Former vice-president Mike Pence made headlines recently when he came out publicly and said, "President Donald Trump is wrong," that he, Mike Pence, could not overturn the election. Many are applauding Pence's strong rebuke of the Jan 6th insurrection, along with his willingness to call Trump wrong about anything.
But those of us who, for four frustrating years, watched as Pence and so many republicans went against their sworn pledge to support and defend the United States, choosing instead to support and defend an autocratic President, are not buying Pence's political push.
What makes a politician finally come out to publicly tell the truth about an incident, after deflecting from that truth and keeping silent about false claims against it? Is it his God-fearing religious beliefs that make it sinful to tell a lie? Is he preparing to finally tell the truth to the Jan 6th insurrection investigating committee about what he knew and when he knew it? Is he trying to confess away his political sins in order to gain support for a clean-slated presidential run in 2024?
And what makes a man who has been silently complicit in crimes, choose to come forward or continue to hide behind his silence? Answer: bravery or cowardice. Mind you, Pence is not changing his political position, nor is he stepping away from supporting trump and the stolen election lie. He's just stating his constitutional rights as vice-president.
But in the world of trump, it's a big thing when any member goes rogue with truth-telling, thereby revealing trump wrongs. And although Pence appears to be saving his own skin from possible charges stemming from the Jan. 6th investigation, he now has a chance to make amends for becoming unpatriotic to his country; he can return to honoring his constitutional pledge and help righting the wrongs that led our country to the brink of dictatorship.
As this blog title states, I want to hear Mike Pence answer the question that his rebuke of trump raises; would Mike Pence have overturned the presidential election if he, as vice-president, had the right under the constitution to do so? And if so, why?
It's a question that any and every American citizen, regardless of political party affiliation, should want to hear him answer. I'm sure the trump supporters who stormed the capitol and setup gallows to hang Mike Pence and other politicians would like to know. And I'm sure those future voters looking for some sort of allegiance to democracy in their politicians, need to hear as assurance their votes count.
It's a question which makes one better understand exactly why the founding fathers of these United States of America did not outright give vice-presidents power to overturn Electoral Counts; insurrection can ensue just at the mere thought.
The Electoral Count Act of 1887 (ECA) (Pub.L. 49–90, 24 Stat. 373,[1] later codified at Title 3, Chapter 1[2]) is a United States federal law adding to procedures set out in the Constitution of the United States for the counting of electoral votes following a presidential election. The Act was enacted by Congress in 1887, ten years after the disputed 1876 presidential election, in which several states submitted competing slates of electors and a divided Congress was unable to resolve the deadlock for weeks.[3] Close elections in 1880 and 1884 followed, and again raised the possibility that with no formally established counting procedure in place partisans in Congress might use the counting process to force a desired result.[4]
The Act aims to minimize congressional involvement in election disputes, instead placing the primary responsibility to resolve disputes upon the states.[4][5] The Act sets out procedures and deadlines for the states to follow in resolving disputes, certifying results, and sending the results to Congress. If a state follows these "safe harbor" standards and the state's governor properly submits one set of electoral votes, the Act states that that "final" determination "shall govern."[6][7] However, making or use of "any false writing or document" in the implementation of this procedure is a felony punishable by 5 years imprisonment by 18 U.S. Code 1001 under Chapter 47 Fraud and False Statements.
I once had a family member "rescued" from a cult. Our family had to implement a deprogramming system in order to help the individual "reunite" with themself and thereby their family. It took time and plenty of faith healing before the individual was no longer at risk to return to the cult. Then one day it was as if they decided to walk through the loving family doorway the cult had somehow hidden fog-like from their mental view. The doorway had always been there, it was just the individual's inner sight and love for family had been glazed over and misplaced.
Reminds me of the song Amazing Grace; "I once was lost but now I'm found, was blind but now I see."
So, come'on Iron Mike. You opened the door to truth and put one foot across the threshold, why not step all the way through and "be the change you would like to see in the world." You should know from bible study, "there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open." Luke 8:17
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