It would be a great parting gift for Trump to take down Pence so they

[milestogo]

Can be impeached together. So thoughtful of him.

[leftieNanner]

1. He can take them all down!

Take Miller, Barr, Pompeo, and Rudy out with the trash on his way out the door.

(Nice idea, but there's no way Mitch would let that happen all at once.)

[hlthe2b]

3. Maybe not, but Trump could dirty Pence sufficiently to make him unelectable. Mitch could do little

[leftieNanner]

4. I totally agree with you on that point

I think Paul Ryan left congress so he could fly in on his white horse and save the day. He apparently just moved his family to DC. He has lust in his heart for the Oval Office himself.

No way Pence would win the Presidency on his own.

[hlthe2b]

7. re: Ryan

Yes... His behind-the-scenes work with Fox (on their Board) and ingratiating himself with Murdoch heir Lachlan Murdoch does suggest a longer strategy.

[lagomorph777]

14. Stable genius! He's implicating all the people he needs to protect him: Pence, Barr, Ghouliani

[Chemisse]

2. Yes, that would be sweet. And Nancy would make a great interim president.

Trump probably hasn't thought that through.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

5. You are indulging in an unConstitutional fantasy. Or is your post sarcasm?

Hence your laughing man.

It doesn't work like that. For one thing, the Senate Republicon majority might have to take up impeachment but nothing requires the Republicons to try them together. For another, Pence and tRump won't resign simultaneously.

If tRump resigns/convicted first, Pence appoints a VP.

If Pence resigns/convicted first, tRump appoints a VP.

Study up on the inter-relationship of VP Spiro T. Agnew, VP Gerald Ford, and Pres Richard Nixon.

[Staph]

9. An appointed Vice President

must be confirmed by a majority of both the Senate and the House.

See Section 2 of the 25th Amendment, with the examples of Gerald Ford after the resignation of Spiro Agnew, and Nelson Rockefeller after the resignation of Richard Nixon and Ford's subsequent ascension to the presidency.

FYI, Ford was chosen as the VP because of his 24 years in the House of Representatives and his eight years as House Minority Leader. He was quite popular among his fellow Congresscritters.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

11. Yes. No Republicon President would appoint Pelosi because she'd never pass the Senate. . . . nt

[Staph]

13. Nancy would not have to pass the Senate.

The Speaker of the House is automatically next in line after the Vice President. But if there is no VP, the process referenced in my previous post is how a new VP is chosen and confirmed.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

18. Sigh. But there WOULD BE a VP. There will not be simultaneous vacancies.

The line of succession is only when everyone above the current designee is out by reason of death, resignation, conviction in the Senate, or incapacity.

There will not be simultaneous vacancies. The Republicon Senate will ensure the timing such that when one position is in peril, the other is securely filled even if that security is only temporary. They will ensure that their party retains control of the office. They will say "But the { sh electoral college sh } voters elected a Republican!"

And tRump and Pence never fly on the same plane.

[OliverQ]

10. You're also forgetting that the VP

requires a majority vote in both Houses of Congress. Pelosi can block any VP Pence or Trump appoint.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

12. And McCONnell can block any VP Pelosi might suggest.

No Republicon President will ever appoint Pelosi.

Let's be realistic and leave fantasies for sleepy time.

[lagomorph777]

15. You omitted the option of simultaneous impeahchments.

...and the Presidential Succession Act of 1947.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

16. You omitted that simultaneous conviction is not possible in the Republicon Senate

Simultaneous impeachment is possible in the Democratic House but that does not govern.

What governs are convictions, if any, in the Senate. The crimes might be so odious that even fearful Republicons convict both, but they will not do it simultaneously. No simultaneous trial. So there will be appointments between trials. Republicons will guarantee that sequence so that they maintain control of the office. They will say "After all, the { sh Electoral College sh } voters elected a Republican".

[wysimdnwyg]

19. Technically, everyone in this sub-thread is right

Whether simultaneous or individually, should both Trump and Pence be impeached - and convicted - the White House would fall to Pelosi. Should it happen individually, the remaining official (likely Pence) would have the opportunity to nominate someone to fill the open VP slot. This must pass both the House and Senate, and with today's political climate it's unlikely to be filled.

I would suggest, if the remaining official (again, likely Pence) is ALSO likely to be impeached and convicted, Pelosi would have the upper hand, as she COULD suggest a moderate Republican or Independent as VP. (Not saying she would, but she COULD.) That person would be more likely to pass both chambers, as McConnell would view that person as a much-preferred alternative to a possible President Pelosi. That is, in large part, how Ford was selected. Not only was he a reasonably respected member of congress, he was not feared as anything other than a placeholder.

However, I think we can all agree that short of a smoking gun or outright confession (hello Trump, you blathering idiot), Pence is unlikely to be convicted. The down side of that is too great for McConnell to consider. It's very likely he would drag out proceedings until some time next year and then say we should abandon it and let the people decide. No, in my view, I think we're looking at an election between the Democratic nominee vs President Mike Pence in 2020. (Assuming, of course, the GOP wises up and realizes that Pence stands a much better chance than a severely wounded Trump, should he not be convicted or resign.)

[Bernardo de La Paz]

20. Yes, the polarization between House & Senate is the real conundrum, isn't it. . . . nt

[ffr]

6. Delightfully delicious if you ask me.

[IggleDuer]

8. President Miller?

Vice-President Gorka?

[Johnny2X2X]

17. Trump is attaching this scandal to Pence so he won't get removed

There is less than a 50-50 chance Trump is removed by the Senate. There's is a 0% chance they remove both Trump and Pence., none.

Trump wants Pence involved because he knows it safeguards him from removal, there is 0 chance the Republicans would remove both so they could have President Pelosi. None.