On Wednesday, the NY Times released an anonymous op-ed essay that they confirmed came from a senior official in the Trump administration. After a bit of sleuthing, some believe the author was Vice President Mike Pence.
The essay states that the author is part of a resistance to Trump that’s not the same as the left’s resistance. This is because they see eye-to-eye with many of Trump’s ideologies. What they say they fear is Trump’s misguided impulsiveness.
The author says there are a number of senior officials who are part of this resistance. They claim to have vowed to obstruct Trump and preserve our democratic institutions. They say that Trump’s problem is amorality.
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So, where does Mike Pence fit into all of this?
One word in particular raised eyebrows when reading the essay. Lodestar. It’s a pretty uncommon word but a word that Pence uses quite often.
Lodestar is defined as either a “star that guides” or a person who “serves as an inspiration, model, or guide.”
On Twitter, they were quick to find multiple instances of Pence using the word. “Lodestar” quickly became a trending topic.
"lodestar" (h/t @danbl00m) pic.twitter.com/SqKFlBTR0f
— David Mack (@davidmackau) September 5, 2018
Audio producer Dan Bloom put out an interesting thread on Twitter explaining why he thinks the word lodestar may implicate Mike Pence in the essay.
The word is “LODESTAR.” Note that it comes in the same paragraph praising John McCain. That would rule out flame-throwers like Stephen Miller and Dan Scavino and suggest someone with Senate ties. This reveal is not going to take long. pic.twitter.com/NwnUtvFlko
— Dan downLODESTAR Bloom (@danbl00m) September 5, 2018
“Lodestar” just seems like an unusual word to use in general, not to mention in an op-ed that’s going to be widely read. It has this whiff of sanctimony. So I search for John Kelly and James Mattis ever having used the word “lodestar.” Nothing. But then…
— Dan downLODESTAR Bloom (@danbl00m) September 5, 2018
…an example pops up of Vice President Mike Pence using the word “lodestar” in a speech at the UN in September 2017. https://t.co/CI1PUzDUdA pic.twitter.com/OrOYrFgP0M
— Dan downLODESTAR Bloom (@danbl00m) September 5, 2018
Two months later, Vice President Mike Pence speaks at the Jack Kemp Leadership Award Dinner. He drops “lodestar” again.https://t.co/DwLGEIJd4J pic.twitter.com/B1kQIb6viF
— Dan downLODESTAR Bloom (@danbl00m) September 5, 2018
Lest you believe Pence’s “lodestar” proclivities began with his Vice Presidency, enjoy this little ditty from 2011. https://t.co/hJyO0CvM8w pic.twitter.com/yDxq7LElPd
— Dan downLODESTAR Bloom (@danbl00m) September 5, 2018
And lo, as I have shown in my previous tweets, peaches and nectarines are absolutely delicious, and Vice President Mike Pence really likes using the word “lodestar” in his writing. In fact, one might call it his…
— Dan downLODESTAR Bloom (@danbl00m) September 5, 2018
Some argue that because the NY Times says the official’s job could be jeopardized by the disclosure, it can’t be Mike Pence. Mike Pence is the only one in the White House who can’t be fired. However, Bloom notes that if Pence was discovered to be the author of the essay then that could jeopardize his prospects of becoming President.
Or, it’s also possible that the author is purposefully using someone else’s rare word just to keep Trump guessing.
“To cover my tracks, I usually pay attention to other staffers’ idioms and use that in my background quotes. That throws the scent off me,” another White House official said to Axios earlier this year.
Here are some reactions from Twitter:
BOOM! Just about the only person in all of humanity who has used the word Lodestar in the past is Mike Pence.
The NY Times op-ed uses this word.
Is Mike Pence the Resistance Senior White House official?!
— Ed Krassenstein (@EdKrassen) September 5, 2018
Can't spell "lodestar" without "old tears"
— Tommy Vietor (@TVietor08) September 6, 2018
It’s pretty delicious. Just imagine the chaos in the WH tonight. They’re panicking, and hunting for this anonymous senior official. I’m thinking Mattis, Pence, or Coats. Let them eat each other alive. The rest of us have to register and VOTE in November.
— Sloan Ashton (@Ashton7Sloan) September 6, 2018
Well I knew Pence wrote The NY Times piece because Lodestar is also his name on Grindr
— John Fugelsang (@JohnFugelsang) September 6, 2018
I would love to a fly on the wall when someone tries to explain the word lodestar to Trump
— Dan Pfeiffer (@danpfeiffer) September 5, 2018
Please God let it be Pence. And let Trump find out when Dems have taken the House and installed a new Speaker. Then Let Trump's ego go crazy and fire Pence as Impeachment proceedings wrap up. Trump is tossed out, we have no VP and the Dem speaker becomes president. #DareToDream
— Lizz “Lodestar" Winstead (@lizzwinstead) September 6, 2018
DO YOU KNOW WHAT LODESTAR MEANS? pic.twitter.com/AyS6pWwRTX
— Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) September 6, 2018
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