With mass rallies not now a possibility given the state of the country, number 45 has resorted to just plain being in our faces every weekday morning or afternoon on all channels. Even though he had said previously that Mike Pence would be in charge of the White House Task Team on the COVID-19 problem, he just couldn’t stay away from hogging the mike with all sorts of misinformation, political attacks and braggadocious rather than solid leadership.
What leaders say is one thing. But what they do or don’t do in the spot is always more remembered. Currently, number 45 is mis-leading to the point of needlessly putting thousands of Americans at risk of death. That won’t be forgotten.
Clearly, the economy is tanking and will not rebound well before the end of the year, if then. Certainly, we are all worse off now than we were before, as the answer to the existential question to pose to politicians up for re-election. Sure, we have all been stricken by what appears to be a natural disease phenomenon. But that won’t matter much when stock is taken of how the situation played out. In particular, people will remember the harsh words(but little help) and criticism from the POTUS to state governors who were pleading for their populations. And the news about naval ships and crews essentially “burning in virus hell” in close quarters with no help in sight from the commander-in-chief will not be remembered fondly. Soldiers will die for lack of leadership in a crisis.
By October, number 45 will be desperately in trouble and not feeling his re-election will be a shoe-in. Faced with, at best, only a 50-50 shot at being retained ( in spite of whatever overseas help he’s been able to bring in, and help from law enforcement), the betting money is on him cancelling the 2020 presidential election. Hell yes, that’s illegal and will be immediately challenged in court. But the SCOTUS may not be able to rule on it fast enough, and November 3rd will come and go.
The states, however, go ahead with the other parts of the election, and congressional people will be both newly elected (hopefully at least 6 new Democratic senators) and re-elected. Nancy Pelosi is a shoo-in from her California district.
The new session of congress meets January 3, 2021, so she will re-take her oath of office then. Meanwhile, the office of the president must, by law, either have a replacement or a re-elected person by January 20, 2021, otherwise the office becomes vacant. The incumbent there on January 19th loses all authority by 12 noon of the 20th if not retained by an election.
Even though he may refuse to walk out, and must be carried out, it does not matter. His command evaporates on that date. That’s also the case for the office of the Vice President.
To fill that presidential vacancy, the next in line is the Speaker of the House of Representatives, who, in this case, will have just been recently re-elected.
Enter Mrs. Pelosi as the first female President of the U.S. She will immediately call for a national election.
Now you all know I could have simply sipped too much Vitamin C and hot tea this morning, but I also could be very correct here.
Hmmm. Anybody want to bet me?
Professor David L. Horne is founder and executive director of PAPPEI, the Pan African Public Policy and Ethical Institute, which is a new 501(c)(3) pending community-based organization or non-governmental organization (NGO). It is the stepparent organization for the California Black Think Tank which still operates and which meets every fourth Friday.
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