As it stands today the chances of Trump being impeached are strong, however, the chances of both Trump AND Pence (the current Vice President) being impeached are very weak. If Trump is to leave office, it is almost guaranteed that Pence will step up to bat. Trump may be bad, but in my opinion, Pence is substantially worse.
Since the start of the colonization of North America businesses have been prevalent in the growth, and success, of what was to become the United States of America. President Trump has left a bad taste in many American's mouths with his generosity to corporations over the middle class however, that is nothing new in our country. As a people, we have many times been left as the underdogs to industry and it's hard to think that will change. Trump is doing nothing in this regard that hasn't been done before.
That being said, Pence has remained rather quiet on the business aspects of politics and largely vocal on the religious aspects. From the background I could get through on Pence, it seems that the majority of his decisions have been based on one of two things: 1) His (and his wife's) religious beliefs, and 2) His relationship with the Koch brothers (who are well known for their libertarian views that include deregulating any industry they are a part of).
The history of the United States includes many presidents who were willing to speak out on behalf of their religious beliefs but always seemed to stop short of taking their own beliefs and forcing them onto the country. We have already seen what Pence is willing to pass in defense of his beliefs (specifically speaking to the laws he passed while Indiana Governor from 2013 until he became VP) including but not limited to the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and H.B. 1337.
As a woman, I am astounded that a man that follows the Billy Graham rule, meaning he will not spend time alone in a room with a woman who is not his wife, or dine with any unmarried women without his wife, is able to hold such a prominent position in a government that is not supposed to discriminate against anyone. Trump is bad, but for anyone in the country who isn't a white Christian male, I think Pence is substantially worse.
As a woman, I am astounded that a man that follows the Billy Graham rule, meaning he will not spend time alone in a room with a woman who is not his wife, or dine with any unmarried women without his wife, is able to hold such a prominent position in a government that is not supposed to discriminate against anyone. Trump is bad, but for anyone in the country who isn't a white Christian male, I think Pence is substantially worse.
I agree with all of the statements in your blog post, and I also believe that most of Pence's public actions and focus has been geared towards his religious affiliations and social beliefs. Pence does not shy away from pushing to pass anti-abortion regulations and laws, claiming at a recent pro-life rally that abortion will "end in our time". Before he was appointed Vice President (in 2016), he signed an Indiana law that would have banned abortions sought due to fetal genetic abnormalities and required that aborted fetuses be buried or cremated. Requiring a woman to be responsible for burying or cremating her aborted fetus' remains is unlawful and disgusting, and creates unnecessary psychological trauma for a woman who has already had to endure massive hardship. Furthermore, Pence's stance on LGBT people and his outward distaste towards their lifestyle is extreme and problematic. Pence has stated that "societal collapse was always brought about following an advent of the deterioration of marriage and family", and in 2007 opposed the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, saying the law "wages war on freedom and religion in the workplace". If Trump were to be impeached and Pence took his place as President, the country would undoubtedly be in the process of regressing socially. Knowing Pence's extremist conservative views and believing that issues like abortion will guaranteed end "in our time", and potentially putting him in one of the most powerful positions in the country is unnerving. Given the rise of racist and sexist organizations like the KKK after Trump got elected, if Pence replaces Trump, these people will only be more motivated to come out of the woodworks and make their presence known. The social progress we have made as a nation will consequently be pushed back years if Pence becomes President. It would be very likely that Pence put his religious views before everything else as President (he did consider himself a Christian and a conservative before a Republican), which indicates that some of the economic issues might be put on the back burner. This is not what our country needs, this is not what a national leader looks like.
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