The
January Six committee hearing today on the pressuring of Vice President
Pence by former president Donald Trump to not certify the electoral
college vote on January 6. Pence was asked by the former president
Trump to not certify the count and to throw the count back to the
states. Vice President Pence was told numerous times as was Trump that
it was not within his constitutional authority to do so. He was
authorized to certify the count as a formality only and had no authority
to question it, much less throw it back to the states as Trump wanted.
Pence told the president he could not do that and that it was
unconstitutional and, in fact, illegal for him to do this. He was met
with Trumpian fury calling Pence a "wimp." Pence stood his ground and
never faltered. He refused to declare the electoral count invalid
despite encountering much pressure and anger from the former president
against him. He was nothing less than a profile in courage. Pence
never capitulated. This was the most riveting and profound
congressional hearing on the January 6, 2021 violent insurrection at the
capitol as I have ever heard. I was riveted. The room was dead
silence as we heard the mesmerizing testimony of numbers involved in the
scheme or knew about it.
Again,
our nation has dodged a bullet that
would have understatedly compromised it if not destroyed our democracy
as we know it, plunging the nation into a constitutional crisis that
would shake the very foundations upon which the republic stands if not
destroy it.
A
clear and present danger in the person of Donald J. Trump who attempted
to thwart the 2020 election and do what no other in our nation has
tried to do by unconstitutionally overthrowing the 2020 election and
subverting the will of the people. This would have thrown the nation
into a constitutional crisis which has never happened in the history of
this nation. Patriots and profiles in courage presented roadblocks
thereby saving our democratic republic at least this time. Mike Pence's
life was threatened as the violent mob egged on by Trump yelled "hang
Mike Pence." There was a gallows with a rope awaiting the successful
location of him. He was destined for hanging if the mob could locate
him. Pence refused to get into his chauffeured car worrying that he
might be whisked off to a place unknown. Rightfully, he was in fear for
his life and did not know how far Trump would go not accepting his
electoral loss. One can only shudder at what could have happened as
the mob was itching to locate Nancy Pelosi, Senator Schumer and others
who could have been in their sites and even killed.
J. Michael Lusttig, a retired federal judge and leading conservative who
advised Vice President Mike Pence ahead of the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S.
Capitol, that it would be illegal not to certify the electors. Lustig's
testimony was measured and profound. One could see he was shaken to
his core at just how close this nation came to its destruction. If you
get a chance to view the questioning today I suggest you do so (See link
below).
"A
republic if you can keep it," Franklin answered when a woman questioned
what type of government the Founders formed. So far a free nation
stands irrespective of the clear and present danger it suffered and
still does from Trump.
