alternatehistory.com
McCain Administration- Spring 2014
Spring 2014
"Looks like McCain is finally putting down the hammer on Russia..."
"Unsurprisingly, the GOP tried to mess with campaign finance regulations..."
"Boko Haram... just the next bunch of terrorists to take care of..."
Meanwhile, with the victory over in the Middle East giving some much needed assistance for the Republican Party's stance over in the United States with the failures of the domestic economic policies in dealing with the Recession. And other foreign affairs were giving the McCain Administration ample opportunites to try and divert the problems of the sluggish economy. And perhaps that was none other than Russia. With the Ukraine Revolution coming in and changing the game, Putin responded wit supporting the countermovements, up to where Russian forces try to reinforce the forces in and even plans came in to try to annex the Crimean peninsula. Despite the supposed coting, the rush of Russian forces made the whole thing seem like an invasion and furthermore, the Tatar people were not considered for counsel and were not happy with the Russians coming to say the least. Infuriated by such a bold move, the McCain Administration swiftly moved to impose harsh sanctions over on Russia as a result of their invasion along with prior actions in Georiga, including accusations of promoting insurgencies within nations. While they did affect Russia as a whole, the primary target were the businesses and associates related to Vladimir Putin and his associates. At the same time, the Americans began promoting ties over with Ukraine and the new administration. All the while, the McCain Administration was trying to convince Europe to follow along with it and sanction Russia, which most of them would go and do so. Other nations that dido so include Japan and Canada. The Americans were even making discussions over with leaders in the Middle East and even China for potential sanction ideas, the former in regards to the support of Syria and later the Arab Civil War while also in regards to Iran's past conflicts with Russia. With China, it was in regards to weaken the long time rival. This also carried some bigger messages. The McCain Adminsitration did adhere to the environmentalism of Gore to some degree and that angle assisting in the framing. Besides pointing out Russia's threat in cybersecurity, the portrayals of the nation as a cartel of oil helped out a fair bit. All in all, it was looking matters worsen for Russia.
Signing of the Treaty on the adoption of the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol to Russia. Left to right: S. Aksyonov, V. Konstantinov, V. Putin and A. Chalyi.
Victory rang out over for the GOP in working to try and isolate Russia for their behavior, defeat rang for them in a court case over in the Supreme Court. Back in October of the prior year, a case was brought in McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission. The background involved McCutcheon, a businessman who was a self-declared activist for the Republican Party and donated plenty of money over in the past several years. At a 2011 Young Conservatives Coalition event, McCutcheon met attorney and campaign finance expert Dan Backer, who would play a major role in encouraging McCutcheon to file suit against the FEC. As of September 2012, McCutcheon had given $33,088 to sixteen federal candidates and over $25,000 in non-candidate contributions during the 2011-2012 cycle. McCutcheon intended on donating to an additional twelve federal candidates, bringing his contribution total over the federal aggregate limit on federal candidates. McCutcheon filed suit against the Federal Election Commission (FEC), where he was joined in his lawsuit by some members of the Republican National Committee. They hoped maybe that they could convince some of the Dems and use some different wording to convince their case. Unsurprisingly, the Supreme Court ruled that no, aggregate contribution limits to campaign finance did not violate the Free Speech Clause of the First Amendment. However, what this did succeed in was furthering the fissures and cracks within the GOP. McCain was not exactly pleased that some of the folk of his own political party tried to mess with campaign contributions and the newer blood were definitely upset to say the least. The divide between the neocons and the few successors they had left against the growing number of new ecoconservatives, former Blue Dogs and more centralists grew and the latter side was the dominant bit by this point. Furthermore, the showcase just made it a smear over on the Republican and worked to paint the party in a negative light, which the Democrats were eager to utilize on them in regards. McCutcheon meanwhile was given a bit of a disgraceful view.
McCutcheon approaching Supreme Court Case
With the Supreme Court case being pretty shown a loss for the Republicans, there came a desire to try and continue the successes in foreign affairs. Peace achieved in the Middle East was an upset for the warhawks since it meant one less matter for the citizens to utilize as a distraction from the sluggish economic recovery and that the Adminsitration in charge will be held responsible for the failures in doing so. Of course, while the Middle East was relatively stable and the stronger powers there worked toard reforms and squashing out the reforms, other nations weren't as lucky. Boko Haram would become a name known to the people, the name of an extremist terrorist cell over in Africa. On the night of 14–15 April 2014, 276 female students were kidnapped from the Secondary School in the town of Chibok in Borno State, Nigeria. Responsibility for the kidnappings was claimed by Boko Haram, an Islamist extremist terrorist organization based in northeastern Nigeria. The shocking news provided major upsets, especially the follow-ups in regards to some of the girls escaping and what has been happening. Non-Muslim students were forced to convert. The girls were forced into marriage with members of Boko Haram, with a reputed "bride price" of ₦2,000 each ($6/£4). Many of the students were taken to the neighbouring countries of Chad and Cameroon, with sightings reported of the students crossing borders with the militants, and sightings of the students by villagers living in the Sambisa Forest. The forest was considered a refuge for Boko Haram. Local residents were able to track the movements of the students with the help of contacts across north eastern Nigeria. A diary described how some girls escaped but were returned to Boko Haram by local villagers and even whipped. The British began preparations for Operation Turus in response though the Americans along with various other nations, including those in the Middle East lent financial support or even ground troops for it. The Royal Air Force offered rescue though while the Nigerian government initially declined due to matters of national issues, however, the Americans along with other support came in and insisted on helping, pointing out the successes in the Middle East along with the possible backlash the administration would receive. Furthermore, various Middle Eastern powers chimed in and additional economic pressure was added. It was all enough for them to accept the assistance while similar practices and workarounds were done to target Boko Haram in surronding nations like Cameroon, Chad and Niger and thus RAF augmented with American troops, Israel forces and others came in for Operation Turus. The next several weeks saw Boko Haram be hunted down through planes and spydroens while special forces came in. The affair was relatively quick and brutal, with the goal being the safety of the girls and the execution of Boko Haram. Most of the girls were rescued and those that weren't were given proper burials and their deaths avenged as Boko Haram began dwindling in numbers. As for the girls themselves, some were returned home while others would reject returning due to fears of being shunned by their communities for sexual assault. Those that refused would have differing fates, with some adopted by soldiers or taken in by churches or mosques. However, this served as the first chapter in for more American intervention against terrorism, this time in Africa.
Parents of some of the victims of the 2014 Chibok kidnapping mourn their losses.
...
...
...
...
"BREAKING NEWS! HUGE PROTESTS BREAKING OUT IN WALL STREET!"
"Looks like McCain is finally putting down the hammer on Russia..."
"Unsurprisingly, the GOP tried to mess with campaign finance regulations..."
"Boko Haram... just the next bunch of terrorists to take care of..."
Meanwhile, with the victory over in the Middle East giving some much needed assistance for the Republican Party's stance over in the United States with the failures of the domestic economic policies in dealing with the Recession. And other foreign affairs were giving the McCain Administration ample opportunites to try and divert the problems of the sluggish economy. And perhaps that was none other than Russia. With the Ukraine Revolution coming in and changing the game, Putin responded wit supporting the countermovements, up to where Russian forces try to reinforce the forces in and even plans came in to try to annex the Crimean peninsula. Despite the supposed coting, the rush of Russian forces made the whole thing seem like an invasion and furthermore, the Tatar people were not considered for counsel and were not happy with the Russians coming to say the least. Infuriated by such a bold move, the McCain Administration swiftly moved to impose harsh sanctions over on Russia as a result of their invasion along with prior actions in Georiga, including accusations of promoting insurgencies within nations. While they did affect Russia as a whole, the primary target were the businesses and associates related to Vladimir Putin and his associates. At the same time, the Americans began promoting ties over with Ukraine and the new administration. All the while, the McCain Administration was trying to convince Europe to follow along with it and sanction Russia, which most of them would go and do so. Other nations that dido so include Japan and Canada. The Americans were even making discussions over with leaders in the Middle East and even China for potential sanction ideas, the former in regards to the support of Syria and later the Arab Civil War while also in regards to Iran's past conflicts with Russia. With China, it was in regards to weaken the long time rival. This also carried some bigger messages. The McCain Adminsitration did adhere to the environmentalism of Gore to some degree and that angle assisting in the framing. Besides pointing out Russia's threat in cybersecurity, the portrayals of the nation as a cartel of oil helped out a fair bit. All in all, it was looking matters worsen for Russia.
Signing of the Treaty on the adoption of the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol to Russia. Left to right: S. Aksyonov, V. Konstantinov, V. Putin and A. Chalyi.
Victory rang out over for the GOP in working to try and isolate Russia for their behavior, defeat rang for them in a court case over in the Supreme Court. Back in October of the prior year, a case was brought in McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission. The background involved McCutcheon, a businessman who was a self-declared activist for the Republican Party and donated plenty of money over in the past several years. At a 2011 Young Conservatives Coalition event, McCutcheon met attorney and campaign finance expert Dan Backer, who would play a major role in encouraging McCutcheon to file suit against the FEC. As of September 2012, McCutcheon had given $33,088 to sixteen federal candidates and over $25,000 in non-candidate contributions during the 2011-2012 cycle. McCutcheon intended on donating to an additional twelve federal candidates, bringing his contribution total over the federal aggregate limit on federal candidates. McCutcheon filed suit against the Federal Election Commission (FEC), where he was joined in his lawsuit by some members of the Republican National Committee. They hoped maybe that they could convince some of the Dems and use some different wording to convince their case. Unsurprisingly, the Supreme Court ruled that no, aggregate contribution limits to campaign finance did not violate the Free Speech Clause of the First Amendment. However, what this did succeed in was furthering the fissures and cracks within the GOP. McCain was not exactly pleased that some of the folk of his own political party tried to mess with campaign contributions and the newer blood were definitely upset to say the least. The divide between the neocons and the few successors they had left against the growing number of new ecoconservatives, former Blue Dogs and more centralists grew and the latter side was the dominant bit by this point. Furthermore, the showcase just made it a smear over on the Republican and worked to paint the party in a negative light, which the Democrats were eager to utilize on them in regards. McCutcheon meanwhile was given a bit of a disgraceful view.
McCutcheon approaching Supreme Court Case
With the Supreme Court case being pretty shown a loss for the Republicans, there came a desire to try and continue the successes in foreign affairs. Peace achieved in the Middle East was an upset for the warhawks since it meant one less matter for the citizens to utilize as a distraction from the sluggish economic recovery and that the Adminsitration in charge will be held responsible for the failures in doing so. Of course, while the Middle East was relatively stable and the stronger powers there worked toard reforms and squashing out the reforms, other nations weren't as lucky. Boko Haram would become a name known to the people, the name of an extremist terrorist cell over in Africa. On the night of 14–15 April 2014, 276 female students were kidnapped from the Secondary School in the town of Chibok in Borno State, Nigeria. Responsibility for the kidnappings was claimed by Boko Haram, an Islamist extremist terrorist organization based in northeastern Nigeria. The shocking news provided major upsets, especially the follow-ups in regards to some of the girls escaping and what has been happening. Non-Muslim students were forced to convert. The girls were forced into marriage with members of Boko Haram, with a reputed "bride price" of ₦2,000 each ($6/£4). Many of the students were taken to the neighbouring countries of Chad and Cameroon, with sightings reported of the students crossing borders with the militants, and sightings of the students by villagers living in the Sambisa Forest. The forest was considered a refuge for Boko Haram. Local residents were able to track the movements of the students with the help of contacts across north eastern Nigeria. A diary described how some girls escaped but were returned to Boko Haram by local villagers and even whipped. The British began preparations for Operation Turus in response though the Americans along with various other nations, including those in the Middle East lent financial support or even ground troops for it. The Royal Air Force offered rescue though while the Nigerian government initially declined due to matters of national issues, however, the Americans along with other support came in and insisted on helping, pointing out the successes in the Middle East along with the possible backlash the administration would receive. Furthermore, various Middle Eastern powers chimed in and additional economic pressure was added. It was all enough for them to accept the assistance while similar practices and workarounds were done to target Boko Haram in surronding nations like Cameroon, Chad and Niger and thus RAF augmented with American troops, Israel forces and others came in for Operation Turus. The next several weeks saw Boko Haram be hunted down through planes and spydroens while special forces came in. The affair was relatively quick and brutal, with the goal being the safety of the girls and the execution of Boko Haram. Most of the girls were rescued and those that weren't were given proper burials and their deaths avenged as Boko Haram began dwindling in numbers. As for the girls themselves, some were returned home while others would reject returning due to fears of being shunned by their communities for sexual assault. Those that refused would have differing fates, with some adopted by soldiers or taken in by churches or mosques. However, this served as the first chapter in for more American intervention against terrorism, this time in Africa.
Parents of some of the victims of the 2014 Chibok kidnapping mourn their losses.
...
...
...
...
"BREAKING NEWS! HUGE PROTESTS BREAKING OUT IN WALL STREET!"
- CountDVB
- Word Count: 1.4k