Gates has been designated Successor by the Outgoing Administration-YIKES!

[mod mom]

January 19, 2009, 10:38 AM
Gates To Be Designated Successor On Inauguration Day
Posted by Brian Montopoli| 3




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

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. (The succession order continues from there – You can see the full list here.)

Perino said that Gates will be at a secure, undisclosed location on Inauguration Day, according to CBS News White House Correspondent Mark Knoller. Most of the others on the succession list, by contrast, will be participating in the inauguration festivities.

There is a long history of keeping designated individuals away from events at which numerous high ranking officials will be present. In 2007, for example, then-Attorney General Alberto Gonzales was kept away from the State Of The Union so that he could take over government in case of disaster.

-snip

http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/01/19/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry4734750.shtml?CMP=OTC-RSSFeed&source=RSS&attr=PoliticalHotsheet_4734750

[mod mom]

1. Sorry Mds-I checked but it didn't show up DUPE

[lonestarnot]

2. Oh fuck, maybe I won't be drinking tomorrow!

[RB TexLa]

3. Makes sense since he is the hold over from administration to administration.

[bushmeister0]

4. OMFG! Gonzo was 'that guy' once?

I'm feeling strangely reassured with Gates as that guy this time around. Hell, even Barney would have been better.

[robinlynne]

6. scary thought....

[cynatnite]

5. It's a symbolic move, IMO n/t

[JDPriestly]

11. Gates should not be the appointed successor to Bush.

Is the military really in charge and our elected officials only tokens? I realize that sounds ridiculous, but Gates should not have been the choice.

Here is the order of succession:

The line of succession is currently:

1. Vice President
2. Speaker of the House
3. President Pro Tempore of the Senate
4. Secretary of State
5. Secretary of the Treasury
6. Secretary of Defense
7. Attorney General
8. Secretary of the Interior
9. Secretary of Agriculture
10. Secretary of Commerce
11. Secretary of Labor
12. Secretary of Health and Human Services
13. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
14. Secretary of Transportation
15. Secretary of Energy
16. Secretary of Education
17. Secretary of Veterans Affairs

http://www.doctorzebra.com/Prez/a_succession.htm

A bill was introduced to substitute the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security after the Attorney General. I'm not sure whether that was passed.

In any event, the Secretary of Defense is way down at the bottom of the list. The Secretary of State and Secretary of the Treasury should have been selected to succeed the president and should have been sequestered, not the Secretary of Defense.

[cynatnite]

12. Umm...Gates is a civilian...

He falls into the line of succession as does everyone else. You may not like him, but this is our system of government.

[JDPriestly]

13. Way down the line, and by the way, the succession occurs at a certain

time no matter what.

[Captain Hilts]

7. You can trust him. nt

[Winterblues]

8. I have never heard of an "outgoing" Administration making such a decision.

Why would an "outgoing" Administration have any authority to decide what Official of the New Government would be the Designated Successor? I guess until the New Administration is actually sworn in "The Torture pResident" is still in Charge..:shrug:

[liberalmuse]

9. WTF???

I'm not all that familiar with 'designee's' and such, but HUH???

[Phred42]

10. Holy Crap!

If something happens at the Inauguration - GATES IS KING