Pence Trips Show Challenges Of Returning To Political Normal

[left-of-center2012]

Vice President Pence is slated to leave the confines of Washington twice this week — the latest in a series of trips the White House is using as test runs for President Trump to get back on the road after the coronavirus brought political travel to a screeching halt.

Pence will tour the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., on Tuesday and a GM ventilator plant in Kokomo, Ind., on Thursday. Last week, he visited a ventilator factory in Wisconsin — a key battleground state in the November presidential election. Last weekend, he gave the commencement address at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. Trump is itching to get out of the White House. "I haven't left the White House in months," Trump said last week — a bit of an exaggeration, since he held a campaign rally as recently as March 2.

Pence's trips have demonstrated both the political and logistical hurdles the administration faces trying to return to some kind of new political normal. NPR accompanied Pence on his first two trips. There were several new safety protocols evident. For example, at Andrews Air Force Base, masked officers in camouflage took the temperatures of passengers traveling with Pence and made sure no one showed symptoms of the virus.

Inside the terminal, almost everyone wears face masks, from those scanning bags to the officers who drive the truck carrying the stairs for Pence to board Air Force Two. Some seating was staggered on the plane to reduce contact, though passengers were closer than the recommended 6 feet.

"This White House has never shied away from making political statements in virtually everything that they do," said Maska, who is now CEO of the Global Situation Room, a communications and consulting firm. "They're going to be trying to figure out how they can get President Trump traveling again," Maska said.

Vice President Pence tours a GE ventilator plant in Madison, Wis., last week — one of a series of trips the White House is learning from before President Trump resumes travel.


https://www.npr.org/2020/04/28/842573365/pence-trips-show-challenges-of-returning-to-political-normal

[captain queeg]

1. I pictured Pence dropping LSD. Nt

[tanyev]

2. So I guess that makes Pence the guinea pig?

[global1]

8. The Canary In The Coalmine.....nt

[SWBTATTReg]

3. Idiot. Disrupting all to show his fat face out in public. I want to throw up. NT

[enough]

4. Unbelievable, no masks no distancing in a ventilator factory. NT

[lettucebe]

6. whoops you beat me to it!

[lettucebe]

5. Notice obvious lack of social distancing?

They sure are willing to roll the dice with Pence. When does the Orange One and his trophy wife get busy? I want to see them touring and meeting coronavirus patients and I want it now.

Oh, and tRump can have a rally if he wants. Choose an open state and go for it. Then we'll know he's serious about this "opening the country."

[uponit7771]

7. No mask, no social distancing

[captain queeg]

9. He is slightly less hideous than trump

Not by much. All those fuck wits have the us flag on their lapels while they actively try to destroy the country. Makes me sick. Although I can’t imagine him suggesting drinking bleach on his own, he’ll fully support whatever insane idea his master comes up with.

[rgbecker]

10. Pence has been challenged for a while now.

https://images.app.goo.gl/ziSD1Ai7Nf9VD8cb8https://images.app.goo.gl/ziSD1Ai7Nf9VD8cb8
]

[left-of-center2012]

11. .