Trump Has COVID megathread (update 10/24: 2 Pence staffers test positive)

[pbrower2a]

If Trump dies before ACB is confirmed, is her nomination still valid?  Or does she need to be renominated by the new president?

Good question. I would assume the nomination remains valid. John F. Kennedy made a Court of Appeals nomination in September 1963, but the judge was confirmed in December 1963, after the president died. However, in Wikipedia's list, there is footnote saying "nominated by John F. Kennedy, but appointed by Lyndon B. Johnson". Not exactly sure what that means, whether LBJ had to resubmit the nomination document. But even if ACB’s nomination were to become invalid, Pence would just submit it again. Not sure whether that may cause the process to restart and coast then too much time.


Edit: Seems like no additional nomination was sent:

On September 9, 1963, Edwards was nominated by President John F. Kennedy to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit vacated by Judge Thomas Francis McAllister.[1] His confirmation hearing in the United States Senate commenced the day before President Kennedy was assassinated. Edwards was confirmed on December 16, 1963,[1] over the objections of the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, J. Edgar Hoover.[2] Edwards received his commission on December 19, 1963, from President Lyndon B. Johnson.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Clifton_Edwards_Jr.#Federal_judicial_service

Having to resubmit the nomination would nullify time already spent on the nomination.

[pbrower2a]

If it is something that can largely be taken care of with home recovery (someone will give injections, if necessary), then he will be released unless he should be proved unreliable in taking care of himself. The virus can overpower medical care, and he can of course get sicker while under medical custody.

It is possible that the next Presidential debate will be between Biden and Pence, especially if Trump should go on a respirator.

[pbrower2a]

Theory:

The videos and photos released today were staged and taken back on Friday before he left for Walter Reed. The EXIF data on the photo released today was manually edited to make it appear that it's recent when it actually isn't.

I saw what looked like physicians standing outside the hospital on MSNBC. It is possible to get some random person off the street and put him in a doctor's smock (physicians are strong candidates for the worst-dressed of all professionals; they can get away with it because they are physicians)... and it will be convincing. Why would there be physicians outside the hospital standing in front of it? Real physicians would have better things to do with such a high-profile person being treated, wouldn't they?