Well, it’s official: As of September 2024, JD Vance ‒ nicknamed “The Bearded Weird” ‒ is now recognized as the worst vice-presidential candidate in the history of the United States.

Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin should withdraw her title, as Vance is likely to accept it with yet another uncomfortable joke. That’s just his style.

With an ongoing series of podcast appearances where he refers to women as “faceless baby pods” and public engagements that highlight his struggles with basic social interaction, Vance has demonstrated an astonishing level of unlikability.

He’s the person you’d dread running into at the office party. Or at the bar. Or in line at the grocery store. Honestly, anywhere.

JD Vance is showcasing remarkable ineptitude as a VP candidate

Radiating a complete lack of charisma, Vance has been jeered at a firefighters union meeting, criticized for past remarks about America being led by “childless cat ladies,” and ruthlessly mocked online for a painfully awkward interaction at a Georgia doughnut shop.

It’s worth noting that Vance is Donald Trump’s choice for vice president only because Trump’s former VP, Mike Pence, has withdrawn his support. Vance is essentially just a stand-in for Pence, which is quite unfortunate.

Vance’s popularity is virtually nonexistent

Normally, I would feel sympathy for someone so embracingly awkward. However, there’s an underlying cruelty in Vance’s character that saps that empathy. Thus, here we are.

According to the latest polling average from 538, Vance’s unpopularity is striking, with 44.4% of people holding an unfavorable view of him compared to just 33.9% viewing him favorably.

An ABC News/Ipsos poll released on Sunday reveals Vance’s favorability rating at -12%.

In the same poll, Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz has a commendable +11% rating, while Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris enjoys a +3% rating.

Trump himself has a disappointing -25% favorability rating, likely due to Americans being frustrated with him for putting Vance in front of them.

JD Vance Outshining Sarah Palin for Title of ‘Worst VP Pick’ is a Significant Feat

The fact that Vance has somehow surpassed Sarah Palin is quite astonishing.

For those who may not remember, Palin was a sensational figure. She was chosen as the running mate by Republican presidential candidate John McCain in 2008 but quickly alienated the public with her offensive and factually incorrect charm, revealing herself as more of a reality TV star than a serious political candidate.

In the same unpleasant category of poor VP picks are former Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Kaine, who was Hillary Clinton’s running mate in 2016. His bland personality didn’t bring any excitement to the ticket that ultimately lost to Trump.

That was the past, and now here we are. I can only imagine Kaine and Palin soon meeting at a neutral Applebee’s to toast to Vance’s shortcomings.

Recently, ABC News reported: “We applied our current favorability polling average formula to old polls of six newly minted VP and none have ever recorded a net favorability rating as low as Vance’s.”

Vance’s Bizarre Opinions on Women Are Hurting Him

One reason for this could be the baffling and bizarre comments Vance has made in the past, particularly during his time on various podcasts.

This weekend, The Guardian unearthed a clip of Vance from a 2021 podcast with a conservative organization named “America Moment,” where he expressed that women who prioritize their careers over motherhood are choosing “a path to misery.”

He went on to share a take that seems quite misguided, stating: “Clearly, this mindset has led to my own unhappiness for not having children, as I missed my chance biologically. I obviously must be superior to others. I feel the need to impose my beliefs about race and gender on everyone else, despite my perspective contributing to my own misery.”

This is quite a cringeworthy statement. It showcases Vance’s unique ability to sound arrogant, sexist, pretentious, isolated, woeful, and foolish all at once.

Vance Could Apologize for His Past Remarks but He Won’t

He has been prompted to express regret for his controversial past remarks, yet he refuses to do so. In Trump’s MAGA universe, admitting any mistakes is simply not permitted.

Last Thursday, the unfunny Vance shared a video on social media, expressing: “I got the full CNN interview with Kamala Harris.” The video featured Miss Teen USA contestant Caite Upton struggling to respond to a question during her stint on the stage.

This incident deeply affected Upton, leading her to contemplate suicide. So definitely not a laughing matter.

When Vance was interviewed on CNN and asked if he intended to apologize to Upton, he arrogantly responded: “I’m not going to apologize for posting a joke.”

Honestly, Mr. Vance, you are the real punchline of the joke. An unamusing one at that.

Don’t Worry, JD Vance is Just Getting Started with Annoying Us!

While Palin and Kaine may have had their awkward moments, they pale in comparison to Vance’s ongoing pattern of irritation. He embodies the archetype of “that one guy nobody enjoys working with.” He illustrates Trump’s knack for poor judgment. He is best left forgotten.

And it’s only the start of September.

Who knows how many more podcast gems are lurking out there.

Follow YSL News columnist Rex Huppke on X, formerly Twitter, @RexHuppke and on Facebook at facebook.com/RexIsAJerk