The Utterly Undemocratic Path to the Democratic Candidate
A Comedy of Errors and the Opportunities It Portends
Many people are speculating, with reasonable cause, how Joe Biden could be replaced. Leaving aside all offers that can't be refused, and politely not considering what sort of blackmail might exist in interested hands of a lifelong swamp denizen, if Biden doesn't budge, it might be an opportune time to consider how the proverbial house of cards might shake out.
The person in the catbird seat is Kamala Harris, because she alone has the ability to kneecap Biden's political survival via the 25th Amendment. Read below.
Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President.
Thereafter, when the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that no inability exists, he shall resume the powers and duties of his office unless the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive department or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit within four days to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office. Thereupon Congress shall decide the issue, assembling within forty-eight hours for that purpose if not in session. If the Congress, within twenty-one days after receipt of the latter written declaration, or, if Congress is not in session, within twenty-one days after Congress is required to assemble, determines by two-thirds vote of both Houses that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall continue to discharge the same as Acting President; otherwise, the President shall resume the powers and duties of his office.
The tl;dr version is if Harris and half the Cabinet say Joe belongs between rutabagas and turnips, then the entirety of the Congress would be gathered with a 2/3 vote whether or not Biden is capable. Can you imagine what a potentially 21-day debate about Biden's ineptitude would look like? The Democrats couldn't get rid of Biden without substantial Republican support, so how would that play out? Would Speaker Johnson use this as a three-week infomercial, or would he be that thrilled to see Harris as nominee that all would just go along and pretend to be solemn as the optimal political act. The Democrats would have no choice either, because neither party on its own can ditch the sitting President.
But Harris is uniquely qualified for this. She fits the color swatch required for the Democrats, and is reviled enough that Republicans might take a flier on her thinking there would be down ballot effects. Her fundamental numbers are even worse than Biden against Trump, and her own record lacks the excuse Biden has of dementia, but if the donors want it, this is the one sure way Biden can be forced aside.
This is why intelligence agencies keep dossiers so situations like this don't happen. But then again, maybe drawing America deeper into the abyss of lunacy is part of the larger plan. Who knows?
In any case, Trump probably will win. Unrelated to this, but have you noticed how he has started defining any figure of political distaste as a Palestinian? An odd title for NY Jew Chuck Schumer, but he's speaking to the people who decide elections as well as all else, and I wonder if that deal isn't already done. Same as it ever was, but if they want fodder for a fight, it pains me to see that Cyrus the Bullshitter is the one to send the lambs to the slaughter at the altar of terrible doctrine.
A final thought: Harris being the lamest of ducks means things that could not otherwise be done might be tried. I have no idea what that means, but you all saw how Black Swan ended, didn't you?