Reporting for Duty: The Presidency of John Kerry and Beyond

[Nazi Space Spy]

Man that is quite the field of candidates to pick from.

A large field indeed, but it's the earliest of early polls. A number of these candidates will not enter the race, but are thinking about it or being speculated as candidates and thus are included.

 

[Unknown]

Here's my hex code for Newt: Bottom feeder, because that's what newts are, and that's what my uncle has always called Gingrich...

 

[jack_donaghy_is_the_shado]

Wow, the return of the Kerry Hara-Kiri quote and those results hurt so bad I got a headache

I remember listening to the radio when Kerry was recorded saying this in 2006, just before I ended up enlisting in the army...

I bet his chief of staff was screaming on the inside.

 

[Nazi Space Spy]

Here's my hex code for Newt: Bottom feeder, because that's what newts are, and that's what my uncle has always called Gingrich...

I remember watching Morning Joe once when they had Buddy Roemer on in 2011. He said that Newts been at the trough so long that he couldn’t smell a pig.

 

[Nazi Space Spy]

Chapter Twenty Six:

President Kerry and Senate Majority Leader McConnell would have frosty relations.
​

The onset of the Holiday season was welcomed across America, yet in the White House, there was very little reason to be merry.

Declaring the Republican midterm victory to be a “vote for a stronger, more secure border,” Majority Leader McConnell smelt blood in the water as he prepared to finish off a politically neutered President. Under pressure from the Tea Party wing of the party to counter the DREAM Act with a new immigration law, McConnell warned that any budget passed by the Republican controlled Congress will include funds for extending the border wall in order to deter future undocumented immigrants from attempting entry. Fearing a government shutdown over the issue, the President found himself playing a waiting game, hoping to reach some form of compromise. Though their ideologies aligned and their states bordered one another, Mitch McConnell was hardly Bill Frist in terms of temperament and was less inclined to negotiate any kind of "grand bargain" on controversial issues. Determined to keep the Republican Party united, McConnell had no interest in alienating the Tea Party movement that had propelled the Republicans back to a solid majority.

South of the border in Venezuela, events were beginning to transpire that caught the attention of the Kerry administration. In an effort to consolidate his power, President Hugo Chavez merged a large coalition of populist, leftist, revolutionary, and social justice organizations into one new political party. The newly formed United Bolivarian Revolutionary Movement quickly forms an armed wing, composed of ex-soldiers who begin enforcing the regime and its socialistic ideology in the cities, attacking anti-Chavez rallies and marches with relentless brutality that occasionally turned deadly. Similarly, groups of “social warriors” begin displacing established institutions by providing food, financial support, and medical services to disadvantaged working class citizens in order to imbed the new party into almost every facet of society. While some, including Congressman Kucinich, continue to argue against any American intervention against Chavez’s government, President Kerry and a number of Democrats and Republicans alike begin to grow weary of the “Bolivarian revolution” and its impact on Latin America.

However, the Kerry administration was less concerned about the dominance of Chavez in his nation's internal affairs as much as it was the regime’s influence abroad. With strong ties to other various international foes of the United States such as Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Russia, Syria, and Zimbabwe alongside massive oil revenue, the army of Venezuela - at this point fully loyal to an increasingly autocratic and politically paranoid Chavez - begins expanding and better equipping itself in preparation for a potential American invasion. Fancying himself the heir to Fidel Castro, Chavez also increased Venezuelan support for leftist guerilla groups waging a long running guerilla war against the government of neighboring Colombia. As Chavez’s rhetoric became more and more bombastic, Colombian President Uribe appealed to President Kerry for further economic and military cooperation against FARC and other narco terrorists active in the countryside and dense mountain forests.

There were changes in Washington, this time the result of the Grim Reaper rather than the ballot box. Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) suffered a brain aneurysm during a live radio interview with NPR in Washington, passing away only hours later in the Intensive Care Unit of a D.C. hospital. Governor Mike Rounds appointed Dennis Daugaard, the Lt. Governor, to fill the seat held by the late Johnson in the wake of his sudden death. The premature demise of Senator Johnson and the appointment of Daugaard to the seat pads the Republican majority in the Senate, giving Mitch McConnell 58 seats – just two shy of a filibuster proof supermajority. Johnson's tragic death leads to a heightened sense of alarm among Washington Democrats and within the Kerry administration, with the Democrats recruiting recently defeated Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin as their candidate to take on now Senator Daugaard in the upcoming regularly scheduled 2008 election.

The 2008 race begins to heat up as more presidential contenders make their ambitions clear; former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee enters the Republican primaries as an evangelical populist, but immediately faces some unexpected backlash. Many Republican voters have drifted even further to the right on fiscal issues, and while Huckabee suited their values, he simply did not have the economic record in an election that was increasingly less defined by national security as much as it was financial stability and concerns about spending. With experts warning that the economy was slowing down, the fears of an eventual crash seemed less far off than they did a year before. It was imperative to many rank and file Republican voters to find a candidate with a business background as well as political experience. Huckabee's wife Janet, having recently been elected to succeed her husband after making a previous and unsuccessful campaign for Secretary of State of Arkansas, also became something of a liability for the Governor. Though personally popular, the former First Lady of Arkansas turned Governor was widely viewed, rightfully or wrongfully, as a puppet of her ambitious husband, who found himself facing unwanted comparisons to George and Lurleen Wallace. The Huckabees' rivals within the state quickly pounced on this perception, drawing allusions to the Clintons and warning voters in the state to be weary of another political power couple. Watching this with interest was Mitt Romney, the recently reelected Governor of Massachusetts. Though he had delayed his announcement a few months to ensure enough time had passed after the midterms, there was no doubt about it in the Governor’s mind - he was going to run for President. The delayed announcement gave him time to watch the field develop and the debate begin, so that he could be prepared fully for the resulting campaign. He’d no doubt come under fire from conservatives for his healthcare reform efforts, which inspired the individual mandate of the ACA. Other potential candidates begin planning for a campaign of their own, with Senator George Allen (R-VA) and Governor Rick Perry of Texas both expressing interest publicly though stopping short of forming an exploratory committee.

The year ended on a somber note; America mourned the death of former President Gerald Ford, who passed away from natural causes a day after Christmas. Remembered as a unifying figure who navigated America through the throes of Watergate until his defeat at the hands of former Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter, Ford’s funeral in Washington attracted large crowds. Former President George HW. Bush and former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger delivered the eulogies at a service held in the National Cathedral. Another figure of great international impact also died at the end of December. On New Years Eve in Baghdad, Saddam Hussein was executed by hanging. There was little mourning in Iraq for the brutal tyrant's passing, and his body was quickly buried in an unmarked grave in accordance with Islamic law.

The hanging of Saddam Hussein did little to pacify Iraq.​

 

[JLan1485]

Mitt Romney shouldn't have more than a snowball's chance in hell of getting nominated president for the Republican party in this 2008. Furthermore, I don't agree with the fiscal right turn of the Republicans, a balanced budget and an end to elitist/corporate socialism is what people wanted IOTL Tea Party movement along with less government in general, but I do agree that Republicans would be drawn to Romney (as they were in 2012) because he was a businessman. The fact that he was a predatory venture capitalist that lied to their faces about where he stood on just about every issue wasn't taken seriously in those days for whatever reason.

Obviously that died when the establishment effectively infiltrated and neutered the Tea Party movement and claimed it for it's own use and rendered the term "Tea Party Republican" meaningless.

Meanwhile, Huckabee should have much more of a shot at winning in this ATL 2008 than he did OTL. For one, he can get in on the ground floor of the Tea Party movement more effectively than just about anyone else save George Allen, for another Huckabee has always been in the mold of a traditional southern governor. In this 2008 that's a good thing because he can tap into that well of populist charm and policy that any good southern governor has in spades.

The less said about McCain's chances to win, the better. lol

 

[James clark micheal]

Mitt Romney shouldn't have more than a snowball's chance in hell of getting nominated president for the Republican party in this 2008. Furthermore, I don't agree with the fiscal right turn of the Republicans, a balanced budget and an end to elitist/corporate socialism is what people wanted IOTL Tea Party movement along with less government in general, but I do agree that Republicans would be drawn to Romney (as they were in 2012) because he was a businessman. The fact that he was a predatory venture capitalist that lied to their faces about where he stood on just about every issue wasn't taken seriously in those days for whatever reason.

Obviously that died when the establishment effectively infiltrated and neutered the Tea Party movement and claimed it for it's own use and rendered the term "Tea Party Republican" meaningless.

Meanwhile, Huckabee should have much more of a shot at winning in this ATL 2008 than he did OTL. For one, he can get in on the ground floor of the Tea Party movement more effectively than just about anyone else save George Allen, for another Huckabee has always been in the mold of a traditional southern governor. In this 2008 that's a good thing because he can tap into that well of populist charm and policy that any good southern governor has in spades.

The less said about McCain's chances to win, the better. lol

I agree. I think the more populist republicans like huckabee would find immense success here

 

[Nazi Space Spy]

Chapter Twenty Seven:

The hijacking of the Maersk Alabama captivated the world and led to American airstrikes in Somalia.​

The new year opens with more danger on the high seas; after spending a week shadowing a drifting, pirate seized Maersk Alabama, Navy Seals are able to kill the hijackers and rescue Captain Phillips and crew in a daring maritime raid. It is a badly needed victory and a good start to the War on Terrorism’s sixth year, though concerns about the stability of Somalia are growing at the State Department. Back on shore in Somalia, Ethiopia at last intervened, sending thousands of troops across the border to boost the weak central government’s hold on Mogadishu. An offensive of Ethiopian troops south of Mogadishu designed to root out the Islamic Courts Union hold on the city of Jilib ends in a stinging and humiliating high casualty defeat. The Ethiopians were spared a complete route thanks to American aerial intervention, using their superior airpower to inflict severe casualties against the pursuing Islamist forces. Not long after, the Islamic Emirate of Somalia is established by the leadership of the Islamic Courts Union in Jilib. Though they lay claim to the whole of the country, they in reality only control the southern portions of the country, though their position and growing numbers ensures they remain a threat to the government in Mogadishu. In response, American planes bomb an alleged Al Qaeda training camp in Somalia days later, where the terrorist group's Somali branch had been sheltered by the Islamist forces. Ahmed Abdi Godane, leader of the Al Qaeda aligned Islamist militia Al Shabaab, pledged his allegiance to the new government established by the Islamic Courts Union in Jilib following the American air raids, and while Al Shabaab's leadership believed the Islamic Courts Union and the Islamic Emirate of Somalia to be too pragmatic, they saw opportunity to expand into sub-Saharan Africa as the new regime established by Sharif Sheikh Ahmed prepared to attack Mogadishu and take control of the rest of the country.

With the nation transfixed on events in the Horn of Africa, a quiet backroom drama played out on the cloakrooms of Capital Hill. For reasons that were not yet known fully to the public, Speaker Hastert announced that he would suddenly be standing down as Speaker and leader of the House Republicans due to concerns about his health. Though Hastert later confirmed he was battling cancer, his office and staff seemed to be in the dark about the otherwise seemingly healthy Speaker. Hastert's hasty retirement announcement was followed by a second one, in which he confirmed on Christmas Eve that he would not be standing for reelection to the House of Representatives in 2008. This was overshadowed by the political knifefight that emerged in the wake of his initial retirement announcement, however. In the desperate scramble to find a new Republican Speaker, House Majority Leader David Dreier (R-CA) - a moderate from the west coast - emerged as the clear frontrunner, with Majority Whip Roy Blunt standing for the position of Majority Leader in his place should he become Speaker. Congressmen John Boehner (R-OH) and Eric Cantor (R-VA) meanwhile found themselves locked in a war of their own for the position of Majority Whip, a battle that the headstrong Cantor ultimately prevailed in over the mild-mannered Boehner, who continued on in his post as Chairman of the House Republican Caucus. Speculation and rumors about Hastert's sudden decision to stand down as Speaker at the last minute swirled throughout Washington for months as the soon to be former Speaker effectively disappeared off the face of the earth.

Speaker David Dreier (R-CA)​

The new Congress convened on the 3rd, with Vice Presidential Edwards swearing in new Senators while David Dreier ascended to the position of the Speaker of the House, replacing the retiring Dennis Hastert. The new Congress is solidly Republican, setting the course for the remainder of the President’s term being handicapped by gridlock and increasing partisan parliamentary maneuvers. The presidential election cycle was now in full swing, with more candidates entering the race. A binder found inside a New York City cab surfaced containing hundreds of pages outlining the Giuliani campaign's planned strategy, including key talking points, the names and phone numbers of key financial backers, a list of desired endorsers, internal polling of key primary states, and scheduled events. The Giuliani campaign claimed the binder had been leaked intentionally and that it had not been misplaced. The embarrassing revelation of the Giuliani campaign's strategy was a rough start for the former Mayor's presidential campaign, and despite his high position within the polls, his other Republican rivals were not afraid to challenge him on the issues. The man once thought to be untouchable due to his leadership throughout the 9/11 attacks was now one of the main targets of the press as well, with Rudy Giuliani's conservative credentials coming under fire from cable hosts such as Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity as well as radio icons like Rush Limbaugh, all of whom desired to see a more right-wing candidate emerge as the eventual Republican nominee.

Congressman Ron Paul, a libertarian critic of the war in Iraq, announced a longshot campaign for the White House during an appearance on C-SPAN’s Washington Journal. The Texas Congressman was followed into the race by another far-right colleague in the form of Colorado Congressman Tom Tancredo. Both had been critical of the Kerry administration's conduct of the war in Iraq, and Tancredo in particular had emerged as one of the most vocal opponents of the DREAM Act. Yet both men were dismissed by the press and the other candidates as marginal contenders, fringe figures within Congress who had little appeal to the mainstream American electorate. Another outsider within the Republican fold was former Governor Bill Weld of Massachusetts, who formed an exploratory committee to weigh his prospects of winning the Libertarian Party’s presidential nomination. Meanwhile others like Governor George Pataki and Governor Rick Perry both made vague statements about possibly entering the race, others like Rudy Giuliani and John McCain made clear that their exploratory process were merely formalities.

Foreign affairs were on the backburner to a degree, primarily because of the growing interest in the presidential race. But in a nationally televised address from the White House’s iconic Oval Office, the President revived the hopes of anti-war activists when he announced that negotiations with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki would take place in February to work out a shared security strategy ahead of the promised withdrawal of American forces. Republicans condemned the President for “cutting and running” from the conflict in Iraq, but with the worst sectarian violence seemingly put to rest as a result of the surge strategy crafted by Secretary of Defense Sam Nunn, most Americans agreed that it was time to pull active duty combat forces from the country. The announcement also mostly pacified the left wing opposition to the President, though challengers Mike Gravel and Dennis Kucinich both argued that the withdrawal was still too slow for their liking.

 

[TGW]

Oh man, the Hastert departure is going to be very interesting. Things are moving on, but the real powderkegs are yet to ignite, in my opinion.

(Also heads up, it might just be my computer but I don't see any thread marks at the top)

 

[Nazi Space Spy]

Oh man, the Hastert departure is going to be very interesting. Things are moving on, but the real powderkegs are yet to ignite, in my opinion.

(Also heads up, it might just be my computer but I don't see any thread marks at the top)

My bad, I keep forgetting to threadmark the posts.

 

[JLan1485]

In the desperate scramble to find a new Republican Speaker, House Majority Leader David Dreier (R-CA) - a moderate from the west coast - emerged as the clear frontrunner​

This won't go poorly at all.

Great update!

 

[Nazi Space Spy]

Chapter Twenty Eight:

Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush announces his candidacy in Miami.​

The month began with three major announcements; the first is Jeb Bush’s entry into the race. The former Florida Governor and Republican frontrunner was joined by Governor Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, who formed an exploratory committee hours after Bush's announcement rally concluded in Miami. The Republican primary also saw Senator George Allen of Virginia enter the race, announcing his campaign at a rally in Charlottesville within days of Bush and Romney's entries into the race. With Allen, Bush, and Romney now in the fray, other candidates began to assert themselves before the bigger names in the race drowned them out completely. In an interview with Fox News's Bill O’Reilly, former Speaker Newt Gingrich angered many Tea Party Republicans by criticizing some aspects of the party’s economic policies as “right wing social engineering.” Gingrich’s campaign, already beleaguered from a botched rollout and internal staffing squabbles, suffered further when the Speaker and his wife effectively abandoned the campaign trail to take a cruise through the Mediterranean Sea with little forewarning. Gingrich's two week absence from the campaign trail and his lack of communication with his own team ensured that when he returned from his European cruise, he would come back to a campaign in chaos.

Former Vice President Dick Cheney meanwhile suffered another heart attack, resulting in a stent being placed in his artery during emergency surgery. The former Vice President had ruled himself out early in 2005 as a possible Republican presidential candidate citing his health, and his latest heart attack only further confirmed his intent to stay out of the fray. The former Vice President remained as unpopular as ever even as public opinion for former President George W. Bush had slightly improved regardless of his health, though a number of Republican presidential candidates made a point to visit him in the hospital in shameless pursuit of his endorsement. Though the influence of the neoconservative wing of the party had somewhat abated and the former Vice President’s endorsement had seemed to carry less weight with the public, his deep web of connections to the military-industrial complex made him an invaluable resource for fundraising. Upon his release from the hospital ten days later, Cheney announced his support for the candidacy of the former Florida Governor, capitalizing on his brief moment in the limelight to assert what remained of his influence. Karl Rove also lent his support and resources to the Bush campaign, further cushioning his status as Republican frontrunner.

Not everyone in the news was running for President; Brittany Spears, a pop icon of the early 2000s, made headlines around the world for a series of outbursts that ended with her shaving her head and attacking paparazzi with an umbrella. Fox New's Shepherd Smith even goes so far as to dedicate a daily segment on his afternoon broadcast devoted to the latest tabloid fodder coming from Spears; she would ultimately be put under conservatorship by her family as public concern for the state of her mental health increases. Across the globe in Afghanistan, Prince Harry deploys for active duty as part of the British army. Though his location and role within the British force garrisoned in the country is not known publicly, his presence on the front lines makes headlines across the world. The British military goes at great length to keep the Prince's exact location in the country a secret due to concerns about security, with the Taliban and Al Qaeda knowing that the British Royal's potential capture would be an unprecedented propaganda victory. These concerns were heightened when a suicide bomber struck Bagram Air Force while Vice President Edwards was making a surprise visit. Al Qaeda claimed responsibility for the blast, which they say was intended to kill Edwards. However as Edward's visit was unannounced, the attack was viewed as pure coincidence. The Vice President was never in any danger and was far from the site of the explosion, though 25 civilians and two American soldiers were killed in the blast.

In Iraq, negotiations with the al-Maliki government continue, with Secretary of State Richard Holbrooke and the Iraqi Prime Minister making headway towards a shared “roadmap to peace.” Though the President was concerned about the Shia majority in the country gravitating towards Iranian influence, Prime Minister al-Maliki continues to insist that an Arab Stabilization Force consisting of predominately Sunni Muslim soldiers would counter this. al-Maliki also requests that a small American force remain garrisoned Baghdad’s “Green Zone'' to train and if necessary support government forces for an unspecified, perhaps even indefinite stretch of time. However, Secretary Holbrooke and the Iraqi Prime Minister clashed on the role of Kurdistan in the new Iraq, with al-Maliki strongly and resolutely demanding an end to American support for Kurdish fighters and accept Baghdad's demands that Kurdish separatists be brought to heel. With this logjam over Kurdistan's status within Iraq becoming a roadblock to peace rather than a roadmap, President Kerry ignored concerns about security in the wake of the Bagram bombing to travel to Baghdad, where he met personally with the Iraqi Prime Minister within the secure confines of the Green Zone to promote his plan for peace. Kerry's visit to Iraq was followed by successive stops in Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Egypt as part of a week long overseas junket.

Prime Minister al-Maliki and President Kerry in Baghdad.​

 

[Nazi Space Spy]

Chapter Twenty Nine:

Governor Bob Vander Plaats of Iowa became an important GOP powerbroker.​

Governors Jeb Bush, Rick Perry (a non-candidate), and Mike Huckabee joined Senators Sam Brownback and George Allen at a "Family First'' forum in Iowa hosted by socially conservative Governor Bob Vander Plaats. Though the Republican Party remained firmly behind the values of the evangelical wing, social issues lingered in the background as a low priority while concerns about the slowing economy and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq mounted. Some, like Senator Brownback and Governor Huckabee, used the event as an opportunity to call for a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage and abortion in order to differentiate themselves from the rest of the field as the chief evangelical candidates in order to boost their chances of winning the straw poll. But it was Congressman Ron Paul, who was pointedly not invited by the Iowa Governor due to his libertarian based opposition to American involvement in the Middle East, who came out on top in the straw poll due to his fiercely pro-life positions and devoted fanbase. The Conservative Political Action Conference followed the Iowa forum, where all declared candidates as well as a few other potential candidates spoke. The annual event’s anticipated straw poll was won by Senator Allen, followed by Romney. Both Congressmen Paul and Tancredo placed ahead of Governor Bush, who tied with Senator McCain for fifth. The result of the CPAC embarrassing setback for the Republican frontrunner, who had campaigned on being a technocratic, pragmatic, reform and efficiency minded conservative who was in step with the needs of the voters. Many CPAC attendees complained bitterly about the frontrunner's support for the DREAM Act during his tenure as Governor of Florida, a key factor in his low showing.

After four months of exploring a candidacy, Senator John McCain entered the race officially. Having placed second in the last competitive GOP primary to then Governor Bush, the Arizona Senator had become increasingly hawkish in the wake of 9/11, strongly supporting the war in Iraq and expanding American action to other troubled hotspots in the War on Terror. With the backing of Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Joe Lieberman (R-CT), the Senator moved quickly to steal the national security candidate mantle from Mayor Giuliani, who was also still lingering in the race in the exploratory phase of his candidacy. Unlike Mayor Giuliani, who was waiting to make a splash with a later entry, Texas Governor Rick Perry was not content to sit on the sidelines. Perry announced his candidacy at a rally in Austin days after the Family First forum, and immediately hit the ground running by jetting off to Iowa to campaign. All the while, Governor George Pataki of New York scheduled a “major announcement” in Exeter, New Hampshire in early April, where it was anticipated that he too would be entering the race.

March brought bad news for the family of the Vice President after a malignant tumor was found in Second Lady Elizabeth Edwards' breast. Having battled breast cancer since 2005, her continued struggle had begun to take a toll on the Edwards' marriage. Despite her cancer diagnosis, the Second Lady had continued to actively travel as part of her duties, putting a specific emphasis on raising funds for cancer research and visiting other women battling the same disease. Though her husband has been largely sidelined by the White House, Elizabeth Edwards quickly had emerged as a beloved icon for women fighting cancer and soon eclipsed her husband in terms of popularity. But what was not known to either the Second Lady nor the general public was the fact that the Vice President had begun a sexual relationship with Rielle Hunter, a videographer hired to work on the President’s reelection campaign. Though occasional rumors trickled throughout the West Wing, the Vice President continued his low key affair with his mistress, aided by Secret Service agents who were “tipped” for their assistance and silence with generous cash gifts.

Talks in Baghdad concluded with an agreement to withdraw American troops by the end of 2007 as the Arab Stabilization Force was prepared for deployment. With Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates deploying forces to comprise this new armed contingent which would replace the American and NATO presence in Iraq, the transition was set to be done incrementally to ensure no power vacuums could be exploited by the insurgents or Iran. At the behest of Secretaries Nunn and Harman, a final sweep of Baghdad in pursuit of wanted Al Qaeda militant leaders was executed by American forces. They nabbed a big fish in the process; a raid on a safe house in Baghdad leads to the arrest of Abu Omar al-Baghdadi, leader of a small Al Qaeda aligned Sunni militia calling itself “the Islamic State” known to be active in Iraq's capital. Several weapons and boxes of ammunition are also seized in the raid, as well as computers and other valuable sources of intelligence being taken into American hands.

Against the advice of the State Department, Congressman Donald Payne (D-NJ) made a trip to Mogadishu, the war torn capital of Somalia, for a private assessment of the situation on the ground there. After touring the capital with Somali government officials, a mortar shell fired by al-Shabab explodes on the roof of the terminal at the Mogadishu airport, causing the building to collapse. 10 people, including Congressman Payne, perish in the attack. The following morning, as the Kerry administration mulled how to respond, the Islamic Courts Union and their al-Shabaab allies launched a massive offensive against Mogadishu. Going so far as to behead captured Ethiopian troops in a gruesome act of psychological warfare designed to intimidate forces loyal to the government, the Islamist offensive was met with a handful of air and cruise missile strikes that did little to dent their morale. Fearing that America could not afford to become too entrenched in Somalia, President Kerry was determined to keep American boots off the ground in the country. While this decision was popular with the public at large, it led to inevitable criticism from some quarters of the Republican Party who continued to insist that the President was soft on terrorism. The national security oriented candidacies of Mayor Giuliani and Senator McCain benefited from this contrast within the Republican primary electorate, though there was some speculation among liberal pundits that such rhetoric could turn voters off and work in the embattled incumbents favor.

Far away from Somalia at a military base in Cuba, Khalid Sheikh Muhammad confessed to interrogators at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba that he was indeed, as prosecutors argued, the mastermind behind the 9/11 attacks. Explaining in detail, Muhammad claimed he was in charge of organizing, funding, and executing the plot. He also confessed that he took his orders, via a network of couriers, directly from Bin Laden himself. The news was a bright spot in what was otherwise a challenging month in the War on Terror. Of course, Bin Laden himself still remained at large, believed to be hiding somewhere in either Afghanistan or the tribal regions of Pakistan. His continued elusion of justice remained a sore spot on the minds of most Americans, whose emotions about 9/11 were still raw.

 

[TGW]

You know I was writing down "Oh yeah, John Edwards! How's he doing?" and then this came out and FUCK. Damn it Edwards, and while your wife is battling cancer?! Stupid bloody fool! If this comes out in 2008, that's the election up the spout and no mistake. Unless of course Kerry decides to pick someone else for Vice-President? But that would mean it would have to be leaked first and aaaaaah this is really bad.

The death of Donald Payne is a fascinating diversion from real life, particularly seeing as he very nearly did perish in OTL. Certainly, the message of a tougher hand needing to be at the helm seems like it would resonate with the audience of this timeline. But who knows at this stage? Either way it's terrific stuff.

 

[Nivek]

West Wing, the Vice President continued his low key affair with his mistress, aided by Secret Service agents who were “tipped” for their assistance and silence with generous cash gifts.

Somethings just never change, well them, even if you admit you're a little biased, your TL has been amazing, 2004 in hindsight was one of a hell of a poisoned chalice.

 

[Don Corleone]

Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush announces his candidacy in Miami.

Stay outta da Bushes.

 

[Nazi Space Spy]

Due to an extreme personal emergency, I won’t be able to update this for the next few days. Please keep my younger brother in your prayers if you’re religious, he’s been brain dead in an ICU since Friday following a heroin overdose induced stroke. I’m trying to keep my mind off it all with what little time I have available, and working on the early 2013 chapters has been cathartic. I’ll probably still get a few updates up here and there but the next week will likely be slow.

 

[Nivek]

Due to an extreme personal emergency, I won’t be able to update this for the next few days. Please keep my younger brother in your prayers if you’re religious, he’s been brain dead in an ICU since Friday following a heroin overdose induced stroke. I’m trying to keep my mind off it all with what little time I have available, and working on the early 2013 chapters has been cathartic. I’ll probably still get a few updates up here and there but the next week will likely be slow.

Mein Allah, what a tragedy, take all the time you need, Family is always first, hope he can recover.

 

[theflyingmongoose]

Hopefully he fully recovers from his coma and gets treatment after for his addiction.

 

[Intergallactic]

Due to an extreme personal emergency, I won’t be able to update this for the next few days. Please keep my younger brother in your prayers if you’re religious, he’s been brain dead in an ICU since Friday following a heroin overdose induced stroke. I’m trying to keep my mind off it all with what little time I have available, and working on the early 2013 chapters has been cathartic. I’ll probably still get a few updates up here and there but the next week will likely be slow.

I’m so sorry to hear that. I don’t really pray but he is in my thoughts.