Is this the outcome you want re Northam?

[no_hypocrisy]

Let's say Northam succumbs to public pressure to resign. Justin Fairfax, the Lt. Governor, becomes governor -- for, say, a week.

How long before another parade of Democrats call for HIM to resign for accusation of sexual assault? Al Franken had to resign for less.

What if the third in line for the governorship is not only a Republican, but is also in favor of keeping the Robert E. Lee statue in Charlottesville, who thinks Virginia has the right to fight for "states' rights" without interference from the federal government. Perhaps whose father actually belonged to the Klan forty years ago.

And the newly minted republican governor won't resign no matter the hue and cry of a united democratic party?

[hlthe2b]

1. Why... do you see Gillibrand already racing to the podium?

[Empowerer]

3. The next in line behind Fairfax is a Democrat

But fear of a domino coup is irrational since that could be done to anyone anywhere in the country. the issue is whether the Democrats are going to be true to our values and also respectful of our base and not allow a man with Northam's unaddressed history to be allowed to continue holding the governor's office.

[MLAA]

30. +1

[loyalsister]

4. I'd like to see a tone set

where people refuse to defend the indefensible in the interest of maintaining power.

[Atticus]

27. You've got an "Amen" from this corner. nt

[The River]

5. It's a Double Ratf**k

by some RWing Roger Stone wannabes'

They are weaponizing our tendency for instant outrage at ....everything.

[Squinch]

32. "Everything" being blatant racism and, if proven, sexual assault.

But I suppose those are mere piffles to you.

[The River]

34. You Suppose Wrong

but thanks for proving my point.

[Squinch]

35. Don't look now, but your point hasn't been proven. All that has been proven is that

you would be willing to overlook racism and, if proven, sexual assault.

[mr_lebowski]

6. I mentioned this could happen on Saturday, before I even knew it was RW RF'ing

I said 'the people doing this are not doing it to put Fairfax in the Governor's mansion ... they will have something on him as well', basically. And THEN how smart are we gonna look?

My not trusting RWNJ's is a big reason I've been reticent to call for Northam's ouster.

And BTW, 'who is behind Fairfax' is still an open question from what I've read ... it seems to be the more compelling OPINION that Fairfax can be the one to name his lieutenant in this situation, but the Virginia Senate ... is GOP-led ... I'd expect a big fight on that 'opinion'.

Hell, the GOP might even fight Fairfax moving up in the first place, find some BS technicality to take the matter to court and hang up the process ...

[jberryhill]

9. Surprisingly, Virginia has a Constitution and a Democratic Attorney General

https://law.lis.virginia.gov/constitution/article5/section16/

In the case of the removal of the Governor from office or in the case of his disqualification, death, or resignation, the Lieutenant Governor shall become Governor.

If a vacancy exists in the office of Lieutenant Governor when the Lieutenant Governor is to succeed to the office of Governor or to serve as Acting Governor, the Attorney General, if he is eligible to serve as Governor, shall succeed to the office of Governor for the unexpired term or serve as Acting Governor.

[EffieBlack]

19. Why do people keep skipping over that part?

Just like how over the weekend, they kept insisting that if Northam left, the Republican legislature would appoint the Lt. Governor, so they'd better keep him there - behaving as if Justin Fairfax was the Invisible Man.

[jberryhill]

22. Informed discussion is disfavored

If by "people" you mean humans generally, then I don't think "people who post to DU" are much of a representative sample.

With the exception of persons who identify themselves online, you have no idea with whom you are conversing.

I always find that amusing when anonymous cowards try to suggest I'm some sort of troll. It tells me something about them.

[Squinch]

33. Because they are looking back at their support of racism over the past few days and thinking they

need to throw another reason at it if they aren't going to have to face hard truths about themselves, even if that "reason" is nonexistent.

[spooky3]

26. That does not clearly address this situation, and likely that's why

There are different opinions.

The second pgh refers to situations in which there is a vacancy in the lt gov’s office at the time the governor steps down. If Northam steps down while Fairfax is lt gov, there is no such vacancy. Fairfax would assume the governor’s role.

It applies if Fairfax steps down from his position BEFORE Northam does. But no one seems to be predicting that at this time.

It does not clearly address the situation in which Northam steps down, then Fairfax assumes the role but steps down.

[jberryhill]

7. WTF?

"What if the third in line for the governorship is not only a Republican..."

What if there are monkeys that fly out of my ass at night?

There are things called "facts". They can be checked. Modern technology has evolved to the point that not only do you not need to trek to the library in cold weather to find them, but they can be found by trivially simple internet searches.

Facts are powerful things.

They are so powerful that facts alone can prevent people from making stupid hypotheticals about who occupies which offices in Virginia and how the processes of the Virginia constitution actually work.

[mr_lebowski]

8. Who is third in line for the Governorship in VA then right now?

And would they NECESSARILY take over, if the current Lt. Gov moves to Governor, and then gets quickly ousted?

[jberryhill]

10. Have people in general lost the ability to answer simple questions for themselves?

You know, I had the same question this afternoon.

I used powerful magic - Google: Virginia Constitution

Hmmm.. link to the VA constitution within milliseconds. Add three more seconds to find section entitled "Article V. Executive"

Boom. Answer within seconds.

https://law.lis.virginia.gov/constitution/article5/section16/

In the case of the removal of the Governor from office or in the case of his disqualification, death, or resignation, the Lieutenant Governor shall become Governor.

If a vacancy exists in the office of Lieutenant Governor when the Lieutenant Governor is to succeed to the office of Governor or to serve as Acting Governor, the Attorney General, if he is eligible to serve as Governor, shall succeed to the office of Governor for the unexpired term or serve as Acting Governor.

My subscription to Google has been well worth the price.

Now the bonus round - WHO is the VA Attorney General?

What might one do to answer that mystery?

[mr_lebowski]

13. Okay ... so can you find me where it says ...

'Should the Lt. Gov succeed to the office of Governor, s/he shall choose his/her Lt. Gov'?

What this appears to actually say is that the AG is the de-facto 2nd in line ... IF there is no Lt. Gov (for whatever reason).

One would think that if a Lt Gov is in place, that person would 'succeed' over the AG, right?

So ... where does it say 'who gets to pick the new Lt. Gov'?

Cause all I've seen is 'guesses', nothing showing that process is codified or adjudicated.

Though this DOES appear to work out well for us no matter what, PROVIDED the Virginia GOP doesn't find some loophole where the Senate 'gets to pick an LG'.

[jberryhill]

14. Impressive

One good way to ascertain the powers of the governor of a state would be to look under the header entitled "Executive and Administrative Powers" under the section applying to the governor of that state.....

https://law.lis.virginia.gov/constitution/article5/section7/


Section 7. Executive and administrative powers


The Governor shall have power to fill vacancies in all offices of the Commonwealth for the filling of which the Constitution and laws make no other provision.

[mr_lebowski]

18. Let's just hope there's no wiggle room on what that means, then ...

Because if there is ANY, the GOP will fight it tooth and nail, bet on it.

Thanks, though, you've shown me more compelling evidence than I've seen anyone else post on this subject. It does indeed seem like an extreme long-shot that we'd have to worry about losing the Governorship.

Now ... I'm going to have to review Fairfax's record, see if there's something there that would explain why the GOP wants him over Northam.

[FreeState]

16. It's in the first and second link when

When searching “Virginia replace Ltn Gov”

https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/2/4/18210493/ralph-northam-resign-yearbook-kkk-blackface-justin-fairfax

A special election to replace Fairfax as lieutenant governor could be called, though it is not guaranteed. Fairfax may appoint his own replacement, Sabato said, but the state legislature could mandate that a special lieutenant governor election be held in November, when many of the state legislative seats are on the ballot.

[jberryhill]

17. Which also means that if Fairfax resigns, then Herring is Governor

[mr_lebowski]

21. And it also means there's a chance that as of November, the Lt Gov

Fairfax chose ... could be ousted in a special election for the position.

Granted at that point there's only 1 year left in his term (unless he wins a new one in 2020) ... plus whatever old, Franken-style BS the GOP concocted will have blown over by then.

P.S. And the fact that this special election process apparently exists, according to the scholar's opinion in the Vox article ... is exactly why *I* generally don't go trying to do my own, simplified version of 'research' into legal matters like this in the actual legal documents.

Yes, I can 'Google', JBH, and yeah, the 'Constitution' may 'say something', but that doesn't mean there's not some court case or some other law somewhere that modifies the Constitution in some way, that I wouldn't know about or know how to research. Feel me?

[njhoneybadger]

29. That's funny

[HopeAgain]

11. Screen name does not check out...

[Awsi Dooger]

12. Rely on normalcy, not fear

The greater good. Edith Keeler must die and Ralph Northam must resign

[Rustyeye77]

15. Rip bastard Ralph a new one

Pick him apart and chew him up.

Hang him buy his *****.

So it happened 35 years ago... who cares.

So his next 35 years has been exemplary....screw him

We dont forgive.

We dont allow for redemption.

[EffieBlack]

20. "I am deeply sorry for the decision I made to appear as I did in this photo"

"I understand how this decision {to appear in the photo} shakes Virginians’ faith in that commitment. I recognize that it will take time and serious effort to heal the damage this conduct has caused. I am ready to do that important work. The first step is to offer my sincerest apology and to state my absolute commitment to living up to the expectations Virginians set for me when they elected me to be their Governor.”

Sounds like old Ralph doesn't think the last 35 year redeemed him. In fact, he thinks that he made the FIRST STEP just on Friday night.

Funny how his defenders give him credit he doesn't even give himself.

[Codeine]

25. Jesus, nobody is asking to have him drawn and quartered

in the town square or burned at the stake like a witch. He’s being told he should step down from an executive position.

[Kacy]

23. No, I don't.

No. I want an end to rushing to judgment. I want Northam to stand and fight. We’re making victims of our friends. We can’t afford this. I’m disappointed that so many Dems are calling for his head. With friends like this—we hardly needs Republicans to tear us down.

[no_hypocrisy]

24. Welcome to DU.

And I agree with you.

[EffieBlack]

28. Stand and fight?

Stand and fight who? His black constituents who put him into office and now want him out because the thought of having a governor who proudly wore blackface and hung around people dressed up like Klansman makes them sick?

What has he done to earn their loyalty?

You've posted once in the last 90 days and this is what you came to say? What is it about Northam that makes you feel so strongly about him that you would surface after not posting for months just to demand that he must "stand and fight?!"

[MarcA]

31. Some of these may not be "friends".

Note the repetitive personal attacks by a few here on DU
on those who don't get in line.

[mudpuddle]

36. I want an end to rushing to judgment.

It's hard to argue with that.

[Fresh_Start]

38. Welcome to DU nt

nt

[mudpuddle]

39. Thank you!

What does "nt" mean? I have seen it a couple times now.

[KWR65]

37. We need to drive white men from the public sqaure

They can sit in their rocking chairs listening to Rush Limbaugh.