The 25th Amendment

Well. I've made a few comments on a few posts recently that I don't think the Democrat party wants to remove a senile Joe Biden at the immediate moment, because that will automatically elevate Kamala Harris to the Acting Presidency. (In the unwelcome matter of Biden's death or declared permanent incapacity, she'd become the President, with no modifier.)

And that I think, once either of those things happens, shunting the first Black, Female, Acting/President aside for another more appealing candidate (let's be clear, that's a pretty big field, one which may even include the loathsome Gavin Newsom), will be a very heavy lift, if not nigh impossible. And in a Trump-Harris showdown, I think Trump would win, hands down, and I think the Democrats know this.

So I don't expect--absent a complete Biden meltdown--any shenanigans until the convention, and--perhaps--not even then, if Joe is still staggering along. (Although all bets as to his running mate might be off by then, for perhaps obvious reasons.)

Today, February 10, 2024, is the 57th anniversary of the ratification of the 25th Amendment to the US Constitution, which took place on February 10, 1967. (Please tell me I've done the math right this time.) It took less than two years for the required 38 states to ratify it once it was introduced in July, 1965 (ditto), after the Kennedy assassination, and when an evolving understanding that the definition of "disability" was more fluid than it had been in years gone by, due to advances in science indicating that incapacity due to a specific medical condition might last much longer than had been traditionally expected, and also might include previously very unlikely recovery.

If anything of moment is to happen WRT Joe Biden's position as President between now and the end of 2024, the 25th Amendment will be the controlling authority for it.

Perhaps it's worth a read:

Section 1
In case of the removal of the President from office or of his death or resignation, the Vice President shall become President.

Section 2
Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice President, the President shall nominate a Vice President who shall take office upon confirmation by a majority vote of both Houses of Congress.

Section 3
Whenever the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that he is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, and until he transmits to them a written declaration to the contrary, such powers and duties shall be discharged by the Vice President as Acting President.

Section 4
Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President.

Thereafter, when the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that no inability exists, he shall resume the powers and duties of his office unless the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive department or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit within four days to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office. Thereupon Congress shall decide the issue, assembling within forty-eight hours for that purpose if not in session. If the Congress, within twenty-one days after receipt of the latter written declaration, or, if Congress is not in session, within twenty-one days after Congress is required to assemble, determines by two-thirds vote of both Houses that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall continue to discharge the same as Acting President; otherwise, the President shall resume the powers and duties of his office.

It's a pretty tangled web. The most controversial part, Section 4, has never been invoked, although there's occasionally been some yammering about whether it should be: Reagan (dementia), Trump (insurrection), etc.

Since the 25th, there have been two more Constitutional Amendments. The 26th lowered the voting age to 18, and the 27th blocks members of Congress from voting themselves a raise in the current session until the next election in the House of Representatives has taken place.

That last one is notable for having been first introduced in 1789, but not ratified until 1992. Two-hundred-three years. (No one told me there would be all this math. Never my strong suit.)

Lord. I hope that's not giving oxygen to the Equal Rights Amendment which--so far--has only been waiting 101 years for ratification.

I guess all we can do is cross our fingers, indulge in watchful waiting, and see how things pan out.