# Presidency is offered to you. Do you take it? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [February 18, 2017, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidency-is-offered-to-you-do-you-take-it/780169 "2017-02-18T19:35:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2017, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidency-is-offered-to-you-do-you-take-it/780169/1 "2017-02-18T19:35:28Z")
For fun: Suppose that right this moment you are offered the presidency of the United States (we’ll ignore all Constitutional/legal problems that arise.) Trump doesn’t want to be POTUS anymore, and Pence doesn’t want to take the presidency either, so it’s yours if you want it. Pence will still remain VP. You get all the powers, perks and responsibilities/duties that comes with the presidency. There’s just one catch: If you accept it, you’re not allowed to leave office until January 20, 2021, unless you die or suffer severe physical illness or injury that leaves you incapable of performing your duties. No voluntary resignations. Do you take it? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2017, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidency-is-offered-to-you-do-you-take-it/780169/2 "2017-02-18T19:39:43Z")
Hell no. Fuck no. No fucking way in hell no. ---
**Author:** ![mind\_the\_gap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ea666f/32.png) [@mind\_the\_gap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mind_the_gap)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2017, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidency-is-offered-to-you-do-you-take-it/780169/3 "2017-02-18T19:58:52Z")
Hell yes I’d take it, if only to save the country. I’m only a humble country machinist, but I could do a damn sight better than the clown in office now. Besides, I wouldn’t have to mow the lawn or fix the damn faucets for at least 4 years, and probably more when a grateful public elect me President for Life. 😃 I am not golfing however. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2017, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidency-is-offered-to-you-do-you-take-it/780169/4 "2017-02-18T20:01:25Z")
Sure. I think it would look good on my resume. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2017, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidency-is-offered-to-you-do-you-take-it/780169/5 "2017-02-18T20:43:14Z")
Of course; if I don’t take the job, who will? I’m not saying I’d be the best president; but I _am_ saying I wouldn’t be the worst, and _it could be that guy._ ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2017, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidency-is-offered-to-you-do-you-take-it/780169/6 "2017-02-18T20:52:34Z")
In the words of a great man: > [@Tracy Morgan](#): > > They say when opportunity knocks you should let it in and invite it to sit at your table. Fuck that – when opportunity knocks, you should take it captive. Beat that shit down. I’ve got opportunity tied to a chair in my basement with a ball gag in its mouth. Opportunity ain’t even thinking about leaving my house. If you keep quiet for a second, you’ll hear it whining. Hell yes I’d take the opportunity to be POTUS if it was dropped in my lap. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2017, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidency-is-offered-to-you-do-you-take-it/780169/7 "2017-02-18T20:53:54Z")
Sheeit. I’m assuming that I don’t get to see who’s behind me in line if I refuse, right? I think I take it. It’d play merry hell with my family, but not taking it is going to play merry hell with thousands of other families, so I think mine would understand. Knowing both myself and the Republican Congress, I’m likely to get impeached anyway. Also, the $200,000 annual pension, even ignoring the free office space etc., is more than I earn by actually working each year. It’s worth more than I earn for working in four years. So there’s that. ---
**Author:** ![BeepKillBeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2017, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidency-is-offered-to-you-do-you-take-it/780169/8 "2017-02-18T21:05:58Z")
I would take it. I think it would be a tremendous opportunity to do a lot of good. I’d probably regret it though as I’d probably be gridlocked to death. What I really need is absolute power! The ability to discredit journalists that don’t say nice things about me. The power to overrule pesky judges that get in my way. The power to degree law by fiat and not require the ‘elite’ traitors in Congress. … Perhaps it is best that I don’t ever get the presidency. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2017, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidency-is-offered-to-you-do-you-take-it/780169/9 "2017-02-18T21:11:58Z")
May God have mercy on whoever cooked up a conspiracy that picked me, and on us all, but f\*\*\* yeah I take it. I’ll grab the nearest judge or notary public by the lapels and recite the oath on the spot. I’ll make the Dope proud or leave you utterly speechless. But I assure you the World will be still here at the end of my term if it’s up to me… ---
**Author:** ![chrisk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@chrisk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chrisk)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2017, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidency-is-offered-to-you-do-you-take-it/780169/10 "2017-02-18T21:15:50Z")
Sorry, I’m afraid I must decline, with regrets. As noble a task as it would be to try to get you people back on track… well, I’ve got other plans for the next 4 years, and really I have to say I’m only marginally more qualified than Trump. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2017, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidency-is-offered-to-you-do-you-take-it/780169/11 "2017-02-18T21:16:14Z")
Yes, a random person from a phone book would do a better job than Trump. If I became president I’d just surround myself with advisers and let them do most of the work. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2017, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidency-is-offered-to-you-do-you-take-it/780169/12 "2017-02-18T21:19:00Z")
I would never run for President because I’m hopelessly unqualified. But I’d be better than Trump because I’m not insane, I’m not an egomaniac, and I’m aware of my shortcomings. So, JUST to get an uncommonly bad President out of office, I’d take the job. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2017, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidency-is-offered-to-you-do-you-take-it/780169/13 "2017-02-18T21:40:04Z")
A few months ago I would have said no. Now I’ll say yes, because if Trump can be president, a sane and rational man like me surely can be. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2017, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidency-is-offered-to-you-do-you-take-it/780169/14 "2017-02-18T21:56:34Z")
Absolutely I’ll take it. America would be in for a shock, though. Straight off: 1. Open up the Veterans hospitals to all military regardless of the cause of the injury. 2. (Two years later) Open up the above to everyone registered for selective service. (UHC via the back door, baby) 3. Keep Gorsuch as nominee for the Supreme Court, but follow that up by nominating Obama to succeed Ginsberg. 4. Legalise narcotics. All of them. And tax them. And lots of trips abroad. I’ve always wanted to see the world, and doing it by Air Force One would be cool. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2017, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidency-is-offered-to-you-do-you-take-it/780169/15 "2017-02-18T22:12:52Z")
No. I am unfit to wield such power. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2017, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidency-is-offered-to-you-do-you-take-it/780169/16 "2017-02-18T22:16:41Z")
yes makes me giddy to think about it! ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2017, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidency-is-offered-to-you-do-you-take-it/780169/17 "2017-02-18T22:30:06Z")
I have no idea how to be President. However, I at least have the advantage that I know that I have no idea, and I also know of several people who do have an idea of how to do it. And those people would be my chief advisors. That puts me two points over the current officeholder. So yes, I would take the job. ---
**Author:** ![akennett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee59a6/32.png) [@akennett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/akennett)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2017, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidency-is-offered-to-you-do-you-take-it/780169/18 "2017-02-18T22:57:24Z")
Nice salary, the opportunity to screw over any city that I don’t like just by visiting for a day or two, the interns (thanks for the pro-tip, Bill!)… sure! The only problem is that neither party is going to like what I want to do, so I’ll be very un-accomplished as president. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2017, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidency-is-offered-to-you-do-you-take-it/780169/19 "2017-02-18T23:06:25Z")
Yes, immediately. I’d consider it service to humanity to try to save America from itself. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2017, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidency-is-offered-to-you-do-you-take-it/780169/20 "2017-02-18T23:35:09Z")
What happens if I don’t take it? Who will be President instead? I have no illusions I am competent enough to be a good President. Nor would I want the job. But if it came down to a situation where I had to take the job in order to get Trump out, I’d take the bullet for America. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidency-is-offered-to-you-do-you-take-it/780169.md?page=2)