Why there won't be a designated survivor at Biden's 1st speech to Congress

[Rhiannon12866]

There will be no designated survivor when President Biden delivers his first joint address to Congress Wednesday night, the White House announced Tuesday.

“There does not need to be a designated survivor because the Cabinet will be watching from their offices or home, but they will not be joining him for the speech,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said.

Whenever the president addresses Congress, the White House usually keeps one member of the Cabinet away from the Capitol in a secure location while the other Cabinet secretaries attend the speech. The Cabinet member who stays behind is known as the “designated survivor,” and would become president should an attack wipe out the rest of the presidential line of succession.

This year, however, concerns about the ongoing pandemic have limited the number of people who will be present in the Capitol for the speech, and only two Cabinet secretaries will be there.

Roughly 200 people will be attending the speech at the Capitol, including the four people directly in line of succession following Biden: Vice President Kamala Harris, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate President Pro Tempore Patrick Leahy and Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Should disaster befall the highly secure building during Biden’s speech, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen would be next in line to take over.


Read more: https://www.aol.com/why-wont-designated-survivor-bidens-204940283.html

[orleans]

1. there is a part of me that wishes biden would just do the address remotely n/t

[Rhiannon12866]

2. I've had that thought, too.

It's gotten to the point that I cringe when I see any large gathering of people. And this is far from over. In the local paper today there was yet another covid case in a local school district leading to cutting their sports season short, more quarantines and cutting back extracurricular activities - and they're still working on tracing. It's still happening even though masks are required everywhere here in New York.

[BigmanPigman]

3. I'm looking forward to the visual of two women seated behind him

for the first time ever. Normally I do not watch these since I get really mad, really fast when I see all the GQP members in the audience. Just looking at their evil, greedy pusses makes my blood pressure skyrocket, and I normally have low blood pressure. If I am not forced to see them than I will happily watch, for once.

[Rhiannon12866]

4. I agree, that is especially cool

And we know that neither of them will be cringing like poor Nancy Pelosi had to be when she sat there previously.

[orleans]

5. i'd like to see who is going so i know which crazies are gonna be there

i'm not just worried about covid.

i'm worried about his safety

[Rhiannon12866]

6. I thought that the Republicans were refusing to attend

And that's fine by me, we don't need anymore disrespectful "you lie!" interruptions and we know that they are the ones who refuse to take necessary safety precautions that would keep those who are attending safe. And I did hear on MSNBC tonight that since this is the first big event inside the Capitol since January 6th, they are tightening security - including fencing and a National Guard presence.

Biden Speech To Congress To Address Policing And Racial Justice - The 11th Hour - MSNBC
https://www.democraticunderground.com/1017654025

[Rhiannon12866]

7. And I take that back, Rachel Maddow said that there will be a limited number from each party

And Senator Amy Klobuchar (on with Stephen Colbert tonight) said that those who will be able to attend were chosen by lottery. She will be there.

[orleans]

8. i saw amy on colbert too--and i was thinking i should edit my post and mention that lottery

that she told colbert about

(and i forgot...)

glad you saw it.