Reporting for Duty: The Presidency of John Kerry and Onwards.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Wednesday, April 1st, 2009: North Korea tests another missile, shooting the rocket off over Japan in a display of their growing military capabilities. Though the incident is the latest example of saber rattling by the North, there is more alarm in the Seoul and Tokyo due to the success of the launch.

Albania and Croatia both join NATO, expanding the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's position in the Balkans as a result.
Thursday, April 2nd, 2009: A meeting of G20 finance ministers is held in London to combat the growing global financial crisis. The United States is represented by Treasury Secretary Sheila Bair, who generates controversy when she argues forcefully in favor of a sunset provision on all new regulations implemented by the International Monetary Fund on banks, lending institutions, and credit rating agencies. "Banks have learned costly lessons" says Bair in an interview with the BBC, "but we need to ensure they are free to grow past these mistakes in the coming future."
Friday, April 3rd, 2009: The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports further job loss, bringing the unemployment rate to 10%.

Iowa's Supreme Court rules against a challenge to the state's laws defining marriage as being between one man and one woman, ensuring that same-sex marriage remains illegal in the state. The court's ruling was largely due to the ability of Governor Bob Vander Plaats to place more conservative justices on the bench during his first term.
Saturday, April 4th, 2009: An agreement in London is inked by the G-20 nations, allowing for the IMF to dump $5 trillion on the international market in order to stimulate global trade.
Sunday, April 5th, 2009: On NBC's Meet the Press, Secretary of Health and Human Services Mark McClellan announces that the President will sign an executive order the following morning which will effectively neuter what remains of the individual mandate by dramatically broadening the number of hardship waivers the Department of Health and Human Services can make available to individuals trying to dodge the individual mandate implemented by the Affordable Care Act. Though the President issued vouchers to numerous states to suspend the mandate in their jurisdiction, many Democratic controlled states including California continue to refuse the vouchers.
Monday, April 6th, 2009: President Bush signs the executive order announced previously by Secretary McClellan, further eroding the Affordable Care Act. This decision leads to progressive organizations organizing a massive "hands off our healthcare!" rally in Washington, DC. After signing the order, the President hosts a number of Republican members of the House and Senate to discuss the next step in the effort to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.
Tuesday, April 7th, 2009: A judge overturns former Senator Ted Steven's conviction, ending the legal saga that had ultimately resulted in his reelection defeat in the 2008 Senate election. The former Senator announces he will seek his former Senate seat in 2014, when he will be aged 91.
Wednesday, April 8th, 2009: President Hu Jintao of China hosts Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in Beijing, where the two nations announce an agreement that would promote further economic and military cooperation.
Friday, April 10th, 2009: In a trip to Alaska to promote energy independence, President Bush joins Governor Sarah Palin to call for the expansion of oil drilling in the state. Environmentalists push back, warning that further drilling would threaten the Alaska National Wildlife Reserve.
Saturday, April 11th, 2009: Kentucky optometrist Rand Paul, son of the Texan Congressman and 2008 presidential candidate Ron Paul, announces he will challenge Senator Daniel Mongiardo (D-KY) in the upcoming 2010 Senate race. Paul is the first candidate to enter the race, and has the support of the Tea Party. Establishment Republicans, primarily led by President Bush and Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY), favor the state's Secretary of State Trey Grayson as a better GOP nominee.
Sunday, April 12th, 2009: While on CBS's Face the Nation promoting his son's newly announced Senate candidacy, former Congressman Ron Paul (R-TX) strongly criticizes the President's policies, including his hawkish foreign policy and slow start on reducing spending and appealing the Affordable Care Act. Paul's concerns are shared by many Tea Party conservatives in the House and Senate, showing a growing divide in the GOP. Paul denies rumors that he is considering running for President as a Republican or Libertarian in 2012. 
Monday, April 13th, 2009: Congressman Donald Payne (D-NJ) is killed when a mortar shell hits his plane as it prepared to taxi up the runway in Mogadishu, resulting in the deaths of 29 people. Payne's son will quickly announce a campaign to replace his father in the House, and the FBI begins an investigation into the possibility that the attack targeted the American Congressman during a fact finding trip to the war torn nation. Somali officials claim the death of the Congressman was a mere coincidence, and that the suspected Somali Islamists behind the attack were likely unaware that such a high value target was onboard.
Wednesday, April 15th, 2009: North Korea attempts to postpone an upcoming inspection of nuclear facilities by the IEAA, resulting in President Bush issuing a terse threat of suspending food and humanitarian aid to the country. Both Bush and the regime of Kim Jong Ill claim the other is going against the terms of the Six Party Talks.

Tax Day is marked with Tea Party protests and rallies across the country. President Bush addresses a large rally put on be Tea Party express, in which he promises strident cuts to bureaucratic waste and calls for further deregulation in order to "unleash entrepreneurial ambitions." The President also reiterates his goal of achieving four percent economic growth.
Thursday, April 16th, 2009: Just a day after denying the IEAA their promised inspection, North Korean dictator Kim Jong Ill makes his first public appearance at a nuclear reactor in the country. The visit was likely a spur of the moment decision by the regime after some media outlets in South Korea and Japan reported that the ailing dictator might have died.
Friday, April 17th, 2009: Having revoked President Kerry's attempt to nominate Diane Wood to replace David Souter on the Supreme Court on his first day in office, President Bush announces he will select Brett Kavanaugh, a Judge on the federal Appeals Court for the District of Columbia Circuit, to fill David Souter's seat. Kavanaugh, who was appointed and confirmed by a narrow vote in the final weeks of the Bush administration, had been a conservative bulwark against the Kerry administration and is expected to be on the right-wing of the court. Despite his strong credentials and backing from the Federalist Society, Kavanaugh's selection still doesn't particularly inspire Tea Party conservatives.
Sunday, April 19th, 2009: At the conclusion of the Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago's capital of Port-of-Spain, Secretary of State Condi Rice finds herself in an awkward encounter when President Raul Castro of Cuba attempts to shake her hand, which she declines. In the aftermath of this encounter, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez begins yelling "she shall not insult us" before leading Castro and Bolivian President Evo Morales in a walkout ahead of the official picture of the present representatives.

Bernie

Monday, April 20th, 2009.

10:25 PM, near Philadelphia, PA.

Bernie Sanders at an event in DC shortly after the inauguration.
[1]

"Are you sure?" asked the Vermont Senator as he held his phone against his head, his face exposing his level of shock as the reality weighed on him that his moment had at last come. For decades, Bernie Sanders had worked to advance the cause of democratic socialism in America. Starting as an activist during the civil rights movement, Bernie eventually relocated to Vermont and quickly became a political figure within the Green Mountain State due to his involvement in the Liberty Union party. Entranced by a vision of pastoral life in a communal setting, the future Senator quickly found himself in Burlington, where he eventually was elected Mayor, then only a few years later as Congressman and then finally as Senator.

A devoted progressive, Bernie had climbed the ranks but never once considered the chance that he might make it to the top. In his own mind, he was an old crank, a faded voice that once echoed the promise of the sixties. He also fancied himself too old, too uninterested, and too unknown. But Jeff Weaver said otherwise.

The 43 year old chief of staff to the Senator had started as a driver for Sanders when he was a candidate for statewide office as a radical socialist, and had remained a close confidante ever since. Both men were passionate about the working class and their concerns, and it seemed now more than ever that a more radical alternative was needed. With a lengthy record and a history that was firmly rooted in the political passions of the sixties, Bernie Sanders knew that he would be an unlikely candidate for the Presidency. But Weaver none the less insisted on the possibility, and had been urging the Senator to consider taking his campaign for social and economic justice to the White House.

"Why not Russ?" asked Bernie, "why me when we've got him?"

"Russ isn't Paul Wellstone" answered Weaver, "but -"

"Well I'm not Paul either, so what does that make me then?" interjected Bernie, but Weaver continued on undeterred. It was at this point that the Vermont Senator realized his friend was being completely serious.

"It makes you better. Russ compromises. Russ gives away too much too often. Russ doesn't walk the walk. He doesn't act the part. And frankly, I don't think he's that interested anyway. You're something bigger-"

"I'm bigger? Jeff, I'm the progressive movement's old hippie uncle. The kids want a revolution, and I'd just put them to sleep."

"Bernie, you're the bravest man in the Senate." But Jeff's reassurence was met only with increasing skepticism from the Senator.

"Why is that?"

"Because you say the word."

"What word?!"

"Socialism."

The Senator finally saw where Weaver was coming from, but the logistical, financial, and media hurdles would be next to near impossible to overcome. His chief of staff took the opportunity to press the Senator even further as the train rolled through the darkness of the night. They were somewhere between Baltimore and Philadelphia, and the Amtrak glided swiftly towards New York and then their eventual destination,

"Bernie, if you're interested, we can commission a poll. We'll see exactly how strong our movement could be. Look at the success Ron Paul has had. Who do you think will be the left's Doctor Paul? Kucinich....again? Sharpton? Maybe Feingold, but I doubt it."

"Look, Jeff, do whatever you want to do. But it's not our time....not yet at least."
Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009: General Motors announces it will shut down plants across the country in the wake of their decision to file for bankruptcy, leaving tens of thousands of employees without work. Commerce Secretary Carly Fiorina meets privately with several Ford executives in order to encourage them to possibly purchase the GM plants, but Ford's CEO Alan Mulally is skeptical and warns that overproduction of vehicles would erode away at the company's profits at a time of great uncertainty for Detroit.
Friday, April 24th, 2009: Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, announces the committee will begin hearings for Brett Kavanaugh's nomination in early May.
Monday, April 27th, 2009: In a stunning development, Professor Christine Blasey Ford accuses Brett Kavanaugh of raping her at a party in 1982, when they were in high school together. Kavanaugh immediately denies the allegations, but some Democrats immediately call for President Bush to withdraw his nomination.
Wednesday, April 29th, 2009: The first case of swine flu is detected in the United States; the disease has been spreading worldwide, and the Center for Disease Controls has been carefully following its spread. The outbreak, which began in Mexico, has left hundreds dead.

A report from the Department of the Treasury shows the United States economy has contracted by 7% in the first quarter of 2009.
Thursday, April 30th, 2009: The Dutch Royal family is attacked on Queens Day when a driver plows his car through a crowd in an attempt to ram the Dutch Royal Family's bus. Though the car slams into the royal family's open top double decked bus, knocking Queen Beatrice and other relatives down, no injuries are reported onboard; though the Dutch Queen is shaken by the assassination attempt, she and the others onboard are cheered by the crowd after she regains her footing. Five people struck by the car on the ground are hospitalized, and the driver himself later dies of his injuries. The damaged bus continues on, finishing it's parade route despite severe damage to the side exterior. The attack sparks a rise in support for the Dutch Royal Family.
[1] Taken from Wikipedia Commons (Public Domain)

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Sorry for the wait, updates will resume on a regular basis for as long as I’m here

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Friday, May 1st, 2009: As the world marks international labor day, the Secretary of Labor Alex Acosta makes waves after he tells Fox New's Bill O'Reilly that the administration is weighing a federal version of "right to work" which unions warn would greatly curtail their abilities to represent American workers.
Saturday, May 2nd, 2009: Former British Foreign Minister David Milliband announces he will resign from parliament in order to take up a job at the International Rescue Committee. Milliband had attempted to challenge incumbent Prime Minister Gordon Brown for the leadership of the Labor Party, before ending his candidacy and facing political exile to the backbenches. Milliband's early retirement from politics leads to many to look towards his brother Ed Milliband, also an MP, as a potential replacement should Brown retire or lose reelection.
Sunday, May 3rd, 2009: Iraqi PM Nouri Al-Maliki warns that there is "no way" he'll allow American forces to remain in Iraq beyond the already agreed upon plan implemented by the Kerry administration. In response, Secretary of State Condi Rice warns that "Iraqi interests are American interests" while appearing on Fox News Sunday.
Monday, May 4th, 2009: The President meets with the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Secretaries Rice and Graham to lay out a plan for a troop surge in Afghanistan. The President also instructs his Secretary of State to attempt to win the Iraqi governments support for a plan to reorganize the American presence in the country, including the construction of an air force base in Iraq's western Al-Anbar province due to the provincial history of the region being a breeding ground for militants, terrorists, and insurgents.

The Senate Judiciary Committee begins hearings for Brett Kavannaugh's nomination to the Supreme Court. The Democratic minority on the committee attack Kavannaugh's past work for President George W. Bush during the 2000 election, and question the circumstances leading to his last minute judicial appointment in late 2004.
Tuesday, May 5th, 2009: A mutiny breaks out in the Georgian military after the government claims they have uncovered a Russian sponsored coup plot that intended to overthrow and kill President Mikhail Saakashvilli.
Thursday, May 6th, 2009: Maine becomes the latest state to legalize same-sex marriage; in response, Vice President Huckabee implores the Republican majority in Congress to pass a constitutional amendment defining marriage as one man and one woman.
Friday, May 7th, 2009: The Healthcare Freedom of Choice is introduced to the Senate and House simultaneously by Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) and Congressman Paul Ryan (R-WI). The bill would repeal the individual mandate implemented by the Affordable Care Act and would phase out the federal insurance marketplaces, which would be replaced by opening up state lines for consumer to have more options. A number of other provisions, which include a ban on federal funding for abortions and gender reassignment surgeries, as well as repeals of taxes placed on medical equipment. In addition, a provision that forbids state or federal taxation of health savings accounts are added. Though the President and most conservatives had sought to reform the Clinton-Tauscher plan, CHIP remained untouched, ensuring all American children will continue to receive Medicare funded health care. Similarly, protections for patients with preexisting conditions and the recently established Medibank are kept in place by the DeMint-Ryan plan.
Sunday, May 11th, 2009: President Hamid Karzai warns President Bush that a troop surge cannot include increased airstrikes, warning that civilian casualties will only further radicalize elements of the public while also driving the Taliban away from the peace talks. Secretary of Defense Lindsey Graham responds by stating firmly that "American airmen will protect American soldiers - end of story."
Monday, May 12th, 2009: Sargent John Russell shoots and kills five fellow servicemen at Fort Liberty in Baghdad, injuring a further ten people before fatally shooting himself in the head.
Wednesday, May 14th, 2009: Congressman Mike Pence announces he will challenge Evan Bayh for his Senate seat in 2010. Though current midterm polling show a growing Democratic lead, the incumbent Democratic Senator appears to be vulnerable as the state of Indiana drifts increasingly to the right.

The Senate Judiciary Committee votes 14-8 to confirm Brett Kavvannaugh to the Supreme Court after a relatively uneventful series of hearings.
Thursday, May 15th, 2009: The President orders airstrikes against Al Shabaab and Islamic Courts Union fighters active in Mogadishu, preventing a potential take over of the Somali capital by the self-styled Islamic Emirate of Somalia.
Friday, May 16th, 2009: Euna Lee and Laura Ling, two American journalists, are reportedly detained in North Korea after illegally crossing the border to report on the country. They are confined in relatively nice conditions under house arrest in a government guesthouse near Pyongyang as they await trial. Though President Bush expresses his outrage at the detentions, the President and the Secretary of State are confident that they can obtain the release of the two journalists as the DPRK continues to keep them as a pawn.
Saturday, May 17th, 2009: General Motors announces it will shut down nearly half of their dealerships as part of its post-bankruptcy restructuring.
Monday, May 19th, 2009: Prime Minister Gordon Brown announces he will end all British airstrikes within Iraq, bringing the Royal Air Force's involvement within the country to a final close.
Wednesday, May 21st, 2009: On his first official state visit to Israel, President Bush is hosted by outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. During an official address alongside the Prime Minister, the President reaffirms American support for Israel and vows to continue American support for defense programs such as Israel's anti-missile "Iron Dome" system.
Thursday, May 22nd, 2009: On day two of his visit to Israel, President Bush prays at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem and calls for continued negotiations between Israel and Palestine to move both nations towards a permanent and lasting peace agreement. The President also meets with the opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu, who is set to take over as Prime Minister in a matter of days.
Friday, May 23rd, 2009: President Bush's Israeli visit is followed by a formal visit to Saudi Arabia, where he is hosted by King Abdullah. The President, similar to his visit to Israel, once again reaffirms America's support for the government and security of the Saudi kingdom.
Saturday, May 24th, 2009: Businessman Rick Scott announces he will run for Governor of Florida, putting him on course for a primary battle with incumbent Governor Charlie Crist, whom many conservatives feel is too moderate for the increasingly right-wing campaign.]

Congressman Anthony Weiner announces he will run for Mayor of New York City, positioning him as the front-runner in the Democratic primary as the race to replace term limited Mayor Bloomberg heats up.

Sunday, May 25th, 2009: Former South Korean President Roo Moo-hyun commits suicide by hurling himself off a clip into the ocean below. The former President was facing numerous corruption charges, which he alluded to in a suicide note left behind in his personal residence. This story is soon overshadowed within a matter of hours after North Korea successfully tests a nuclear bomb.
Monday, May 26th, 2009: In a second display of military power, North Korea tests two missiles successfully and warns that the regime may soon nullify the 1953 armistice that ended the Korean War. President Bush puts American forces in Korea on alert as a result of the alarming threat from Pyongyang.

The Senate votes 65-35 to confirm Brett Kavannaugh to the Supreme Court.

Evan.

Tuesday, May 27th, 2009.

1:30 PM, Washington, DC.

[1]

Evan Bayh was facing the race of a lifetime.

Facing growing pressure from liberals in his own party, an increasingly active and animated right-wing Tea Party movement, and the limitations that threatened Evan Bayh's prospective presidential ambitions. It was an open secret in Washington that the Indiana Senator had long pined for the Presidency, which his father twice contested himself in the 1970s.

But with Congressman Pence's entry into the race, the Indiana Senator was faced with a dilemma. The Republican challenger was one of the few strong GOP challengers in an atmosphere that seemed increasingly Democratic leaning. While Bayh was confident that a Democratic tsunami would manifest itself ahead of the election, he was also confident that a loss - even a narrow one - would permanently destroy his ambitions. Thus, a choice was placed in front of him: take his ball and go home, or fight like hell. One was easier than the other, but the other promised him a greater voice in the party.

Anita Dunn was a longtime aide and supporter, who along with Nancy Jacobson and Thurgood Marshall Jr. comprised the skeleton structure that would ultimately form his theoretical campaign. Yet all three had wavering opinions on whether or not to run, with media consultant Anita Dunn in particular warning that the Senator was too low on the radar to pick up support right out of the gate.  A hard fought reelection victory would certainly bring much needed attention to Bayh, but there was still a lingering doubt. And only one man could relieve such indecision. So the Senator picked up the phone in his capital hill office and dialed a familiar number.

That number was that of his father, who now resided in retirement near Washington in a wealthy Virginia suburb. "Evan" answered Birch Bayh on the other end of the line, "how did the meeting go?"

"We've reached an impasse" answered the Senator, "and I'm at a loss as to move forward."

"Pence is no Dan Quayle" replied Birch to his son. But Evan already knew that.

"That's the problem" answered Evan, "he isn't Dan Quayle. Trust me, I wish he was."

"Well, if he beats you, you're done."

"I know that dad, but what if I don't run again?"

"Indianans will remember you. But Iowans won't. You need to make the decision whether or not you want to be introduced to them as you are now, or you can redo a lifetimes work in the hopes that a fresh start...that a fresh start might....well, I'll be frank Evan, I think a fresh start will only get you so far."

"I should stay in then."

"To be quite honest son, you're options are more limited than I think your staff realizes. I think you should just take things one day at a time, whether decision you may make. But while Dan Quayle was no Mike Pence, I still lost. I didn't go back to Washington. I was done. Whatever you do, know that anything and everything can and will change. That's the first rule of Washington."
[1] Taken from Wikipedia Commons (Marc Nozell).

[KaiserDave]

Reread the amazingly written 2008 GOP debates! Can we expect more updates?

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Reread the amazingly written 2008 GOP debates! Can we expect more updates?

At some point, yeah. I wish I could stick to things more, but I will return to this. Comments like this usually energize me. Thanks man!

[Turbo Flame]

Reread the amazingly written 2008 GOP debates! Can we expect more updates?

At some point, yeah. I wish I could stick to things more, but I will return to this. Comments like this usually energize me. Thanks man!

I may be new on this site, but I've been reading you're timeline for quite some time. Keep it up.

[Illini Moderate]

One of the best TLs on the site.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Monday, June 1st, 2009: Air France Flight 447 crashes into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Brazil, killing all 228 passengers and crew onboard.
Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009: A new audio tape of Osama Bin Laden is released by Al-Qaeda, in which the world's most wanted terrorist leader again spews invective against the United States. The latest tape was believed to be recorded in recent days, as Bin Laden references American military actions conducted in Somalia against Islamist forces.
Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009: Despite yet another meeting between Secretary of State Rice and Iraqi Prime Minister al-Maliki in Baghdad show early signs of success, with the Iraqi Prime Minister agreeing to reauthorize the Arab Stabilization Force's presence in the country as well as allowing non-combat American troops to train and advise the ASF. Iraq denies the American request to construct an airbase in Anbar province, however.
Thursday, June 4th, 2009: The Senate votes to pass the so called "DeMint - Ryan" bill which would mandate sweeping spending cuts by a margin of 52-48, with several moderate Republicans ditching the party leadership to vote against the bill.
Friday, June 5th, 2009: The troop surge in Afghanistan begins when President Bush orders the deployment of thousands of additional soldiers to the country. As American forces begin pouring into Kabul, a massive counter-terrorism sweep is preemptively launched, nabbing over 100 known militants and destroying two separate bomb factories in the city.
Saturday, June 6th, 2009: President Bush joins other world leaders, including Queen Elizabeth II, Prime Minister Gordon Brown, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Nicholas Sarkozy,
Sunday, June 7th, 2009: On CBS's Face the Nation, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announces he will end debate on the Healthcare Freedom of Choice Act proposed by Senator Coburn, with a final vote on the proposed healthcare bill being slated for the middle of the upcoming week.
Monday, June 8th, 2009: Longtime Gabonese President Omar Bongo dies at 71 following a heart attack. His son follows him as President, and the longstanding regime continues to control the country.
Tuesday, June 9th, 2009: The Senate votes 53-47 to pass the Healthcare Freedom of Choice Act, with a number of Republicans voting against the bill as they had previously done so against the DeMint-Ryan Act. Political observers begin to note the increasing independence of the GOP Senate's moderate wing, with some describing them as a "caucus within a caucus" that have been able to push back against McConnell on major legislative fights. The bill's passage comes just a month after it was introduced, with Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME) complaining that McConnell rammed the bill through the Senate with little debate or room for amendment.
Wednesday, June 10th, 2009: In response to the controversial nature of the Healthcare Freedom of Choice's passage, protesters vandalize the home of Senate Majority Leader McConnell in Washington by spray painting "hands off our healthcare" across his garage door.
Thursday, June 11th, 2009: Libyan dictator Muammar Qaddafi visits Italy, the former colonial overlord of the North African country. His visit, which includes a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi, is marred by protesting students at nearly every event.
Friday, June 12th, 2009: In Iran, voters go to the polls for the presidential election in record numbers. Despite large public support and the high turnout, incumbent hardliner Ahmadinejad is reelected with 60% of the vote. Decrying the results as being rigged, protesters immediately take to the streets and clash with security forces across Tehran.

Lindsey.

Saturday, June 13th, 2009.

6:30 PM, Washington, DC.

Secretary Graham, pictured in Iraq earlier in the year.
[1]

"This marks the second day of straight rioting in Tehran" said Lindsey Graham, the Secretary of Defense, "and this marks the second day of what I believe could be the second Iranian Revolution."

"It could be" concurred Frances Townsend, the President's National Security Adviser, "this is the largest display of public dissent Iran has seen in sometime." Secretary Rice also murmured her agreement with the two as the trio stood over the President, who sat behind the Resolute Desk with several briefing papers spread across in front of him.

"Obviously it's too early to do anything beyond pressing our fingers on the scale" replied President Bush, "but we'll need a contingency plan put together quickly." Graham assured the President that such plans had long been developed by the Pentagon, and Bush was confident that such plans could be delivered to him within a few hours as he further weighed his options.

"Well" said Bush, "our priority here is a controlled collapse, one that doesn't create a power vacuum that could ripple outward. Iran is wedged smack dab in the middle of Iraq and Afghanistan. So if we have to throw our punches, we can't go for a knockout blow. Not right away at least."

"Mr. President" interjected Secretary Graham, "I believe what would serve the national security interests of this country is a measured response that gains strength with each blow. Should the Revolutionary Guard turn their fire on the people and kill, I don't know, maybe a few hundred people, than we would ideally use the opportunity to implement a no-fly zone."

"And then what?" asked the President, confident that his Secretary would offer an appropriately strong response. "I see it this way" Graham began, "I see this scenario developing out of a shoot down of one of our airmen. This stage would see retaliatory airstrikes designed to immediately destroy their aerial capacity as well as several targets related to their nuclear programs."

"And if it reaches that point....or goes beyond it?"

"Mr. President, at that point, as they would say back in South Carolina, they'd have a whole host of trouble coming their way."
Sunday, June 14th, 2009: Iran's Supreme Leader, the Ayatollah, issues a decree ordering a recount of the votes cast in the presidential election in order to appease student demonstrators who have been protesting for days. Using social media to organize, particularly Twitter, the anti-government demonstrations continue to grow in size with each passing day.
Monday, June 15th, 2009: Security Forces briefly attempt to detain Iranian opposition leader Mir-Hossein Mousavi, but are prevented from doing so by demonstrators. In response, Iranian authorities shut down internet access across the country and begin preemptively arresting known activists.
Wednesday, June 17th, 2009: The North Korean regime threatens to test a new missile, which they claim is capable of reaching Hawaii. President Bush in turn threatens to launch a military response should a missile test fly over American airspace or terrorism.
Thursday, June 18th, 2009: Despite communication and media blackouts, tens of thousands of students rally in Tehran, protesting the results of the election despite the pleas from the Ayatollah to cease further demonstrations.
Saturday, June 20th, 2009: With Iranian protests growing by the day, Secretary of State Rice travels to London to meet with her British counterparts as part of an effort to pull together a possible NATO coalition against Iran. There is little appetite in Whitehall for further collaboration with the American government however, and Rice returns to Washington empty-handed.
Sunday, June 21st, 2009: South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford, a rising star within the conservative wing of the GOP, tells staffers that he is "hiking the Appalachian Trail" and subsequently disappears for three days with little communication or warning.
Wednesday, June 24th, 2009: Mark Sanford is spotted returning to Charleston at the airport, where media quickly begins hounding him as to his whereabouts. At a bizarre press conference, Sanford confesses that he had traveled to Argentina to meet his online mistress, and announces he will resign as Governor of South Carolina in the coming days.
Thursday, June 25th, 2009: Pop icon Michael Jackson dies suddenly in Los Angeles from cardiac arrest after an accidental overdose. Jackson's early death at the age of 50 stuns fans across the world and leads to a mass, international outpouring of grief.
Friday, June 26th, 2009: Manuel Zelaya, the increasingly autocratic and leftist President of Honduras, is forced to rescind the sacking of a top military officer in the leadup to a planned referendum on term limits in the country. Zelaya, who accused the officer of planning a coup, initially refuses to accept the ruling of the country's Supreme Court before bowing to pressure from the military.
Sunday, June 28th, 2009: Counter-terrorism operations commence in Afghanistan's most violent region, Kandahar Province, where the surge of American forces in the region quickly puts the Taliban on the defensive. The mission comes at a cost however, with eight American soldiers being killed by a suicide bomber who detonated himself near a passing convoy.
Tuesday, June 30th, 2009: The Reverend Al Sharpton tells MSNBC's Rachel Maddow that he is exploring a presidential campaign in 2012 should Senator Obama choose not to run. Sharpton, who is still paying off legal fees related to his first campaign in 2004, also endorses Congressman Anthony Weiner ahead of the New York mayoral election in November.
[1] Taken from Wikipedia Commons (Public Domain)

[KaiserDave]

YES YES YES!!!!

I have waited for the return of this timeline. My patience has been rewarded.

[KaiserDave]

This Jeb! Majority is horrifying. Hopefully Dems bite back in the midterms.

[OSR stands with Israel]

YES YES YES!!!!

I have waited for the return of this timeline. My patience has been rewarded.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Five Decades of Fear & Loathing will continue, and so will this.
Wednesday, July 1st, 2009: Honduras’s left wing President Manuel Zelaya is arrested by soldiers in his own bedroom in the early morning hours as part of a military coup, resulting in the now ex-President being forced into exile in Venezuela. From Caracas, Zelaya publicly accused the United States of fomenting the coup attempt. Despite the opposition of the Organization of American States' strident opposition to the coup, the United States immediately recognized the new government much to the dismay of Castro and Chavez.
Thursday, July 2nd, 2009: The High Court of India overturns a 148 year old colonial law prohibiting homosexuality in India, a major victory for the nation's LGBT community.

President Hugo Chavez accuses the United States of orchestrating the recent Honduran coup, and orders troops to the border with Colombia after he further alleges that the Bush administration is planning to launch an aggressive campaign against Cuba and Venezuela in order to stop the spread of socialism in South America.
Friday, July 3rd, 2009: Omar al-Bashir, President of Sudan, is charged by the International Criminal Court with crimes against humanity related to the Darfur genocide. The Sudanese President's allies on the African continent condemn the arrest warrant issued by the ICC, and the African Union suspends all collaboration with the ICC in response.
Saturday, July 4th, 2009: Colombian President Uribe responds to aggression from Venezuela by reinforcing the border, telling reporters at a press conference that "Colombia is prepared for any eventuality" and threatening to "march into Caracas" and send Chavez "packing off to Havana."

Joe Biden.

Saturday, July 4th, 2009.

2:30 PM, Wilmington, DE.

Joe Biden had been in Washington for 36 years, and had no intention of going anywhere.

He had witnessed the wounding of the nation during Watergate, the malaise of the Ford and Carter administrations, the decadence of the Reagan era, the fall of the Soviet Empire, the rise of globalization, and then the shattered hope of post-9/11 America. His tenure in the Senate had started on a tragic note, and while he worked hard to rebuild his life following the death of his first wife and daughter in a 1972 car accident, his efforts to win the Presidency - his other preoccupation in life - had been less successful. His 1988 campaign had been derailed by a plagiarism scandal and a brain aneurism, and he had missed opportunities in 1992, 2000, and 2004 to run. He wasn't getting any younger either. At 68, Joe Biden was no spring chicken. This could very well be his last chance.

There were rivals of course; the younger, charismatic Barack Obama. The barrier-breaking Hillary Clinton. Fresher faces like Evan Bayh and Brian Schweitzer and Martin O'Malley had been floated as well. But Biden had experience on his side, and was as ambitious as ever. His sons Hunter and Beau, who was the Attorney General of Delaware, joined him for the parade in Wilmington on Independence Day. It was a typical demonstration of Biden's expertise in retail politics. In such a small state, a simple handshake could go a long way in the minds of voters. As the three Bidens walked the parade route and stopped to shake hands with everyone who wanted them, there seemed to be a repetitive motive amongst those present.

"You gotta run Joe! This is your time, baby!" said an elderly black woman in a SEIU t-shirt who was part of a labor delegation marching ahead of him in the parade.

"Run Joey run!" another chanted as the Biden's walked past.

"Joe, get back to Washington and whip Jeb's ass!"

"That's what we've been doing!" answered Biden jokingly as he walked on. It was a lie of course. The Republicans were kicking their ass. They had a supermajority after all. But 2010 offered the chance to reset the direction of the country. "Get out and vote Democrats next year!" he added, "your future depends on it."

Joe Biden was popular - no, almost beloved - in his home state of Delaware. But there wasn't as much enthusiasm for him in the places that counted, such as Iowa, or New Hampshire, where he was polling poorly if he was lucky enough to be included in the polls at all.

"Next year we're marching in New Hampshire" he quietly grumbled to Beau and Hunter.
Sunday, July 5th, 2009: Vice President Mike Huckabee states that America will "not keep Israel on a chain" when questioned about the possibility of an Israeli preemptive attack on Iranian nuclear sites. Secretary of Defense Lindsey Graham meanwhile authorizes top generals at the Pentagon to draft different strike plans against Iranian nuclear and military locations at the President's request, though this is not immediately known to the press or public.
Monday, July 6th, 2009: Exiled Honduran President Zelaya attempts to return to Honduras, but his plane is diverted to neighboring Nicaragua after authorities refuse to give the deposed leftist leader permission to land. Sheltered by President Ortega of Nicaragua for the time being, Zelaya continues to demand his reinstatement as President with the support of the OAS, which is increasingly concerned by tensions between Zelaya's sponsors in Venezuela and the firmly American aligned neighboring Colombia.
Wednesday, July 8th, 2009: On the 15th anniversary of his father's death, North Korean leader Kim Jong Il makes a rare public appearance, appearing at a televised memorial event hosted by the ruling Workers Party. The enigmatic North Korean leader has not been seen since April, and is believed to have suffered a major stroke in August of 2008.

President Bush attends the G8 Summit in Tokyo, joined by British Prime Minister Gordon Browm, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, French President Nicholas Sarkozy, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, Japanese Prime Minister Taro Ase, and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Among the summit's top priorities is the stabilization of the international financial system following the meltdown the year before.
Friday, July 10th, 2009: Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA), the Chairman of the Judiciary Committee and a key figure in the recent Kavanaugh confirmation battle, stuns Washington when he announces he will leave the Republican Party and run for reelection as an independent and caucus with the Democrats. Enraged by his defection, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announces that he will strip Specter of his committee assignments. The longtime Pennsylvania Senator immediately begins putting together his campaign ahead of what will likely be one of the toughest battles of his political career, with polling showing a three way tie between Specter and potential Republican and Democratic challengers. Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL) succeeds Specter as Chairman of the Judiciary Committee.
Sunday, July 12th, 2009: Presidents Chavez and Correa of Venezuela and Ecuador meet in Quito, where it is announced that a military alliance between the two nations has been formed as a bulwark against what Chavez condemns as "Yankee imperialism" in the region. Immediately, President Uribe of Colombia mobilizes the Colombian military and sends reinforcements to his western border with Ecuador, which Correa and Chavez condemn as an act of aggression. The growing tensions in South America are the topic of much discussion on the Sunday Shows, with Secretary of State Rice telling NBC's Andrea Mitchell during an appearance on Meet the Press that the United States will "fully and unequivocally stand by our Colombian allies."
Monday, July 13th, 2009: Governor Rick Perry of Texas announces he will run for reelection for a third term in 2010.

An American drone strike in Waziristan in Pakistan's tribal region kills 50 members of the Taliban and Haqqani network; Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto protests the Bush administration's continued use of drones in Pakistan, and warns the administration that the Pakistani government will not tolerate unauthorized airstrikes within their territory.
Tuesday, July 14th, 2009: After a high profile meeting between President Bush, Speaker Blunt, and Majority Leader McConnell, the House Speaker announces that he will seek to pass the Healthcare Freedom of Choice Act with no major amendments aside for attached appropriations in order to speed up the passage of the legislation. This will speed up the conference process between the two chambers of Congress.
Wednesday, July 15th, 2009: Education Secretary Eugene Hickock unveils a federal plan to implement "Common Core" standards into the public school system curriculum. There is a great degree of conservative pushback against the proposed changes, which become incredibly controversial among Tea Party activists in particular. President Bush defends the proposed changes as the "gold standard" in modernizing America's school system.
Thursday, July 16th, 2009: David Milliband receives enough support from Labor Party MPs to launch a leadership challenge against the Prime Minister; the vote, which is scheduled for August, is the collimation of a years worth of discord between the two men over the direction of the party. The Liberal Democratic Party's leader Nick Clegg tells reporters that he will review the status of the coalition government after the party's leadership is decided.
Friday, July 17th, 2009: Congressman Joe Sestak (D-PA) launches his candidacy for the United States Senate, challenging incumbent Arlen Specter (I-PA) and former Congressman Pat Toomey (R-PA) in what is anticipated to be one of 2010's most critical races. Similarly, in California, the state's Attorney General (and former Governor and presidential candidate) Jerry Brown also announces his own gubernatorial run, putting him on the path for a major comeback after decades in politics.

Veteran journalist and broadcaster Walter Cronkite dies at the age of 92.
Sunday, July 19th, 2009: An American drone strike in Waziristan in Pakistan's tribal region kills 50 members of the Taliban and Haqqani network; Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto protests the Bush administration's continued use of drones in Pakistan, and warns the administration that the Pakistani government will not tolerate unauthorized airstrikes within their territory.
Tuesday, July 21st, 2009: Secretary of State Rice travels to Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States as part of an effort to form a "defense umbrella" around Iran. Critics warn that this strategy of containment will backfire, inspiring Iran to take more aggressive measures to coopt the Iraqi and Syrian regimes into their orbit.
Thursday, July 23rd, 2009: Congressman Ron Paul (R-TX), speaking at a Tea Party rally in Galveston, Texas, sparks speculation that he may run for President again in 2012 when he declares "the revolution is continuing." A spokesperson for the Congressman states that he was speaking about organizing the conservative and libertarian wings of the GOP ahead of the midterms.

Former Congressman Tom Tancredo (R-CO) announces he will run for Governor of Colorado in 2010 as a Republican candidate. He is expected to face off against John Hickenlooper, the Mayor of Denver, should he be the Republican nominee for Governor.
Saturday, July 25th, 2009: Harry Patch, the last surviving WWI veteran to have fought in the trenches, dies at the age of 111.
Sunday, July 26th, 2009: Mohammed Yusuf, leader of Boko Haram, an Islamist militant group active in northern Nigeria, sparks rioting across the country after a fiery recording of him calling for Islamist mob violence against "the infidels" circulates. Within hours, thousands of young radicalized Muslims take to the streets, setting fire to churches and assassinating pastors in a pogrom that lasts for days.
Monday, July 27th, 2009: Venezuela and Colombia sever diplomatic relations as tensions escalate; the Prime Minister of Canada offers to negotiate an agreement between the two South American adversaries in order to to deescalate the crisis, but is rebuffed by President Chavez, who calls Harper "Bush's lackey" in an impassioned address to supporters in Caracas. Chavez further warns that the United States is preparing to invade both Iran and Venezuela in the coming months.
Wednesday, July 29th, 2009: Scotland Yard busts an Al Qaeda cell active in Liverpool, where three Yemeni immigrants are arrested as part of an effort to thwart a bomb plot.
Friday, July 31st, 2009: Nigerian police arrest and subsequently execute Mohammed Yusuf; his followers in Boko Haram declare themselves at odds with the Nigerian government as fears of an Islamist uprising spread.