Current Cul-de-Sac

For John, BLUF:  Former Mayor of San Francisco and former Speaker of the California Assembly Willie Brown was a mentor to our current Vice President, Ms Kamala Harris, and helped her along the political path.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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What was Willie Brown thinking?

We are in a political cul-de-sac.  The 1947 Presidential Succession Act provides the rules.

Look at our current Presidential line of succession:

Biden to Harris to Pelosi to Leahy to Blinken.
It is the Anti-Tinker to Evers to Chance.

Is Vice President Kamala Harris a step up from Preaident Biden?

Would Speaker Nancy Pelosi be a step up from President Biden or Vice President Harris?

Yes, Senator Patrick Leahy would be a step up, but he is two and a half years older than the President.

Secretary of State Anthony Blinken?  He is in over his head at his Foggy Bottom job.

Our best bet is to ride it out and pray hard for the nation.

Regards  —  Cliff

Succession in Illinois

For John, BLUF:  This is from several months ago, but it shows that no everyone is happy with the direction of large Democratic Party controlled cities.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Illinois County Board Passes Ballot Measure For New State

Here is the sub-headline:

Effingham County, half way between Indiana and Missiouri, a little over half way down.

From Bearing Arms, by Blogger Tom Knighton, 17 April 2019.

Here is the lede plus four:

On Tuesday, I wrote about how there was a move afoot to create the 51st state by basically cutting Illinois off from Chicago.  It’s an interesting plan, though not one I see likely to happen.

However, that doesn’t mean it’s not being taken seriously.

County board members passed a referendum question which will go on the 2020 ballot.  It asks if people support separating the rest of the state from Cook County.

It asks this: “Shall Effingham County coordinate discussions with the remaining 101 Counties of the State of Illinois, with the exception of Cook County, regarding the possibility of forming a new state and ultimately seeking admission to the Federal Union as the 51st State, pursuant to the provisions of the United States Constitution?”

The referendum proposal passed 7 to 2, which tells you where the county board stands.

It isn't likely to happen, but it would be interesting if it did.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

585,000 [Good] Signatures

For John, BLUF:  Not since 1860 and South Carolina have we seen such a move.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Supporter Of California Secession Movement:  ‘Our Values Are Different’ Than The United States

"...we disregard what the United States thinks ..."

Shankar Singram, Vice President, California Freedom Coalition

This is from Reporter Randy DeSoto, of Western Journalism, 2 August 2017.

Is this all about Trump?

I really don't think they are joining the United Mexican States as an alternative.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Goodbye Golden State?

For John, BLUF:  I wouldn't like another socialist state on our border..  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Shattuck: #CALEXIT would be a truly golden idea

If they want to leave so bad, go ahead, let ’em

From Opinionaiter Tom Shattuck, The Boston Herald, 3 August 2017, Thursday last.

California could secede from the United States.  Signatures are being hurriedly gathered for a 2018 ballot initiative that would begin the process of independence for the Golden State.

Awesome.  Break a leg.  I wholeheartedly endorse “#Calexit” and here’s why you should too.

Read the article for Mr Shattuck's reasons.

As for myself, I would be sad to see California go.

For those who think that it will never happen, I say that there are a lot of things that will never happen until they do.

For those who think that we, as individuals, can do nothing, I ask if they even bothered to write a note to their Representative (Niki Tsongas) or Senators (E Warren and Ed Markey)?

Regards  —  Cliff

Presidential Succession

For John, BLUF:  All theoretical stuff for George to teach his students.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Presidential Line of Succession

I have friends, and at least one relative, who can't wait for Mr Trump to leave office, immediately, if not sooner.  And, of course, there are those Democrats who are not only passionately wishing for it, but actively working for it— People like Rep John Lewis and Rep Maxine Waters and Rep Nancy Pelosi.  Then there are the wafflers, like Sen E Warren.  They want to give a full throttle "YES" to the idea but their common sense keeps pulling them back.

Here, via Wikipedia is the current order of succession:

No.	Office	Current officer
1	Vice President	Mike Pence (R)
2	Speaker of the House of Representatives	Paul Ryan (R)
3	President pro tempore of the Senate	Orrin Hatch (R)
4	Secretary of State	Rex Tillerson (R)
5	Secretary of the Treasury	Steven Mnuchin (R)
6	Secretary of Defense	James Mattis (I)
7	Attorney General	Jeff Sessions (R)
8	Secretary of the Interior	Ryan Zinke (R)
—	Secretary of Agriculture	Mike Young (D)[a]
9	Secretary of Commerce	Wilbur Ross (R)
—	Secretary of Labor	Ed Hugler (I)[a]
10	Secretary of Health and Human Services	Tom Price (R)
11	Secretary of Housing and Urban Development	Ben Carson (R)
—	Secretary of Transportation	Elaine Chao (R)[b]
12	Secretary of Energy	Rick Perry (R)
13	Secretary of Education	Betsy DeVos (R)
14	Secretary of Veterans Affairs	David Shulkin (I)
15	Secretary of Homeland Security	John F. Kelly (I)

[a]  This listing assumes that only acting officers whose prior appointment required Senate confirmation are eligible for the line of succession.

[b]  Not a natural-born citizen (acquired U.S. citizenship by naturalization) and thus ineligible for the Presidency.

The list does raise questions, such as how did a foreigner get on the Cabinet, given that President Trump is proclaimed by the Media to be such a nativist?

As I pointed out to my Brother, the sign the Democrats are going to actually make a run at President Trump will be an effort to force Vice President Pence to resign.♠  That is how they did it last time.  And, it will give time to get someone else brought in as Vice President under the Twenty-fifth Amendment, Section 2.

Isn't there a TV Show about the kind of issue, Designated Survivor, or some such.  There is apparently a whole raft of fictional considerations of the issue of Presidential Succession.

Regards  —  Cliff

♠  Let's face it.  While President Trump is a New York City Progressive with Libertarian/Conservative leanings, Vice President Mike Pence is a real conservative and likely to act like one, bringing his talents in politics and government to bear on the problems at hand, thus making it even more difficult for the Democrats to achieve their goals.  And, a President Pence might point out the Antonio Gramsci like progress of the Democrats.