Tag: Mike Pence

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When Scholars Subvert Truth to Politics

Greg Weiner

A while back, I wrote about an accusation that my criticism of Trumpism was poor strategy, since it did not serve the conservative cause. Herewith, what happens when scholars subvert truth to politics: CNN has published John Eastman’s chilling memo outlining how then-Vice President Mike Pence could declare Donald Trump to be the choice of the Electoral College in 2020. Eastman was a law professor when he wrote it, though he resigned shortly afterward. There is a long tradition in Western thought of the scholar-statesman, from Cicero to, more recently, Daniel Patrick Moynihan. It is an admirable tradition. Moreover, no … Continue reading When Scholars Subvert Truth to Politics

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More on the Supposed Certification of Electoral College Votes

Greg Weiner

The New York Times reports this morning that former Vice President Mike Pence defended his role in (the article’s word, not Pence’s) “certifying” the results of the 2020 presidential election. As I’ve written here before, the Vice President, like the Congress, has no such power. Constitutionally, the Vice President presides over the counting of Electoral College ballots; the winner “shall be” the president. The semantics matter. Presiding is a passive role; “certifying” suggests the candidate with a majority of electoral votes becomes President-Elect only after some affirming act on the part of Congress or the Vice President. Pence deserves credit … Continue reading More on the Supposed Certification of Electoral College Votes

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Stripping Marjorie Taylor Greene of Her Committees Would Punish Her Constituents. Good.

Greg Weiner

Because she showed no signs of interest in legislating anyway, the House of Representatives’ forthcoming vote to strip Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of her committee assignments is largely symbolic — which is fine; symbols should matter to self-governing peoples. Still, Greene is not wanting for platforms for her demagoguery, so the move will probably not much punish her. What it will do is punish her constituents, who will lose leverage in the forums where routine, transactional politics occurs. That is a good thing. They, not just she, should be accountable for her behavior. Holding voters responsible is essential to the … Continue reading Stripping Marjorie Taylor Greene of Her Committees Would Punish Her Constituents. Good.