Clintons as Presidents, Hillary incapacitated

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the hypothetical scenario of Hillary Clinton becoming President with Bill Clinton as her Vice President. Participants explore the legal implications of such a situation, particularly concerning the U.S. Constitution and the potential outcomes if Hillary were incapacitated. The conversation touches on constitutional amendments, electoral processes, and the dynamics of political relationships.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions the legality of Hillary Clinton serving as President with Bill Clinton as Vice President, citing constitutional amendments regarding presidential terms.
  • Another participant references the 22nd Amendment, suggesting that while Bill Clinton cannot be elected President again, there may be no constitutional barrier to him serving as Acting President if Hillary were incapacitated.
  • Concerns are raised about the potential for a constitutional crisis if Bill were to assume the presidency under a Republican-controlled House.
  • Some participants humorously speculate about the implications of Bill Clinton being Vice President, including the possibility of a divorce while in office.
  • There are repeated mentions of Bill Clinton being referred to as "Mr. President," indicating a cultural perception of his status.
  • Suggestions are made about alternative candidates for Vice President, including Chelsea Clinton, highlighting the familial connections in the scenario.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of opinions, with no consensus on the legality or practicality of the proposed scenario. Some view it as a serious constitutional question, while others approach it with humor or skepticism.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference specific constitutional amendments and electoral rules, but the discussion remains speculative regarding the implications of these legal frameworks in the proposed scenario.

Pengwuino
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So I was wondering something. If Hillary becomes President and Bill is her vice president and first lady :smile: :smile: :smile:, 1) would US law allow such a thing to happened 2) what happens if Hillary becomes unable to perform her duties as president (dies, surgery, injured, resignation, etc)? Since Bill Clinton has already been President twice, is he still allowed to take the position temporarily or would they skip him when finding a new acting President?
 
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The applicable constitutional amendment says

"...No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of President more than once..."

So, assuming the unfathomable happened, then there is no constitutional basis for not allowing Bill to succeed Hillary. He just can't be elected to the Office of President anymore.

Edited to Add: But you can almost guarantee that Republicans would probably challenge it as unconstitutional, considering the hatred many have for him.
 
Electors can't vote for both a President and a Vice-President from their own state (12th Amendment). So long as they don't live together as New York residents (a large number of electoral votes to give up), there's no problem.

Well, except for the http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode03/usc_sec_03_00000019----000-.html . To avoid a potential Constitutional crisis, those ineligible to hold the office of President are skipped over.

That still doesn't specifically address the "No person shall be elected... " part of Amendment 22, but the "and shall not prevent any person who may be holding the office of President, or acting as President, during the term within which this Article becomes operative from holding the office of President or acting as President during the remainder of such term" of the 22nd Amendment almost seems to imply that the Amendment would normally restrict who could even serve as "Acting President".

It would be a really bad idea to have Bill Clinton as VP. If Hillary died (or were otherwise "unable to discharge the powers and duties of office") and you had a Republican controlled House, we'd be right back to having the US Supreme Court decide who would be President.
 
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He is always called Mr. President. Even if you meet him today, you say hello, "Mr. President."
 
cyrusabdollahi said:
He is always called Mr. President. Even if you meet him today, you say hello, "Mr. President."

Always with nothing to contribute to my threads eh cyrusabdollahi :smile:
 
I aim to please :wink:
 
It would funny if Bill Clinton is Hillary clintons vp and they get divorce while in office.:smile:
 
cyrusabdollahi said:
He is always called Mr. President. Even if you meet him today, you say hello, "Mr. President."
Even if I met our current president I think I would still call him Georgie Porgie. And I might call Cheney Dick.
Clinton... maybe Willy.
 
Pengwuino said:
. If Hillary becomes President and Bill is her vice president and first lady


Thats the single dumbest idea I've heard all week.
 
  • #10
You are all missing the obvious

http://www.startribune.com/stonline/images/news10/2clinton0615.l.jpg
www.startribune.com
 
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  • #11
Ivan Seeking said:
You are all missing the obvious

www.startribune.com


What about Chelsea?
 
  • #12
franznietzsche said:
What about Chelsea?

There's your VP! :biggrin:
 
  • #13
Ivan Seeking said:
There's your VP! :biggrin:


Mother-daughter...:eek:
 
  • #14
Please, why not dick cheneys daughter :smile: Double whammy
 

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