I am finding it very hard to believe that the data is purely centralized. A good data architecture would have many redundant copies in distributed servers, synched using normal synching tools. I've personally created much smaller systems with this redundancy and synching.
If, however, the data IS centralized, then that is SHEER computer architecture incompetence. It could happen that it is that poorly designed, but if so, then Obama really DOES have an off-switch.
There ya go. You answered your own question. I figure it’s a “regional” system not serving the entire country. If traffic rolled over to other centers, the volume would overwhelm them.
Lots of glitches going around these days. It’s as if someone from outside our system doesn’t like our toys working.