[concerned about politics]

Let me get this straight. An unelected goverment if the other gets hit? Having total and absolute power?
I'd watch my back if I were Washington. A few disloyal members, and we could have a new dictatorship.
Why not just use those already elected ? Each Governor is responsible for his state until they get their act back together?
Military personal can move up in rank if senior members are taken out.
This just sounds too creepy. Let's hope the Members of DC are on vacation if anything does get to the Capital!

[Lumberjack]

Why not just use those already elected ? Each Governor is responsible for his state until they get their act back together?

But, but, but...if they did that, then we'd have responsible state governments that only used the FedGov as a meeting place and cosolidating point, just like the Constitution wanted, and we can't have that now! Much better to have a small handfull of unelected bureaucrats dictating to us from some underground hideout guarded by men with machine guns to keep "we the people" out, right? That's the "American Way!(tm)", right?

Hey! You're either with us or with the terrorists, buddy!

[ravingnutter]

An unelected goverment if the other gets hit?

Did you forget about all of the "Where's Cheney?" articles already?

[AmishDude]

Yep. I'm not supposed to say this, but there's a shadow, shadow government for real emergencies. I will hold the position of Supreme Dictatorial Emperor. There will, of course, be elections, but my slogan will be:

Ruthless but fair . . . but ruthless.

[Magnum44]

Let me get this straight. An unelected goverment if the other gets hit? Having total and absolute power?

No, continuity in government, read as stability by the rest of the world, particularly those that would be concerned about our nuclear arsenal suddenly without the proper controls. We have a responsibility to have this system in place and we would expect the same from the other super powers.

[Terridan]

Remember, President Eisenhower began this "underground" network during the cold war... It really isn't a big deal. All of Washington, D.C. is a maze of underground "bunkers", for all of the members of Congress, Supreme Court, etc. I doesn't suprise me that now, in modern times, it would prove to be bigger, and better. Chaos can be a terrible thing.