The Vance Dance

JD Vance is 40 years old. He is Trump’s most dangerous pick yet. Even more so than the three stooges he put on the court with orders to overturn Roe v. Wade.

Given reasonably good health and crossing only on the green, JD could be around for four-plus decades. Regardless of the outcome of the 2024 election, he will likely be a candidate for president in 2028. But he won’t be the first “hillbilly!” Andrew Jackson, the seventh president of the United States, was born in a backwoods settlement in the Carolinas. His family was poor, he had little education, so he may fit the definition of first  “hillbilly” president. But Vance is not poor; he is highly educated and he long ago shed any trace of the crook-and-hollow.

If the 78 year old Trump wins the election, given his evident cognitive decline, given that he tips the Toledos at 243 pounds, given the possibility of other as yet undisclosed health issues and given his refusal to release his current medical status, can he go the full four years? Vance would become president - and could then run again for two full terms. Are there enough sentient Republicans with the guts to kill this candidacy in the crib? No bet there. Also, the few who might want to run for President themselves are not an improvement over JD.

Vance is of strong intellect, relates well to people and comes up with memorable and colorful images: who among us has not envisaged childless cat ladies? It’s a lot catchier than “my values haven’t changed.” He can play nice as he did in the VP debate. Both guys were civil to each other, even approaching cordial. Pet-eating did not come up.

With a straight face, Vance tells us Haitians eat their cats and dogs in Springfield Ohio. Where else is unclear but doesn’t matter because Vance made that story up. And doubles down when he’s called out.

Harris picked Walz so that’s on her. The debate between Tim and J was not a great night for Walz. Their exchange was viewed by 47 million people, some of whom must have struggled to stay awake for the whole sorry thing. On the up side, Walz has strong legislative chops and knows how Congress is supposed to work; that he is a truth-stretcher is normal Washington behavior; he goes along, gets along and works collegially in the Cave of the Winds. Still, if Kamala wins, can Walz be seconded to inspecting far-flung territories where beads and corn remain the currency?

Trump is increasingly detached from reality. His current rants are incomprehensible. His outright lies over decades are simply just part of who he is. He lacks patience and curiosity; he is unwilling or unable to learn; he is angry and identifies as Victim in Chief.

He is an adept and often colorful communicator though he delivers little of import. He currently holds the national title for number of attempts on his life during outdoor presidential campaigning. He took a survivor-victory lap in Butler PA a few days ago.

Vance also lies much of the time but except for childless cat ladies, which is only slightly cuckoo and kinda funny, there’s almost zero affect. Vance

knows he’s lying. Nobody is eating their pets except maybe 4H kids.  For Vance, lying comes with the job.

Just for the record vantz means bedbug in Yiddish. For sure, Vance gets under your skin.