Home -> Law Blog Directory -> Legal Commentary Blogs -> Balkinization

Legal Commentary

: Balkinization

Maybe God Cares About the US After All

By Jack M. Balkin

I note the following story just posted on the NYTimes web site about Dick Cheney's forthcoming visit to the hospital to check his "abnormal heart rhythms." So let's assume that the condition turns out to be serious, and his physicians advise immediate resignation. (In the interests of good taste, I put to one side even more dire possibilities.) So what should George W. Bush do in that eventuality? Should he 1) just leave the vice presidency vacant, since it's a dumb office that should probably be eliminated, which would mean that Nancy Pelosi would succeed should anything happen to the President; 2) nominate some Republican worthy (say, his father) to fill the now vacant VP slot until January 20, 2009; or 3) nominate the winner of the November 4 election? And, for those of you who choose "3," is it self-evident that George W. Bush should not himself resign and make way for his successor?

Full post as published by Balkinization on October 15, 2008 (boomark / email).