I keep trying to look at this like a movie and I think that's really been helping me. And I look at what Pence just did and how it was set up beforehand with Trump publicly calling him out and telling him to do the right thing, etc. I know a lot of us are looking at him right now and saying "Et tu, Brute?" but I'm not sure that's the character he's playing in this story.
Two literary instances keep coming to mind when I think about Pence: Snape from Harry Potter, and Peter from the New Testament.
Snape literally killed Dumbledore, but as we later learn, Dumbledore had asked him to. If you recall, Harry overheard a conversation they were having where Snape said "You ask too much of me." Harry wasn't privy to their plan, so he attacks Snape later at the docks once he has a chance, but then Snape proves himself by double-crossing Voldemort so Harry could survive the attack.
Now comes the story of Peter in the New Testament. The common reading of "Peter's Betrayal" is that Peter was proud and full of bravado and defiantly declared “Even if all fall away on account of You, I never will.” (Matt 26:33) to which Jesus responded “Truly I tell you...this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” (Matt 26:34). And then later on, when pressed if he knew Jesus, he indeed denied it three times and then "wept bitterly." (Matt 26:75), presumably because he was so ashamed of himself.
But there's another way to look at that story. What if we don't assume for a second, that Christ was prophesying to Peter, but instead, was giving him instructions? We know Peter led the Church after Christ's resurrection, we know he did indeed end up giving his life for the cause and was crucified upside down, but we always assume he grew into that.
But if you recall, when the soldiers came to take Jesus in Gethsemane, Peter didn't run and hide. He drew his sword and cut off someone's ear. He wasn't afraid of the Romans--he was ready right then and there to fight and die for his Lord. But what was Jesus' response to him when he did this? “Put your sword back in its sheath!” Jesus said to Peter. “Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given Me?” (John 18:11)
See now we can see Peter's motivations in a different light. Maybe the reason he wept so bitterly wasn't because he had done something wrong by denying he knew Jesus, but because it was the hardest thing he's ever had to do. I can almost hear him saying to Christ, like Snape did to Dumbledore, "You ask too much."
Now I could be wrong but I have a sneaky suspicion that Pence is a white hat, and that Trump told him "I'm gonna tell you to send the votes back to the states publicly, but that's not what I actually want you to do. Here's why." It would make for a much better plot twist at the end. The hero is often "betrayed" by one of his closest friends only for that friend to reveal it was all part of the plan once the climax is reached. Something tells me we're in for a happy surprise re: Pence. Maybe not, but it would make a better story imo.
I certainly would prefer this version of Pence..... But we shall see.
The half-blooded Pence! Sorry had to do it.
Haha this made me chuckle.
And to add to that: Trump said in his speech "It takes courage to do the right thing, but it takes even more courage to do nothing" (paraphrazing).
Pence basically did nothing and did not send the votes back, so he showed even greater courage than if he did.
Maybe this is the sign that Trump wanted this from Pence.
Just another hopefull thought...Believe!
Yeah I remember thinking that sounded odd. And Trump doesn't usually sound odd on accident.
I had the same thought, but I'm not optimistic.
Interesting thinking - and possible. Much smoke and many mirrors.
I actually think this is right. Moreover it fully explains Trumps strange quote which did stand out as odd.
"It takes courage to do the right thing, but it takes even more courage to do nothing"
I hope it's true, because the one thing I keep coming back to is that it would seem impossible for trump to pull any of this off without having pence on his side
I mean... at this point.. there are so many theories, hard to know what to believe.
We will see.
One can hope...
I am not familiar with Bible, just learning recently, and I keep thinking of Pence as Judas. But your explanation of Peter really makes sense. I believe the same as well. I think Pence was from the DS in the beginning (there is no way GOP would have allowed Trump to run in 2016 without their handler as his VP).
The question is, whether Trump used his eventual inevitable betrayal and made it part of the plan, OR , did Trump really turn Pence to good and instructed him to do what he did.
Q said "Military is the only way" and I believe it. I honestly cannot think of a Plan that involves Pence saving the day.
But with all the Lin Wood tweets, I am inclined to believe Pence is a white hat and is following the Plan.
You had me at hello! Your title said it all. We shall see. How much fricken pop corn are they expecting us to eat as we nervously watch as semi insiders while still being outsiders. It’s all possible and I like your explanation!
It would be nice if this were true. Who knows at this point??
Would you put your future in Pence’s hands?
I'm not sure why you'd ask that.
Since we REALLY don't know Pence, it's impossible to accurately answer that question.
Precisely. That's why Pence is Snape.
I just don't know. I'm not sold either way. Time will tell. I'm not certain either way and that's ok.
I like this version of events. If I were writing it as a novel I think your plot twist would work well. From the bottom of my heart I hope it’s true. Pence has always seemed an enigma to me - placid, always the mask (metaphorically speaking) face, controlled, going through the motions carefully, almost robotic.....
I'm not sure about the Pence theory, but just have to comment on the above. That's an excellent interpretation of that situation. Am always appreciative of when someone shares a new perspective on something that makes me view something in an entirely different light.