There is no doubt that Pence screwed up. When the nasty vindictive old crone Pelosi and the democrats in the House referred there resolution to Pence about the 25th amendment, he should have said he was taking under advisement. He should have told the old bad that he was going to have to seek legal advice, and it would take several days.
And, after those few days, he would written the same letter to her and we would still be no closer to getting it in motion. If you mean that he should have "run out the clock"...it appears that impeachment charges can happen after one leaves public office (conflicting interpretations by legal experts), so what good does stalling do?
That's sort of the amazing thing, after Trump painted a target on his back, Pence is still playing the loyal dog. He's basically pulling a Patty Hearst.
Pence hands are tied by the language describing the specific uses of the amendment and the lack of medical or professional evidence said infirmity exists, or that its severity is in fact incapacitating.
Reports were that Pence was initially furious and they didn't speak for several days after the riot. Pence got his position by being loyal and okay with being 2nd in command. That hasn't changed. He is being consistent with who he is.
He's already a target. How is helping to stop the bully going to make things worse for him? Personally, I can be forgiving when someone hurts me. All bets are off when you hurt (or threaten) my family. I can't believe that Pence is still loyal after that.
It doesn't. Congress will. I am not going to decide that the President is 'infirm' incapacitated or incompetent to do his job, without demanding answers like how is he infirm? What is incapacitating him, and exactly what parts of the job can't he do that are essential to the job ?, Can there be accomodations made? Its the same questions that we oblige Walmart to answer, before they fire a friggin boxboy who has medical issues under the ADA. Am I as a congressman under any less a duty to protect the duly certified election results that made him President and the VP not president? I need professional grade medical and clinical .testimony on what the hell is wrong with him! I am creating a precedent and it has to protect this country from two threats from different directions, I will at least need to know that my precedent setting vote protects us from both
One last post that leads to my answer. here's a hint. If the founders demanded proof of 'high Crimes' ( by the way that actually refers to crimes committed by 'high' or powerful people) to impeach and remove, why did they bother plopping in that 'misdeamors' word? what kinds of situations was it supposed to cover in the 17th/ 18th centuries? how was that entire phrase was used historically in impeachments back across the pond and what behavior did they impeach and convict that was not sitting in a criminal statute?
You're assuming Pence had any interest in playing this game. I don't know much about the man, but I suspect his integrity is something he values. I also have to suspect as a professed Christian he had to hold his nose more than we know upon entering the Oval office.
Integrity? LOL! He didn't find his "integrity" until his life was threatened by the Trump mob. You could talk about his integrity, had he resigned after year one. Now, he is just trying to figure out where the wind blows.
Pence did as he should have done in dismissing attempts out of hand with no further debate or research involved. IMO, the 25th should be an extreme last resort, and should be instantly dismissed out of hand without needing to conduct research if used politically. Its legitimate use should be obvious beyond doubt to whatever cabinet is involved, and there should be no precedent whatsoever for allowing it to become just another political maneuver. We have had quite enough of that type of legal perversion towards partisan ends as it is. Attempts of it against Trump is just another example of short-sighted, dishonest Democrats abusing process to get their way when the law is not on their side. Had it existed at the time, its legitimate use is preventing situations such as the Wilson Administration where Wilson's wife was effectively POTUS for way too long and this was hidden from the public. The incapacity standard in its use should be obvious and extreme as was the case there, not much wiggle room. 25th Amendment Resources from Fordham Law
I don't have to. I can easily defend the position that Trump had a target on his back before his term even started. Has anyone called for Bidens impeachment yet?
Yes. On this very board numerous times over the Hunter Biden scandal. GOP Senator Earnst called for Biden to be impeached almost a year ago.
Rants from random people on the internet is not the same as an elected official with political power.
No. He was quite clear to Crazy Nancy, he isn't going to play political games with the constitution. What you are essentially saying is that he should have manipulated her in order to prevent her from abusing her power. She also has the right to express her free will, and in this case she used her will to misuse her authority. It's not Pence's job to change her diaper. She's a grown woman.