THIRD-TERM FAIRYTALE

  

Forbes Magazine recently quoted Donald Trump saying he was considering "negotiating for a third term, because of the way he was treated in his first term." Yeah, he really said that, I'm not kidding.

But Trump says a lot of things that are here today and gone tomorrow. Truth is irrelevant, so we have claims of imaginary voter fraud via mail-in ballots, rigged elections, (three million fraudulent votes by immigrants in California in 2016), historic crowds at his inauguration, etc. While some medical professionals attribute this to Trump's "decompensation," I think this is  part of The Donald's shtick. These fairytales are designed to drive his "liberal" opponents nuts, and theoretically, at least, discourage them from vigorous participation in the election. Think back to the 2016 campaign where, even before the election that he expected to lose, and perhaps didn't even want to win, he refused to pledge to be bound by the result!

The success of this approach is marked by his opponents' reactions: Trump says he wants a third term, and the liberals run around with their hair on fire. Can he do this? How do we stop him? Is this the end of our democracy?

Please!

So, as a member of the bar who has represented Vice Presidents, has written briefs on election law and advised presidential candidates, I categorically assure my friends that there is no ambiguity to be found in the 22d Amendment. Not even swampcreature Bill Barr could find room to bicker about these words:

"No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice ...."

But, my friends, that does not mean Trump couldn't serve a third (and fourth!) term! 

So let me counter Trump's fairytales with one of my own: Here is what could happen that would not run afoul of the Constitution:

Assume, please:

 a) The Trump/Pence ticket wins a second term on Nov 3, 2020,

 b) Trump can't be elected President again in 2024, but the new Chairman of the Republican Party, convicted felon Roger Stone, puts together a new slate:  Pence/Trump, 

c) That ticket wins in Electoral College, and

d) On January 20, 2025, Vice President Trump is sworn in first, and then at noon, President Pence takes the oath and becomes President of the United States of America, 

d) Immediately after the swearing-in ceremonies are completed, President Pence resigns, and pursuant to the 25th Amendment,

e) Vice President Trump becomes President Trump for four more years!

f) Theoretically, they could pull the same stunt in the election of 2028 and the swearing-in in January 2029! 

Impossible, you say? Why would Pence surrender the opportunity to become President, after working so hard kissing Trump's ass for eight years?

Remember, this my fairytale, so here goes:

Because Pence is promised a Putin invitation for a cost-free solo ("Mother" stays home) trip to Moscow, where he is rewarded with i) a billion dollars in a hidden Deutche Bank account, and ii) a golden shower from the same women who peed on Donald Trump in 2013.

Howzat?

To my liberal friends: "Far-fetched," you say? "Ridiculous?"

So how come you believe Trump's fairytale and not mine?

A bientot!

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And if you would like to know more about my representation of Vice Presidents Agnew and Humphrey, and defeating Donald Trump in a meritless litigation he brought against my client, check out my memoir "The Client Decides" available at Amazon and on Kindle.