The President pro tempore would be seated in the front rows with his party's leadership (the Majority Leader and Majority Whip and others).
Spoilers Designated Survivor
- Thread starter The Nth Doctor
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The President pro tempore would be seated in the front rows with his party's leadership (the Majority Leader and Majority Whip and others).
Oh, I agree. I was mostly just pointing out that the Cabinet members would be the likely survivors (if any) given that they would probably be closer to the outskirts of the room.
That's not constitutionally clear, actually. In fact, I would argue that the higher-up was always president, and we just didn't know it. In practice, you would want the higher-up to confirm (via executive order) the actions taken Kirkrman, or you could run into serious constitutional questions that could only be addressed by the Supreme Court.
You're correct that Cheney served as Acting President twice due to medical procedures performed on President Bush. You're incorrect, however, in thinking that this would have any application on the Kirkman case. Cheney became Acting President based upon the terms of the 25th amendment, and those terms apply only to the Vice Presidency and only with the approval of the majority of the Cabinet.
So who thinks it was the right move for Kirkman to keep Aaron as his chief of staff? I can see Kirkman's argument that he needs someone who can play the dirty insider political game Kirkman is a political novice but Aaron does not seem like a very loyal guy. We saw the last scene where the woman hands him a folder on Kirkman, that Aaron is up to something. He seems to me to be a very ambitious, opportunist guy who would backstab Kirkman in a heart beat to get ahead. So it seems like a very risky move on Kirkman's part. Furthermore, by making Aaron his chief of saff, he really dissappointed his female assistant who has been very loyal to him. She seemed very dispirited after learning that she would not get the job. Who knows if it won't discourage her and lead her to go somewhere else?
I can see where he's coming from, but at the same time the guy went around him and did something on his own. Now, sure, it seems to have worked out in Kiefer's favor in terms of the conversation the public is having; but in the longer term it's not going to help his plan in dealing with the retaliation for the attacks. Because now, not only does his war room think this video is proof enough to go to war but now so does the American public; when Kiefer has yet to be 100% convinced and it's clear from our observer's POV that there's more going on that what it seems.
So, I don't think what Aaron did was strictly "right" because it's only going to make Kiefer's immediate pressures bigger. I get why he feels he needs Aaron to help him see the need for tougher calls as opposed to what's her name but you're dealing with a guy who undermined the president's orders and did his own thing. How much can he *really* be trusted? And this all ignores the end scene which, obviously, President Kiefer doesn't know about.
What's her name may not have been a right choice but keeping her on as an advisor and giving her the latitude to question Aaron still shows the respect he has for her and how much he needs her but for his Chief of Staff I'm sure there's someone else he knows or is available Kiefer could have picked rather than going with the guy who went against his orders.
So, I don't think what Aaron did was strictly "right" because it's only going to make Kiefer's immediate pressures bigger. I get why he feels he needs Aaron to help him see the need for tougher calls as opposed to what's her name but you're dealing with a guy who undermined the president's orders and did his own thing. How much can he *really* be trusted? And this all ignores the end scene which, obviously, President Kiefer doesn't know about.
What's her name may not have been a right choice but keeping her on as an advisor and giving her the latitude to question Aaron still shows the respect he has for her and how much he needs her but for his Chief of Staff I'm sure there's someone else he knows or is available Kiefer could have picked rather than going with the guy who went against his orders.
I wonder if making Aaron Chief of Staff following the adage of "Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer".
Aaron, as Chief of Staff, will have a number of specific duties, and will be observed by many. Keifer's former CoS will have more latitutde to spy and check out the "real" story, while still able to give good input
Aaron, as Chief of Staff, will have a number of specific duties, and will be observed by many. Keifer's former CoS will have more latitutde to spy and check out the "real" story, while still able to give good input
I think it was necessary and Kirkman realizes it. What he needs in a Chief of Staff right now is someone who knows all the players in Washington, not someone who had to spend time learning that as she goes. Aaron has that knowledge already, and in a crisis situation that's what Kirkman needs. His existing Chief of Staff was limited to knowing what affected Kirkman's old position, and that's it, so she probably didn't have that level of knowledge.
That being said, Kirkman clearly knows what kind of person Aaron is and is likely wary of him.
It's possible that he could be up to something to undermine Kirkman, but I would like to offer a different take on that scene. Perhaps he was just trying to get a copy of whatever security clearance check Kirkman had to go through when he was appointed to cabinet, just so that Aaron could prepare for anything (good or bad) in Kirkman's past that might come up in interviews, etc.
Again, possible, but where could he go to get ahead? He's already now the Chief of Staff to the President. Where else could he go from there? In fact, it's likely that if he did undermine Kirkman to the point where someone else becomes President somehow, they could bring in their own Chief of Staff and he'd be out of a job.
Yeah, she was disappointed, but it's not like she's out of the loop. After all, she's now a special advisor to the President. As Morpheus 02 said above, she could look into other things while Aaron is preoccupied with being at the President's beck and call.
This was my take as well. I think they are trying to make it look like Aaron is a part of some conspiracy, but in actuality was probably trying to get the info to benefit Kirkman. We'll see, it could go either way.
Newest episode was pretty good, really digging this series. Kiefer continues to do a great job and President Kiefer is nutting up and makes tough calls. Behind him on the arresting of the Michigan Governor for treason, the governor's actions were unreasonable and out of line. Am somewhat surprised the NG disobeyed Kirkman's orders given the whole "Commander and Chief" thing, but alas, I guess with the questions behind him getting the presidency such things were bound to happen.
Await to see where the Maggie Q/FBI story goes; good side-distraction this week with the First Lady's story and nothing with the kids.Yay!
Out first, real, time jump between episodes too.
Kumar as Press Secretary was a good choice, I could see it happening the moment he spoke to the press corps. You'd think the Jr. Press Corps guy would've been a little more prepared or vetted before speaking to the press, he did a pretty good ammount of damage.
Shady Congress Lady is still shady.
General Warmonger is gone and new General, yay!
That's all I have for now, again a good episode and look forward to more from this series.
Await to see where the Maggie Q/FBI story goes; good side-distraction this week with the First Lady's story and nothing with the kids.Yay!
Out first, real, time jump between episodes too.
Kumar as Press Secretary was a good choice, I could see it happening the moment he spoke to the press corps. You'd think the Jr. Press Corps guy would've been a little more prepared or vetted before speaking to the press, he did a pretty good ammount of damage.
Shady Congress Lady is still shady.
General Warmonger is gone and new General, yay!
That's all I have for now, again a good episode and look forward to more from this series.
Did anyone in this thread point out that General Warmonger was the Russian agent who took Jack Bauer at the end of Live Another Day?
Last night's episode was both very good and terrible.
The primary story focused on the SEAL strike team in Algeria was very well done. Speaking as a former sailor (albeit not a SEAL team member), all of the scenes with the SEALs felt real because of the characterizations of the team members, particularly “And may god have mercy on them, because the United States Navy will have none.”
However, the rest of the episode showed that the series isn't capable or unwilling to progress without a grand conspiracy story and plenty of soap opera. Once MacLeish made it clear he wasn't interested in speaker of the house, I figured out fairly quickly that he was instead angling for the vice presidency and Kirkman and staff are moving right to it. Now it appears the terrorist attack is in fact a long game towards a coup d'état. Not the kind of show I'm interested in, especially one that deals with possible illegitimate children (who is also a drug dealer!) of the president (because why not?!).
I'm probably going to bail from this show sooner than later, and based on how quickly this thread died down, it seems like most people here have already.
The primary story focused on the SEAL strike team in Algeria was very well done. Speaking as a former sailor (albeit not a SEAL team member), all of the scenes with the SEALs felt real because of the characterizations of the team members, particularly “And may god have mercy on them, because the United States Navy will have none.”
However, the rest of the episode showed that the series isn't capable or unwilling to progress without a grand conspiracy story and plenty of soap opera. Once MacLeish made it clear he wasn't interested in speaker of the house, I figured out fairly quickly that he was instead angling for the vice presidency and Kirkman and staff are moving right to it. Now it appears the terrorist attack is in fact a long game towards a coup d'état. Not the kind of show I'm interested in, especially one that deals with possible illegitimate children (who is also a drug dealer!) of the president (because why not?!).
I'm probably going to bail from this show sooner than later, and based on how quickly this thread died down, it seems like most people here have already.
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Well we didn't have a new episode for 2 weeks, so that could explain why the thread was quiet.
I have to agree, we don't need the soap opera stuff -- illegitimate children etc. Instead, the 1st lady should be doing 1st lady stuff & she should get her own storyline adjusting to being 1st lady like Tom is adjusting to being president.
Do was need to start a 'dammit' counter now?
The Navy SEAL stuff was good. The FBI storyline is ok for now.
I have to agree, we don't need the soap opera stuff -- illegitimate children etc. Instead, the 1st lady should be doing 1st lady stuff & she should get her own storyline adjusting to being 1st lady like Tom is adjusting to being president.
Do was need to start a 'dammit' counter now?
The Navy SEAL stuff was good. The FBI storyline is ok for now.
I'm still enjoying the show a great deal, but I found that part pretty stupid, because if there's no VP and the President was forced to step down or was assassinated, the Speaker of the House would take over anyway, so why turn down the guaranteed job with a quick path to POTUS to hold out for the off chance that your principled stand will inspire Kirkland to appoint you VP instead? Seems like placing a lot of faith in your reading of Tom Kirkland's completely unknown before two weeks ago leadership style for your conspiracy plans to work out.
I'm still really liking the show but agree a couple of these plot threads aren't needed we've already got an interesting enough premise with the "everyman in office" thing. We don't need the conspiracy subplot and certainly not this potentially illegitimate child thing.
The conspiracy thing I do think became slightly more interesting this week with the head of the FBI now on board, but it needs to go somewhere quick. I'm getting very sick of duplicitous Congresswoman playing angles now for herself, against the President, against the Fist Lady and now against FBI Maggie Q. No surprise the Congressman was involved in all of this in some manner, seems like there's a lot going on here just to, potentially, get this man in the Oval Office. Seems to me that under-cutting electioneering laws, rigging voting machines and voter roll dumps would me much more effective.
The conspiracy thing I do think became slightly more interesting this week with the head of the FBI now on board, but it needs to go somewhere quick. I'm getting very sick of duplicitous Congresswoman playing angles now for herself, against the President, against the Fist Lady and now against FBI Maggie Q. No surprise the Congressman was involved in all of this in some manner, seems like there's a lot going on here just to, potentially, get this man in the Oval Office. Seems to me that under-cutting electioneering laws, rigging voting machines and voter roll dumps would me much more effective.
All I have to say is, never trust anyone, ANYONE who asks "Have you told anyone else?"
The head FBI guy is in on it
The new Admiral is in on it
MacLeish is in on it
The First Lady is in on it
The head FBI guy is in on it
The new Admiral is in on it
MacLeish is in on it
The First Lady is in on it
QFT
I haven't seen this episode yet, but that phrase is code for "I am considering whether or not to kill you right now."
I just watched the Farscape episode where it was asked and replied with "No' lead to her neck being snapped.
True, but even the episode from two weeks got very little chatter. I noticed because I didn't see the episode until much later because I was out of town.
If they hadn't been in such a public area, I had fully expected a gun to be pulled out and BANG she's dead. Except Maggie Q is a cast member and I don't think this show is daring enough to pull of a stunt like that.
We even got a "son of a bitch" and a "dammit!" in the same scene this week. I was like, "YES!!!!"
We just need a "We're running out of time!" Then we'll have our Kiefer Bingo!