Can you say President Nancy Pelosi? Follow this scenario.

[Cleita]

When Dick Cheney goes to the hospital to get the batteries on his pacemaker replaced or to take care of the blood clot on his leg, or even if he has a heart attack and ends up in the hospital, it takes him out of the picture of succession since at the time he is not able to discharge his duties if something should happen to *w at that time.

Cheney's Pacemaker Needs Fresh Battery
The Associated Press
Friday, June 8, 2007; 8:46 PM
WASHINGTON -- Vice President Dick Cheney's routine checkup on Friday revealed no new blockages in his heart, but doctors said he needs a new battery for a special pacemaker he has in his chest, a spokeswoman said.
The battery in his implanted cardiac defibrillator is reaching its limit, said Megan McGinn, deputy press secretary for the vice president. She said doctors must replace the entire device to replace the battery, and that the surgery will be scheduled this summer at a convenient time for the vice president.
Cheney underwent his annual physical, which included a stress test, at the George Washington University Medical Faculty Associates near George Washington University Hospital. Doctors also checked out Cheney's cardiac defibrillator, which was implanted in June 2001 to shock his heart if he an irregular heartbeat. More at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/08/AR2007060800925.html

So according to according to Article II, Section one of the Constitution and Ammendment XXV, the President can be removed from office for inability to discharge his duties as well.

http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.articleii.html#section1

In the case of the removal of the President from office, or of his death, resignation, or inability to discharge the powers and duties of said office, the same shall devolve on the Vice President, and the Congress may by law provide for the case of removal, death, resignation or inability, both of the President and Vice President, declaring what officer shall then act as President, and such officer shall act accordingly, until the disability be removed, or a President shall be elected.

Amendment XXV
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.

Proof of him drinking on the job http://fuzzyandblue.blogspot.com/2007/06/bush-chugs-beer-at-g-8-summit.html
should make Congress demand that he step down. An alcoholic President who has fallen off the wagon is a danger to his country and the world. He cannot govern effectively if under the influence. A video posted on another thread shows him pouring the beer into the glass with a large head. Near beer cannot produce a head like that so that is the real thing. He’s drinking on the job. There is the proof.

So if Congress makes *w step down, and Cheney is in the hospital, can we say welcome, Madam President at long last! I know this sounds really devious and the timing has to be just right, but desperate times call for desperate measures.

[kimmerspixelated]

1. Well, now,

I certainly like this fantasy! But, the drinking on the job thing...I'm not so sure that is feasible....was it at a dinner or function? Weren't there many photos of Clinton with glasses of champagne or wine, etc. as part of the fare? They couldn't nail him for that, so I doubt anyone would try to nail W for it, but he SHOULD be nailed for it!!!

[Cleita]

2. Clinton isn't an admitted recovering alcoholic. *w is and

should never touch a drink even socially. Also, he was representing the USA at the summit. This goes with being on the job.

[Matariki]

8. You are basing this on the AA model that says a 'recovering' alcoholic can never drink.

1, it's not the only model and 2, it's not a law.

[Cleita]

9. Yeah, but it's a pretty good model in this case.

Many other programs have tried to make moderate drinkers out of alcoholics and it doesn't work. It goes for other types of substance abuse as well. I'm an ex-smoker and I know I cannot have just one cigarette because within a week I would be back to consuming a pack a day. Trust me this guy is buzzed all the time on a cocktail of pills and drink on top of it. Listen to his speech. It's a dead giveaway. I don't want this person in charge of nukes. Alcohol impairs judgement and that has been proved as well.

[Matariki]

20. I agree with you about bush, Cleita

he often seems to actually have brain damage. But i sort of doubt that it would hold up in the OP's scenario. Let's just hope he either gets impeached or doesn't do much more damage than he already has before his term is up. And let's hope someone gets elected who isn't afraid to pursue the crimes this administration has committed so they don't keep popping up in one form or another in the future.

[aquart]

13. Non-alcoholics can drink alcohol. Did you know that?

What interesting and strange information is being disseminated all over this board today.

I wonder why. I wonder where it comes from.

Clinton taking a drink is like Bush taking a drink. Damage control, anyone?

But thank you for your concern.

[MonkeyFunk]

24. And, as far as I know

Bush hasn't ever said he's an alcoholic.

And as somebody posted above, the AA model of recovery is not the only one.

Finally, I haven't seen convincing evidence that he was drinking alcohol. It's been reported for years that he drinks non-alcoholic beer.

And finally, even if it WAS a real beer he drank, nobody reliable has reported that he was drunk. And even if he was drunk, Congress can't demand his resignation over it.

[Cleita]

28. He did say he was an alcoholic when he ran in 2000 and that

he quit drinking with the help of his church and his faith, or words to that effect. I'm sure others here can back me up since any sources for this are over six years old and way down there in the Google pile.

[thethinker]

3. President Pelosi

I really like the sound of that.

[napi21]

4. NOPE! Won't happen. 1st, replacing the battery in the pacemaker

isn't major surgery, and his incapacitation will most likely be a matter of a few hours, not even days.

As an example, I had a support rod removed from my leg in January. I was out of it for less than 45 minutes! I left the hospital and went shopping!

[Cleita]

7. Darn!

We need a break and taking Cheney out of the picture long enough to unseat Bush would be it. I favor a sudden but lengthy hospital stay because it would keep Bush from appointing a successor opening the way for Pelosi to step in.

[never_get_over_it]

18. I have had three pacemakers

started at a pretty young age - as a result of open heart surgery when I was practically a baby - my natural pacemakers were damaged - had a very low pulse - in the teens when I slept - so I had my first pacemaker put in in the early 80s - first time is a bit more complicated because they have to thread the wires to the heart. I think I stayed overnight in the hospital I did have some pretty serious problems but snapped out of it and went on my merry way. The first "battery" replacement which is really incorrect. The battery is not replaced the whole device is - the reason it is replaced is because the battery has run down. Anyway for that replacement the freaks almost killed me I woke up in intensive care and the Dr. told my family he could not get the second lead threaded - and had to stop because he thought he might "lose" me. This situation was because they had to move from original location so my first replacement was actually more like a first install because they did it from another location but of course unlike the first install they also had to remove the old one. In any event the last replacement which I think was three years ago was cake - went into the hospital about 8 am and was home by 10 pm - and would have been home WAY sooner but they never took me to OR until 4:00 PM -

Bottom line complications can always happen but usually this replacement shouldn't take him more than a few hours....

[napi21]

19. Yes, and you can bet your life Darth won't have to WAIT like you did!

My guess is in by 8AM and home by noon!

[dragonlady]

5. It's a nice daydream

but the vice president's disability would probably last only a few hours.

[Cleita]

6. Unless something goes wrong and he needs to be on life support

for a long time.

[billybob537]

10. I hope they give Snarley

a no-bid Haliburton Chinese pacemaker.:evilgrin: :bounce: :party: :puke: :wtf: :mad: :nopity: :dunce: :spank: :grr: :nuke: :puffpiece: :tinfoilhat: .:evilgrin: :bounce: :party: :puke: :wtf: :mad: :nopity: :dunce: :spank: :grr: :nuke: :puffpiece: :tinfoilhat: .:evilgrin: :bounce: :party: :puke: :wtf: :mad: :nopity: :dunce: :spank: :grr: :nuke: :puffpiece: :tinfoilhat: .:evilgrin: :bounce: :party: :puke: :wtf: :mad: :nopity: :dunce: :spank: :grr: :nuke: :puffpiece: :tinfoilhat: .:evilgrin: :bounce: :party: :puke: :wtf: :mad: :nopity: :dunce: :spank: :grr: :nuke: :puffpiece: :tinfoilhat: .:evilgrin: :bounce: :party: :puke: :wtf: :mad: :nopity: :dunce: :spank: :grr: :nuke: :puffpiece: :tinfoilhat: .:evilgrin: :bounce: :party: :puke: :wtf: :mad: :nopity: :dunce: :spank: :grr: :nuke: :puffpiece: :tinfoilhat: .:evilgrin: :bounce: :party: :puke: :wtf: :mad: :nopity: :dunce: :spank: :grr: :nuke: :puffpiece: :tinfoilhat: .:evilgrin: :bounce: :party: :puke: :wtf: :mad: :nopity: :dunce: :spank: :grr: :nuke: :puffpiece: :tinfoilhat:

[Cleita]

11. Buwahahaha!

:rofl:

[RB TexLa]

12. Rice would take the oath at the same time challenging a non "officer of the

United States" being inserted into the line of succession. The Supreme court would have jurisdiction and would rule on the constitutionality of members of congress being in the order of succession when the constitution prohibits them from being officers of the United States.

In my opinion the court would be correct to rule they are not allowed in the line of succession and the scenario you described would create President Condi Rice.

[Cleita]

14. Not a good outcome... from alcoholic to heartless shoeaholic

[MonkeyFunk]

30. Nope

the constitution provides for Congress providing by law to set the line of succession.

There's no conflict, because the Speaker or Senate President Pro-Tem would resign their office before assuming the Presidency, and thus would not both be civil officers of the US and congresspersons.

Congressional leaders have been in the line of succession since 1792. The court would not invalidate it.

[RB TexLa]

31. I and a number of people more learned in it feel the 1792 law is

unconstitutional. Of course there are people that also agree with you. :)

[MonkeyFunk]

32. Honestly...

I've never once heard that argument, and I've read a LOT about the constitution.

The framers were still around, and some in the congress that passed the first law, in 1792. Did the point come up then?


Edit: I did find an article stating that Madison opposed the original law, but the article is unclear as to whether his objection was based on the "civil officers" clause, or whether it was more a reaction to Jefferson being put in the line.

[Alexia Wheaton]

15. Works for me!

:hi:

[Cleita]

16. Welcome to DU!

:toast:

[Alexia Wheaton]

17. Hi to you too!

:hi:

[ISUGRADIA]

21. 16 Republican Senators are not going to make Nancy Pelosi

President. That would be political suicide.

[smalll]

22. That would be ironic justice, being able to impeach him for getting "head" /nt

[djones9916]

23. Ironic?

No one was impeached for getting head. Just for committing perjury.

[newyawker99]

25. Hi djones9916!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[WI_DEM]

26. Nice fantacy but it's not going to happen.

[Cleita]

27. Sigh, I know that. I just wish our leaders

would look to the Constitution and the Bush/Cheney activities of the past six years to come up with a plan that could unseat them. We can't have a sociopathic, alcoholic as President and a sociopath with one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel as Vice President of our country.

[Ghost in the Machine]

29. A Nancy Pelosi Presidency is "off the table"...... n/t