Replacing Boehner -- a reminder

By now everyone knows John Boehner is resigning as Speaker of the House, effective at the end of next month -- though as to his reasons, one can only guess.  There's already a frenzy of speculation about whom the Republican majority will choose as the new Speaker.  One Kevin McCarthy, a moderate (by current standards) Republican of the same general ilk as Boehner himself, is said to have the best shot, but the wingnut factions will doubtless hold out for a lunatic from among their own ranks.

Please put down the popcorn for a minute and remember that the Speaker of the House is next in line for the Presidency after the Vice President.  If something were to happen to both Obama and Biden at the same time, it's the Speaker who would step into the Oval Office.

And as scary as it is to picture Agent Orange in that position, we could do far worse.  Louie Gohmert has been mentioned among the possible candidates.  For that matter, there's no actual rule that the Speaker has to be a member of the House, although historically it always has been.  In theory they could choose Sarah Palin or Rush Limbaugh or Kim Davis.  Anybody.  And whoever it is will be two heartbeats away from the most powerful office on the planet.

Boehner's resignation is effective at the end of October.  And what's at the end of October?  Halloween.  Get ready to be spooked out of your wits, for real.