Well a replacement VP has to survive a thorough investigation of his finances, his character, and if you remember the Nelson Rockefeller Hearings — his art collection, and get a majority vote in BOTH houses of congress to be appointed and confirmed. It is not as easy as getting a nomination at a convention where only your party vets you. A New VP would be vetted by a Dem Congress. (And they might agree to appoint his father to babysit him for the next two years.) — And you know, Jimmy Carter would be available, He’s pretty honest, and he knows the job. You know, the hearings are conducted by Judiciary, and that means Pat Leahy and John Conyers.

Historically the replacement of a VP has rarely been as fast as Ford’s. In some cases the VP position lay absent throughout the President’s remaining term. Unlike the Succession procedure for the President laid out in the 25th Amendment, the procedures in the replacement of a dead, resigned or impeached VP allow for a great deal of delay and horse-trading.

During Madisons terms he had no VP from 1812-13; and from 1814-17. Madison was bad luck to be VP for…both George “In the Funk” Clinton and Eldridge Gerry died while they were Madison’s VEEPs.

The was a period in the 1850’s where almost seven years passed without a VP. During the terms of Whig Millard Fillmore (who succeeded to the Presidency in 1850 and appointed no VP) and Democrat Franklin Pierce the post was vacant except for the brief time that Pierce’s running mate, Wm. Rufus King, held the post. King died in April 1853, just months after the inauguration, and the position remained vacant until 1857!

Andrew Johnson had no VP from 1865-1869.

VP Chester Arthur succeeded to President in 1881…and his VP post remained open throughout his term (1885). Then the next Vice President died in office in 1885 and the post remained empty until 1889. EIGHT YEARS!

VP George Hobart died in office in 1899 – and the post remained empty to 1901. Almost immediately afterwards the new President was assassinated and T. Rooseveldt succeeded him…and the post of VP remained vacant to 1905. An almost complete six year vacancy.

Truman did not have a VP from 1945-1949.

Thus extended VP vacancies are rather the rule than the exception.

Ford was also the highest ranking Republican in the line of Succession, and generally well-liked. As such he was pretty much a shoe-in. Rockefeller was not…so things dragged on. Even LBJ didn’t appoint a VP after the Kennedy assassination. Humphrey became VP after the election…he wasn’t nominated by LBJ and appointed by Congress.

Question to Snowjob – “How closely is the president following the Libby trial?”

Tony – “Not that closely.”

I.e., staffers are following it closely for him.

Question to Snowjob – “How closely is the president following the Libby trial?”

Tony – “The Staff is assembling a pop-up transcript on an on going basis – he wants to know if we can get him a shiny robe ‘like that there judge’”

Here’s the video from today’s presser…

Tony Snow Asked if Bush Follows Libby Trial

Unfortunately, Bush and Gonzales would probably try to make the legal case that Bush can appoint a moron VP during a Congressional recess because we’re at war (notice how convenient this war has been for Bush in his usurpation of power?). GWB would not hesitate to continue his use the war as an excuse to forward his decidership.

He should have been able to coach CIA operatives on their obligations regarding management of classified material. Lawyers also know full well the levels of confidentiality in handling information.

From Wikipedia:

…George H. W. Bush administration, Libby served in the Department of Defense as principal deputy under secretary (Strategy and Resources), and later was confirmed by the Senate as deputy under secretary of defense for policy. [3]

[snip]

Libby graduated from Yale University in 1972, where his professor Paul Wolfowitz became his political influence and mentor.[14] Libby received his Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from Columbia Law School in 1975

[snip]

Libby first entered government service in the United States Department of State in 1981, as a member of the Policy Planning Staff in the Office of the Secretary. From 1982 to 1985 he served in that department as director of special projects in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs. During the George H. W. Bush administration, Libby served in the United States Department of Defense as principal deputy under secretary (Strategy and Resources), and later was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as deputy under secretary of defense for policy. Libby co-authored the draft of the “Defense Planning Guidance” with Paul Wolfowitz for the then-Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney in 1992.

I know I’ve also seen in another bio that he has even more credentialing on national security for another entity.

With this kind of background, there is NO excuse for mishandling classified material. Hubris is not a defense.

Clearly the “rules only apply to the little people” mindset permeates all levels of the Bush Administration. And, inmy mind, I’m wondering who else and what else has been sacrificed on the alter of covering their asses the last six years. I cannot begin to tel you how angry this makes me.

Imagine the anger/energy of the entire nation when awareness of this spreads.

Each one of us needs to be spreading the news in every way we can think of.

“The British are Coming, the British are Coming.”