Trump’s His Own Attack Dog, So Vance Has to Bite Even Harder

Typically, vice-presidents of the United States protect the boss’s flanks and cater to the boss’s base. Veeps let the president be presidential, the calm and resolute leader of the nation, while taking on the “attack dog” role themselves, tending to the dirtier, more emotional work of pure partisan politics. Vice-presidents spend a lot of time at foreign funerals, of course, but also a lot of time at party fundraisers and second-tier campaign events around the country. When somebody needs to defend the boss against the other party or represent him to the party faithful, the veep often steps up. That’s why canine loyalty is essential: The veep is the almighty president’s sidekick, attuned to the master’s voice like the RCA dog.

J.D. Vance has two particular reasons to make loyalty his mid