Gates Named Bush Successor In The Case Of Inauguration Day Disaster

If the unthinkable happens on Inauguration Day, Robert Gates, the defense secretary, will be available to assume the reigns of government.

"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," White House press Secretary Dana Perino said.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[JohnFObama]

Makes sense. He's the only one who will be in the line of succession for the whole day. Otherwise if a large scale attack were to happen it would matter a lot if it happened before or after midday.

[Halminbar]

Keep in mind that NO ONE nominated by President-Elect Obama has been confirmed to the Cabinet yet. But Secretary Gates already holds office, will be holding office in the next administration as well. So if the unthinkable occurs, there is someone in the chain of secession qualified and ready to assume power.

[pixy242a]

Did we dodge a bullet with that one. Even a hardened assassin would have wanted to avoid this result. Maybe that's the reason Gonsalez was named :)

[ArthurTwoShedsJackson]

Somebody hide the pretzels

[mountainmama]

reins (sigh)

[Ramirez]

Amazing really. At least they did fix it on the website.

These people write words for a living, right?

[UncleJimbo]

Didn't any see Eagle Eye? Ha,Ha!

[Deparis]

Good Gawd...! I don't know about you all fellas, but the thought of Alberto Gonzales taking the "reign of government" in 2004 sent a cold chill down my spine. And I get that type of feeling only in a moment of extreme fear, and that does not happen often. Man oh man, when you thought you had already heard about the worst decision made by W. Boosh! What are we gonna learn next...?

Now I'm having a fever.

[RJC]

My thoughts exactly! wow!!!

[don]

OMG, Al Haig was right!

[joycehelene]

Gates is a Republican and it is OK if he misses the inauguration. If we are attacked and there is no one around it won't matter who is President anyway.

[vesaversa1]

According to the Presidential Succession Act of 1947, if the president is unable to fulfill his duties, the Vice President succeeds him, followed by the Speaker of the House, the President pro tempore of the Senate (traditionally the senior member of the majority party), The Secretary of the Treasury, and then the Secretary of Defense. What ia Bush up to ? Bush have no authority to put this man at the top of the list of who should be in charge . This is another backward exsample of how Bush have govern his administration over the years . President Obama should be very cautous out thier tommorow shanking citizens hands , You never know where one of those crazy conservative ,Bush simpatyizers might be lurking .

[thaneb]

But won't they all be in attendance at the inauguration? With all in one place at the same time, "the unthinkable" is probably the loss of all the Act lists.

[JohnFObama]

That's why Gates won't be there so if a massive attack does happen one person on the list will survive to run the government. This happens every time the entire succession list is at the same place at the same time.

[Ramirez]

It's called the "odd man out." One person in the line of succession is designated to remain away from DC during the events. The POTUS picks who.

It is also done during State of the Union addresses or any event where the entire line of succession is likely to be in attendence.

[Greggo]

Yep. That's the way they did it on The West Wing. Donna had to remind Josh to pick one. I think they picked the Sec. of Agriculture.

[LeftRight]

First it will only matter if the unthinkable happens and EVERYONE in the Presidential line of succession is ALL taken out at the inauguration.

Second, you always need to have at least one person NOT present with all the others to allow for the unthinkable.

Third, it IS a person chosen by the POUTS, using whatever method they want, which may well include drawing straws.

and Finally, BOTH bush and Obama support this choice!

[theone718]

He doesn't even want to be SecDef anymore, what makes yo think he wants to be Pres.

[Bitsko]

I was hoping they'd pick Carrot Top. Oh well, maybe next time.

[GunneraGirl]

Why? What happened to Cheney? Does he have to go back to his coffin in Transylvanian at the dawning of a new day?

[Palemoon]

BEST POST EVER!!! LOLOLOL!!!

[Heaphy]

This is standard procedure for all Administrations in recent decades, and applies to all events where almost all of the nation's leadership are assembled together at the same place. Similar preocedures apply to the State of the Union address. We must have constitutional continuity in case of a nuclear attack on the Inauguration or any similar event. Although the chances are remote, it is nonetheless essential to be prepared. Bob Gates in the logical person to stay in a safe location away from Washington since he is already a Cabinet officer high in the line of succession, and is the highest ranking person from the Bush administration who will also serve in the Obama administration. L:et's all pray and hope sincerely that tomorrow's Inauguration goes smoothly. The Obama Administration will make similar arrangements in the future when appropriate.

- Jim Heaphy
"Yes We Can!"

[schicklett3]

So, is Bushed worried an attack will happen, or, is he just giving americans one last huge shot of fear before he leaves office....­.

[little old lady]

No kidding! I did get that shot of fear and the adrenalin is making my head hurt.

[lynnn]

Last shot of fear.

[Ramirez]

Definitely fear. Just read through these comments.

Hard to believe Obama picked that guy to stay at SecDef. Maybe Obama digs bringing the fear as much as Bush.

[Felicty]

A Mexican Republican?

SHAME, SHAME, SHAME, Ramirez...

[JohnFObama]

I'm not a fan of Bush and i'm the first person to criticize him when he deserves it but he hasn't done anything wrong here. It's been standard practice for the last few decades.