Well? Is it time for the 25th?

mccardey

Self-Ban
Kind Benefactor
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Feb 10, 2010
Messages
19,213
Reaction score
15,828
Location
Australia.
Ross Douthat thinks so.

A child cannot be president. I love my children; they cannot have the nuclear codes.
We were talking to some Americans about this in a sort of Why haven't they already done it? way - and no-one knew. Can anyone clear that up for us?

ETA: Us being non-Americans.
 
Last edited:

Manuel Royal

Kind Benefactor
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Mar 31, 2009
Messages
4,484
Reaction score
437
Location
Atlanta, Georgia
Website
donnetowntoday.blogspot.com
The 25th (specifically, Section 4 of the 25th Amendment) requires action by both the Vice President and key members of both houses of Congress. It's never been done -- which is no reason not to do it, but does lead to hesitancy about pulling that trigger. (Certainly, it's not something to take lightly. Even when the POTUS is so clearly incapable of doing his job; after all, that was clear to most people before the election.)
 

mccardey

Self-Ban
Kind Benefactor
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Feb 10, 2010
Messages
19,213
Reaction score
15,828
Location
Australia.
The 25th (specifically, Section 4 of the 25th Amendment) requires action by both the Vice President and key members of both houses of Congress. It's never been done -- which is no reason not to do it, but does lead to hesitancy about pulling that trigger. (Certainly, it's not something to take lightly. Even when the POTUS is so clearly incapable of doing his job; after all, that was clear to most people before the election.)
Yes, but it's only the VP and eight Cabinet members, isn't it? Eight is not a lot. Not the way things are going.
 

Brightdreamer

Just Another Lazy Perfectionist
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Apr 22, 2012
Messages
12,977
Reaction score
4,514
Location
USA
Website
brightdreamersbookreviews.blogspot.com
Don't expect any action on this until/unless 45's job as distraction is no longer necessary. No matter how dangerous his blunders, no matter how harmful his boasts and actions, he's doing exactly what he was "hired" to do: throw everyone off balance and keep the spotlight on himself as he justifies the Republican juggernaut that's even now dismantling and reshaping the government as we know it. (Keep in mind that, to many of us, Pence is at least as dangerous, if not moreso, than the current "president.")
 

Myrealana

I aim to misbehave
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Nov 29, 2012
Messages
5,425
Reaction score
1,911
Location
Denver, CO
Website
www.badfoodie.com
It's well past time in my opinion, but my opinion doesn't matter, just as my vote for President didn't matter and as I've been informed by both my Representative and Senator, my policy opinions don't matter.
 

James D. Macdonald

Your Genial Uncle
Absolute Sage
VPX
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Feb 11, 2005
Messages
25,582
Reaction score
3,785
Location
New Hampshire
Website
madhousemanor.wordpress.com
Recall that the people in Trump's cabinet were chosen, not for their expertise, not for their integrity, not for their intelligence: they were chosen for their personal loyalty to Trump.
 

regdog

The Scavengers
Staff member
Moderator
Kind Benefactor
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Apr 27, 2008
Messages
58,075
Reaction score
21,013
Location
She/Her
What is also going to be needed, is to find Republican Congressmen or Congresswomen with the spine to stand up for their country and Constitution and not their own, self serving or party interest.
 

frimble3

Heckuva good sport
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Oct 7, 2006
Messages
11,574
Reaction score
6,396
Location
west coast, canada
But how far can you get with the 'personal loyalty oath' of a person of no integrity?
 

Myrealana

I aim to misbehave
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Nov 29, 2012
Messages
5,425
Reaction score
1,911
Location
Denver, CO
Website
www.badfoodie.com
But how far can you get with the 'personal loyalty oath' of a person of no integrity?
It means they will remain loyal as long as that loyalty is useful.

That kind of quid-pro-quo personal loyalty is what will be 45's downfall. At some point, his "loyal" subjects will realize there is more to gain by turning on him.
 

hester

New year, new avatar.
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Oct 24, 2008
Messages
1,572
Reaction score
284
Location
On the edge.
Interestingly, there was talk of this during Reagan's second term, when he began to show signs of intellectual decline (these may not have been readily apparent to the voting public, but they were apparently significant enough to disturb his advisors). While I understand the reluctance to invoke the 25th, what's been seen so far in Trump's behavior, thought processes, etc., is disturbing enough that it should definitely be considered.
 

blacbird

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Mar 21, 2005
Messages
36,987
Reaction score
6,158
Location
The right earlobe of North America
I very much doubt that any of Trump's cabinet appointees would ever go along with this, for reasons already expressed by others here. Trump would have to be incapacitated by a stroke or something that would so clearly make it impossible for him to continue in the office. The lack of historical precedent is also a big obstacle.

Impeachment is the more likely scenario, but that won't be taken on easily. Nobody will want to do that until it becomes clear that there are enough votes in the Senate to convict. As of right now, that would require all the Democrats and 20 of the Republicans.

caw

caw