My thoughts exactly. In the very least he could have obliged the many who called on him to delay so they could investigate the fraud, such as several in the GA state legislature and Ted Cruz.
Mike Pence didn’t have the power to delay certification. He’s not the one who certifies the votes. I just don’t get this obsession that seemingly smart people have with expecting Pence to do something he had no Constitutional power to do.
Trump is not blameless in his defeat. He botched his messaging on covid by his own admission, he botched the critical first debate letting Biden get him off message. He appeared weak and defensive, he did everything he could in that moment to sell the media’s caricature of him. Also, while he was right to oppose defunding the police, he did not have a good response to the conventional wisdom on blm. He was arrogant and blinded by his own hubris. He was his own best asset but also his own worst enemy.
Setting personality aside, did he deserve re-election? More than most presidents in my lifetime. Obviously he had better control over foreign policy, the border, economics and pandemic logistics than the current occupant.
Prices are up, the supply chain is desperate for truck drivers, we’ve incentivized not working and underscored it with the “child tax rebate” free money 250-300/month per child. In my line or work we are seeing a return of the irrational petulant attitude in the public that we saw in early covid. Joe was supposed to make these people feel safer and secure and now they’re back with the delta panic and who knows what we’ll see rolling into winter.