this post was submitted on 06 Aug 2023
359 points (98.1% liked)

politics

19089 readers
3779 users here now

Welcome to the discussion of US Politics!

Rules:

  1. Post only links to articles, Title must fairly describe link contents. If your title differs from the site’s, it should only be to add context or be more descriptive. Do not post entire articles in the body or in the comments.

Links must be to the original source, not an aggregator like Google Amp, MSN, or Yahoo.

Example:

  1. Articles must be relevant to politics. Links must be to quality and original content. Articles should be worth reading. Clickbait, stub articles, and rehosted or stolen content are not allowed. Check your source for Reliability and Bias here.
  2. Be civil, No violations of TOS. It’s OK to say the subject of an article is behaving like a (pejorative, pejorative). It’s NOT OK to say another USER is (pejorative). Strong language is fine, just not directed at other members. Engage in good-faith and with respect! This includes accusing another user of being a bot or paid actor. Trolling is uncivil and is grounds for removal and/or a community ban.
  3. No memes, trolling, or low-effort comments. Reposts, misinformation, off-topic, trolling, or offensive. Similarly, if you see posts along these lines, do not engage. Report them, block them, and live a happier life than they do. We see too many slapfights that boil down to "Mom! He's bugging me!" and "I'm not touching you!" Going forward, slapfights will result in removed comments and temp bans to cool off.
  4. Vote based on comment quality, not agreement. This community aims to foster discussion; please reward people for putting effort into articulating their viewpoint, even if you disagree with it.
  5. No hate speech, slurs, celebrating death, advocating violence, or abusive language. This will result in a ban. Usernames containing racist, or inappropriate slurs will be banned without warning

We ask that the users report any comment or post that violate the rules, to use critical thinking when reading, posting or commenting. Users that post off-topic spam, advocate violence, have multiple comments or posts removed, weaponize reports or violate the code of conduct will be banned.

All posts and comments will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. This means that some content that violates the rules may be allowed, while other content that does not violate the rules may be removed. The moderators retain the right to remove any content and ban users.

That's all the rules!

Civic Links

Register To Vote

Citizenship Resource Center

Congressional Awards Program

Federal Government Agencies

Library of Congress Legislative Resources

The White House

U.S. House of Representatives

U.S. Senate

Partnered Communities:

News

World News

Business News

Political Discussion

Ask Politics

Military News

Global Politics

Moderate Politics

Progressive Politics

UK Politics

Canadian Politics

Australian Politics

New Zealand Politics

founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
 

Former Vice President Mike Pence said he would comply with the law if he were compelled to testify in former President Donald Trump’s trial in the 2020 election case.

top 38 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] whiskeypickle@lemmy.ml 60 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (3 children)

he says that now… when the time comes, however, exactly what will his “compliance” look like?

sure, I believe he’d show up, but I also believe he’ll give mostly equivocations, pleas to the 5th, non-remembrances, and non-answer answers that mostly cover his own ass and deflect blame from the GOP than testimony that would give any real insight into or damning evidence against Trump or his co-conspirators.

If Pence had any desire to serve justice, he would have done so long, long ago.

[–] stinky613@lemmy.sdf.org 7 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

he’ll give mostly equivocations, pleas to the 5th, non-remembrances, and non-answer answers that mostly cover his own ass and deflect blame from the GOP th

That's certainly what he's done in the media, but I'm not so sure that's how he'll respond when 1) he's answering narrow questions crafted by an experienced attorney and 2) he's answering questions after having sworn to God that he would tell the truth

[–] keeb420@kbin.social 3 points 1 year ago

the traitor also swore on the bible hed uphold the constitution from all enemies foreign AND DOMESTIC

[–] whiskeypickle@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

his displayed pattern of behavior for the past several decades has been a hateful, self-serving scumbag. why would that suddenly change now?

[–] WarmSoda@lemm.ee 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The question is, is that hate and self serving aimed at trump now?

[–] whiskeypickle@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

this is my take on what’s happening with him now: it’s political posturing. he knows he’s likely to be called at least for a deposition, and he’s getting in front of the media coverage by offering, or, at least, by saying he’d be cooperative. now, to a public audience, that can mean whatever we want it to mean, and to his base, that means he’s an angel who did nothing wrong, a patriot deserving of their vote. because he’s a law-abiding victim!

to the discerning listener, it’s a cover-his-ass declaration meaning nothing much now and whatever he wants it to mean later, especially if he changes his mind, as the legal and media landscape remains fluid between now and then. what will actually transpire? we’ll have to wait and see.

[–] WarmSoda@lemm.ee 2 points 1 year ago
[–] Rubezahl@lemmy.world 7 points 1 year ago (3 children)

What could he have done?

He seems like a straight guy in every sense of the word. I vehemently disagree with his politics but I am sure that he will testify truthfully.

[–] WarmSoda@lemm.ee 18 points 1 year ago (1 children)

That's a tough one. The guy is such a scumbag, but repeatedly telling trump no and refusing to be above the law was a huge thing. I actually respect him for doing that.

Is he 100% off the trump train? Is it enough so he won't hold back? Hopefully his sense of honor for the country he seems to have will be strong enough to not hand waive things away.

[–] whiskeypickle@lemmy.ml 21 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

refusing to break the law wasn’t a pious act— he just didn’t want to face the consequences. I think he might have if he thought he could get away with it. I just don’t think he’s as stupid or delusional as Trump, et al.

[–] elbarto777@lemmy.world 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Nobody is saying that his act is pious. But saying that he will act as the other crazies is inaccurate.

And I don't even like the guy!

[–] whiskeypickle@lemmy.ml 9 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

oh, no, I think you’re misunderstanding me— or maybe I should explain better. Pence certainly wound’t do any of this to help them but to help himself. I don’t think we can ever entirely know his motivations but can only approximate or triangulate them based on his past/current behaviors. Pence is a tremendously selfish and self-motivated person driven almost entirely by his own self-interest. He only seems to do anything at all if he thinks he can personally benefit— and, likewise, would not do something if it would be to his detriment.

So, if he does something like the other nutbags, their motivations wouldn’t be the same, just that he thought he could get something out of it. Likewise, he didn’t participate in the vote delegate bullshit Trump asked him to, not because he “believes in democracy” or the constitutional rule of law/transfer of power— it’s because he knew it was a harebrained scheme that would never work, and they’d all end up in jail or worse.

turns out it was the right decision.

[–] elbarto777@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Understood. Again, I don't like the guy, but the way you describe things, well, sounds typical of the average politician.

(Republicans like Boebert, Gaetz, etc are not the average politicians. They're way, way, way below that.)

[–] whiskeypickle@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Your average, Republican politician, perhaps… 

Thing is, I’m discussing an explanation for Pence’s behavior based on his specific past behavior in specific, rather unique situations. You’re offering a broad opinion based on a speculation of politicians in general. There’s a difference. 

[–] elbarto777@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

Understood, kind commenter. Fair point.

[–] WarmSoda@lemm.ee 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

He ain't no angel, like I said the guy is a scumbag. But he could have easily gone along with trump at any time, he chose not to. That seems to be extremely rare for people around trump to do.

I think you might be right in your last sentence. That's probably the defining attribute in play.

[–] whiskeypickle@lemmy.ml 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

as I’ve said elsewhere, Pence didn’t go along with Trump because he’s not insane or an idiot. He knew better and is (and always has been) only in it of himself. It didn’t serve his interests and he has no real interest in helping Trump, and he knew it wouldn’t work and would land him in forever prison. It had nothing to do with doing the right thing.

[–] WarmSoda@lemm.ee 1 points 1 year ago

Oh I agree with you on that.

It's going to be either really interesting if/when he takes the stand, or a complete waste of time.

[–] Jimbob0i0@lemmy.world 8 points 1 year ago

For a start he could have testified to the Jan 6th House Select Committee...

[–] whiskeypickle@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

but I am sure that he will testify truthfully.

I never said that I expect he’d commit perjury

[–] elbarto777@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

You didn't, but you put him in the same lump as Gaetz, McConnell or that woman who I refuse to name.

[–] whiskeypickle@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 year ago

oh, I’d expect Gaetz to outright lie on the stand, and wouldn’t be surprised if he’s done it many times already. McConnell and She-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named? Well, he’s smarter than that, and she definitely isn’t. She’d blurt out the truth and get nailed for it!

[–] elbarto777@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Pence? I don't like the guy for his religious ideologies, but that man is furious at what Trump did to him on Jan 6.

I don't think he'll go above and beyond to bury Trump, but he won't be putting impediments to the prosecution at all.

[–] whiskeypickle@lemmy.ml 4 points 1 year ago

yeah, he hates trump, but he loves the GOP, and hurting Trump hurts the GOP.

and while I don’t think he’d hurt the prosecution, I have serious doubts as to how much he’d actually help them.

[–] dhork@lemmy.world 32 points 1 year ago

Interesting that "Republican intends to comply with the law" is seen as a newsworthy event ....

[–] flossdaily@lemmy.world 25 points 1 year ago

Pence: "I won't break the law."

Great. You wanna cookie or something?

[–] billiam0202@lemmy.world 17 points 1 year ago

Note: "comply with the law" isn't the same as "comply." Remember how many of Trump's people fought requests and subpoenas and dragged the whole process out until the courts told them to testify or not. Pence could challenge every subpoena until SCOTUS tells him he has to appear and that would still be "comply(ing) with the law."

[–] Hextic@lemmy.world 14 points 1 year ago

uhhh I don't rEcALL,

X1000000

[–] Pratai@lemmy.ca 12 points 1 year ago

Who knew that complying with the law was an elective for politicians that swear on bibles to respect their position and serve the country.

Good thing he decided to be a good guy!

[–] autotldr@lemmings.world 6 points 1 year ago

This is the best summary I could come up with:


But … I don’t know what the path of this indictment will be,” he told CNN’s Dana Bash in an interview that aired Sunday on “State of the Union.”

“But actually there are profound issues around this, pertaining to the First Amendment, freedom of speech and the rest.

Trump on Thursday pleaded not guilty in a Washington, DC, courthouse to four criminal charges – including conspiracy to defraud the United States – related to the investigation led by special counsel Jack Smith into attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

The federal judge who will preside over the case intends to set a trial date at the next hearing on August 28.

In his interview with CNN, Pence said Trump “was wrong then, and he’s wrong now” on the idea that Pence, as vice president presiding over Congress’ count of the Electoral College vote, had a right to reject the election result.

On Saturday evening, Trump claimed in a Truth Social post that “I never told … Pence to put me above the Constitution,” calling the former vice president “delusional.”


I'm a bot and I'm open source!

[–] SulaymanF@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

On paper, Pence should be an excellent Republican candidate. Hard right social positions, and known as being “too honest.” He had 90% approval rating among republicans in January 2021, then a week later it fell over 50%. He now has so little support he may not qualify for the debate stage. The GOP has become too extreme, and Fox News and the party leaders are like addicts who know they need to stop but prefer the pleasures and benefits of going harder and harder.

[–] xc2215x@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

Glad Pence will. He needs to do so.

[–] FReddit@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

Pence reminds me of Wormtongue in LOTR.

He has the guts of an earthworm.

[–] TokenBoomer@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Only Mike Pence could trip on such a low bar.

[–] elbarto777@lemmy.world 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] Magzmak@lemmy.world 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

So grateful for this. He's a pos but atleast he has some shadow of integrity

[–] whiskeypickle@lemmy.ml 7 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

this isn’t integrity. it’s entirely self-interest.

if he had integrity, he would have come out with all of what he knew long ago, especially when he was subpoenaed by congress when they were conducting their investigation— a subpoena he refused to comply with, btw.