Gates to sit out Obama inauguration (designated successor for disaster)

Yahoo News ^ | Mon Jan 19, 11:17 am ET

[gondramB]

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.

[walsh]

Tom Clancy wrote a book about the whole government being wiped out in a terrorist attack. Exective Orders, I believe it was called.

[thecodont]

From the article,

Bush spokeswoman Dana Perino said Defense Secretary Robert Gates had been designated to stay away from Tuesday's inaugural festivities "in order to ensure continuity of government." By custom, one government official stays away when others in the line of presidential succession attend public events. Gates has been tapped to remain in his post by Obama.

The same Dana Perino...

White House press briefing of November 18, 2008:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/11/20081118-6.html

[...]

Q Okay. Does the White House believe there is no question at all about the birthplace, and thus the required U.S. citizenship of the President-elect?

MS. PERINO: I think we're in good shape on that. (Laughter.)

Q You are in good shape?

[...]

[squidly]

Funny thing about it is that Haig was bluffing. He didn't have the launch codes. For a few hours there neither Reagan (who was of course in the hospital), Bush, nor Haig had them, as a couple of FBI guys had spirited away the football. That was one time I know of that we were vulnerable to a first strike. Of course Haig knew this too, and knew he had to send a message to the Soviets.

A friend of mine who served under Haig in Vietnam has nothing but good things to say about him.

[mlo]

"Tom Clancy wrote a book about the whole government being wiped out in a terrorist attack. Exective Orders, I believe it was called."

Yes. Just by coincidence, I'm reading it now. Jack Ryan becomes President. Conservatives would like it.

[BILL_C]

"Don't be scared about something happening until Hillary asks to be the one put in a secure location with a judge and a Bible."

When Lyndon Johnson killed JFK, that was his plan too, except he did it on Air Force I.

[EQAndyBuzz]

“LOL, I thought Bill Gates was sitting out the inauguration. “

LOL I thought Bill Gates PAID for the innauguration.