The Coronavirus

[pbrower2a]

(10-02-2020, 08:46 AM)David Horn Wrote:

(10-02-2020, 05:47 AM)pbrower2a Wrote:

(10-02-2020, 03:15 AM)Bob Butler 54 Wrote:

(10-02-2020, 02:39 AM)pbrower2a Wrote: President on a ventilator? Not a good situation, and one that I cannot deny as a possibility. It would be nearly impossible to govern from a ventilator. We could have a succession even before the election. Trump has age and obesity as pre-existing conditions. I am surprised that he isn't diabetic.

Not that bad yet.  He would still be in the early phase where is is symptomatic but still capable of working.  A ventilator would lag by a few weeks.  The next question will be if it is going around the White House, whether Pence catches it too.

I guess this being the second of October, it counts as an October Surprise?

There could be other "October surprises". Any debilitation of the President would be a serious disruption of the election. On the morbid stuff -- Herman Cain most likely contracted COVID-19 in Tulsa on June 20 and died 41 days later on July 30. Should such be the horrible schedule, then President Trump will live long enough to face Election Day  -- but he could be dying or going into severe and irreversible debility.

Let's be totally morbid, and ask some odd questions:

1. Is Trump actually sick, or is this a ploy to play-down the virus?  A "dramatic recovery" from a Nothingburger Disease just before election day might trigger his people to flock to the polls.
   
2. If he's sick, but has a mild case, does the previous scenario play then as well?
   
3. If he's sick and debilitated through the election, wins the election then dies, does Pence become President? 
   
4. What if he wins but dies before the election is certified, what then?
   
5. What if he dies on or before election day?  Is the election still an election?
   

1. If he has tested positive, then he probably is sick. False positives are possible, but once one gets a positive one must assume the worst with so dangerous a disease until such is disproven.

2. That will take time during the last full month of the electoral season. At least two vital weeks of campaigning will be gone for him.

3. Yes. The Vice-President is first in line to the President in the event of the death, debilitation, disqualification, impeachment and removal, or resignation of the President. Mike Pence nominates a Vice-President for approval or disapproval by both Houses of Congress. 

4. It is much too late for the GOP to hold another convention that has any semblance of democratic process to replace the President and Vice-President. Mike Pence would become President, any votes for Trump, cast or yet to be cast, would go to Pence. Mike Pence nominates a Vice-President for approval or disapproval by both Houses of Congress. 

5. Should Biden win, then Pence completes Trump's term and becomes the 46th President, and Biden becomes the 47th President. Should "electors for Donald Trump" prevail, then Pence completes Trump's term for President and continues as President. Mike Pence nominates a Vice-President for approval or disapproval by both Houses of Congress and is eligible to run for re-election in 2024. .