BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THE REPUBLICAN IS THE ONLY ONE COMPETENT TO RUN THE COUNTRY:

Gates to sit out Obama inauguration (Yahoo, 1/19/09)

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.

Even in a pretty lightweight cabinet, the last guy you'd designate just happens to be VP.

Posted by Orrin Judd at January 19, 2009 4:41 PM