“Pence supporters see a lane for a reliable conservative who espouses many of the previous administration’s policies but without the constant tumult. While he frequently lauds the accomplishments of the ‘Trump-Pence administration,’ a Pence nomination in many ways would be a return to positions long associated with the Republican establishment but abandoned as Trump reshaped the party in his image. Pence has warned against the growing populist tide in the party, and advisers see him as the only traditional, Reagan-style conservative in the race.”

“As vice president, Pence had been an exceedingly loyal defender of Trump until the days leading up to Jan. 6, 2021, when Trump falsely tried to convince Pence and his supporters that Pence had the power to unilaterally overturn the results of the 2020 election. That day, a mob of Trump’s supporters violently stormed the U.S. Capitol building after being spurred on by Trump’s lies that the 2020 election had been stolen. Many in the crowd chanted ‘Hang Mike Pence!’ as Pence, his staff and his family ran for safety, hiding in a Senate loading dock.”

  • Whether you agree with the things he accomplished or not, he literally hit the ground running; slashing and smashing away the things he wanted to do in his presidency - I can’t think of one [good] thing that BIden, or his entire administration, has done for two years. The infrastructure bill, with what it has hidden away, is the worst thing that could happen to the US IMO.

    The control and oversight via government that it has baked in is simply disgusting. Vehicle BAC detection - gotta sniff between the cracks… errr wait, maybe thats a bad euphemism.

    •  orbit   ( @orbit@beehaw.org ) 
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      21 year ago

      Passing legislation is difficult, but the infrastructure bill floundered under Trump and was passed with bipartisan support under Biden. The Omnibus nature is an unfortunate side effect of what happens in a strictly separated congress.

      You’ve got the Chips Plus bill that will take away China’s market segments of semiconductors and add jobs to the US. Something Texas is currently benefiting from with the opening of the new TSMC plant.

      Student loan forgiveness is sorely needed and finally headed to the Supreme Court. Where I suspect it may pass despite the partisan court.

      The expansion of NATO and its borders to Russia

      Support for Ukraine and effectively destroying our historic adversary by proxy. This by the way Trump clearly does not support.

      Seems a bit better than you may be giving credit for. Not perfect of course.

      • Yes, we disagree with a lot - the addition of the heavy spying requirements by automakers was introduced since Biden, and while I support supporting Ukraine I think we’re in way too deep already.

        I agree, though - no one administration is perfect… I think that Biden is, literally, just not capable of performing at the level a POTUS needs to. Let alone that I think he already can’t, I think he should allow some other dem that would be viewed a lot stronger - is there any world where you really think Biden can go another 5 years?

        •  orbit   ( @orbit@beehaw.org ) 
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          21 year ago

          I’d rather him not go another 5 to be honest, but to your point who else is there at the moment? I’m not at all a fan of any of the current republican candidates in the running either. Feels like we have the choice between two sets of shit where one is more runny than the other.

    •  dave   ( @dave@slrpnk.net ) 
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      11 year ago

      Getting the tax credit back up to 30% instead of 26% and trending downwards for individuals on solar and geothermal has been fantastic for me. That’s in the infrastructure act - The Inflation Reduction Act.

      Actual dollar incentives in my pocket in order to dramatically increase my personal energy efficiency while reducing my fossil fuel consumption. All while in no way directly negatively penalizing fossil fuel consumption.

      That’s pretty sweet.

      Did the Trump administration sign any legislation to do anything in particular to incentivize renewable energy at the individual level?

      • So… I’m from Texas [living in OR…] and an entire industry was cut in half because of this admins cutback in oil - while some of this admins work might have saved you money and allowed you to build your personal infrastructure in a direction you agree with, the people of Midland and Odessa Texas lost 50% overnight.

        And, all the workers who flocked and prospered are gone with no oil jobs to go back to.

        •  dave   ( @dave@slrpnk.net ) 
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          11 year ago

          How did the current administration “cutback” in oil? You’re speaking of a for-profit industry that is famously the most boom and bust of commodities, no?

          It’s appropriate to flock to the future. I expect our government to be forward looking and invest in the future.

          I would be disappointed to see the American government prop up the hydrocarbon industry and its move to single-use plastic production rather than incentivize the growth of renewable energy.

          Is the current level of US government fossil fuel subsidies of $10-$50 billion per year too little?