Some musings that ran through my half-awake mind this morning while fending off hungry cats:
What if both Bush and Cheney, by some unlikely constellation of events, were to be removed from office, thus elevating Nancy Pelosi to the Presidency?
Let's assume this happened around the time that the primary season was wrapping up. How would things play out for the three persons most immediately affected? For the party as a whole? For the election in November?
To set the hypothetical scene: Bush has another pretzel episode, this time fatal as no one happens upon him in time to Heimlich him to safety. Cheney, upon hearing the news, has another heart attack that leaves him in a permanent vegetative state. Nancy Pelosi succeeds to the Presidency, our 44th President and the first woman to hold that office.
What happens next? Where does that leave Clinton and Obama? For that matter, where does Pelosi go from here?
Would Pelosi choose to go for the nomination as the accidental incumbent? The successor to her seat, under California law, must be chosen by special election, so even if the governor of California weren't a Republican, she couldn't seek to have a seat-warmer appointed who'd after the inauguration of President Obama resign so Pelosi could be appointed back to Congress, should that be her preference. And besides, is it even likely that, once in office, she'd not want to stay there?
So, then -- does the Party nominate her by acclamation? If so, would Obama step aside to the Vice President slot for the sake of unity and victory -- not to mention the prospect of succeeding her as a stronger, more seasoned candidate four or eight years from now?
And what if Pelosi decides not to stay in and run for re-election? What's the impact upon Clinton and her followers? Would a significant number of the "It's time for a woman in the White House, dammit!" bloc of her supporters be mollified enough to abandon Hillary's sinking ship? Would such defections be enough to kick out from under her one of the major props for her campaign? Would Clinton demand the VP slot from Pelosi if baffled in her lunge for the top spot?
And how would Pelosi do against McCain, should it come to that? With Obama as VP? With Hillary ditto?