If Trump is removed, then what ...?

[Martin Eden]

Assuming Trump will not be removed, the best outcome is for maximum damage to this POtuS and his enablers at the polls this November.

On the other hand, if the R's see that writing on the wall they just might vote to remove … and then what?

Pence becomes president and is hailed as a return to "normalcy" while the R's are acclaimed as "principled" after all.

In my book, Pence is worse than just about any R candidate in the 2016 primary except Trump. He's a hard right "conservative," a sellout to polluters and other monied interests, and a flaming hypocrite who wants theocratic authoritarianism like Barr & Pompeo.

With the media spewing the "normalcy" and "principled" themes, Pence would stand a good chance of winning in November while keeping the Senate and possibly winning back the House.

I think we're better off with the scenario at the top of my post.

[book_worm]

1. Pence is bad, but it's already an election year. He won't automatically inherit

Trump's political network. He would have to put something together awfully fast. Plus you can be sure other Reps will run. The best thing is that if Trump were removed (still highly unlikely) his "base" will be so mad that the GOP helped removed him that they will probably sit on their hand in November rather than vote.

[Watchfoxheadexplodes]

2. Pence takes over until November Biden wins

In a crushing landslide never seen before 😁

[Hoyt]

3. Or, GOPers will try to get past trial and then trump resigns due to bone spurs or something.

[lapfog_1]

4. I think you forget a few important facts

Voting to remove automatically makes 60% of the current Trumplican party want to stay home on election day.

They are NOT coming out to vote for Pence... with the possible exception of the evangelical crowd.

Second, have ever SEEN Pence give a speech? I've seen recently painted walls with more charisma.

[Hong Kong Cavalier]

11. This

Pence has the charisma of a used Q-Tip.

He won't do the "rallies" like Tangeranus does, either.

He'll get the evangelical vote, but that's about it. The MAGAts that aren't die-hard evangelicals will stay home.

[NewJeffCT]

21. agreed - a lot of the MAGA crowd

will be incensed that the GOP betrayed Donny Dollhands

Pence's popularity was in the toilet in red Indiana before Donny took him on as VP as well - he would not play well in pink or purple states, let alone blue ones.

[delisen]

5. If Trump were to go, Mitt would be angling.

Romney can claim he was right about the Russian threat and possibly get a number of Republicans off the hook.

[LonePirate]

6. The deplorables and MAGAts have no loyalty to Pence. They will sit home in huge numbers in November.

Pence atop the ticket effectively moves these 2016 red states to 2020 blue states:

AZ
FL
GA
MI
NC
PA
TX
WI

Except for possibly WI, none of them would move back to red in 2024 or anytime soon. That’s the end of Republicans in the White House in the foreseeable future.

[alwaysinasnit]

7. Given that Pence is neck deep in the same shit embroiling 45, Pelosi could theoretically impeach

Pence too as being a co-conspirator, IMO.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

8. Pence has the charisma of a bowl of cold oatmeal.

He'll keep the fundie voters, of course, but they vote GOP anyhow. What he will not be able to do is turn out the mobs of raging MAGAts who worship Trump the way the People's Temple cult worshipped Jim Jones. They might find a third-party Trumpite nutbag to run (Trump wouldn't be able to run, since conviction following impeachment usually includes the proviso that the convicted person can't hold any other federal office again), or they might just stay home. Pence is terrible, of course, but he's weak and stupid and can be managed.

[MoonlitKnight]

9. If they run Pence they lose.

More likely they nominate Romney or similar as VP and Pence resigns due to being involved in this drug deal up to his beady eyeballs. Then it would be a close race.

It would shake up the Democratic race because the focus will shift from “who can beat Trump” to who do voters want most.

But the GOP is going down with Trump. They will not convict, no matter the evidence.

[tableturner]

18. Can't see all those MAGATS voting for Mitt after he would have helped remove Trump!

[spanone]

10. I doubt many people would vote for pence. He's as charismatic as a lawn chair.

He would become president for a very short time IMHO

[Ilsa]

12. Pence is not beholden to Putin. On his own,

without Putin's help, Pence will lose.

[denem]

13. In the extremely unlikely event trump is removed, a GOP civil war.

The MAGAts will be baying for blood. There could be violence.

[eleny]

14. We'll still have to work hard to gotv but Pence will lose

[eleny]

15. oops, double post. sorry

[Hong Kong Cavalier]

16. Additionally...

I must say I'm nearly laughing out loud here (at work) at the various evaluations of Pence's charisma:

"I've seen recently painted walls with more charisma." - lapfrog_1
"Pence has the charisma of a bowl of wet oatmeal." - The Velveteen Ocelot
"He's as charismatic as a lawn chair." - Spanone

[MoonlitKnight]

17. The Pence emoji is the space bar

[lame54]

19. Then we deal with that

[Luz]

20. If Trump is removed, I have no doubt he won't go alone.

He's gonna scream and snarl and drag the whole show down with him. He'll throw everyone under the bus trying to save his sorry ass.

[CTyankee]

23. But then we get Nancy!!!

whoopee

[Luz]

24. Best of both worlds 😊

[Different Drummer]

22. Not that I have any faith Orange Orifice will be removed, but if he is...