Mike Pence — the reactionary religious fundamentalist, white nationalist, and former resident at Observatory Circle under Vandal-in-Chief (ViC) — wants to lead the world’s superpower and its 330 million people. About half of those people prefer the republic’s immolation to a government that strives for the greater good.
It’s true that, in contrast to his ex-boss, Pence presents a veneer of mainstream “conservatism” and decency, what the Republican tribe considers respectable. He maintains that veneer through a cardboard personality, self-restraint, and bromides, many of them faith-flavored. This is no pussy-grabber; his wife (“Mother”) doesn’t allow it.
The jockeying for 2024 is under way. The Infotainment Complex already salivates over dueling speeches by Pence and ViC, as each supports a different narrative on the 2020 outcome and the ensuing January 6 unpleasantness. Pence must do some delicate needle-threading if he wants to close the “enthusiasm gap” to the Hang Pence! crowd.
The challenge for Pence is that he’s dull as dishwater, an unpardonable sin in the eyes of an electorate for whom a candidate’s entertainment value — the more polarizing the rhetoric, the better — is the highest priority. On that, he’ll be unable to match the other aspirants to the 2024 Republican nomination, including ViC in particular.
Further, he missed his one chance to go into the history books as a hero. January 6 presented him with the ripest opportunity to separate himself forever from the herd of conscience-free nitwits and chancers in his party by single-handedly defusing a threat to the republic. What if, instead of fleeing the ViC-inspired mob, he had called its bluff?
Imagine it: feebleminded semi-literates, by turns enraged and awed, roam the Capitol looking for Pence but keep being distracted by tschotschkes along the way. Instead of hot-footing it out of there with his security detail, Pence turns, faces the motley collection and says, “You lookin’ for me?”
Most likely, there would have been an awkward stand-off. On one side dozens stunned into silence; until then preoccupied by incoherent shouting and selfies, they hadn’t thought about what they’d do once they got to the Capitol, let alone encountered Pence. On the other the Vice President, security detail eight feet behind him, guns drawn.
Pence: “Why have you come here? What would you like me to do? Are you serious about your threat? Well, here I am. While I hadn’t figured you for killers, think of the many witnesses here. I’m hardly worth decades in prison (or worse). If not me, someone else will certify the votes. And I see none of brought a rope.”
It’s possible that a more deranged member of the crowd would have attacked Pence. But, as we’ve learned from the hundreds of cases being prosecuted, most of the miscreants were misdemeanor trespassers (vs. the organizers and planners safely elsewhere), clueless loudmouths without the courage of whatever little conviction they might muster.
We know that’s not what happened. Pence did not show leadership or courage. (His not acceding to ViC’s demand about vote certification doesn’t count; he simply did what he was supposed to.) Had he faced down the mob, even non-Republicans would have cheered him, and he might have had a chance in 2024. As it is, he’ll be a footnote.
