What I don't understand is why the republicans aren't using this (or any) information to impeach Trump.
Pence would be much easier for them to work with and they would probably get a lot more of their agenda passed.
I think the democrats/liberals are lucky Trump is in office because he and his staff are so incompetent that they won't be able to do as much as they could.
In some ways, I agree with you.
Maybe the Republicans are just hoping to do as much as they can under the table while the press focuses on how absolutely, catastrophically incompetent and pathological Trump is.
In terms of whether liberals should consider themselves lucky with Trump?
Well, I think many or most on the left recognize Pence doesn't present a great alternative. Many Democrats i know think he would be worse than Trump.
So, which is worse?
Trump is kind of destroying the integrity -- what little there is left -- in our political institutions.
Trump is an absolute disaster in terms of corruption, graft, nepotism, free press, and potentially treason.
Trump is also a disaster in terms of the rise of racist, antisemitic, and anti-Muslim violence that can be connected to his rhetoric and the people he pandered to during his campaign.
Trump is also a potential disaster in terms of international diplomacy and foreign policy.
With enough time in office, Trump could be a potential disaster in terms of starting or escalating armed conflicts around the world.
Trump could also be a disaster in terms of terrorism because he's so incompetent and so many offices are short-staffed.
Pence, or Ryan, with both houses of Congress under Republican control, would likely be worse in terms of voter suppression; repression of the rights of the poor, women, and minorities, and the LGBTQ community; erosion of the separation of church and state; and policies that deny the effects of climate change. To name a few things.
Pick your poison, I guess.