November 22, 2024
Letter

Presidential succession

I am writing in response to “Bush should resign” by Bohdan Slabyj in the Nov. 2 BDN. Others likely wish that Bush would resign and thus allow Barack Obama to start his presidency. That is idle wishing however.

When the current president can no longer serve his term, due to death, becoming incapacitated or resignation, the vice president assumes the presidency. With a Bush resignation, Vice President Cheney would become the president. The Constitution then makes provisions for the speaker of the House to move into the vice presidency and the process continues on through all members of the president’s Cabinet.

The only way the president-elect can become president is to wait until the term of the current president expires and the inauguration takes place.

Despite wishes to the contrary, Obama supporters still have a few weeks to wait.

Christopher Whitaker

Trenton


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