The fervor hadn't diminished since yesterday's uplifting speech by Colin Powell. Not only did the United States seem to be out of harm's way, at least temporarily, O.U.T.R.A.G.E. members were exhilarated by Colin Powell's powerful pontificating. While highly critical of what had transpired a month ago, he also understood the measure and - under the circumstances - saw fit to enlist in their cause. Perhaps he recognized the power that this body of American citizens possessed. Perhaps he realized it was better to join forces with them than to resist and risk more wholesale murder. Whatever his motivations, the rebels were exalted by his endorsement. Their purpose was pure; only the means necessary to attain their patriotic goals were boldacious and brazen. Still, as a body, these people believe in their hearts that the atrocities they had committed were justifiable in the eyes of God - and would eventually be endured and accepted by the majority of Americans. O.U.T.R.A.G.E. faced its biggest challenge: that of keeping the very components they despised from infiltrating their own organization. They would have to be ever-vigilant to avoid even the appearance of authority, avarice, corruption, collusion, or conspiratorial activity. They could not allow excessive pride or bloated egoism to rear its ugly head; that was, after all, what they had just tried to destroy through hi-tech mass murder.
As the meeting opened and viewers across the country tuned in on big-screen TVs, a spirit of optimism could be sensed that pervaded the room. Viewers caught a quick glimpse of Powell seated at a table, surrounded by a dozen others. They seemed to be involved in intense discussion. Occasionally Powell's hand would pound on the table; immediately, those around him would stop talking and listen to whatever it was he had to say. Dressed in a short-sleeved blue golf shirt and dark slacks, Powell would eventually get up from the table to remove himself from the group, as if trying to think things through before continuing with any further disquisition. The camera would jump from those activities, which appeared to be taking place in a distant corner of the huge room, to broad shots of the crowds. Many people were huddled in groups, feverishly taking notes or writing. Other groups of individuals were standing, their discourse heated and emotional. The televison scenes were strangely reminiscent. Except for the modern dress and more agitated passion, the assemblies resembled those from 18th-century paintings; artists' renditions of the historical meetings between America's founding fathers when the likes of Thomas Jefferson, John Hancock and Benjamin Franklin met with other 'revolutionists' to write and establish the United States of America Declaration of Independence.
Finally, almost two hours after the videocast had begun, three middle-aged men came forward with what looked like an official document. "We have experienced the terrible tragedy of seeing a President of the United States, most members of his cabinet, and almost all members of our U.S. Congress, perish. Just as many colonists sided with the British during America's first Revolutionary War, there will always be contemporary American citizens who will staunchly believe that George Bush and his entourage were great leaders of men. In recent years, however, the Bush sheen had tarnished, and even members of his own party began to desert what looked like a sinking ship. We believe the Bush administration to be the most corrupt, evil, and incompetent ever to occupy the White House. We believed the sitting U.S. Congress to be the most evil, corrupt, and incompetent body every to occupy the Capitol Building. Such wickedness, corruption, and incompetence had also permeated our entire society as people of influence, status, wealth, position, power or celebrity took over and squeezed the 'commoners' out. While the majority of middle and lower-class citizens worked at honest labor, paid more than their fair share of taxes, and - for the most part - tried to live decent, moral, respectable lives, those who should have set the example instead went on a moral and ethical rampage little elucidation. Those who were among the mega-rich, mega-powerful, and mega-connected put themselves above the law. They could get away with anything because they had the resources to do so. From O.J. Simpson to Ken Lay to Tom DeLay, those who slavered in the spotlight of fame, corporate wealth, or political power pushed their respective envelopes until even their corrupt colleagues could no longer defend them. If it could be considered to be legal as defined by a complex cache of "laws", the morality, ethics, or humanity of their actions were inconsequential.
It was okay to kill if the glove didn't fit and you could get a jury to acquit; just manipulate the case and deal the 'race card' - justice be damned as long as the client 'got off'. It was okay to steal the financial security of thousands of hard-working employees as long as you could falsify documents to prop up the value of a valueless corporate empire. It was okay to steal from the American taxpayers, bribe elected officials and conspire with special interest groups as long as you believed what you were doing was "legal" as characterized by laws you had helped compose for just such malevolence.
That kind of malicious and heartless attitude had invaded the American psyche. Morality is no longer what's right or wrong: if you could get away with it, how could it be wrong? The high-profile cases only helped spread the word to American citizens: there's no such thing as right or wrong, only the artfulness of how you manipulate the game.
More than ever before in its history, America needs honorable men and women to lead this country. Members of O.U.T.R.A.G.E. have been working through the night to negotiate this resolution. Now we need you, the American public, to cast your vote and allow us to move forward in the reinstatement of our government. We are proud to introduce this non-binding resolution." It was perhaps the most concise and simple resolution presented so far.
ARTICLE XXII. RESOLUTION: ELECT COLIN POWELL AS INTERIM PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
"Members of this group called O.U.T.R.A.G.E. are responsible for the assassinations of our nation's top echelon of elected and appointed leadership. We assume full and exclusive responsibility for our actions. While we know that many of you watching these proceedings may never forgive us, we also believe we will be forgiven by our God, or to whatever power each of us must ultimately answer. That said, it is imperative that we begin to re-establish law and order, elect new leadership, and rebuild our nation. One of our country's most distinguished, honorable and moral citizens has agreed to come forward and allow us to put his name in nomination as "Interim President of the United States" until such a time that new nation-wide elections can be held. Please use your portable voting devices now to record your vote. Thank you for your attention."
Rousing applause rose from the floor as O.U.T.R.A.G.E. members heartily endorsed the resolution. Would voters do the same?
It was apparent that the country could not continue to run rudderless for long. Hopefully, with the endorsement of a majority of American voters, this would be the very first step in the revitalization, reconstruction and renewal of America. It was nine minutes after nine before the cameras finally stopped rolling, and screens all over the country went blank for another day.
As the meeting opened and viewers across the country tuned in on big-screen TVs, a spirit of optimism could be sensed that pervaded the room. Viewers caught a quick glimpse of Powell seated at a table, surrounded by a dozen others. They seemed to be involved in intense discussion. Occasionally Powell's hand would pound on the table; immediately, those around him would stop talking and listen to whatever it was he had to say. Dressed in a short-sleeved blue golf shirt and dark slacks, Powell would eventually get up from the table to remove himself from the group, as if trying to think things through before continuing with any further disquisition. The camera would jump from those activities, which appeared to be taking place in a distant corner of the huge room, to broad shots of the crowds. Many people were huddled in groups, feverishly taking notes or writing. Other groups of individuals were standing, their discourse heated and emotional. The televison scenes were strangely reminiscent. Except for the modern dress and more agitated passion, the assemblies resembled those from 18th-century paintings; artists' renditions of the historical meetings between America's founding fathers when the likes of Thomas Jefferson, John Hancock and Benjamin Franklin met with other 'revolutionists' to write and establish the United States of America Declaration of Independence.
Finally, almost two hours after the videocast had begun, three middle-aged men came forward with what looked like an official document. "We have experienced the terrible tragedy of seeing a President of the United States, most members of his cabinet, and almost all members of our U.S. Congress, perish. Just as many colonists sided with the British during America's first Revolutionary War, there will always be contemporary American citizens who will staunchly believe that George Bush and his entourage were great leaders of men. In recent years, however, the Bush sheen had tarnished, and even members of his own party began to desert what looked like a sinking ship. We believe the Bush administration to be the most corrupt, evil, and incompetent ever to occupy the White House. We believed the sitting U.S. Congress to be the most evil, corrupt, and incompetent body every to occupy the Capitol Building. Such wickedness, corruption, and incompetence had also permeated our entire society as people of influence, status, wealth, position, power or celebrity took over and squeezed the 'commoners' out. While the majority of middle and lower-class citizens worked at honest labor, paid more than their fair share of taxes, and - for the most part - tried to live decent, moral, respectable lives, those who should have set the example instead went on a moral and ethical rampage little elucidation. Those who were among the mega-rich, mega-powerful, and mega-connected put themselves above the law. They could get away with anything because they had the resources to do so. From O.J. Simpson to Ken Lay to Tom DeLay, those who slavered in the spotlight of fame, corporate wealth, or political power pushed their respective envelopes until even their corrupt colleagues could no longer defend them. If it could be considered to be legal as defined by a complex cache of "laws", the morality, ethics, or humanity of their actions were inconsequential.
It was okay to kill if the glove didn't fit and you could get a jury to acquit; just manipulate the case and deal the 'race card' - justice be damned as long as the client 'got off'. It was okay to steal the financial security of thousands of hard-working employees as long as you could falsify documents to prop up the value of a valueless corporate empire. It was okay to steal from the American taxpayers, bribe elected officials and conspire with special interest groups as long as you believed what you were doing was "legal" as characterized by laws you had helped compose for just such malevolence.
That kind of malicious and heartless attitude had invaded the American psyche. Morality is no longer what's right or wrong: if you could get away with it, how could it be wrong? The high-profile cases only helped spread the word to American citizens: there's no such thing as right or wrong, only the artfulness of how you manipulate the game.
More than ever before in its history, America needs honorable men and women to lead this country. Members of O.U.T.R.A.G.E. have been working through the night to negotiate this resolution. Now we need you, the American public, to cast your vote and allow us to move forward in the reinstatement of our government. We are proud to introduce this non-binding resolution." It was perhaps the most concise and simple resolution presented so far.
ARTICLE XXII. RESOLUTION: ELECT COLIN POWELL AS INTERIM PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
"Members of this group called O.U.T.R.A.G.E. are responsible for the assassinations of our nation's top echelon of elected and appointed leadership. We assume full and exclusive responsibility for our actions. While we know that many of you watching these proceedings may never forgive us, we also believe we will be forgiven by our God, or to whatever power each of us must ultimately answer. That said, it is imperative that we begin to re-establish law and order, elect new leadership, and rebuild our nation. One of our country's most distinguished, honorable and moral citizens has agreed to come forward and allow us to put his name in nomination as "Interim President of the United States" until such a time that new nation-wide elections can be held. Please use your portable voting devices now to record your vote. Thank you for your attention."
Rousing applause rose from the floor as O.U.T.R.A.G.E. members heartily endorsed the resolution. Would voters do the same?
It was apparent that the country could not continue to run rudderless for long. Hopefully, with the endorsement of a majority of American voters, this would be the very first step in the revitalization, reconstruction and renewal of America. It was nine minutes after nine before the cameras finally stopped rolling, and screens all over the country went blank for another day.
posted by Bushwacker! at 7:07 AM
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