Dumping Trump for Pence could have saved lives, and maybe even the GOP's power
Vice President Mike Pence on Jan. 4. Credit: Getty Images/Megan Varner
President Donald Trump got to stay in office long enough to subvert a federal pandemic response, lose a national election for his party and incite a seditious deadly riot. For all that, and for other damage too, you can blame the politics-as-usual of the Republican Senate majority.
Refusing to measure the long-term menace that Trump presented, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's band of regular pols, anglers, grovelers and shape-shifters extended the demagogue's tenure on the notion that keeping Trump would keep them in power.
Feb. 5 marks one year since the Senate acquitted Trump on abuse of power and obstruction charges for which the House impeached the 45th president. If Trump could get away with pressuring Ukraine to do his dirty work against rival Americans, you had to wonder whether the best — as his cult followers would see it — was yet to come.
It was. Congressional Republicans couldn't even bring themselves to criticize or censure Trump in the Ukraine matter.
Left lingering are the what-ifs. What if the GOP caucus had decided on good evidence that it was time for Vice President Mike Pence, with his controlled demeanor, normal seasoning, relative rectitude and right-wing credentials, to take over?
It is difficult to believe Pence would not have done a better job if he'd succeeded Trump before the coronavirus pandemic exploded.
Pence was nominally the administration's COVID-19 chief. But only a president as blithe and impulsive as Trump would have mocked mask-wearing, made serious briefings into sideshows and encouraged the public as he did to actually undermine state health policies. The virus has cost more than 375,000 American lives, thousands of which could have been prevented without Trump's little games.
For all we know, Pence in the top spot could have beaten Joe Biden in November, given the Democratic candidate's weaknesses. Even if the former Indiana governor had run and lost, however, it is difficult to believe he would have launched blatantly fraudulent claims that he'd won. It is almost impossible to believe that he would ever whip up crowds to violence or strong-arm state election officials in the delusion he could overturn the people's choice.
Instead, Trump now leaves his loyalists in a sniveling position.
Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-Schuylerville) still clings to Trump. She sounded like someone embarrassed for the moment, and frightened for the future, when she tweeted: "I oppose the Democrats very political push to impeach the President. There will be an inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden & a peaceful transition of power on January 20th.
"That is the American way. Stop politically shaming millions of Trump voters."
Two days before last week's deadly U.S. Capitol riot, Rep. Lee Zeldin offered this: "I am one of the Arizona objectors scheduled to speak shortly when the House reconvenes. This debate is necessary." Except it wasn't much of a debate, really — more of an inexcusable presidential tantrum echoed by supporters.
Should the Shirley Republican's reelection in November have been debated too?
Right now, craven loyalists who take one half-step away from Trump may fear crazed mobs or condemnation — perhaps as some Democrats were diffident in response to violent protests and looting over the summer after police shootings of Black Americans.
The current rage may not last long, but even Pence, who refused to block a foregone process in the Congress, is getting death threats.
Everyone with sense knows by now that Trump likes to tell the opposite of the truth. He even tweeted as his faithful stormed the Capitol: "Mike Pence didn't have the courage to do what should have been done to protect our Country and our Constitution."
Take that to mean Pence would have at least been familar with the Constitution, unlike Trump. Too bad for Republicans who threw away the chance to promote him. The moment's foremost political crisis — getting rid of a terrible president — could have been resolved by now.
Dan Janison is a member of the Newsday editorial board.
