For the record, the most senior Republicans currently are:

Senator Dick Lugar of Indiana

Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah

Could be worse. But that's just one reason why President Obama should always eat healthy and exercise daily.

One of my all-time favorite political novels - "The Man", by Irving Wallace - gives a fascinating fictional take on this subject. It's from the mid to late 1960's, so it's obviously somewhat dated, but still an interesting look into feelings at the time. In it, the Vice President has recently died of natural causes and a replacement not yet named when the President and Speaker are both killed in a building collapse while attending a conference in Europe. Everyone at first assumes the Secretary of State is next in line and this being the 60's are somewhat horrified to learn that it's the President Pro Tem instead - because the Senate, in an effort to appeal to the "Negro" voters, had recently voted that position to an African American, thinking it would never be more than a symbolic gesture, and Senator Douglas Dillman then becomes the first African American President. Lots of melodrama ensues - maybe too much, but this is a novel, after all. What I remember being interesting, though, is that a large faction who want the Southern (white) Secretary of State (who would be next in line) instead, launches a campaign to throw now President Dillman out of office, on the technical grounds that the Constitution reads he "shall act as" President, not that he actually IS the next President.

Guess the "birthers" aren't exactly a new concept, huh?

By the way, it was later made into a movie starring James Earl Jones, and like many movies, that one bore almost no resemblance to the original book, which was much better.

And since I wasn't sure who came after Secretary of State, I just checked and as I thought, Treasury comes ahead of Defense, which might also surprise some people.

I assume that Daniel Inouye was born in Hawaii prior to it becoming a state in 1959.

Wouldn't that mean that he's not a natural born citizen and not constitutionally able to become the next President?

Good Afternoon JoAnne in Pa: I'm not sure but I think, when it came to cabinet members, the line of succession is determined by when that cabinet position came into existance. That's why treasury beat defense.

My father came to this country as a child

He didn't have citizenship. But, he was GIVEN Citizenship prior to being sent to Germany during WWII .... It would be amazing if the same thing didn't happen to Daniel Inouye...

Daniel Inouye was a part of the 442nd 'Go for Broke' unit from Hawaii.... They were the most decorated unit in the Army during WWII ......

It was APALLING during the Watergate hearings. Sen Inouye said' What a Liar' under his breath... It was picked up by the microphone .... The guy testifying called Inouye a 'little Jap' ... Turned out, during WWII that lawyer DODGED THE DRAFT and was reperesenting German interests in court

WWII was the Good War, and most males served (NOT Ronald Reagan who later CLAIMED to have served) .... Yet the Bozo who called Inouye a 'little Jap' openly dodged the draft........

@Tom

Senator Inouye was born in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1924. At the time, it was an incorporated territory of the United States so, yes, if came to that, Senator Inouye is eligible under the terms of the Constitution to serve as President.

Barry Goldwater ran for President in 1964. At the time of his birth in 1909, Arizona was also an incorporated territory and not a state.

Ron - Hello and thanks for the clarification. Are you sure you wouldn't win on "Jeopardy!"? :)

Da Noid - Thanks for reminding me about Goldwater - I'd forgotten that one.

Da Noid, Thanks for making it clear. The birthers would be having a field day with that one. God forbit the necessity of having the President Protempore ever needing to be made President as suggested under the Constitution.

Da Noid,

Thanks. I guess George Washington wasn't really born in the US, since the US didn't exist when he was born.

I figured they made naturally born citizens a retroactive thing after statehood or something. Your explanation makes more sence.

Not sure about this guy. Does he use a teleprompter? Read from prepared notes?? Accomplish 'too much' in his efforts to serve the citizenry???

I understand the joke but the GOP wouldn't dare go after Senator Inouye...even though they probably don't like the fact that he chaired the committee that held the Iran-Contra hearings.

If they did I imagine the appropriate response from Senator Inouye would be for him to point to where his right arm used to be and tell the story of how he lost it. Maybe he could also point to the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Leon, I wish you well with your Health Issues, I have my own and having to deal with the VA and Medicaid is NOT a lot of fun, however, I do thank the Gods that I DO have medical coverage: dealing with the effects of a broken neck/munched back would not be a lot of fun without them, not much fun anyways, but I doubt that I would be alive now without them!!

James Earl Carter, Jr. signed his documents as Jimmy Carter. Those are considered legal signatures so if Jindal is recognized as Bobby, why shouldn't he sign as Bobby? I am not a fan of his but what is fair is fair.

Yeah Leon, I ran out of money and ended up living on NOTHING more than Foodstamps, Public Housing (a tiny apartment with the bath room and shower down the hall) and State Medical and the VA medical for over 2 years. Before that I had to depend on my GF's good nature, which was a hellish blow to my self esteem, being a hard working, self-employed craftsman prior to that, with my own home, new pickup and my own business and market for my work. Then to not even be able to work at all...really brought me down to the bottom again. After fighting for SSDI for 8 years, I finally got it, only a year and a half ago, and was only given backpay (due to technicalities of timing) for 4 of those years!!!

I would LOVE to see all of our politicians have to go through a Public Poverty Experience Trial Period of about the same time (2 yrs minimum) with NOTHING more than those same resources (foodstamps, Public Housing in a Homeless Shelter type apartment and Medicaid ONLY with absolutely no recourse to their own wealth or ANY contact with their friends who might assist them in any way), and having to do all the same paperwork, running around and have to deal with all of the same governmental agencies like You and I had to, BEFORE they are ALLOWED to run for ANY office or position in the Government. I have an idea that it might, Just Maybe, change the opinions of what the political and bureaucratic classes consider the life of the poor to be like! Let THEM 'eat cake' for once and see how well THEY survive! It would be a game changer at the very least!

There, but for the grace of god, go I

Or goes nayone... We're all at risk .... hopefully, we call take care of our own citizens before wasting moeny on nonsense...

good luck to you

B. Honest -

Intriguing idea, but let's be honest (pun fully intended) - how many politicians do you think would last two months under your circumstances, let alone two years?

One of my co-workers - a Tea Party member, by the way - is constantly ranting and raving about people "freeloading" off of government programs. Of course, she's in her mid-50's and still lives at home with her mother, who does all the shopping, cooking, cleaning, etc., and my co-worker has been blessed to have not yet ever had any serious illness, nor has she ever been laid off from a job. I seriously don't wish her ill, but as someone who's experienced some of the same things as you and Leon above, I think a two-week "vacation" at your PPETP boot camp would be an eye-opening experience for her!

Best wishes to both of you.

Thanks Leon and MSierra, I get by and enjoy my life, have a Great Lady that I have been with for a year and a half now, with her 2 kids (17 yr old boy and 9 yr old girl) and get to be a 'Daddy' type for the 9 yr old (no kids of my own so this is a very precious, first time and very rewarding thing for me.)

I actually started here on FR, under the same name, back during the runup to the primaries and general elections back in 2008 or early 2009, I think, when I found this blog and started posting. I could just NOT let some of the ignorant malicious and wrong things I saw posted by some of the right wingers and Clintonites of the time go by without saying something, so say I did, for over a year there I think. I have taken a break to gain my wind back (and deal with life issues) and am now back into the fray!! Thank You for the warm welcome though, I greatly appreciate it and look forward to playing Whack-a-Troll with you for the foreseeable future!

Take GOOD care of yourselves and I wish Everybody here (even those I may disagree with) a happy and healthy life filled with goodness! We all deserve that and I will work my best, doing my duty to my Nation, for just that!

Aww Leon... thanks for much for the kind words ;0)

Not sure if you know it or not but my Mom lost her battle on 12.31.09. I wasn't joking when I said I thought of you often... I also chewed out Mark & Domenico about your posts not making it through (a lot of good it did me :0)

LOVE the bumper sticker idea! lol

B. Honest... good to have you back in action! Congrats on the great lady & kidlets (not that 17 is a kid but you get my point!)

Who could forget the Democratic primary around here @ FR... whew... those were some good times! lol! I started posting sometime around Feb-March when Hillary refused to quit and have been here since!

FR is by far my favorite blog - the posters are what make any site and we have the BEST I've seen representing the lefties (and even a few on the right like Grimey).

Feisty, Yeah, the 17 yr old is no child, but more of a young man. Instead of trying to be a 'parent' for him, I have become his friend and gained his trust and respect that way. Thank You all for the kind words and welcome!! It DOES make a difference to know that others have been through similar sh*tuations, come through it alive, and have the same ideas out of it that I do! We Will Persevere!!

Yeah Leon, a name like Phil N. DeBlanc for a signature would go a long ways towards leaving behind those pernicious medical collectors....

Thanks Leon!

Anita will hopefully be back this week & I'm trying to think of who it was from Colorado? Nope Jerry's been long gone and Kenn too (remember him?)

Hunker down & ride out the storm (we've had some horrendous ones here in Chi-town all month & luckily I haven't lost power yet but not so lucky with Direct TV!)