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Many Republicans wonder if Trump will remain in the picture and viable in 2020. He could implode even more than he already has, I mean. He could be run out of town, one way or another. He could stomp off. The scenarios are myriad, and to prepare for them, Pence indeed needs an infrastructure and a network of his own. But theres simply no way to assemble those without looking disloyal to Trump and courting the wrath of alt-right types who know how to go on a Twitter jihad.

Other would-be successors to Trump arent in the same bind. They dont owe Trump what Pence does. They never pledged Trump complete allegiance. Gov. John Kasich of Ohio, whose unofficial 2020 campaign commenced even before Trumps inauguration, can raise money, stage news conferences, take up residence on CNN and pick apart Trumps proposals all he wants. It wont endear him to Trumps base, but it wont make him a marked man.

Senator Ben Sasse of Nebraska can style himself as a humble, homespun remedy to Trumps cupidity and histrionics. Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas can take a calibrated approach, more hawkish than Trump on foreign policy but eager to link arms with him on immigration.

Pence, though, is squeezed tight into a corner of compulsory worship. And despite his behind-the-scenes machinations, he has done a masterful job of appearing perfectly content there.

In news photographs and video, you catch other politicians glancing at the president in obvious bafflement. Not Pence. Never Pence. He moons. He beams. Its 50 shades of infatuation. Daniel Day-Lewis couldnt muster a more mesmerizing performance, and its an unusually florid surrender of principles.

Im not referring to policy and the fact that before he agreed to become Trumps running mate, he blasted Trumps proposed Muslim ban, tweeting that it was offensive and unconstitutional, and fiercely advocated free trade. Im referring to Pences supposed morality.

He trumpets his conservative Christianity and avoids supping alone with any woman other than his wife, then turns around and steadfastly enables an avowed groper with a bulging record of profanely sexual comments.

He publishes a testimonial, Confessions of a Negative Campaigner, in which he invokes Jesus while vowing never to repeat such political ugliness in the future, then turns around and collaborates with a politician whose ugliness knows no limit.

No wonder he wants and expects a reward as lavish as the White House itself: He sold his soul. But I dont think he studied the contract closely enough and thought the whole thing through.

Theres no political afterlife in this equation, just the loopy, mortifying limbo in which he and so many of Trumps other acolytes dwell.

Maybe the howling is cathartic. Wont change a thing.

Read more here:
Sorry, Mike Pence, You're Doomed - New York Times