Just a random musing, but there is some speculation that Mike Pence may be vulnerable to impeachment as well as Trump. It follows that this possibility is being used by the GOP to try to keep the caucus in line—by raising the specter of “President Pelosi...”, which would indeed be the outcome of a double-impeachment.
However, if things go downhill fast (which they may already be), there is one solution that could maintain a GOP presidency in the event of Trump’s impeachment AND conviction looking likely: Mike Pence is encouraged to resign “for the sake of the party” and the Senate elects a new VP.
So, hypothetically, the GOP sees the ship going down, and with the blame squarely on Trump, they push Pence out and pull the biggest FU move possible:
They elect Mitt Romney to be VP before Trump is convicted.
Part of me is thinking that Mitt’s already got his Bain Capital crew working the back channels to float this trial balloon.
Irony...