posted on December 10, 2001 12:10:19 PM
"Imagine the unimaginable: The president, in the White House, the vice president, at the National Observatory, and all Cabinet members, in their respective agency headquarters, are killed in a terrorist attack on downtown Washington. So are all members of Congress, except the few who happen to be out of town.
What happens to the Republic? At the moment, the answer is alarming: chaos. The Sept. 11 attacks and subsequent release of anthrax on Capitol Hill have left many lawmakers and constitutional experts concerned that the federal government does not have adequate succession and continuity plans in place to recover from a catastrophic terrorist attack on Washington."
posted on December 10, 2001 12:15:30 PM
Ohhh I'm scared!
I believe it would be short term chaos. There are lots of politican at the state level that would be more than willing to step in and fill those positions. Yes, it would take some time but all would not be lost. I'll bet Rudy Guilliani[sp] would step up to the plate.
posted on December 10, 2001 03:29:35 PM
The article reminded me of the live news coverage immediately after Hinkley's shooting Reagan. Alexander Haig was fielding reporters' questions and wasn't doing a very good job of giving the impression that everything was under control. I don't know where Spiro was, I guess in hiding somewhere, but in answer to a question about the line of succession, Haig named the vice president, speaker of the house, and then said, "Well, next, it would be me." The press and comedians had a field day with Haig. Though continguencies provisions ought to continue to be considered, it does seem melodramatic.
