A poster on DU brought up an unnerving possibility. Both Bush and Cheney are out of the country. If they met with an accident, like, tomorrow, then Denny Hastert would be the new president. (Just like John Goodman in those episodes of The West Wing.) Hastert would remain in that office even after Nancy Pelosi was sworn in as Speaker.
So. Would that make Scott Palmer the new First Lady?
(Palmer is Hastert's Chief of Staff and long-time roommate. When Mrs. Hastert visits D.C., she stays in a hotel. Even on Valentine's Day. I may have mentioned these facts before.)
6 comments:
The presidential succession after Cheney:
* Speaker of the House John Dennis Hastert
* President pro tempore of the Senate1 Ted Stevens
* Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
* Secretary of the Treasury John Snow
* Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld
* Attorney General Alberto Gonzales
* Secretary of the Interior Gale A. Norton
* Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns
* Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez
* Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao
* Secretary of Health and Human Services Mike Leavitt
* Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Alphonso Jackson
* Secretary of Transportation Norman Yoshio Mineta
* Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman
* Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings
* Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson
* Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff.
And BTW, Chertoff got moved up to No. 8 place.
But like..who cares? We're talking the fantasy that Bush and Cheney get offed in the same whatever...accident...epidemic...war game...untoward and unpleasant circumstance.
What could be worse than Bush and Cheney? Certainly not malfeasance from an incompetent underling.. We've got that. Certainly not an insane Cabinet member. We've got that. Certainly not a fascist. We've got that.
Whatever the fantasy that posits a scenario that Bush and Cheney come to an early demise and leave an unknown quantity in power is less onerous than what we have.
Joy, I want to make something clear right here and now (especially if anyone from the Secret Service is reading): I do not wish any physical harm to befall either Dick Cheney or George W. Bush.
I mean that. I'm being very sincere. I hope that both of these men live long and healthy lives.
Perhaps behind bars.
Yeah, let's not have anything happen to either * or Darth, please. I still believe what Joe used to post all the time--only an impeachment can save this nation. They actually to have to be reasonably healthy for that to begin.
re Bush and Cheney spending a long time behind bars, i thought this was pretty sweet from ellsberg: " I believe (Hastert) has earned the right to a fair trial - probably several fair trials! And I hope he really gets them..."
For me, it's a pragmatic thing. I remain convinced that Bush has been kept safe from any unfortunate "accidents" because of Cheney. Their "offing" now would serve no purpose, except turning them into neocon martyrs. The talibaptists would be further energized, and the result would be a renewed focus on 2008. Not worth it. No.
I too wish them both long, cold, dreary existences behind bars. Impeachment and prison could serve up the indignities they both so richly deserve.
Y'all missed the point. I'm not suggesting it would be a good thing if Bush and Cheney get offed. Joe brought up the topic of their dying in an accident before Pelosi takes over and then we would have Hastert as President.
I'm saying Hastert or anyone else in the Presidential succession could not possibly be worse than what we've got.
That's all I'm saying.
Joy Tomme
http://ratbangdiary.blogspot.com
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