Lion in Winter

I believe if Trump croaks tomorrow, or at any time prior to the inauguration in 2021, then Pence is sworn in since he is the elected VP and first substitute if POTUS croaks in office. The current term runs to the end of 2020, not to election night.

But Pence is not the candidate for president in 21, Trump is, as selected by his party. So the party has to select the new candidate. When, I have no idea. I don't think this has ever happened before. Nor do I know what happens to the votes already cast.

scrubbedexpat096

Lies about it this time but then actually catches it in December is surely grounds for impeachment...

Lion in Winter

Yeah, we've discussed that one too. It would be a fairly easy fraud to discover though, and I bet people are looking... Someone would take money to talk.

yellowroom

I'm leaning towards it being true, what with others in the GOP reporting positive tests and also having been recent White House visitors.

The biggest tell will be if there is more than 24 hours without a Trump tweet - and I mean one from him, not one of the tweets done by his staff.

markonline1

Yep, that’s what I was reading this morning, about votes already cast. Good job the Republicans are about to lock up the Supreme Court, they could be getting called on soon LOL. As much as I dispose the guy, hope he makes a full recovery. Who knows, this may even spur him to actually take the virus seriously for his last few months in power (god willing) like Boris did after he was hospitalized with it.

username.exe

I agree, it's fairly humiliating for them to be on stage mocking masks, telling people it's coming to an end, and then a few hours' later confirming you have it yourself.
I don't think it moves the needle for anyone subscribed to the personality cult, but the average disinterested onlooker will identify incompetence.

Nutek

I don't believe it's true. But I want it to be.

username.exe

He most likely has it, but I don't believe for a second that they are telling us the truth about who knew, and when.

We'er going to find out a lot of those sycophants were swanning around without masks, meeting with people knowing that they had been in contact with people who had tested positive.

Leslie

Those leaking lying assholes? I have zero confidence in their ability to organize a conspiracy. The entire Trump fiasco is a snake eating its own tail.

Lion in Winter

Well at least he has access to health care. You know, the thing he's trying to take away from low-income and other uninsured people.

Lion in Winter

Also a good point. Fraud like that would likely come to light before very long at all.

scrubbedexpat091

This article explains a bit what happens at various stages if a presidential candidate dies.

Prior to election, new nomination. (I wonder what happens if states can't get new ballots printed fast enough?)

After election but before electoral college vote, party nominates new candidate, but a little uncertainty involved."Where there could be some uncertainty, is that the party would assume their electors would vote for the replacement chosen by the party leaders and members.

In some states, electors cannot, by law, be made to vote for a replacement. In other states, electors are legally bound to vote for the candidate that wins their state’s election."

If after the electoral college vote but before the new congress counts the votes, the new congress would have some decisions to make.

- Congress could count the electoral college votes, if congress chose this route, VP Elect would become president.

- If Congress does not count the electoral college votes, the 12th Amendment will kick in and the House of Representatives would elect a president from among the three candidates who received the most votes in the election.

If the death happens after January 6th and the votes have been counted and accepted by Congress, rules of succession would apply and the VP would become president.

https://www.kiro7.com/news/trending/...MDUADXXKN5DIU/

Steerpike

I visited the QAnon website yesterday for the first time ever. I was reluctant to do so (I worry about what such sites will do to my computer, but also, don't want to contribute to their 'viewership stats', etc); some idiot on my local neighborhood site was telling me there was proof there of some nonsense (there wasn't). Anyway - I ended up reading quite a few posts there. What a weird site! Visually, very very unusual and not as 'sensational' as I expected. But full of really bizarre stuff. They are still banging on about Hillary, about Obama, Obamagate, There was mention of Epstein and of Ghislaine Maxwell. I believe QAnon are alleging that Epstein wasn't the bad guy he was made out to be, and/or, his death was a murder, or something. I don't know how much energy I have to keep reading about it but I'll see where it goes ...

As for Fox News and Wallace; my theory is - Wallace has been 'far too reasonable' in his dealings with Trump for the likes of Fox News, and therefore, he's likely to get canned. '(far too reasonable' = doing a decent job of interviewing him a few months ago, and at least TRYING to do a decent job of moderating the debate this week).

Steerpike

I certainly want it to be true, but I don't doubt for one minute it COULD be a hoax. Assuming it IS true, though - the worst case scenario is, they all suffer mild or no symptoms and then claim the virus is 'no big deal'.

I hate to say it, but we need someone on a ventilator here!

Leslie

He hasn't tweeted in 15 hours. I reckon he's already dead.