McCain’s Real Running Mate - by Paul Begala

[Hope And Change]

McCain’s Real Running Mate

by Paul Begala

Wed Sep 17, 2008 at 05:30:22 AM PDT

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/9/17/81917/4261/687/601395

[Boz]

1. Palins real running mate is Jeb Bush

Not a shot in hell for 8 years, a whole generation before he could even pretend to try to get votes for a presidency.

But McCain gone for health, President Palin names Jeb Bush VP and the Cheney doctrine continues.

[Frustratedlady]

3. I've said for the past year that Jeb is going to be stuck in there somehow.

They have to have a family member protecting the info. Maybe martial law, but something will have to be done.

Palin is a marker, just as McGoo. Shoot, with Cheney's medical center following him around, he could be in the WH long after I'm gone. Who said he couldn't be appointed?

[nichomachus]

5. How about this scenario?

McCain-Palin gets elected. Troopergate catches up with Palin. Indictments ensue. McCain ditches Palin faster than he ditched his first wife. He names Jeb as VP. Then, the BFEE ensures that McCain takes a dirt nap.

Bingo.

[Frustratedlady]

6. You get your nightmares from the same place I get mine.

Is that legal to name Jeb, or do they have to move to the Speaker of the House? Many years since government class.

May we both be wrong.

[nichomachus]

7. They can name anyone they want when the VP slot comes open

[Prophet 451]

8. Open question

One amendment (the 26th?) states that no-one can run as VP unless he is constitutionally eligible to be president. Of course, Jeb's lawyers would argue that he wasn't running, he was being selected.

So long as they're constitutionally able to be president, the VP can be anyone.

[Boz]

9. What would make him Inelegible?

[Prophet 451]

10. As I understand it

(and I must add, I'm not a constitutional scholar or American so I could be wrong), any one or combination of the following would render him ineligible:
- Previously served constitutional limit as president
- not a natural-born citizen
- previously convicted of treason
- Underage

Barring a treason conviction, Jeb wouldn't be constitutionally ineligible.

[EstimatedProphet]

12. But he would still have to be confirmed by Congress, wouldn't he?

[Prophet 451]

13. Barring national emergency, yes

Directive 51 essentially allows the president to do absolutely anything in time of national emergency but apart from that, yes.

[Boz]

14. Placed the same as judges, without confirmation, during congressional hiatuses

He then becomes part of the congress and is protected from and by them.

[EstimatedProphet]

15. Ow. Good point.

[nichomachus]

17. Yes -- just as Congress is in charge of impeachment

I wouldn't count on them to oppose him

[leftynyc]

16. He'd have to get a majority

of both houses of Congress (I'm pretty sure). Hopefully our majority will expand enough to protect against that.

[nichomachus]

18. Another scenario -- and yes, I have too much time on my hands

The success in dealing with people is trying to stay one step ahead of them. And, with this gang -- which is willing to kill people to achieve its objectives -- you really need to work overtime to anticipate what they might do.

Imagine this scenario:

Palin plods along until close to election. If it looks like they're going to lose, they will become desperate.

Enter: October surprise (and we know there will be one no matter what). Troopergate (or something) comes up to bite her in the ass and she is forced to step aside, leaving the way for McCain to name another VP or to run solo. He could name Jeb, but that might actually hurt him in an election. I think the only way for Jeb to get in would be by appointment, as in the scenario above.

He could also tap someone like Kay Bailey Hutchinson. It might bring a lot of wandering women back into the fold, give someone with some solid credentials, take away a lot of the Dem points against Palin, and leave the Dems with no time to define and run against her. That would be the ultimate Hail Mary pass.

Another option would be for McCain to run solo and then name a VP choice before the electors meet.

One objection might be that Hutchinson wouldn't be on the ballot in a lot of states, or that Palin's name would be on there. However, you're not really voting for president and vice president directly. You are voting for the electors, who are really free to vote for whomever they please once they meet. It would be the ultimate election theft, but could possibly be quite constitutional. And any objection would have to be decided by the Supreme Court -- and we know how that will turn out.

I'm not saying this will happen. I don't need a tinfoil hat. But, if I thought of it, you can be sure they thought of it too.

[electron_blue]

2. (Bush) good article. We need to remember this!

[NewJeffCT]

4. Fantastic article - Begala is right on this

we need to tie Bush & McCain together better.

[renate]

11. good line from the article:

"As Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) said, when a senator votes with the president 91 percent of the time, he’s not a maverick, he’s a sidekick."

I'm so SICK of the word "maverick"---it sounds so STUPID and hick--but "sidekick" I can live with.