in itself would be.

[David__77]

38. I think it would be smart for him to pick a non-politician.

A general would be a smart pick, because it might be seen as politically more difficult to make the case that the person cannot handle foreign affairs and defense. If Trump picks a Republican politician as his running mate, he will be more easily ran against with a sort of standard anti-Republican campaign, in my opinion.

[Cosmocat]

44. I agree

this guy would be a good pick for Trump.

[rug]

39. George Wallace picked Curtis LeMay.

[dembotoz]

41. exactly

[geek tragedy]

47. Flynn is an explicit Islamaphobic bigot who has advocated

Dresden-style bombing campaigns as well as re-occupying Iraq and invading Syria.

And he's very possibly on Putin's payroll.

[rurallib]

52. had it not been for that one little incident, Petraeus would have been way up there.

[Doctor Jack]

53. The betting markets aren't buying it

They have him placed at the 8th most likely choice, behind several people that already said they don't want the job.

The problem with this guy is that he is pro-gay marriage, pro-choice, and as of a year ago, was a registered democrat. News that he is on Trump's shortlist has only been floating around for 1 day and already the media is finding information that will end up being a massive headache for the republicans. There is no way the republicans let him on the ticket.