Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg compared Donald Trump’s running mate, Sen. JD Vance, with Trump’s former vice president, Mike Pence, during his speech Wednesday night at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
After criticizing Trump, Buttigieg pivoted his attention to the former president’s running mate.
“And don’t even get me started on [Trump’s] new running mate. At least Mike Pence was polite. JD Vance is one of those guys who thinks if you don’t live the life that he has in mind for you, then you don’t count,” Buttigieg, a Democratic presidential candidate in 2020, said as he made comparisons between the two. “Someone who said that if you don’t have kids, you have ’no physical commitment to the future of this country.”
I’m guessing Secretary of State. He obviously has a ton of future potential, and any lower position undermines that. What’s your guess?
He could stick with the Department of Transportation.
The department has been making big policy changes that will include large spending budgets. Building the programs being discussed is going to take a lot of political effort and would give Buttigieg decent political power in the short term.
You also have Harris using Buttigieg like Biden did politically, so it isn’t like Buttigieg is being kept out of the political spotlight.
Replying to my own comment instead of editing it, it appears that Buttigieg moved to Michigan in 2022 with his husband. That gives him some time to get to know the state, which is much friendlier to Democrats. My guess is that he stays on the cabinet for a year, then announces that he is running for Senate to take Stabenow’s seat as she announced that she is retiring at the end of the year.
This gives Buttigieg a long term position he camp on while positioning himself to be President.
I cannot imagine America electing a gay man president. I hadn’t really thought about it until he did well at the Iowa caucus in 2020 and they asked one of her supporters about him being gay and you could see her get the ick. Michelle Obama was completely right in her DNC speech that people like her and Harris and Barack don’t get second, third, fourth chances, and I think this is doubly true for Mayor Pete. If he were straight I’m convinced he would’ve been nominated.
I can’t imagine now, but it is possible that Buttigieg could run for Michigan Senator. That gives him a place to park and be politically relevant while he plans for the future.
Biden ran several times for President before becoming President.
In a recent interview he all but said he was done with transportation secretary.
He’d be an amazing Press Secretary but probably not the direction he wants to go. I agree that State Secretary is likely.
You’re right, he needs international experience, but IMO thats aiming too high. I would say UN Ambassador. That job is not only cabinet level, but has perks.