Trump/Spence Ticket Official

by Stephen Lendman

On Thursday, Spence flew unannounced to New York ahead of Friday's announcement - low key instead of more elaborate plans following Nice's overnight incident.

At 9:50AM Friday, Trump made it official, twittering "I am pleased to announce that I have chosen Governor Mike Pence as my Vice Presidential running mate. News conference tomorrow at 11:00AM."

Pence formally filed paperwork affirming he won't stand for Indiana gubernatorial reelection, then tweeted it.

He endorsed Trump after primary season ended, saying "it's time to come together around the people who were the people's choice."

He's a Tea Party hardliner, anti-populist, abortion rights opponent. Vice presidents are chosen to broaden support for presidential aspirants.

Rare exceptions aside like Dick Cheney, they hold little or no power in office, appendages of their bosses only.

Former FDR running mate John Nance Garner once told JFK's veep Lyndon Johnson that "(t)he vice presidency isn't worth a pitcher of warm spit."

Both men were noted for earthy language. Some observers said Garner's actual words were a "pitcher of warm piss." Separately he called the office "a spare tire on the automobile of government."

Clinton's choice awaits to be announced, likely before Democrats meet in Philadelphia beginning on July 25.

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. 

His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com. 

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