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Mike Pence for president, I say president of the US Senate. Its just the assignment for a pickle like this, when President Trump isnt on speaking terms with his own partys leader in the upper house.

Trump is understandably upset at the failure of the Senate to pass health-care and tax reforms. Its gotten so bad with Mitch McConnell, according to CNN, that the two Republican titans have been cussing each other out.

Privately, The New York Times claims, McConnell has even been voicing doubts that the Trump presidency can be salvaged (not that the majority leaders own approval rating in Kentucky is, at 18 percent, so hot).

In Phoenix Tuesday, Trump mercilessly mocked the states senior senator, John McCain, a lion of the presidents own Republican Party. Thats because McCain cast the deciding vote against ObamaCare repeal.

Trump also tore into Arizonas other senator, Jeff Flake, another Republican. Plus, Trump has been feuding with GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina.

One might think that a president who is facing at least the possibility of impeachment would be more solicitous of such senators. If Trump were impeached, remember, the Senate would be the jury.

Thats not the Trump way, though. Heaven forfend. And this is where the tough but affable vice president ought to be able to help and, as a bonus, make a long overdue constitutional correction.

You can even argue that, technically, the vice president isnt even part of the executive branch. Unless the president quits, is ousted or dies, the veeps only enumerated constitutional duty is to preside over the Senate.

So why does Pence need two offices in the White House or even one? Why does he play the prop to Trump, introducing him at political rallies like he were a valet?

The point is not to distance Pence from Trump. Rather, to position him so he could play the most effective and constitutional role in helping the Trump presidency.

Pence could move his base out of the White House and Executive Office Building. He could set himself up in the Capitol, where the vice presidents room is one of Americas most magnificent offices.

The vice president doesnt need anyones permission to do this though, to be clear, he would certainly need Trumps assent for such a tack to be successful.

So why doesnt he re-base himself on the Hill and get to work shoring up support for the presidents program? And restoring the vice presidency to its original and sole constitutional duty.

The plain language of the Constitution suggests the VP doesnt have much choice. It says he shall be president of the Senate. He may get to vote only when theres a tie, but can preside when he wants. (Its only when hes absent that the Senate gets to pick a temporary president.)

Whats so attractive about Pence moving to the Senate is that hes perfect for the job. Hes a policy and principles person whos four-square for the GOP platform. And hes got experience on the Hill he was a six-term congressman before becoming governor of Indiana, and in his last term he served as chair of the Republican Caucus, a leadership position.

True, the Senate isnt the House but legislative experience and a history of working with Hill colleagues should be much in demand in the Trump administration.

Its not just health care and taxes. In Phoenix, Trump talked about the importance of the Second Amendment. Yet national gun-permit reciprocity is stalled in the Senate. The president will also need Congress on board if military action against North Korea becomes necessary.

The Senates floundering on ObamaCare repeal shocked the 30 states that voted to make Trump president and Pence vice president. If the Republican senators cant get it done, why not try the vice president?

No doubt the vice presidency has been much derided. John Nance Garner said it wasnt worth a bucket of warm spit (or some other liquid). Vice President Hannibal Hamlin took work as a cook for the Coast Guard.

Maybe, though, Pence could make something of it. It wasnt until Richard Nixon became vice president that veeps insinuated themselves into the executive branch in the first place. Pence could lead the counter-revolution.

The Hoosier could give a daily press briefing in his majestic office in the Capitol. He could try presiding vocally from the chair and working the corridors when he wasnt presiding.

Trump could certainly use the help. It might not work. But its hard to see how it could hurt. Its not as if the current leadership of the Senate has got a lot to show for itself.

The rest is here:
Trump should send in Pence to get the Senate moving - New York Post

Vice-president Mike Pence enjoyed Monday's solar eclipse from atop the U.S. Naval Observatory in Washington, alongside students from the Cornerstone Christian School, who joined him for the 'Great American Eclipse' viewing event. (Aug. 21) AP

Vice President Mike Pence, watches the solar eclipse, Monday, Aug. 21, 2017, at the U.S. Naval Observatory in Washington.(Photo: Manuel Balce Ceneta, AP)

WASHINGTON During the nation's last solar eclipse in 1979, Vice President Pence figureshe was probably standing in his back yard in Columbus, Ind., using a piece of cardboard with a pinhole to view the sun.

Thats the way we did it back then, he told students from the Cornerstone Christian Schools invited Monday to watch the eclipse with him. I didnt have these really cool glasses.

Pence also had a better viewing platform this time, the grounds of the U.S. Naval Observatory, one of the nations oldest academic and scientific institutions as well as the location of the vice presidents home.

Its the perfect spot for the lifelong NASA fan, who said he caught space fever as a young boy. As vice president, Pence is heading the National Space Council recently re-established by President Trump.

As Trump glances at solar eclipse without glasses, aide yells, 'Dont look!'

Eclipse-viewing party in the air; special airline flight had a sky-high look

After former astronaut Pam Melroy introduced Pence to the students as a true space enthusiast, he encouraged her to stay by his side.

I like to be seen with astronauts, he said.

The students were gathered in the Naval Observatorys circular library where the portraitsof astronomers such as Asaph Hall who discovered the moons of Mars looked down on them.

Brad Bailey, associate director for science at NASA, explained that eclipses have led to hundreds of scientific discoveries, including helium and proving that Albert Einstein was correct that mass warps space time.

But in ancient times, Bailey said, people thought eclipses were caused by sky jaguars chasing the sun and slowly devouring it. The only way to stop them was for everyone to scream.

So maybe well have to go out and yell at the sky a little bit later, he said.

But first, Pence led the students into the observatorys circular telescope room. A filter had been placed on the end of the more than 130-year-old telescope to make viewing the sun safe for the eyes.

Thats amazing, Pence said of the partial eclipse as he peered in the lens.

He helped a student get in position for a peek.

Youve got to shut one eye, he explained.

In Washington, the moon would cover only 81.12 percent "give-or-take" of the sun, Bailey explained.

As it reached that point, Pence led the students onto the balcony, reminding them not to look at the sun without their glasses.

Youve got to have the shades on, he said, asking one of them: Is this a good look for me or not?

One student asked Bailey what would happen if he looked at the sun without glasses.

I wouldnt recommend it, Bailey said.

The students alternated between gazingat the eclipse, posing for photos with Pence, and being asked if they wanted to become astronomers or astronauts. Melroy had already told them they are exactly the right age to be the first person to set foot on Mars, if thats what you want to do.

What Jordan Battle, 16, wanted to do was yell at the sky jaguars to get the sun to come back.

Count down: 3 2 1! Bailey said, prompting a group yell.

Its working! Battle said.

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Vice President Mike Pence shares space enthusiasm with students at eclipse viewing party - USA TODAY

Last Updated Aug 22, 2017 10:40 AM EDT

After President Trumpunveiled the nation's latest strategy for fighting in Afghanistan which would possibly include increasing the number of troops on the ground, Vice President Mike Pence told NBC's "Today" show that while he supports the plan, that exact number is "yet to be seen."

When asked by NBC's Matt Lauer on Tuesday if the Pentagon's June request for nearly 4,000 troops to deploy to Afghanistan was an accurate number the president was considering, Pence said the administration would be "making that information available as the presidency receives recommendations."

"What the president has decided is to deploy a sufficient number of troops at the brigade level in Afghanistan, to assist the Afghans who are in the lead, who are at the tip of the spear in this fight, to assist them in the fight against the Taliban, al Qaeda, ISIS that are there and also the president is going to make available additional air combat resources, using those brigade level personnel to call in the firepower," Pence said of Mr. Trump's new strategy.

He added, "we're there to to help the Afghans win, the president made a commitment that we're going to be there until we win, and the American troops, with new rules of engagement will be able to accomplish that there, just like they're doing in Iraq and in Syria."

Pence went on to say that the new strategy will be based on conditions on the ground, which is a "fundamental change in the approach" Mr. Trump is taking in Afghanistan.

"In the past, the last administration in particular, we had a changing strategy and changing tactics on the ground. There were artificial timetables for the withdrawal. What President Trump has made clear is conditions on the ground, the drive toward a stable and peaceful Afghanistan, will drive American policy and will drive American decisions in the region," added Pence.

While Mr. Trump was vague on exact movements for U.S. troops into the region in his speech, he admitted that he had wavered on the initial strategy, saying he was once supportive for backing out of the war altogether, but has since revised his thinking at the advisement of his military chiefs.

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Pence says troop numbers in Afghanistan "yet to be seen" - CBS News

Vice President Mike Pence is defending President Trump after Paul Ryan criticized his messed up remarks on Charlottesville that blamed both sides for the violence that claimed three lives. On Tuesdays Fox & Friends, the VP stuck up for Trump by calling for unity and insisting that the American people paid attention when Trump finally denounced extremist groups.

The president was clear in the aftermath of the tragedy in Charlottesville, that we denounce bigotry and hate and violence in all of its forms, Pence told host Ainsley Earhardt. I think the American people heard him. They heard his heart. She asked him specifically about Paul Ryans remarks at a town hall, in which the House Speaker said he felt that Trump drew a moral equivalency between white supremacists and the protesters opposing them in Charlottesville. Pence continued:

I think at the end of the day now that thats been said and the people know where the president and I and all of us stand in this administration now the American people want us all to move forward in ways that will bring this country back together. I cant help but believe as the President himself has said that as the country becomes more prosperous, as our streets become safer, we are going to enjoy greater unity in this country. I know its the Presidents heart desire to see the American people to come together, to be unified. As we see the progress that were making in restoring law and order to our streets, as we see the progress were making in more than a million jobs created, I think were going to continue seeing that unity and that strength across this nation.

Pence is clearly determined to stick to the Presidents emphasis on unity after Charlottesville. This move is seeing pushback from people, conservative and liberal, who point out that they have zero interest in unifying with Nazis.

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Mike Pence Pushes Back After Paul Ryan Criticizes Trump's 'Messed Up' Charlottesville Remarks - UPROXX

Vice President Mike Pence attends a press conference, August 15, 2017. (AP Photo / Natacha Pisarenko)

You probably have these debates with your friends, too: Do we want Donald Trump to resign, or be impeached, which would leave us with Vice President Mike Pence in charge? Do we think Pence is better, or worse, than Trump? Is Pence more formidable politically? Will progressives chances still be better with the Orange Menace in the White House? Or would the low-charisma Pence, who looks like a B-movie producers idea of a president, be easier to defeat, especially given the GOP fratricide that would commence with Trumps departure, however it came about? (I guess I tipped my hand in that last sentence.)

I try never to care about the political implications of whether Trump should stay or go. He should go, because hes a racist authoritarian who got help from a foreign adversary to become president. He should go, because hes more likely to stumble into war than Pence is.

But I never let that obscure the truth, either: Pence is a far worse person, because of his creepy Handmaids Tale patriarchal approach to womens equality. But also because he usually knows hes lying about Trump, and their administrations agenda, and he lies anyway.

Exhibit A, for today anyway, is the way he defended Trumps reaction to Charlottesville on Tuesday morning. Its a perfect encapsulation of the way Pence appropriates American decency to defend his own indecency, and his bosss. Heres what he told NBCs Today show about why he supports Trumps call to keep Confederate monuments standing.

Im someone who believes in more monuments, not less monuments. What we ought to do is we ought to remember our history, he began. Monuments, he then argued, served to celebrate the progress that weve made since that history.

I dont know exactly what history Pence is comparing to that history, since its all history, but lets let him continue:

You know, when I walked, back in 2010, across the Edmund Pettus Bridge with John Lewis, arm in arm, and we remembered Bloody Sunday, and the extraordinary progress of the civil rights movement, I cant help but think that rather than pulling down monuments, as some are wont to do, rather than tearing down monuments that have graced our cities all across this country for years, we ought to be building more monuments.

What does that even mean? The Confederate monuments many of us want gone havent graced our cities; they blight them. Is Pence suggesting there should be a statue of 25-year-old John Lewis in the fetal position, with Thomas Merton in his book bag, trying to protect himself from the blows rained down by the sheriffs commanded by Selmas Jim Clark, the brutal segregationist who died insisting hed done the right thing on Bloody Sunday? I dont think Pence is suggesting that, though maybe he ought to.

Maybe the whole bridge should be blocked by statues of the human bodies that were beaten to the ground that day, to grind Selma traffic to a regular halt, to force contemplation. Maybe it should no longer be a bridge at all. Personally, Id prefer that we renamed Edmund Pettus Bridge the John Lewis Memorial Bridge, but I dont have a say in that. (Anyway, first Id want to know what Lewis thinks about it, and I dont know that yet.)

But I dont think any of that is what Pence is suggesting. I think he spewed Word Salad la Sarah Palin, only with better grammar. I dont think he gives a damn about the folks who protest these shameful statues. What was most galling about Pences comment, though, was that he used his bond with Lewis to clean up Trumps despicable equation of Nazis and white supremacists with their opponents, who are the modern-day incarnation of John Lewis. (Oh, and by the way, who are supported by John Lewis.)

There it is again, that brazen Republican attempt to duck the reason Trump is president: that the GOP has played on racial fear and resentment for 50-plus yearsall the way back to Selma. Thats why we have Trump, and Trump is why we have neo-Nazis and white supremacists trying to march through our streets. Trying is the operative word, as Boston showed last weekend, after the tragedy of Charlottesville. We are stronger than they are, and we will push them back. Everywhere.

A few Republicans will join us. Apostate conservative Jennifer Rubin, who is coming alive to the ways her party has used racial division to conquer, tweeted this about Pences sad effort to cover up Trumps Charlottesville idiocy:

Gaslighting is the right word, though no progressives will fall for it. Pence doesnt care, though. He plays to an audience of one, and that one is Donald Trump. If we are ever lucky enough to have a President Pence, lets hope that the mainstream media, congressional Democrats, and anti-Trump Republicans remember what a stooge he was for an incompetent, belligerent, popular-vote-losing president. If they do, well never have to worry about Mr. B-movie president ever being elected to be the real thing.

If they dont, well remind them. Early and often.

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Why Mike Pence Is Worse Than Donald Trump - The Nation.