Forget the order of succession. Here's how it will really work

[jmowreader]

I saw a post on here, one of many, that claimed that if Bush and Cheney were both impeached and removed, and the Democrats held the House, a Democrat would become president.

How it would really work: We would impeach Bush, and Cheney would appoint Catkiller Frist or Toxic Tom DeLay vice-president. (Probably Frist; I don't think even Cheney is evil enough to select someone who's under indictment.) We'd then impeach Cheney and Catkiller becomes president.

Alternately, we impeach Cheney and Bush appoints Catkiller; Bush is removed and, once again, Catkiller becomes president.

The only way we get to the possibility of a Democratic president before 2009 is if Bush and Cheney were impeached, tried and convicted simultaneously--then the one who's president last can't choose his successor, the way Nixon did. I don't think a simultaneous removal is possible; the logistics of ONE impeachment are stunning, not to mention two.

[dogfacedboy]

1. It would take less time to get a Dem into the WH in 2008. n/t

[cdb]

2. Either way, bad scenarios, but...

if he is power, Frist will not stand a chance at re-election in 2008. So that's a good thing.

[hobbit709]

3. He could nominate

but it would have to be approved by congress. If congress impeached, I doubt if they'd approve the nomination.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

4. Bush (or Cheney as the case may be) can only nominate.

Not appoint.

[Cleita]

5. Even if we can't get a Democrat in before 2008, I say we

should keep impeaching them because what they have done is wrong, unconstitutional and criminal and they shouldn't be allowed to serve without being made accountable. Also, the distraction will hopefully keep them from doing any more damage to our country.

[jmowreader]

10. Oh absolutely. Impeach the shit out of them.

I don't think Catkiller would be any worse than the Bush/Cheney Cabal. At least the fucker speaks English.

Refresh my memory here: was Congress Democratic or Republican in 1974? When Agnew resigned for being a common crook, Nixon was allowed to choose his replacement--which is how we got the very bland placeholder president Gerald Ford. (Also refresh my memory: besides pardoning Nixon and minting a few million "WIN" buttons, did Ford do anything?)

[NoPasaran]

14. Congress was Democratic in 1973 when Agnew resigned

And remained Democratic while Ford named Nelson Rockefeller his veep when Ford became president. Ford was famous for falling down in public.

[jmowreader]

15. He also liked shooting golf a lot

[NoPasaran]

17. But I think Agnew was more notorious

For hitting bystanders on the head with golfballs

[in_cog_ni_to]

6. BUT isn't catkiller on his way to jail for

illegal stock trades? Catkiller has his own legal troubles, me thinks.

[Walt Starr]

7. Appointing a Veep requires advise and consent of the Congress

A Joint Session of Congress would ahve to confirm. If there was impeachment proceedings being considered, there is no way in hell that a joint session of Congress would confirm any appointee.

[HereSince1628]

9. Exactly

[lumberjack_jeff]

16. That's my understanding too.

1) Impeach Cheney, 2) stonewall Bush's appointment of VP, 3) impeach Bush. 4) repair 6 years of damage. QED

[deadmessengers]

8. Catkiller would still have to be confirmed

..and not by the Senate, either - the Vice President is the only Federal office that must be confirmed by the House of Representatives. A little strategic delay there, and it's President Pelosi.

[SoCalDem]

11. Time is on their side.. and a stacked congress.

What NEEDS to happen is a well-attended meeting of top dems, where they would agree that once they are back in power, they will go full bore and GET ALL THESE CROOKS LOCKED UP.

The business of "bygones be bygones"..kiss and make up, has GOT to stop. We eased up on Iran Copntra because the dems thought they would always be in control of the congress, and there would always be a way to thwart the evildoer reactionaries.. They guess ed wrong, and the bad guys actually took control. They should have all still been doing time at leavenworth..

The Democratic theme song should be "No More Mr. Nice Guy"

[sweetheart]

12. He's doing 134 mph in a 40mph zone

Should the police arrest him?
Should he be charged?
I don't care "how" it works, justice is messy.
But the next guy will not have the unfettered executive crminal priviledges the current guy has,
that's the reason to impeach... to clarify that the constitution does not allow
wanton criminality without accountability.

[damntexdem]

13. No, if we control Congress, we can prevent that.

25th Amendment: "Section 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."

[MrMonk]

18. A partial win

W is impeached and removed; Prez. Cheney appoints HW as VP (HW only served one term); Cheney steps down for health reasons; voila! we have an adult in charge!