# What if Bush said: "Screw it. Dick, you can take over till Jan. 20th." **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 7, 2008, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-bush-said-screw-it-dick-you-can-take-over-till-jan-20th/471716 "2008-11-07T20:48:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-bush-said-screw-it-dick-you-can-take-over-till-jan-20th/471716/1 "2008-11-07T20:48:24Z")
In light of [this](http://www.theonion.com/content/news/bush_can_i_stop_being_president)Onion article. Say President Bush decides that enough is enough, his legacy is already screwed, and he’d like to go ahead and concentrate on screwing his wife rather than the country. Thoughts on the horrors that would ensue if Mr. Cheney formally took over till the inauguration? ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-bush-said-screw-it-dick-you-can-take-over-till-jan-20th/471716/2 "2008-11-07T21:17:32Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Thoughts on the horrors that would ensue if Mr. Cheney formally took over till the inauguration? Hmm… I think that a black choking cloud would spew out of the Washington Monument and spread out westward, covering all of the lands in darkness. ---
**Author:** ![Terrifel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c68b51/32.png) [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-bush-said-screw-it-dick-you-can-take-over-till-jan-20th/471716/3 "2008-11-07T21:26:29Z")
What a perfect final gesture just to generally screw with everyone. “So your boy’s gonna be the 44th president eh? Well kiss my sack, America! I’m givin’ Quick Draw the job! Ol’ B.O. can just wait his turn! ‘B.O.’… heh heh…” It’d be a pretty sly move, actually. There’s only so much space in history texts-- a wild stunt like that could eat up at least a column that would otherwise be used to discuss the rest of his legacy. Also, in the event that there never is another Republican president, at least Bush wouldn’t be the last. As far as the effects of a Cheney presidency… I think that would mean Pelosi would have to step up as VP, which would be interesting. So Bush would also get credit for the first female VP! That would be genuinely hilarious. In fact, I love this idea. Do it George! What’ve you got to lose? Go for it! DO IT! DO IT! DO IT!.. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-bush-said-screw-it-dick-you-can-take-over-till-jan-20th/471716/4 "2008-11-07T21:36:53Z")
> [@Terrifel](#): > > What a perfect final gesture just to generally screw with everyone. “So your boy’s gonna be the 44th president eh? Well kiss my sack, America! I’m givin’ Quick Draw the job! Ol’ B.O. can just wait his turn! ‘B.O.’… heh heh…” > > It’d be a pretty sly move, actually. There’s only so much space in history texts-- a wild stunt like that could eat up at least a column that would otherwise be used to discuss the rest of his legacy. > > Also, in the event that there never is another Republican president, at least Bush wouldn’t be the last. > > As far as the effects of a Cheney presidency… I think that would mean Pelosi would have to step up as VP, which would be interesting. So Bush would also get credit for the first female VP! That would be genuinely hilarious. In fact, I love this idea. Pelosi wouldn’t be the VP. Cheney would havethe opportunity to name one, but considering we have about 70-odd days, with a couple of holidays thrown in there, until the next president takes office, there would be no time for the Congress to confirm his selection. Cheney would just finish the term with no vice president. Pelosi \*would \*be the next in line, but she would not carry the title of Vice President. ---
**Author:** ![Pazu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pazu/32/15522_2.png) [@Pazu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pazu)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-bush-said-screw-it-dick-you-can-take-over-till-jan-20th/471716/5 "2008-11-07T21:39:01Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > In light of [this](http://www.theonion.com/content/news/bush_can_i_stop_being_president)Onion article. > > Say President Bush decides that enough is enough, his legacy is already screwed, and he’d like to go ahead and concentrate on screwing his wife rather than the country. Thoughts on the horrors that would ensue if Mr. Cheney formally took over till the inauguration? I submit that there would be no functional difference. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-bush-said-screw-it-dick-you-can-take-over-till-jan-20th/471716/6 "2008-11-07T21:41:31Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > Cheney would just finish the term with no vice president. Pelosi \*would \*be the next in line, but she would not carry the title of Vice President. And if President Cheney were to, say, have an unfortunate hunting accident, then Ms Pelosi would become the first woman President of the US. That probably would not greatly upset Obama, but Senator Clinton would (I suspect) be furious! ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-bush-said-screw-it-dick-you-can-take-over-till-jan-20th/471716/7 "2008-11-07T21:42:42Z")
If he were to do this, you might as well run the white flag of surrender up the flag pole at GOP headquarters, because it would mean the _end_ of the Republican party. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-bush-said-screw-it-dick-you-can-take-over-till-jan-20th/471716/8 "2008-11-07T21:52:08Z")
_Is_ the president allowed to just quit like that? Abdicate like King Edward the 8th? ---
**Author:** ![Terrifel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c68b51/32.png) [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-bush-said-screw-it-dick-you-can-take-over-till-jan-20th/471716/9 "2008-11-07T21:52:46Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > Pelosi wouldn’t be the VP. Cheney would havethe opportunity to name one, but considering we have about 70-odd days, with a couple of holidays thrown in there, until the next president takes office, there would be no time for the Congress to confirm his selection. > > Cheney would just finish the term with no vice president. Pelosi \*would \*be the next in line, but she would not carry the title of Vice President. Ahh, you’re no fun. Nonetheless, I gratefully concede your valued expertise on the subject of an hypothetical Cheney presidency. Well now, how interesting do YOU think it could be? Extra points for creative plausibility. Would we still be at war with Eastasia? ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-bush-said-screw-it-dick-you-can-take-over-till-jan-20th/471716/10 "2008-11-07T21:54:15Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > _Is_ the president allowed to just quit like that? Abdicate like King Edward the 8th? Sure. Nixon did it. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-bush-said-screw-it-dick-you-can-take-over-till-jan-20th/471716/11 "2008-11-07T21:54:22Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > _Is_ the president allowed to just quit like that? Abdicate like King Edward the 8th? [Yes.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Nixon) ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-bush-said-screw-it-dick-you-can-take-over-till-jan-20th/471716/12 "2008-11-07T21:55:47Z")
> [@Giles](#): > > And if President Cheney were to, say, have an unfortunate hunting accident, then Ms Pelosi would become the first woman President of the US. That probably would not greatly upset Obama, but Senator Clinton would (I suspect) be furious! Even better, he could pick Rice, so that she’d end up the first female president, and the first black president. A win-win-situation for the history books! ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-bush-said-screw-it-dick-you-can-take-over-till-jan-20th/471716/13 "2008-11-07T21:59:48Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > [Yes.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Nixon) Picture of official letter: “I hereby resign the office of President of the United States. - Richard Nixon” I guess that settles _that_. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Driver8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5a626/32.png) [@Driver8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Driver8)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-bush-said-screw-it-dick-you-can-take-over-till-jan-20th/471716/14 "2008-11-07T22:11:13Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > Picture of official letter: “I hereby resign the office of President of the United States. - Richard Nixon” > > I guess that settles _that_. 🙂 I hope he gave two weeks notice. Otherwise they might not have paid out his vacation days! ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-bush-said-screw-it-dick-you-can-take-over-till-jan-20th/471716/15 "2008-11-07T22:15:57Z")
> [@Driver8](#): > > I hope he gave two weeks notice. Otherwise they might not have paid out his vacation days! The letter was addressed to the Secretary of State. Would that be the equivalent of Human Resources, then? ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-bush-said-screw-it-dick-you-can-take-over-till-jan-20th/471716/16 "2008-11-07T22:33:33Z")
No way if W going to quit in advance. Unless Cheney tells him to do it. Then he’ll be off in a flash. Cheney then starts a war with Iran or whoever, declares martial law, says that during an national emergency that it would be a sign of weakness for him to step aside for Obama, etc. Note that Jack Bauer works for the darkside so don’t expect help from him. VPs can resign too, so a “Cheney quits, Rice nominated for VP, Bush quits” scenario might make more sense. (But the Senate would not approve Rice and would allow the clock to run out. Forcing Bush into a 2-minute drill!) ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-bush-said-screw-it-dick-you-can-take-over-till-jan-20th/471716/17 "2008-11-07T23:12:15Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > _Is_ the president allowed to just quit like that? Abdicate like King Edward the 8th? One wonders what the alternative would be; lock him in the Oval Office ? And what if he refuses to give any orders ? ---
**Author:** ![Terrifel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c68b51/32.png) [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-bush-said-screw-it-dick-you-can-take-over-till-jan-20th/471716/18 "2008-11-07T23:15:58Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > One wonders what the alternative would be; lock him in the Oval Office ? And what if he refuses to give any orders ? Then he doesn’t get any supper. ---
**Author:** ![Rich\_Mann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ce73a5/32.png) [@Rich\_Mann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rich_Mann)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-bush-said-screw-it-dick-you-can-take-over-till-jan-20th/471716/19 "2008-11-07T23:24:57Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > \ Note that Jack Bauer works for the darkside so don’t expect help from him. \ I just saw a commercial for the next season of _24_. Apparently Jack will be redeemed. I would love to see a scene where Jack rips Cheney’s chest open with his bare hands to get at the spider-like alien creature controlling him. ---
**Author:** ![Terrifel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c68b51/32.png) [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-bush-said-screw-it-dick-you-can-take-over-till-jan-20th/471716/20 "2008-11-07T23:38:20Z")
> [@Rich\_Mann](#): > > I just saw a commercial for the next season of _24_. Apparently Jack will be redeemed. > > I would love to see a scene where Jack rips Cheney’s chest open with his bare hands to get at the spider-like alien creature controlling him. Interestingly, the spider-like alien creatures just released a movie in which their leader’s mind is taken over by Cheney, who later bursts from the victim’s thorax in a scene deemed “too graphic for spiderlings under 3 instars.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-bush-said-screw-it-dick-you-can-take-over-till-jan-20th/471716.md?page=2)