President Pelosi?

Andrew Tannenbaum, a.k.a. Votemaster at electoral-vote.com, raises an interesting point: if the Democrats take over the House, we would have Speaker Pelosi second in line for the presidency behind Cheney.

While Tannenbaum doesn't state it explicitly, I will:

... if the Democrats take back the House and, in conducting investigations, uncover enough malfeasance by Bush to make impeachment appropriate and constructive, then it seems at least plausible that they would uncover enough bad acts by Cheney to go for the twofer.

Result: President Pelosi.

Very premature to plan on, but worth noting (in my opinion).

•  Speaker first

  Anything else is gravy.

  by Nina Katarina on Wed Oct 25, 2006 at 07:33:50 AM PDT

•  Clearly...

  a very interesting prospect.

  by Pym on Wed Oct 25, 2006 at 07:35:53 AM PDT

•  Which is why...

  She said impeachment is off the table.  To say otherwise would give the impression she is planning to take the Presidency.

  by zed on Wed Oct 25, 2006 at 07:39:22 AM PDT

  •  Sometimes a coup

    is the only reasonable route.  I certainly wouldn't mind this possibility coming to fruition.  Something has to be done to restore the proper balance of power.

    by ccyd on Wed Oct 25, 2006 at 07:42:27 AM PDT

    •  A coup is NEVER reasonable

      If hearings are held and enough evidence is brought forth to greenlight impeachment hearings, then so be it.  If Pelosi starts impeachment hearings solely for a power grab, I'd be first in line against it.

      by DH from MD on Wed Oct 25, 2006 at 07:48:27 AM PDT

      •  I think more than a few people would disagree.

        Like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, etc.  

        This may be hyperbole, but we are reaching the point where it is no longer unreasonable to think of deposing the current regime through the leagal means established in our Constitution.  Moreover, we think it justified to depose petty dictators around the world.  Why is the thought of deposing the petty dictators here "NEVER reasonable?"

        by ccyd on Wed Oct 25, 2006 at 08:38:28 AM PDT

•  Almost impossible...

  Just because we can conceivably get a majority in the house, and that would be enough to impeach, it wouldn't work in the senate because it would require a 2/3 majority.  Dems will not have that this cycle, and if they won't have that, they won't have impeachment.

  by Soul on Wed Oct 25, 2006 at 07:42:47 AM PDT

•  I was hoping for Webb-Petersen, myself.

  by Champurrado on Wed Oct 25, 2006 at 07:48:22 AM PDT

•  Just some idle speculation...

  Could there be a joint impeachment of Bush & Cheney? Is that even possible? Or I suppose congress could impeach and convict Cheney first, then the Senate could block Bush's replacement VP from being confirmed, then after that they impeach and convict Bush. Of course, there's that whole 2/3rds thing in the senate, so yeah, idle speculation indeed. Still, fantasy's are fun.

  by pib1978 on Wed Oct 25, 2006 at 07:50:34 AM PDT

  •  Impeachments

    If it is appropriate to impeach the President I would suggest the Vice-President, Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense and Attorney General should also be impeached.

    I think the trials would have to run in parallel, because of the constitutional provision that the Chief Justice presides at the trial of the President, which does not apply to other impeachment trials. However the Senate could delay pronouncing the verdict on the President, until it has dealt finally with the inferior officers.

    by Gary J on Wed Oct 25, 2006 at 08:15:41 AM PDT

•  Sensible to stand aside

  Even if impeachment and conviction becomes practicable it would be politically wise for a Democratic Speaker or President pro tempore to decline the chance to be President. That would avoid the appearance of a coup.

  It would then follow that if the President, Vice-President, Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense and Attorney General are all removed; the Secretary of the Treasury would become Acting President for the rest of the term.

  Secretary Paulson does not seem to be part of the inner group in the Bush administration which has caused the problems, so this solution seems appropriate and more likely to heal wounds in the American polity than what would be characterised by Republicans as a Democratic power grab

  by Gary J on Wed Oct 25, 2006 at 08:02:59 AM PDT

•  President Leach

  To avoid the appearance of a partisan coup, should Impeachment become imminent, put the least whack of the house repuyblicans in the Speaker slot, conditioned on an informal understanding he's to be a caretaker, and not run for re-election.

  by ben masel on Wed Oct 25, 2006 at 08:16:10 AM PDT

  •  Who says Leach

    ..will still be in the House? As popular as he has been, he may be out after this election.

    by Ahianne on Wed Oct 25, 2006 at 08:58:29 AM PDT

    •  Not a given....

      but I suspect he'll survive. In the event he doesn't, the same scenario would apply to the next least whack House Republican, tho it becomes harder to ascertain who that might be.

      by ben masel on Wed Oct 25, 2006 at 09:05:42 AM PDT