(10-02-2024, 12:35 PM)DJC link Wrote:Interesting outcome from the VP debate; Walz’s favourability rating went from +14 to +37 while Vance’s went from -22 to -3.

Vance’s refusal to acknowledge that his boss lost the 2020 election seems to have undone his good work from earlier in the debate.

(10-02-2024, 09:59 PM)tonyo date Wrote:Vance will say whatever is needed to move to the next rung on the ladder.    You can see him positioning himself to be the 'messiah' once the Trump train has left the GOP station.......

(10-02-2024, 10:18 PM)LP link Wrote:I saw a post that suggests Vance might be betting on Trump winning the election then being the victim of a successful assassination attempt, I presume for Vance to then walk into the top job, but I'm not sure it works that way, the post states something about the 25th amendment but I'm not up to date with US political laws.

But regardless, if you live by the sword you die by the sword, and Vance should remember that!

Quote:Twenty-Fifth Amendment
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.

(10-03-2024, 01:34 AM)DJC link Wrote:A lot of my understanding of the US political system is derived from watching The West Wing ?

If I remember correctly, when the Democratic President couldn’t carry out his role because his daughter had been kidnapped, he appointed a Republican Congressman as Acting President.  As usual with that series, the legal mechanisms for that action were worked through as Bartlet convinced his VP, cabinet, Congress, etc that what he was proposing was constitutional and the best course of action.

I can’t see anything in Lods’ post that would enable that to happen … but if it was on The West Wing it must be true ?

(10-03-2024, 02:00 AM)Lods link Wrote:Yep.
Fred Flintsone became President for a while.

What happened there was  John Goodman was the 'Speaker of the House' and as such was third in line for the presidency after the President and VP.
The problem was that there was no VP at that stage because he had resigned after a scandal, so the Speaker was next in line.
I forget why Bartlet hadn't appointed a VP.

The West Wing has a lot to answer for...it raised our expectations as to how a President should behave.