Rachel Maddow Has Lost Her Mind

[CincyDem]

51. Agnew in '73 will become a playbook going into 2024...for TFG.

Recall, Nixon was the real bad guy in '73 but Agnew wasn't a whole lot better (and some would argue worse).

In DoJ's assessment at the time, they had to push Agnew out of office before the impeachment ball started rolling on Nixon for two reasons. First, having Agnew waiting in the wings would likely be a factor in any impeachment action by congress because many might see trading Nixon for Agnew as out of the frying pan and into the fire. Second, if Nixon were impeached, the odds of Agnew being impeached were practically zero. He was a bad guy but his crimes probably didn't rise to the level of congress sequentially impeaching two presidents.

Elliot Richardson's goal as AG was to push Agnew out as the first step in holding Nixon accountable. And 10 days after Agnew resigned, Richardson paid the price in the Saturday Night Massacre.

Fast forward 50 years. I hate the idea of it but we have to admit there's a measurable possibility TFG could be back in the WH. I hope to f'ing god it never happens but it's certainly a double digit possibility. I think TFG's Agnew learning will be to pick the singularly most reprehensible running mate he can find.

It may be hard to imagine someone worse than TFG but they're out there...Roger Stone...Kanye(Ye)...Kid Rock..MTG...Gaetz...lots of options I know...all crazy choices but who among us would fight to impeach TFG if the next batter up was one of them. His base wouldn't give a chit. They'll vote for him even if his running mate is Attila the Hun. But his VP choice becomes his strongest defense to keep the WH for a full term.

If Nixon's VP was Howard Baker (for example) from day 1 instead of Agnew...would Gerald Ford, or Jimmy Carter for that matter, have a picture hanging in the WH? Hell - we may not even know Reagan beyond his life as a second rate actor and CA governor.