Interesting constitutional crisis question

[jmowreader]

They're going to recount the Ohio votes. I know the Ohio election has been certified, but they're just doing it as a "count every vote" exercise.

Now! What happens if Bush gets sworn on January 20, the results of the recount are released on January 30, and Shrub is behind?

[CornField]

1. I won't matter legally

Our presidents are not elected by the popular vote -- it will depend on the EC later this month.

[blurbyMCchazbotz]

2. Nothing

It's all about who is sworn in on January 20. The only way to remove a president through office is impeachment, and the only way to convict is to prove the president had knowledge of wrongdoing. As long as Rove kept the names and phone numbers out of Shrub's papers, he's in the clear.

[Lone Pawn]

3. I believe he stays in power

As, constitutionally, the only vote that matters is the Electoral College vote.

[Walt Starr]

4. Nothing happens

IF nothing changes between now and next Monday (December 13th), the electoral votes are cast. After that, there will be no way to change things and Bush will be sworn in on January 20.

[whalerider55]

5. if they are in the middle of a recount

the congress, which meets in early January (6th) can debate accepting ohio's results... all it take is one rep (there are at least 14 making the petition) and one sponsor in the senate (any takers, Boxer, Feinngold, Kennedy, et al)... thats when all this stuff about the strategy of laying low comes to a head.

we have the chance to challenge this in congress.

or hope that we can elect a democratic congress in 2006 that can investigate.

whalerider55

[no_hypocrisy]

6. It would certainly put the republicans in a very uncomfortable situation

to vote to ignore OH votes if Kerry has a majority as their re-election prospects do somewhat depend upon their integrity. And don't forget how Newt and the subsequent republicans have repeatedly told the American public that they hold superior morality and ethics to that of the democrats. Let them try to get away with one more hypocrisy this time.

[Walt Starr]

7. That won't do a thing

It would simply throw the election to the House for president and the Senate for Vice President.

End result, Bush/Cheney still wins.

[whalerider55]

8. end result

they have to steal the election in front of the entire public, on television, instead of the chambers of the supreme court and locked down back rooms. this is not a story to be ignored by the MSM.

and "we" would be no worse off than "we" have been by our wait and see, trust and verify strategy. we still will have lost, but we will have sent a message to the millions who voted for the first time for a democratic candidate that "we" take enfranchisement seriously.

so, i do disagree. if the goal is only to elect Kerry, than we still lose, and your comment is completely correct. if the goal is to send a message that the downticket races also matter, then we may have made an improtant statement. if the dems believe in democracy and that the lynchpin of democracy is elections that elect, than I think that does something. a big something.

whalerider55

[Walt Starr]

9. You make a good point

I was just telling you what the reality is, and the Republican controlled congress would do nothing to change it, even if it's proven the Bush was complicit in the theft.

Plus, I doubt you've get anybody in the Congress with the balls to question the results from any state. Seriously, the pink tutus are in full bloom and the new Congress hasn't even been sworn in!

[whalerider55]

10. thanks

i agree fully with you on the emascualted dems.

i also want to say i'm very happy to see you back posting again, and i tremendously appreciated the work you did this fall on "ribbongate."

you're a good man, Walt Starr. How do we get the dems to be dems again?

Whalerider55