COVID-19 ongoing thread part 2

[Broomstick]

Can the USA do snap elections the way the UK could?

Not for president. We can have "special elections" for an empty seat in Congress, but it's never come up for the Executive Branch and I'm not aware of any mechanism that will allow for it.

If the President is out, then it's VP, followed by a long line of people in a defined chain of succession, last updated in 2006. It starts with VP -> Pelosi -> highest ranking Senator -> President's Cabinet (there's a specific order) and on and on. That person becomes acting President, not the actual President - that would come later, if at all. So, in a sense, an election would not be needed as the PotUS office would be automatically filled.

After that's settled then there can be discussion about either letting the acting President finish the term, or whether there can be some legislative or judicial procedure to allow an election.

Prior to inauguration I think the electors can choose another candidate. If it's after the electors submit their votes I think it either devolves to the House to decide among the the remaining three-highest-vote candidates but nothing like that has ever occurred here so I'm not entirely sure of that.

[Broomstick]

Trump is being airlifted to Walter Reed and the gave him a shot of experimental polyclonal antibodies. Mike Pence might well become the 46th President very soon.

Acting President, at least. Pence won't be sworn in as actual President unless Trump dies or is permanently removed from office..

I have this feeling - totally unproven and unsupported, but nonetheless there - that Trump having "mild" covid symptoms is a lot like the old USSR guys having a "cold" - it's a hell of a lot more serious than they're letting on.

My TV currently has a great view of Marine One sitting motionless on the White House lawn. They're not even warming it up at this point. This... is worrying. If it's urgent enough to use a helicopter rather than driving Trump to Walter Reed you'd expect things to be moving faster.

Even more than usual, we aren't getting all the facts here.

[Zaune]

If so, I suppose there's one silver lining to this: Pence doesn't have the mass-market appeal with the violent racist shitlord demographic he'd need to incite as much trouble if it looks like Biden's taking the lead on election night.

[Agent Fisher]

My TV currently has a great view of Marine One sitting motionless on the White House lawn. They're not even warming it up at this point. This... is worrying. If it's urgent enough to use a helicopter rather than driving Trump to Walter Reed you'd expect things to be moving faster.

It's also a Friday afternoon, right around all the rush hour traffic. In terms of disruption, it's probably much easier to fly him there, than deploy the motorcade, along with the required police escorts to block traffic and secure the route.

[Broomstick]

Marine One is going through its run-up. Trump is supposed to be on board, which means he got on it without the media getting him on camera.

[Broomstick]

And Marine One is off the ground and on its way.

Current White House statement is that the 25th amendment is not being invoked at this time, so he's still in charge.

[Broomstick]

The helicopter is on the ground at Walter Reed. Some very fine piloting landing it in a tight space - but of course you'd have nothing less than excellent pilots for that helicopter.

Footage of Trump going to the helicopter under his own power has been released so he's not too bad off at present. Even so, they would not be transporting him to Walter Reed if there wasn't considerable concern.

Oh, and Trump is apparently wearing a mask now....

[Mr Bean]

From reddit comments who have collated all this and provide links

A timeline of events:

This morning: Mark Meadows said Trump had mild symptoms.

This afternoon: Larry Kudlow said Trump had a "very moderate case".

This afternoon: Reporters found out Trump had a fever, cough, and fatigue.

Also this afternoon: Trump didn't attend a call with Governors. Pence was on the call in his place.

Also also this afternoon: Trump was given an experimental drug to help him fight the virus.

Trump hasn't tweeted since the confirmation, and many people suspect that tweet wasn't from him.

Trump hasn't been seen or heard from since the news broke last night.

Now, he's being flown to Walter Reed.

Edit: Trump just walked to Marine One under his own power to go to Walter Reed. Video here.

Edit 2: Trump just tweeted a video of himself
speaking directly to camera about going to Walter Reed.

So check back in a week

[Beowulf]

Can the USA do snap elections the way the UK could?

Not for president. We can have "special elections" for an empty seat in Congress, but it's never come up for the Executive Branch and I'm not aware of any mechanism that will allow for it.

If the President is out, then it's VP, followed by a long line of people in a defined chain of succession, last updated in 2006. It starts with VP -> Pelosi -> highest ranking Senator -> President's Cabinet (there's a specific order) and on and on. That person becomes acting President, not the actual President - that would come later, if at all. So, in a sense, an election would not be needed as the PotUS office would be automatically filled.

After that's settled then there can be discussion about either letting the acting President finish the term, or whether there can be some legislative or judicial procedure to allow an election.

Prior to inauguration I think the electors can choose another candidate. If it's after the electors submit their votes I think it either devolves to the House to decide among the the remaining three-highest-vote candidates but nothing like that has ever occurred here so I'm not entirely sure of that.

Anyone other than the Vice President becomes acting President. After that, they can nominate someone to fill the vacant office of Vice President, get them confirmed by the Senate, and once confirmed that person automatically becomes President.

I think that's how it all shakes out, anyway.

[Mr Bean]

Can the USA do snap elections the way the UK could?

Not for president. We can have "special elections" for an empty seat in Congress, but it's never come up for the Executive Branch and I'm not aware of any mechanism that will allow for it.

If the President is out, then it's VP, followed by a long line of people in a defined chain of succession, last updated in 2006. It starts with VP -> Pelosi -> highest ranking Senator -> President's Cabinet (there's a specific order) and on and on. That person becomes acting President, not the actual President - that would come later, if at all. So, in a sense, an election would not be needed as the PotUS office would be automatically filled.

After that's settled then there can be discussion about either letting the acting President finish the term, or whether there can be some legislative or judicial procedure to allow an election.

Prior to inauguration I think the electors can choose another candidate. If it's after the electors submit their votes I think it either devolves to the House to decide among the the remaining three-highest-vote candidates but nothing like that has ever occurred here so I'm not entirely sure of that.

Anyone other than the Vice President becomes acting President. After that, they can nominate someone to fill the vacant office of Vice President, get them confirmed by the Senate, and once confirmed that person automatically becomes President.

I think that's how it all shakes out, anyway.

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.
So if Pence goes Trump needs the House and the Senate to agree, failing that the position stays open.

[FireNexus]

Kellyanne Conway is sick. According to her daughter on tiktok. Apparently she was all up in Bill Barr’s face at the Superspreading Ceremony on the White House lawn. This is like the red wedding if it were written about people who had it coming.

[bilateralrope]

And Marine One is off the ground and on its way.

Current White House statement is that the 25th amendment is not being invoked at this time, so he's still in charge.

I can't see anyone at the White House invoking the 25th unless they are sure they can avoid Trump getting angry with them upon his return. Even if Pence does take over all the presidents duties, he's not going to be declared acting VP until it becomes impossible for them to claim that Trump is still working.

[bilateralrope]

Now for the worrying question: Was Biden infected at the debate ?

[FireNexus]

Now for the worrying question: Was Biden infected at the debate ?

Hopefully not.

[Napoleon the Clown]

Now for the worrying question: Was Biden infected at the debate ?

He and his wife had negative results come back today, but a couple more tests over the coming week or so would provide a more concrete confirmation.


Trending on Twitter says that Kellyanne Conway has confirmed that she's positive. Of note: she was seen speaking with William Barr. Nice and close. Laughing. Having a grand old time.

[Zaune]

They who have sown the wind shall reap the whirlwind. The only one of them I feel even the slightest sympathy for is Melania, who is rather obviously regretting a lot of her life choices right now and to the best of my knowledge hasn't done anything particularly illegal anyway.

[SolarpunkFan]

Just because.

[Zaune]

I'm not entirely sure why, but I just laughed hysterically at that.

[LadyTevar]

I'm not entirely sure why, but I just laughed hysterically at that.

I can't find it now, but there's one about her "successfully arguing her first case before The Lord"

[Civil War Man]

They who have sown the wind shall reap the whirlwind. The only one of them I feel even the slightest sympathy for is Melania, who is rather obviously regretting a lot of her life choices right now and to the best of my knowledge hasn't done anything particularly illegal anyway.

I don't think a lot of people currently have much sympathy for her at this point, considering the tapes that came out the same day. She may have gotten sympathy by keeping a low profile and very obviously having absolutely no affection towards her husband, but those tapes clearly show that they deserve each other.

[Zaune]

I don't think a lot of people currently have much sympathy for her at this point, considering the tapes that came out the same day. She may have gotten sympathy by keeping a low profile and very obviously having absolutely no affection towards her husband, but those tapes clearly show that they deserve each other.

Tapes? I may have missed this particular revelation.

[Broomstick]

Link to a story about the tapes

No, Melania is not a wonderful human being. On the other hand, she didn't run for public office or make a profession out of jacking people around. She got dragged into the shit-show that is the Trump Administration without anyone asking her if she wanted to ride along. I think she would have been happy to be a rich snob in New York City and a private citizen raising her kid rather than being dragged into public life. Could she be a better human being? Yeah, lots of room for improvement, but she is not the heart of the problem here, her husband is. She made her bed and is lying in it, but she is not the one pissing and shitting in the sheets.

[Ralin]

Oh, what about the children that they were separated?' Give me a f****** break. Where they were saying anything when Obama did that?

Well, that's certainly more convincing when the person saying it isn't elected or a public official.

[Broomstick]

As I said - she's not a nice person. Never claimed she was. Just stating that it wasn't her intention or desire that propelled her to her current position. Really, we never should have had "FLOTUS" as some sort of official position or office or role or whatever. We elect the president, not the president's spouse.

Kind of reminds me of Jimmy Carter's embarrassing brother. This is, the brother never went to Washington or had any role in government whatsoever.

[Mr Bean]

As I said - she's not a nice person. Never claimed she was. Just stating that it wasn't her intention or desire that propelled her to her current position. Really, we never should have had "FLOTUS" as some sort of official position or office or role or whatever. We elect the president, not the president's spouse.

Kind of reminds me of Jimmy Carter's embarrassing brother. This is, the brother never went to Washington or had any role in government whatsoever.

Except as the First Lady she not only has an active office she has been doing fluff PR jobs in addition to actively campaigning for and against certain public offices. Unlike Carter's brother in your example she is involved with the Presidency. That said she's already well know for not giving a shit about people.

With that said I will agree with you, while she does have some soft power over the current President her husband she has no official power compared to say... Jared who's in charge of 200 things within the White House and has been given lots of unofficial and some official power.

IOW: The First Lady has an office but no official power, she's known for being mean long before this, her feelings/actions have not even the tiniest drop in comparison to her husband.