"designated successor" - Robert Gates. . someone explain to me

[annabanana]

Where HE is in the line of succession?

[FLAprogressive]

1. 6th

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presidential_line_of_succession

[MiniMe]

2. Everybody else will be at the inauguration

None of Obama's cabinet secretaries have been voted in by congress, and I imagine that they will all be at the inauguration. Since Gates is continuing as Defense Secretary, it makes sense. Somebody has to be at an undisclosed location, lets be glad its not Cheney!

[SheilaT]

3. I'm not sure when this custom started,

of having someone in the line of succession to be away from the Inauguration just in case, but it's been several Inaugural cycles now. Probably a good idea, but it bothers me that the emphasis is on Something Terrible Might Happen rather than Isn't This a Wonderful Time.

But then, I constantly dump on predictions of doom and gloom because I think most such predictions or thinking are out of line with reality.