He will go no matter what Trump or others do. Probably the whole Trump family does not go. Except Mary Trump and others who tell the truth about Trump.
Politics in general? Sure. But, even as someone mildly interested in the answer to the question, I can’t see how whether Pence attends the inauguration will affect me.
Anyways, I’m pretty sure the question is more whether or not Pence’s attendance (or lack thereof) would actually make the news beyond some casual mention. Will the general public actually care enough for it to become remotely significant as a news story?
I personally predict that the stories will be about the historical significance, getting back to normalcy, what Biden and Harris plan to do, and possibly whatever affront Trump tries to do to put the spotlight on him.
So I don’t expect there to be much room for “what did Pence do?” Not unless it’s in contrast to Trump or something
I can see how on one level, it’s a trivial issue. I won’t be at the inauguration. Why should I care whether or not another person is there? Mike Pence has been voted out of office and will be an ex-Vice President; that’s about as minor a position as you can hold in American politics.
But the meaning behind the act can be important. And whether or not Pence shows up will have meaning (and Pence is surely aware of this). If Trump and Pence show up at the inauguration, will it mean that they are accepting the results of the election and recognizing the legitimacy of Biden’s presidency? Or will it mean that they are registering a protest against what they see as an illegal seizure of power and vowing to fight back? If Trump doesn’t show up but Pence does, will that mean that Pence is rejecting Trumpism? Will Pence be seeking a reconciliation with mainstream politics and a future election run? Would Pence’s appearance be a sign that the Republican Party is rejecting Trump’s non-appearance and Pence is joining them? Would that be Pence’s way of signaling he sees himself as the new head of the Republican Party for the next four years? Or would Pence’s appearance be a signal that the Republicans want to work with Biden and the Democrats to get part of their agenda advanced?
Pensive, perhaps?
I think ThelmaLou nailed it. We just don’t know at this point (currently November 15).
To go further, we have to see how the Georgia runoffs pan out, and whether Pence looks like the default Republican nominee or if it’s in fact Trump (which I think more probably). It depends on how Trump has positioned himself with a new entertainment gig, and how soon the soonest big loan payments are due. It depends on whether Trump has been holding the US hostage by wrecking stuff to angle for what amounts to a blanket federal and state pardon without technically being a self-pardon, and what role Pence had to play in that. It depends on whether Trump has thrown Pence under any busses, and what the state of the election denial is, and so many other rapidly evolving stories.
If I were betting a dollar, I’d bet Pence would not attend. I think the biggest argument that he will attend is that Republicans surely would not stoop that low, which has mostly failed as an argument over the last few years. As to how I would bet ten dollars, nah, I don’t think I would.
I think Pence will bow out, claiming he has been exposed to Covid-19 and is in self-isolation. Easy to claim and next to impossible to refute.
I agree. He won’t attend, but will use a reason that is not overtly, in-your-face political.
Unless you consider “believing the Democrats’ bogus narrative that COVID is something bad” to be a political stand, which apparently many do.
To the Trumpettes, hypocrisy is not a defect-it is a weapon. If Pence makes a Covid claim, they will view it as a pwn.
I think Pence will be at the inauguration.
His commitment as VP to Trump will be over. He’ll be free to act independently again.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Pence goes into the private sector. I don’t think he has the charisma to run for President.
It wouldn’t surprise me in the least if Trump shows up at the inauguration, demanding to be sworn in instead of Biden. That would be awkward, to say the least, but, you know, Trump.
I don’t have a good feel for whether Pence will show at the inauguaration. He’s so much in the shadow of Trump that I don’t get any vibes from him at all. That’s mostly because I mostly just read about politics and only rarely watch video of the participants.
I’d actually think it more likely he’d try to stage a fake inauguration (or at least whining about how it should be him in some “official speech”) at the same time, to try and steal views. The guy is a coward with actual confrontation, and the Secret Service can and would remove him if he tries anything.
I think Pence will show up. He’ll use that as an opportunity to show that he’s a normal guy, and not a temperamental whackjob like Trump.
Remember when the cast of Hamilton lectured Pence from the stage? Trump blew up when he heard about it, but Pence shrugged it off and didn’t get mad. His political views are awful, but he does know how to behave like a grownup.
Like when he flew half way across the country so he could make a show of walking out of a football game?
Oh, I like the idea of a fake inauguration. Then we can have a Pres and an anti-Pres. It’s been a long time since there was an Antipope…
Pence is the one member of Cabinet that Trump cannot fire anyway, and yet for four years he’s been polishing Trump’s knob without a single reservation.
Trump peacefully attending Biden’s inauguration would literally be the most amazing, unlikely event of his entire administration. I would put far greater likelihood on him trying to barge in escorted by Proud Boys and militia thugs demanding he be given the oath of office himself.
I doubt that Pence would walk out of the inauguration. He’ll either show up and stick it out quietly, or not show up at all.