MIKE PENCE/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “One is huddling with the Russian President, gripping-and-grinning with the Japanese prime minister and pressing Myanmar’s ruler to free imprisoned journalists. The other is tweeting fury at the special counsel, sitting for lengthy sessions with his private attorneys and working to salvage his image as commander in chief after it took a bruising thanks to a canceled cemetery visit. This week, as Vice President Mike Pence crosses Asia assuming duties traditionally carried out by the President, his boss Donald Trump remains back in Washington to brood over electoral losses and the special counsel probe. He is skipping the yearly summits that usually bring US presidents around the globe for meetings with counterparts and high-profile speeches meant to illustrate American commitment in the region. Trump, who attended the gatherings last year but departed early, sent his No. 2 instead.”
–Kevin Liptak, “Pence takes a global role as Trump broods,” CNN Politics, CNN.com, November 15, 2018 6:39 am