So IF Cheney leaves and McCain becomes VP...

[ncteechur]

that doesn't mean that McCain will automatically get he nomination nod from the GOP. I really don't think that Frist who is givig up his seat will just stand by and take one for the team. McCain is not the sweetheart of the GOP--he is working too hard. Plus, would becoming VP actually be a good move for him? I think not. Does he think Bush will invite his counsel? Well, if he thinks that he is a fool. They will marginalize McCain because they don't like him. It is that simple. And McCain is not a magician. He is not going to save Bush's sorry behind in the last 2 years. The damage is done. It is too late. I would argue that if McCain were to become the VP--it is as close to the presidency he will ever get.

[ThomCat]

1. McCain can't become VP.

He's way far down any possible chain of command. Doesn't the speaker of the house stand next in line?

[La Lioness Priyanka]

2. yup

[Salviati]

5. Only if both Bush and Cheney are removed from office or incapacitated

simultaniously. If the VP resigns the president can appoint anyone he likes to the position...

[carpetbagger]

6. VP quits => pres appt/House/Sen confirms new VP => pres resigns.

That's how Ford got to be president.

My two cents: almost anyone who Bush would nominate (and I don't think it would be McCain, my money's still on Andy Card) would have nearly a lock on the nomination.

EDIT: It's both houses that need to confirm a new VP.

[Longhorn]

8. I don't believe there is a line of succession for vice-president.

When Agnew stepped down, Nixon chose Ford. And when Nixon resigned, Ford became president and he named Rockefeller as VP. I think the appointment has to be approved by the Senate.

[SharonAnn]

9. Of course he can. Nixon appointed Ford.

[serryjw]

15. The line of succession is only for pResident

Both Bushit & Cheney would have to go. I doubt if the party would consider this. They would lose a congressional seat and HE IS NOT QUALIFIED! Even if the line is in order. They would do some thing else like they did with Ford.IF Bushit was really in trouble they would not allow Cheney to step down UNTIL they replaces Bushit.

Has this EVER happened in history that the Speaker became Prez?

[FogerRox]

3. good observation-- KNR

"I would argue that if McCain were to become the VP--it is as close to the presidency he will ever get."

[FogerRox]

4. dupe

[ncteechur]

7. If Cheney resigns, the speaker doesn't become VP. I don't think.

Was Ford the Speaker of the House when Agnew resigned? Didn't Nixon nominate Ford to replace Agnew and the Senate confirmed him?

[carpetbagger]

14. 25th Amendment....

Amendment XXV - Presidential disability and succession.

"2. Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice President, the President shall nominate a Vice President who shall take office upon confirmation by a majority vote of both Houses of Congress."

The amendment also explicitly states that the VP becomes pres when an opening occurs (something which was debated in 1841 when it happened the first time), and provides for various protocols for presidential disability declarations and contingencies, voluntary or involuntary.

[CdnObserver]

20. Time for bumper stickers promoting 25th Amendment rights?

I think it's time that people started educating each other about the content of this particular amendment!

[ruggerson]

10. The gap toothed whore will become VP before Mccain n/t

[ncteechur]

11. She is a freakin' twit. But hey, only in this group can you fail up!!

[radio4progressives]

25. Hey - No Nasty Words about "gapped tooth"...

I know some good people with gapped teeth - and a lot of them are African American.

[MODemocrat]

12. Cheney is not going anywhere; why would he?

He has no shame or pride; all he cares about is raking in his oil profits. Why would he want to give that up at taxpayers' expense. I believe the only way he'll go out is to suffer a debilitating heart attack and/or stroke. Then he would just be diapered, spoon fed and taken to his "office" in an
adult stroller in order to mark his X on a few documents with a magic marker.
:puke: :nopity: :spray:
There's no way to eradicate cockroaches!

[AusGail]

19. Where is he?

Where's Lee Harvey Oswald when you need him?

[LiberalFighter]

13. McCain have better chance becoming Prez if he is VP then if he were...

Senator trying to be Prez

[jackbourassa]

16. Can we stop this - Bush will never appoint McCain VP

Because that would mean that Napolitano (Democratic Governor of Arizona) would appoint his replacement. Thus giving the seat to the Democrats and making it that much easier to win the Senate this November. This will never happen.

The person Bush will appoint will be Condi Rice. Bank on that.

[Hippo_Tron]

17. You all are forgetting the most important part of this scenario

If he becomes VP, Napolitano gets to appoint a Democrat to replace him. That puts us one seat closer to a senate majority. Also a reason why this is unlikely.

[spag68]

18. McCain

is not worried about Frist and no one else should either. He's a joke, Thurs. on the Senate floor, he looked like a dead man.

[saltpoint]

21. I agree with posters here who believe Condiliar is a strong contender.

But it's also possible that Bush could piss off the whole lot of them and appoint Haley Barbour of Mississippi.

Former GOP chair, convincing fundraiser, good on his feet, perceived as being a good-ol-boy but with a brain, and regarded as extremely self-directing after Katrina paralyzed Louisiana politicians.

He brings no negatives, many positives, and is moldable to the party agenda.

THE CAT BUTCHER would have a cow. McCain would no longer find himself a frontrunner.

[jackbourassa]

22. If Cheney resigns or is removed it would be a disaster for McCain

For the reasons stated above, McCain will not be appointed to replace him. Whoever Bush does appoint will become the front-runner for the 2008 Republican nomination. McCain, whom I suspect, will get killed because of this whole immigration thing come 2008 primary season, will be in ever worse shape than he is right now.

[saltpoint]

23. That's an interesting point about what McCain loses if Cheney steps

down and Dubya puts Condiliar or someone else in Dick's place.

I think you're right there -- McCain would lose almost everything at that point, provided Fitzgerald does not issue higher-than-Scooter indictments. If Cheney is indicted before he leaves office, or before he steps down, the stench is going to be considerable, and i don't think Bush could avoid it.

At that point, not very many people with 08 aspiration would want to walk into a room that smelled that bad.

They'd have to drag in Jim Baker or some other fixer who's long past presidential aspiration age and who's rich as hell already. None of the 08 contenders would be interested if things got too hot.

You raise a durn good point there, jackbourassa.

[radio4progressives]

24. Not McCain! Condi will be made Vice President..

McCain has a Senate seat to hang on to until 2008.

[fishwax]

26. i'm not worried about mccain

i'm not worried about him becoming VP if cheney steps (or is pushed) aside--partly b/c any such scenario is still a long shot and partly b/c it would still piss off the religio-fascists.

I'm not worried about him winning the nomination b/c that would require him kissing so much religio-fascist ass that he would no longer have the moderate/outsider appeal that made him so interesting in y2k.

But i agree with you--if mccain winds up VP by some miraculous astral alignment, it will be as close to the presidency as mccain will ever get. :)