“If Harris is forced out (*) who-ever her replacement is will be President in a matter of months”
And this is why the Republicans should play hard ball.
With no sitting VP, a replacement VP cannot be confirmed without at least 1 GOP vote in the Senate.
The GOP should insist the new VP be a sitting Democrat senator from a state with a Republican governor. Say, Joe Manchin of WV or Ralph Warnock from GA. This would ensure that control of the Senate reverts back to the Republicans.
If the Democrats balk, tough. The VP slot can sit empty.
President Lyndon Johnson had no VP for almost two years. We can survive not having a VP.
My conspiracy theory about this has the Secretary of State stepping into the Presidency should Biden drop without a sitting VP.
I believe Nancy Pelosi is too old and is ready to retire, and Patrick Leahy is too feeble and is retiring too. Both will decline the office, and so Antony Blinken would become President.
Therefore, if Harris is gone, watch for the Democrats to try to oust Blinken and confirm a new Sec State before turning to the more controversial Vice President slot.
Once Blinken is replaced, then Biden can go and the new Secretary of State becomes President.
-PJ
Excellent post. It almost makes me wish there was a thumbs up button on FR, though it would ruin the site.