Rumsfeldia: Fear and Loathing in the Decade of Tears
- Thread starter Drew
- Start date
- Status
I notice that it was Albert Brewer who phoned Jackie Kennedy.
What role does he have in the government? Looking at the 1986 elections on page 68, he was originally Senator of Alabama before being replaced with a Rumsfeld appointee from CV. @Bookmark1995, did Drew say anything regarding him?
What role does he have in the government? Looking at the 1986 elections on page 68, he was originally Senator of Alabama before being replaced with a Rumsfeld appointee from CV. @Bookmark1995, did Drew say anything regarding him?
No I meant originally before he amassed such power.
Bookmark1995
Banned
In FLG, Brewer became the Democratic Senator from Alabama in 1974.
In 1981 ITTL, there was a movement to impeach Thurgood Marshall because of a ruling he made on an issue of abortion, couched in terms of "federal overreach and protecting the family."
Brewer, opportunistically of course, voted in favor of pushing Marshall off the bench and later joined the GOP, and here is what he said:
I picked Brewer as an example of a politician who by the fall of Rumsfeld is trying to put the country on even keel, only to suddenly discover how badly he has burned his bridges with his old political allies for short term political gain. And more importantly, how any association with Rumsfeld has tarnished his reputation. Trying to attack the judiciary and supporting so-called Federalism is an obvious Rumsfeldian move.
The death of RFK alone has angered Jackie. But seeing Jack's legacy, the legacy of the Democratic Party, and her country turned into a poor hellhole has pushed her over the edge. And she sees Brewer, the redneck turncoat, as part of that horrific process.
But like most politicians in Rumsfeldia, he can't really comprehend what the country became, and makes the worst possible excuse, rather than acknowledge any guilt, which is a prerequisite for any serious talk.
I imagine Brewer will be an infamous example of Rumsfeldia, and its ability to corrupt American politics beyond what was possible. A New South politician became an reactionary.
Last edited:
Bookmark1995
Banned
1. First of all, the ITTL 1970s were terrible everywhere, even for many petrostates. A person fleeing to Canada or Europe wouldn't have much better luck, unless of course he had a certain skill.
2. He (and Hughes) would probably denounce the people living abroad as "socialist traitors". Secretly, I think he would see the exodus of so many people as good, since it would rid his country of potential subversives (even though it would be a horrific brain drain). If someone abroad made too much noise, there is always the good ol' CIA to silence that person.
3. ITTL, Nixon, Reagan, and other conservatives were able to move to Europe. Lawrence Landweber, an important pioneer in information technologies (which Rummy stymied for "national security" purposes), was allowed to work in England and rebuild CSNET.
My guess is that if you're someone of repute, wealthy, or you are really skilled, you are probably able to get in.
However, for everybody else, there is a mountain of red tape.
Canada and Mexico would be especially restrictive, because they simply would not be able to support refugees from a country of over 200 million people.
Mexico is beefing up its security, since they are too poor to be able to accept so many refugees. Also, I think the public of Mexico and Canada would be especially distrustful of Americans, since Rummy turned the US into a vast terrorist network, and launched an unprovoked invasion of Cuba.
Finally got a chance to read the update (midterms) and it was gut-wrenching.
This is the post that really made me feel how hopeless the brief post-Rummy pre-CV period was. I thought I understood it before but the sheer desperation of the American people was almost painful to think about. I especially liked the statement that the violence against Fusionists and the establishment werent CV operations. Really drives home the point. Excellent job!
(Also now we know Denton survives the CSA! A silver lining, I hope)
This is the post that really made me feel how hopeless the brief post-Rummy pre-CV period was. I thought I understood it before but the sheer desperation of the American people was almost painful to think about. I especially liked the statement that the violence against Fusionists and the establishment werent CV operations. Really drives home the point. Excellent job!
(Also now we know Denton survives the CSA! A silver lining, I hope)
I'll go with guy. Yes, I collaborated with Bookmark on the update. As I mentioned to Bookmark, I've been a bit busy the past couple of years to give much attention to the TL, and over that time I have been left to wonder if Trumpsfeldia isn't the thing coming true: or put another way, whatever I come up with this guy can do for real.
So here's the infobox for the 1988 election, with the numbers and answers provided by @Bookmark1995:
Great diagram. I did make one change as I reviewed the original notes. I decided that the non-Fusion Republicans and Democrats (the holdouts in those parties) did mount campaigns, further diluting the opposition to the CVs. Neither ticket won Electoral Votes, but I did adjust the popular vote to reflect their inclusion. I don't have those numbers here but will post them for comparison.
I'm not sure if he is that or OTL's version of this TLs President George Wallace with the "real" Rumsfeld (meaning another so-inclined individual, and not the actual OTL man who is now retired) yet to be revealed - and he/she could as easily come from the left as from the right. (cue sinister music)...
Very true. The president could be just as easily not an OTL version of ITTL Wallace or Rumsfeld as he could. I guess we'll only truly know when he's out of office and we have time to reflect on his presidency in full.
Last edited:
no one
Banned
I don't know her very well, and I thought you would name some kind of nutty far leftist
- Status