who would be VP if Cheney were to no longer be in the post

[salin]

due to resignation, or poor health or indictment...

Seriously - who would Rove choose that would be a successor - but wouldn't "outshine" junior?

[madame defarge]

1. Speaker of House, I think...

Dennis the Menace Hasturd.

[salin]

11. the two (so far) stating Hastert... fits

wouldn't upstage shrub - and would put DeLay in position to lead the House.

[Radio_Lady]

19. Yeah, I wondered that, too. Cheney is in surgery for an aneurysm today.

Too bad it's in his knee and not his brain. Not life threatening, is what the radio reporter said.

Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary

One entry found for aneurysm.

Main Entry: an·eu·rysm
Variant(s): also an·eu·rism /'an-y&-"ri-z&m/
Function: noun
Etymology: Greek aneurysma, from aneurynein to dilate, from ana- + eurynein to stretch, from eurys wide -- more at EURY-
: an abnormal blood-filled dilatation of a blood vessel and especially an artery resulting from disease of the vessel wall
- an·eu·rys·mal /"an-y&-'riz-m&l/ adjective

[Jai4WKC08]

57. Nope, not Hastert

Speaker of the House is next in the line of succession, if both Bush and Cheney die at the same time.

But if Cheney dies, or has to quit for ill health, then Bush appoints a new VP. I don't think it requires Senate confirmation (someone correct me if I'm wrong). It'll be whomever his handlers want to be the '08 nominee.

That leaves out McCain or Giuliani, imo. Maybe Frist, Allen or Santorum? Maybe someone who isn't on the 2008 radar yet.

[Kolesar]

2. Gerald Ford, by tradition ... eom

[MissWaverly]

3. how about McCain

he's been supporting them 1000% lately.

[salin]

10. He would outshine smirk. Rove would never let that happen.

[MissWaverly]

47. There's always the bugman and the catkiller

[GrumpyGreg]

4. Speaker of the House!

[salin]

20. two-fer

doesn't outshine junior - and places DeLay clearly as Speaker of the House.

[mikelewis]

5. Powell

It's the safest choice. Congress would never impeach Bush and get a black president.

[salin]

13. but Rove is trying to build a one-party state

how would they prevent Powell from then running on his own? Plus Powell would upstage junior.

[htuttle]

6. Well, probably whichever capo is next in line

Maybe James Baker, or even Jeb.

I know one thing -- it would be somebody already close. They don't let 'outsiders' in.

[salin]

14. Maybe Rove himelf? Then he has "experience" to run as pres?

[KyndCulture]

7. It would be Has'dirt' - the speaker is next in line.

[iamjoy]

16. Not Exactly

The order of succession only applies if both the president and vice president are unable to perform their duties.

If the VP resigns, the President appoints a new one.
If the President is removed from office (or dies) the VP becomes President and then appoints a new VP

The reason Ford (Speaker of the House) became VP and Pres after Nixon resigned is because VP Spiro Agnew resigned and Nixon just happened to pick Ford as his successor. Nixon didn't have to, he just happened to.

[Z_I_Peevey]

41. Yes, there was quite a bit of time

when the country did not have a vice president at all. Speaker of the House Carl Albert was 'a heartbeat away' from the presidency, but he was still Speaker.

[Yupster]

48. Yes that's right

Until the 25th Amendment was passed in 1967 there was no Constitutional way to replace a Vice-president, so there were quite a few times where the country went years without one.

For instance, when Lincoln was killed, Andrew Johnson served as president for four years, part of the time on trial for impeachment, and the country had no VP.

Same when JFK was killed. LBJ moved up and there was no VP until 1965.

What if Cheney resigned for poor health?

Hmmm ...

Bush would choose Elizabeth Dole or Kay Bailey Hutchison. That's my guesses anyway. Or John McCain, or Colin Powell.

Just guesses of course.

[newscott]

8. JEB

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

9. 25th Amendment

gives the President the right to suggest a successor, but it needs confirmation by Congress. Before the enactment of the amendment, the Speaker of the House was the next in line.

[salin]

17. and Tom DeLay poised to take over the House

not that he isn't already running it by Proxy, or anything.

[salin]

22. Confirmation by Senate or both houses?

[movonne]

12. Probably the CEO of Halliburton...

[KyndCulture]

21. HA! good point,.

[jobycom]

26. He wouldn't take it. He'd lose access to the White House that way.

[jobycom]

15. Poppy. Though my dream choice would be Al Gore

So that when they impeach Bush, we'd finally get the elected president we deserve.

[salin]

18. Poppy is now too close to Bill.

[jobycom]

But Baby Bush wants to make Daddy dance like a marionette! nt

[salin]

24. probably more than a little bitter blood there right now

but I could NEVER see competitive poppy playing number two to sonny.

[jobycom]

25. It's simple. Bush baby says "It's either you, dad, or Al Gore!"

[salin]

28. bwahaha

junior threatens poppy with "Ozone Man" (poppy's term)

[jobycom]

33. Well, he could make it Hillary instead. I don't think Poppy likes the baby

too much. I think Bill is the son Poppy wishes he'd had. So it might take Little Dub a bit of threatening to get Poppy on his side. Then again, Poppy might do it because he knows how to run a presidency from the back seat.

[salin]

34. throw em all for a loop... Chelsea! but she is too young.

threaten that he will start a Clinton dynasty to replace the house of bush. That would get poppy in line.

[salin]

23. Bob Taft ?

he has that pay for play thing down pat. And his numbers are lower than bush so he wouldn't upstage the boyking.

[Pharlo]

27. Alberto Gonzales...

I pick him ahead of Condi because of the 'outshine' factor. As the first minority and female presidential VP, she'd take too much away from Prez...

Gonzales on the other hand, close personal friend, insider, minority, VERY good at avoiding the limelight.

Powell would be the kiss of death for Jr. Literally - how many 'groups' (military, CIA...) are fed up with * and would embrace Powell.... Think about it.

Baker - he could have had it had he wanted it before Cheney got it. In fact, I often wonder how much of what Rove boy is accused of he actually does, and how much of it originates with J. Baker....

Rove's not a kingmaker - no matter how much he wants to be, he's a kingmaker's gopher.

Jim Baker is a kingmaker. Not a VP. He'd never lower himself that far.

[salin]

29. Gonzales or Hastert

make sense to me. I would suggest Perry - but couldn't play the "we really aren't from the same state" game that Cheney played.

[Pharlo]

36. My take on Hastert is that he isn't as much an

insider as Bush would want...Not now.

Perry - not a chance. He's too slick. Standing side by side, Bush looks unkempt - can't have anyone who will intentionally upstage the Prez.

Do side by side comparisons:

Hastert - too tall, makes * look short
Perry (aka Gov. Goodhair)....Don't even think about it.

Gonzales: Shorter than *. Cleancut, not ostentatious (like Perry), 'less' physically fit than *....

When looking for a replacement, how they will make * look standing side by side with him will be a critical factor - competency, not so much....

[salin]

39. but insider loyalty as imp as the side by side look factor.

[Yupster]

49. Not Hastert

a Speaker of the House is more important than a VP. Why would Bush pick him anyway? No charisma, no base of support.

[Stinky The Clown]

30. Just to be clear .......

Presidential succession laws have no impact on the circumstance where the president stays and the VP leaves.

If the president stays, then he gets to select a VP.

It happened fairly recently. Agnew left and Ford was appointed by Nixon.

[Shadder]

31. Which was quiclky followed by

Ford appointing Rocky VP.

[salin]

32. is there no confirmation process? Simple appointment only?

[lawwolf]

37. Both houses would have to approve a new VP.

n/t

[salin]

38. thank you.

no problem per whatever the pres wants to do in the House - but perhaps forces a slight moderation per the senate.

[Totally Committed]

35. The chain of succession does not apply for the VP...

Bush/Rove would get to appoint a new VP just in time to give that person incumbency for the 2008 elections, if they work it right. :sarcasm:

TC

[salin]

40. but they only have one year to give that person a chance

to not count the first term (and be able to be elected two times - and serve 10 years.)

[nvliberal]

42. God forbid Cheney should die.

Bush would actually have to be president.

If Cheney did, Condi would get the VP slot.

[salin]

44. I can't see that happening. The "successor"

would have to be someone who would takeover (Rove's view of 50 years of one-party rule) - and I just can't see a big chunk of "the base" voting for an African American or for a woman let alone and African American woman.

[nvliberal]

45. Oh, I don't think it matters in the case of Condi.

If she can win it for the Republicans (legitimately or through fraud), the "base" will overlook her "shortcomings."

She's the exception to the usual rule about females and minorities versus the Republican "base."

It's the neocons, after all, who run things, and Condi is their puppet.

[salin]

46. but they still have to hold elections - and to steal

have to be marginally close (or TOO obvious to TOO many people) - do you really think she could come "marginally close" in many of the deep south states or a place like my homestate - Indiana? She might make it too hard to "steal" let alone win.

[lawwolf]

50. I think she has a good chance

I am also from Indiana and have a lot of republican friends. None of them think Dick is running in 08 and most of them think Condi would be a good choice. They would love to be able to say the first African American and the first woman President were Republican. If they can get an African American Woman, then they only have to do it once (or twice) and then go back to voting for old white men and can say "Hey, we aren't racist or sexist, we voted for a black woman once."

[Jamison]

43. No matter who replaced Cheney...

it would probably be like replacing Hitler with Stalin.

[win_in_06]

51. The "heir apparent"

wouldn't the shrub attempt to pick his successor?

George Allen?
Newt?
One of his Governor buddies?

[DemDogs]

52. Not an idle question

People who get this kind of surgery do not have very good prognosis --- two years maybe?

25th Amendment: 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.

Whomever he picked would likely be confirmed unless we have some 2006 magic. Don't know if this could be filibustered, but there wouldn't be a "President of the Senate" to rule that the filibuster was unavailable.

I think he would use it for a legacy chip -- especially if the tanking continues -- so expect a Gonzales or Rice. Never a Powell.

[ProudDad]

53. The President appoints a new Vice President

As Nixon did with Ford after Agnew was indicted and resigned...

As for succession, if both the Pres and Veep buy the farm, According to the wikipedia -- (Think Richard the III with Norm Minetta in the title role :)

The Presidential line of succession, as specified by the United States Constitution and under United States Code Title 3, Section 19 (a.k.a. the Presidential Succession Act of 1947) is currently:

1. Vice President (Richard B. Cheney)
2. Speaker of the House of Representatives (J. Dennis Hastert)
3. President pro tempore of the Senate (Ted Stevens)
4. Secretary of State (Condoleezza Rice)
5. Secretary of the Treasury (John W. Snow)
6. Secretary of Defense (Donald H. Rumsfeld)
7. Attorney General (Alberto Gonzales)
8. Secretary of the Interior (Gale Norton)
9. Secretary of Agriculture (Mike Johanns)
10. Secretary of Commerce (Carlos Gutierrez, ineligible)
11. Secretary of Labor (Elaine Chao, ineligible)
12. Secretary of Health and Human Services (Michael Leavitt)
13. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (Alphonso Jackson)
14. Secretary of Transportation (Norman Y. Mineta)
15. Secretary of Energy (Samuel W. Bodman)
16. Secretary of Education (Margaret Spellings)
17. Secretary of Veterans Affairs (Jim Nicholson)

Notes on the current line of succession

Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez and Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao are ineligible to assume the Presidency, as they are not natural born citizens.

As of early 2005, the Secretary of Homeland Security has not been put into the line of succession. Senate Bill 442, approved by the Senate on July 27, 2005, would, if it were to become law, place the Secretary of Homeland Security after the Attorney General and before the Secretary of the Interior in the line of succession. That bill and a companion bill, H.R. 1455, are currently pending before the House of Representatives' Judiciary Committee.

Since Article Two establishes only eligibility requirements for the "office of President", and since these officials, according to the Constitution, "act as President", it had been a subject of controversy whether they would be constitutionally eligible (the same Constitutional question also exists for the residency and age requirements). To avoid a needless Constitutional dispute at what would likely be a time of great crisis, the statute (3 USC 19(e)) specifies that even the acting President must meet the Constitutional requirements for the office of President.

[Czolgosz]

54. Rove stopped worrying about outshining * right after the mock election.

While everyone else was planning for the second coronation, Rove was planning for '08. Rove is more about promoting his version of permanent Republican majority through winning in '08 than he is interested in Bush's "legacy."

[TreasonousBastard]

55. Beats me, but it wouldn't be a...

Ford who was selected simply because he was a nice guy untouched by scandal.

They learned back then that they needed someone who could stand on his own and get re-elected and not get whupped by the likes of a Jimmy Carter. Somebody's sitting in the wings waiting, and we'll know for sure next year if they think they're going to lose the House.

My scenario-- Cheney quits next year because of health problems and the white knight takes over. Said white knight is ready to step in if Shrub gets impeached, and whether Shrub gets impeached or not, is set up to run in '08.

[ladylibertee]

56. The only one worthy to replace Cheney? SATAN there,I said it.

[Name removed]

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