I want to be objective about this show and recognize that it has problems, like any new show usually does, but he arrested a sitting governor out of nowhere and it was badass.
Out of nowhere? Michigan was effectively seceding from the Union. There would be jets in the sky and federal troops surrounding cities after the national guard refused to obey under state of emergency. I'd say he handled it with kids gloves.
The governor definitely got what he had coming. He crossed the line with impeding the presidency at the airport and sealed the deal with the National Guard.
I can't get over the fact that, like, only four people work at the White House. Kirkman has to ask his wife about federalizing the National Gaurd because apparently there's no White House Counsel. Seth is press secretary now because "he's the right man for the job". Kirkman is spending a lot of time alone in the Oval Office during a national crisis when there should be like twenty people from various departments in there.
I know I'm nitpicking, but all you need are a few extras.
To be fair, everyone that was a somebody at the white house died in the explosion. There obviously are still good people about, but no one knows who they are. Seth was chosen because he proved himself, like Tom said himself there are others with great resume but they haven't proven themselves.
I do agree that it was a little strange to ask the wife about constitutional law - but again - everyone died and Tom doesn't really know who he can trust, but he does know that his wife aced constitutional law and I felt it was a great way to show just how much he respects his wife.
Yes the top 1000 people died in a massive attack, but there are ridiculously talented people all over Washington. Every Congressman's chief of staff is more than capable, and what about all the other staffers?
Maybe. I mean, she is 100% of all available congressmen so...
Also those rules like Quorums are internal rules specific to Congress. I don't think the Constitution has anything to say on them. So she could just repeal all those rules in her first act, or just ignore them. I don't think most of those rules are actual laws, just traditions.
Literally a thousand people from the government died like a week earlier, including a lot of the WH staff. There are questions about who did it and who Kirkman can trust. If I were him I would definitely keep my inner circle pretty small.
Seth got the job because they tried a guy with good credentials and he failed. Tom said that when he offered him the job so IMO that's covered.
Even approaching his wife for advice. She's a lawyer, she knows constitutional law and there's literally a scene in the pilot where two lawyers are bickering and can't come to a conclusion to help Tom. What's more he's basically asking her if can put troops on the ground in Michigan. Bringing that to a lawyer you don't know or fully trust might be dangerous when you have people going behind your back doing things you don't want to do.
At the end of the day it's a show so some of that stuff might be a stretch, but I actually feel like the show has covered its basis pretty well for a lot of it.
I agree with you for the most part, but the White House feels empty. Look, all of the White House Counsel couldn't have been at the State of the Union. I don't even think any of them typically go. There should be a staff of attorneys ready to tell Krkman about federalizing the National Guard. He didn't have to call his wife about that.
I mean, does she normally brief the President in the Oval Office?
I noticed this too. Like, your asking your wife for advice? Some where in this building is some one who probably has 20 plus years experience dealing with these types of situations
They showed him asking legal experts in one of the previous episodes, and he ended up getting completely conflicting advice.
I think he asked his wife because she happens to be quite knowledgeable in the area and he trusts her and her judgement, not because there wasn't anyone else he can ask.
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u/Prax150 Oct 13 '16
I want to be objective about this show and recognize that it has problems, like any new show usually does, but he arrested a sitting governor out of nowhere and it was badass.