I have a question. What if McCrazy mccroaks tomorrow?

[Dr.Phool]

Ok, I'm being snarky, but....

We all know that the line of succession for a sitting president is laid out in the Constitution. But this doesn't apply to party nominees.

If John McCain were to die, or suffer, say, a debilitating stroke tomorrow, would Palin automatically become the nominee? How about say, November 15th? After the election, but before the swearing in?

Likewise for Obama-Biden.

With McCain's age, it's a real possibility. Not so much for Obama.

Just curious.

[groovedaddy]

1. Why do you hate your country? ;-> n.t

[Dem2theMax]

5. LMAO! nt.

[tekisui]

2. I don't know the protocol there, but what I thought of today

is what is mcpow gets sick, or has to undergo treatment or is injured before November. It would put Palin in the "Presidential" spotlight and call even more attention to her status as being most unqualified pick ever.

[Dr.Phool]

3. But, is she automatically moved up?

Or are there party procedures to elect a new nominee?

Palin being moved up and :crazy: elected would be grounds for leaving the country, based on the populace's stupidity alone.

[Dem2theMax]

6. mcpow. I am blatantly going to steal that and use it.

With your permission of course. It is the perfect name for him. LOL!

[zbdent]

4. he'd have a bigger bounce ...

(literally, if he dropped over dead ...)

[kay1864]

7. I don't think the VP automatically becomes the nominee

I'm guessing that the delegates would have to re-cast their ballots for President. Since getting them all back together in one location again is logistically impossible, they'd probably have to hold hour-long "mini conventions" in each state, re-assembling the delegates from that state.

But I'm pretty sure they'd have to actually cast their ballots, since the nominations for Pres and VP are held separately (the delegates don't vote for the ticket). In other words, Palin would likely remain the VP, since that vote has already occurred.

Before the "mini-conventions", there'd probably be a nomination by the RNC, or at least a slate of candidates (Romney, Huckabee, maybe Ron Paul).

All admittedly guesswork on my part though.

[Dr.Phool]

10. I started thinking about it, when the storm first erupted over her pick.

They said that McCain could dump her prior to her accepting the nomination, but after she accepted, and if she should resign, there was a party procedure that would have to be followed for a new VP nominee. It wouldn't be up to McCain.

[dysfunctional press]

18. it's not just the party rules- there are 50 different sets of state election laws...

regarding how/who gets on the ballot.

[kay1864]

25. Yeah, much easier if you dump them before the convention

More specifically, before the vote by the delegates to confirm the VP nominee (or Pres nominee, for that matter). The last time this happened (Eagleton in 1972), it was before the convention, so Dem Pres candidate McGovern just picked someone else.

After the convention, it gets really sticky. But I'm sure there are party rules covering the contingency.

[dysfunctional press]

15. because of various state selection laws- wouldn't he stay on the ballot...?

like what happened to carnahan in missouri.
the repigs are saying that palin is their 2nd most qualified contender, and if mccain were to die AFTER being slected- it would be her job...why would it be any different BEFORE he was selected?

[kay1864]

26. Because she's not the Pres nominee

In other words, rules, not logic, are what counts.

As for the state ballots, that's another matter entirely. McCain would still not be the GOP nominee--whoever the delegates selected (Romney/Huckabee/Paul) would be the official nominee. Depending on each state's rules, the ballots could be changed, or Romney/Huckabee/Paul would have to be a write-in.

(assuming of course that the party rules allow for nominating a different candidate after the convention but before the election)

[Overseas]

8. Mittens McMillions joins Perky McBubbles. //nt

[mcctatas]

23. ahem...

Speaking on behalf of Mc's everywhere, it's bad enough we have a real candidate who is a Mc! How about using a freaking Von once and awhile? Mittens von Villions, Nasty Von Vajajay?


:hi:

[TheCowsCameHome]

9. The word "friends" be dropped from the english language

[cynatnite]

11. Palin would go for the sympathy vote and would probably lose...

She'd pick a loser VP as well.

[rurallib]

12. I think Palin gets to shoot him - that is what VPs do - shoot old people.

[SuperTrouper]

16. She'll shoot him like an old wolf

[Arugula Latte]

20. ... from a helicopter

[dysfunctional press]

13. wouldn't he stay on the ballot, like what happened in missouri to carnahan...?

but by nominating palin to vp, they're saying that she's their second most-qualified party member...so why WOULDN'T they elevate her...? if he were to die AFTER being selected, it would be her, so why not before as well?

[opihimoimoi]

14. The TOILET STALL CONFERENCE will immediately begin

[spanone]

17. they would elevate the wicked witch of the northwest

[Marsala]

19. The Republicans would disintegrate

Mittens would go for the nomination and attack all rivals.

[faithfulcitizen]

21. I was wondering the same thing. I would seriously like to know.

[OwnedByFerrets]

22. Did you just get into Thoms show....

because someone just asked the same question there?

[JBoy]

24. Pffttt.... Haven't you seen this movie?

[kay1864]

27. Got the answer...

or the Democratic version at least:

G. Filling a Vacancy on the National Ticket: In the event of death, resignation or disability of a
nominee of the Party for President or Vice President after the adjournment of the National
Convention, the National Chairperson of the Democratic National Committee shall confer with
the Democratic leadership of the United States Congress and the Democratic Governors
Association and shall report to the Democratic National Committee, which is authorized to fill the
vacancy or vacancies.


So I guess the RNC would decide.

[kay1864]

28. And the GOP version:

RULE NO. 9
Filling Vacancies in Nominations

(a) The Republican National Committee is
hereby authorized and empowered to fill any and all
vacancies which may occur by reason of death,
declination, or otherwise of the Republican candidate
for President of the United States or the Republican
candidate for Vice President of the United States, as
nominated by the national convention, or the
Republican National Committee may reconvene the
national convention for the purpose of filling any such
vacancies.
vacancies.
(b) In voting under this rule, the Republican
National Committee members representing any state
shall be entitled to cast the same number of votes as
said state was entitled to cast at the national convention.

So basically the RNC members (which constitute a portion of the delegates anyway) would act on behalf of their individual states (each state has two members). Or they can have another convention.