American Nightmare - Finished w/ epilogue

[sentinel]

Disclaimer: This is all fictional. I never want any of this to happen.

Let me know what you think. My Gary Hart in 1984 timeline didn't go over well, but I have some plans for this one.

November 11, 2011

The President’s Public Schedule

10:00 AM
Obama and Biden receive the presidential daily briefing.

10:30 AM
Obama meets with senior advisers.

12:30 PM
Carney briefs the press.

1:00 PM
Biden joins Obama for lunch.

3:15 PM
Obama and Biden meet with Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta.

3 years prior to November 2011…

“Yeah, I got this to put in the draw under the register just in case some asshole tries to rob the store. Put one of these right between the eyes…”

2 years prior…

“We’re sorry, but we can’t afford to keep you on anymore. The stimulus money wasn’t enough…We’re going to have to let you go...”

1.5 years prior…

“Well, it was a good thing you got laid off when you did. The factory just closed.”
13 months prior…

“I can’t find a job…I haven’t had one in 7 months…”

11 months prior…

“I keep reading about all this socialism and fascism stuff online about the President, you think any of its true?”

“Boy, it’s all true. Listen to Limbaugh, I’ve never heard anyone tell the truth like he does. Tells it how it is. Socialism is the reason you can’t find a job right now. Let me tell you, without this President we’d be doing fine.”

7 months prior…

“Yeah, we can hire you –but we can only pay minimum wage…what you’ll take the job? Alright let me show you a few things…and in case of emergency…in this draw right here…yeah just take it out and put one right between the eyes…already loaded…”

November 11th, 2011

1:07pm


The President and Vice President enter a 5 Guys in Arlington, MD. A few minutes beforehand the Secret Service did a sweep of the building, patting people down and looking around quickly. Lucas Charley is the cashier on duty. He has been working at 5 Guy’s  for the past 7 months after been laid off of at a factory that later closed. While he was unemployed he became obsessed with anti-Obama websites, forums and gatherings. He lived in Virginia after all, it wasn’t that hard. The stress of not having a job had gotten to him had hit a nerve while he was unemployed…now he worked for minimum wage and wasn’t content with his life. Seeing the President walk in there that day struck a nerve with him. This guy was the cause of all his problems, the nations problems…he could end it right now. The Secret Service wouldn’t notice the cashier going into a draw. After all, the President did say put country first. Lucas, in his own mind, was about to do just that.

[Thomas D]

Continue please. I love the TL's where all hell breaks loose.

[Captain Chaos]

I hope you finish this timeline but I'm not holding my breath.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Rush Limbaugh kills teh President!

[sentinel]

1:07pm on November 11, 2011

Speaker of the House of Representatives John Andrew Boehner is in his office speaking on the phone with his wife…

“I’m going to miss my flight later, so I won’t be back until tomorrow. The President asked me to come to the White House to try to start negotiations again for the budget.”

“John, you better not cancel on taking me out again. We never go out anymore. The President goes out more than we do.”

“That’s because the President lets Congress do all the work. Maybe if the guy had a viewpoint and stuck to it he could get something done…”

“Are you going to be home in time or not?”

“I’m certainly going to honey.”

“You know, I would like it better if you and the President were actually friends. When you two went golfing I thought there was some hope…maybe he’d let you go home on time then.”
“After the deficit talks I can’t stand him anymore. He should have taken the deal we offered him. He looked weak having his “compromise” failing in the House. We raised the debt ceiling just to go through this entire process a few short months later…”

“Well, talk to him and then come home quick.”


1:09pm
Several communications heard at this time…

“Renegade is down. Celtic is down. I repeat Renegade and Celtic are down.”


“Secure the Speaker.”

“Threat eliminated. Renegade down. Celtic down. En route to George Washington Hospital.”

1:15pm
George Washington Hospital

“Code Eagle. This is not a drill.”

1:17pm

“Eric, do you think you can have your aides get that to me –oh sh**t”, Speaker Boehner is interrupted by the doors to his office flying open and several Secret Service agents rushing in. They push aside Majority Leader Cantor and grab Boehner by the cusp of his jacket and forcibly rush him from the room.

1:16pm in a classroom…

“Can anyone tell me what legislative body came after the National Assembly following the French Revolut--“ the teacher stops in awe as several agents rush into the room and yell for everyone to stay where they are. Two agents grab the daughter as they rush from the room. A similar situation occurs in a classroom not too far away.

[SUSAN CRUSHBONE]

I literally got chills reading this.

[HST1948]

I literally got chills reading this.

Me too!  I also got nauseous from the idea of a president Boehner though. Please continue!

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Disclaimer: This is all fictional. I never want any of this to happen.

Tell this to the Secret Service.

[sentinel]

Disclaimer: This is all fictional. I never want any of this to happen.

Tell this to the Secret Service.

I made a comment like that to Yugi-Oh or whatever that kid's name was and got infraction points.

[Thomas D]

Disclaimer: This is all fictional. I never want any of this to happen.

Tell this to the Secret Service.

I made a comment like that to Yugi-Oh or whatever that kid's name was and got infraction points.

Oh calm down people. In my TL I blew up a baseball stadium.

[Free Palestine]

Since when do they teach about the French Revolution in public school?

Good TL so far.

[bloombergforpresident]

Continue please. I love the TL's where all hell breaks loose.

[sentinel]

1:21pm…

“Breaking News…We are getting word that an assassination attempt has been made on the President and Vice President while they ate lunch at 5 Guys in Arlington, Virginia. No word from the White House yet. Sources say that both the President and Vice President are being rushed to George Washington Hospital. The Secret Service and FBI have secured the premises of the attack. We have no other information at this time but all our prayers are with the President and Vice President and their families…We do not know the motive of the attack…”

1:33pm…

“More breaking news…We are currently getting word from White House Press Secretary, who gave an impromptu press conference, James Carney, that the President and Vice President are both at George Washington Hospital…their condition is critical…he says he’ll have more information soon…Speaker Boehner is en route to the White House…the FBI and Secret Service are both on the scene…”

2:00pm…

“Secretary Salazar, here it is for your signature. They need it back immediately.”
“As your General Counsel, I urge you to sign this immediately. It was the President’s wish that in this situation that the Cabinet act with haste.”
“It hurts me to do this, but it needs to be done.”

Around the same time...

A man turned on the news to his television somewhere in western Virginia --at once he knew that he'd have to contact his colleagues --tonight's meeting would be celebratory. Unbeknownst to the man the assassin that he admired was his friend Lucas Charley.

[HST1948]

Salazar?

[sentinel]

Salazar?

It'll make sense in the next update. Imagine that dialogue as only a small piece of the big picture.

[sentinel]

2:07pm

Somewhere in Ohio…

She left for the dress shop. She had picked one out just for this occasion. As she drove, she imagined how her long overdue night out with her husband would go. He had been working too hard for far too long. It was trying to support someone like him from so far away. She suddenly woke up from her day dream to see an 18-wheeler barreling straight for her…

2:11pm…

“Breaking News: The Cabinet has unanimously invoked Section 4 of the 25th Amendment, as per President Obama’s request in a written document that he signed when he initially took office. A few minutes ago, Speaker John A. Boehner was sworn in as Acting President of the United States. We’re told that Acting President Boehner is will be addressing the nation shortly…we are getting word now…I am sorry to report that the President has passed away due to a gunshot wound to the head…we do know that the Vice President is still alive…”

“The Secret Service and FBI are  not releasing information on the shooter yet but they said that information will be released soon.”

2:15pm

In the Situation Room…

“How is Biden?”
“Sir, doctors say it doesn’t look good…”
“Damnit. Is this a lone assassin?”
“So far, we believe so. We closed down the restaurant and are questioning everyone who works there. There are no indications that this is a larger terrorist scheme.”
“Is he part of any organizations..?”
“We’re looking into it…we’re raiding his home as we speak. We literally had nothing on this guy prior to today.”
“Keep me updated on that as often as possible. I want our troops on high alert. Do we have any international threats that have sprung up in the past hour as a reaction to this?”
“We’re on high alert and watching for anything. Nothing so far.

2:40pm

“Breaking News: We have received word from the White House that the Vice President passed away a few moments ago. Acting President John Boehner, under the 25th Amendment, is now the President of the United States.”

John A. Boehner is now the 46th President of the United States*

*Technically after the President passed, the Presidency passed to Vice President Biden making him the 45th President of the United States.

[GLPman]

Very good so far, keep it up.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Despite initial reservations, this is pretty awesome.

[MRX]

Oh god!! This is too much!!

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

The vice president passed away. What happened to Obama?

Learn to read.

I am sorry to report that the President has passed away due to a gunshot wound to the head…we do know that the Vice President is still alive…

[sentinel]

4:27pm

President Boehner is informed by Chief of Staff William Daley that his wife has died in an unrelated car accident in Ohio.

9:00pm

“My fellow Americans, it is with great sadness that I come before you today. At 1:07pm today President Barack Obama and Vice President Joseph Biden were shot and killed by a lone assassin while stopping in Arlington, Maryland…Today America has lost two giants…we will not falter to violence…we will not cave into enemies foreign or domestic…we will not give in to extremism no matter where the origin…On this tragic day, we are reminded of what unites us not what divides us… Over the coming days, months, and even years, remember that like President Obama and Vice President Biden –we are all Americans…those responsible for today’s attack will be punished with all of America’s might…”

With whispered voices the media reports that President Boehner’s wife was killed the same day. One Democratic source within the new White House reports that he was “impressed with how he handled it, but he seems very overwhelmed…it hasn’t hit him yet…like this is very surreal to him…hell its surreal to me too..”

The FBI releases details about Lucas Charley including several provocative communications from online that he had sent including anti-Obama messaging and activity on websites known to promulgate hate, extremism and fear. They say that Lucas Charley is loosely linked to groups that are known to have some level of association with the Ku Klux Klan but it is still unknown if he was actually a member. The FBI Director says that “if he was part of the KKK, he wasn’t very active or high up.”

The investigation continues as the media covers the tantalizing events of November 11th, 10 years and 1 month after the September 11th attacks...All of the Republicans campaigning for President in 2012 suspend their campaigns immediately and send their wishes to the Obama and Biden families.  At this time, all the candidates only have nice things to say about the fallen.


“You need to come home now. I know whats happened but we need you here.”

“I’m sorry, I want to come home, but the country needs me in Washington. You don’t know how much it hurts me to say that.”

“Maybe if you came home on time mom wouldn’t have died like this. You were putting this off for so long.”

“Do you think I want to be sitting in this office? This is any Speaker’s nightmare…ending up here.”

“You don’t have to do this –there are others.”

“I can be home for the funeral…I’m sorry that I can’t help plan it or be there..”

“But we need you here...”

“I’m sorry…”

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

In a time between Obama's death and his own, Biden was technically 45th President. Succession is automatic and taking an oath is merely a ceremony.

[sentinel]

In a time between Obama's death and his own, Biden was technically 45th President. Succession is automatic and taking an oath is merely a ceremony.

Yup, you're right. Quick fix.

[sentinel]

“John, I’m going to need your help in the next few days. We need to take advantage of this situation…Rogers and King might try to block me –so you’ll need to tell the Conference to back me…”

“Eric, I appreciate you calling to see how I am, but I can’t do this now…”

“When can you talk to them? I want to have this wrapped up by –“

“Eric,not now. I have to go.”

November 12th 2011

President Boehner meets with Chief of Staff William Daley, senior administration officials as well as his own advisors first thing in the morning. President Boehner also receives his first Presidential debriefing in which he learns more about

Two State funerals are in the process of being planned for later that week.

The FBI also reports, midday, that they can confirm that Lucas Charley was part of right-wing organization that had loose connections to the KKK. It is unknown if he actually attended any meetings. The FBI reiterates that if Lucas was a member, he was not in a leadership position. When a reporter asks why they don’t know if he was a member for certain the FBI Director responds “It’s not like we can pull up a roll call of their last meeting, although we do have significant information about the group and these meetings.”

White House Press Secretary Jay Carney is questioned on if President Boehner will appoint a Democratic Vice President and then resign. Carney responds “This isn’t the time for politics –the time to talk about that will come but it’s not now.”

“I know you’re overwhelmed with what’s happened. The staff here is here to help you, they’ve agreed to stay on for the time being.”

“I appreciate that Bill”

“At the press briefing today, someone asked what your plans were…will you appoint a Democratic Vice President and then resign…we need to talk about the future…”

“We can talk about it after the funerals. Thank you Bill.”

“Thank you Mr. President.”

It goes without saying that the prominent media coverage is the Presidency and life of Barack Obama, as well as the service and life of Joe Biden.

[sentinel]

 November 17th 2011

New York Post: President John Boehner attended his late wife’s funeral today in Ohio…he was seen sitting with family…oddly his children sat on the other side of the aisle sparking rumors about problems in the Boehner clan…

November 18th 2011

New York Times: Washington DC was flooded today with millions of people who wished to see the former President and Vice President lying in state…

November 19th 2011

Washington Post: Today we saw Malia Obama give the speech of her young life…paying tribute to her fallen father…a beautiful service...millions in attendance…nearly every Governor in the country and the majority of Congress…noticeably, Secretary Tom Vilsack, the designated survivor since the rest of the Cabinet was present, was absent as well as select Congressman and Senators…

November 21st 2011

Gallup: The first numbers come in – President Boehner’s approvals are at 73% with disapproval in the single digits. People approve of his effort to unite the country in these difficult times…we also polled on what voters think President Boehner should do now that he is President…39% say appoint a Democratic Vice President and resign giving Democrats back the White House for the rest of what was supposed to be President Obama’s term…27% say serve out the rest of the President Obama’s term and 34% are unsure or have no opinion…the President has not commented on this matter yet but it is bound to be talked about in the coming days…

November 25th 2011


“I can’t get through to the President. We need him to win this. I can’t believe that King is challenging me.”

“He’s called you a baby in grown up clothes to much of the Conference.”

“Outrageous…”

POLITICO Headline later that night: KING CHALLENGES CANTOR FOR SPEAKER; NO BOEHNER IN SIGHT