President Hastert?

[tgnyc]

Let's dream the ultimate dream: Bush and Cheney are both unable to complete their terms due to "criminal entanglements."

Paint the picture. How does the scenario unfold from that point? Would Hastert, next in line, accept the presidency? Would he be the ultimate puppet? How would it go down?

[Dudley_DUright]

1. He is already DeLay's puppet, so if DeLay goes down

Denny will be looking for a new puppeteer.

[Ignacio Upton]

2. Three word: President Roy Blunt

DeLay will be in jail along with Bush, Cheney, and Rove, so Blunt will be the only thug left. Under the guise of President Hastert will be a new Rove/Cheney.
Edit: Hastert will probably be Gerald Ford-lite. He will probably move a bit to the center in rhetoric and might give a few concessions to revivie the Republican Party for 2008 (paving the way for Hagel or McCain to run, the Republicans will be afraid of nominating a crony)and he will pardon Bush and Cheney.

[NNadir]

3. I suspect it would be marked by more gross incompetence.

The basic problem is that the Repuke shtick has always been smoke and mirrors - and short term smoke and mirrors at that. Hasert has been a world class purveyor of this game, and there is no evidence that he's had an original, creative thought in his entire lifetime. By comparison I suspect that he'll be a slight improvement in the sense that he seems less aggressive than either Cheney or Bush and so he may be less forceful in trying to revive the middle ages than they are.

But he will do zero to arrest the fall of the United States.

The American people are now paying the price for having been hoodwinked into a one party state. There really isn't much that can be done in the short term.

I would like to hope for a Democratic Speaker in 2006; however I am unconvinced that free and fair elections take place any more.

[tk2kewl]

4. it would be even less consequential than the ford presidency

[Larkspur]

5. Didn't Siebel Edmonds hear about Hastert's bribes from Turkey?

Hastert’s Turkish Allies Tied to Bin Laden
http://www.theinternationalpost.com/z15082005.html

Hastert may never get to be POTUS or if so, he would be rocked by scandal as well.

[tgnyc]

6. OK. Let's say Hastert sidesteps. Next in Line is Senator Ted Stevens,

president pro tempore of the Senate. Right Behind him is Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Discuss.

[Larkspur]

10. Whoever took over, would be facing a serious budget crisis as well

as crises in Iraq and at home -- New Orleans & Gulf Coast disaster cleanups. They would have little support, especially if they continue the Neocon policies and more natural disasters -- think next year's hurricane season -- occur. The only advantage to Stevens over Rice may be that he would not have enough support to attack Iran and make things worse.

The Neo-cons have created a "black hole" of leadership and the drowning of the Federal Government in Red Ink will make it harder to restore people's trust in government. We are heading towards a malaise worse than what was experienced near the end of Carter's Admin. Ronald Reagan's vision was nothing more than rhetorical opium. Today we are in the beginning stages of Reagan withdrawal pains.

In the long run, these withdrawal pains and malaise may prove beneficial to our nation as it is forced to face our demons and find a better paradigm to follow, but in the short term, many innocent people will suffer.

[YOY]

7. It would probably look something like this if it worked out

[marions ghost]

8. talk about a lame duck

whoever it would be

Hastert has the same lack of integrity problem.

[clmbohdem]

9. You are assuming the House would start impeachment proceedings.

Even if everyone in the White House got indicted, I see the House holding off impeachment proceedings until Bush/Chenny are convicted of the indicted crimes. I'm not sure these thugs will give up power until they are either in jail or voted out.

[tgnyc]

11. Let's say there is a trial, it's completed at the end of next year,

and Bush and Cheney are convicted.

[melissinha]

12. No, no NO! President Pelosi

Only a democratic majority could accomplish the impeachment of Bush and Cheney. I posted this last week, I know people aren't too happy with her.. but she's a lot more appealing than Hastert.

[longship]

13. Hastert would be doomed.

Presume that Hastert's House impeaches Chimp/Crashcart and Senate convicts promoting him to the presidency. Nota bene, in order for this to happen there will have to be a fractured right-of-the-aisle caucus in both houses with many centrist Reps abandoning the neocons Repugs, especially in the senate where 2/3 majority is required to convict. This point is important when considering the following.

Door number 1 -- Hastert maintains ultra right Repug policies of Chimp administration. He might even say that he wants to finish the job that Chimp began. He will not have centrist Republican support, nor Dem support. In 2008 election an incumbent Hastert is creamed by Dem opposition.

Door number 2 -- Hastert tries to salvage things by making compromise with the Dems and centrist Reps. Administration policy inevitably moves to the left. In 2008 election, incumbent Hastert cannot hold the Repugs who are ultra pissed off at him for the impeachment and for giving up on neocon agenda. Significant primary opposition fractures the Republicans. The Dems win in 2008 over a Republican party in ruins.

Door number 3 -- Hastert tries to go between the above two scenerios. The result is a lot of thrashing with no success in promoting any agenda, especially with a lot of Repug animosity towards him. The result is unproductive and a feckless Hastert term is a failure. Will the country reelect him? (Think of Ford in 1976.)

If you are Hastert, which door do you choose?

Note: This ignores the now very likely Dem take-over in 2006.