The Point: How Dan Quayle saved democracy. Yes, really.

View this email in your browser   September 14, 2021  | by Chris Cillizza and Lauren Dezenski How Dan Quayle saved democracy. Yes, really.  You probably haven't thought about Dan Quayle in a really long time.   It's OK, I haven't either.   After all, the Indiana senator-turned-much-maligned-vice-president under George H.W. Bush left national politics with exactly one thing attached to his name: He didn't know how to spell "p-o-t-a-t-o." Well, now Quayle is going to be known by history for something a little more positive: Helping to save democracy.   See, Quayle served as a sort-of sounding board for Vice President Mike Pence in the final days of the administration as President Donald Trump leaned hard on him to overturn the 2020 presidential election.   The back-and-forth is documented in "Peril," a soon-to-be released book by Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Robert Costa.   Here's the key bit:    "Over and over, Pence asked if there was anything he could do.   "'Mike, you have no flexibility on this. None. Zero. Forget it. Put it away,' Quayle told him.   "Pence pressed again.   "'You don't know the position I'm in,' he said, according to the authors.   "'I do know the position you're in,' Quayle responded. 'I also know what the law is. You listen to the parliamentarian. That's all you do. You have no power.'"   If you think I'm exaggerating about the role Quayle played, consider how things might have gone had he taken a different tact with Pence, telling him to do what Trump asked.   (Pence and Quayle know one another through Indiana politics. Pence spent years representing Indiana in the House before being elected governor of the Hoosier State in 2012. Quayle also spent time in the House before winning a Senate seat in 1980.)   At best, that would have led to a series of lawsuits contesting whether Pence had the ability to overturn the election. That process would have dragged out for weeks -- if not months -- leaving the country in limbo in ways that could well have spawned further violence. At worst, we could have seen the legitimate decline of American democracy, with the demonstrated will of the people overturned by a single man. Consider THAT. And then say a silent thank you to Dan Quayle, yes DAN QUAYLE, for keeping our republic intact. The Point: The aftermath of the 2020 election showed how fragile democracy can be. So fragile that one man, who hasn't been in national office in decades, may have single-handedly saved it.   -- Chris   QUOTE OF THE DAY "I don't want to be your friend anymore if you don't do this." -- President Trump to Vice President Pence in a tense encounter in the Oval Office on January 5, when Trump pressured Pence to overturn the results of the election, according to Bob Woodward and Robert Costa's reporting in "Peril." TUESDAY'S TOP TWEETS 1. This is, um, unsettling 2.  The AOC dress 3. This was my favorite outfit from the Met Gala 4. Connor Roy drove the press van in California on Monday 5. Every one of Max Scherzer's strikeouts, visualized 6. TMI CHRIS' GOOD READS A very smart piece by Ron Brownstein on CNN laying out how the California recall has had the exact opposite effect that its proponents had hoped.   Hospitalizations has long been the way the smartest observers of Covid-19 tracked its rise (and fall). This Atlantic piece explains why that number has lost much of its meaning amid the fourth surge.   Pramila Jayapal has gained a national reputation in Congress by being one of its most liberal members. But this BuzzFeed story suggests her public positions don't match up with her private behavior.   It's accepted knowledge that Joe Biden is Irish. Biden regularly references his background in his presidency. But, his Irish roots are much more complicated than you might think, reports Politico's Ben Schreckinger. As a devoted reader of Slate's "Dear Prudence" column, I ate up this Gawker piece about someone who got lots of fake letters to Prudie published.  MUSICAL INTERLUDE I read a great piece about Enya in the New York Times Magazine over the weekend and it reminded me just how amazing she is. This Spotify playlist of just some of her essential music scratched that itch for me.   -- Chris CALIFORNIA VOTES It's Election Day in California, where voters are deciding the recall fate of Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom.   The ballot features two questions. The first question asks voters whether or not to recall Newsom. The second gives voters a choice between more than 40 candidates about who should replace him, if he is recalled.   While many have already voted early by mail or in person -- ballots arrived in the mailboxes of every registered California voter last month -- others will cast their ballots Tuesday.   Read more on why Newsom has pulled ahead in the once-close race.   We've got your bellwethers here. Watch Democratic strongholds like the Bay Area and Los Angeles County, Latino voters particularly in Imperial County and Los Angeles County, plus traditionally red pockets of San Bernardino and Riverside Counties in the Inland Empire.    Tune in to CNN's live coverage beginning on TV at 10 p.m. Eastern and online.  TRUMP'S SHADOW PRESIDENCY Former President Donald Trump continues to give his commentary on other US presidents' handling of affairs, despite a longstanding tradition of keeping presidential criticism out of the public sphere.   In the latest episode of The Point, Chris explains how Donald Trump's post-presidency will forever be known as a shadow presidency.   Stick with The Point on YouTube and subscribe!  ONE OTHER ELECTION Boston's preliminary mayoral election is also happening Tuesday, with some historic implications for the general election. No matter what happens at the voting booth on Tuesday, Boston will elect its first non-white mayor in city history come November. Check out Chris' Q&A on the race with The Boston Globe's James Pindell. You are receiving this message because you subscribed to CNN's The Point with Chris Cillizza newsletter. Unsubscribe from this list Check out other CNN Newsletters Create your CNN Account Share the Point Newsletter Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now to get The Point in your inbox.   Send your tips and thoughts via email to Chris Cillizza and Lauren Dezenski. You can follow Chris and Lauren on Twitter and connect with The Point on: Our mailing address is: One CNN Center Atlanta, GA 30303   Copyright © 2021 Cable News Network, Inc., All rights reserved.

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