If Hillary Clinton should withdraw for health reasons, how should the DNC proceed?

originally posted by: AlaskanDad
a reply to: DJW001


The DNC Rules Are Clear If Hillary Drops Out The Second Candidate With The Highest Number Of Delegates Gets The Nomination

What about if that candidate is no longer a registered member of the Democrat party? Is this a loop hole?

originally posted by: MsAphrodite

originally posted by: DJW001
a reply to: DJW001

I have just skimmed the DNC Charter. There is nothing specific about how to proceed should a nominated candidate withdraw, but Article Two, Section 1(c) gives the Democratic National Committee the authority to "[fill] vacancies in the nominations for the office of the President and Vice President." It sounds like they can start from scratch and choose whoever they want.

I'm also wondering if Bernie's having already registered himself back as an Independent would create a loop hole? He's not currently a registered Democrat.

Good point. That means he withdrew as a Dem candidate, so the party and national committee would have to convene a meeting and vote on somebody.

a reply to: queenofswords

This would all take a while. The Democratic Party might not even get a candidate in time.

I think they'd just go the safe route and have Michael Kaine become the Presidential Candidate. Call a very small emergency meeting to facilitate it.

a reply to: Konduit

So the question is, if she does drop out, will Bernie accept the nomination or renege on his revolution.

Well he already reneged on his revolution, the minute he supported the poster child of corruption in gov't. So the real question left is just if he will accept it or not.

originally posted by: Ohanka
a reply to: queenofswords

This would all take a while. The Democratic Party might not even get a candidate in time.

I think they'd just go the safe route and have Michael Kaine become the Presidential Candidate. Call a very small emergency meeting to facilitate it.

Michael Kaine is a fine actor, and all, but not sure he'd be a safe choice to run as POTUS.

originally posted by: queenofswords

originally posted by: MsAphrodite

originally posted by: DJW001
a reply to: DJW001

I have just skimmed the DNC Charter. There is nothing specific about how to proceed should a nominated candidate withdraw, but Article Two, Section 1(c) gives the Democratic National Committee the authority to "[fill] vacancies in the nominations for the office of the President and Vice President." It sounds like they can start from scratch and choose whoever they want.

I'm also wondering if Bernie's having already registered himself back as an Independent would create a loop hole? He's not currently a registered Democrat.

Good point. That means he withdrew as a Dem candidate, so the party and national committee would have to convene a meeting and vote on somebody.

I looked to see if he formally left the party, the other day, and can't confirm that he has. He just said when he returns to the Senate it will be as an independent.

originally posted by: MsAphrodite

originally posted by: DJW001
a reply to: DJW001

I have just skimmed the DNC Charter. There is nothing specific about how to proceed should a nominated candidate withdraw, but Article Two, Section 1(c) gives the Democratic National Committee the authority to "[fill] vacancies in the nominations for the office of the President and Vice President." It sounds like they can start from scratch and choose whoever they want.

I'm also wondering if Bernie's having already registered himself back as an Independent would create a loop hole? He's not currently a registered Democrat.

Do you have a source for that?

a reply to: Benevolent Heretic

She's a 70 year-old woman who dresses to cover every inch of flesh from her neck down save for her hands. It's by no means inconceivable that she overheated or that she's run down from campaigning and the heat got to her.

They didn't take her to the hospital, they took her to Chelsea's apartment and she's since left the apartment under her own steam, waving to everyone and smiling and she looks fine now.



But this comes after weeks of her health being questioned daily, months when you count the repeated questions about whether or not she had long term impairment from the concussion. She's clearly got something going on with her throat which has gone from a lot of throat clearing during her acceptance speech to increasingly more frequent and prolonged coughing. My guess? She's been doing a massive amount of speaking, which unlike regular conversation requires projecting one's voice, she's on the move constantly and not resting, etc. Probably nothing that would continue in office. Who hasn't ever been hoarse before? For most of us, we get over it in a day or two because we're not campaigning for office and we can afford to just stop talking.

The thing is, any weakness is seized upon. Every nod, every stumble, every time she pauses to think of a word — whatever — it's all being scrutinized. Medically, she could have a perfectly clean bill of health and just be mildly fatigued. It happens to people all the time. Anyone who frequents music festivals has surely seen even young people faint from mild/moderate exhuastion. Hell, I'm in my late 30's and in good health and I was feeling light-headed the other day because I hadn't eaten breakfast and I was too busy to grab lunch.

It won't matter because appearances are everything.

Seeing her head bobble and her knees buckle and then a forward collapse into her wonky van looks bad, it looks really bad for a presidential candidate and let's not forget, she's not exactly beloved is she? Then you've got this Putin-fawning blowhard whose whole persona is projecting machismo and a buch of people who eat that s# up supporting him. It's bad.

It's time for the Democrats and the Clinton campaign to do the math and weigh her chances. I think it's going to be impossible to for her to get past this now without going to extraordinary measures. We're talking inviting the press for a checkup at a major medical facility and getting some doctors on TV making unequivocal statements about her health. In other words, she's got to proactively mount a defense because deservedly or not, it's an inescapable issue now.

They need to weigh everything and decide immediately whether she's going to be able to win this election. If not, assess the ballot deadline situation and decide whether or not to pull the plug — and do that all ASAP.

In terms of public opinion, Sanders could sweep the floor with Trump just by calling him a lying crony over and over and over because Trump has no comeback for that when it comes to Sanders. There's just no comparison. There are no scandals to get hung up, no emails to talk about, no confidential notation, no FBI investigation, nothing. Trump is one of the world's greatest douchebags and Sanders is by all accounts a righteous man.

The question for me is one of logistics. If this was a month ago, I'd 100% say she should just drop out. At this point, it might not do any good.

originally posted by: MotherMayEye

originally posted by: Ohanka
a reply to: queenofswords

This would all take a while. The Democratic Party might not even get a candidate in time.

I think they'd just go the safe route and have Michael Kaine become the Presidential Candidate. Call a very small emergency meeting to facilitate it.

Michael Kaine is a fine actor, and all, but not sure he'd be a safe choice to run as POTUS.

It's weird, MotherMayEye, but Tim Kaine's middle name really is Michael, but he goes by "Tim".

The actor, Michael Caine, is one of my favorites. Love his Alfred character in The Dark Knight Rises.

Tim Kaine could not win. He is virtually unknown and he has that nervous paranoid manner like a sneaky rat on speed.

a reply to: IgnoranceIsntBlisss

It's no surprise right wingers take any and every opportunity to make up a new Hillary conspiracy. You conservatives are flooding ATS with this nonsense. Essentially, ruining this forum. Well, if you're a conservative I suppose you're right at home.

Funny how you guys look at Clinton and think she's sickly yet don't see the same in Trump.

originally posted by: theantediluvian
a reply to: Benevolent Heretic

She's a 70 year-old woman who dresses to cover every inch of flesh from her neck down save for her hands. It's by no means inconceivable that she overheated or that she's run down from campaigning and the heat got to her.

They didn't take her to the hospital, they took her to Chelsea's apartment and she's since left the apartment under her own steam, waving to everyone and smiling and she looks fine now.

My question is: "Is it too late to pull Ms. Clinton from the caimpaign?" If she has a serious chronic illness, then some will feel deceived that she was promoted in the first place. The democratic party may look bad for supporting her knowing how ill she was. Also, if Mr. Sanders has stated he is quitting the party it makes the situation more strained. Throwing Kaine or Biden up front may not be supported by independents and maybe even feminists. It is a bad situation all around.

a reply to: theantediluvian

People actually think that woman is Hillary?

She is a double.

That's why they went to Chelsea's house.

Plan B effectively executed.

a reply to: theantediluvian

FWIW , I didn't put much steam on her medical issues before.

Until today that is , after watching her being dragged on her feet and falling forward. I'm beginning to reconsider if those rumors aren't rumors after all.

Nobody in their right mind could like either Hillary or Trump for POTUS. This would be a great opportunity for the DNC to get a do over, assuming the system isn't rigged ofcourse.

I thought Bernie was the best of the three bozos , but he blew that away when he endorsed the poster child of everything he was supposedly fighting against.

a reply to: theantediluvian

who dresses to cover every inch of flesh from her neck down save for her hands.

That's another thing really weird about her. I know some very stylish 70+ women that can dress very current and even businesslike that don't dress like Kim Jong Un. Her wardrobe looks like it was designed by the same people that make those little icons for the women's restrooms.

There are lightweight cover-ups and tunics and better-fitting slacks she could utilize for some events she attends. Her wardrobe choice is really unusual and hideous, even the colors she chooses sometimes are hideous.

She is probably covering up bruising on her arms due to blood thinners and maybe even swelling in her throat or neck. She does have thyroid problems I hear.

originally posted by: Swills
a reply to: IgnoranceIsntBlisss

It's no surprise right wingers take any and every opportunity to make up a new Hillary conspiracy. You conservatives are flooding ATS with this nonsense. Essentially, ruining this forum. Well, if you're a conservative I suppose you're right at home.

Funny how you guys look at Clinton and think she's sickly yet don't see the same in Trump.

Did you watch that video?

I'm no republican and actually thought Bernie was the best candidate this election. Also thought that her health concerns were being over exaggerated.

However, after watching that video and her long lapse from the lime light I'm beginning to question if those rumors aren't rumor after all.

Bernie I HOPE!!! Clinton is only fine now because she got her Levadopa shot!!!!!!!

originally posted by: theantediluvian
a reply to: Benevolent Heretic
In terms of public opinion, Sanders could sweep the floor with Trump just by calling him a lying crony over and over and over because Trump has no comeback for that when it comes to Sanders.

Trump has no comeback?

How about the fact that Sanders consistently said that Clinton was not qualified for president and then endorses her.

Surely he could use that against Sanders.

Maybe Sanders isn't a crony, but he could arguably be classified as a sellout.

a reply to: TorqueyThePig


Bernie is a socialist joke. He cannot win the general election. He is no different than all the other politicians in D.C.

Bernie Sanders Buys a $600,000 lake front home

a reply to: MotherMayEye

Oh dear, well I feel very foolish now.

a reply to: feldercarb

My question is: "Is it too late to pull Ms. Clinton from the caimpaign?" If she has a serious chronic illness, then some will feel deceived that she was promoted in the first place. The democratic party may look bad for supporting her knowing how ill she was. Also, if Mr. Sanders has stated he is quitting the party it makes the situation more strained. Throwing Kaine or Biden up front may not be supported by independents and maybe even feminists. It is a bad situation all around.

It's definitely a bad situation. My personal belief is she's probably just showing the strain of a long campaign and it's being sensationalized to support the idea that she has some serious chronic illness (take your pick, I've read at least 3-4 different things, today it was Parkinson's Disease).

People forget that Bush 41 fainted in Japan after throwing up at a banquet held by the PM of Japan in 1992. He of course didn't make a habit of it and he's not dead and that was 24 years ago (at the age of what? 67?). Bush 43 fainted in 2002 while choking on a pretzel while watching football in his living quarters at the White House (if only nobody had noticed, how history might be different).

These things happen and not infrequently. People get sick, people get tired, etc — particularly seniors.

To answer your specific question: I don't think if she dropped out there would be much blowback on the DNC at this point because DWS would take the brunt of the blame and she's already gone.

Here's the real problem as I see it (beyond the practical concerns of switching candidates though with an unpopular candidate like Clinton, a switch might actually be good):

Ballotopedia - Ballot access for presidential candidates

It's not too late but it gets harder ever day to get a new candidate on all the state's ballots. It's inconceivable that the courts wouldn't work with the DNC if Hillary drops out this week but no need to push it.

For the record, I don't think she'll drop out and in terms of her actual health, I'm not convinced that she should but as far as politics and appearances go, this definitely doesn't bode well and she basically better come out swinging and aggressively counter the notion that she's suffering from a chronic illness or hang it up.

IMy personal opinion as a guy who opines about politics on an Internet forum (I know, quite the qualifications), changing candidates at this point to Sanders could very well be a better bet. We'll have to see how Clinton and her campaign respond in the next few days but I'm not optimistic because her go to strategy seems to be pretending that things aren't issues regardless of public perception.