Vice President Mike Pence deserves much credit for jumping into the gap and leading this nation for the past two weeks since the horrible insurrection upon Washington, D.C.
Pence and his family happened to be inside the Capitol Building when the Trump-supporting mobs pushed down security fences, rushed the Capitol, broke windows and doors, and took over the House and Senate chambers.
Pence was busy with the constitutional role of presiding over the Senate as it certified the previously-counted Electoral College votes. Holding to that responsibility during the crisis caused the hoards of tyrants to shout, “hang Pence, hang Pence” as they clamored though the historic hallways.
The Vice President and others in the Senate and House chambers were whisked into secure rooms, although it took some time to get them evacuated. Then, less than eight hours later, they all returned to their chambers and finished their work, a task that was delayed several hours while 140 Republican House members continued inane opposition to certifying the election of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris to become the 46th president and vice president of the U.S.A.
But serious-minded lawmakers and the vice president persisted, rapping a final gavel after 3:45 a.m.
IF THERE WAS ONE solidifying force during this time, it was Vice President Pence who was looked upon as the Acting Commander In Chief. In the ensuing days, Pence has reviewed the military troops he has ordered into position to prevent hostilities at the inauguration set for this week.
Pence also flew aboard Air Force Two to California to keep a speaking engagement originally made by President Donald Trump at the Naval Air Station Lemoore. He looked and spoke like the leader of our democracy during that visit — so much appreciated by military men and women in uniform.
Since then, our nation has operated under orders emanating from the White House in usual fashion, albeit from the vice president’s office, not the Oval Office where President Trump made an early exit, or at least turned totally silent.
Pence said he would welcome the opportunity to represent the Trump administration at the inauguration today which is being held on the east steps of the same U.S. Capitol that had been vandalized two weeks earlier.
It has been redeeming to see how Pentagon leaders, Justice Department officers and many units of American military personnel have stepped to the fore to let the American people know that peace, justice and decency continue to serve as cornerstones of this great nation.
At the top of that leadership pinnacle has been one man who should be applauded for his courage, honesty and decorum under quite trying circumstances, and without a whit of support from his own president.
When he retires from office this week, Pence will return to civilian life where he and his fine family would be well advised to take some time off. After that, if the winds of Republican politics still look promising, Mike Pence would be a grand leader to follow into the presidential campaign of 2024.
He already has shown grit, courage and a propensity for goodness that has fallen through some ugly cracks in the past four years.
A respected president Mike Pence would make.
— Rudy Taylor,
