In rarity, Obama, VP Biden may be out of U.S. at same time next week

[alp227]

Source: Reuters

For security reasons, the U.S. president and vice president rarely venture abroad at the same time. But events next week may compel both Barack Obama and Joe Biden to be out of the country on the same day, at least for a matter of hours.

President Obama leaves on Tuesday night on a trip to Israel, the West Bank and Jordan. Earlier on Tuesday, Vice President Biden will be attending ceremonies in Rome surrounding the installation of new Pope Francis.

What is uncertain is whether Biden will be back in the United States by the time Obama departs on his trip. His official schedule has not been released.

Read more: http://reuters.com/article/idUSBRE92D1D720130314?irpc=932

[TheCowsCameHome]

1. Watch for Mitt Romney to offer to "fill-in" for them

after the CPAC clowncave.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

8. That's funny!

I bet he wishes he could get a free tree to Israel!

[reteachinwi]

15. Or Boehner.

Which is worse?

[TwilightGardener]

2. Who is gonna mind the store?

[Angry Dragon]

4. THE WEEPING BONER

[TwilightGardener]

7. Ugh. I was thinking John Kerry.

[Angry Dragon]

9. Nope!! ... the speaker is two heartbeats away from being president

[TwilightGardener]

18. I forgot Kerry is going to be in Israel with Obama, at least some of the time.

[alp227]

13. How long will it last?

Depending how long obama/biden are gone its owner will have to see a doctor!

[cyclezealot]

31. Air Force I has a central command from where ever.?

Hope so.. Certainly don't give crying Boehner any more authority as Acting President. Be Afraid.

[snooper2]

19. I got it covered...

[TwilightGardener]

20. Well thank God.

[snooper2]

21. no, thank my smartphone that I got the update

[Ian David]

3. Oh, shit. That doesn't mean Boehner is in charge, does it? n/t

[alp227]

14. I guess Boehner decided to stay in dc citing the situation of both p/vp gone

as one of those congressional duties, otherwise the president pro tempore (Sen. Patrick Leahy) would be acting president.

[reteachinwi]

16. Can't we send Boehner somewhere too?

I'd take Pat Leahy. Remember what Cheney told him to do?

[ReRe]

27. Sadly, I remember. n/t

[winter is coming]

23. Why would we need an "acting President"? Are we planning a massive

worldwide communications failure?

[ReRe]

30. Seriously...

The President is the President, no matter where he is. Now if they were both going to be operated on at the same time, that's when we would have a problem. Boehner.

[Demeter]

33. I thought that already existed

it's called the DC Bubble

[Homerj1]

29. I don't think the President pro tempore

is the 4th in line in the chain of command. I think it goes too to cabinet positions after the speaker of the house.

[graham4anything]

5. Alexander Haig

[img][/img]

[Cleita]

6. Oh crap! If anything happens to both of them, isn't Boehner next in line?

[Rosa Luxemburg]

10. who is next in line to Boehner?

[TwilightGardener]

12. President Pro-Tempore of the Senate, I think?

[Tx4obama]

28. See Comment #26. n/t

[Tx4obama]

26. Here's a link below with a list ...

All 16 Here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_line_of_succession#Current_order

Top five below...

1: Vice President of the United States - Joe Biden (D)
2: Speaker of the House - John Boehner (R)
3: President pro tempore of the Senate - Patrick Leahy (D)
4: Secretary of State - John Kerry (D)
5 : Secretary of the Treasury - Jacob Lew (D)

[KoKo]

11. It's important for both to do this...the Pope and Israel..are very

important allies. It's what happens with diplomacy.

[kiranon]

17. Not a good idea for both to be out of the country at the same time.

Send Bill and Hillary to the installation of the Pope. Or some other ex President.

[defacto7]

22. My mind is running a bit wild on this one....

and just a tinge of dread. A bit open ended for me.

[winter is coming]

24. Yoohoo! Terrorists! Time to get your boom on!

Was there some good reason for announcing this in advance?

[Nye Bevan]

25. PARTY!!!!!! nt

[woodsprite]

32. Maybe that's why Boehner declined to go with Biden

And here I thought it was because he was planning on
celebrating St. Patty's day with a weeklong binge.