Adviser Ben Carson says Donald Trump could pick a Democrat, independent for VP

While rank-and-file conservatives are searching for a signal that Mr. Trump shares their values, Ben Carson, a former GOP rival now helping the presumptive Republican presidential nominee pick a running mate, said Thursday Democrats may be among those considered.

Asked if Democrats and independents may be on the target list, Mr. Carson said “Yes,” then added, “We would consider people who are Americans and who put America first.”

Mr. Carson is the public face on the search process, while top campaign aide Paul Manafort is maintaining overall tight control, according to people familiar with the campaign.
Tensions Rise Over Republican VP Options

I believe that Trump/Sanders would win. It would also be the greatest political show of our lifetimes.

Meanwhile, it looks like Susana Martinez is out of the running:

Susana Martinez not interested in being Trump's VP

According to the corresponding market at PredictIt, Newt Gingrich has the best chance to win the 2016 Republican vice presidential nomination:

Who will win the 2016 Republican vice presidential nomination?

We should all be aware of the fact that Trump may not be able to choose his running mate. That could actually end up saving him.

a reply to: Profusion

I believe that Trump/Sanders would win. It would also be the greatest political show of our lifetimes.

It is a guaranteed way to the whitehouse. If Trump and Sanders really are that much anti-establishment they would pursue that the second Trump seals the Republican nomination.

a reply to: Profusion

I believe that Trump/Sanders would win.

Not gonna happen. I wouldn't vote for Trump if he picked Sanders. Still not sure if I'm going to vote for him anyway.

I like Sanders as a person. I think he's a good guy, that he stands up for what he believes in and looking at his history sticks with his beliefs. I just don't agree with his views. I talk a lot of smack, but I genuinely like Sanders. If Hillary or Cruz knocked on my door I would tell them to get the F off my property. If Sanders knocked I would be very hospitable and politely decline to support him but be happy to talk to him. I think he legit cares. I also really like that he actually paid cops.

I can't support a guy that funded Erica Garner (daughter of 30+ convictions fat guy that was super unhealthy and further polarized race relations because idiots think he only got in trouble for selling loosies.). TERRIBLE! Eric Garner escalated the situation, while he was on probation, and Sadners went and tried to suck some more votes. Eric Garner was super unhealthy, and the "chokehold" lasted a few seconds. Illegal chokehold my ass. He didn't get choked out.

a reply to: Vector99

Picking Sanders would be a good life insurance policy.

But in all honesty, it would be the biggest middle finger to the political elite the country has ever seen. Two outsiders from two different parties meeting in the middle and winning overwhelmingly... it would be a revolution.

But of course Sanders would have to disavow himself first.

Funny, I was only thinking about this the other day.

Didn't the old Presidents pick the loser as their vp?
It wouldn't be that much of a stretch for Trump to go for Sanders, though it may be too far for Bernie.

Still, it would rattle a lot of cages, wouldn't it?

originally posted by: Konduit
a reply to: Vector99

But of course Sanders would have to disavow himself first.

Sanders is only running as a D because he wouldn't have a chance outside a major political party.

a reply to: SprocketUK

The vice-presidency used to automatically go to the candidate with the 2nd most votes. Here's some info on why they changed it. (HERE)

As for the OP: I can see them selecting an independent. But selecting a Democrat would literally be career suicide. There is simply too much at stake for any major political party to pick a running mate from the opponent's camp. Yes, the idea of unity is great. But everyone is being naive if they think there aren't any powerbrokers (or pissed off individuals) who'd be willing to take out a single candidate if it meant changing the political affiliation of the entire Federal Executive Branch.

a reply to: Profusion

Trump/sanders would blow my mind in a good way.

Dontnlike either of them.....but together balanceing each other? Doesn't seem to be bad.

But alas i think it would alienate the derp derp crowd that thrive off of left/right partasian politics.

a reply to: Domo1

Surely One upright honest guy who doesn't share all your views is better than ten dishonest establishment liers who parrot your views but likely wont ever deliver?

a reply to: crazyewok

They wouldn't balance each other out. The American Vice Presidency is one of the most powerless positions imaginable. The Vice President sits in on Cabinet meetings, can preside over the Senate (w/no authority, unlike the Senate Majority leader), and casts tiebreaker votes in the Senate when there is a 50-50 tie on a specific vote. That's pretty much all they legally do.

The only other function that (I can remember) is they are first in line to be President if the sitting President is literally unable to perform their duties, such as a medical emergency, a resignation, a death, etc. The President has literally no legal obligation to listen to or accept a single suggestion from the Vice President. And the Executive Branch has no obligation to listen to the Vice President, either. In fact, the situation is so bad that many Presidents assign Vice Presidents to separate task forces or initiatives just to keep them busy (kind of like the public initiatives that First Ladies launch).

a reply to: enlightenedservant

Maybe....but compared to a hillary goverment its still the best deal your going to get....

a reply to: Domo1

It only takes 3 seconds to put someone to sleep when a choke is applied properly.

Guess that's news though huh?

a reply to: enlightenedservant

The deal has probably already been negotiated and that's why Cruz and Kasich dropped out.

He should pick the guy who killed Osama bin Laden.
Former Navy SEAL Robert O'Neill.

This whole election is getting more preposterous by the day.

At this point I am starting to believe that M. Night Shyamalan is the author of the 2016 US Election.

I don't, in a million years, see it happening, but talk about a plot twist if it was a Trump/Sanders ticket...LULZ!!!!! There is such a massive divide between the supporters right now. One of two things would happen. Either it would unify the majority of the US or the US would implode and just melt off the map. I don't see any in-between. Tensions are so high right now.

I'm gonna go stock up on the popcorn. BRB

Trump just corrected Carson's statement...saying he would pick a Republican.

If Trump were to pick Sanders, then I wouldn't vote for that. I wouldn't vote for Hillary either.

To clarify, I respect that Sanders is absolutely honest, but that's what truly frightens me. His vision for America is not the one I was raised to believe in or respect or one that I believe is the best for the most people. It doubles down on the very things that are making this country fall apart.

People can either be equal before the law or try to make a law that enforced equal outcomes. I prefer the former as it is most fair for all. The latter is Utopian in vision, dystopian in practice.

originally posted by: crazyewok
a reply to: enlightenedservant

Maybe....but compared to a hillary goverment its still the best deal your going to get....

Why on Earth would you assume that? As much as I despise Hillary & the other "Third Way Dems", I think a Hillary administration would be infinitely better than a Trump one. And infinitely better than a Trump/Independent one, too (especially if that "independent" was an austerity loving Libertarian).

Or did you forget that I'm a proudly left wing, socialist American Muslim? I've got a lot of immigrant friends, Hispanic friends, and Muslim friends & family (obviously). Trump and his wretched spokeswoman burned all bridges w/me long ago. I'm pretty sure I've even gone on record months ago as saying the only way I'd ever vote for Hillary is if Trump got the Repub nomination. I'd given up on that and was going to vote Green Party anyway, but I don't know if I can bring myself to do that this time.

a reply to: SgtHamsandwich

Bernie would be a fool to do that. Bernie's grassroots movement is literally based in the far left wing. The same left wing that's been neglected and ignored by the Clinton & Obama administrations because we're too "extreme" for those center-right politicians. There's no way we'd back a far right ideologue like Trump. Bernie would lose nearly all of his current supporters in a heartbeat if he did that.

originally posted by: onequestion
a reply to: enlightenedservant

The deal has probably already been negotiated and that's why Cruz and Kasich dropped out.

In all honesty, I'm clueless to what deals were made in the last few days. So you're probably onto something. I was blindsided that both Kasich and Cruz dropped out. And now, I'm eagerly trying to figure out how the Repubs down-ticket will react to a Trump nomination.

I'm almost expecting some major scandal or "event" before or at the Repub convention; kind of like the "October Surprise" scandals that pop up at the last minute in Presidential races.

Carson said they want an America First guy.

Sorry to pee in Bernie's Cheerios but that leaves communists off of the list.