The diversity of people all of the same opinion about the future of Kristi Noem in Republican politics is startling. It’s not that often that a range of characters from Catturd to Laura Loomer to Newt Gingrich to Steve Bannon all believe that a given GOPer is finis, but in the case of Kristi Noem, that’s exactly what has been concluded.
The word now going around is that Noem was dropped from consideration as Donald Trump’s VP a few months back. I suppose that’s possible. Here’s what was supposedly decided on before Noem’s egregious slip with the story of Cricket, the puppy she slaughtered because it was “worthless” and she “hated” the little thing.
But at Mar-a-Lago, even before the revelation about her dog, Noem had long ago been cast aside as a likely running mate, according to six people close to former President Donald Trump who, while not discounting Noem entirely, have for many weeks said she has almost no chance of being on the ticket. The Cricket saga was just the latest in one of the most spectacularly botched vice presidential contender rollouts in modern political history.
On Wednesday, days ahead of the release of her political memoir originally designed to boost her veepstakes campaign, Noem took to Sean Hannity to try to reset the disastrous political narrative surrounding her: that penning the anecdote about shooting her dog as an example of her ability to make difficult decisions had destroyed her vice presidential ambitions.
That anecdote didn’t come across as the ability to make “difficult” decisions it came across as heartless and out of touch. This is the last kind of a running mate that Trump needs. If anything, he needs somebody to normalize him, to appear to be the voice of reason, the one to modify his excesses. In no way does Trump need a running mate who’s crazier than he is.
“She is of no use,” said Scott Jennings, a former President George W. Bush political adviser, comparing Noem to other running mate contenders, including North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), Sens. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) who would “have utility” on the Trump ticket.
“What does she bring?” Jennings said of Noem. “The possibility of weirdo drama. That’s it. She appeals to no constituency Trump doesn’t already have.”
Trump does have the weirdo drama constituency under wraps. That he has. If Noem can’t bring him something besides that, then she is truly useless.
But then came reports in conservative media of allegations that Noem was having an extramarital affair with former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski. Noem denied it, saying at the time that “these rumors are total garbage and a disgusting lie.” Yet despite Noem being invited to meet with Trump at Mar-a-Lago as recently as February, and campaigning for him in Iowa earlier this year, inside Trump’s orbit, the rumors stuck.
Not only have Trump aides been concerned about the reports, Trump himself expressed qualms about them, too. While entertaining visitors at Mar-a-Lago earlier this year, Trump made a joke about Noem’s “baggage,” according to a person with knowledge of the remarks and granted anonymity to speak freely.
In recent weeks — and in rapid succession — everything else came to knock down the negligible chances Noem had of getting tapped as running mate.
Again, Trump is on trial for covering up money used to pay to keep people quiet for his dalliances, why would he want somebody on the ticket who has dalliances of her own? At least with somebody like Elise Stefanik, those kinds of rumors aren’t going to come flying out of the closet. Stefanik is closer to being Mike Pence Republican dull, which is what Trump needs to a certain extent. He doesn’t need the freak show that Noem has proven herself capable of delivering.
“I think Gov. Noem’s efforts have been sophomoric,” said former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, a Trump ally. “Running ads may have seemed clever, but to someone as sophisticated as Trump, her strategies have been a bit too obvious.”
“Killing the dog and then writing about it,” Gingrich added, “ended any possibility of her being picked as VP.” […]
Conservative commentator Erick Erickson, who on his show this week railed about Noem being a “psychopath,” told POLITICO that sharing the dog anecdote showed “poor judgment on her part.”
“If she did that to impress Trump, she forgot he’s hurting himself in the suburbs where they tend not to murder dogs,” Erickson said. […]
The MAGA movement, said Steve Bannon, a former top Trump adviser, “is looking for a perfect complement to President Trump,” which includes “someone who can help him win and help him govern.”
“But shooting an innocent puppy,” he said, “may be a tad too ‘based’ for many.”
Bye, bye Kristi. Don’t let the door hit you in the ass. The way things are stacking up now it looks like Trump is going to go for somebody who can deliver a minority vote to him, which will mean Tim Scott or Marco Rubio. You were good for sycophantic soundbites and visuals but the job needs something more.
What is it with conservative commentators?
It seems like it’s okie dokey to shoot the puppy just as long as you don’t write about it or take a victory dance.
Trump sophisticated?
Gee, that headband is almost like a target. Hint, hint folks. Hint, hint.
Project 2024-do to noem what she did to Cricket and the goat. Make the world a MUCH better place.
There is only room for one psychopath on the ticket.