# What is the likelihood of a double vacancy in the WH? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [May 28, 2017, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-likelihood-of-a-double-vacancy-in-the-wh/787573 "2017-05-28T01:38:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2017, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-likelihood-of-a-double-vacancy-in-the-wh/787573/41 "2017-05-31T23:22:00Z")
> [@Mighty\_Girl](#): > > But why would Ryan-I-need-concessions-to-take-this-job take the job of undertaker for the Trump administration? He’ll be out of the house, and the splatters frim the multiple scandals that led to this scenario would make it impossible for him to run on his own. > > Does he HAVE to take it, can he say no? I’d argue the opposite. He’s no undertaker or caretaker. More like the avenging superhero come to swep up the baddies. He’d have the opportunity to ride down to the other end of Pennsylvania Ave. to clean the stables of all the tainted Trumpists and their evil hangers-on. It could be played to the heavens as “Paul Ryan, young & charismatic Savior of the Republic!” (or at the least the Republic_an_ parts of it). He’d eat that shit up. As would a hefty section of the R congress. Given that, if we’re experiencing this sub-scenario at all, the R congress has already decided that clearing out Trump will sell back home to their gerrymandered guaranteed R constituencies. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2017, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-likelihood-of-a-double-vacancy-in-the-wh/787573/42 "2017-05-31T23:54:58Z")
> [@Mighty\_Girl](#): > > But why would Ryan-I-need-concessions-to-take-this-job take the job of undertaker for the Trump administration? He’ll be out of the house, and the splatters frim the multiple scandals that led to this scenario would make it impossible for him to run on his own. > > Does he HAVE to take it, can he say no? Well at this point I think a double vacancy is Ryan’s only chance at ever being President. He could decline to assume the office, but that would make 83 year old [Orrin Hatch](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orrin_Hatch) President. ---
**Author:** ![davida03801](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5e925/32.png) [@davida03801](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davida03801)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2017, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-likelihood-of-a-double-vacancy-in-the-wh/787573/43 "2017-06-01T15:47:08Z")
Slim to none. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2017, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-likelihood-of-a-double-vacancy-in-the-wh/787573/44 "2017-06-03T16:26:32Z")
> [@Evan\_Drake](#): > > I like the idea that the article of impeachment would be stated as ‘This Russian Thing’. However it wouldn’t come to that; if Trump was successfully impeached, and then later successfully prosecuted, and then forced from office, Pence would as a man of honour already resign in order to go down with the Donald. > Trump gave him his only chance to become even vice-president — he would be the basest ingrate to turn on his friend, mentor and beloved benefactor. Pence may not be a _good_ man, he may not be even a _moral_ man; but he would be reviled throughout time as a Judas were he to do a Pompey and tell the aging Sulla, ‘_Men worship more the rising than the setting sun._’. I must admit that I’ve underestimated you. You \*do \*have a sense of humor! (Or “humour”?) If Pence becomes President, he will rejoice that Providence has vouchsafed him the opportunity to be a Truly Godly President. Back to the OP: If Trump is impeached/resigns/etc, Pence will have enough time to name a VP. From that short list he started on Election Night or (if he’s already in deep doodoo) from the list supplied to him. From my first irreverent response to the OP: The WH is already half vacant. Where’s Melania? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-likelihood-of-a-double-vacancy-in-the-wh/787573.md?page=2)