If Orrin Hatch succeeded to the Presidency..........

[Lincoln Republican]

As President pro tempore of the Senate, Hatch is third in line to the Presidency.

Hatch would be President until January of 2017, when whoever is elected in 2016 would be sworn in as the new President.

What would be your attitude or reaction to having Hatch as President?

What do you suppose President Hatch would  do in his term? 

Say his term is 18 months.

[An American Tail: Fubart Goes West]

My general impression of Hatch is that he isn't wildly conservative. I would hope that he would recognize that he was basically an accidental president and that he would do much more than is necessary to run the country on a day-to-day basis. I'm sure that he would not run in 2016.

[Pandaguineapig]

My general impression of Hatch is that he isn't wildly conservative. I would hope that he would recognize that he was basically an accidental president and that he would do much more than is necessary to run the country on a day-to-day basis. I'm sure that he would not run in 2016.

He's 78

[Free Bird]

Generally, PPT's have stated that the line should skip to the SoS. The real question will be on President Kerry.

[Lincoln Republican]

Generally, PPT's have stated that the line should skip to the SoS. The real question will be on President Kerry.

What?

The PPT has the constitutional authority and the constitutional responsibility to become President in the event the President, the VP, and the House Speaker become incapable to serve.

Not the SOS.

The constitution was amended to change the line of succession to PPT and Speaker and later Speaker was put ahead of PPT,  and cabinet follows, due to the fact the Speaker and PPT are elected officials, whereas the cabinet members are appointed officials.

I have no doubt whatsoever that, should it become necessary, that the Speaker, and then the PPT, would  carry out their constitutional responsibilities to serve as President.

I completely disagree with your statement.  

[Emperor Charles V]

As President pro tempore of the Senate, Hatch is third in line to the Presidency.

Hatch would be President until January of 2017, when whoever is elected in 2016 would be sworn in as the new President.

What would be your attitude or reaction to having Hatch as President?

What do you suppose President Hatch would  do in his term? 

Say his term is 18 months.

Oh God. I'm moving to Canada if that happened. He's frighteningly too hawkish for my tastes!