Vance is immensely unlikable even amongst the republican base. And the past eight years have made it clear that trump can only really get trump elected. The only downside of him going to hell is that it will give republicans a few more years to figure out their post-trump pivot (which seems to be liz cheney).

I feel like with Vance if no one specifically woke him up in the morning and made him his pop tarts he'd just miss the inauguration

You are right, but I dont think the cult would unify around someone else that quickly. In fact, I think chaos that nobody that is sane would truly want would immediately ensue.

On the other hand, every minute he is allowed to operate is a minute that extremists like the Proud Boys, Christian Nationalist, and just an unimaginable rogue gallery of others is actively injected into roles that they can cause extreme damage at.

The unfortunate part is my second point will continue being true rather Trump is bunking in Reagan's torment pitch or not. Mask off will be the policy going forward, just manipulative nasty shit that gets nothing done but the rich richer and the Earth sicker.

Edit: and since I'm ranting I'd like to add; I care not one bit about "justice" served to Trump. I care only that we can recover from and avoid the circumstances that brings people like him to power. Send him to oblivion, lock him in a cell, leave him to die in an old person's home alone once he outlives his use, whatever. I care that we notice what brings these people to power; Fear, Instability, and the abandonment of our own citizens. If we dont educate and care for one another, we are more susceptible to fascism again and again. If we dont strengthen our most vulnerable, and instead cater to those who already have everything, this will just happen again.

Let's not pretend that the man doesn't know exactly what he is doing. His only deficit is in charisma.

Also, if trump's out, I could totally see someone like Romney stepping up, playing the "adult in the room" card, rallying a ton of centrists and economic right folks and getting just enough of the maga types (because he's not a minority woman) to win.

There's 0 chance the RP would put Vance up as the new nominee, unless they're already bound and required to.

He is going to be a martyr no matter how he dies.

The conspiracy theories around his death are going to make every other conspiracy theory look quaint.

Why would that not martyr him anyway?

If I were to die now they would say it was so that my soul could lead them.

- Paul Atreides, Dune 1965

Nah bruv, let him live a decade in prison.

I hope Harris is elected and has the brass ovaries to pack the court and give Roberts the finger.

That's probably true. But one of these decades maybe we can figure it out. Not because of Orange. Because of the school shootings. Maybe. Eventually.

The effective range of an AK-47 is 380 yards. The shots were taken somewhere between 300 and 500 yards. I don't think the shooter had a chance of making that shot and it is more likely that he was just trying to make himself famous.