V.P. Pence’s Silence on a Peaceful Transition of Power

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Last night the moderator asked Vice President Pence if there would be a peaceful transition. He refused to answer. Certainly, President Trump must have authorized Pence’s non-answer. You do not have to be an alarmist to be deeply worried that President Trump imagines the possibility of some kind of pretextual coup. The Constitution is clear. Unless reelected Trump is out on January 20th. There is no mystery about the length of his term. There is nothing cute about a Trumpian insinuation of unconstitutional seizure of the presidency. The muffled threat destabilizes our democracy.  It is clear there is nothing Vice President Pence will not do when the President commands it. The reader can ponder many questions:

    Does this mystery undermine our national security? 

    What should the American generals be prepared for? 

    Finally, does this unconstitutional hide and seek show a lack of mental stability on the part of Donald Trump? 

    Of course, Trump could clarify the matter this morning with a simple tweet. He has not.

JJB


Copyright 2020 James J Brosnahan 

 

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