# Can the POTUS "defect"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 12, 2013, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-potus-defect/655526 "2013-04-12T18:12:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![stui\_magpie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stui_magpie/32/11010_2.png) [@stui\_magpie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stui_magpie)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2013, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-potus-defect/655526/21 "2013-04-15T01:35:10Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > Not sure I would consider hanging on the beach in Cairns is a particularly nutty action. :dubious: > > šŸ˜› Considering thereā€™s really only a mud flat, not a beach at Cairns itself, youā€™d have to be a little nutty. Slide a little further north (or south for that matter) and Iā€™m completely with you.šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2013, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-potus-defect/655526/22 "2013-04-15T01:46:39Z")
1. Since heā€™s Commander in Chief and heā€™s sunning in Australia, isnā€™t he AWOL? Or he himself gives himself leave, since he is CIC. 2. If Obama and Biden are both under impeachment vote, who breaks a Senate tie? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2013, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-potus-defect/655526/23 "2013-04-15T02:01:34Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > 1. Since heā€™s Commander in Chief and heā€™s sunning in Australia, isnā€™t he AWOL? Or he himself gives himself leave, since he is CIC. > > 2. If Obama and Biden are both under impeachment vote, who breaks a Senate tie? Doesnā€™t impeachment require a two-thirds majority to convict? ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2013, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-potus-defect/655526/24 "2013-04-15T11:04:59Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > 1. Since heā€™s Commander in Chief and heā€™s sunning in Australia, isnā€™t he AWOL? Or he himself gives himself leave, since he is CIC. The President is a civilian, not a member of the military. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2013, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-potus-defect/655526/25 "2013-04-15T13:44:49Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > 1. If Obama and Biden are both under impeachment vote, who breaks a Senate tie? In the special case of a presidential impeachment vote, in the event of a tie the Chief Justice of The Supreme Court would decide (regardless of whether the VP was involved or not). ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2013, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-potus-defect/655526/26 "2013-04-15T15:53:14Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > The President is a civilian, not a member of the military. Yes, I forgot. Of course. And **Hail Ants** , but isnā€™t **TriPolar** right, about three-fourths? ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2013, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-potus-defect/655526/27 "2013-04-15T16:04:06Z")
> [@kjckjc](#): > > After coming to the realization that the President isnā€™t looking to do any last minute shopping or get in another meeting, he just doesnā€™t want to leave. Ever. What happens? Can the Secret Service make him leave against his will? Beyond all the other answers, Iā€™d just note that this would be somewhat pointless. Itā€™s not as though thereā€™s value in making someone act as president under lock and key. If he doesnā€™t want the job (and refusing to return to DC would qualify), youā€™re better off just removing him from his post than trying to force it upon him. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2013, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-potus-defect/655526/28 "2013-04-15T18:30:32Z")
The President can resign at any time, and go anywhere he wants. One President already has. So, why in the world would he ā€œdefectā€ anywhere? Especially when, by definition, he/she MUST have spent years and millions of dollars to become President in the first place? People donā€™t get elected President unwillingly or by accident. If you have the job, you MUST have wanted iit really badly. Even if a President decided, ā€œI hate this job- I want to chuck it and go be a beach bum in Australiaā€, again, why defect? Why not just resign and buy a QANTAS ticket to Melbourne? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2013, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-potus-defect/655526/29 "2013-04-15T19:00:34Z")
As a somewhat easier resolution, with the cooperation of the Vice President, congress could simply say ā€œWe accept your resignation Mr. Presidentā€, no matter what his actual words were. That would make the veep the President immediately, not just Acting President, and put an end to the matter. No one would have the constitutional authority to intervene, and itā€™s likely no one would care other than the ex-president perhaps. But impeachment could still be carried out in a day if everyone wants to be stickler for details. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-potus-defect/655526.md?page=1)