Is it possible that the violence of the mob on Jan 6th is what convinced Pence

[Rustynaerduwell]

to do the right thing? Had the same number of people protested peacefully outside the gates, without protesting, maybe praying- would Pence have played it differently? Could he have? What about the collective insanity that is the Republican Party? Does anyone think they would have defied the coup once ignited? Do you think Pence did not consider this? The coup was stopped dead in its tracks as soon as the first window was smashed. What if no windows were smashed that day?

[milestogo]

1. If he wasn't going to do his job, why show up at all?

[Tetrachloride]

2. Pence brain lock is a strong possibility.

A random thought scenario:

Pence inside. Trump at White House.

Pence surrounded by security and high ranking Congress people.

Buffet table. Phone calls to anyone except Trump.

We need a precise timeline of a couple dozen people.

[Girard442]

3. Occam's Razor: Simplest explanation is that Pence thought he couldn't get away with it.

The possibility that Pence might actually have considered doing the right thing assumes facts not in evidence.

[Hortensis]

5. Yep. Pence looked for a way to safely overthrow the election,

as tRump demanded, and couldn't find it. He would have if he could have, but there was NO valid argument for legality and he seemingly wasn't risking personal disaster if the coup failed.

Since then almost all of the Republican leadership have apparently gone all-in on CREATING a personally safe path to a RW authoritarian state, where they will rule.

He's currently oozing his way back to trumpist acceptance by such things as praising declining abortions under admired dictator Viktor Orban's illicit autocracy and condemning the evils of liberal democracy.

Link to tweet

[dclarston13]

4. It may have

I do think if the reporting is correct that Quayle talked him out of it. To me it seems like Pence blew an opportunity to take credit for saving the union, though. Which would have been the only feather in his political cap. Pence is toast politically, but someone will try to steal the next election that is for sure. Thats what all these stupid audits are about. In the end though I think it may discourage the MAGA crazies from voting because they will think it does not matter anymore.

[Freddie]

8. Wonder if down the road

He WILL try to take credit for “saving democracy.” Hope Quayle steps up to verify that he really didn’t want to and tried everything to find a way to do Trump’s bidding by legal and Constitutional means but could not.

[dclarston13]

10. Any politician worth their salt would NT

[Cracklin Charlie]

6. Didn't Pence try to go on a trip overseas around the time of certification?

And then he backed out, and stayed in DC?

A bunch of the traitors were “out of town” during the insurrection.

But to your question…I think that by January 6th, that chickenshit Pence knew he couldn’t refuse to certify the election. But could a crowd of evangelicals prayerfully demanding that Pence not certify have changed his mind, and convince him not to perform his constitutional duty?

He may have listened to those people.

[Irish_Dem]

7. He was planning on running for the WH in 2024 and didn't want to hurt his chances?

Over turning a legal election and over throwing the US government would be bad optics.

[dclarston13]

11. I really hope Pence runs on a 3rd party ticket

I doubt it would happen but the Evangelicals would probably back him and siphon off loads of republican votes.

[Irish_Dem]

12. Anything is possible at this point.

[Baked Potato]

9. I think Pence just wanted to say fuck it and go home. Nt