OLD SMOOTHIE – AT 10:21 A.M. ET:   I like Vice President Mike Pence.  He's capable, articulate, with a fine record.  He is also the smooth, personable alternative to the more voluble Donald Trump.  Pence's stock in Washington is rising.  This week he was sent to Europe to stroke the easily ruffled feathers of our European "allies," and it appears he largely succeeded.  From The Hill:   

European leaders like what they’re hearing from Vice President Pence in Brussels.

European Council President Donald Tusk on Monday said he had left his discussions with Pence feeling better about U.S. support for NATO and a united Europe.

“Too much has happened over the past month in your country, and in the E.U. Too many new and sometimes surprising opinions have been voiced over this time about our relations, and our common security, for us to pretend that everything is as it used to be,” Tusk said, according to a White House pool report.

“Today I heard words which are promising for the future, words which explain a lot about the approach of the new administration in Washington,” Tusk continued.

Pence has sought to assure Europe that the U.S. remains committed to the trans-Atlantic alliance during meetings with officials from the European Union, many of who have been unnerved by comments from President Trump.

Trump repeatedly criticized NATO during his campaign, at times suggesting the U.S. might withdraw from the alliance.

The president’s views on international trade have also caused waves. Trump argues the U.S. has repeatedly got the raw end of trade deals and has promised to be a stronger negotiator.

Pence’s comments were conciliatory, and emphasized a continued U.S. partnership with Europe.

COMMENT:  It's a bit of a good cop-bad cop routine.  Trump is the bad cop, Pence the good.  But Europeans must understand that, behind Pence's painless dentistry, there lies a strong conservative who undoubtedly shares Trump's belief that the United States can't go on endlessly playing the role of nanny to demanding, immature European politicians. 

Europe must also understand, and Pence will gently tell its leaders, that Washington no longer sees Europe as playing the outsized role it once played.  Other places demand our attention – China, the Pacific, Africa, and the Mideast.  Pence is a great messenger, but I'm not so sure the message is ultimately one that Europe will welcome.

February 20, 2017