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Gates to sit out Obama inauguration as "designated successor"

bhkad

bhkad

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Gates to sit out Obama inauguration as "designated successor"

WASHINGTON (AFP) — US Defense Secretary Robert Gates will sit out Barack Obama's inauguration at an undisclosed location as the "designated successor" in the event of a catastrophe, the White House announced Monday.

While the eyes of the world are glued Tuesday to Obama's historic swearing-in, attended by outgoing US President George W. Bush and both outgoing and incoming senior aides, Gates will stay away, said spokeswoman Dana Perino.

"In order to ensure continuity of government, Defense Secretary Robert Gates has been designated by the outgoing administration, with the concurrence of the incoming administration, to serve as the designated successor during Inauguration Day, Tuesday, January 20th," Perino said.

It is common practice for one senior US official to sit out major events, like the annual State of the Union speech, to ensure that the US government has clear leadership in the event of a disaster or terrorist attack.

AFP: Gates to sit out Obama inauguration
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Good choice.

A Tom Clancy novel dealt with such a catastrophe and led to Clancy mainstay, Jack Ryan, becoming POTUS, IIRC.
 
bhkad said:
Gates to sit out Obama inauguration as "designated successor"




Good choice.

A Tom Clancy novel dealt with such a catastrophe and led to Clancy mainstay, Jack Ryan, becoming POTUS, IIRC.
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It seems as if they are EXPECTING a catastrophe. This is a bit depressing.
 
Arch Enemy said:
It seems as if they are EXPECTING a catastrophe. This is a bit depressing.
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From the OP:

It is common practice for one senior US official to sit out major events, like the annual State of the Union speech, to ensure that the US government has clear leadership in the event of a disaster or terrorist attack.
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Well of course it is common practice. However, I don't remember CNN and other media posting all these articles about the safety of the inauguration whenever Bush was being sworn in. I know why, but it just seems that they (as in the media) is already predicting something to go down.
 
Arch Enemy said:
Well of course it is common practice. However, I don't remember CNN and other media posting all these articles about the safety of the inauguration whenever Bush was being sworn in. I know why, but it just seems that they (as in the media) is already predicting something to go down.
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Thanks for the clarification.

:)
 
so what does everyone think of robert gates?
 
bhkad said:
Gates to sit out Obama inauguration as "designated successor"

Good choice.

A Tom Clancy novel dealt with such a catastrophe and led to Clancy mainstay, Jack Ryan, becoming POTUS, IIRC.
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One small problem :

United States presidential line of succession - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The United States presidential line of succession defines who may become or act as President of the United States upon the incapacity, death, resignation, or removal from office (by impeachment and subsequent conviction) of a sitting president or a president-elect.
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Article II, Section 1, Clause 6 makes the Vice President first in the line of succession and allows the Congress to provide by law for cases in which neither the President nor Vice President can serve. The current such law governing succession is the Presidential Succession Act of 1947 (3 U.S.C. § 19).

The 25th Amendment, ratified in 1967, clarified Article II, Section 1: that the Vice President is the direct successor of the President. He or she becomes President if the President dies, resigns or is removed from office. The 25th also provides for the situation where the President is temporarily disabled, such as if the President has a surgical procedure or becomes mentally unstable. It also required vice presidential vacancies to be filled by the President and confirmed by Congress. Previously, when a vice president had succeeded to the presidency or otherwise left the office empty (through death, resignation, or removal from office), the vice presidency remained vacant.
 
Hatuey said:
One small problem :

United States presidential line of succession - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia



Article II, Section 1, Clause 6 makes the Vice President first in the line of succession and allows the Congress to provide by law for cases in which neither the President nor Vice President can serve. The current such law governing succession is the Presidential Succession Act of 1947 (3 U.S.C. § 19).

The 25th Amendment, ratified in 1967, clarified Article II, Section 1: that the Vice President is the direct successor of the President. He or she becomes President if the President dies, resigns or is removed from office. The 25th also provides for the situation where the President is temporarily disabled, such as if the President has a surgical procedure or becomes mentally unstable. It also required vice presidential vacancies to be filled by the President and confirmed by Congress. Previously, when a vice president had succeeded to the presidency or otherwise left the office empty (through death, resignation, or removal from office), the vice presidency remained vacant.
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Its deemed politically important for the VP to be at some events, like the inauguration. If something horrible were to happen like a bomb or something and both are killed the succession falls down the line to the person who is not there, in this case Secretary Gates.

United States presidential line of succession - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Since it seems that Biden, Pelosi, Byrd, Clinton, and Geithner will all be there Gates is next.
 
RightOfCenter said:
Its deemed politically important for the VP to be at some events, like the inauguration. If something horrible were to happen like a bomb or something and both are killed the succession falls down the line to the person who is not there, in this case Secretary Gates.

United States presidential line of succession - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Since it seems that Biden, Pelosi, Byrd, Clinton, and Geithner will all be there Gates is next.
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If security failed that hard-core then I would not be worrying about the next President I would be burying in blankets and hissing at everything that tried to disturb me-- I'm non violent.
 
Arch Enemy said:
If security failed that hard-core then I would not be worrying about the next President I would be burying in blankets and hissing at everything that tried to disturb me-- I'm non violent.
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Well, I'd rather have a suitable successor far away and not need him then have him at the inauguration and die and then need him.
 
Hatuey said:
One small problem :

United States presidential line of succession - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia



Article II, Section 1, Clause 6 makes the Vice President first in the line of succession and allows the Congress to provide by law for cases in which neither the President nor Vice President can serve. The current such law governing succession is the Presidential Succession Act of 1947 (3 U.S.C. § 19).

The 25th Amendment, ratified in 1967, clarified Article II, Section 1: that the Vice President is the direct successor of the President. He or she becomes President if the President dies, resigns or is removed from office. The 25th also provides for the situation where the President is temporarily disabled, such as if the President has a surgical procedure or becomes mentally unstable. It also required vice presidential vacancies to be filled by the President and confirmed by Congress. Previously, when a vice president had succeeded to the presidency or otherwise left the office empty (through death, resignation, or removal from office), the vice presidency remained vacant.
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If they ALL were rendered incapable then Gates would survive and take over.
 
bhkad said:
If they ALL were rendered incapable then Gates would survive and take over.
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And.........................

Nothing happened. Well thanks for trying bhkad. Sadly it takes a little more then the knowledge acquired in Tom Clancy books to deal with the real world. Maybe in 4 years security won't be so mind ****ingly air tight that it'll be possible to kill not only the POTUS but all those in line of succession during the inauguration.
 
Hatuey said:
And.........................

Nothing happened. Well thanks for trying bhkad. Sadly it takes a little more then the knowledge acquired in Tom Clancy books to deal with the real world. Maybe in 4 years security won't be so mind ****ingly air tight that it'll be possible to kill not only the POTUS but all those in line of succession during the inauguration.
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Like I said before man:
RightOfCenter said:
Well, I'd rather have a suitable successor far away and not need him then have him at the inauguration and die and then need him.
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