Hello, Mike Pence

 

Hello, Vice President Mike Pence.  How are you?

I know we've never really talked before.  I apologize, but it's true.  You are antithetical to everything I stand for and are one of my least favorite politicians.

But we need to talk.

I appreciate you playing the constitutional role you were required to do in administering the reading of the certified electoral college election results. You read with aplomb and the solid confidence of a man who can actually read and sound coherent.

You did not kowtow to the President's illegal request for you to not accept the states that would have handed the Presidency back to a  man who lost the popular vote by over seven million.  You came back after the Trump-incited Capitol Riots, undeterred and ready to do your duty.

You did all that, and Trump used your commitment to your constitutional duties and unwillingness to do what he wanted as a way to gin up a crowd to march on the Capitol.  He used you, and did not care about your safety.

But it wasn't just you endangered.  He endangered the lives of every Congressperson, of every Senator, of every staff person, of the Capitol police. He even used his own supporters as cattle fodder for his own goal - to retain power at any cost.

Four people died as a result.  As horrible as that was, it could have been a lot worse.  Unimaginably worse.

Property was damaged and vandalized, windows were broken, lives were threatened.  A rioter sat at the desk you had been at just minutes before, in the Senate chambers, declaring Trump the victor.

And this madness may be just the beginning.  And you know that.

Everything you've done for him, and he does this to you.

You know what you have to do, for the sake of the survival of the country.  You have to convene the cabinet and invoke the 25th Amendment.  You have no real choice.  A man who incites riots is not fit to lead this country.

For the sake of us all, you must assume the mantel of the Presidency and facilitate the peaceful transition to the certified winners of the election, President-Elect Biden and Vice-President Harris.  No more incitement of false claims of a rigged and fraudulent election.  Those baseless and self-serving claims are tearing this country apart, and it's time to heal and unite.

No one says you have to give up your principles and ideals.  You fight for what you believe in and are magnanimous and understanding, in both victory and loss.  You will not divide us and demonize us.

I know you can do this.  I know that, despite our many differences, we value this country and the preservation of democracy (ok, at least that's my hope).

You have my permission and encouragement.  Invoke the 25th Amendment and end Trump's madness. America will be supportive and will breathe a huge sigh of relief.

Oh, and one other thing -

DO NOT PARDON THAT SON OF A B!*

*taking into consideration your sensitivities, I have moderated my use of language.  You're welcome.