The Strategic Silence of Mike Pence - The Bulwark

[Nevilledog]

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Edward-Isaac Dovere
@IsaacDovere
.@amandacarpenter:

“Ask yourself: Why would Mike Pence bother lifting his voice in defense of his own life if no one else in his party cares to do so?”

The Strategic Silence of Mike Pence - The Bulwark
On January 6, a horde of pro-Trump rioters breached the United States Capitol with one bloodthirsty mission in mind: to stop Vice President Mike Pence from carrying out his constitutional obligation...
thebulwark.com

https://thebulwark.com/the-strategic-silence-of-mike-pence/

On January 6, a horde of pro-Trump rioters breached the United States Capitol with one bloodthirsty mission in mind: to stop Vice President Mike Pence from carrying out his constitutional obligation to certify Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential victory.

Even if it meant killing him.

Makeshift gallows were erected on the West side of the complex. Members of the mob shouted “Hang Mike Pence!” as they stormed the halls of Congress, hunting for the vice president, as well as any other officials they could get their hands on. Well over 100 police officers were injured and maimed by the mob; Capitol Hill Police Officer Brian Sicknick was killed. Two Capitol Hill Police officers later committed suicide.

And to this day, the former vice president hasn’t had a word to say about his experience.

Throughout Trump’s impeachment, Pence remained mute. As someone who could provide both important facts—what did Trump know about the situation, when, and what was his reaction—and bear witness to Trump’s state of mind in the days and hours leading up to the attack, Pence was in a rare, possibly even unique, position. Over the course of the weeks following the election, Pence had been a perpetrator of Trump’s big election lie and at the final hour became a target of it. Jaime Herrera Beutler, who was one of the 10 House Republicans to vote for impeachment and who came forward with her blockbuster testimony during the Senate trial, begged Pence to share what he knew.

He refused.

Pence’s silence could easily be chalked up to all manner of causes: submissiveness, cowardice, fear, or naked political calculation.

Or maybe it’s something worse.

*snip*

[Hortensis]

1. My guess is all of the above, with "something worse" at the top.

Expert observers of this presidency watched the attempted coup progress over time. No chance Pence wasn't at very ass-covering least constantly "in the room."

Yes, It Was a Coup Attempt. Here’s Why: What Trump tried is called a “self-coup,” and he did it in slow motion and in plain sight.

Trump disguised what he was doing by operating in plain sight, talking openly about his intent. He normalized his actions so people would accept them. I’ve been studying authoritarian regimes for three decades, and I know the signs of a coup when I see them.

Technically, what Trump attempted is what’s known as a “self-coup” and Trump isn’t the first leader to try it. ... More recently, Nicolas Maduro perpetrated a self-coup in Venezuela after losing the 2017 elections.

https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2021/01/11/capitol-riot-self-coup-trump-fiona-hill-457549

[empedocles]

6. a terrorizing coup attempt'

[Hortensis]

9. :) Now, now, patriots saving democracy from us evil fascists.

Gotta keep straight who's who in this thing.

[MyOwnPeace]

2. Certainly one of the most

SERIOUS questions to be asked: "What did Pence know and when did he know it?"

Now that we have the drama of how the RepubliQans are going to handle the impeachment (as if there was any doubt), can we move on and get an independent Investigation of the Insurrection? At the top of the list should be justice for the death of Officer Sicknick!

[SWBTATTReg]

3. Anyone remaining quiet and not coming out w/ evidence or knowledge of what was going on,

during the insurrection needs to have the book thrown at them, for not just being unpatriotic and un American, but aiding and abetting an insurrection, being silent, not speaking up and standing up for Law and Order, as they so often say. Hypocrites.

Rogue and other elements of the GOP were more concerned about 'trump', then 'party' or 'Country'.

The republicans made it abundantly clear what they want, and it certainly wasn't 'party' or 'Country'. For elected republican officials, this is the first test of their true 'American First' mentality and the GOP failed, and ironically enough, this is the platform they ran on, America First!

I say that we don't work w/ these traitors in Congress, as well as all other elected offices. I say that if they were involved w/ any of the 1/6/21 insurrection in any way, then charge them with unlawful gathering with intent to harm others or other such laws on the books. Make them pay a price. I keep hearing about the 14th Amendment. Does not this constitute a time when things should be thrown out the windows and more severe penalties exacted, available to us?

Hypocrites. They tried to overthrow our government. All of them. They will have lots to answer for, over the next few years, if they will ever be able to provide any answers other than 'we want our own government, not yours' mentality.

[czarjak]

4. Priority #1:Hastening the Second Coming? Keeping Jesus first of course.

[empedocles]

5. Well, mike has always been pretty silent, even when he mouths words off a teleprompter

[doc03]

7. His political career is finished in the Trump party nt

[IcyPeas]

8. his new gig is doing video podcasts apparently.

considering he used to be a talk radio host this sounds right up his alley.

[smirkymonkey]

10. Strategic?

Or maybe he just really IS a pathetic little sniveling boot-licker.

Pence doesn't have a snowball's chance in hell at any kind of political career after this. If he thinks he does, he is delusional.