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WASHINGTON The fate of a sycophant is never a happy one.

At first, you think that fawning over the boss is a good way to move forward. But when you are dealing with a narcissist and narcissists are the ones who like to be surrounded by sycophants you can never be unctuous enough.

Narcissists are Grand Canyons of need. The more they are flattered, the more their appetite for flattery grows.

That is the hard, almost fatal, lesson Pence learned on Jan. 6, when he finally stood up to Donald Trump after Trump asked for one teensy favor: Help destroy American democracy and all we stand for.

Two new photos shown at a hearing of the House committee investigating Jan. 6 tell a shocking story one of the most incredible in our nations history.

In one, Karen Pence is protectively pulling a gold-fringed curtain shut in the vice presidents ceremonial office in the Capitol, off the Senate floor, as Pence sitting beneath a large gilt mirror stares off into space, probably wondering where it all went wrong.

We learned this week that when the vice president fled down the stairs, followed by an Air Force officer carrying the nuclear launch codes, the marauding mob was a few feet from him.

In a second picture, taken after Pence was brought to a secure location in an underground garage, his daughter Charlotte is anxiously watching him. He is holding a phone to his ear as he stares at another phone showing a video of Trump professing love for the crowd, which included some who carried baseball bats and zip ties and chanted Hang Mike Pence!

In the early afternoon, as the crowd tore down barricades and fought police, White House staffers worried things were getting out of hand, as Sarah Matthews, a Trump aide, testified.

They thought that the president needed to tweet something immediately. At 2:24 p.m., they got a notification that the president had indeed tweeted. But it was not the calming tweet they had hoped for; it was one designed to drive the rioters into a frenzy.

Mike Pence didnt have the courage to do what should have been done to protect our Country and our Constitution, giving States a chance to certify a corrected set of facts, not the fraudulent or inaccurate ones which they were asked to previously certify, Trump tweeted. USA demands the truth!

As Matthews recalled in her deposition, The situation was already bad, and so it felt like he was pouring gasoline on the fire by tweeting that.

Trump was still steaming from the contentious morning phone call when he failed to persuade the vice president to reject some of the states electors so they could be replaced with fake electors who supported Trump. He had railed at Pence with emasculating epithets.

As Trump recalled in a speech on Friday in Nashville, I said to Mike, If you do this, you can be Thomas Jefferson. And then, after it all went down, I looked at him one day and said, I hate to say this, but youre no Thomas Jefferson.

In the same speech, Trump had another line that was strikingly delusional, even for him. For the radical left, he said, politics has become their religion. It has warped their sense of right and wrong. They dont have a sense of right and wrong, true and false, good and evil.

Trump sparked the mob to seek vengeance against Pence the same way Henry II sparked a crew to murder Thomas Becket, the archbishop of Canterbury, in 1170. According to legend, after Becket defied Henry by excommunicating bishops supportive of the king, Henry muttered something to the effect of, Who will rid me of this meddlesome priest? Four knights immediately rode to Canterbury Cathedral and sliced up Becket.

The line became a famous example of directing loyalists with indirection, cloaking an order as a wish. Who will rid me of this meddlesome vice president?

A Times video, showing how the Proud Boys breached the Capitol, underscored that within the confederacy of dunces, there was an actual organized conspiracy. The group began plotting even before the election to take up arms for Trump. When Trump barked Stand back and stand by about the Proud Boys during his debate with Joe Biden, the Proud Boys felt as though they had received a directive, like Henrys knights.

With each hearing, it becomes clearer that Trump has no plausible deniability. He put the lives of the vice president and his family at risk, as well as the lives of lawmakers, by sending a crowd, stewing in lies, into a frenzy.

Pence did not have the power to do what Trump wanted, and its good that he resisted the insane, illegal and unconstitutional plan of the narcissist in the Oval. But Pence still wants it both ways. He has steered clear of the committee. He wants to become president by staying on the good side of Trump supporters, but theyre never going to forgive him.

At the end of the day of infamy, John Eastman, the nutty lawyer trying to help Trump overturn the election, sent an email imploring Pence to adjourn the congressional certification so sympathetic state legislators could help with Trumps fairy tale of a rigged election.

When Greg Jacob, Pences counsel, showed the email to the vice president, Pence said, Thats rubber room stuff.

The fate of a sycophant is never a happy one.

Originally posted here:
Opinion | Hence, Mike Pence - The New York Times

Former Vice President Mike Pence praised the Supreme Courts ruling overturning Roe v. Wade and with it the constitutional right to abortion access. Today, Life Won, Pence tweeted. By overturning Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court of the United States has given the American people a new beginning for life and I commend the Justices in the majority for having the courage of their convictions.

Pence went on to declare that now that Roe v. Wade has been consigned to the ash heap of history, a new arena in the cause of life has emerged and it is incumbent on all who cherish the sanctity of life to resolve that we will take the defense of the unborn and support for women in crisis pregnancies to every state Capitol in America. Having been given this second chance for Life, we must not rest and must not relent until the sanctity of life is restored to the center of American law in every state in the land.

The call for a new era of anti-choice activism aimed at stripping legal abortion access across all 50 states is already well under way. Thirteen states are now poised to ban legal abortion access virtually entirely through trigger laws, with many states seeking not only to ban abortion but to criminalize those who provide and seek abortion services.

More here:
Mike Pence Calls for National Abortion Ban - Rolling Stone

Pence had a chance many chances during the Trump administration to earn his heros ribbon. In November 2020, as Trump irrationally disputed the election outcome, Pence could have spoken the truth against the mendacious president. Such a move would surely have diminished Trumps plan to persuade congressional Republicans to contest the election results. Pence had another chance for a heroic turn in the days after Jan. 6 when Secretary of Education Betsy Devos sounded out others in the administration about invoking the 25th Amendment. Such a challenge, backed by a majority of the cabinet and the vice president, would have relieved Trump of his presidential powers and put Pence in charge. But he declined.

Instead of doing any of these things, Pence searched for a way to satisfy Trumps order to invalidate the election, according to Bob Woodward and Robert Costas Peril. To that end, Pence asked fellow Hoosier and former Vice President Dan Quayle if there was any way he could pause certification. Theres not much heroism at work when a blockhead, caught in a squeeze by his boss, asks a dunce for advice. Either Pence was looking for a way to satisfy Trumps order to invalidate the election or he wanted more assurances he couldnt do it. Regardless, as luck would have it, Quayle performed above his weight class and delivered the correct verdict. Mike, you have no flexibility on this. None. Zero. Forget it. Put it away, Quayle reportedly said.

Before the melee of Jan. 6, Pences office contacted retired federal judge Michael Luttig for his legal advice, which dittoed Quayles. Pence sought these outside opinions when not even Eastman, the architect of the argument to overturn the election, believed his theory was legal. Remember, he confessed to that in front of Pences counsel! Likewise, Pence deserves little credit for inserting himself into the chain of command to demand military defense of the Capitol. Since when is the guy who calls 911 a hero?

Pence is less a hero than he is a tragic figure whose flaws undid him. His vain desire for political power led him to support Trump and then toady to him for four years no matter what he did. Even now, when its abundantly apparent that Trump attempted to undo the peaceful transfer of power and effectively endorsed his veeps murder, Pence holds his silence, declining the Jan. 6 committees invitation to testify and avoiding the subject on the political hustings except to say he thinks he did the right thing. Just last week, my POLITICO colleague Adam Wren noted on Twitter, reporters tried to ask Pence Jan. 6 questions during an Ohio energy roundtable. His aides escorted him out of the room. A genuine hero would speak the truth, no matter the consequences. Imagine the stories Pence could tell under oath about the week of Jan. 6 if even a microgram of the heroic lurked in his soul.

What to make of Pences timidity? The best explanation might be his presidential ambitions, sketched out by the Wall Street Journal last week. The Republican Party is still in thrall to Trump, and if Pence wants any chance of winning the GOP nomination in 2024, he cant fully break with the leader of the cult. Perhaps he thinks this middle path will provide a viable path to the presidency, but its just as likely hell infuriate voters on both sides of the aisle.

Pence did the right thing on Jan. 6, but it didnt make him a hero. Please cancel the parade.

******

Pence has become the new Quayle, a pathetic veep whose president lost reelection, leaving him an opening to run (unsuccessfully) for president. Send your favorite Pence moment to [emailprotected]. My email alerts are taking no new subscribers. My Twitter feed wants to be my RSS feeds veep. My RSS feed says, Nothing doing, pal.

Link:
Opinion | The Tragedy of Mike Pence - POLITICO - POLITICO

Former Vice President Mike Pence on Monday offered President Joe Biden and Democrats warning shots during a Chicago speech widely seen as part of a test of the waters for a 2024 presidential run.

The vast majority of Americans know our nation is on the wrong track. But I have every confidence that unless this administration changes course, and their allies in Congress change course dramatically, the American people are going to change leadership and change leadership very soon, Pence said in 40-minute speech at the University Club of Chicago.

The Indiana Republican repeatedly praised the work of the Trump-Pence administration just days after his former chief of staff and White House counsel testified before the House January 6 Committee that President Donald Trump had repeatedly pressured Pence to delay or reject the certification of President-elect Joe Bidens victory, something Pence refused to do.

Pence is traveling the country in what is seen as an attempt to lay the groundwork to launch a potential presidential bid focusing on his Republican economic agenda as Biden and Democrats struggle with multiple economic crises.

Within his own party, Pence is alternately viewed as either a hero or a villain for his certification of the 2020 election. Many Trump loyalists see it as a betrayal and want the former president to run again in 2024, while others credit the vice president with doing the right thing under intense pressure.

Pence is also doing his best to separate himself from January 6, which is fresh in the minds of Americans after hours of testimony featured on television. In his speech, Pence called January 6 a tragic day in our nations capital and called the 2020 election divisive.

More than two-thirds ofIllinois GOP voters believe Trump actually wonthe 2020 election, according to a Sun-Times/WBEZ Poll conducted two weeks ago. And nearly two-thirds of those surveyed believed Trump should run again in 2024.

On Monday, Pence did his best to shift the attention to what he sees as Trumps strengths and Bidens weaknesses, lamenting that the work done during the previous administration is being undone. Pence blamed the Democratic president for everything from a rise in gas and food prices, to low wages, a failing stock market, high rent and the baby formula shortage.

That confidence and pride that were once synonymous with the American people in recent years has been replaced with fear and a national anxiety, Pence said. So let me say, to quote the old book, Fear is useless. What is needed is leadership grounded in American values.

While Biden admitted in an Associated Press interview last week that people are really, really down amid the pandemic and rising prices, the president said a recession is not inevitable and touted a low national unemployment rate as a reason for hope.

Besides bashing Biden, Pence also took a shot at Illinois.

The former Indiana governor said that as a neighbor to the east, hes paying attention to companies leaving the state.

Back when I was governor, I loved competing with Illinois for jobs. Its what we call easy pickings, he said to laughs. But honestly, as a fellow Midwesterner, it broke my heart to hear that Caterpillar and Boeing were moving out of Illinois.

Pence offered up his own economic plan, which includes extending Trump-Pence tax cuts, ending runaway inflation by slashing government spending, requiring a balanced federal budget without raising taxes and overhauling the federal permitting process for energy infrastructure.

The former vice president also said Biden must stand up to the totally extreme elements of his own party.

Those who advocate the radical left agenda, more taxes, more regulation, less American energy and open borders, Pence said. And enough is enough. Time for Joe Biden to keep his oath. And tell those elements of his own party, I serve all the American people, and we are going to pursue policies that will make America strong and prosperous and free again.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker did not exactly roll out the welcome mat for the former Midwestern governor.

Mike Pence is a dangerous, homophobic extremist, the Democratic governor tweeted.

He represents a party that for decades has sought to take us backward and strip fundamental rights from millions of Americans, Pritzker tweeted, just two days aftergiving a speech in New Hampshirethat many saw as a trial balloon for his own presidential ambitions. Todays GOP has no vision for the future their only goal is to divide us.

Prior to Pences speech, the Democratic Party of Illinois blasted out a statement calling it part of the Republicans redemption tour.

But there is no chance Illinoisans will forget the catastrophic four years of the Trump/Pence Administration or their ultra-MAGA agenda, party chair U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly said, touting that Illinois Democrats are defending reproductive rights, lowering costs, growing jobs and protecting the environment.

Read the rest here:
Former VP Mike Pence Declares Nation is on the Wrong Track' During Visit to Chicago - NBC Chicago

Needless to say, Mike Pence has been a busy man lately. Between his name being at the center of the current January 6th Committee Proceedings going on, general politics, and work--his schedule is packed tight. Right now, he's the man with the answers that everyone wants to hear from.

Former VP Pence Joins Brian Kemp At Rally On Eve Of Georgia Primary

Former Vice President Mike Pence has been in the national spotlight during the January 6th Committee hearings as he was allegedly pressured into trying to overturn the 2020 Presidential Election. It has been one thing after another for the former VP lately, and over the past couple of years, in general. Just this week, it's been reported that Senator Ron Johnson (WI) allegedly tried to involve Pence in a plan to present fake elector information. An offer Pence and his team refused to accept.

Mike Pence Delivers A Speech On The Economy At University Club Of Chicago

VP Pence has been shown in a positive light, for the most part, during the January 6th proceedings on the Insurrection. He had a lot of opportunities to do wrong, but was true to his oath, according to reports. It's an important moment and time for the former Vice President. He has to handle all of this, while still mulling a future Presidential run of his own. These hearings could play an impactful role in his political future and aspirations.

House January 6th Select Committee Holds Its Fourth Hearing

Mike Pence cleared room in his busy schedule on Thursday morning to call into 'LIVE With Cort And Ryan,' the new morning show on Boise's Mix 106. Pence was willing to answer every question they asked, and went into great detail in every answer.

Check out the interview with LIVE With Cort And Ryan with Mike Pence below!

Former Sen. John Kyl Appointed To Sen. John McCain's (R-AZ) Senate Seat

House Republicans Introduce New "Pledge For America" Governing Agenda

Former Sen. John Kyl Appointed To Sen. John McCain's (R-AZ) Senate Seat

For more politics and the Hottest Members Of Idaho's House Of Representatives keep scrolling!

House Republicans Introduce New "Pledge For America" Governing Agenda

It's not always good to be number one. For instance, with the list of 10 US Senators with the funniest name. Let's check out who made the list and why.

Last week, we debuted the Hottest Male Members Of Idaho's House Of Representatives, congratulations to all who made the list. Now, it's Ladies Night. Allow me to introduce to you the Hottest Female Members Of Idaho's House Of Representatives. Hello, ladies!

There are some beautiful people in politics. Always have been. Here in Idaho, that's no exception. Let's meet the 10 Hottest Male Members Of Idaho's House Of Representatives

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[LISTEN] Mike Pence Calls into 'Live With Cort And Ryan' - MIX 106 Radio