Posted on 09/12/2016 2:40:08 PM PDT by Zakeet
Hillary Clinton's doctor now says the Democratic presidential candidate, 68, was officially diagnosed with pneumonia sometime on Friday, and has been campaigning with the serious respiratory illness for a week, leading to her "medical episode" at Sunday morning's September 11th memorial event.
But what happens if the candidate’s health issues get more serious? Certainly, the Democrats always have the option of propping her up, Weekend at Bernie’s style, until after November 8th, but what if matters get progressively worse? Here's a quick primer on where the Dems could end up:
When it comes to candidates (rather than office holders) the rules actually come from the political parties, not the Constitution. For Republicans, if a Presidential candidate dies or drops out, the RNC has to either convene a new convention or take an official poll of the RNC's state representatives to select a replacement candidate. Most likely, the RNC would move the running mate up to the top of the bill, in order to preserve what fundraising has already been done for the ticket.
But for the Democrats, it's not so clear. The Democratic National Committee reserves the right to replace a candidate who dies or drops out, and it doesn't provide additional details in its by-laws. So presumably the Democrats would have to make up the process up as they go along. The DNC could entrust replacing Clinton to a central DNC brain trust or, more likely, replicate the RNC's system, handing the vote over to the committee's state delegates.
Tim Kaine
The DNC would likely want to retain the support of major donors who've already given to the Clinton-Kaine ticket, and would probably just bump Tim Kaine up from the Veep slot. Kaine would simply slide up the ticket, choose a new running mate, hope the ballots could be reprinted in time, and carry on just as Clinton had.
But, of course, this is 2016 and anything can happen.
The Open Slot
Donald Trump has proven to be a wild card candidate: he's spent no money, compared to Clinton's million-dollar ad buys, and raised virtually nothing compared to his Democratic opponents, and he's still running neck and neck with Clinton nationwide. So the DNC would likely have to consider whether Kaine could retain Clinton's razor-thin lead, or whether they'd need a more capable candidate.
The DNC might naturally lean towards Joe Biden who said he didn't want to campaign, but has never said, openly, that he'd prefer not to be President. Biden is neither Clinton nor Trump, making him an easy favorite in the Presidential contest (though, it's likely any number of cartoon characters, inanimate objects and D-list celebrities would also easily pull into the lead), and he'd have the backing of President Obama, who could unite the party with a call to action to unite behind his Vice President.
Also likely contenders: Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren (both progressive candidates with a large swath of support within the Democratic party), New York governor Andrew Cuomo, Virginia's Jim Webb, even second runner up Martin O'Malley.
Chelsea Clinton
There's a longtstanding tradition in American politics of spouses stepping in after an unexpected death. Take Missouri's Jean Carnahan, for instance, who stood in for her husband Mel after he died in a plane crash three weeks before the Missouri Senate election. After Mel won posthumously, she served in the Senate for two years. Future Senator Olympia Snowe first entered politics after the death of her husband, a Maine state representative, in a car wreck. Likewise, Mary Bono’s long political career began when her husband Sonny died in a skiing incident.
Bill Clinton is prohibited by the 22nd Amendment of the Constitution from running. If a Clinton were to step in for Hillary, it would likely be Chelsea, who at 36 is just old enough, in terms of the Constitution, to be president.
The Filing Deadlines
Most states' campaign filing deadlines have already passed - and as some independent candidates, including conservative Evan McMullin are finding, states aren't normally open to extending the period of time candidates have to file the paperwork necessary to put their names on the Presidential ballot.
For the Democratic replacement, though, as long as they have the party's blessing, it's likely officials could simply replace Clinton name any time up to a month before election day (ballots are usually printed and mailed about three weeks before). It's also possible that Congress could postpone or move election day, but that would be an extreme step.
Add a chronic medical condition to match Hillary's and we have Fidel Castro. If you want charisma, pick Kim Jung Un. Pol Pot's in the running too - he's in as good shape as Hillary is.
I have an idea.....what if Bubba Clinton pulled a Kris/Caitlyn Jenner, then he could run again.....just saying, America.....it would be grand, wouldn’t it?
Nobody wants Biden.
Gaffe O Matic.
Grope O Matic.
The montages would destroy him in days.
You can see where her cankles have been stretching the sides out. Looks to be about 6” wide or EEEEEE width.
Damn, that woman’s got some hooves!
Throw in a pair of oars and a life vest and I take it.
Most everyone is forgetting about the money.
Apparently only she can use the mountain of cash.
Nobody else has the money for a viable campaign blitz.
I am nervous because we are so close to a Trump Presidency I can almost taste it (it tastes like pancakes with tons of syrup btw--I am perpetually on a low carb diet, so a Trump victory might be celebrated by pancakes or waffles with a side of hash browns--and tons of syrup).
No such luck.
If Biden were to be the one, I think you’d quickly discover how little regard the left really has for him. He doesn’t have the right qualities to pull them together. Not a first banana.
+++++++++++++++++
No but he is a familiar and easily controlled banana
Actually, the Democrats would insist they transfer to whomever is her replacement. Trump would contest the move and it would be struck down by the courts but upheld by the Democrat appeals courts, and then it's off the Supreme Court which would deadlock, leaving the approval of the transfer intact.
Just like every other legal decision.
What makes you think the rule of law would prevail?
But I don't see him slipping easily into campaign mode after basically being retired for the last few years.
Such a person would not exhibit the requisite charisma and inspiring qualities to rally the Democrat base together, should Hillary bail. Biden's not the one.
Coming back to the question, I still can't think of anyone on their side who could get the job done.
President Kaine — he wasn’t Abel.
Now I must admit, I lapsed into a severe laughing fit when I read the part about Chelsea Clinton stepping in. C’mon, how would she get even one tenth of the vote? Biden at least is some sort of known quantity (zero’s reflection).
We held our elections in 1864 during the midst of the Civil War. There is no way this election is going to be postponed. Even our wussy Republican Congress would stand up against that.
“...a Trump victory might be celebrated by pancakes or waffles with a side of hash browns—and tons of syrup”
I am so with you on that. We plan on having the shop closed on November 9th so we can recuperate from election night. I’m going to crack open a bottle of something special when Trump passes 270.
What happens is they put another puppet in there and totally take over the voting server hubs and proclaim whosis as the WINNER and the Republicans put their tails between their legs ans slink away to do the bidding of their Democrat/Brotherhood masters. The glitch may be that Trump proves to be a true leader and the rest of this speculation is probably actionable.
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