re: #345 Khal Wimpo (not drinking damn fish tank cleaner)

This is what gives me agita:

imagine, come January 20, that we don’t have a president. By the terms of the 20th Amendment, Trump ceases to be president at noon on January 20 and [Mike] Pence likewise ceases to be vice president.

At this point, by the terms of the presidential succession act of 1947, the speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, could become acting president, but only if she resigns her House seat. But what if Trump continues to insist that he has been reelected and is the rightful president? Imagine if, come January 20, Trump stages his own inauguration ceremony with Clarence Thomas issuing the oath of office.

Then we might have Nancy Pelosi and Trump both claiming to be the commander in chief. This is a world of hurt.

If you’re going to follow the constitution you say applies, then none of the House members are in office. Likewise, 1/3 of the Senate. The Senate will change to Democratic hands, and whoever the senate majority leader is will become president.

There’s a whole chain if you’re going to apply the rules of the constitution.