Free Republic

Ridge May Move Up in Succession List By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Filed at 2:37 p.m. ET WASHINGTON (AP) -- Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge could move up to eighth in the line of presidential succession, leapfrogging 10 other Cabinet members in a congressional effort to better prepare for a catastrophic attack on Washington. Under legislation approved by the Senate and now pending in the House, Ridge would move from 18th to eighth, behind Attorney General John Ashcroft and in front of Interior Secretary Gale Norton, in the line to succeed the president in a disaster. The measure sped through the...

<p>America's Founders were remarkably prescient about many things. But who can blame them for not anticipating a hijacked airplane diving at the U.S. Capitol?</p> <p>That understandable oversight is why, in the wake of September 11, a bipartisan commission has been exploring how to ensure the continuity of government in case of another terrorist attack on Washington. Its objective is to help prepare for an orderly and legitimate transfer of government. The commission's first report -- on Congress -- will be released today. Reports on the Presidency and Supreme Court will follow.</p>

<p>It almost happened on September 11. Had Flight 93 crashed into the U.S. Capitol, even worse, had terrorists managed to place a nuclear weapon aboard that aircraft or the plane that hit the Pentagon, the result would have been an almost complete decapitation of government. Terrorists may well be planning another attack on Washington. Before that happens, policy-makers must make provisions for the legitimate expeditions and decisive transfer of power to maintain the constitutional extension of government authority and preserve the continuity of Congress. To that end, they should pay close attention to the recommendations to be released today by the Continuity of Government Commission.</p>

<p>WASHINGTON - The Constitution must be amended to ensure the continuity of government in case Congress is wiped out by a terrorist attack, a blue-ribbon bipartisan commission will recommend Wednesday.</p> <p>If a Sept. 11-like attack destroyed Congress, the current system of holding special elections to fill vacancies in the House of Representatives would take too long - an average of four months, depending on the state - the panel found after a year-long study.</p>