An Exciting Turn of Events (POD 1999, Tech/Pop Culture)
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April 16, 2000
At Michigan, Brady had a 20-5 starting record and led his team to victories at the 1999 Citrus Bowl and 2000 Orange Bowl. He was also drafted by the Montreal Expos in 1995 out of high school, but did not sign. Despite his successful college career, Brady received little attention from NFL scouts, as indicated by his late selection.
Given his low profile, Brady is not expected to start for the Jets during the upcoming season. The Jets have undergone significant changes in the past year, with Cablevision and Madison Square Garden owner Chuck Dolan buying the team from the estate of prior owner Leon Hess and the retirement of coach Bill Parcells, who was replaced by assistant coach Bill Belichick.
SAN MATEO NATIVE DRAFTED BY JETS
Tom Brady, a quarterback from the University of Michigan and former resident of San Mateo, was drafted 170th by the New York Jets as part of the 6th round of picks.At Michigan, Brady had a 20-5 starting record and led his team to victories at the 1999 Citrus Bowl and 2000 Orange Bowl. He was also drafted by the Montreal Expos in 1995 out of high school, but did not sign. Despite his successful college career, Brady received little attention from NFL scouts, as indicated by his late selection.
Given his low profile, Brady is not expected to start for the Jets during the upcoming season. The Jets have undergone significant changes in the past year, with Cablevision and Madison Square Garden owner Chuck Dolan buying the team from the estate of prior owner Leon Hess and the retirement of coach Bill Parcells, who was replaced by assistant coach Bill Belichick.
We're writting alternate history, that is not alternate, AFC East is still a hopeless hole rule by B&B...now in green colour
Deleted member 100251
It’s their TL, dude; let them do what they want. In many TLs, OTL events stay the same.
June 10, 2000
Despite a large military campaign, the Chechen forces still hold the city of Grozny, and are still present in the neighboring region of Dagestan. The Russian government hopes that the ceasefire will allow the Russians to avoid the demoralization which occurred during the unsuccessful 1996 Battle of Grozny, and may bring a stop to the string of bombings in large Russian cities which have been carried out by Chechen terrorists. However, Russian president Vladimir Putin stresses that the war will not stop until Chechnya is recaptured.
The American government has also taken an interest in the Chechen war because of the presence of al-Qaeda terrorists among the guerilla forces. al-Qaeda’s leaders are wanted for their involvement in an attack on the USS Laboon in May which killed four sailors, and the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center, among other terrorist attacks on the United States.
30-DAY CEASEFIRE REACHED IN CHECHNYA, PUTIN VOWS TO CONTINUE EFFORTS TO CAPTURE TERRORISTS
The Russian government has come to a 30-day ceasefire with Chechen leader Aslan Maskhaldov, Russian Minister of Defence Sergei Ivanov announced in a press conference today.
Despite a large military campaign, the Chechen forces still hold the city of Grozny, and are still present in the neighboring region of Dagestan. The Russian government hopes that the ceasefire will allow the Russians to avoid the demoralization which occurred during the unsuccessful 1996 Battle of Grozny, and may bring a stop to the string of bombings in large Russian cities which have been carried out by Chechen terrorists. However, Russian president Vladimir Putin stresses that the war will not stop until Chechnya is recaptured.
The American government has also taken an interest in the Chechen war because of the presence of al-Qaeda terrorists among the guerilla forces. al-Qaeda’s leaders are wanted for their involvement in an attack on the USS Laboon in May which killed four sailors, and the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center, among other terrorist attacks on the United States.
August 3rd, 2000
In Philadelphia, George W. Bush formally became the Republican nominee for president, and Dick Cheney became the vice presidential nominee last night.
Cheney’s speech came first, in which he complained about the negative impact the Clinton administration was having on American businesses, citing the recent crash of the dot-com market as an example. Cheney then promised to create a “friendly environment” for growth. He also vowed to “restore honor” to the White House following the Lewinsky scandal.
In his speech, Bush thanked the delegates who voted him in for “bringing a new generation of compassionate conservatives.” His speech was more conciliatory than Cheney's, promising Americans that “their government will finally care for them” and that education and welfare would be “more fair.” However, he hinted at a more offensive foreign policy by stating that “if we do not act now, the future will no longer belong to America.”
GEORGE W. BUSH ACCEPTS REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION
In Philadelphia, George W. Bush formally became the Republican nominee for president, and Dick Cheney became the vice presidential nominee last night.
Cheney’s speech came first, in which he complained about the negative impact the Clinton administration was having on American businesses, citing the recent crash of the dot-com market as an example. Cheney then promised to create a “friendly environment” for growth. He also vowed to “restore honor” to the White House following the Lewinsky scandal.
In his speech, Bush thanked the delegates who voted him in for “bringing a new generation of compassionate conservatives.” His speech was more conciliatory than Cheney's, promising Americans that “their government will finally care for them” and that education and welfare would be “more fair.” However, he hinted at a more offensive foreign policy by stating that “if we do not act now, the future will no longer belong to America.”
August 10, 2000
The Canadian Seagram Company has agreed to sell MCA Inc., owner of Universal Studios, to a consortium of private investors, CEO Edgar Bronfman Jr. confirmed in an interview earlier today.
Universal Studios, which was likely Seagram’s most valuable possession, saw its estimated value decrease following the revelations of attempted media manipulation by Disney. However, its value has slowly crept up as mass media recovers from the damage done by the scandal. The value of Universal's media empire was clearly recognized by investors from firms such as Bain Capital and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, who took advantage of Universal's relatively low price to buy the company from Seagram. Seagram is also expected to benefit from the sale, as the investors are estimated to pay about $35 billion for the studio, which may help the company escape from a period of middling returns.
The management of Universal will likely be shaken up by the sale, with the new investors seeking to gain control of the board. However, studio president Ron Meyer said that he expects to continue serving as Studio President for the time being.
UNIVERSAL SOLD TO GROUP OF INVESTORS
The Canadian Seagram Company has agreed to sell MCA Inc., owner of Universal Studios, to a consortium of private investors, CEO Edgar Bronfman Jr. confirmed in an interview earlier today.
Universal Studios, which was likely Seagram’s most valuable possession, saw its estimated value decrease following the revelations of attempted media manipulation by Disney. However, its value has slowly crept up as mass media recovers from the damage done by the scandal. The value of Universal's media empire was clearly recognized by investors from firms such as Bain Capital and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, who took advantage of Universal's relatively low price to buy the company from Seagram. Seagram is also expected to benefit from the sale, as the investors are estimated to pay about $35 billion for the studio, which may help the company escape from a period of middling returns.
The management of Universal will likely be shaken up by the sale, with the new investors seeking to gain control of the board. However, studio president Ron Meyer said that he expects to continue serving as Studio President for the time being.
August 17, 2000
The 2000 DNC was much more turbulent than its Republican counterpart, with crowds of anti-government protesters swarming the parking lot of the Pepsi Center and getting into fights with convention security. However, the convention itself went on as planned, with Al Gore accepting the Democratic nomination for president.
Having been relatively unopposed for the nomination, Gore displayed good will toward the whole party during his acceptance speech. After being introduced by Tommy Lee Jones, who was his roommate at Harvard, Gore thanked all the delegates for “pushing the Democratic party into the new millennium.” He then promised to “keep up the good work” that Clinton had done on the economy, but promised not to “serve the wealthy” any more than he would serve the rest of his constituents.
Gore’s running mate, Evan Bayh, also gave a speech to the delegates, telling them that “you may not know much about me, but I’m going to be the difference between Clinton and Gore.” He promised to “bring a different side of the Democratic Party” into Gore’s White House.
AL GORE ACCEPTS DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION
The 2000 DNC was much more turbulent than its Republican counterpart, with crowds of anti-government protesters swarming the parking lot of the Pepsi Center and getting into fights with convention security. However, the convention itself went on as planned, with Al Gore accepting the Democratic nomination for president.
Having been relatively unopposed for the nomination, Gore displayed good will toward the whole party during his acceptance speech. After being introduced by Tommy Lee Jones, who was his roommate at Harvard, Gore thanked all the delegates for “pushing the Democratic party into the new millennium.” He then promised to “keep up the good work” that Clinton had done on the economy, but promised not to “serve the wealthy” any more than he would serve the rest of his constituents.
Gore’s running mate, Evan Bayh, also gave a speech to the delegates, telling them that “you may not know much about me, but I’m going to be the difference between Clinton and Gore.” He promised to “bring a different side of the Democratic Party” into Gore’s White House.
September 4, 2000
Former Senator George J. Mitchell has been named as the CEO of The Walt Disney Company, the company announced in a press release earlier today. Mitchell replaces Roy E. Disney, who had been acting as the interim CEO of the company since the company’s board of directors fired Michael Eisner last October. Mitchell, who has served on Disney’s board of directors since 1995, has spent most of his post-Senatorial career as a consultant for various political endeavors, such as his role in negotiating the Good Friday Agreement to resolve conflicts in Northern Ireland.
It is unknown what Mitchell will bring to the Walt Disney Company as CEO, given that he has not had any experience in similar positions previously. He is expected to rely upon the advice of Bob Iger, who was formerly President of ABC and was named President of the Walt Disney Company in June. The choice of Mitchell as CEO is believed to have been part of a compromise between Roy E. Disney and the other board members, as Mitchell rarely disagreed with Eisner during his tenure as a board member.
FORMER SENATOR GEORGE MITCHELL NAMED AS CEO OF DISNEY
Former Senator George J. Mitchell has been named as the CEO of The Walt Disney Company, the company announced in a press release earlier today. Mitchell replaces Roy E. Disney, who had been acting as the interim CEO of the company since the company’s board of directors fired Michael Eisner last October. Mitchell, who has served on Disney’s board of directors since 1995, has spent most of his post-Senatorial career as a consultant for various political endeavors, such as his role in negotiating the Good Friday Agreement to resolve conflicts in Northern Ireland.
It is unknown what Mitchell will bring to the Walt Disney Company as CEO, given that he has not had any experience in similar positions previously. He is expected to rely upon the advice of Bob Iger, who was formerly President of ABC and was named President of the Walt Disney Company in June. The choice of Mitchell as CEO is believed to have been part of a compromise between Roy E. Disney and the other board members, as Mitchell rarely disagreed with Eisner during his tenure as a board member.
October 12, 2000
The assets of the Houston-based energy company Enron, the largest of its kind in the country, will be split between Dynergy and Houston Industries, two smaller energy companies which are also based in Houston, according to a press release authored by Enron CEO Kenneth Lay. The announcement came as a shock to financial analysts, as Enron has been an industry leader for the past decade and was expected to continue growing into the 2000s. In the press release, Lay cited “changes in the energy market” as the reason for the decision.
Dynergy, being the larger company, is expected to acquire most of Enron’s assets. Houston Industries will acquire some of Enron’s East Coast power plants, and may also acquire Enron’s commodities division. Enron stockholders will be compensated with stock of equivalent value in Dynergy in Houston Industries. Enron will continue to exist after the sale, but will be run as a private fund instead of continuing on as an active company. Naming rights to Enron Field will likely be included in the sale, but which company will acquire them is still unknown.
ENRON TO BE SPLIT AND SOLD, CEO ANNOUNCES
The assets of the Houston-based energy company Enron, the largest of its kind in the country, will be split between Dynergy and Houston Industries, two smaller energy companies which are also based in Houston, according to a press release authored by Enron CEO Kenneth Lay. The announcement came as a shock to financial analysts, as Enron has been an industry leader for the past decade and was expected to continue growing into the 2000s. In the press release, Lay cited “changes in the energy market” as the reason for the decision.
Dynergy, being the larger company, is expected to acquire most of Enron’s assets. Houston Industries will acquire some of Enron’s East Coast power plants, and may also acquire Enron’s commodities division. Enron stockholders will be compensated with stock of equivalent value in Dynergy in Houston Industries. Enron will continue to exist after the sale, but will be run as a private fund instead of continuing on as an active company. Naming rights to Enron Field will likely be included in the sale, but which company will acquire them is still unknown.
October 24, 2000
Hollywood Entertainment, the company behind video-rental chain Hollywood Video, announced its purchase of the online DVD rental service Netflix for $34 million.
Netflix, which was launched in 1997 by Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph, is an online service which allows its customers to rent DVDs online, which are received and returned via mail.
According to a statement from CEO Mark Wattles, Hollywood made the acquisition “to build a foothold in the emerging DVD rental market” and “to improve Hollywood Entertainment’s online presence.”
In 1998, Hollywood similarly attempted to expand its online presence by acquiring Reel.com for $100 million. However, the collapse of the dot-com boom forced Hollywood to shut down Reel.com in January. Netflix, however, has continued its growth throughout the year, which may explain Hollywood’s decision to try its hand in the online market once more.
Hollywood has also failed to emerge from the shadow of its larger and better-known rival, Blockbuster, which may have also motivated the company to take risks. Indeed, there have been rumors that Blockbuster refused a $45 million offer from Netflix earlier this year.
ONLINE DVD RENTAL SERVICE NETFLIX BOUGHT BY HOLLYWOOD ENTERTAINMENT
Hollywood Entertainment, the company behind video-rental chain Hollywood Video, announced its purchase of the online DVD rental service Netflix for $34 million.
Netflix, which was launched in 1997 by Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph, is an online service which allows its customers to rent DVDs online, which are received and returned via mail.
According to a statement from CEO Mark Wattles, Hollywood made the acquisition “to build a foothold in the emerging DVD rental market” and “to improve Hollywood Entertainment’s online presence.”
In 1998, Hollywood similarly attempted to expand its online presence by acquiring Reel.com for $100 million. However, the collapse of the dot-com boom forced Hollywood to shut down Reel.com in January. Netflix, however, has continued its growth throughout the year, which may explain Hollywood’s decision to try its hand in the online market once more.
Hollywood has also failed to emerge from the shadow of its larger and better-known rival, Blockbuster, which may have also motivated the company to take risks. Indeed, there have been rumors that Blockbuster refused a $45 million offer from Netflix earlier this year.
November 10, 2000
After the Associated Press called the race in Florida for George W. Bush in the early hours of November 8, Al Gore formally conceded, and George W. Bush delivered his victory speech from his campaign headquarters in Austin, Texas. In his speech, he declared that “Americans will hear a new voice in the White House,” and declared that he “faced a challenging path to victory, but I am thankful that the American people have chosen me.”
Indeed, this election was one of the closest in recent memory. No candidate has won with less than 300 electoral votes since Jimmy Carter won in 1976 with 297 votes, and Bush’s 19-vote margin is the smallest since Woodrow Wilson won in 1916 by 23 votes. The popular vote margin was also very close, with Bush receiving approximately 53,000 more votes than Gore nationwide. Ultimately, the election came down to Florida, which Bush won by only 9,132 votes, meaning that the election was decided by less than 10,000 people. Gore underperformed compared to Clinton in most states, with exceptions in California, Indiana, and some states on the East Coast.
In the Senate, Republicans managed to successfully defend most of their seats. John Kyl (AZ), Richard Lugar (IN), Olympia Snowe (ME), Spencer Abraham (MI), Trent Lott (MS), Conrad Burns (MT), Mike DeWine (OH), Rick Santorum (PA), Lincoln Chafee (RI), Bill Frist (TN), Kay Bailey Hutchison (TX), Orrin Hatch (UT), Jim Jeffords (VT), Slade Gorton (WA), and Craig L. Thomas (WY) were all elected to another term, and Bill McCollum replaces retiring Senator Connie Mack III in Florida, thus keeping the seat in Republican hands.
Republicans also managed to pick up a few seats, with John Ensign picking up an open seat in Nevada and Bob Franks picking up an open seat in New Jersey. In the race to succeed Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan of New York, New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani defeated First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton by a narrow margin. However, the Democrats managed to pick up two seats with Tom Carper’s victory in Delaware and Mark Dayton’s victory in Minnesota.
The gubernatorial elections saw very few changes in parties, with the exception of Jim Talent’s win in Missouri and N. Leo Daughtry’s win in North Carolina.
ELECTION NIGHT 2000- BUSH DEFEATS GORE, REPUBLICANS KEEP SENATE MAJORITY
After the Associated Press called the race in Florida for George W. Bush in the early hours of November 8, Al Gore formally conceded, and George W. Bush delivered his victory speech from his campaign headquarters in Austin, Texas. In his speech, he declared that “Americans will hear a new voice in the White House,” and declared that he “faced a challenging path to victory, but I am thankful that the American people have chosen me.”
Indeed, this election was one of the closest in recent memory. No candidate has won with less than 300 electoral votes since Jimmy Carter won in 1976 with 297 votes, and Bush’s 19-vote margin is the smallest since Woodrow Wilson won in 1916 by 23 votes. The popular vote margin was also very close, with Bush receiving approximately 53,000 more votes than Gore nationwide. Ultimately, the election came down to Florida, which Bush won by only 9,132 votes, meaning that the election was decided by less than 10,000 people. Gore underperformed compared to Clinton in most states, with exceptions in California, Indiana, and some states on the East Coast.
In the Senate, Republicans managed to successfully defend most of their seats. John Kyl (AZ), Richard Lugar (IN), Olympia Snowe (ME), Spencer Abraham (MI), Trent Lott (MS), Conrad Burns (MT), Mike DeWine (OH), Rick Santorum (PA), Lincoln Chafee (RI), Bill Frist (TN), Kay Bailey Hutchison (TX), Orrin Hatch (UT), Jim Jeffords (VT), Slade Gorton (WA), and Craig L. Thomas (WY) were all elected to another term, and Bill McCollum replaces retiring Senator Connie Mack III in Florida, thus keeping the seat in Republican hands.
Republicans also managed to pick up a few seats, with John Ensign picking up an open seat in Nevada and Bob Franks picking up an open seat in New Jersey. In the race to succeed Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan of New York, New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani defeated First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton by a narrow margin. However, the Democrats managed to pick up two seats with Tom Carper’s victory in Delaware and Mark Dayton’s victory in Minnesota.
The gubernatorial elections saw very few changes in parties, with the exception of Jim Talent’s win in Missouri and N. Leo Daughtry’s win in North Carolina.
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November 30, 2000
The court rejected Yahoo!’s original demand for $10 billion in March, saying that it would be “unheard of in a defamation suit,” but accepted Yahoo’s revised terms, saying that “while still quite high, $2 billion is comparable to Yahoo’s estimated losses when the decline in Yahoo! stock prices are accounted for.” Disney declined to appeal the case, likely fearing bad publicity from reporting on its past misdeed.
Given the settlement’s high value and the high profiles of the parties involved, the opinion will likely have an effect on business across the nation, especially the work of the news media. “News organizations may have to be much more careful when reporting, given the clear penalties established by Yahoo,” writes Roy Peter Clark of the Poynter Institute, a Florida journalism school. However, the protections for the press outlined in the 1st Amendment will likely prevent the application of the ruling in many cases, although some have worried that the possibility of being sued for high sums of money may create a “chilling effect” on smaller news organizations.
DISNEY FORCED TO PAY $2 BILLION IN SETTLEMENT WITH YAHOO, COURT RULES
The United States District Court for the Central District of California held on Monday that Disney was liable for $1 billion in damages for publishing false claims made by a whistleblower working at Disney and published by Disney subsidiary ABC alleging that Yahoo! had committed accounting fraud. In his opinion, Judge Charles R. Breyer (brother of the Supreme Court Justice) ruled that “Disney knowingly published dubious claims in the hopes of damaging the credibility of their competitors.” Breyer cited the October 1999 SEC report which found that the whistleblower’s claims were made in an effort to smear Yahoo on Disney’s behalf, thus concluding that “the accusations levelled against Yahoo were clearly defamatory statements.”
The court rejected Yahoo!’s original demand for $10 billion in March, saying that it would be “unheard of in a defamation suit,” but accepted Yahoo’s revised terms, saying that “while still quite high, $2 billion is comparable to Yahoo’s estimated losses when the decline in Yahoo! stock prices are accounted for.” Disney declined to appeal the case, likely fearing bad publicity from reporting on its past misdeed.
Given the settlement’s high value and the high profiles of the parties involved, the opinion will likely have an effect on business across the nation, especially the work of the news media. “News organizations may have to be much more careful when reporting, given the clear penalties established by Yahoo,” writes Roy Peter Clark of the Poynter Institute, a Florida journalism school. However, the protections for the press outlined in the 1st Amendment will likely prevent the application of the ruling in many cases, although some have worried that the possibility of being sued for high sums of money may create a “chilling effect” on smaller news organizations.
HIGHEST-GROSSING MOVIES OF 2000, WORLDWIDE
1. Gladiator (Fox), $442,301,889
2. Toy Story 2 (Disney), $430,013,091
3. Cast Away (Fox), $393,827,420
4. X-Men (Fox), $369,778,109
5. How The Grinch Stole Christmas (Universal), $340,785,963
6. What Women Want (Paramount), $310,767,387
7. The Perfect Storm (Warner Bros.), $290,282,172
8. Dinosaur (Disney), $287,911,162
9. Mission: Impossible 2 (Paramount), $285,467,384
10. Meet The Parents (Universal), $260,353,394
1. Gladiator (Fox), $442,301,889
2. Toy Story 2 (Disney), $430,013,091
3. Cast Away (Fox), $393,827,420
4. X-Men (Fox), $369,778,109
5. How The Grinch Stole Christmas (Universal), $340,785,963
6. What Women Want (Paramount), $310,767,387
7. The Perfect Storm (Warner Bros.), $290,282,172
8. Dinosaur (Disney), $287,911,162
9. Mission: Impossible 2 (Paramount), $285,467,384
10. Meet The Parents (Universal), $260,353,394
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January 3, 2001
George W. Bush has assembled a full slate of appointees for his next cabinet, all of which are expected to be easily confirmed by the Republican majority in the Senate barring a major scandal.
SECRETARY OF STATE: Colin Powell, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the Gulf War. Powell would be the first African-American Secretary of State.
SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY: Bill Archer, outgoing representative of Texas’s 7th district, a post in which he succeeded George H. W. Bush, and outgoing chair of the House Ways and Means Committee.
SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: Donald Rumsfeld, former White House Chief of Staff and Secretary of Defense from 1975 to 1977.
ATTORNEY GENERAL: Sen. John Ashcroft, R-MO, defeated for re-election by Mel Carnahan.
SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR: Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell, R-CO; would be the first Native American to become a Cabinet secretary.
SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE: Ann Veneman, former California Secretary of Food and Agriculture and Deputy Secretary of Agriculture under George H. W. Bush.
SECRETARY OF COMMERCE: Don Evans, Texas businessman and member of Bush’s campaign staff.
SECRETARY OF LABOR: Elaine Chao, Deputy Secretary of Transportation from 1989 to 1991 and wife of Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-KY.
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES: Tommy Thompson, Governor of Wisconsin since 1987.
SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT: J. C. Watts, representative of Oklahoma’s 7th congressional district.
SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION: Norman Mineta, representative of California’s 13th district from 1975-1993 and of California’s 15th district from 1993-1995; chair of the House Transportation Committee from 1993-1995.
SECRETARY OF ENERGY: Kenneth Lay, founder, CEO, and Chairman of Enron (recently acquired by Dynergy and Houston Industries)
SECRETARY OF EDUCATION: Rod Paige, superintendent of the Houston Independent School District
SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS: Anthony Principi, Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs from 1989 to 1992.
BUSH CABINET APPOINTEES SELECTED; CONFIRMATION PROCESS TO BEGIN SHORTLY
George W. Bush has assembled a full slate of appointees for his next cabinet, all of which are expected to be easily confirmed by the Republican majority in the Senate barring a major scandal.
SECRETARY OF STATE: Colin Powell, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the Gulf War. Powell would be the first African-American Secretary of State.
SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY: Bill Archer, outgoing representative of Texas’s 7th district, a post in which he succeeded George H. W. Bush, and outgoing chair of the House Ways and Means Committee.
SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: Donald Rumsfeld, former White House Chief of Staff and Secretary of Defense from 1975 to 1977.
ATTORNEY GENERAL: Sen. John Ashcroft, R-MO, defeated for re-election by Mel Carnahan.
SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR: Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell, R-CO; would be the first Native American to become a Cabinet secretary.
SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE: Ann Veneman, former California Secretary of Food and Agriculture and Deputy Secretary of Agriculture under George H. W. Bush.
SECRETARY OF COMMERCE: Don Evans, Texas businessman and member of Bush’s campaign staff.
SECRETARY OF LABOR: Elaine Chao, Deputy Secretary of Transportation from 1989 to 1991 and wife of Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-KY.
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES: Tommy Thompson, Governor of Wisconsin since 1987.
SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT: J. C. Watts, representative of Oklahoma’s 7th congressional district.
SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION: Norman Mineta, representative of California’s 13th district from 1975-1993 and of California’s 15th district from 1993-1995; chair of the House Transportation Committee from 1993-1995.
SECRETARY OF ENERGY: Kenneth Lay, founder, CEO, and Chairman of Enron (recently acquired by Dynergy and Houston Industries)
SECRETARY OF EDUCATION: Rod Paige, superintendent of the Houston Independent School District
SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS: Anthony Principi, Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs from 1989 to 1992.
January 21, 2001
In yesterday’s episode of Saturday Night Live, all eyes were on Will Ferrell as he played George W. Bush for the first time during his presidency. The cold open featured Bush trying to get “back in to that White House feeling,” which he claims “never left him in the 8 years since Papa moved out.” Dick Cheney, as played by Darrell Hammond, helps Bush move his cowboy hats and guns into the Oval Office closet, where Bush discovers that his lucky quarter is still right where he left it.
Bush also accidentally called Russia while trying to figure out how the White House telephones worked. When Charlie Grandy’s Vladimir Putin mentions that he was busy fighting a war, Bush replies by saying “President for 1 month and you’re at war already? Congratulations, Vlad!”
Otherwise, the Ben Affleck-hosted episode was fairly light on commentary, though there were few stand-out sketches in the episode, such as one skit based on Good Will Hunting in which Jimmy Fallon plays a janitor who wants to be just like Will Hunting and turns out to be incapable of learning even basic math, and Chris Parnell as a Star Wars fan trying to perform a Jedi mind trick on a video store employee in order to avoid paying late fees.
‘SNL’ COLD OPEN TACKLES BUSH INAUGURATION
In yesterday’s episode of Saturday Night Live, all eyes were on Will Ferrell as he played George W. Bush for the first time during his presidency. The cold open featured Bush trying to get “back in to that White House feeling,” which he claims “never left him in the 8 years since Papa moved out.” Dick Cheney, as played by Darrell Hammond, helps Bush move his cowboy hats and guns into the Oval Office closet, where Bush discovers that his lucky quarter is still right where he left it.
Bush also accidentally called Russia while trying to figure out how the White House telephones worked. When Charlie Grandy’s Vladimir Putin mentions that he was busy fighting a war, Bush replies by saying “President for 1 month and you’re at war already? Congratulations, Vlad!”
Otherwise, the Ben Affleck-hosted episode was fairly light on commentary, though there were few stand-out sketches in the episode, such as one skit based on Good Will Hunting in which Jimmy Fallon plays a janitor who wants to be just like Will Hunting and turns out to be incapable of learning even basic math, and Chris Parnell as a Star Wars fan trying to perform a Jedi mind trick on a video store employee in order to avoid paying late fees.
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February 6, 2001
Authorities in New York, Chicago, and Houston have arrested 8 men in connection with plots to release poisonous gas in various public spaces. According to the Chicago Police Department, the men were members of al-Qaeda, the terrorist organization led by Osama bin Laden and responsible for many attacks on U.S. operations around the world.
The terrorists were planning to manufacture and release phosgene gas in crowded spaces such as the New York City subway and a terminal at O’Hare airport, in a manner similar to 1995 attack on the Tokyo subway by doomsday cult Aum Shinrikyo. The phosgene gas was being manufactured in a garage in Hempstead, NY, but had not yet been distributed to any other cities.
According to the NYPD, the FBI had informed the department that al-Qaeda affiliates were residing in the New York area last November, but the NYPD was not aware of the nature of their plans until receiving a report in January of two stray cats who appeared to have died from poison gas inhalation. These cats are now believed to have been the unfortunate victims of a test by the terrorists. In his statement following on the arrests, NYPD Commissioner Bernard Kerik took a moment to thank the cats for being “the canaries in the coal mine” who saved innocent lives from danger.
The discovery allowed the police to uncover the terrorist cell, and further surveillance by the FBI revealed the presence of similar terrorist cells in Chicago and Houston. The exact target of the attack in Houston is unknown, but it has been speculated the terrorists wished to send a message to George W. Bush and his father, especially given that the terrorists did not arrive in Houston until after Bush was elected.
ATTEMPTED GAS ATTACKS ACROSS COUNTRY FOILED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT
Authorities in New York, Chicago, and Houston have arrested 8 men in connection with plots to release poisonous gas in various public spaces. According to the Chicago Police Department, the men were members of al-Qaeda, the terrorist organization led by Osama bin Laden and responsible for many attacks on U.S. operations around the world.
The terrorists were planning to manufacture and release phosgene gas in crowded spaces such as the New York City subway and a terminal at O’Hare airport, in a manner similar to 1995 attack on the Tokyo subway by doomsday cult Aum Shinrikyo. The phosgene gas was being manufactured in a garage in Hempstead, NY, but had not yet been distributed to any other cities.
According to the NYPD, the FBI had informed the department that al-Qaeda affiliates were residing in the New York area last November, but the NYPD was not aware of the nature of their plans until receiving a report in January of two stray cats who appeared to have died from poison gas inhalation. These cats are now believed to have been the unfortunate victims of a test by the terrorists. In his statement following on the arrests, NYPD Commissioner Bernard Kerik took a moment to thank the cats for being “the canaries in the coal mine” who saved innocent lives from danger.
The discovery allowed the police to uncover the terrorist cell, and further surveillance by the FBI revealed the presence of similar terrorist cells in Chicago and Houston. The exact target of the attack in Houston is unknown, but it has been speculated the terrorists wished to send a message to George W. Bush and his father, especially given that the terrorists did not arrive in Houston until after Bush was elected.