Impeachment is a great route to an early McCain Presidency....

[jberryhill]

So, let's see...

Bush is very unpopular. McCain would like to demonstrate some independence.

So, how's about this:

Start impeachment against Bush and Cheney.

Have Cheney resign, have Bush appoint McCain.

Have Bush impeached or resign.

Then, come November, McCain's slogan is "Vote for me, I'm already President."

Hmmmm....

[LakeSamish706]

1. No, cause everyone already knows that he's a senile old fart that can't ...

even read the TelePrompTer without mishap.

[jberryhill]

3. Which is why it would be easier for him to be appointed...

...than elected.

[JDPriestly]

2. The Senate has to approve the appointment of a new VP.

They agreed to Ford. He was never actually elected president.

[jberryhill]

5. Yes, I was around then, thank you

And being blessed with the ability to count, what makes you think McCain wouldn't be approved by the Senate?

For the Senate to say that a Senator is not qualified to be Vice President would be a little... odd.

[JDPriestly]

13. I think Democrats would denounce the request to appoint McCain as VP

by a president Bush who resigned under threat of impeachment as partisan, opportunistic and inappropriate.

[jberryhill]

15. The same Senate that confirmed Roberts and Alito?

The Senate differs from the House in its marked collegiality.

Would it not be "partisan" for the Senate to deem the Republican candidate for president as unqualified to fill in as Vice President for a couple of months?

It's hard to imagine anything this administration has done which was not "partisan, opportunistic and inappropriate". There has not been enough denouncing out of this Senate in a long, long time.

[grasswire]

4. no, because the Bushes don't favor McCain. (eom)

[Fire Walk With Me]

6. They WILL pull all of the tricks that they can. It goes with the territory of fighting for freedom

against those who don't want us to have it.

We must never cease fighting for freedom.

[ray of light]

7. Bush can't just 'appoint' anyone. They go through the Senate confirmation.

The pResident would nominate someone and that person would have to be confirmed by the whole Senate.

[jberryhill]

8. Thank you Captain Obvious

How likely would it be that a majority of the Senate would claim that a Senator, and one of the candidates for president, is not qualified to be Vice President.

[Merlot]

9. So let's not impeach because we're afraid?????

And no, cheney doesn't resign, he's impeached FIRST.

[jberryhill]

10. Either way...

That leaves an appointment (and yes folks, I do understand that the Senate which confirmed Roberts and Alito to the Supreme Court would also have to confirm the appointee).

This is not "pro" or "anti" impeachment. I'm asking how folks see this shaking out.

[On the Road]

11. I Think It's a Road to a McCain Presidency

but not because Bush will be removed. It will mean Obama can no longer create a climate of hope and looking to the future. Everything will stop and devolve into bitter partisanship with the Democrats as the initiators. It will dominate the news and old political loyalties will spring into place all over the country. All of Obama's game plan will be shot to hell.

[wileedog]

12. Exactly right

THe move to Impeach should have been made two years ago, not when we are on the brink of sweeping away a demoralized Republican base.

This is throwing out the baby with the bathwater.

THe guy deserves it no question, but the stakes are too high to risk it.

[On the Road]

14. Right. If it Was Going to be Done

do it while removal from office for more than a month was a real possibility and the country can return to some semblance of normalcy by the election.

[Vickers]

16. Hey, it worked for Gerald Ford!

Oh wait...it didn't.

[jberryhill]

17. I said "early".... I still doubt that incumbency would pull this guy into a "second" term

You can put lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig.

Being the "incumbent" would help McCain, in the sense that going into your basement gets you closer to China.

Consider this, though... in the hypothetical appointment situation, who WOULD Bush appoint?