A National Tragedy (2011 Terrorist Attack Changes History)

[justW353]

This topic will simulate the consequences of a 2011 bombing of the Capitol Building on the night of the 2011 State of the Union address.  President Obama, along with Vice President Biden and much of the Presidential Line of Succession were killed in the bombing.  The topic will cover the new President's Presidency as well, and will hopefully go on for a long time.

Background:  President Barack H. Obama was elected the 44th President of the United States in 2008.  He was inaugurated in 2009, and promised big changes. 

On January 26, 2011, Barack Obama's second State of the Union address was scheduled to be held.  After his first two years as President, Unemployment rested at 9.1 percent.  A Healthcare bill with a restricted public option was passed with bipartisan approval.  A second stimulus package was passed.  Overall, Barack Obama's approval rating had improved to 59%.

I know I'm new here, but I've been reading these topics for a while and I thought I'd give it a try.  I like to think I know a great deal about politics, so I'll give it a go.

[Psychic Octopus]

Continue.

How did the midterms go?

President Biden!!

[#CriminalizeSobriety]

Continue.

How did the midterms go?

President Biden!!

President Obama, along with Vice President Biden and much of the Presidential Line of Succession were killed in the bombing.

[justW353]

Continue.

How did the midterms go?

President Biden!!

I'm gonna post the new Senate roster shortly.

[justW353]

Alabama:  Richard Shelby (R) - reelected
Alabama:  Jeff Sessions (R)

Alaska:  Lisa Murkowski (R) - reelected
Alaska:  Mark Begich (D)

Arizona:  John McCain (R)
Arizona:  John Kyl (R)

Arkansas:  Mark Pryor (D)
Arkansas:  Gilbert Baker (R) - defeated Senator Blanche Lincoln (D)

California:  Dianne Feinstein (D)
California:  Barbara Boxer (D) - reelected

Colorado:  Mark Udall (D)
Colorado:  Jane Norton (R) - Defeated Senator Michael Bennet (D)

Connecticut:  Joe Lieberman (I)
Connecticut:  Richard Blumenthal (D) - Defeated Rep. Rob Simmons (R)

Delaware:  Tom Carper (D)
Delaware:  Mike Castle (R) - Defeated Random Democrat

Florida:  Bill Nelson (D)
Florida:  Charlie Crist (R) - Defeated Rep. Kendrick Meek (D)

Georgia:  Saxby Chambliss (R)
Georgia:  Johnny Isakson (R) - reelected

Hawaii:  Daniel Inouye (D) - relected
Hawaii:  Daniel Akaka (D)

Idaho:  Mike Crapo (R) - relected
Idaho:  Jim Risch (R)

Illinois:  Dick Durbin (D)
Illinois:  Alexi Giannoulias (D) - defeated Rep. Mike Kirk (R)

Indiana:  Richard Luger (R)
Indiana:  Dan Coats (R) - Defeated Random Democrat

Iowa:  Chuck Grassley (R) - reelected
Iowa:  Tom Harkin (D)

Kansas:  Pat Roberts (R)
Kansas:  Jerry Moran (R) - defeated Random Democrat

Kentucky:  Mitch McConnell (R)
Kentucky:  Trey Grayson (R)

Louisiana:  Mary Landrieu (D)
Louisiana:  David Vitter (R) - reelected

Maine:  Olympia Snowe (R)
Maine:  Susan Collins (R)

Maryland:  Barbara Mikulski (D) -reelected
Maryland:  Ben Cardin (D)

Massachusetts:  John Kerry (D)
Massachusetts:  Scott Brown (R)

Michigan:  Carl Levin (D)  
Michigan:  Debbie Stabenow (D)

Minnesota:  Amy Klobuchar (D)
Minnesota:  Al Franken (D)

Mississippi:  Thad Cochran (R)
Mississippi:  Tom Harkin (D)

Missouri:  Claire McCaskill (D)
Missouri:  Robin Carnahan (D) - Defeated Rep. Roy Blunt (R)

Montana:  Max Baucus (D)
Montana:  Jon Tester (D)

Nebraska:  Ben Nelson (D)
Nebraska:  Mike Johanns (R)

Nevada:  John Ensign (R)
Nevada:  Sue Lowden (R) - Defeated Senator Harry Reid (D)

New Hampshire:  Jeanne Shaheen (D)
New Hampshire:  Kelly Ayotte (R) - defeated Rep. Paul Hodes (D)

New Jersey:  Frank Lautenberg (D)
New Jersey:  Bob Menendez (D)

New Mexico:  Jeff Bingaham (D)
New Mexico:  Tom Udall (R)

New York:  Chuck Schumer (D) - reelected
New York:  Kirsten Gillibrand (D) - reelected

North Carolina:  Richard Burr (R)
North Carolina:  Kay Hagan (D)

North Dakota:  Kent Conrad (D)
North Dakota:  John Hoeven (R) - Defeated Random Democrat

Ohio:  Sherrod Brown (D)
Ohio:  Lee Fisher (D) - Defeated Rep. Rob Portman (R)

Oklahoma:  Jim Inhofe (R)
Oklahoma:  Tom Coburn (R) - reelected

Oregon:  Ron Wyden (D) - reelected
Oregon:  Jeff Merkley (D)

Pennsylvania:  Arlen Specter (D) - reelected
Pennsylvania:  Bob Casey, Jr. (D)

Rhode Island:  Jack Reed (D)
Rhode Island:  Sheldon Whitehouse (D)

South Carolina:  Lindsay Graham (R)
South Carolina:  Jim DeMint (R) - reelected

South Dakota:  Tim Johnson (D)
South Dakota:  John Thune (R) - reelected

Tennessee:  Lamar Alexander (R)
Tennessee:  Bob Corker (R)

Texas:  Kay Bailey Hutchinson (R)
Texas:  John Cornyn (R)

Utah:  Orrin Hatch (R)
Utah:  Bob Bennett (R) - reelected

Vermont:  Patrick Leahy (D) - reelected
Vermont:  Bernie Sanders (I)

Virginia:  Jim Webb (D)
Virginia:  Mark Warner (D)

Washington:  Patty Murray (D) - reelected
Washington:  Maria Cantwell (D)

West Virginia:  Robert Byrd (D)
West Virginia:  Jay Rockefeller (D)

Wisconsin:  Herb Kohl (D)
Wisconsin:  Russ Feingold (D) - reelected

Wyoming:  Mike Enzi (R)
Wyoming:  John Barrasso (R)

Republicans gain 5 seats.

[Bo]

A Healthcare bill with a restricted public option was passed with bipartisan approval.  A second stimulus package was passed.

I can't see these two things happening.

[justW353]

Background of Perpetrator:

Afshar Akbari was born in Tehran, Iran in 1980.  In 1982, his father moved his wife and son to Detroit, Michigan.  Akbari received American citizenship in 1984, and graduated high school with honors in 1998.  

He was a supporter of the Clinton government, and entered the United States military in 1998.  He served one term of duty, and was honorably discharged in 2002.  However, he was disgusted by the prejudice against Arab Americans after 9/11.  Even as a member of the armed forces he faced discrimination.

He was repeatedly turned down for entrance into Secret Service training, and he suspected it was due to his faith.  He eventually was accepted into the Capitol Police in 2005.  However, the discrimination he continued to face gradually caused some radical positions.  In 2007, he began speaking to a Muslim preacher with connections to Al Qaeda in Somalia.  

Over the next two years, they began planning the most damaging terrorist attack in the history of the United States.  By 2010, all that was left was to produce a bomb.  By November of 2010, the explosive was ready for use.  

Yes, it's partially taken from Nadal Malik Hassan.  It's a pretty outrageous situation, but this is semi-possible, so I thought I'd do this.

[justW353]

A Healthcare bill with a restricted public option was passed with bipartisan approval.  A second stimulus package was passed.

I can't see these two things happening.

I see the first as plausible.  The second is pretty unlikely, but I wanted to relay the message that everyone was getting along and were looking up in America.

[Bo]

A Healthcare bill with a restricted public option was passed with bipartisan approval.  A second stimulus package was passed.

I can't see these two things happening.

I see the first as plausible.  The second is pretty unlikely, but I wanted to relay the message that everyone was getting along and were looking up in America.

The bold part in the first one is extremely unrealistic.

[justW353]

A Healthcare bill with a restricted public option was passed with bipartisan approval.  A second stimulus package was passed.

I can't see these two things happening.

I see the first as plausible.  The second is pretty unlikely, but I wanted to relay the message that everyone was getting along and were looking up in America.

The bold part in the first one is extremely unrealistic.

As I said restricted...And by that I mean very restricted.  And by bipartisan I mean about 5 Republican votes. 

Anyways, it doesn't really matter.  I was just trying to relay a message.

[Bo]

A Healthcare bill with a restricted public option was passed with bipartisan approval.  A second stimulus package was passed.

I can't see these two things happening.

I see the first as plausible.  The second is pretty unlikely, but I wanted to relay the message that everyone was getting along and were looking up in America.

The bold part in the first one is extremely unrealistic.

As I said restricted...And by that I mean very restricted.  And by bipartisan I mean about 5 Republican votes. 

Anyways, it doesn't really matter.  I was just trying to relay a message.

5 Republican votes is not bipartisan. Something genuinely bipartisan has at least 1/3 of the members of each party supporting it (at least in my opinion). 5 Republican votes is essentially a Democratic bill. Anyway, other than that, good timeline. Keep up the good work.

[Psychic Octopus]

5 Republican Votes? Impossible. You can't even get Collins or Snowe, let alone McCain or Lugar.

[justW353]

Alright, can we get off the bipartisan thing?  Fine, it just passes...

Timeline coming up

[justW353]

List of notable State of the Union attendees:

• Each Supreme Court Justice
• President Bill Clinton (attending in place for his wife, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton)
• Every 2010 Winter Olympic Gold Medalist
• Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York
• 17 Governors
• Each member of the House of Representatives and Senate
• Mayor Adrian Fenty of Washington D.C.
• Each member of the Obama Cabinet with the exceptions of Hillary Clinton and Kathleen Sebelius
• Vice President Al Gore
• Various Other VIPs

Timeline

4:23 A.M.  Ashfar Akbari reports to duty at the Capitol Building.  He is carrying a duffel bag with a false bottom.  Inside is a ammonium nitrate bomb.  He brings it inside the Capitol.
7:30 A.M.  President Barack Obama arrives in the Oval Office for his daily morning briefings.
11:41 A.M.  Akbari makes his way to the basement of the Capitol building.  He manages to avoid bomb-sniffing dogs.
5:00 P.M.  Dignitaries begin arriving at the U.S. Capitol Building.
6:50 P.M.  Vice President Biden arrives at the Capitol Building.
7:34 P.M.  Chief Justice John Roberts arrives at the Capitol Building.
7:35 P.M.  President Obama's motorcade leaves the White House.
7:49 P.M.  President Obama arrives at the Capitol Building, along with his family.
7:51 P.M.  Akbari enters the Assembly Room, still carrying the duffel bag which is timed to explode at 8:10 P.M.
8:00 P.M.  The President enters the room.
8:05 P.M.  The President begins his speech.
8:09 P.M.  The silence is the room is broken by gunshots which ring out, Akbari fires at the President, who is immediately shielded by Secret Service agents.  Akbari is shot.
8:10 P.M.  With the chaos of the room, no one has left.  The bomb goes off, collapsing the roof of the central chamber.

Television feed immediately cuts after shots are fired at the President.  It is reported seconds later that an explosion had occurred at the Capitol.  It is not yet known whether President Obama was shot.

[justW353]

Timeline Cont.

8:12 P.M.  The United States is in a state of shock.  The world has not reacted.  Millions of people saw the disaster live on television or online.  The video tapes are repeatedly reviewed.

8:12 P.M.  Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who is in South Africa, receives word of the attack.  She immediately departs her hotel for the airport.

8:18 P.M.  Emergency Vehicles arrive at the Capitol Building in masses.

8:19 P.M.  Internet use throughout the United States and the world has soared.  Twitter and Google have crashed, and the speed of the World Wide Web has crept to a near-halt.

8:21 P.M.  It is confirmed by CNN newscasters that President Obama was shot, although his condition is not known.  The President was shot 9 seconds before the explosion.

8:22 P.M.  Secretary of State Clinton boards a plane bound back to the United States.  She releases a brief statement at the airport, condemning the reports and noting that her husband was among those in attendance.  She is obviously shaken.

8:24 P.M.  The United States military lands helicopters around the Capitol Building and the White House.  Washington D.C. is under military control.

8:29 P.M.  A federal judge rules that the "Designated Survivor" is constitutionally the Acting President of the United States until survivors can be sorted out.

8:30 P.M.  Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius is declared Acting President, and immediately grounds all commercial aircraft in the United States.  She raises DHS alert level to red, and the DEFCON level is raised to 3.

8:34 P.M.  The bodies of President Obama and Vice President Biden are pulled from the ruins of the Capitol building.  President Obama was killed by a bulletshot to his neck; Vice President Biden was killed by falling debris. 

8:36 P.M.  Acting President Sebelius is informed of the deaths of President Obama and Vice President Biden.  She immediately notifies Secretary of State Clinton, who notes a squadron of fighter jets surrounding her plane. 

8:38 P.M.  Acting President Sebelius releases a live statement on national television. 

My fellow Americans,

Today, as you know, a terrible tragedy occurred in this nation.  I am speaking to you as your Acting President.  As your Acting President, I have terrible news.  Today, we lost two men who defined an era; our President, Barack Obama; and our Vice President, Joseph Biden.  I saw these men as friends and collegues.  Barack Obama and Joseph Biden changed America, they saved America.  We will remember them forever as men who defied the status quo and did all they could to help the American people.  As long as this nation lives, so shall they.

Today, we face turmoil.  Our nation is facing a threat larger than any other in its history.  We have been struck in a terrible way.  I tell you now, we will find those responsible.  We will find them, and we will destroy them.  These people will not receive pity from the United States of America. 

However; tonight, I ask all Americans to feel not hate, but to grieve for our fallen leaders.  Only the Lord knows how many lives were lost in this senseless attack.  I ask that you keep their souls in your hearts and prayers.  This is an hour that tests our strength, that troubles our minds, and that hurts our souls.  With the help of each other and the lord, we will persevere. 

The world will once again know the strength of the American people.  We will come from this tragedy a stronger and greater people, and a stronger and greater nation.  We relentlessly do.  The spirit of America is undying, and the world will know that once more.

For now, I ask that the prayers of all Americans and all citizens of the world go out to all those affected by this disaster.  May God bless America, President Obama, Vice President Biden, and all those souls who lost their lives tonight. 

Thank you.

[Barnes]

Good so far!

[justW353]

Timeline Cont.

8:38 P.M.  After Acting President Sebelius reveals the deaths of the President and Vice President, newscasters immediately begin speculating that Secretary of State Clinton will become the President once she returns to the United States.

8:45 P.M.  Secret Service confirms that fatalities number in the 100s, and the full death toll with not be known for days.

9:56 P.M.  The Capitol Police confirm that one of their officers was the perpetrator.  They do not reveal him as a Muslim.

10:45 P.M.  Al Qaeda in Yemen releases a statement on Al Jazeera, claiming responsibility for the attack.

10:48 P.M.  An explosion occurs at the United States Embassy in Yemen.

11:01 P.M.  An explosion occurs at the United States Embassy in Tel Aviv.

11:05 P.M.  News Agencies begin reporting the explosions at the Embassies.

11:07 P.M.  All United States Embassies begin evacuations.  Bridges and Tunnels in New York City close. 

11:21 P.M.  Osama bin Laden releases a statement claiming he personally planned each attack, and there were more to follow.

11:25 P.M.  Riots are reported in Los Angeles.

11:49 P.M.  An explosion occurs outside the Sydney Opera House.

January 27, 2011

12:01 A.M.  The island of Manhattan is under military control.

12:11 A.M.  A moving truck full of explosives detonates on the Golden Gate Bridge.  The bridge remains standing, but it suffers extensive damage.

12:15 A.M.  For the first time in 150 years, the Acting President of the United States has declared martial law.

[justW353]

Timeline Cont.

12:24 A.M.  An explosion occurs in the Channel Tunnel, severely damaging it.

12:34 A.M.  Martial Law is declared in the United Kingdom.

1:08 A.M.  Martial Law is declared in France.

3:15 A.M.  Osama bin Laden releases another statement, hailing the attacks as a strike on the Western World, and remarking that the United States will never be dominant again.

3:56 A.M.  Former President Bill Clinton is pulled from the ruins of the Capitol Building with only minor injuries. 

4:25 A.M.  Secretary of State Clinton speaks with her husband.

4:56 A.M.  Acting President Sebelius once again addresses the nation, giving a reassuring speech but offering no answers.  She reveals Michelle Obama and her children are safe.

5:50 A.M.  Each member of the Supreme Court is still missing. 

5:51 A.M.  Acting President Sebelius leaves a secure location on the outskirts of Washington D.C. for Andrews Airforce Base.

5:55 A.M.  Former President Bill Clinton leaves the Capitol Building for Andrews Airforce Base.

5:58 A.M.  Federal Judge David S. Tatel leaves his home in Alexandria, Virginia, heading towards Andrews Airforce Base.

6:24 A.M.  Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton's plane touches down at Andrews Airforce Base.

7:00 A.M.  Secretary of State Clinton takes the Oath of Office, becoming the 45th President of the United States of America.

 

[justW353]

Timeline Cont.

7:10 A.M.  President Clinton makes a public statement, declaring martial law void.  She also institutes a national week of mourning for those who lost their lives.  The cities of Washington D.C., New York City, San Fransisco, Los Angeles, and Miami remain under military control.

9:21 A.M.  Western news sources report that only a quarter of the people in the Capitol have been accounted for.

9:50 A.M.  The military releases control of all areas of Washington D.C. with the exception of the Capitol Building.  The White House is handed back to Secret Service control.

10:12 A.M.  New York City and Miami are released from military control.  All unaffected areas of San Fransisco are released from control.

10:30 A.M.  Riots are reported in various U.S. cities.  Among them are Boise, Idaho; Jacksonville, Florida; Mobile, Alabama; Atlanta, Georgia; Kansas City, Missouri; Cleveland, Ohio; Detroit, Michigan; Boston, Massachusetts; Dallas, Texas; and San Diego, California.  The National Guard is deployed to all these cities.

11:00 A.M.  President Clinton visits the ruins of the Capitol building, giving a rousing speech to the crowd that has formed outside.

12:00 P.M.  President Clinton arrives at the White House, where she is greeted by Michelle Obama and her children. 

1:00 P.M.  The bodies of President Obama and Vice President Biden arrive at the White House.  Jill Biden arrives in the same motorcade; Beau Biden arrives shortly after, as do the rest of the Biden children.

2:00 P.M.  The bodies of President Obama and Vice President Biden leave the White House for Bethesda Naval Hospital.

4:00 P.M.  President Clinton holds a press conference at the White House.

5:00 P.M.  CNN newscasters report that most of those missing in the Capitol have been accounted for, and a preliminary death toll would be released shortly.

[justW353]

Timeline Cont.

7:00 P.M.  The Capitol Police release a full account for members of the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives.  

Senate:

Alabama:  Richard Shelby (R) - dead
Alabama:  Jeff Sessions (R) - dead

Alaska:  Lisa Murkowski (R) - alive
Alaska:  Mark Begich (D) - alive

Arizona:  John McCain (R) - alive
Arizona:  John Kyl (R) - dead

Arkansas:  Mark Pryor (D) - alive
Arkansas:  Gilbert Baker (R) - dead

California:  Dianne Feinstein (D) - alive
California:  Barbara Boxer (D) - alive

Colorado:  Mark Udall (D) - alive
Colorado:  Jane Norton (R) - alive

Connecticut:  Joe Lieberman (I) - dead
Connecticut:  Richard Blumenthal (D) - dead

Delaware:  Tom Carper (D) - dead
Delaware:  Mike Castle (R) - alive

Florida:  Bill Nelson (D) - alive
Florida:  Charlie Crist (R) - alive

Georgia:  Saxby Chambliss (R) - dead
Georgia:  Johnny Isakson (R) - dead

Hawaii:  Daniel Inouye (D) - alive
Hawaii:  Daniel Akaka (D) - dead

Idaho:  Mike Crapo (R) - dead
Idaho:  Jim Risch (R) - dead

Illinois:  Dick Durbin (D) - alive
Illinois:  Alexi Giannoulias (D) - dead

Indiana:  Richard Luger (R) - dead
Indiana:  Dan Coats (R) - dead

Iowa:  Chuck Grassley (R) - dead
Iowa:  Tom Harkin (D) - dead

Kansas:  Pat Roberts (R) - dead
Kansas:  Jerry Moran (R) - dead

Kentucky:  Mitch McConnell (R) - dead
Kentucky:  Trey Grayson (R) - dead

Louisiana:  Mary Landrieu (D) - dead
Louisiana:  David Vitter (R) - dead

Maine:  Olympia Snowe (R) - alive
Maine:  Susan Collins (R) - alive

Maryland:  Barbara Mikulski (D) - alive
Maryland:  Ben Cardin (D) - alive

Massachusetts:  John Kerry (D) - alive
Massachusetts:  Scott Brown (R) - alive

Michigan:  Carl Levin (D) - alive
Michigan:  Debbie Stabenow (D) - dead

Minnesota:  Amy Klobuchar (D) - dead
Minnesota:  Al Franken (D) - alive

Mississippi:  Thad Cochran (R) - alive
Mississippi:  Roger Wicker (R) - dead

Missouri:  Claire McCaskill (D) - alive
Missouri:  Robin Carnahan (D) - alive

Montana:  Max Baucus (D) - dead
Montana:  Jon Tester (D) - dead

Nebraska:  Ben Nelson (D) - alive
Nebraska:  Mike Johanns (R) - alive

Nevada:  John Ensign (R) - alive
Nevada:  Sue Lowden (R) - alive

New Hampshire:  Jeanne Shaheen (D) - dead
New Hampshire:  Kelly Ayotte (R) - alive

New Jersey:  Frank Lautenberg (D) - dead
New Jersey:  Bob Menendez (D) - dead

New Mexico:  Jeff Bingaham (D) - alive
New Mexico:  Tom Udall (R) - alive

New York:  Chuck Schumer (D) - alive
New York:  Kirsten Gillibrand (D) - alive

North Carolina:  Richard Burr (R) - dead
North Carolina:  Kay Hagan (D) - dead

North Dakota:  Kent Conrad (D) dead
North Dakota:  John Hoeven (R) - dead

Ohio:  Sherrod Brown (D) - dead
Ohio:  Lee Fisher (D) - dead

Oklahoma:  Jim Inhofe (R) - dead
Oklahoma:  Tom Coburn (R) - dead

Oregon:  Ron Wyden (D) - alive
Oregon:  Jeff Merkley (D) - dead

Pennsylvania:  Arlen Specter (D) - alive
Pennsylvania:  Bob Casey, Jr. (D) - dead

Rhode Island:  Jack Reed (D) - dead
Rhode Island:  Sheldon Whitehouse (D) - alive

South Carolina:  Lindsay Graham (R) - alive
South Carolina:  Jim DeMint (R) - alive

South Dakota:  Tim Johnson (D) - dead
South Dakota:  John Thune (R) - alive

Tennessee:  Lamar Alexander (R) - dead
Tennessee:  Bob Corker (R) - dead

Texas:  Kay Bailey Hutchinson (R) - alive
Texas:  John Cornyn (R) - alive

Utah:  Orrin Hatch (R) - alive
Utah:  Bob Bennett (R) - alive

Vermont:  Patrick Leahy (D) - alive
Vermont:  Bernie Sanders (I) - alive

Virginia:  Jim Webb (D) - alive
Virginia:  Mark Warner (D) - alive

Washington:  Patty Murray (D) - alive
Washington:  Maria Cantwell (D) - dead

West Virginia:  Robert Byrd (D) - alive
West Virginia:  Jay Rockefeller (D) - alive

Wisconsin:  Herb Kohl (D) - dead
Wisconsin:  Russ Feingold (D) - alive

Wyoming:  Mike Enzi (R) - dead
Wyoming:  John Barrasso (R) - dead

51 Alive (29 Democrats, 21 Republicans)
49 Dead (22 Democrats, 27 Republicans)

U.S. Representatives

*I'm not going to list all 435, I'll just list the whips and leaders.  If you want specifics, ask.  The survivors will play a part in the future.  The Democrats lost some seats in 2010, but not enough to lose the majority.  The leaders and whips remain the same.*

South Carolina:  James Clyburn (D) - dead
Virginia:  Eric Cantor (R) - alive

Maryland:  Steny Hoyer (D) - alive
Ohio:  John Boehner (R) - alive

California:  Nancy Pelosi (D) - dead

Obama Administration

President:  Barack Obama - dead
Vice President:  Joe Biden - dead
Secretary of the Treasury:  Timothy Geithner - dead
Secretary of Defense:  Robert Gates - alive
Attorney General:  Eric Holder - alive
Secretary of the Interior:  Ken Salazar - alive
Secretary of Agriculture:  Tom Vilsack - alive
Secretary of Commerce:  Gary Locke - dead
Secretary of Labor:  Hilda Solis - dead
Secretary of Education:  Arne Duncan - dead
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development:  Shaun Donovan - alive
Secretary of Transportation:  Ray LaHood - dead
Secretary of Energy:  Steven Chu - alive
Secretary of Veteran Affairs:  Eric Shinseki - alive
Secretary of Homeland Security:  Janet Napolitano - alive
Chief of Staff:  Rahm Emmanuel - alive
Director of the CIA:  Leon Panetta - alive
Chairman of the Federal Reserve:  Ben Bernanke - alive

Other VIPs

Mayor Adrian Fently - alive
Mayor Michael Bloomberg - alive
Each member of the Supreme Court survived
Former Vice President Al Gore - alive

[Dancing with Myself]

How about the House members from North Carolina?

[The Mikado]

Wait a sec.  Nancy Pelosi surviving that sort of incident while sitting a foot behind Obama?  No.

BTW, it's incredibly unlikely to have an Al-Qaeda agent from Teheran.

[justW353]

Wait a sec.  Nancy Pelosi surviving that sort of incident while sitting a foot behind Obama?  No.

BTW, it's incredibly unlikely to have an Al-Qaeda agent from Teheran.

Yeah, I thought about that a few minutes after posting...I'll revise it.

The entire roof of the chamber collapsed.  The Supreme Court survived because they were sitting in an area without falling debris.  It came down to feet as to who died and who didn't.

It's incredibly unlikely for a plot like this to occur.  I simply chose Iran.  The terrorist was only a plot piece. 

[justW353]

How about the House members from North Carolina?

G. K. Butterfield (D):  dead
Bob Etheridge (D):  alive
Walter B. Jones (R):  alive
David Price (D):  alive
Virginia Foxx (R):  alive
Howard Coble (R):  dead
Mike McIntyre (D):  alive
Larry Kissell (D):  alive
Sue Wilkins Myrick (R):  dead
Patrick McHenry (R):  dead
Heath Shuler (D):  alive
Mel Watt (D):  alive
Brad Miller (D):  dead

[Bo]

How about the House members from New York and Texas?