Preserve, Protect, & Defend

[brucejoel99]

Acting President Haaland

Tuesday, January 24th, 2023:

10:01pm, Presidential Emergency Operations Center

Deb Haaland visits Yellowstone National Park (September 2019) 02 - The Office of Representative Debra A. Haaland [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

"Yes, Madam President, I shall relay your wishes to my government: you have my personal assurances of no provocation in the Gulf. I only wish to extend my most sincere condolences regarding this cowardly act & the tragedy which it has beget." Despite being a hard-liner, President Raisi had sent something of a positive message to the Americans soon after taking office in opting to retain former President Rouhani's chief of the Iranian Interests Section in the U.S., Mehdi Atefat. Now, as the Acting President finished conversing with Atefat, it was clear that the fruits of said message could be reaped tonight. "Thank you, Mr. Ambassador. Your words mean a great deal, & bolster my hope of us getting through tonight successfully." With that, the secure speakerphone call was ended, & Deb looked up at her advisors, shaking her head in amusement: "Well, at least we can say that at least one potential global crisis was successfully averted tonight. Good job, everybody."

At that moment, the head of the Acting President's detail leaned over to her to deliver some more welcome news: "Madam President, Mr. Sayre & his protective detail have just cleared the gate, & we also have your senior staff as well as the members of President Biden's senior staff who weren't at the State of the Union signing-in as well. They'll be escorted in shortly." Phew, Haaland was finally able to think to herself for the first time tonight. Now that she'd been able to take the imminent threat of yet another global catastrophe in the Middle East off the table, she could turn her attention to the other 2 most pressing matters on her mind: her family's safety, & whatever could still be hopefully salvaged of the country's domestic stability. A few moments later, a detail encircling Skip - with his evidently haphazardly packed bag in tow, having undoubtedly had to rush to pack what he could with as little time as he was given - entered the PEOC. The Acting President jumped to her feet, & they immediately made a beeline for one another, grabbing each other tightly in a hug, knowing that - but for a trick of random fate in Klain picking Deb to be the designated survivor - they could've lost each other tonight.

Soon after, some senior staff members - both hers & President Biden's - began trickling in too: her brain-trust at Interior of chief of staff Larry Roberts; Senior Counselor Jennifer Van der Heide, who'd previously served as her Chief of Staff on the Hill & for her first few months at Interior before having to be demoted on the White House's orders for having sought to host a potential super-spreader event in celebration of Deb's Senate confirmation; Deputy Assistant Interior Secretary for Policy, Management & Budget Dr. Eric Werwa, who'd previously served as her Legislative Director on the Hill; & Senior Advisor to the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Heidi Todacheene, who'd served as her Legislative Counsel on the Hill. From the remainder of President Biden's team whose attendance hadn't been required at the State of the Union, there was Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations Jen O'Malley Dillon, now the senior-most surviving member of President Biden's staff, & Counselor to the President Jeff Zients. As they walked in, having already been briefed on what little was still known thus far, they knew, whether they liked it or not (& they certainly didn't, due to the circumstances bringing them here), that this was gonna be the hodgepodge group of advisors - made up of both the Interior bureaucrats whom Deb trusted & the few senior White House political operatives who knew how to do the job left - that'd be helping Deb move the country forward.

"Alright, everyone. Thanks for coming in on such short notice, given the deep state of calamity in which we find ourselves tonight," the Acting President began. "First thing's first, how soon can we get on the networks? Because we need to remove any sense of confusion as quickly as possible, & above all else, we need people to know that now is not the time for panic." Jen was the first to speak up, "Depending on how fast we can get the all-clear out of the PEOC, we can have them brought in, set-up, & live on the air in 90 or so minutes out of the East Room." To that, Jennifer countered, "shouldn't we be doing it out of the Oval, though, to maintain a sense of continuity?" Deb nodded in agreement, "we'll do it out of the Oval, then. I mean, we were gonna have to get out ahead of conspiracy wackos inherently bent on making something out of nothing eventually, so we might as well just try to get it out of the way now while we still can." The advisors nodded.

"Well, how soon can we get out of here in the PEOC, then?," the Acting President asked the room. In response, FBI Director Chris Wray, patched into the room via a secure video feed from the Hoover Building, had some relevant news to share. "Sooner than you may have thought, Madam President. I'm looking at an email that's just been forwarded to me by my investigative deputies, & it looks like we're now aware of what went down at the Capitol." He proceeded to inform the room of what he'd just been informed of: the OANN email from Captain Noland, his motives which he'd written therein, the metadata thereof confirming its authenticity & that it'd been authored well before the time at which the Capitol had been attacked, all of which was lining up with some of the debris that'd already been identified at the Capitol: an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737. In short, they knew what happened, & although tonight was a tragedy, there was now no imminent danger.

"So what you're saying is that this was a lone - & pissed - wolf, but a lone one nonetheless?," Deb asked. "Correct, Madam President," Wray confirmed, "Whatever happened earlier tonight, the threat is behind us now." With that, it was as if the room breathed a collective sigh of relief. Tonight had been a failure in disaster prevention, no doubt, but at least continuity-of-government had started being undertaken in a successful manner, & no further threat was posed. Of course, a lone wolf would do wonders for said aforementioned conspiracy wackos: all that'd be needed now was Earl Warren coming back from the dead to lead the investigation into tonight's events. In any event, one question remained left to be asked: "now what?"

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

I wonder what's going on on atlas at this point

[brucejoel99]

I wonder what's going on on atlas at this point

Ooh, you've given me an idea! Might make some fake Atlas posts as one of the next updates.

[NewYorkExpress]

I wonder what's going on on atlas at this point

Ooh, you've given me an idea! Might make some fake Atlas posts as one of the next updates.

One of me calling for the repeal of the First Amendment should be there if you decide to include actual Atlas posters.

[Person Man]

I wonder what's going on on atlas at this point

Ooh, you've given me an idea! Might make some fake Atlas posts as one of the next updates.

One of me calling for the repeal of the First Amendment should be there if you decide to include actual Atlas posters.

Any takers for mass deportations?

[Kahane's Grave Is A Gender-Neutral Bathroom]

I wonder what's going on on atlas at this point

Ooh, you've given me an idea! Might make some fake Atlas posts as one of the next updates.

Lol I can imagine myself in this situation.

Probably calling SirWoodbury a fascist and a host of other things.

[Person Man]

I wonder what's going on on atlas at this point

Ooh, you've given me an idea! Might make some fake Atlas posts as one of the next updates.

Lol I can imagine myself in this situation.

Probably calling SirWoodbury a fascist and a host of other things.

Or for him to go to jail.

[Utah Neolib]

I do want to point out that Haaland doesn’t have 0 experience when it comes to Defense. I mean, she was technically on the armed services / readiness committee in the house.
Not that much ”experience” but she does have some

[Meatball Ron]

Bump - this is so awesome!

[brucejoel99]

Aug. was hell in terms of the author's personal life, but all is right now, so "Preserve, Protect, & Defend" will be back soon!

[America Needs R'hllor]

Aug. was hell in terms of the author's personal life, but all is right now, so "Preserve, Protect, & Defend" will be back soon!

I can't belief I haven't read this before. Looks like a great TL, will read it soonTM and keep following!

[Joseph Cao]

Glad to hear you're doing better, Bruce. And looking forward to the return of this amazing timeline!

[brucejoel99]

Acting President Haaland

Tuesday, January 24th, 2023:

10:27pm, Presidential Emergency Operations Center

Deb Haaland at robing ceremony for Remove the Stains Act in 2019 - The Office of Representative Debra A. Haaland [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Despite the de-facto all-clear having been granted by the intelligence community, the Secret Service nevertheless requested that the Acting President remain in the PEOC for a little while longer as a precautionary measure while they continued to further fully secure the White House grounds & lock them down. So much for bringing the networks into the Oval & delivering an address from there, then. They did, however, permit Jeff Zeints to bring an easy-to-use camera into the facility, provided that it only be functioning during the Acting President's impending address to the nation, for which he quickly set-up a feed for the networks to be able to connect to. As an attendant attempted to adjust the limited lighting in the room as best as they could, Jen O'Malley Dillon was putting the final touches on the Acting President's address, to be promptly loaded into the teleprompter as soon as it was done. Through all of this, Deb was preparing herself for the task of addressing her nation in one of its darkest hours, seated in the President's chair, next to Skip, who took the few moments left to brush some dust off of Deb's mourning wear so that it wouldn't be seen on camera.

At Zeints' nod, Skip kisses his wife for good luck & moves slightly out-of-frame, leaving Deb to stand behind the presidential podium. With that, Deb looks up to Zients & nods. He gives her a countdown: "Madam President, you're live on the air in 5, 4, 3, 2..." The red light on the camera is now turned on. Deb now has the country's attention, not to mention the world's.

"Good evening, my fellow Americans," she begins. "The almost-unfathomable emotional burden of this newfound responsibility that has been placed upon my shoulders, of serving as your new Acting President, pains me to tell you that which I must tell you now. Earlier this evening, our nation came under attack as a result of a deliberately deadly act of domestic terrorism. The victims were on Alaskan Airlines Flight 1002 & in our hallowed Capitol: mothers & fathers, brothers & sisters, airline crew members, political staffers & military aides, Congressmen & Congresswomen, Senators, & even the Speaker of the House, the Vice President, & the President of these United States. Hundreds of lives were suddenly ended by an evil, despicable act of terror intended to cripple our nation & insight chaos. Rest assured, however, that they didn't die in vain, because as before, such an act will have failed in its impact. None of us will ever forget this day, & it's as a result of our being unified by that fact that, as before, America will prove that we're a strong nation, one that'll fight back & persevere rather than bow down in the face of fear. An example of that perseverance is my presence in this moment, speaking before you here tonight. In the immediate aftermath of the attack, our federal government's continuity-of-government procedures were invoked, & as the highest-ranking living member remaining in the presidential line of succession, I was sworn in as your new Acting President, to serve for the remainder of the late President Biden's term, pursuant to the Presidential Succession Act of 1947. Although you may not know who I am, I humbly ask for your trust & for your support as our nation perseveres forward because that is the promise that I make to you here tonight: that, over these next 2 years, America will persevere, so thank you, God bless you, & may God bless these United States of America."

With Zients' closing of the easy-to-use camera & turning of the red light atop it off, the presidency of Deb Haaland was on.

[America Needs R'hllor]

You name it, they blocked it, & Manchin & Sinema were finally done with it. It barely even took any nudging to finally get them there in the end: they'd simply had enough & just wanted to get some stuff done for once.

Damn, I wish real Manchin and Sinema wanted to get stuff done instead of virtue signal...

[brucejoel99]

I wonder what's going on on atlas at this point

Ooh, you've given me an idea! Might make some fake Atlas posts as one of the next updates.

Promises Made, Promises Kept (Part 1/?):

Talk Elections Forum

Tuesday, January 24th, 2023:

9:35pm, U.S. General Discussion

MAGugh Kander2020 Concerned Citizen ★★★★★ Posts: 5,174

2023 State of the Union & GOP/Progressive Responses Watchalong Discussion Megathread « on: January 24, 2023, 08:50:53 PM » Since there is no SOTU thread yet, I decided to create one. Hope the mods pin this thread. Recommend  |  2 people recommend this.

Calthrina950 Atlas Icon ★★★★★ Posts: 14,223

Re: 2023 State of the Union & GOP/Progressive Responses Watchalong Discussion Megathread « Reply #1 on: January 24, 2023, 08:58:15 PM » I will be watching tonight. Thankfully looking like the ceremonies have fully returned to normal thus far, with the chamber full & nobody masked. Thank God that we've reached a point where the few masked holdouts from last year can feel comfortable again. Recommend  |  5 people recommend this.

TexasGurl texasgurl Moderator Atlas legend ★★★★★ Posts: 15,905

Re: 2023 State of the Union & GOP/Progressive Responses Watchalong Discussion Megathread « Reply #2 on: January 24, 2023, 09:02:45 PM » I'm watching Stars@Islanders, much more interesting. Recommend  |  1 person recommended this.

riceowl riceowel315 YaBB God ★★★★★ Posts: 4,328

Re: 2023 State of the Union & GOP/Progressive Responses Watchalong Discussion Megathread « Reply #3 on: January 24, 2023, 09:05:46 PM » Why are MTG & Boebert there? Recommend  |  4 people recommend this.

MAGugh Kander2020 Concerned Citizen ★★★★★ Posts: 5,174

Re: 2023 State of the Union & GOP/Progressive Responses Watchalong Discussion Megathread « Reply #4 on: January 24, 2023, 09:08:10 PM » Republicans remained seated for "clean water for all Americans" and "the end of child poverty". Recommend  |  14 people recommend this.

Calthrina950 Atlas Icon ★★★★★ Posts: 14,223

Re: 2023 State of the Union & GOP/Progressive Responses Watchalong Discussion Megathread « Reply #5 on: January 24, 2023, 09:09:36 PM » Republicans remained seated for "clean water for all Americans" and "the end of child poverty". It's the norm now that the opposing party remains seated throughout most of the President's address, even on portions that should be non-controversial. The Democrats, after all, remained seated when Trump touted similar platitudes. Recommend  |  1 person recommended this.

Lief 🐋 Lief Atlas Legend ★★★★★ Posts: 46,081

Re: 2023 State of the Union & GOP/Progressive Responses Watchalong Discussion Megathread « Reply #6 on: January 24, 2023, 09:09:42 PM » Great speech so far. Biden is being very strong on China, which I think we can all enjoy. Recommend  |  5 people recommend this.

Sr Jsoe Antonio Kast Forever Alfred F. Jones Atlas Icon ★★★★★ Posts: 14,154

Re: 2023 State of the Union & GOP/Progressive Responses Watchalong Discussion Megathread « Reply #7 on: January 24, 2023, 09:17:12 PM » “It’s within our power to end cancer” just now was the first time he’s raised his voice tonight. Recommend

Old School Republican Computer89 Atlas Superstar ★★★★★ Posts: 34,553

Re: 2023 State of the Union & GOP/Progressive Responses Watchalong Discussion Megathread « Reply #8 on: January 24, 2023, 09:18:42 PM » Biden just said unions built the nation , but meanwhile unions are doing this : https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2023/01/15/carp-o02.html Recommend

Lief 🐋 Lief Atlas Legend ★★★★★ Posts: 46,081

Re: 2023 State of the Union & GOP/Progressive Responses Watchalong Discussion Megathread « Reply #9 on: January 24, 2023, 09:19:06 PM » Stern Jill Biden is hot as hell, wow! Recommend  |  2 people recommend this.

Roronoa D. Law Patrick97 YaBB God ★★★★★ Posts: 3,542

Re: 2023 State of the Union & GOP/Progressive Responses Watchalong Discussion Megathread « Reply #10 on: January 24, 2023, 09:20:40 PM » So all Republicans still got is Own/Troll the libs? Okay! Recommend  |  3 people recommend this.

ultraviolet Sr. Member ★★★★★ Posts: 2,955

Re: 2023 State of the Union & GOP/Progressive Responses Watchalong Discussion Megathread « Reply #11 on: January 24, 2023, 09:22:24 PM » This is awesome Recommend

The Republican Virus GWBFan Concerned Citizen ★★★★★ Posts: 9,835

Re: 2023 State of the Union & GOP/Progressive Responses Watchalong Discussion Megathread « Reply #12 on: January 24, 2023, 09:23:11 PM » Anyone who voted for the GOP last fall should feel deeply embarrassed when thinking back on their agenda vs Biden’s tonight. Recommend  |  2 people recommend this.

Calthrina950 Atlas Icon ★★★★★ Posts: 14,223

Re: 2023 State of the Union & GOP/Progressive Responses Watchalong Discussion Megathread « Reply #13 on: January 24, 2023, 09:24:24 PM » Anyone who voted for the GOP last fall should feel deeply embarrassed when thinking back on their agenda vs Biden’s tonight. They should, but they won't be. I've noticed that some Republicans on Twitter are already reverting to their "Senile Joe" attacks and taking issue with any verbal slip-ups he's had tonight. Recommend

MAGugh Kander2020 Concerned Citizen ★★★★★ Posts: 5,174

Re: 2023 State of the Union & GOP/Progressive Responses Watchalong Discussion Megathread « Reply #14 on: January 24, 2023, 09:27:13 PM » Biden...appealing to progressives tonight??!!?? Recommend

Suburbia bronz4141 Atlas Icon ★★★★★ Posts: 18,539

Re: 2023 State of the Union & GOP/Progressive Responses Watchalong Discussion Megathread « Reply #15 on: January 24, 2023, 09:28:11 PM » Anyone who voted for the GOP last fall should feel deeply embarrassed when thinking back on their agenda vs Biden’s tonight. They should, but they won't be. I've noticed that some Republicans on Twitter are already reverting to their "Senile Joe" attacks and taking issue with any verbal slip-ups he's had tonight. A lot of them are saying that he is not inspiring.... Recommend

The Republican Virus GWBFan Concerned Citizen ★★★★★ Posts: 9,835

Re: 2023 State of the Union & GOP/Progressive Responses Watchalong Discussion Megathread « Reply #16 on: January 24, 2023, 09:30:21 PM » Anyone who voted for the GOP last fall should feel deeply embarrassed when thinking back on their agenda vs Biden’s tonight. They should, but they won't be. I've noticed that some Republicans on Twitter are already reverting to their "Senile Joe" attacks and taking issue with any verbal slip-ups he's had tonight. A lot of them are saying that he is not inspiring.... If any of them were intelligent they never would have voted for the GOP. Recommend

Sr Jsoe Antonio Kast Forever Alfred F. Jones Atlas Icon ★★★★★ Posts: 14,154

Re: 2023 State of the Union & GOP/Progressive Responses Watchalong Discussion Megathread « Reply #17 on: January 24, 2023, 09:32:38 PM » “Trickle-down economics does not work, has never worked, and will never work.” Big (and justified) applause line. Recommend  |  14 people recommend this.

Calthrina950 Atlas Icon ★★★★★ Posts: 14,223

Re: 2023 State of the Union & GOP/Progressive Responses Watchalong Discussion Megathread « Reply #18 on: January 24, 2023, 09:33:47 PM » “Trickle-down economics does not work, has never worked, and will never work.” Big (and justified) applause line. Republicans were probably simmering with rage when he said that. That's been their economic philosophy since Reagan. What's quite ironic is that just after that, Biden went on to talk about raising funds in order to invest back into such facets of our own country as our national parks, the establishment of which was literally part of the Republican economic philosophy of 100+ years ago under Theodore Roosevelt. Recommend  |  11 people recommend this.

Old School Republican Computer89 Atlas Superstar ★★★★★ Posts: 34,553

Re: 2023 State of the Union & GOP/Progressive Responses Watchalong Discussion Megathread « Reply #19 on: January 24, 2023, 09:34:20 PM » Did anybody else's feed of the speech just cut out ? I tried flipping to other networks but it's like the feed has been cut on every network Recommend

Old School Republican Computer89 Atlas Superstar ★★★★★ Posts: 34,553

Re: 2023 State of the Union & GOP/Progressive Responses Watchalong Discussion Megathread « Reply #20 on: January 24, 2023, 09:34:53 PM » Um what is going on ? Recommend

roxas11 Sr. Member ★★★★★ Posts: 2,208

Re: 2023 State of the Union & GOP/Progressive Responses Watchalong Discussion Megathread « Reply #21 on: January 24, 2023, 09:35:09 PM » Oh my god Recommend  |  69 people recommend this.

[America Needs R'hllor]

Moooore

[Joseph Cao]

Part II has gotta be members of Congress not at the Capitol and how they reacted.

Bonus points if cable news panelist Adam Kinzinger makes an appearance to comment.

[Roll Roons]

Part II has gotta be members of Congress not at the Capitol and how they reacted.

Bonus points if cable news panelist Adam Kinzinger makes an appearance to comment.

I remember seeing a TL from a while ago that featured a similar scenario while Obama was doing a SOTU, but the Capitol was hit by a meteorite rather than it being a terrorist attack. IIRC, the only survivors were Tulsi Gabbard and Rand Paul.

[Utah Neolib]

Bump

[Utah Neolib]

Bump

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

Pls

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

Moooore

[brucejoel99]

Moooore

need the real world to stop giving me multiple TL-inspired scares first

https://twitter.com/SecDebHaaland/status/1498828686203703311https://twitter.com/NBCNews/status/1716892516144869698

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

Moooore

need the real world to stop giving me multiple TL-inspired scares first

https://twitter.com/SecDebHaaland/status/1498828686203703311https://twitter.com/NBCNews/status/1716892516144869698

I was specifically reminded of this by the AK Airlines scare.