2-3-4 Challenge Book Discussions #2 discussion

"Does in bother anyone that Nick didn't tell Sam where he was going?"

I'm fairly certain that wives are given more information than Nick allowed. Nick admitted that Sam shares confidential information with him. I'm not a fan.

"Does it feel a little too quick for the president to ask Nick to be VP?"

I don't like the speed that Nick is advancing in the party. It doesn't feel real.

Sharon wrote: ""Does in bother anyone that Nick didn't tell Sam where he was going?"

I'm fairly certain that wives are given more information that Nick allowed. Nick admitted that Sam shares confidential informa..."

She doesn’t have the classification for that info. It’s not a matter of choice.

Sharon wrote: ""Does in bother anyone that Nick didn't tell Sam where he was going?"."

Sam does share a lot with Nick, but her job doesn't involve National Security. It didn't bother me, but I'm not invested in this couple, so I didn't really care. Sam doesn't have a security clearance, which she should definitely get.

Sharon wrote: ""Does it feel a little too quick for the president to ask Nick to be VP?."

It is a lot in a short period of time, but when it is breaking for you, you have to follow the roll. Timing is not something to ignore.

Jonetta wrote: "She doesn’t have the classification for that info. It’s not a matter of choice. "

I understand, but Nick should have worked to get her the classification. Even if it is a realistic scenario, I don't like it. It pissed me off big time. "Hey Sam you are a new wife, mother, etc. if something happens to your husband you can hear about it on the news with the rest of the company. It's a crappy situation."

I know I'm being inconsistent. On one hand I'm saying the situation isn't realistic, and on the other hand I don't like that it is realistic.

I would expect Nick to do exactly what he did. He told Sam he had an opportunity to go on Air Force One with the President. He couldn't tell her the destination or who they would meet. Then he told her the return date.

She doesn't have clearance for that kind of information. If Shelby overheard Nick telling Sam where exactly where he and the President were going and told a reporter friend (she definitely would not do anything like that), then Nick's career would be down the drain.

Sharon wrote: ""Does it feel a little too quick for the president to ask Nick to be VP?"

I don't like the speed that Nick is advancing in the party. It doesn't feel real."

I agree, Sharon. I can put it aside and still enjoy this series, but I wish it were more realistic as far as Nick's career.

Sam does not have clearance for classified information and Nick was absolutely right not to give her any details. I don't think she even expected him to.

Political and military spouses are not entitled to nor should they expect to get this kind of information.

I agree that Nick's rapid political advancement is unrealistic. I'm not a fan.

I did a little research yesterday. It turns out that every spouse of a member of congress is required to have a background check. If the member of congress has a top secret clearance their spouse/cohab is given a deeper check. If there is anything negative found it can impact a senator's clearance classification.

Sam would have some clearance at this point.

On the Clearance jobs website. "As a general rule, however, communications made in private between spouses get to stay secret unless one spouse decides to open their mouth and negate the privilege."

However, Officially, there is no exception in the law allowing disclosure of classified information to a spouse not authorized to receive it.

I guess Nick would be too ethical to bend the rules a little. Since Nick is a skyrocket to the top, he needs to request top secret security for Sam now.

Sharon wrote: "I did a little research yesterday. It turns out that every spouse of a member of congress is required to have a background check. If the member of congress has a top secret clearance their spouse/c..."

That is interesting information.
Thanks Sharon.

Since I was a Pastor, I know what it means to keep things strictly confidential. There were things that I had wished for Dave to know, but I never broke that confidentiality.

It is tough to have to keep secrets from your spouse, but I did not question Nick's choice here at all.