Death and the election

Posted in AlterNet. I'm posting here in case I need to refer to it in case one or more of the four scenarios listed occurs

What if the Presidential candidate dies before being sworn in on January 20?

Being this is the United States – the rules, law, regulations and precedent for this 'event' are extremely murky and vague. Mainly because we never do anything until we have no choice. And even then…………………..

There are four dates that important to this process.

* November 4th, 2008 - the general election. Remember we are voting for electors from each state – NOT the candidate directly.
* December 15th, 2008 - the electors casts their votes. Remember technically the electors (who are party loyalists) can vote for whomever they want.
* January 6th, 2009 - the opening of the joint session of Congress. The electoral votes are officially counted, certified and the winner is declared.
* January 20th, 2009 - Inauguration Day, when the winner is sworn in by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

Four gruesome, disturbing scenarios follow.