Ernst is a pretty weak choice and I'm surprise some people here are talking her up as legit. I wrote a breakdown about her back in the Trump thread a while ago; showing clearly how she was a poor VP choice. I didn't know much about her when her name started popping up a month or so ago but it only took me about 20 minutes to write her off as a contender:
(Post from Trump thread)
I'm not feeling Joni Ernst at all given the other possible options.
Political Career:
Trump has said he wants someone who knows politics and is fit to take over if he isn't around but Ernst only has 3 years as a Iowa state senator and 1.5 years as a US senator (her current job). She was also elected county auditor prior to the state senate seat if that matters to anyone.
Obviously, she has zero political executive experience and otherwise unremarkable general political experience; both in length and accomplishments.
Regarding her military career:
She was a part-time (with periods of full-time status) career officer in the Army guard/reserve but only retired as a Lt.Col; so her experience running very large operations is relatively limited. In either case, despite being in the Army guard/reserve from 1993 to 2015, she only had ONE deployment to the Middle East... to fuckin Kuwait! How in the flying fuck does a Army Guard/Reserve officer from 2001 to 2013 only have ONE ME deployment and it's Kuwait of all places?!
(I can tell you why: Because the guard/reserve is a VERY buddy buddy place and I'm sure she knew the right people to avoid the shit deployments and get the cake gigs/promotions).
She also has made claims in the past that she is a "combat veteran" and while by definition technically true, she is trying to pull a fast one on people by associating herself undeservingly with people who have been in actual firefights and/or been on the receiving end of enemy fire. According to what I briefly looked up, no one in her unit was on the receiving end of enemy fire of any variety (IEDs, mortars, gunfire, etc) during her entire year plus deployment.
Finally on the military front while running for US Senate
in 2014, she made this claim:
Quote:Quote:
“I do have reason to believe there were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.”
Source:
http://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/susa...-wmd-claim
The fuck? Beating THAT dead horse as late as 2014?! Jesus.
Moving along....
Iowa isn't a contested battleground state [of major value - it's only 6 electoral votes]. So no pull there.
She is also pretty conservative across the board. For example, she wants a federal personhood amendment despite being all about states' rights on pretty much everything else; that shit ain't gonna fly with independents. Her crossover appeal is minimal to non-existent [based on her political leanings.]
Then there is THIS:
Quote:Quote:
Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst made her support of Marco Rubio known Monday when she introduced the Florida senator at a rally in Des Moines. But she stopped short of a full endorsement, saying she will stay neutral in the Republican presidential primary.
Source:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/polit.../79320318/
So... basically she gave an unofficial endorsement to Foambot super early in the primary process. What does that say about her judgement and real loyalty to Trump? Like her "combat veteran" technically correct definition bullshit, she does the same thing here with the Rubio; trying to walk the line and play bullshit word games so she can have her cake and eat too while still avoiding making hard choices that could have real ramifications if she picks poorly. In short, she is a typical woman and politician.
That all said: if anyone here [still] ends up voicing support for her, I'd really like to know why. I don't see the appeal at all [beyond the superficial value of being a woman. Honestly, I think some people are propping her because of the pussy pass as oppose to judging her based on the merits.]
(End of Trump thread post)
So if you're cool with someone:
1. With barely any political experience; about the equivalent of Obama in 2008.
2. With a largely PART-TIME military career of little/no consequence despite being an Army officer throughout an entire war; who furthermore tries to sell herself as some kind of legit warrior combat veteran superwoman on top of it. I can't stand people who pretend to be real combat veterans nor buy into the on-the-surface military "warrior woman" bullshit that people go gaga for because, "OMFG, she like shoots guns and shit! OH MAN! WATCH OUT SHE IS TOUGH! SHE RIDES A BIKE TOO?! DAMN BRO SHE IS AWESOME!"
I've been on the inside. 99% of women in the military are all big "I'm a warrior badass" talk until shit gets real. I've seen it first-hand. Many upsell their experiences and struggles in the military (many men do as well in fairness). I recall a girl I knew who went to Qatar (super safe place) who did 6 months of basically supply runs inside a guarded base and she acted like she was some kind of warrior badass afterwards. In particular, she liked to highlight often after her deployment that one is not a real "veteran" unless they have deployed to a "warzone."
Seen similar bullshit a ton of times with other military women. All big talkers.
3. Showed poor judgement/disloyalty in siding with Rubio way early in the primaries.
... Then by all means, vote for her. But I would be HIGHLY disappointed if Trump picked her. She is NOT a good choice at all.