[Naspino]

It makes me angry that we still do this speech like its done. With all of the technology we have we don't need to have the leadership of our country all present at the same moment in the same room. Whether their knowledge is valuable or not -- the emotional response would devastate our economy.

[Rockitz]

No argument from me- especially when we are at a state of war.

[mitchbert]

My understanding is that at least one member of the National Command Authority chain is always required to be absent and out of D.C. during the SOTU just in case a decapitation attack was attempted. In past years this has usually fallen to one of the lower totem pole positions (Sec of ED?) with the consolation "joke" being, "Well, look at it this way...if we lose Washington, you'll be President!"

I would hope that during times such as these they would choose a more senior member of the NCA to be absent, or more than one member, just in case.