Is Lindsey Graham angling for VP once Pence inevitably resigns?

[LonePirate]

During late 2015 and early 2016, Lindsey Graham was a vocal critic of 45. However, he started shutting his mouth after 45 secured the nomination. Now, he is quite possibly 45's closest ally in Congress and the two routinely play golf together. Graham has become the loyal sycophant 45 demands from his underlings.

Is Graham angling for that valuable VP slot that will open up when Pence finally resigns prior to 45 resigning or being arrested? Does graham have his eyes set on the big prize and it playing a long con game of his own?

[hlthe2b]

1. Pence resign? While I believe he is deeply involved in Russia, seems he's thus far largely avoided

the spotlight. Maybe his luck will run out, but.... why do you think he'd be (inevitably) resigning?

[LonePirate]

3. Flynn reported directly to Pence during the transition. There's no way Pence is clean here.

[Sneederbunk]

19. Mueller has not turned on the spotlight yet.

[Cicada]

21. A dirty Pence wont resign

Why would any Repub care if Pense has Russian buddies?

[LonePirate]

22. It only matters what Mueller believes he can prove. If he has the goods, Pence will resign.

[Cicada]

23. What goods can he have which will upset Republicans?

If Pense walked into the Russian embassy wearing a Joe Biden disguise, offered Russia relief on sanctions, if they hacked Hillary and DNC and released Hillary dirt, how would Republicans respond? They would give him a standing ovation. Only if Pence offered to pass laws protecting the environment would he have to resign.

[LonePirate]

24. The public will not stand for Pence remaining in office if he is indicted/arrested. He will resign.

What his fellow Republicans think has nothing to do with it.

[Cicada]

27. The public will not stand...

It is very unlikely Pence will be indicted, of course. And at least one juror would vote acquit no matter what. So this is a hypothetical debate. Republicans will say Mueller is biased, most will say Pence is innocent just like most Repubs say Moore is innocent. Will the Repubs risk primary scorn to avoid scorn from those who don’t vote in Repub primaries?

I suppose they could nudge Pence out by arguing he is hurting the party.

But if he refused to leave I can’t see convicted by the Senate in an impeachment trial.

But he won’t be indicted. He is too shrewd to have left a path for an indictment, even if he is guilty.

[marylandblue]

2. There was an article posted on DU a few days ago

That noted his own emails were hacked last year and the Russians may be blackmailing him.

[delisen]

8. Graham has not seemed like his old self-but

I think if he were compromised he would have reported it--possibly he has.

[BannonsLiver]

25. Depends on what it is.

it’s possible there’s something about himself Graham wants to protect, like his sexuality which has been the subject of rumors for years.

[UTUSN]

4. I was going to post a *gag* or *barf* emoji, but after TWITLER/PENCE, what qualifies as "worse"?!1

[Squinch]

6. Graham would certainly suck in a big way, but he'd still be a huge relief after Trump(R).

[UTUSN]

10. That's what I mean, *anybody* would, but it's the lowest of low bars!1

[GoCubsGo]

20. Graham, on rare occasion, shows flashes of decency.

Very rarely, but still more than the Orange Vulgarian or his VP flunky, which is not hard to do. I doubt either of them have ever shown any decency of any sort in their lives.

[guillaumeb]

5. Is Graham the caddie when Trump plays?

He is pathetic, and needs a new mentor now that McCain is ill.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

7. He'd be the type to slide in there in a Nixonesque crisis, tho I think there are others.

[Demtexan]

9. Pence did have emails he wanted no one to see.

Now we know what they might be.

[marble falls]

11. How does he get in the running? He'd have to kiss Paul Ryan's ass. And Paul Ryan is said....

to want to leave the Speakers chair if not the House. Who's replace him is up for grabs.

[LonePirate]

12. The sitting President can nominate anyone to be VP if the current one leaves office.

Ryan has nothing to do with it unless he wants that VP slot. Ryan's place in line only matters if both the President and VP are no longer serving concurrently. He goes nowhere so long as one of two people above him is still in office.

[marble falls]

13. Do you think Pence is packing before Trump? Why would Ryan pick Graham over anyone else....

say McConnell or anyone else???

[LonePirate]

14. Ryan cannot pick anyone. He does not factor into this at all unless P & VP leave simultaneously.

Mueller would have to lock up both 45 and pence at the same time for Ryan to ascend. Otherwise, Ryan stays put so long as 45 or Pence is still in place.

Granted Ryan may want that position himself. So he may be competing with Graham for 45's affection.

Given the precedent set in the Nixon administration and with Flynn already dealing with Mueller, Pence seems likely to leave before 45, thus opening up the VP spot while 45 is still in office. In that case, 45 can nominate whoever he wants. The Speaker of the House does not automatically get bumped up into the VP slot just because the office is empty. The Speaker can only move from 3rd place to 1st place without stopping at 2nd place unless the president puts him there.

[marble falls]

15. They're implicated in the same crimes. They're leaving on the same bus.

[LonePirate]

16. They are not necessarily leaving on the same bus. Pence's will almost certainly depart first.

Yes, it is possible that Mueller will take them both down at once. However, once he gets close, either 45 or Pence will resign. The remaining one will pardon the other and then appoint a replacement who has agreed to pardon his nominator.

Of course, if the replacement is not ratified by the Senate before both offices are empty, then Ryan would ascend.

[Patterson]

17. Didn't Manafort bring Pence onto the ticket??

[marylandblue]

18. He did. Trump wanted Christie.

[Pachamama]

26. That may be his fantasy...but I think the recently demonstrated brown-nosing by Graham has more to

...do with him doing what he is told to do and say and his trying to ensure that certain "kompromat" on him doesn't see the light of day....

Poor Lindsay...what must it be like to live in fear of what his constituents will think when they know the truth about his secrets and private life that he has kept hidden so well for so long.....

[nocalflea]

28. Graham's probably playing Trump.

For VP ? No idea.

Graham is very canny , can't imagine his endgame. He tends to vacillate at times, which makes him a hard read.

[HAB911]

29. Some say Graham wants Tillerson's job