Trump's performance raises hard question: Who'd want to be his VP?

[brooklynite]

Donald Trump’s performance the past month — the countless controversies and continual taunts of the GOP establishment — is dramatically narrowing his options for vice president.

With the Republican convention a month away and Trump approaching a critical decision on his No. 2, each week crosses more names off the list. Trump has bashed star Republican Gov. Susana Martinez of New Mexico and ignored the advice of senators like Bob Corker of Tennessee, who might have brought valuable foreign policy and congressional experience to the ticket. Florida Sen. Marco Rubio has ruled out the post (even as he reconsiders running for reelection), while South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst — both well-regarded GOP figures who might improve Trump’s dismal standing among women and minorities — have all but done the same.

And Gov. John Kasich, who might have helped Trump in must-win Ohio and heal wounds with the party establishment, can’t even bring himself to support the presumptive nominee.

...snip...

Ironically, the presumptive nominee’s own toxicity is making the job of finding a vice presidential nominee that much easier, because the short list is so short. Multiple high-level Republican sources said it is topped by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, with Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions a distant third and Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin also in the mix.

[Squinch]

1. Christie is debasing himself for it.

[Agnosticsherbet]

2. Chris Christie or David Duke would accept.

[uppityperson]

3. Sarah would.

[Hortensis]

4. Fiorina is specializing in temp candidate work.

Anyone wonder if Trump has something on Christie? The profound abuse Christie is taking, standing silent and blank faced at every appearance, hauling sandwiches to Mr. Trump, allowing him to shout orders at him, for weeks.

The intolerable bully so many loved to watch in abusing others has clearly fallen under the heel of a much more powerful bully, but how?

[brer cat]

16. We can all hope Fiorina continues temp work until retirement.

I have been a bit shocked by Christie, and wonder what Trump is holding over him. Blackmail or a coveted job? I heard earlier that he wanted AG.

[Hortensis]

19. AG is interesting and seems credible.

He's sort of been in that line and, presumably, would think he'd see little of Trump. I can't imagine anyone wanting to continue this way as VP; the happiest outcome would be exile.

Just looked and found this from New Republic, fwiw:

Does Trump like Chris Christie because he likes to have “a funny fat guy” around?

Slate has an incredible and somewhat disturbing series of interviews with former employees on Donald Trump’s reality show The Apprentice, which reveals that Trump is “obsessed with menstruation” and is as stingy with charities and his crew as he is with veterans’ organizations. But if you are fascinated by the curious Trump-Christie relationship, in which Trump repeatedly degrades Christie in public, while also (reportedly) forcing him to do things like “fetch McDonald’s” in private, than I would direct your attention to the section, “He Likes to Keep ‘a Fat Guy’ Around.”

“There was a fat contestant who was a buffoon and a fuckup,” recalls the midlevel producer. “And he would fuck up week after week, and the producers would figure that he’d screwed up so badly that Trump would have to fire him. But Trump kept deciding to fire someone else. The producers had to scramble because of course Trump can never be seen to make a bad call on the show, so we had to re-engineer the footage to make a different contestant look bad. Later, I heard a producer talk to him, and Trump said, ‘Everybody loves a fat guy. People will watch if you have a funny fat guy around. Trust me, it’s good for ratings.’ I look at Chris Christie now and I swear that’s what’s happening.”

So there you have it: Trump like Chris Christie because he thinks he’s good for ratings—and because someone has to pick up Trump’s Big Mac.

I was looking for informed speculation about why Christie would be playing "Fat Guy," though. Perhaps Trump promised to pardon him if he were convicted of something. In any case, this is definitely one of the creepier things to come out of this very bizarre election. At one point Christie actually felt it necessary to tell the press he wasn't being held captive.

https://newrepublic.com/minutes/134398/trump-like-chris-christie-likes-a-funny-fat-guy-around

[Kaleva]

5. Sarah Palin, Ted Nugent, David Duke, Joni Ernst,...

[JNelson6563]

6. Christie.

He has proven he will accept any treatment The Orange One™ doles out.

The others might demand some respect and input. No such complications w/Christie!

[busterbrown]

7. Gene Simmons.. In his uniform..

Perfect! He’s a right wing nut...

[niyad]

8. der drumpfenfuhrer is certainly NOT going to name anyone who actually has two arcing brain

cells. he has to be the star of his world, and isn't going to give the nod to anybody who might outdo him at anything.

so, for ryan, for example, to think that donnie's lack of experience will give the congressional pukes a leading role is. . . . delusional is the kindest word I can think of.

[annabanana]

9. Christie has shown himself to be sufficiently

servile...

[TeamPooka]

13. my thoughts exactly. nt

[Initech]

10. The only correct answer for Donald Trump's VP: Donald Trump's Ego

Prove me wrong!

[winstars]

11. "it is topped by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie"... he's crushing the rest of the field!!! HAHAHA

[Egnever]

12. Oh there is no lack of crazy on that side

I doubt it will be as big a problem as the author seems to think.

[COLGATE4]

14. That's too bad. I was really hoping that

Senator Breadbags McCutyrnutzoff would be his VP. They're made for each other.

[Night Watchman]

15. The Tribble on His Head

Who will play Dick Cheney to Trump's George W Bush.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

17. He really doesn't need a VP. He's smart enough to do it all and nothing

bad will happen to him because he is in perfect health and never gets sick. He only sleeps 4 hours so plenty of extra time.

TRUMP TRUMP !!

[muriel_volestrangler]

18. His eldest son and daughter would be old enough

She only just - she turns 35 at the end of October. Though do the ages limits count for the date of election or inauguration?

That would be in keeping with his megalomania - that the only successor to him could be his child. Either another Donald, or a daughter he's considered screwing. Either way, he'd be happy.

[yellowcanine]

20. Christie, Newtie, Palin ..... there is no shortage of like minded narcissists.

[Monk06]

21. It would have to be someone who is happy with STFU and opening doors for him