When Dick Cheney goes to the hospital to get the batteries on his pacemaker replaced or to take care of the blood clot on his leg, or even if he has a heart attack and ends up in the hospital, it takes him out of the picture of succession since at the time he is not able to discharge his duties if something should happen to *w at that time.
Cheney's Pacemaker Needs Fresh Battery
The Associated Press
Friday, June 8, 2007; 8:46 PM
WASHINGTON -- Vice President Dick Cheney's routine checkup on Friday revealed no new blockages in his heart, but doctors said he needs a new battery for a special pacemaker he has in his chest, a spokeswoman said.
The battery in his implanted cardiac defibrillator is reaching its limit, said Megan McGinn, deputy press secretary for the vice president. She said doctors must replace the entire device to replace the battery, and that the surgery will be scheduled this summer at a convenient time for the vice president.
Cheney underwent his annual physical, which included a stress test, at the George Washington University Medical Faculty Associates near George Washington University Hospital. Doctors also checked out Cheney's cardiac defibrillator, which was implanted in June 2001 to shock his heart if he an irregular heartbeat. More at
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/08/AR2007060800925.html So according to according to Article II, Section one of the Constitution and Ammendment XXV, the President can be removed from office for inability to discharge his duties as well.
http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.articleii.html#section1In the case of the removal of the President from office, or of his death, resignation, or inability to discharge the powers and duties of said office, the same shall devolve on the Vice President, and the Congress may by law provide for the case of removal, death, resignation or inability, both of the President and Vice President, declaring what officer shall then act as President, and such officer shall act accordingly, until the disability be removed, or a President shall be elected.
Amendment XXV
Section 1. In case of the removal of the President from office or of his death or resignation, the Vice President shall become President.
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.
Section 3. Whenever the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that he is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, and until he transmits to them a written declaration to the contrary, such powers and duties shall be discharged by the Vice President as Acting President.
Section 4. Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President.
Thereafter, when the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that no inability exists, he shall resume the powers and duties of his office unless the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive department or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit within four days to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office. Thereupon Congress shall decide the issue, assembling within forty-eight hours for that purpose if not in session. If the Congress, within twenty-one days after receipt of the latter written declaration, or, if Congress is not in session, within twenty-one days after Congress is required to assemble, determines by two-thirds vote of both Houses that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall continue to discharge the same as Acting President; otherwise, the President shall resume the powers and duties of his office.
Proof of him drinking on the job
http://fuzzyandblue.blogspot.com/2007/06/bush-chugs-beer-at-g-8-summit.html should make Congress demand that he step down. An alcoholic President who has fallen off the wagon is a danger to his country and the world. He cannot govern effectively if under the influence. A video posted on another thread shows him pouring the beer into the glass with a large head. Near beer cannot produce a head like that so that is the real thing. He’s drinking on the job. There is the proof.
So if Congress makes *w step down, and Cheney is in the hospital, can we say welcome, Madam President at long last! I know this sounds really devious and the timing has to be just right, but desperate times call for desperate measures.