The Inaugural Attacks (01/20/2001)

[Meadow]

Seems a little too extreme and unlikely. Even before 9/11, Inauguration Day was pretty secure both on the ground and in the air.

That has nothing to do with taste, does it?

 

[General Mosh]

I wonder if any cameras would have survived with image of the plane crashing. Perhaps some may have turned their cameras to the plane as it came in? If there's a lot of footage like that, it could help dispel some of the conspiracy theories that surround our OTL 9/11.

 

[OnlyAlb]

Will Follow.

 

[CthulhuFhtagn]

Can't we just accept that the terrorists got absurdly lucky? I want to see where this goes.

So, how will the government be reformed in the short term? I'm assuming that the governors will just appoint new Senators, who can run the country until special elections can be organized for the House.

Also, I feel really sorry for the civilians of Iraq/Afghanistan/wherever these particular guys are from. The American people are going to be calling for revenge, and they definitely have the means to carry it out.

 

[Sabot Cat]

Seems a little too extreme and unlikely. Even before 9/11, Inauguration Day was pretty secure both on the ground and in the air.

Anti-air missiles and fighter jets being present during the inauguration didn't come about until 2005, nor did most of the security for the nearby airports. I would like a more substantive and constructive criticism in this regard so I can improve the timeline, because I don't see how this is so unlikely.

I wonder if any cameras would have survived with image of the plane crashing. Perhaps some may have turned their cameras to the plane as it came in? If there's a lot of footage like that, it could help dispel some of the conspiracy theories that surround our OTL 9/11.

The sound of the jet was picked up by the cameras before it crashed approaching from the east, as deduced by sonofpegasus.

Will Follow.

Much obliged, and I hope I do not disappoint~

Can't we just accept that the terrorists got absurdly lucky? I want to see where this goes.

Indeed; one improbability does not an unrealistic timeline make. Improbable things happen in our own timeline. It's only when the dice seem consistently pre-loaded in the favor of one organization or nation is it a wank or Alien Space Bats.

Although I maintain that this timeline is not all that unlikely...

So, how will the government be reformed in the short term? I'm assuming that the governors will just appoint new Senators, who can run the country until special elections can be organized for the House.

I'm actually nearly finished with compiling the full Senatorial appointment and special election list for the next update~ Also, presidential power struggle...

Also, I feel really sorry for the civilians of Iraq/Afghanistan/wherever these particular guys are from. The American people are going to be calling for revenge, and they definitely have the means to carry it out.

Their identities shall be revealed in the next update, although I can confirm that (a) many of the personnel were identical to OTL 9/11 attacks and (b) their individual nationalities are considered less important than the perceived connections between Osama bin Laden and the Taliban.

 

[Derek Jackson]

Note aircraft fly quite fast. 500 mph, 8 miles in a minute. Assuming the hijack is not revealed until late on then that diversion might be too late to shoot down the airliner.

Other thought The Constitutional way of getting a President would be governors appointing Senators and them elected a President Pro tem.

The outgoing Senate was 50 50. I do not know if any would survive. Governors could simply appoint their own party people (which I guess produces a Republican Senate but am not sure.

However remember also GW Bush had stolen the election by having his brother disfranchise tens of thousands of eligable voters and the Florida election was disputable for other reasons too

 

[Sabot Cat]

A retcon has been instituted: Rudy deLeon, Deputy Secretary of Defense, is the new Acting President.

The legal reasoning:
(1) the incoming cabinet had not been confirmed by the Senate yet
(2) the outgoing cabinet has technically resigned by noon
(3) the Deputy Secretaries become acting Secretaries until the new ones are confirmed
(4) the Deputy Secretary of State resigned on January 19th, 2001.
(5) the Deputy Secretary of Defense is thus the acting Secretary of Defense
(6) therefore, he is first in line to become President pursuant to the Presidential succession act of 1947.

The next update will be soon, and I'm aiming for a weekly update schedule or more.

 

[Sabot Cat]

THE PHOENIX PLAN FOR GOVERNMENT REASSEMBLY
​

From: The “Phoenix Plan” Press Release
Aired: January 22nd 2001
Speakers: John Engler, Governor of Michigan and Chair of the National Governor's Association; Colin Powell, Secretary of State nominee

Engler: "In the aftermath of the Inaugural Attacks, the people of the United States of America have been forced to ask themselves difficult questions. “Is my family going to be safe? And what kind of world will our children live in?" Perhaps more poignant of them all, "How and why could a tragedy like this happen?” These questions don't have easy answers, and in a time of such uncertainty and fear, Americans often look to their leaders to do all that they can to resolve the crisis.

It is for this reason that the National Governors' Association has acted to draft the “Phoenix Plan”, to reassemble our government in a way that will be both constitutional and at a speed that will enable us to match the speed of our enemies. My Democratic and Republican colleagues have already received the Phoenix Plan with nearly unanimous approval, and so tonight we share it with you the American people, in hopes that you will also receive it favorably. I'll now turn the podium over to General Powell.”

​

Powell: “Thank you Governor Engler. I am honored to have the privilege of speaking before the nation tonight to discuss the provisions of the Phoenix Plan for our government's reassembly. This plan was drafted and approved across party lines with nigh unanimity. The provisions of it are as follows:

1. Washington's Birthday or "Presidents Day", on February 19th, is our deadline for a full Senate, although a quorum is set to be achieved by January 26th. The Senate shall administer confirmation hearings for all known Cabinet nominees of the late President George W. Bush.

2. The House of Representatives will be reconstituted after special elections are held throughout the nation. In order to attain maximum voter turnout and allow for a reasonable campaign period, we have chosen Memorial Day, on May 26th 2001 as the time for a national special election.

3. Finally, our Congress will not meet regularly within Washington D.C. due to the attack on our Capitol. Until it's restored, the Federal Hall in New York City will be used to show solidarity with those who suffered from the attacks on the World Trade Center. Additionally, our military experts in the Pentagon have suggested for the Congress to convene in publicly recorded teleconferences for most business so that a tragedy like this is not repeated.

The governors assembled here tonight are working to provide secure and trustworthy electronic voting machines for each of their states that will iron out any irregularities and improve our timetable for getting our government back in order. To sum up, if we pursue this plan, we shall have a full Senate by Washington's Birthday, a House of Representatives after Memorial Day, and an entire Congress elected and assembled in a manner more consistent with the 21st Century. In the meantime, I urge all of us to put aside our fears, no matter how difficult that might be. Instead we must be resolute in remaining faithful to our nation, and the principles that it was founded upon, while continuing to pursue the American Dream."

PUNDITS BEAT THE WAR DRUM
​

From: FAIR (Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting)
Published: January 24th 2001

​

In the aftermath of the Inaugural Attacks on the United States Capitol and the World Trade Center, scores of commentators have expressed their opinion that the attacks were a symptom of America's recent shying away from more aggressive means of conducting foreign policy. Others hit upon a simpler and more direct theme: revenge.

The Washington Post's Charles Krauthammer (1/23/01) wrote: “The reason why there's enough terrorists who can carry the deadliest attack against the United States in its history is that, while they've declared war on us, we have responded with useless cruise missile strikes at the desert and subpoenas.”

David Broder (1/22/01), claimed to be a moderate, called for “new steel in our foreign policy”: “For too long now we've responded to the murders of Americans in the military or on diplomatic missions with pinprick retaliations, if any at all.”

Bill O'Reilly: “If the Taliban in Afghanistan doesn't cooperate in giving upon bin Laden, then we'll have to blast them from the air, with whatever we've got.”

-(The O'Reilly Factor, Fox News Channel, 1/23/01)

“This not a time to be punctilious around those involved in the terrorist attack... What we need to do is nuke their capitals and convert their people to Christianity. We weren't all precious about carpet-bombing Germany or nuking Japan. That's war. And we're at war.”

-Syndicated columnist Ann Counter (National Review Online, 1/23/01)

“The American reply to a 21-century Pearl Harbor should be nearly the same as the response to the 20th-century Pearl Harbor: nuke the bastards.”

-Steve Dunleavy, (New York Post, 1/22/01)

“We must use tactical nuclear strikes against Afghanistan; it's the least we can do to prevent the deranged minds that carried out these attacks from rightly thinking that the United States responds to the destruction of its Capitol and world trade center with cowardice. Otherwise, it will undermine the Mutually Assured Destruction doctrine, and thus world peace...”

-Former Defense Intelligence Agency officer Thomas Woodrow, “Time to Use the Nuclear Option."

$50 BILL HOARDING EPIDEMIC​

From: The Wall Street Journal
Published: January 25th 2001

THE UNITED STATES SENATE OF THE 108TH CONGRESS
​

From: Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia
Published: Present

​

The United States Senate of the 108th Congress was first assembled on January 26th 2001 following the Inaugural Attacks. The vast majority of its seats were filled by gubernatorial appointment, pursuant to the Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, although a few states with divided party control in their governments passed laws that required special elections as opposed to appointments.

The first 84 Senator quorum that convened consisted of 55 Republicans, 2 Independents and 27 Democrats; the full Senate had 64 Republicans, 2 Independents, and 34 Democrats respectively. This was the first time since 1964 that one faction (the formal Republican-Independent caucus) had a two-thirds majority, allowing them to theoretically override vetoes, convict on impeachment charges and invoke cloture without votes from their Democratic colleagues.

The Washington Inquire, the Washington Times, the New York Times and the Los Angeles Times immediately ran extensive editorials on the gubernatorial appointments, concurrent with multiple primetime television news reports from NBC, CBS, and PBS, that were generally ascertained to be negative in tone. Criticisms generally included the charge that the Governors were acting “opportunistically” in their “partisan selections”, and that it was “disrespectful” to “take seats from our late Senators”.

In response, Republican Party Chairman Jim Gilmore announced that the Republicans would not run any candidates in districts that once had a Democratic incumbent, while defending the appointments as “backed with historical precedent” and asserted that “both parties appointed Senators regardless of previous political affiliation”. Democratic National Committee Chair Terry McAuliffe reciprocated Chairman Gilmore's pledge the following day on behalf of his party.

Alabama, special elections:
(Republican) Jeremiah Denton, U.S. Senator (1981-1987)
(Republican) William H. Pryor, Jr., Alabama Attorney General (1997-2001)

Alaska, appointments:
(Republican) Lisa Murkowski, Alaska House Representative (1998-2001)
(Republican) David Cuddy, Alaska House Representative (1980-1982)

Arizona, appointments:
(Republican) Matt Salmon, U.S. House Representative (1995-2001)
(Republican) David Schweikert, Arizona House Representative (1991-1995), Chairman of Arizona State Board of Equalization (1995-2001)

Arkansas, appointments:
(Republican) Mark Pryor, 53rd Arkansas Attorney General (1999-2001)
(Republican) Fay Boozman, Arkansas State Senator (1995-1998)

California, appointments:
(Democratic) Jerry Brown, 47th Mayor of Oakland (1999-2001), 34th California Governor (1975 to 1983)
(Democratic) Leo T. McCarthy, 43rd Lt. Governor of California (1983-1995), Speaker of California State Assembly (1974-1980)

Colorado, appointments:
(Republican) George Hanks “Hank” Brown, U.S. Senator (1991-1997) and U.S. House Representative (1981-1991)
(Republican) William L. “Bill” Armstrong, U.S. Senator (1979-1991) and U.S. House Representative (1973-1979)

Connecticut, special elections:
(Democratic) Richard Blumenthal, 23rd Connecticut Attorney General (1991-2001) and Connecticut Senator (1987-1991)
(Democratic) William O'Neill, 84th Governor of Connecticut (1980-1991)

Delaware, appointments:
(Democratic) Sherman Tribbitt, Governor of Delaware (1973-1987)
(Democratic) John C. Carney, Jr., 24th Lt. Governor of Delaware (2001)

Florida, appointments:
(Republican) Frank Brogan, 15th Lt. Governor of Florida (1991-2001)
(Republican) Antoinette “Toni” Jennings, Florida Senator (1980-2000), Florida Representative (1976-1980)

Georgia, appointments
(Democratic) Joe Frank Harris, 78th Governor of Georgia (1983-1991)
(Democratic) George Busbee, 77th Governor of Georgia (1975-1983)

Hawaii, appointments:
(Democratic) Mazie Hirono, 9th Lt. Governor of Hawaii (1994-2001),
(Democratic) John D. Waihee III, 4th Governor of Hawaii (1986-1994), Lt. Governor of Hawaii (1982-1986)

Idaho, appointments:
(Republican) Jim Jones, 29th Attorney General of Idaho (1983-1991)
(Republican) James A. “Jim” McClure, U.S. Senator (1973-1991) and U.S. House Representative (1967-1973)

Illinois, special elections:
(Democratic) Carol Moseley Braun, U.S. Senator (1993-1999) and U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand (1999-2001)
(Republican) Richard S. Williamson, 17th Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs (1988-1989)

Indiana, appointments:
(Democratic) Jill Long Thompson, U.S. House Representative (1989-1995)
(Democratic) Joe Hogsett, Secretary of State of Indiana (1989-1994)

Iowa, appointments:
(Democratic) Roxanne Barton Conlin, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa (1977-1981)
(Democratic) John Culver, U.S. Senator (1975-1981) and U.S. House Representative (1965-1975)

Kansas, appointments:
(Republican) Bob Dole, U.S. Senator (1969-1996) and Senate Majority Leader (1995-1996)
(Republican) Sheila Frahm, U.S. Senator (1996)

Kentucky, appointments:
(Republican) Marlow Cook, U.S. Senator (1968-1974)
(Republican) David L. Smith, Kentucky Senator (1987-2001) and Kentucky House Representative (1985-1987)

Louisiana, appointments:
(Republican) Louis Elwood “Woody” Jenkins, Louisiana State Representative (1972-2000)
(Republican) James J. “Jim” Donelon, Louisiana State Representative (1982-2001)

Maine, appointments:
(Democratic) William Dodd Hathaway, U.S. Senator (1973-1979) and U.S. House Representative (1965-1973)
(Republican) William Cohen, Secretary of Defense (1997-2001) and U.S. Senator (1979-1997)

Maryland, appointments:
(Democratic) Harry Roe Hughes, 57th Governor of Maryland (1979-1987)
(Democratic) Melvin A. Steinberg, 5th Lt. Governor of Maryland (1987-1995) and President of the Maryland State Senate (1983-1987)

Massachusetts, special elections:
(Democratic) Deval Patrick, United States Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division (1994-1997)
(Republican) William Weld, 68th Governor of Massachusetts (1991-1997)

Michigan, appointments:
(Republican) Richard Griffin, Justice for the Michigan Court of Appeals
(Republican) Connie Binsfeld, 58th Lt. Governor (1991-1999)

Minnesota, appointments:
(Independence) Dean M. Barkley, founder and former Chair of the Minnesota Reform Party
(Independence) Mae Schunk, 45th Lt. Governor of Minnesota (1999-2001)

Mississippi, appointments:
(Democratic) Gillespie V. “Sonny” Montgomery, U.S. House Representative (1967-1997)
(Democratic) Charles Wayne Dowdy, U.S. Representative (1981-1989)

Missouri, appointments:
(Republican) Jim Talent, U.S. House Representative (1993-2001)
(Republican) John Ashcroft, U.S. Senator (1995-2001) and 56th Governor of Missouri (1985-1993)

Montana, appointments:
(Republican) Karl Ohs, Lt. Governor of Montana (2001)
(Republican) Marc Racicot, Governor of Montana (1993-2001)

Nebraska appointments:
(Republican) Don Stenberg, Attorney General of Nebraska (1991-2001)
(Republican) David Maurstad, 36th Lt. Governor of Nebraska (1999-2001)

Nevada, appointments:
(Republican) Dean Heller , 15th Secretary of State of Nevada (1995-2001)
(Republican) Paul Laxalt, U.S. Senator (1974-1987) and 22nd Governor of Nevada (1967-1971)

New Hampshire, appointments:
(Democratic) John A. Durkin, U.S. Senator (1975-1980)
(Democratic) Robert A. Baines, mayor of Manchester, New Hampshire (2000-2001)

New Mexico appointments:
(Republican) Garrey Carruthers, 27th Governor of New Mexico (1987-1991)
(Republican) William T. Redmond, U.S. Representative (1997-1999)


New Jersey, appointments:
(Republican) John J. Farmer Jr., New Jersey Attorney General (1999-2001)
(Republican) Bob Franks, U.S. Representative (1993-2001)

New York, special elections:
(Republican) Alfonse Marcello “Al” D'Amato, U.S. Senator (1981-1999)
(Democratic) Robert Adams, 60th New York State Attorney General (1979-1993)

North Carolina, appointments:
(Democratic) Jim Hunt, 69th and 71st Governor of North Carolina (1977-1985; 1993-2001)
(Democratic) Erskine Bowles, 19th White House Chief of Staff (1997-1998) and 18th Adiminstration of the Small Business Administration (1993-1994)

North Dakota, appointments:
(Republican) Jack Dalrymple, 36th Lt. Governor of North Dakota (2000-2001), North Dakota House Representative (1985-2000)
(Republican) Mark Andrews, U.S. Senator (1981-1987), U.S. House Representative (1963-1973; 1973-1981)

Ohio, appointments:
(Republican) Tom Kindness, U.S. House Representative (1975-1987)
(Republican) Bill Gradison, U.S. House Representative (1975-1983; 1983-1993)

Oklahoma, appointments:
(Republican) Henry Bellmon, 23rd and 18th Governor of Oklahoma (1963-1967;1987-1991) and former U.S. Senator (1969-1981)
(Republican) Mary Fallin, 14th Lt. Governor of Oklahoma (1995-2001)

Oregon, special elections:
(Republican) Mark Hatfield, former U.S. Senator (1967-1997) and 29th Governor of Oregon (1959-1967)
(Democratic) James Howard “Jim” Weaver, former U.S. Representative (1975-1987)

Pennsylvania, appointments:
(Republican) Richard Schweiker, 14th U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (1981-1983) and U.S. Senator (1969-1981)
(Republican) Donald L. Ritter, U.S. House Representative (1979-1993)

Rhode Island, appointments:
(Republican) Edward DiPrete, 70th Governor of Rhode Island (1985-1991)
(Republican) Ronald Keith Machtley, U.S. House Representative (1989-1995)

South Carolina, appointments:
(Democratic) Richard Riley, 6th United States Secretary of Education (1993-2001) and 111th Governor of South Carolina (1979-1987)
(Democratic) Nick Andrew Theodore, 85th Lt. Governor of South Carolina (1987-1995) and South Carolina Senator (1981-1987)

South Dakota, appointments:
(Republican) James Abdnor, United States Senator (1981-1987), 15th Administrator of the United States Small Business Administration (1987-1988)

(Republican) Walter Dale Miller, 29th Governor of South Dakota (1993-1995) and 34th Lt. Governor of South Dakota (1987-1993)

Tennessee, appointments:
(Republican) Lamar Alexender, 5th United States Secretary of Education (1991-1993) and 45th Governor of Tennessee (1979-1987)
(Republican) Ron Ramsey, Member of the Tennessee Senate (1997) and House of Representatives (1993-1996)

Texas, appointments:
(Republican) John Cornyn, 49th Attorney General of Texas (1999-2001) and Associate Justice of the Texas Supreme Court (1991-1997)
(Republican) William “Bill” Roark Ratliff, 40th Lt. Governor of Texas (2000-2001) and Texas Senator (1989-2001)

Utah, appointments:
(Republican) Jake Garn, U.S. Senator (1974-1993)
(Republican) Dee Benson, United States District Court for the District of Utah judge (1991-2001)

Vermont, appointments:
(Democratic) William Sorrell, 25th Vermont Attorney General (1997-2001)
(Democratic) Madeleine May Kunin, 77th Governor of Vermont (1985-1991) and U.S. Ambassador to Switzeland and Liechtenstein (1996-1999)

Virginia, appointments:
(Republican) Mark Earley, Attorney General of Virginia (1998-2001) and Virginia State Senator (1988-1998)
(Republican) John H. Hager, Lt. Governor of Virginia (1998-2001)

Washington, special elections:
(Republican) Slade Gorton, U.S. Senator (1981-1987;1989-2001)
(Republican) Linda Smith, U.S. Representative (1995-1999)

West Virginia, appointments:
(Democratic) A. James Manchin, West Virginia State Treasurer (1985-1989) and Secretary of States (1977-1985)
(Democratic) Glen Gainer III, West Virginia State Auditor (1993-2001)

Wisconsin, special elections:
(Republican) Scott Klug, U.S. Representative (1991-1999)
(Democratic) William Proxmire, U.S. Senator (1957-1989)

Wyoming, appointments:
(Republican) Clifford Hansen, U.S. Senator (1967-1978) and Governor of Wyoming (1963-1967)
(Republican) Alan Simpson, U.S. Senator (1987-1995)

PRESIDENT DELEON REFUSES TO STEP DOWN
​

From: PBS NewsHour
Published: January 29th, 2001

Former Deputy Secretary of Defense and current President Randolf deLeon is refusing to leave office under pressure from Republicans in the Senate, chief among them President pro tempore Bob Dole.

“I know what the constitution says,” deLeon said in his address to the media, “and I quote from Article 2, Section 1, Clause 8: 'Congress may by Law provide for the Case of Removal, Death, Resignation or Inability, both of the President and Vice President, declaring what Officer shall then act accordingly, until the Disability be removed, or a President shall be elected.' As such, I will not step down from the presidency until we have an elected President to take my place.”

He continued, “This Senate, largely unelected by the American people, should not chose the next President from among themselves, as it is an affront to our principles, among them the separation of powers and popular sovereignty.”

President pro tempore and Kansas Senator Bob Dole (R-KS) fired back, “The Presidential Succession Act of 1947 is the law of the land. I think that deLeon is dragging the nation through turmoil it does not need right now, or ever. Once the House assembles, my colleagues and I will not be afraid to convict on articles of impeachment if he does not desist from this radical and unlawful behavior.”

If President deLeon were to yield to what's been termed the "Succession Shuffle Clause" by legal scholars, Senator Bob Dole would become the next President of the United States.

Senator Bill Ratliff (R-TX) said, “we can't wait until Memorial Day to do what needs to get done. I say that we have as many special elections for representatives as possible now, and when we have some elected, that would make a sufficient quorum”.

“They would only have a quorum if at least 218 Representatives are elected,” said constitutional lawyer Alexandra Lopez, “and I doubt the American people would be happy with a House that only had 'some' members conducting a process of such import as impeachment proceedings.”

Although the House has remained vacant, the Senate has been abuzz with activity, with all of late President George W. Bush's cabinet appointments being confirmed unanimously over the last week.

TALIBAN FAILS TO DELIVER BIN LADEN, PRESIDENT DELEON WARNS OF "SWIFT, DECISIVE RETALIATION"​

From: CNN
Published: February 12th 2001

​

“We cannot find Osama bin Laden,” Afghanistan's deputy prime minister Haji Abdul Kabir told reporters today.

In the previous month, the Taliban had ostensibly agreed to U.S. President deLeon's offer to handover Bin Laden to Pakistan, and disband al-Qaeda within their borders. They have thus far failed to follow through with any part of this deal due to stated difficulties in carrying them out.

This is the same response they gave in February 14th, 1999, when the the U.S. requested bin Laden's extradition for his alleged involvement in the USS Cole bombings. Bin Laden is also believed to be the mastermind of the Inaugural Attacks, and in stark contrast to his status as a hero among Muslim extremists, he has since became an object of scorn for the United States and the Western world.

“We will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Washington against the encroaching evils of global terrorism,” United Kingdom Prime Minister Tony Blair declared, reiterating a sentiment that has been expressed since the Inaugural Attacks occurred.

“If the Taliban continues to offer sanctuary for terrorists,” President deLeon said, “they should expect swift, decisive retaliation with the full might of the United States and its allies.”

[…]

POWELL AND DOLE CLASH OVER PRESIDENCY
​

From: The Los Angeles Times
Published: February 14th 2001

Secretary of State Colin Powell has been in a verbal sparring match over the last couple days with Senator Bob Dole (R-KS) after he suggested special elections to resolve the conflict of power.

“As I've said before, the American people need to have confidence in the legitimacy of those that lead them,” said Secretary Powell yesterday, “[and] I suggest we hold a special election for the presidency this Independence Day.”

In response, Dole has gathered most of his fellow Republican Senators in a photo-op event at Independence Hall, stating “This is ridiculous […] we will not change the letter of the law because deLeon can not adhere to it.”

President deLeon began his televised addressed with an air of serene yet palpable anger: “While doing everything in my power to keep our nation safe, and finding those who organized the Inaugural Attacks to bring them to justice, my legal team has helped take the case against the unconstitutional provisions of the 1947 presidential succession act all the way to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. I remind my Republican friends in Congress that they have no power to pass or enforce laws outside of the purview of the constitution, and that no court makes a law unconstitutional, they merely identify them as such. It is as inoperable as if it wasn't written in the first place.”

Senator Madeleine May Kunin (D-VT) told our reporters that, “I'm sympathetic to deLeon's concerns, and I agree with Secretary Powell in broad strokes, but I think it's unwise to have them on Independence Day. We should defer them to November or next year.”

The court date has been set for February 19th, 2001.

 

[Inoeth]

Wow, this fic is creating a wonderfully messy constitutional mess.

Hell, on top of all that, how much of SCOTUS was killed in the attack? not having a legitimately recognized SCOTUS turns a messy problem into something far, far uglier.

 

[Sabot Cat]

Wow, this fic is creating a wonderfully messy constitutional mess.

Thank you, and I appreciate you interest in my timeline! Nothing's more fun than controversial constitutional ambiguities, in my honest opinion~

Hell, on top of all that, how much of SCOTUS was killed in the attack? not having a legitimately recognized SCOTUS turns a messy problem into something far, far uglier.

Indeed, and after much Googling to doublecheck from the time you asked to now, I have confirmed without a doubt that all nine of their lives would have been claimed in this attack, as all nine of them were present at the inauguration according to the New York Times:

"Photo: The justices on the inauguration dais: at left, from bottom, [1]David H. Souter, [2] Clarence Thomas, [3] Ruth Bader Ginsburg and [4]Anthony M. Kennedy; at right, from bottom, [5]Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist, [6]John Paul Stevens, [7]Sandra Day O'Connor, [8] Antonin Scalia and [9]Stephen G. Breyer. (Andrea Mohin/The New York Times)"

The circuit courts are now the highest appellate authorities in the nation in each of their respective jurisdictions; the Supreme Court remains vacant, and President deLeon has not fielded appointees because he knows the (two-thirds!) majority of the Senate is waiting steadfastly for a Republican President to fill the entire thing.

 

[Seleucus]

Wasn't there a designated survivor at the time?

I haven't been able to find any direct information on it, but Andrew Cuomo was the designated survivor twice as Clinton's Housing and Urban Development secretary (Source), and I can only account for him being the designated survivor during one State of the Union address (source.) This implies that he was the designated survivor at either the 1997 or 2001 inauguration, since he could only be the designated survivor at SotU addresses or inaugurations.

 

[Grouchio]

Intensely subscribed.

 

[Sabot Cat]

Intensely subscribed.

Yay~ I'm very happy to hear that, and I hope you enjoy~

*subscribing intensifies*

Wasn't there a designated survivor at the time?

I haven't been able to find any direct information on it, but Andrew Cuomo was the designated survivor twice as Clinton's Housing and Urban Development secretary (Source), and I can only account for him being the designated survivor during one State of the Union address (source.) This implies that he was the designated survivor at either the 1997 or 2001 inauguration, since he could only be the designated survivor at SotU addresses or inaugurations.

Mm yes, and I think he may well have been the designated survivor, but I haven't been able to find any sources to directly confirm either. =(

Thankfully for me, Rudy deLeon is higher on the list of presidential succession than Cuomo anyway due to his role as the acting Secretary of Defense in absence of the Secretary of Defense, who departed along with Clinton's Secretary of State and Deputy Secretary of State before the 20th. The State Department's under secretaries and staff below the Deputy Secretary of State were not approved with the advice and consent of the Senate, and were thus ineligible to ascend to the presidency in the event of a vacancy pursuant to the Presidential Succession Act of 1947.

 

[JVM]

My favorite part of this TL is the triumphant return of Bob Dole.

 

[Alternate History Geek]

Well shit.

Subscribed.

When is the official death toll going to be made available?

 

[Perfidious Albion]

Definitely subscribed.

This is like watching a train wreck in slow motion, frame by frame.

 

[Sabot Cat]

First of all I apologize for reneging on the promise of including the list of hijackers for this update; however, their names have been known by the people of the timeline since January 23rd, and there is little in significant changes to their profiles.

Definitely subscribed.

This is like watching a train wreck in slow motion, frame by frame.

Well shit.

Subscribed.

Thanks for the (intense) subscriptions everyone, and I'm (happy?) to report that the train wreck will continue, although not without some semblance of order.

My favorite part of this TL is the triumphant return of Bob Dole.

I'm glad to hear it, although he is not going to be the only one making at least somewhat of a comeback...

When is the official death toll going to be made available?

Mm, well I hesitate to put the exact number on it, here are some factors I've considered in doing so:

-> The World Trade Center will have an order of a magnitude less casualties (~296 casualties), as almost all of their workers are off for the weekend and evacuations can be faster and easier. Nonetheless, there still might be people in there for whatever reason, first-respondents will be in there (~343 causalities) and the buildings are still liable to collapse with the attendant consequences (~292 casualties). The fires will also be effected by the .8 inches of rain.

-> The U.S. Capitol building is a different story. The inaugural platform is made out of lumber and in 2013, it held 1600 people and the bleachers above had 1000 people. Meanwhile, the capitol dome consists of about nine million pounds of brittle cast iron, covered in lead paint atop archaic masonry with almost a thousand cracks. I think you're likely to have at least ~3000+ casualties.

All together, I'll give an estimate of ~4267 casualties, including those aboard the planes, but excepting the hijackers.

 

[Alternate History Geek]

The inaugural platform is made out of starch and in 2013, it held 1600 people and the bleachers above had 1000 people.

No, it's made out of lumber. Your own source says so.

 

[THE OBSERVER]

I'm pretty sure that if bin Laden is taken alive, he'll be tortured brutally and used as an example for others to discourage them from getting any ideas.

 

[Sabot Cat]

No, it's made out of lumber. Your own source says so.

Oops! I misread "from scratch" as "from starch"; nonetheless, it's pretty flammable.

I'm pretty sure that if bin Laden is taken alive, he'll be tortured brutally and used as an example for others to discourage them from getting any ideas.

It's the "taking" him part that's proving tricky here.