Prediction: President John McCain by March 2006

[hedgehog]

I've seen this movie before. I figure that Bush and Cheney are headed for un-indited co-conspirator status soon over Valerie Plame and/or corporate contributions in Texas. Throw in Bush's coming melt-down plus Cheney's sleaze factor and here is the sequence:

1. Cheney resigns due to bad health.

2. McCain is appointed VP

3. Bush is forced to step down to avoid impeachment.

I figure the impetus for this will come from the republicans. AS my mother noted, the Democrats are better off letting them twist slowly in the wind.

[wrathofkahn]

1. I'm not sure that's Constitutionally possible...

I'll have to go check for details and get back to you in a little bit.

[Retrograde]

5. happened in 1974

Spiro Agnew resigned an VP, Nixon appointed Gerald Ford as new VP, then Nixon resigned to avoid impeachment.

One of Ford's first acts was to pardon Nixon.

[wrathofkahn]

47. Right you are

I misread the OP, thinking that it was indicating that McCain was in the chain of succession under the XXV Amendment.

Interesting scenario. I wonder if McCain can gain majority consent of both the House and the Senate.

[NMDemDist2]

14. sure it is, that's how Gerald Ford ended up President IIRC n/t

[tsuki]

26. I have seen it happen. eom

[gardenista]

2. I've been thinking about this scenario.

If nothing else it will be fascinating to see the machinations the republicans go throught in order to keep their power.

[hedgehog]

7. If they don't get rid of Bush soon, it should be good-by to the House in 2

I say should be because the Democrats can't take back the House unless they actually run candidates! Let's hope Howard Dean can get the rest of them straightened out in time!

[never_get_over_it]

51. And the Dems can't take back the House

if the elections are rigged - I believe the repunks are still being completely outrageous - and considering they are a year away from elections I believe they know the fix is in. I believe this is exactly what happened in 04 - the freak in chief continued to act outrageously - his performance in the debates was pathetic at best and my feeling is he didn't give a shit because he knew the fix was in. Won't be any different in 06

Because of this I believe what Howard Dean should do is have parallel elections at all seats that are toss ups. Which means we have a table at the legal distance from the polls and have people vote again - a step up from exit polls - this is probably going to be the closest thing we have to a paper trail.

The Congressional elections next year should absolutely be a blood bath for the repunks - unless of course they steal again.

[Ksec]

3. Thats definitely possible

McCain would be better IMO

[Independent_Liberal]

4. Why does that sound so familiar?

Where have I seen that before?

:)

[autorank]

6. Something bad happens with McCain and the plot unravels.

I've seen the movie too, it was called "Watergate". Why write a new plot when the old one is so good. McCain would be a good choice but he's tainted: he supported this bum and dissed his "good friend" Kerry. He might get up to 50% approval on a good week.

I don't think they'll let him have it. He was reprimanded for ethics violations way back, which everybody forgets. He's also got a record and may have been a bit to solicitous, as they say, with Quest.

Do not underestimate what these folks will do on the way out. It will not be pretty. The story they made up about the Clinton folks messing with things just before they left, totally false, is like so much of what they accuse others of -- it's a projection of their own nasty mind set.

We'll all be doing the twist.

Here's my take: Al Gore is placed as VP with * resigning simultaneously. Think about it. Gore was the last elected President and, even Alaskans now know, we need somebody who is really serious about the environment.

The key to all this is a wild-card. Well, I have it. The real election fraud story comes out and GETS COVERED. That would create a fire storm that would allow some real innovation.

The old plot is tedious. We saw it live, we saw the movie, it's got legs, but it's time for something new: Gore for VP!!! then President.

[serryjw]

12. I agree it won't be McCain BUT

it won't be Gore either...Whom is moderate enough with very few skeletons?

[Blasphemer]

28. Libby Dole?

They would have to do a major makeover of the party, the Dole name is still respected and it would steal the thunder of a potential HRC democratic nomination. Naming a woman VP would veer many of the headlines away from the scandal.

[serryjw]

37. NOT bad........

Most of America knows her as the head of the RED CROSS and though we KNOW the truth, most Americans don't....Really good call!

[understandinglife]

22. Interesting. How about Bolton or Wolfowitz -- call it Scary Movie 5 ...

... since # 4 is almost 'in the can.' :evilgrin:

No 'Watergate Redux' this time. Way too much at stake for the corporatistas and neoconsters.

I agree with one premise -- I don't think either Cheney or Bush will be serving in the Executive branch by Spring 2006, and it will be the rabid corporate and neocon Republicans, not the Dems, who will drive both of them out in order to salvage Republican control of the 110th Congress.

I suspect the order will be Cheney goes, Bush appoints Condi or Gonzales as VP, Bush goes. :hi:


Peace.

[NoBushSpokenHere]

43. My predictions are similar to autoranks

They make a deal - place Kerry or Gore as VP, Bush resigns, Kerry or Gore pardons the neocons (as part of the deal).

Sounds like a good plan to me (although I would love to see the crew sent to Abu Ghraib)!

Sometimes I think I am dreaming, vacillating from nightmares of fascism to dreams full of hope.


Haven't purchased my case of champaign yet, but hope to do so soon!

[Stephanie]

8. No way in hell they will pick McCain

They hate McCain.

[gardenista]

9. They might not have a choice. Nixon sure as hell didn't want Ford.

in any case, all of this is good for us in 2006.

[dsewell]

19. There are fewer responsible Republicans now than in 1974

unfortunately. That's what makes this scenario a long shot.

[enid602]

45. Dole

Ford was a 'safe' choice in '74, just as Dole might be seen as a safe choice now. Still, it is hard to imagine the neo-con establishment rubber-stamping a safe choice (with the goal of national reconciliation) with so much currently at stake for them.

[nytemare]

10. President Gonzales.

Ugg.

[Stephanie]

11. President Hughes

That's about as likely, the way they've been going.

[me b zola]

23. It will be a PNACer

Someone to carry on what they have started. But it does need to be someone would be accepted as their nominee in '08. Hmmmm.

My money would be on Chuck Hagel, although he is not a signatory, I think he is one of them. He constantly distances himself publicly from this corrupt administration, but always votes with them; carries their water in deeds, not words.

He could run as a moderate, he is attractive, young, and has a full head of hair. This is the type of person that if installed could likely get "re-elected" (enough of the vote to not draw too much attention to election fraud).

Oh, I almost forgot. This is the nugget that makes me believe that he is one of them. He is the former CEO of ES&S who gave the vote to the neo-cons. He went from selling a contract with the governement for his technology of questionable voting machines to running for the Senate as an unknown---and winning.

[stevedeshazer]

39. Exactly

They would appoint you or me as VP before they would appoint McCain.

[longship]

13. Your presumption is flawed.

They will never, ever appoint McCain as VEEP. NEVER!

I have to laugh about your post, though. I have poor vision and misread your point #1 as:

1. Cheney resigns due to bad breath.
:rofl:

Thanks for the unintended good cheer. Actually, Cheney resigns due to bad health is also a happy thought, just not as funny.

Cheers, mate
:toast:

[hedgehog]

15. "They" will never appoint McCain but how long will "they" be in charge?

Between the Senate vote on banning torture and the House vote on a boondoggle for the oil companies today, I'd say "they" are losing control fast.

[longship]

17. Very true.

I have a magnum of champagne on ice waiting for the crunch of a collapsing administration. But the Nixon scenerio is not likely. Cheney holds too much power. If he is indicted, they may replace him, but it will be somebody other than McCain. First, if it's an office holder it will be somebody in a safe seat. Second, it will be a rampant wacko lunatic, just like the rest of them. Likely will be another person from the cabinet. It could be Condi, if she isn't also indicted. Although I am uncertain how a black female would fly with the wackos.

[bklyncowgirl]

16. Nah, If push comes to shove Bush will do what Nixon did.

Let's say Cheney gets indicted and or resigns do to bad health. Would Bush put an ambitious and popular guy like McCain--a former rival no less--who incidently would, if he got in, take the party in a completely different direction? Not bloody likely.

If Cheney goes, Bush will pick an amiable neocon type a Gerald Ford type personality, who knows how to eat with a knife and fork and sound reasonably sane but certainly no one that anyone would be aching to see take Bush's place.

If McCain or Guiliani for that matter became vice president how much would you like to bet that Chimp would not finish out his term in office--or possibly live out his natural lifespan.

[Stephanie]

18. Lieberman

[charlyvi]

20. He'd want Rice.

[all.of.me]

44. ewwwwwwww! what a graphic!!!! what gross thoughts and visions!

:puke: :rofl:

[bklyncowgirl]

24. You know, could be, Bush could use a little Joementum.

It would be a nice bipartisan gesture.

[pstans]

21. They'd appoint Condi as VP

No way would they appoint McCain unless the majority of Republican Senators forced them to. That would take a huge revolt in the Senate and I don't see that happening.

[Initech]

32. Yeah, correct me if I'm wrong but doesnt the 25th amendment say that...

The presidential succession line is this:

- President
- Vice President
- Speaker of the house
- Secretary of state

[pstans]

34. You are correct, but

the original post said that Cheney would resign, and they would name McCain as VP. Then Bush would be impeached, making McCain President.

[NervousRex]

25. This McCain?

[KerryOn]

27. You are way off base....

McCain does not come after Chaney.
The speaker of the house does - John Hastert, then Ted Stevens.

[INdemo]

35. As Nixon appointed Ford

.....Bush would have to appoint a VP (McCain) and he would have to be confirmed by Congress..(in this case I think it is the House of Rep.)sucession has nothing to do with this situation..

[KerryOn]

36. Whoooops, I'm off base...

The subject line of the original post "McCain President 2006" threw me off.

[tyedyeto]

48. Confirmed by a majority of both houses of Congress

According to this:

http://usinfo.state.gov/usa/infousa/politics/pres/succession.pdf

Edited to add:

25th Amendment
Following the assassination of President John Kennedy in 1963 and fully now in the Cold War mindset, Congress submitted, and the states quickly ratified, the 25th amendment to the Constitution, which permitted the President to nominate a Vice President should the Vice Presidency become vacant.

While not directly impacting the Presidential Succession Act per se, the ratification of the amendment has significantly reduced the likelihood (barring nuclear or terrorist attack) of a Speaker of the House of Representatives being needed to act as President

From wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presidential_Succession_Act

[INdemo]

29. If Rove goes

If Karl Rove goes..Bush cannot function..That is a fact..Who would Bush have to feed him answers into his earpiece etc., and coach him.... So what you're saying could becaome a reality....

[KerryOn]

30. Here is the presidential order.

Why would it be McCain?

The Vice President Richard Cheney
Speaker of the House John Dennis Hastert
President pro tempore of the Senate1 Ted Stevens
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
Secretary of the Treasury John Snow
Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales
Secretary of the Interior Gale A. Norton
Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns
Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez2
Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao3
Secretary of Health and Human Services Mike Leavitt
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Alphonso Jackson
Secretary of Transportation Norman Yoshio Mineta
Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman
Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson
Secretary of Homeland Security4 Michael Chertoff

[DemocratSinceBirth]

46. Because If The VP Resigns The Pres Gets To Appoint His Successor

It has nothing to do with the congressional line of progression...

[Swamp Rat]

31. It doesn't matter

[DemoTex]

33. Bu$h appoints a VP that he can blackmail into a pardon.

Period.

[KoKo]

38. HELL DOTH FREEZE OVER BEFORE MC CAIN ASSUMES PRESIDENCY!

Sorry for the Shout..but I mean it! :puke:

[woodsprite]

40. Isn't McCain a DRAINO

Dem/Repub Almost In Name Only - my daughter wanted me to post this :)

[jzodda]

41. I think you need to

smoke some more crack :D

[nvliberal]

42. It'll never happen.

If anybody is appointed VP in the case of Cheney resigning, it will be Condi Rice.

[Orangepeel]

49. uh, I'll take that bet

1. Possibly
2. Never happen
3. it would be nice, but it's wishful thinking

[tomg]

50. The reason I like coming to DU

is because we are arguing over who will be appointed VP - personally, my money is on Chuck Hagel- not that such a general scenario is even remotely possible. About three weeks ago I tried out the same scenario with three close friends: all politically active, all very aware. Long story short, they think I am totally nuts.

So, DU, argue on whether it is Chuck Hagel, John McCain ( Keating will bite him, I think), Condoleeza Rice, or Ronald McDonald. But thank you for affirming my sanity ( I think).

[dkofos]

52. I think it would be Jeb

I don't think * would trust anyone else to pardon him.