The Speaker of the House is second in line for the presidency.

[Music Man]

That's a fact that's not talked about enough. Being Speaker primarily involves wrangling votes, setting legislative agenda, and being a political figurehead, but lines of succession exist for a reason. Presidents have died, resigned, and almost been removed from office. The possibilities are always there, and in this administration's case, it's not far-fetched to see the president and vice president being removed from office/resigning.

Thus, the decision for Speaker is not something to be cute with. I do not begrudge any candidates for criticizing Nancy Pelosi per se, especially in a campaign, but I trust that smart heads will prevail and we remember that experience and qualifications matter first. No matter how rare such a national crisis would be, a characteristic of any Speaker is having the knowhow and ability to step into the highest office in the land.

[hlthe2b]

1. I would have full confidence in Nancy's abilities if she were to gain the Presidency today...

(of course that is not the endorsement it SHOULD be, given who occupies right now).

But, for those wanting to put in someone untested and perhaps far less suited for the Speakership duties (which is a very special skill set on their own), surely ought to realize how critical is the appropriate selection with respect to possible line of succession.

[Pachamama]

9. +1000

This is the real reason the Republicans fear Nancy Pelosi....

[Hortensis]

2. Reminds me that one of the #FiveWhiteGuys said

we had lots of women who could take Nancy's place. Guess if she could anyone could, right?

Music Man, this is an excellent point. I don't know how I came to forget this little detail or why it hasn't be raised before. Of course those whose passion is merely focused on taking Nancy down wouldn't want to be reminded of it or remind others.

[hlthe2b]

10. Tim Ryan, only it was we have lots of "FEMALES" to do so... That still rankles me.

[Hortensis]

17. The creep. Huge put-down. Those guys weren't

exactly admired by the people on a Joy panel I watched today. Michael Steel called them weak-kneed Democrats who didn't want to move forward with healthcare back when the ACA was being fought for. He said Nancy didn't suffer fools and got it done without them and "certain Democrats" are carrying a grudge. These creeps really are as small as they sound.

Btw, for anyone who didn't see it, they also all predicted confidently that Nancy would of course be reelected. Most of this is just people negotiating for position, including Rep. Fudge.

[Nitram]

3. Excellent point. We dodged that bullet.

[PJMcK]

4. I've had this fantasy since November 2016

In the 2018 elections, Democrats win back the House and Nancy Pelosi becomes Speaker of the House.

Congressional and Robert Mueller's investigations demonstrate Trump's criminality and Pence's complicity. They both resign in lieu of impeachment/removal or prosecution.

Ms. Pelosi becomes the President. She nominates Hillary Clinton to be her Vice President. Enough Senate Republicans are convinced that the country needs "healing" that she is approved.

In 2020, the Pelosi/Clinton ticket wins the election in a blue wave that secures the Democratic House and gains a small advantage in the Senate.

Early in the new administration, President Pelosi announces that she has serious health issues that require her to spend more time with her family. She resigns and Vice President Clinton is sworn in as the 47th President.

President Clinton nominates Senator Tim Kaine to be her Vice President. The Senate overwhelmingly approves his nomination.

History is corrected.

Of course, it won't happen, right?

[Music Man]

7. LOL, amazing :)

By the way, your Leonard Bernstein quote is a favorite of mine. Bernstein is my boy!

[PJMcK]

14. We'll chat (n/t)

[Pachamama]

11. Pelosi becomes President when Trump and Pence removed as a result of evidence of Russia Collusion &

other crimes....

But a Pelosi/Cinton ticket? No way....

More likely she would run with someone else....the list is long, but it won't include Clinton...

[PJMcK]

12. It was just an old fantasy (n/t)

[Totally Tunsie]

16. Or, take the shortcut. ANYONE can be named Speaker.

Just install Hillary as Speaker of the House, and wait.

[link:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speaker_of_the_United_States_House_of_Representatives|

The Constitution does not require the Speaker to be an elected member of the House of Representatives, although every Speaker thus far has been.[3] The Speaker is second in the United States presidential line of succession, after the Vice President and ahead of the President pro tempore of the Senate.[4]

[PJMcK]

18. Great twist! (n/t)

[IllinoisBirdWatcher]

5. The Repugs ran against Speaker Pelosi in every competitive race and LOST. BIGLY.

I traveled in three states with competitive Congressional races during the campaign. The RNC and its PACs swamped cable stations with their very dark Bubble Bee black and yellow Congressional candidate ads trying to scare voters. Ads filled with ugly and scary photos of Nancy Pelosi.

Their message was clear - "Save tRump, Fear Pelosi." Their message failed.

The results of this election and the massive number of flips speak for themselves. We have a highly qualified and experienced Speaker candidate and she deserves to be elected overwhelmingly.

[Garrett78]

6. I'd say it's far-fetched that Trump and Pence will be removed before November of 2020.

Not impossible but highly unlikely. I could see a scenario where Trump resigns, Pence becomes president and we have a new VP.

[Buckeyeblue]

8. And both the Senate and the House have to approve a new VP.

I think this is an important point. If 45 were to quit, the House could either force a compromise VP or just hold up the nomination, effectively making the Speaker next in line.

[Bfd]

13. This is a brilliant play. Something I wasn't aware of, Thanks!

"If 45 were to quit, the House could either force a compromise VP or just hold up the nomination, effectively making the Speaker next in line. "

Makes this high stakes game even more interesting.
Everything becomes a calculated move from here to the final demise of the Republifascist agenda.

[JudyM]

20. That would be fair turnabout for McConnell having held up Garland's ascension to the SC.

[Hekate]

15. Third. VP is second.

[Polybius]

19. VP is first in line, and Speaker is second

The "in line" part means up next. Trump is not counted as "in line" because he's not "in line" for anything, he's already President.

United States presidential line of succession

1 Vice President Mike Pence
2 Speaker of the House of Representatives Paul Ryan
3 President pro tempore of the Senate Orrin Hatch
4 Secretary of State Mike Pompeo
5 Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin

And so on...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_line_of_succession