alternatehistory.com
McCain Administration Summer 2009
Summer 2009
"RIP Micheal Jackson..."
"What the hell, Honduras?"
"McCain is a military man so unsurprising we would consider this..."
The first summer of the McCain administration was a complicated one, especially with how rough the year started and the regrowing tensions between the political parties over what McCain wanted to. While he moderated his stance even more over the years to where he could be considered a centralist, some of his policies, such as on regarding abortion and tackling teen pregnancy was met with irritation and disagreement, especially as the numbers showed the current program of educating teenagers and so on worked. On the other hand, he did have a mixed voting record on some stuff. Despite this, people were still willing to work together as things like removing the power of gerrymandering and that one of Gore's final acts was ensuring that the FCC Fairness Doctrine was updated and maintained for the next few years, to endure a Republican presidency. Overall, while the veneer of bipartisanship was being maintained, the various sub-groups were causing cracks as the new blood and their supporters were determined to not let anyone undo what President Gore accomplished. Calls for same-sex marriage grow some more with Governor John Lynch signs a bill allowing for same-sex marriage in New Hampshire. A white nationalist was arrested for plans to attack the US Holocaust Museum after trying to steal a gun. McCain announced that Analog television broadcastswould end in the United States by this time in the next year, giving people more time to go and shift to digitial. However, the biggest news was on the death of legendary musician and "King of Pop" Micheal Jackson from overdose. After the scandals from the previous years, he was planning to make a comeback tour known as This is It after briefly returning to prominence with his involvement of environmental awareness raising an impressive amount of money. The world of entertainment mourned the lost of one of its biggest stars, including what could've been with his final show. Micheal Jackson songs flew off the shelves such as his classics, though his environmentalist themed songs were especially noteworthy in part of the influence of the Gore administration prior.
Jackson's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, surrounded by barriers and covered with flowers
However, while the world continued to mourn the loss of Micheal Jackson and struggle with the aftermath and his legacy, the world got up in arms internationally when the Military of Honduras went and under the Supreme Court, ousted President Manuel Zelaya. The entire ordeal was condemned worldwide as a coup and questions began running rampant. The entire thing started when Zelaya began plans to try and rewrite the constitution and was met with problems from the Supreme Court and Congress on it. It led to the military to be ordered to oust him and replace him. Unsurprisingly, given the politics such as Zelaya's left winged leanings, foul play was considered involved. While President McCain called out the entire ordeal, he hesitated to called it a coup; as the Secretary of State noted, this is because that under U.S. law, officially declaring a coup would oblige the U.S. to cut off most foreign aid to Honduras. Something that would escalate the situation to worse problems. On the other hand, giving money to an unrecognized government brought in by violence would likely result in more violence and some of that blood being on American hands. Many note it would be an important for how the McCain Administration would decide on policy. In the end, the McCain Administration decided to take the more aggressive route and refer to what happened in Honduras a military coup, thus halting most foreign aid over to Honduras. It was mentioned that nongovernmental independent bodies could still donate to the people of Honduras, but the Honduran "government" would not be recieving funds from the US. The reception was across the board. Some called it out for making the problem worse, others noted that giving money to the new government would be recognizing them as legitimate and making the McCain Administration look weak. Surprisingly, McCain's aggressive decision would come to be validated in the upcoming months as the interim government would come to be charged with human rights violation with curfews, media blackouts and other violations along with the development of a constitutional crisis. As such, McCain's strong approach nets them some positive reception though it comes with the hilarious side-effect of McCain ending up on a similar side to Chavez. While Zelaya's practices may have been in violation, the Supreme Court's decision was very much violation. With the problems of captured ambassadors and Honduras' neighbors rejecting more the interim government, tensions were escalating. Other voices had their say, including that of former President Gore. Perhaps a notable line that would become repeated is: "Two wrongs don't make a right and military coups are not democratic in their nature." Plans were discussed such as perhaps different elections while wrestling with Zelaya's fate though some say if new elections are permitted, whether he should run or not. After all, could a military-coup government be trusted to run free and fair elections?
Deposed president Manuel Zelaya
Moreover though, the McCain Administration would gain an opportunity to go and try and gain further popularity points. In late July, the Islamic extremist group Boko Haram initiates an uprising in Bauchi State, Nigeria and quickly spreads throughout the northern part of the country. The 2009 uprising grabbed by surprise, especially with ho relatively quiet matters have been regarding Islamic terrorism. The groups movement from a nonviolent movement to that of a terrorist group. Additionally, concerns were displayed regarding the Nigerian government and miltiary's capabilities in doing so, with Presidet McCain extending a deal for assistance in ammunitions, supplies and even potentially manpower should the need arise though for the most part, it appeared as things would be all right for the time being. However, not all was bad news abroad. Bolivia, perhaps in a pronounced counteract move, Bolivia becomes the first South American country to declare the right of indigenous people to govern themselves. North Korean leader Kim Jong-il pardons two American journalists, who had been arrested and imprisoned for illegal entry earlier in the year, after former U.S. President Al Gore meets with Kim in North Korea. Iran holds more elections and the Reformists enjoy their lead with Mehdi Karroubi being reelected once more, hoping to continue to improve relations with the new President of the United States, a sentiment shared by President McCain. Said sentiment also followed with President McCain sharing the sorrow in the people who lost their lives in the crash of Caspian Airlines Flight 7908 in Qazvin, Iran, killing all 168 on board.
Memorial of victims at Tehran's Burastan Cemetery
"RIP Micheal Jackson..."
"What the hell, Honduras?"
"McCain is a military man so unsurprising we would consider this..."
The first summer of the McCain administration was a complicated one, especially with how rough the year started and the regrowing tensions between the political parties over what McCain wanted to. While he moderated his stance even more over the years to where he could be considered a centralist, some of his policies, such as on regarding abortion and tackling teen pregnancy was met with irritation and disagreement, especially as the numbers showed the current program of educating teenagers and so on worked. On the other hand, he did have a mixed voting record on some stuff. Despite this, people were still willing to work together as things like removing the power of gerrymandering and that one of Gore's final acts was ensuring that the FCC Fairness Doctrine was updated and maintained for the next few years, to endure a Republican presidency. Overall, while the veneer of bipartisanship was being maintained, the various sub-groups were causing cracks as the new blood and their supporters were determined to not let anyone undo what President Gore accomplished. Calls for same-sex marriage grow some more with Governor John Lynch signs a bill allowing for same-sex marriage in New Hampshire. A white nationalist was arrested for plans to attack the US Holocaust Museum after trying to steal a gun. McCain announced that Analog television broadcastswould end in the United States by this time in the next year, giving people more time to go and shift to digitial. However, the biggest news was on the death of legendary musician and "King of Pop" Micheal Jackson from overdose. After the scandals from the previous years, he was planning to make a comeback tour known as This is It after briefly returning to prominence with his involvement of environmental awareness raising an impressive amount of money. The world of entertainment mourned the lost of one of its biggest stars, including what could've been with his final show. Micheal Jackson songs flew off the shelves such as his classics, though his environmentalist themed songs were especially noteworthy in part of the influence of the Gore administration prior.
Jackson's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, surrounded by barriers and covered with flowers
However, while the world continued to mourn the loss of Micheal Jackson and struggle with the aftermath and his legacy, the world got up in arms internationally when the Military of Honduras went and under the Supreme Court, ousted President Manuel Zelaya. The entire ordeal was condemned worldwide as a coup and questions began running rampant. The entire thing started when Zelaya began plans to try and rewrite the constitution and was met with problems from the Supreme Court and Congress on it. It led to the military to be ordered to oust him and replace him. Unsurprisingly, given the politics such as Zelaya's left winged leanings, foul play was considered involved. While President McCain called out the entire ordeal, he hesitated to called it a coup; as the Secretary of State noted, this is because that under U.S. law, officially declaring a coup would oblige the U.S. to cut off most foreign aid to Honduras. Something that would escalate the situation to worse problems. On the other hand, giving money to an unrecognized government brought in by violence would likely result in more violence and some of that blood being on American hands. Many note it would be an important for how the McCain Administration would decide on policy. In the end, the McCain Administration decided to take the more aggressive route and refer to what happened in Honduras a military coup, thus halting most foreign aid over to Honduras. It was mentioned that nongovernmental independent bodies could still donate to the people of Honduras, but the Honduran "government" would not be recieving funds from the US. The reception was across the board. Some called it out for making the problem worse, others noted that giving money to the new government would be recognizing them as legitimate and making the McCain Administration look weak. Surprisingly, McCain's aggressive decision would come to be validated in the upcoming months as the interim government would come to be charged with human rights violation with curfews, media blackouts and other violations along with the development of a constitutional crisis. As such, McCain's strong approach nets them some positive reception though it comes with the hilarious side-effect of McCain ending up on a similar side to Chavez. While Zelaya's practices may have been in violation, the Supreme Court's decision was very much violation. With the problems of captured ambassadors and Honduras' neighbors rejecting more the interim government, tensions were escalating. Other voices had their say, including that of former President Gore. Perhaps a notable line that would become repeated is: "Two wrongs don't make a right and military coups are not democratic in their nature." Plans were discussed such as perhaps different elections while wrestling with Zelaya's fate though some say if new elections are permitted, whether he should run or not. After all, could a military-coup government be trusted to run free and fair elections?
Deposed president Manuel Zelaya
Moreover though, the McCain Administration would gain an opportunity to go and try and gain further popularity points. In late July, the Islamic extremist group Boko Haram initiates an uprising in Bauchi State, Nigeria and quickly spreads throughout the northern part of the country. The 2009 uprising grabbed by surprise, especially with ho relatively quiet matters have been regarding Islamic terrorism. The groups movement from a nonviolent movement to that of a terrorist group. Additionally, concerns were displayed regarding the Nigerian government and miltiary's capabilities in doing so, with Presidet McCain extending a deal for assistance in ammunitions, supplies and even potentially manpower should the need arise though for the most part, it appeared as things would be all right for the time being. However, not all was bad news abroad. Bolivia, perhaps in a pronounced counteract move, Bolivia becomes the first South American country to declare the right of indigenous people to govern themselves. North Korean leader Kim Jong-il pardons two American journalists, who had been arrested and imprisoned for illegal entry earlier in the year, after former U.S. President Al Gore meets with Kim in North Korea. Iran holds more elections and the Reformists enjoy their lead with Mehdi Karroubi being reelected once more, hoping to continue to improve relations with the new President of the United States, a sentiment shared by President McCain. Said sentiment also followed with President McCain sharing the sorrow in the people who lost their lives in the crash of Caspian Airlines Flight 7908 in Qazvin, Iran, killing all 168 on board.
Memorial of victims at Tehran's Burastan Cemetery
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