President (pro tempore) Robert Bryd?

Senate Democrats are considering firing Robert Byrd from his position as Senate Appropriations Committee chairman because the 90-year-old Byrd is not mentally or physically up to the job.

Bryd is also the Pro Tempore of the Senate. This is mostly an honorary position expect that the Pro Tempore of the Senate becomes the President of the United States if the President, Vice-President, and Speaker of the House die. It's unlikely that all four of these people would die, but in our age of terrorism it unfortunately could happen. It would be extremely irresponsible for the Senate Democrats to keep Bryd as Pro Tempore if they think he is too senile to run a mere Senate Committee.