The Succession Game

[SteveRogers]

I hope Trey Gowdy is the other senator from South Carolina.  Anyway, this is awesome.  You  should continue, and update soon. 

He'd probably be a plausible option, but I killed him. See, this is the problem I've had reconstituting the Senate. I've got to dig down into the State Legislatures to find replacements.

Anyways, I'll get an update out today after I work out a couple kinks in the next phase of the story.

[JerryArkansas]

Can I suggest the senators for Arkansas.  You could have Bill Halter and Asa Hutchinson as the senators?

[SteveRogers]

March 9, 2013

Washington Post:
“Republican Leadership Election Results Announced”
The results are in. Senator Jim DeMint of South Carolina will be the new Senate Majority Leader. Rick Santorum will be the Majority Whip. Allen West of Florida will serve as Conference Chairman, an office regarded as the third-ranking Republican position in the Senate. Rand Paul, the only Senator to survive last month’s tragic events, will be the Republican Policy Committee Chairman.

The Republican Conference seems to have passed over Rand Paul for the most senior leadership positions. Many political analysts contend that this was a deliberate snub. Though still in his first term, Senate rules technically give Paul seniority over even those incoming Senators who have served in the chamber before.

“Our nation has been dealt a heavy blow, but as always we will emerge stronger than before. There is still much to be done in order to rebuild our government, and as we rebuild, we must consider how we might build a better government than the one we had before. We need to ensure that our new leaders have more respect for the Constitution and for American values. The governors of the 50 states have done their constitutional duty by sending representatives to this esteemed body. Now we in the Senate must pick up the baton and do our part.”
“…The Constitution and the laws of our nation give congress the solemn duty of ensuring continuity of the presidency in the event that both the President and Vice President are killed. I intend to see to it that the Senate fulfills its obligation by electing a qualified officer who can succeed to the presidency.”
-Speech by Senate Majority Leader Jim DeMint (R-SC)

Politico:
“Senate President pro tempore Vote Could Come as Early as Thursday”
After a brief session Saturday evening acknowledging the results of both parties’ leadership elections, the Senate adjourned until Monday. This week the Senate is expected to begin business by doling out committee assignments and filling several staff positions. Yesterday Sen. Jim DeMint, the new Majority Leader, affirmed his commitment electing a new Senate President pro tempore who would likely succeed Steven Chu as Acting President of the United States. A source who wishes to remain anonymous claims that that vote will take place on Thursday, March 14.
  
March 11, 2013

CNN
Acting President Steven Chu participates in his first TV interview since being sworn in.

Anderson Cooper: Recent polls show only about 15 percent of Americans think you should remain president for the next four years. What do you say to the other 85 percent of America?

Steven Chu: I say “I’m right there with you.” I never wanted to be President, but someone has to be, and if that person has to be me, then I’ll do absolutely everything I can to serve the country to the best of my ability. That being said Anderson, if Congress will let me I plan to nominate a Vice President, someone more experienced and more qualified than me, someone from the same party as the man Americans elected President just four months ago.

Cooper: And you’d step aside and let that person be president?

Chu: I would.

PPP National Poll- March 12, 2013
“How do you think the remainder of Barack Obama’s presidential term should be filled?”

Steven Chu Should remain acting President- 17%
The new House of Representatives should select a president- 41%
The new Senate should select a president- 32%
Unsure- 9%

Other Headlines
*Acting President Chu selects Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper as his choice to Chair DNC.
*Jesse Ventura hints at possible independent run for unspecified office
*Kim Jong-Un declares and end to the 1953 armistice that ended the Korean War

[SteveRogers]

Can I suggest the senators for Arkansas.  You could have Bill Halter and Asa Hutchinson as the senators?

Yep. That actually seems pretty reasonable.

[Warren 4 Secretary of Everything]

It'd better be Hillary.

[Consciously Unconscious]

Shame about Gowdy, but I understand.  It's going to really suck to reconstruct the house, but I guess you only need a few names to fill the important positions. 

[JerryArkansas]

Can I suggest the senators for Arkansas.  You could have Bill Halter and Asa Hutchinson as the senators?

Yep. That actually seems pretty reasonable.

It also makes the 2014 governor race wide open for Mike Ross.  Some congressmen and women for Arkansas could be Beth Ann Rankin rep for the fourth district, Paul Bookout and dem for first, Bart Hester or Jim Dotson rep for third and Joyce Elliott dem for the second

[SteveRogers]

March 14, 2013

PPP National Poll- March 14, 2013
“How do you think the remainder of Barack Obama’s presidential term should be filled?”

Steven Chu Should remain acting President- 17%
The new House of Representatives should select a president- 45%
The new Senate should select a president- 32%
Unsure- 5%

Fox News- 9am

Andrew Napolitano- Fox News Senior Legal Analyst

Andrew Napolitano: The office of Senate President pro tempore is clearly established in the constitution, but not much is explicitly said about it. The Constitution says they're chosen by the Senate. The interesting thing is that nowhere does it say that the Senate has to pick a Senator for the position. Theoretically they could elect anyone.

CNN- 11am

Chris Cuomo: Welcome back to our special coverage of the Senate proceedings. You're seeing pictures now of the demonstrators who have gathered outside of the D.C. Convention Center to protest attempts by Senate Republicans to install a new president. Right now the crowd is estimated to consist of about 2,000 people.

The whole nation is watching today as the Senate convenes for a vote which will technically elect the president pro tempore of that chamber, but which may in fact determine who the next President of the United States will be. In modern times the title of Senate President pro tempore has always been a largely ceremonial one given to the longest serving member of the majority party. That will not be the case today. Both parties are expected to nominate their leaders for the position.

3:00 pm
“... The Chair's ruling is sustained. Only votes for duly sworn members of the Senate will be considered valid.”
-Sen. Greg Abbot (R-TX) Presiding

Anderson Cooper: And so ends a parliamentary standoff that tied up Senate proceedings for nearly two hours today. Earlier this afternoon Senator Eric Schneiderman of New York attempted to give a nominating speech on the Senate floor in support of Hillary Clinton. Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas brought forth a point of order at which point Jim DeMint ruled that the Senate's rules state that the Senate President pro tempore must themselves be a member of the Senate. Democrats appealed the decision to the whole body, but ultimately the ruling was sustained. If the Senate chooses a new president today, they will have to choose one of their own members.

7pm

Roll Call Vote Underway to Elect Senate President pro tempore

First Ballot
Jim DeMint - 40
Howard Dean - 38
Rand Paul - 7
Bob McDonnell - 3
Beau Biden - 3
David Dewhurst - 2
Cory Booker - 1

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Jim DeMint: (To Chief or Staff) What the Hell happened in there?!?! Get me Paul and whatever idiots voted for McDonnell and Dewhurst on the phone right now!

“I have some concerns about the constitutionality of what my colleagues are trying to do here...”
-Sen. Rand Paul as quoted in passing on way back to office.  

[MyRescueKittehRocks]

DeMint would support Rand on this one not oppose him.

[SteveRogers]

DeMint would support Rand on this one not oppose him.

Ideology-wise, sure. But I doubt either one would let the other waltz into the presidency uncontested.

Remember that Republicans haven't had a primary or anything. Not everyone is gonna be cool with DeMint just strolling in and declaring himself leader of the party.

[badgate]

Bump - I loved this TL and would encourage you to continue it, SteveRogers.


Just saw Jake Tapper ask Sec. Arne Duncan if he was the 'designated survivor' for tonight, which made me think of this TL.

[SteveRogers]

Bump - I loved this TL and would encourage you to continue it, SteveRogers.


Just saw Jake Tapper ask Sec. Arne Duncan if he was the 'designated survivor' for tonight, which made me think of this TL.

Hey everybody,

Glad to see people like this TL. I've gotten a couple positive PMs inquiring about it as well. I really do intend to finish it. What happened is that I got super swamped with law school stuff back in the fall, and I never found the time to really dive back into this. I more or less have the story planned out, but there's some nitty-gritty detail work that needs to be done. Hopefully I'll have time to work on it this weekend and can get the ball rolling again.     

[SteveRogers]

Back by Infinitesimally Small Popular Demand!

After a long hiatus, prepare for the return of the timeline that left no fewer than four people perplexingly aroused.

Previously on The Succession Game:
I killed off pretty much everybody. With a meteor. Some might argue that that was the most plausible part of the story.

With both parties left leaderless, untested politicians will rise to the forefront while old faces return from retirement and obscurity to either help out or capture a second chance at glory.

Will Jim DeMint's plan to capture the presidency succeed? Can the physicist in the oval office do anything to alter the course of events? How will the country cope with the loss of Ted Nugent? Find out on the next installment of The Succession Game!

Update Imminent.

[Enderman]

YAYAYAYAYAYAYAY!!!

[Consciously Unconscious]

This is a great timeline.  I'm glad you're back. 

[SteveRogers]

March 15, 2013

12:15 am

Second ballot
Jim DeMint- 37
Howard Dean-42
Rand Paul- 8
Bob McDonnell- 4
Greg Abbot-2
David Dewhurst- 1

Sen. Richard Lugar: I'm getting too old for this. Glad they're at least letting us get some sleep before the next ballot. 

Sen. Tommy Thompson: You and me both.

Lugar: The dems sure got their act together in a hurry.

Thompson: They're just trying to make us look stupid and fractured. Dean knows he can't win.

Lugar: You know, I'm beginning to think “winning” might be a relative term.

Thompson: What's that? [Somewhat sarcastically] It sounds like you're not totally on board with the idea of a President DeMint.

Lugar: Not like this. You can't force a president on the American people. I'm worried our party will get the White House and lose everything else.

Thompson: Yeah, I've been thinking the same thing. Now that we've got the Senate, it might be nice to keep it.

Lugar: You know, a guy came by here with an interesting proposal yesterday. Walk with me for a second...

9am

Acting President Steven Chu: What do you think?

Rob Nabors: Well sir, there's a lot of moving parts, but it's not a bad plan.

Rob Nabors, Deputy Chief of Staff

Chu: I may not be a politician, but I've picked up a few pointers here and there during my time in D.C. Do you think they'll go for it?

Nabors: Hard to say. I've got an aide going around the convention center floating the deal discretely. We need Republican votes, we need public declarations, and we need them today. If DeMint catches wind of this we're finished.


10am
Democratic National Committee Meeting

Gov. John Hickenlooper, DNC Chair

John Hickenlooper: Where do we stand?

Donna Brazile, Vice Chair

Donna Brazile: Frankly, we just don't know. Every assessment conducted by the DCCC since November basically came to the same conclusion: it would be virtually impossible to take back the House in one fell swoop in 2014. The Republican gerrymander after 2010 was just too good.

Hickenlooper: And now?

Donna Brazile: Now every single race is an open-seat race. That changes things a bit. At the same time, the DCCC is crippled. We're going to have to pick up the slack in terms of recruiting, fundraising... not to mention this is gonna be the shortest campaign cycle ever.

Hickenlooper: Well we'd better try. Ladies and gentlemen, we are the last line of defense. Republicans have the Senate. In the next 24 hours they'll have the Oval Office too. We need to draw a line in the sand. I need you to tell me how we're going to take the House.

[bergie72]

MORE!!!  We want MOOOORRRRREEEEEE!!!!!

[SteveRogers]

12pm
Senator Richard Lugar's Office

White House staffer: Senator, the president needs an answer.

Lugar: I'm on board. A couple others as well.

Staffer: Who?

Lugar: I'm not naming names until you've got everything in place, and I can tell you that right now you're two Republican votes short of what you need for phase one.

1pm

Third ballot
Jim DeMint (R-SC) - 37
Howard Dean (D-VT) - 42
Rand Paul (R-KY) - 7
Bob McDonnell (R-VA) - 5
Greg Abbot (R-TX) - 2

Abstaining - 1

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1:35 pm
White House

Chu: Can we bring Paul into the fold?

Nabors: Why would he help? He doesn't want the same thing we do.

Chu: Neither do Lugar and the others. But none of us like the way this game is shaping up. We all want a new set of rules.

3:30pm

CNN/ ORC Overnight Poll

“Who should serve out the remainder of Barack Obama’s presidential term?”

Steven Chu Should remain acting President- 19%
The new House of Representatives should select a president in June- 47%
The Senate should select a president- 27%
Unsure- 6%

5:15pm

Fourth ballot
Jim DeMint (R-SC) – 37
Howard Dean (D-VT) – 42
Bob McDonnell (R-VA) – 10
Ben Quayle (R-AZ) – 1
Greg Abbot (R-TX) – 1
Mark Willis (R-ME) – 1
Bill Payne (R-NM) – 1

Abstaining - 1

7:05pm
Majority Leader's Office

Jim DeMint is taking a call from RNC Chariman Reince Priebus

 Reince Priebus: Jim, it was a good plan, but it wasn't supposed to take this long. The people aren't behind us on this.

Jim DeMint: What are you talking about? We can still do this!

Priebus: Have you seen the polling? Heck, just look out your window. They're saying the number of protesters has doubled in the last 24 hours.

DeMint: Psh. This isn't about numbers. It's about principles.

Priebus: At this rate you'll tear the party in half. I'm sorry. You need to shut it down. 

DeMint: No. What do you know? This is happening!

Priebus: Jim...

All Priebus hears on his end is a click as the Senate Majority Leader abruptly slams the phone down.

[SteveRogers]

March 16, 2013

11:05 am

Jim DeMint: This is for real?

Anonymous source: It is. The reporters don't even have all of this yet, and what they do have they're not ready to print just yet.

Jim DeMint: Are we talking actual indictments?


Anonymous: Eventually, yes. I'm risking a lot giving you this because I owe you one. This makes us even. 

DeMint: Alright, well this could get McDonnell out of the race, but do you have any proof to back it up.

Anonymous: I can't get you anything concrete. I've put my job on the line already.

DeMint: Well I can't leak this to the press if I don't have any evidence.

Anonymous: But McDonnell doesn't know that.

DeMint: Hmmm... alright, if you'll excuse me, I need to go have a talk with the Senator from Virginia.

Fox News
12:28pm

Shephard Smith: We're just a few hours away from the fifth ballot in the Senate leadership race that the whole country is watching. Joining us now we have one of the contenders in that contest. Please Welcome Senator Bob McDonnell. Senator, thank you for joining us.

Bob McDonnell: It's a pleasure Shep, but you see there's been a big misunderstanding. I appreciate the friendly gesture from a few of my colleagues in the Senate, but I never intended to be a contender for the Presidency. I support Jim DeMint...

White House
12:35pm

Rob Nabors: Mr. President, with Paul and McDonnell out of the running there's not much left to delay the inevitable. Word is DeMint is coming down hard on the last few stragglers. He may have a majority locked up on this next ballot.

Steven Chu: Alright, where are we with Rand Paul?

Nabors: He's on the fence. He wants to stay on the sidelines and let the chips fall where they may.

Chu: I want to talk to him directly. Will he take a phone call?

1:08 pm

Rand Paul: I just don't see what's in it for me.

Chu: You get to play hero by helping the country out of a crisis, AND you get to be seen sticking to your guns on the constitution at the same time.
Paul: I'll be seen cutting a deal with democrats. I have no interest in helping your party keep the White House.

Chu: In case you missed it, we won the White House in November. I know you can see the big picture here. If DeMint takes the White House today without a single vote cast in his name, who do you think gets to keep it in 2016? It won't be him, and it certainly won't be you. All I'm asking is that we work together to kick the decision back to the American people. A do-over. We can do it without a constitutional crisis, without any court battles. Are you in?

CNN
2:44pm

Anderson Cooper: We're receiving word that the President has just scheduled a press conference at the temporary capitol. This just 15 minutes before the expected time for the next Senate vote. The presidential motorcade has left the White House, and President Chu is expected at the convention center shortly.

[Kevinstat]

I just read this.  Great timeline!  Keep it up!

[SteveRogers]

March 16, 2013

CNN
2:55pm

Anderson Cooper: We're still expecting that the acting president will begin that press conference inside the temporary capitol shortly. It appears though that Acting President Chu will not be alone in making this announcement. We're going live now to Jessica Yellin who is outside the convention center now. Jessica--

Jessica Yellin: Anderson, several Senators have just arrived and have gathered near the podium. Among them is republican Dick Lugar of Indiana, and as we can see he is conversing right now with his democratic colleague Evan Bayh. And over there it looks like we have Andy Dillon of Michigan.

Anderson Cooper: Sorry to interrupt you Jessica, but we are receiving word now that the Senate vote will be delayed slightly. We assume that the delay is related to this announcement.

Jessica: That makes sense Anderson. We seem to have a number of senators gathering here from both sides of the aisle. And if I'm not mistaken... yes, that's Senator Rand Paul and several other colleagues joining them now. Annndddd... the presidential motorcade has arrived. President Chu is approaching the podium now.

As Steven Chu approaches the podium five senators line up on the stage to his left while five more line up to his right.

Acting President Steven Chu: Good afternoon. As I'm sure many Americans know, the proceedings here over the last two days have been contentious, and divisive, and the worst kind of partisan. Nevertheless, I have reached out to senators from both sides of the aisle, and together, working for the good of the entire country, we have been able to find common ground. We are gathered here tonight to announce an agreement which will return control over the election of the president to the American people. I've asked my friends in the Senate to help explain the deal.

Sen. Dick Lugar: I and the four other Republican colleagues here with me today have pledged to abstain from any future vote for a Senate President pro tempore in order to ensure that no candidate will receive a majority. We will continue to abstain until such time as the House of Representatives is reconstituted and can elect its Speaker.

Steven Chu: In this way, the choice as to who will be the next President of the United States will be left to the House of Representatives, the people's house, which will in turn be elected by the American people in June. For my part, I have agreed to formally resign from the presidency effective immediately once a Speaker has been chosen by the House following the congressional elections. This will remove any lingering doubts about the Constitutionality of the transfer of power. The Speaker of the House can then assume the vacant office of the presidency in accordance with the Succession Act.

As part of this bargain I have also agreed to use my remaining time in office to take substantial steps to preserve the status quo with respect to the Supreme Court while simultaneously returning that body to functionality. As a result of February's tragedy the nation lost six justices. Four of them were originally appointed by Democratic presidents while two were appointed by Republicans. I will work with the Senate to fill half of those seats while maintaining that balance. To that end I will be selecting and submitting two nominees to serve as Associate Justices. For the appointment of a third Justice, I ask  the Senate Judiciary Committee, which is currently in republican control, to prepare and submit to me a short-list of recommendations. I pledge today before the nation that I will nominate one candidate from that list for the Supreme Court.

Sen. Brian Schweitzer: Myself and four other Democrats have promised to do our part by voting in favor of cloture for the Republicans' choice for Justice. This will be contingent on the Senate allowing an up-or-down vote on the first of President Chu's other two nominees. We have it on good faith from our colleagues across the aisle that enough votes can be secured to make this possible.  

Steven Chu: The remaining three seats on the Supreme Court, including the position of Chief Justice, will be filled by whoever the House of Representatives chooses as the next President.

Democratic National Committee Meeting
3pm

John Hickenlooper: (Watching coverage of the agreement) Well isn't that a miracle? Ok people, we need to go back to the drawing board on our strategy for the house races. You know this changes everything, right?

Donna Brazile: How so?

Hickenlooper: I know we say this a lot around the midterms, but I think every congressional race just literally became a referendum on the presidency.


Meanwhile...

Jim DeMint is not pleased

The "Gang of Ten"
Richard Lugar (R-IN)
Tommy Thompson (R-WI)
Rand Paul (R-KY)
Mark Willis (R-ME)
David Dewhurst (R-TX)
Brian Schweitzer (D-MT)
Evan Bayh (D-IN)
Bill Halter (D-AR)
Andy Dillon (D-MI)
Alison Lundergan Grimes (D-KY)

Coming Soon: Chapter 3- Topsy-Turvy

[badgate]

Awesome! And good for David Dewhurst!

[DKrol]

Very good! In my top 10 favorite TLs.

[jojoju1998]

This is one of the best fantasy stories. It is very exciting.

[sdu754]

Just read this. I don't think you chose the Ohio Senators, but you could have went with Mike DeWine (Former Senator lost in 2006) & Bob Taft (Former Governor)

Ralph Regula's son Richard Regula could be a possible representative (Jim Renacci's seat)

Looks like we're heading to president Gingrich

keep going