The Succession Game

[SteveRogers]

I'm gonna try to write a timeline now. If the beginning seems too action thriller-esque to you, bear with me. I promise the story switches gears pretty quickly and gets into the politicing and elections and whatnot and some cool constitutional crises.

Prologue

February 12, 2013
8:50pm EST

Ames, Iowa

Secretary of Energy Steven Chu sits in the back of an Air Force operated Gulfstream IV jet on the way back to Washington D.C. from a speech at Iowa State University. He is accompanied by a team of secret service agents and one aide with a briefcase attached at the wrist.

Secret Service Agent: Alright Mr. Secretary, we’ll be taking off in 5 minutes. By the time we get back to Washington, the speech will be over and this mission will be a wrap.

Steven Chu: Then you won’t have to babysit me anymore.

Secret Service Agent: You’ll be free to go as soon as we touch down.

Chu: I'll tell, one thing I'm not going to miss when I retire in two months is this designated survivor business. How come the President never makes Holder or Napolitano do this?

CNN - 9pm EST

Wolf Blitzer: We’re just moments away from the President’s State of the Union address. We’re getting word now that the President has arrived at the Capitol. Let’s listen in.

Sergeant at arms: Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, the President of the United States!

Applause

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, Members of Congress, fellow citizens: Fifty-one years ago, John F. Kennedy declared to this Chamber that ‘the Constitution makes us not rivals for power but partners for progress…"It is my task," he said, "to report the State of the Union – to improve it is the task of us all."

Suddenly a rumbling is heard. The camera seems to shake a bit, and the sound of glass shattering can be heard. Everyone in the Senate chamber looks around startled. Seconds later there is a bright flash of light followed by black as the camera cuts out.


Secretary Chu’s Plane

Secret Service Agent: Mr. Secretary, something’s happened.  There’s been an explosion at the Capitol.

Chu: What? How? How bad is it?

Secret Service Agent: We don’t know yet, but right now we need to get you to a secure location. We’re too far away from any of the emergency bunkers. Our continuity of government plans say we turn this plane around and reroute to Offut Air Force Base in Nebraska.

Chu: Nebraska?

Agent: We need to get you airborne on a more secure transport ASAP.

Chu: Air Force One?

Agent: The other plane sir…

[SteveRogers]

CNN 9:15 pm EST
Wolf Blitzer: If you’re just joining us, catastrophe has struck the United States Capitol. We’re just now getting pictures of a plume of smoke rising from a leveled capitol building. We’re also seeing what appears to resemble a trail of smoke hanging in the sky. We’ve received many calls from D.C. residents who reported seeing a bright object streaking across the sky moments before the explosion. We’re also hearing that windows have been shattered throughout the city.

9:57 pm EST

Secretary Chu and his Secret Service Detail board a Boeing E-4B at Offutt Air Force Base near Omaha, Nebraska. Officially known as the National Airborne Operations Center, the aircraft is often colloquially referred to as the President’s “Doomsday Plane.”

Onboard the National Airborne Operations Center

Colonel: Sorry for the fast takeoff sir. Welcome aboard NAOC. My orders are to escort you to the onboard situation room.

Coms Officer: Mr. Secretary, we’ve established video links with General Jacoby at NORAD, General Kehler of USSTRATCOM, and Acting Director Michael Morell at CIA. We’re trying to get a hold of the Director of FEMA as we speak.

General Charles H. Jacoby, U.S. Army- Commander USNORTHCOM, Commander NORAD

General C. Robert Kehler, USAF- Commander U.S. Strategic Command

Michael Morell- Acting CIA Director

Gen. Jacoby: Mr. Secretary, what we know is this. At approximately 9pm, the capitol building was struck by a large explosion during the President’s state of the union address. We’ve got F-16s in the air providing images now. It appears we’re looking at the near total destruction of the Capitol premises and the surrounding area. One of CIA’s satellites will make a pass shortly. We’ll know more then.

Mr. Secretary, we need to take certain steps now that require authorization from National Command Authority. Rescue efforts are underway, but unfortunately we have to assume that the President, Vice President and all other cabinet members are either dead or incapacitated. In accordance with the line of succession, we are prepared at this time to recognize your authority as Acting President.

Chu: I… understand.

Morell: Eyewitnesses on the ground are reporting seeing a glowing contrail in the sky over DC just before the explosion.

Chu: A contrail? You mean from a missile?

Jacoby: It would appear so.

Morell: We’ve got a rough analysis of the satellite imagery coming in now. I’m patching our analyst through.

CIA Analyst: Mr. Secr… uh… Mr. President, our images show total destruction of the Capitol building and widespread devastation within a blast radius of about three quarters of a mile around the capitol. Our estimates are preliminary, but what we’re seeing is consistent with an explosion in the neighborhood of ten kilotons at ground level. We’re waiting on FEMA’s ground teams to check for radiation, but…

Chu: But there’s no conventional explosive that can produce that kind of energy, is there?

Gen. Kehler: No sir, certainly nothing you could put on a missile. Sir, we need to take our forces to DEFCON 2 immediately.

Chu: Do what you need to do. We need to evacuate the city. The radiation…

Jacoby: The National Guard is being mobilized to assist with evacuations as we speak.

Kehler: A decapitation strike could be the first step before a larger attack. We need to prepare a military response.

Chu: A response? Against who?

Jacoby: If it was a Russian or Chinese ICBM we would have detected the launch. Our early warning radars didn’t pick up anything. We’d also expect all of D.C. to be in ruins right now. This doesn’t fit our scenarios.
Kehler: It could have come from a shorter range missile. A cruise missile from a sub or an aircraft. Or something smuggled in by Iran or North Korea…

Morell: Neither of which possess any nuke that could fit on a missile, much less a low-yield tactical bomb. We haven’t received any intelligence about an impending attack from any of the usual suspects.

Chu: This doesn’t make sense.

Cape Canaveral, Florida
10:13 pm EST

A man talks on the phone while frantically jotting down notes on a piece of paper.

Man: You’re sure? And the entry angle and direction match? Alright. I need General Shelton’s number from Air Force Space Command. I need to make a call before someone starts World War III.

...

General Shelton, this is Charles Bolden. I've got some information you need to hear. That was no missile.

[SteveRogers]

Acting President Steven Chu in the NAOC situation room

February 12, 2013
10:45 pm EST
NACO- en route to Peterson Air Force Base

Acting President Steven Chu is still onboard NAOC conversing with his ad hoc national security team via video conference.

Gen. Jacoby: … so Cheyenne Mountain Complex is the most secure location for you right now. We’ve activated the site, and I’m transferring my own NORAD operations there as we speak.

Coms Officer: President Chu, we’ve finally reached FEMA Administrator Fugate. Putting him on speaker now.

FEMA Administrator W. Craig Fugate

Craig Fugate: Sorry it took us so long to reach you. There’s a lot of confusion on the ground here.

Chu: What’s the situation in D.C.?

Fugate: Impact occurred just outside the southernmost wall of the capitol building. The building is gone, sir. The House Chamber is in a crater. There won’t be any survivors there.

Chu: My God. The President... The Vice President…Congress…

Fugate: According to the Presidential Succession Act, after the Speaker and the Senate President pro tempore...

Chu: I'm 15th in the line of succession...

Fugate: Sir, you're the only one left now. According to the constitution and the law, you are our Acting President, and you're all we have for now. I'm sorry. You need to know that our teams have detected no radiation at the site. 

Chu: No radiation? Then what hit us?

Fugate: We’re still trying to figure that out

Chu: Generals, We know the attack came from the air, but a nuclear missile wouldn’t have detonated on the ground, would it?

Gen. Kehler: No sir. A nuke would have detonated at optimum burst altitude. It could have been a malfunction. That would point to someone who doesn’t know what they’re doing. 

Fugate: Excuse me Mr. President, one more thing. We’ve located two members of congress who were not present at the State of the Union address. Congressman John Kline of Minnesota was asked by the House leadership to act as a designated survivor, and Senator Rand Paul was on his way to the National Press Club to prep for his response to the State of the Union. Both of them have been escorted to our secure complex at Mount Weather.

Gen. Jacoby: Mr. President, hold on one moment. I’m getting a call I think you should hear. Alright, patch him through.

Charles Bolden: Mr. President, this is Charles Bolden, NASA Administrator.

Charles Bolden- NASA Administrator

Bolden: At approximately 8:59 Eastern time, several of our satellites detected an asteroid entering Earth’s atmosphere over the Atlantic Coast. From what we can tell the object was about 17 meters in length, had a mass in the ballpark of 10,000 tons, and was travelling at 60 times the speed of sound. Now, most of it didn’t make it to the ground. We think the meteor exploded about 23 kilometers up. The air burst was massive. We’re hearing that detectors around the world picked up the shockwave circling the Earth. Twice. Videos from D.C. residents taken minutes before the explosion at the capitol are starting to pop up on YouTube. They’re all showing a fireball brighter than the sun streaking through the sky just east of D.C. The fireball, the low angle of approach, the glowing trail, the explosion: it’s all consistent with what astronomers call a bolide, or an extremely bright meteor. Now, we think a relatively small portion of this meteor may have broken off and continued on to a ground impact somewhere in D.C. Sir, we weren’t attacked. We were hit by a meteorite.

[SteveRogers]

Tunguska 2.0! DC style!



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunguska_event


^for those who don't know....

Yep. But for those wondering about a semi-realistic divergence point from our reality, see this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russia_metor_explosion

[SteveRogers]

Wow. What are the odds?

Well, pretty slim obviously. BUT, thee days after the 2013 State of the Union, an asteroid DID enter Earth's atmosphere and explode over a Russian city, causing widespread damage.

I thought it'd be interesting to write a story about the reconstitution of the government after a catastrophic event, but I didn't want the whole thing to take place during World War III. This was the most plausible thing I could come up with.

[SteveRogers]

Excited to find out what happens next. Will there be a special Presidential in 2014 for a 2 year term? Will Chu stay President until January 2017? How will congressional and senate vacancies be dealt with? Oh and were there any Governors or members of SCOTUS in the Capitol? These are all rhetorical. I'm just intrigued by the possibilities here

Those are all exactly the right questions to be asking

[SteveRogers]

Are Paul and Kline the only ones left? Or are there more absentees roaming about?

I'd assume (like in 9/11) that some have survived in the collapse of the Capitol... give it three days and they'll start to be saved...

Some personnel ended up surviving in parts of the Capitol building, but the South wing where the State of the Union was held was completely obliterated. 

[SteveRogers]

Are Paul and Kline the only ones left? Or are there more absentees roaming about?

I tried my best to research who all was actually at the State of the Union. I can't find any record of anyone else who might have been absent.

[SteveRogers]

Chapter 1: Recovery

“… Together we must mourn the loss of monumental Americans such as President Barack Obama, Vice President Joseph Biden, Speaker John Boehner, and so many others…
… the good news is that we now know that this was an isolated incident. America is not under attack. There are no more incidents to come.

… As unprecedented as this situation is, our Constitution provides us with a path. Article II of the U.S. constitution gives to congress the authority to decide, in the event of the death of the President and Vice President, “who then shall act as President.” According to the Presidential Succession Act of 1947, that heavy burden now falls on me. I do not take it lightly, and I shall to the best of my abilities carry out the duties of that high office. But make no mistake, I recognize that I am your acting President. I was never chosen by the people. I never asked for this role, and at the first opportunity I plan to hand it off to a more worthy successor…

As for your legislature, our nation’s founding documents provide for that branch’s rehabilitation as well. The Constitution provides that the states may empower their executives to fill vacancies in the United States Senate. Well, for the first time in our country’s history, the governors of the various states will be charged with selecting temporary appointments to the entirety of the U.S. Senate. Over the next few days I will personally be making calls to the governors of all fifty states to discuss the best way to move forward. I cannot tell them what to look for in replacements for the Senators their states have lost, but I would ask them to remember that a mere three months ago the people made a choice as to who to elect. Now is not the time to play political games. The people deserve to have their choices respected. The people deserve a resumption of normalcy. They deserve continuity.

The House of Representatives has always been the people’s house. Those vacancies can only be filled by a vote among the citizens of the United States. The laws of the various states dictate how and when special elections to fill those vacancies shall occur. While we must respect the rights of the various states to proceed at their own pace, this is an unprecedented situation. For the first time since 1789 the entire U.S. House of Representatives must be chosen anew. Every state deserves to have their delegation present at the onset of the new Congress. Accordingly, I have asked my advisors to put together a proposal for a timeline for a uniform nationwide congressional election, and I will be asking every state legislature to enact emergency legislation to bring their elections into accordance with this timeline.”

Acting President Steven Chu, Address to the Nation from Peterson Air Force Base,  6 am EST February 13, 2013

CNN
February 14, 2013

Anderson Cooper: Those were excerpts from the Acting President’s speech yesterday. We’re joined now by our senior legal analyst, Jeffrey Toobin. Jeffrey, President Chu mentions the idea of “handing off” the presidency to a more worthy successor.  Does Steven Chu mean a democratically elected President? What is he talking about? What options are on the table?

Toobin: Well there are several ways this could go. As you know Steven Chu is technically Acting President right now, even though in this case that could mean he serves out the rest of Barack Obama’s full term. One thing he could do once Congress is operational again is nominate a Vice President and then resign. That VP would then become President for the rest of the term. Full-on President, not just Acting. That VP would first need to be confirmed by the House and the Senate.

Cooper: Some people have talked about having a special election in the near future for president. Is that a possibility?

Toobin: Technically I suppose it’s possible. The Constitution leaves it up to congress to determine the date for choosing electors for president and the date for the electors to meet and cast their votes. Congress also gets to decide how an Acting President is chosen. Right now federal law sets the next Presidential election for November 2016. Theoretically Congress might be able to pass a new law allowing for an earlier election to fill the remainder of the term. Of course, once again, you’d need a congress to pass that law.

Cooper: So President Chu will have to work with the new Congress to determine how to move forward?

Toobin: It’s even more complicated than that. You see, once a new congress is put in place, Mr. Chu might not be the president anymore. That’s where things get tricky…

[SteveRogers]

February 14, 2013

The White House

President Chu: Tell me where we’re at.

James Cole- Deputy Attorney General. Currently Acting Attorney General

James Cole: All of the deputy cabinet officials, myself included, are prepared to carry out their duties as acting cabinet secretaries. You can’t nominate a permanent cabinet until you have a Senate, but the Executive branch of the Federal government will continue functioning relatively normally for the time being. 

As you know, we lost the Joint Chiefs as well. Again, you can’t appoint replacements without Senate approval. The Pentagon will be assigning temporary liaisons in the meantime. You can however appoint a National Security Advisor at your discretion. Defense, State, and DHS can help you put together a shortlist.

The biggest problem right now is that our country’s legislative and judicial branches are crippled. The first Senate appointments should start rolling in by the end of this week. Depending on the laws in their states, some of those temporary appointees will serve for a few months before a special election fills the remainder of their term. Others may be serving until 2014. The House is going to take time. With any luck we can get most of the House vacancies filled by sometime in mid-May. Hopefully most of the states will adopt our proposal for a uniform election day. That will make the transition smoother.

Right now America only has one Congressman and one Senator. It shouldn’t matter right now, but they’re both Republicans. The good news is neither one seems to be angling for a promotion. Yet.

Chu: Is that something we should be worried about?

Cole: As you know sir, the Presidential Succession Act says that if there’s no President or Vice President, the Speaker of the House acts as President. If there’s no Speaker, then it goes to the Senate President pro tempore. If there’s no Speaker or Senate President, then there’s a list that goes down through all the cabinet secretaries. That’s how you got here. Here’s the thing though: the act says that a cabinet member acting as president only does so until a Speaker or Senate President qualifies. At that point, whichever of them takes precedence can “bump” you out of office so to speak and take over the White House for the rest of the term.

Chu: How many members do the House and Senate need to elect those officers?

Cole: The short answer to that is that no one has any earthly idea. I don’t think Paul or Kline will try to claim the position by themselves, but we have to face the fact that someone’s going to make a play as soon as Congress is partially repopulated. The Senate’s going to come back online first, so they’ll have the first shot at electing a presiding officer. Technically they’ll be voting for their President pro tempore, but basically they could effectively be picking the next President of the United States.

Chu: I’ve been speaking to the governors, asking them to respect the results of the last election.

Cole: Some of them might listen, but 30 of the 50 states have Republican governors right now. I don’t see any way we don’t end up with a Republican Senate.

Chu: What if I appoint a Democratic Vice President and then resign?

Cole: They’d need to be confirmed by both Houses of Congress. You’d need to cut some kind of deal with congress to let you make the appointment before they go ahead and elect their officers. It all depends on how partisan Congress is feeling. Same with trying to get legislation passed for a special presidential election.

Chu: So if the Senate wants to pick their own Republican President, there’s nothing I can do to stop them.

Cole: There is some question as to the constitutionality of the “bumping” provision in the Succession Act that could form the basis for a legal challenge, but that’s the kind of question that would normally need to be decided by…

Chu: The Supreme Court.

Cole: Which brings us to the third branch of government. We lost six justices three days ago.

Chu: How many justices do you need to hear a case?

Cole: The Supreme Court needs six justices to have a quorum. Right now we’ve got three: Justices Thomas, Scalia, and Alito all skipped the State of the Union. None of them are likely to be our friends.

Chu: We’ve got to do something. I never signed up for this. I’m a physicist, not a president. I’m not qualified to run a country. America deserves a real leader. We need to come up with a plan.

Baton Rouge, Louisiana
February 15

Governor Bobby Jindal is taking an unexpected phone call.

Bobby Jindal: What’s this about?

Man on phone: Someone needs to take action. I’m calling in a lot of political favors to make calls like this one happen.

Jindal: Why me?

Man: Because you’re the chairman of the Republican Governor’s association, and you’re flying to D.C. tomorrow for an emergency meeting of the governors.

Jindal: What do you want?

Man: I want 2 minutes in the room with them.

Jindal: Why?

Man: Because I have a plan.

Jindal: A plan? To do what?

Man: We’ve been handed an opportunity. A chance to rebuild the party from the ground up.

Jindal: You mean reorganizing the Senate…

Man: Look at the bigger picture. I’m talking the Presidency. I’m talking the Court, the next 50 years.

Jindal: I’m listening.

[SteveRogers]

*Breaking News*

White House Releases Proposal for Accelerated House  Elections

The Chu administration is reported to have originally supported a May election date, but after consultation with state governments, the White House is pushing the date back a month to allow more time for primary campaigns. The White House's memorandum proposes the following:

• Special Elections to fill the remainder of all House terms should be held Saturday, June 8.
• Given the need for an accelerated timeline for filling vacancies, there may not be time for both full-fledged primary AND general election campaigns. It is recommended that states utilize non-partisan blanket primaries (aka “jungle primaries”) with the top two finishers advancing to a runoff if no candidate receives a majority. Several states would normally conduct special elections in this way already.
• Should runoff elections be required, they should take place on Saturday, June 22.
• States still wishing to hold traditional party primaries should do so by the end of March

February 16, 2013

Republican Governor’s Association Meeting

Bobby Jindal presides over a meeting of the Republican Governors. Many have chosen to attend via Skype or conference call due to obvious wariness about having too many government officials in one place.

Jindal: Gentlemen, we’ve been charged with filling every single Senate seat. Now I have someone here who has a couple suggestions for how we can move forward. Someone who knows firsthand how the Senate operates. I’d like to give him the opportunity to speak here today.

Former Senator Jim DeMint of South Caronlina

Jim DeMint: Thank you for having me. It’s fallen on you, the Republican governors of the United States, to reconstitute the Senate. Due to the great tragedy that has befallen our nation, our party is now leaderless. Worse still, our country is effectively leaderless, run by a figurehead, a bureaucrat holdover from the Obama administration. We’ve been dealt a blow, but we’ve also been given an opportunity. You men now hold the power. YOU can rebuild the party. I ask that you do so in the name of real conservatism. I have a plan for taking back America that I’d like to put to you. I’m sure you’ve all heard that the new Senate President pro tempore will be able to claim the Presidency…

Susannah Martinez: It would look like we were stealing the presidency. Shouldn’t we wait for the House elections? We don’t have a mandate.

DeMint: No one knows what will happen in the House. Every seat is an open seat. We need to act now or the Senate and the House could find themselves in a race to elect a president. As for legitimacy, that’s a matter of framing. We’ll build a narrative that the Senate is fulfilling its constitutional duty to maintain the integrity of the line of succession.

Mike Pence: You know once we’ve appointed our Senators, we can’t just tell them what to do, right? Who are they going to put in power?

DeMint: Here’s what I’m proposing: First of all, we obviously need a Republican Senate. That shouldn’t be a problem. There are thirty of you.

Chris Christie: That’s an easy thing for you to say. I’ve got a blue state to run! What do you think happens to me if I replace two Democrats with two Republican Senators?

Scott Walker: Jim, I’d love to help, but Wisconsin law doesn’t allow me to appoint anyone.

DeMint: I’m sure something can be worked out. You all do what you have to do, but make sure the numbers come out on our side.

Next, don’t pick the usual benchwarmers you might send to D.C. for a temporary appointment. Even if these Senators are only in for a few months, they need to be men who are willing to take action and do what is necessary for the cause.

Finally, we need a candidate. A real conservative for once. We do it ourselves. Us. Here. Today. Once we choose a leader, you all send in Senators who can get them into the White House. We don’t need them to stay there forever. We all know what the real big prize here is. There are six Supreme Court seats to fill. With a conservative President and a Republican Senate to back him up, we can shape the future.

Next Time:
Senate Appointments begin to roll in.
Familiar faces make appearances on both sides

[SteveRogers]

This is really great so far!

Glad people are liking it. I've been busy packing for a move the last week, so updates have been slow, but I'll try to post some minor updates over the next few days and then a big one this weekend.

[SteveRogers]

Sorry for the delay. Here comes a big ol' update.

[SteveRogers]

Sunday, February 17, 2013
State Funerals are held for President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, Speaker Boehner, and various other officials.

*Breaking News*

February 19

*New Jersey Governor Chris Christie to appoint Republican Jeffrey Chiesa and Democrat Cory Booker to Senate, cites “Need for bipartisan cooperation”*

February 20

*Delaware Governor Jack Markell will Appoint Attorney General Beau Biden to Senate Seat Once Held by Father*

Markell expected to fill Delaware’s second senate seat with another Democrat as well.

February 21

*Jim DeMint to Return to Senate*

South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley will appoint DeMint to seat he resigned from just over a month ago.

“I left to pursue other avenues for furthering the conservative cause, but in this time of crisis I’m happy to return to the Senate to serve my country, my state, and my party for as long as I am needed.”

Other Headlines from February 18-23
*WI Governor Scott Walker to ask legislature for emergency appointment power.
*AK Gov seeks clarification from courts on appointment powers.
*Governors from CA, CO, CT, MD, VT, WA each announce two Democratic Senate appointees
*Governors from AL, AZ, ID, KS, LA, ME, TN each announce two Republican Senate appointees
*Before the week’s end, 15 state legislatures will convene emergency sessions to take up legislation related to the Chu Administration’s election proposal. State laws in a majority of the states allow enough flexibility in calling special elections to comply with the proposal without additional legislation.


February 25, 2013
The White House

Chu: Thanks for agreeing to come back. I know you were looking forward to retirement. So was I. We’re in a whole other world now. I’m afraid I’m a bit of a fish out of water when it comes to foreign policy, and I can’t appoint a secretary of state or defense right now. I need someone with experience, and the people need continuity

Hillary Clinton: I’ll do what I have to for the good of the country.

*Breaking News*

Acting President Chu names Hillary Clinton National Security Advisor.

[SteveRogers]

February 25, 2013

Makeup of the U.S. Senate based on current appointment announcements:

Republicans: 18
Democrats: 15

“Haha no, and people keep asking me, so let me make myself perfectly clear: I do not believe I am currently the Speaker of the House.”
-   Rep. John Kline R-Minnesota

“I don’t think it’s appropriate to start talking about electing a Senate President pro tem. until we’ve got as many senators here as possible.”
-   Senator Rand Paul R-KY 

PPP National Poll 2/25/13
“How do you think the remainder of Barack Obama’s presidential term should be filled?”

Steven Chu Should remain acting President- 20%
The new House of Representatives should select a president- 29%
The new Senate should select a president- 24%
Unsure- 27%

Atlanta, Georgia

Governor Nathan Deal: I just can’t do it.

Newt Gingrich: Look, I’ve rebuilt the party before, and I can do it again. I just need you to put me in play. I have the most legislative experience. I was Speaker of the House…

Deal: Newt, you haven’t held office since the 90s. What am I supposed to do with that?

Gingrich: Yeah, well most of the people with more recent experience in congress aren’t exactly available anymore. I’m the most qualified person you have left. Plus, you know the people of Georgia supported me just a year ago.

Deal: The answer is no, Newt.

AP- February 27
Georgia Governor Makes Senate Appointments

Governor Nathan Deal of Georgia Announces the Appointment of Republicans Randy Evans and Casey Cagle to the U.S. Senate.

AP- February 27
Newt Gingrich to Seek Old House Seat

In a press conference scheduled at the same time as Governor Deal’s, former Speaker Newt Gingrich announced his candidacy in the race for the vacant seat in Georgia’s 6th Congressional District. Gingrich was first elected to the 6th district in 1978 and held the seat up until his resignation from Congress and the Speakership in 1999.

March 1, 2013
CNN

John King: It’s been another interesting, if at times surreal week in American politics as the country struggles to put its government back together. Even as Capitol police are just beginning their work preparing the Walter E. Washington Convention Center for use as a temporary meeting place for congress, the new Senate is already taking shape.

Just today Texas governor Rick Perry announced the selection of Lt. Governor David Dewhurst and state Attorney General Greg Abbott to represent the Lone Star State.

David Dewhurst (R-TX)

Greg Abbott (R-TX)

The new Senate will also see the return of some more old faces. Earlier this week Pennsylvania governor Tom Corbett tapped former Senator Rick Santorum to return to the senate.

“It’s good to be back. I’ve got valuable experience I think I can share with the new Senate, and I hope to help put the country back on track.”

Indiana will also see two former Senators return. Governor Mike Pence announced the appointment of Republican Richard Lugar and Democrat Evan Bayh. In a joint press conference Lugar and Bayh both pledged to serve only until their replacements can be elected by the people of Indiana.

Dick Lugar (R-IN)

Evan Bayh (D-IN)

Though not a former Senator, Howard Dean of Vermont represents another familiar face in American politics join the ranks of the “emergency Senate”.

Howard Dean (D-VT)

As in Indiana, the governors of Arkansas, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, and Virginia have promised to honor the results of their previous elections by appointing one Democrat and one Republican each. Not all of those governors have announced the identities of those picks yet.

Finally, sources tell us that the governors in Oklahoma and Oregon will not seek changes to their states’ laws prohibiting them from making senate appointments.

[SteveRogers]

 

Senate Composition as of March 1, 2013

 

Republicans: 33
Democrats: 24

March 2, 2013
Huffington Post:
“Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell will Appoint One Democrat and One Self to Senate”
Republican Governor Bob McDonnell last week publicly pledged to send a bipartisan pair of Senators to D.C. to replace fill the seats vacated Democrats Warner and Kaine. While McDonnell seems intent on keeping his word, in a shocking, bold, and sure to be controversial move, the Republican Governor is expected to appoint a democrat to the Senate and then resign as governor. McDonnell will be succeeded by Lt. Governor Bill Bolling who is expected to in turn appoint McDonnell to the remaining Senate Seat.
 

Helena, Montana
 

“I’m happy to accept the governor’s request to serve Montana as a U.S. Senator for the time being. I have not made a decision about running in the special election yet.”
-Sen. Brian Schweitzer (D-MT)

Sacramento, California
 

“No one want to get to the Senate this way, but it will be an honor to serve.”
-Sen. Gavin Newsom (D-CA)

March 3
 
New York Times:
“Wisconsin Legislature Approves Legislation Allowing Senate Appointments. Gov. Walker to Appoint Tommy Thompson and Rebecca Kleefisch”
 

Fox News

“Would I accept if Governor Parnell asked me to? Oh, you betcha!”
-Sarah Palin

Anchorage Daily News:
“Governor Parnell Will Not Attempt to Make Senate Appointments”
 
March 4
 
Politico:
“Florida Governor Rick Scott to tap Allen West for Senate”
 

“Yes, I believe in this case we have a constitutional and legal duty to choose an acting president, and I intend to help do just that when I get back to D.C. The better question is, ‘do we have to pick someone in the Senate?’ “
-Sen. Allen West (R-FL)

March 6
 

Sheppard Smith: And with the announcement that Ohio Governor John Kasich will appoint two Republicans, we are now prepared to project that Republicans have won control of the United States Senate.
 

Composition of the Reconstituted Senate

Republicans: 52
Democrats: 42

March 7, 2013
CNN
 
Wolf Blitzer: Tomorrow the newly reconstituted Senate of the 113th Congress, which many are now dubbing the “Meteor Senate”, will meet for the first time. Before disaster struck the capitol on February 15th, Democrats controlled the Senate with a 54 seat majority. Now, in a stunning reversal the new Senate will consist of 52 Republicans and 42 Democrats. As the governors of Oklahoma, Oregon, and Alaska cannot appoint Senators to fill vacancies, their Senate seats will remain vacant for the time being. Republicans only needed 48 seats to control the chamber.
 
The new Senate is an odd mix for sure. Many of the appointees are merely temporary placeholders; loyal party members with no intention to run for election in their own right. Others are seen as potential rising stars in their parties and may represent the next generation of American politics. Still other Senators may be known to Americans already. Several governors saw fit to appoint individuals with a great deal of experience but who may have been out of the limelight for some time. Some of them will play an “elder statesman” role; providing guidance to the chamber until permanent replacements can be elected. Others might be plotting political comebacks of sorts. Whatever their backgrounds, all of these Senators have a tough job ahead of them.
 
So far most of the new appointees have been silent on the big question that must be on every American’s mind: Who will be the next president? As viewers who have paid attention to our legal analysts know, the laws governing the line of succession would allow the Senate to choose a Senate President pro tempore who could potentially oust Acting President Chu and claim the Oval Office. Mr. Chu’s White House has so far not issued an official statement regarding this issue.
 
But before the Senate gets around to the business of picking a president, the parties are expected to convene their respective caucuses for closed-door leadership elections. We’ll be bringing you up-to-the-minute coverage of those proceedings beginning tomorrow.

[SteveRogers]

Chapter 2: The Game of the Century

March 8, 2013

CNN
5pm EST

Wolf Blitzer: It’s a historic day in Washington D.C. This morning the Walter E. Washington Convention Center opened its doors to the newly appointed class of United States Senators.

Walter E. Washington Convention Center- Temporary Meeting Place of 113th Congress

Wolf: Following a brief opening session, Republicans and Democrats broke off into meetings amongst their respective caucuses to elect their party leaders. Both parties have been unusually tight-lipped about the proceedings. Whoever the Republican Majority Leader turns out to be will command an impressive, though not filibuster-proof, majority in the Senate. We are not expecting that decision to come until tomorrow. Several sources confirm that while nominating speeches took place today during the Republican conference, a motion to delay the actual vote was successfully passed.

Democrats on the other hand have been meeting all day, and results of their leadership elections are expected any time now.

Public fascination with the “Meteor Senate” has focused on whether or not the Republican majority will attempt to oust Acting President Steven Chu and install their own president. Up until now, the Chu White House had been silent on the matter, but this morning President Chu’s Press Secretary released a copy of a memo from White House Counsel Kathryn Ruemmler challenging the constitutionality of allowing a new Senate President pro tempore to replace Mr. Chu as acting president.

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-   Excerpt from memorandum issued by White House Counsel Kathryn Ruemmler

8pm

*Dean Chosen as Senate Minority Leader*
Anderson Cooper: CNN can confirm that Senate Democrats have elected Howard Dean to be their party leader in the Senate. Senator Dean, who has previously been the Governor of Vermont, a presidential candidate, and Chairman of the DNC, is well known among Democrats and followers of American politics.

We’re also receiving word that Cory Booker of New Jersey will be the Senate Minority Whip. Booker, formerly the mayor of Newark, had already been considered the likely frontrunner for the 2014 Senate election in New Jersey prior to his appointment to the Senate.

Dean and Booker are both expected to appear at a joint press conference shortly.   

Politico:
A Republican Senator who wishes to remain anonymous tells Politico that today’s leadership vote was delayed after it became clear that a majority leader would not be elected on the first ballot. Jim DeMint is allegedly the frontrunner, but Rand Paul and a scattering of other candidates demonstrated enough support to prevent DeMint from immediately capturing 27 votes.

PPP National Poll- March 8, 2013

“How do you think the remainder of Barack Obama’s presidential term should be filled?”

Steven Chu Should remain acting President- 14%
The new House of Representatives should select a president- 38%
The new Senate should select a president- 30%
Unsure- 18%

Other Headlines:
*Almost all states are now expected to hold special congressional elections on June 8. About half will utilize a blanket primary while the other half will hold traditional primaries in late March or April.
*North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Un threatens pre-emptive nuclear war against United States following a new round of UN sanctions. The U.S. currently has no formal representative at the UN, but National Security Advisor Hillary Clinton was heavily involved in behind the scenes negotiations with China regarding the sanctions. 

[SteveRogers]

Update forthcoming. Some computer problems have caused delays.

I hope you throw in a twist and elect someone who isn't a crazy republican. Also, who is NC senators?

and whos the other FL senator?

I'll try to reveal some more Senators as I go on. I have a list of as many plausible appointees as I could come up with, but it just wasn't practical to do in-depth research on the state-level political actors in all 50 states. If not otherwise mentioned, the other senators should just be assumed to be a loyal "yes man" from the governor's administration (or in some cases token placeholders from the rival party), i.e. not particularly noteworthy or charismatic, not necessarily seeking re-election.   

I'm open to suggestions about who the governors in states whose senators have not yet identified might appoint. 

[SteveRogers]

Also remember regarding Florida, since Rubio gave the GOP response its likely he also survived like Rand Paul.

Yes, but Rubio gave his response from a conference room in the Capitol, so...

[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.

[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.

[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

You must be logged in to read this quote.

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.  

[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.

[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.