“Designated Survivor” Plot
It’s not a spoiler alert if the spoiler is in the TV show’s title.
So, just in case you missed the premiere episode of “Designated Survivor” last night, the premise is that the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (played by Kiefer Sutherland) suddenly becomes President when the Capitol building is destroyed by a bomb.
Inside: the President (delivering the State of the Union Address), both houses of Congress, and the Supreme Court.
And all the other Cabinet members except Sutherland’s character, HUD Secretary and former academic Tom Kirkman.
Job Qualifications
My favorite scene from episode #1 is a brief exchange between two government officials, neither one of whom believes an unelected HUD Secretary is qualified to lead the country.
As one of the officials puts it (my paraphrase): “Kirkman’s last job was overseeing national housing. The guy’s a glorified real estate agent, for God’s sakes!”
And that’s a problem because . . . ?? 🙂
P.S.: I seem to recall that a certain, all-too-real candidate for President this year also boasts (and I mean boasts) a real estate background.
See also, “President Obama: ‘I Don’t Bluff‘”; and “Frank Underwood’s Negotiating Secrets.”
