The Romneys’ horse Rafalca is still in contention at the Olympics. Although I promoted her as the ideal running mate for Mitt Romney, new information about her has considerably dimmed her chances of being selected, perhaps to levels even lower than those of Tim Pawlenty.
The new damaging information is that Rafalca was actually born in Germany and only came to the USA after Ann Romney bought her six years ago.
Technically, this may not disqualify her from the vice-presidency since the constitution requires that only the president be a ‘natural-born citizen’ of the US (Article II, section 1) and says no such thing about the vice president. But it does mean that if for some reason Romney cannot carry out the functions of his office, succession would pass over Rafalca and go to the next in line which (according to the Presidential Succession Act of 1947) is the Speaker of the House of Representatives, assuming that the occupant of that office meets the constitutional requirements for being president, and so on down the line.
So I think it’s over for Rafalca.
I found it interesting that the line of succession is set by law, not the constitution. It was first set in 1792, revised in 1886, before the current one was created in 1947. The order of cabinet officers is now set by the date in which the cabinet office was first created, which is why the powerful Secretary of Homeland Security is last on the list.
I, for one, am disappointed at the news and was looking forward to welcoming our new equine near overlord.
You’re quite a fan of Rafalca, aren’t you? Given how much attention you give her. If it hadn’t be for you I would never have heard of her, but then again I’m not American.
This article is very funny actually.
Presumably not old enough either, although the same “VP, not President” argument may apply.
I don’t think the republicans would have her -- didn’t you know what they call dressage training?? They call it “school.” Clearly Rafalca is another over-educated elite and the republican base don’t like them edumacated eleetz.
I’m not a constitutional scholar, but the 12th amendment says that “no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States.” So I think being born in Germany would make Rafalca ineligible. Too bad. If it was just an age question, I’d be willing to use the “horse-year” calculator.
Drat! It looks like you are right. I have grown quite fond of Rafalca and wanted him to reach great heights.
Mano, Rafalca is a mare.
Anyone else notice something strange here?
Thanks. Corrected.