More Info On Inauguration Threat ......

[monmouth]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100104/pl_afp/ussecuritypoliticsattacksobama_20100104221726

[Demoiselle]

1. GATES was the designated substitute?

Of course they couldn't hide Biden away...he had to take an oath that day, too.
But Nancy Pelosi didn't, did she? And doesn't the Constitution say she's next in line?
Why didn't they tuck her out of sight for safety's sake? This is a very odd story, imo.

[monmouth]

2. I'm wondering when exactly they realized it was not credible. I remember

looking at Obama prior to his walking out and he looked so somber. I thought it was because becoming Pres, taking the oath, all of the hoopla surrounding his election. Now I wonder. OR, did they know towards the oath taking time that the story was bogus. Hard to tell.

[Jackeens]

3. I thought it was an odd choice at the time - is the Defense Sec usually chosen?

But I suppose the VP can hardly miss the inauguration :-)


WASHINGTON, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates will stay out of the inauguration ceremony for President-elect Barack Obama on Tuesday to prepare to handle any possible event of catastrophe at that time, said the White House on Monday.

"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, Jan. 20," said outgoing spokeswoman Dana Perino.

The move is following the U.S. tradition that a senior cabinet official has to sit out major events including the presidential inauguration ceremony or the annual State of the Union speech, to make sure that the nation has a clear leadership in case of emergency.

The mission will fall on Gates this year, who came from the outgoing George W. Bush's administration and would continue with his job in incoming President Barack Obama's government.

The Pentagon head "will be spending the day at a military installation outside the national capital region," said Defense Department spokesman Geoff Morrell.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-01/20/content_10686168.htm

[PopSixSquish]

4. Yes, Pelosi is Next in Line for Succession But She Also Had to Appear at the Inaguration

There would have been alot of questions if she suddenly wasn't there...

[Demoiselle]

5. But she doesn't have an actual role in the ceremony, does she?

She could have faked illness...it wouldn't have changed the actual ceremony...and they would have been protecting the bona fide next in line.
Instead they send a Bush leftover into a cave?
(Excuse me, but I have this lovely new tin foil hat, shaped sort of like a 1920's cloche, and I just don't want to take it off. )

[gateley]

6. And I must say it's stunning! I've always been fond of cloches. nt