It looks like J.D. Vance has stepped in it again. In fact it might be more accurate to say he dropped a “mess” on the ground and then stepped in that very mess. When it became clear to him he’d screwed up in multiple ways he deleted the tweet. Alas, there are those out there who keep an eye on certain figures and grab copies of whatever they post online. You can delete something but many a person has learned the painful lesson that once you’ve posted something on the internet it’s out there forever.
So what’s happened? Why is Vance fielding uncomfortable questions, taking heat from MAGAs and even drawing direct ire from Trump? As this Huffington Post article explains ole JD decided to explain blowing off showing up for Senate votes on Biden judicial nominees. Yes, he’s correct that he and fellow Republicans can’t really block said nominations but MAGA is in a “mood” – by which I mean they want to start kicking liberal ass and rubbing their noses in the impending GOP takeover in DC. Vance being among those not showing up in the Senate to make every possible effort to block Biden nominees, even if the attempt would be futile has been pissing off MAGAs. So Vance decided to respond via this now deleted tweet:
Okay. So Vance decided to ‘set MAGAs straight’ but his fail goes beyond NOT mollifying MAGA. Or even Trump who is mightily unhappy about judicial nominees being confirmed during the transition. Of course he didn’t mind one bit when it was the other way around and McConnell was ramming nominees through at the last minute but that’s it’s own topic. If you read the tweet Vance explained WHY he wasn’t in the Senate making floor speeches railing against “abuse” of process (approving nominees during the lame-duck) and voting against Biden’s picks. He includes a statement about being with Trump down there at Mar a Lago. Discussing people Trump can make FBI Director!
It seems Trump didn’t want confirmation from so high up about replacing Wray to be out there just yet. So there’s been some backing and filling including Vance deleting the tweet who’s screen shot is displayed above. But as I said it’s out there:
A Trump transition team spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment as to whether Trump is preparing to remove Wray from his post before his term is up.
An FBI spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Beyond that slipup, the Ohio senator got yelled at, indirectly, by Trump for not showing up to Senate votes, which he had just suggested weren’t that important.
The president-elect ranted Tuesday about the need for all Republican senators to show up to work to help slow or stop Democrats from getting so many of Biden’s judges confirmed.
Again, it’s not like we didn’t know that was more than speculation. Credible journalists have mentioned the possibility of Wray, who was put in place by Trump (after Trump fired James Comey I must note) in 2017. Unless fired an FBI Director serves for ten years which means Wray’s tenure should last until almost halfway through 2027. Normally it would take some serious wrongdoing or spectacular mistake in judgement for a President to fire an FBI Director. However “Normal” and Trump are mutually exclusive. Wray has covered Trump’s butt plenty of times but there are times when he hasn’t. At least nowhere near to the degree Trump wanted. Wray can crawl over broken glass and through flames to beg but I don’t see him convincing Trump he’ll be completely loyal.
Still, it’s getting out there that J.D. Vance is meeting with the Trump brain trust (purely a figure of speech folks) to pick a new FBI Director and from Vance himself hasn’t gone over well. Here’s what I find funny in all this. Trump has been pissy about GOP Senators (and Vance still IS one), every single one of them not being in DC doing all they can, making the ‘bigliest’ fuss they can to block votes approving Biden judicial nominees. Yet Vance wouldn’t have been down in Florida taking part in ‘who’s gonna play FBI Director when Wray gets fired?’ discussions unless TRUMP had ordered him down there to weigh in!
I don’t feel a bit sorry for Vance who has to be having less than fun conversations with himself. Something like ‘Trump made a big fuss that GOP Senators should somehow block judicial nomination votes. BUT he had me go down to Florida to talk transition, and particularly kick around who will run (into the ground) the FBI. Now he’s publicly ripping on me for missing votes. And so are MAGAs! What the hell? I only did what Trump asked me to do and I’m catching hell from him on one side and from MAGA nation on the other for just doing what Trump ORDERED me to do!’ Well, Vance it seems is back in DC so he can take part in votes (which the GOP keeps losing) to block judicial confirmation votes.
Vance I’m thinking is like many of us. When one looks at Trump’s physical and mental state (especially how ghastly he’s looking in recent days) it’s not a stretch to think Trump won’t last out his term. I’ve said in the past week I’m not sure he’ll even last two years. Vance might have thought the same when he accepted the nod for VP in the first place! Great power suddenly placed in many people’s hands can make them stupid. But many a Republican has been looking at Trump’s age and health and thinking he doesn’t have that many more years left. So we’ve seen them maneuvering to take over as the leader of MAGA.
Vance might have been tooling along thinking he’s now in the driver’s seat. Could it be Trump has seen too much ambition in J.D. and decided to knock him down some in MAGA’s eyes? Trump has spent his entire working life pitting underlings against each other. Trump is out for himself and doesn’t fully trust anyone else. No one. Hell, I doubt he trusts anyone at all very much. This may or may not wind up being a big deal. There is after all so much other stuff going on. However I am thinking Trump has fired a shot across the bow of the J.D. Vance would be ship of MAGA State.
If Vance is feeling confused, and even a bit afraid all of a sudden I’m fine with that. As I keep saying I take my enjoyment where I can find it and Vance finding his testicles in a vise with Trump turning the thing to squeeze them fun.
“our government”. uh oh. pretty sure that qualifies as another screw up.
a when Trump is gone I don’t think anyone will be taking over the magas. they’re trumps cult and not for anyone else.