Of the 535 members of Congress, only two had survived the January 17th bombing at the Capitol Building, both due to family circumstances that prevented them from attending the State of the Union address. One of those was John McCain, a veteran of the Vietnam War, in which he had been captured by the enemy and held as a prisoner of war. A moderate Republican, McCain was one of the more outspoken members of Congress, often defying his party's public positions on a variety of issues. McCain had made a couple of unsuccessful bids for his party's Presidential nomination, but his opponents viewed him as a "lose cannon"without unconditional loyalty to his party. Popular with the public, his 'radical' views on many issues didn't always align with the Republican Party's views.
As the videoconference opened at 4:55 P.M. EST on Wednesday, February 20, there was still an atmosphere of levity among the O.U.T.R.A.G.E. members. Cameras panned the huge hall, sometimes focusing on small groups working furiously at their laptops, apparently trying to work out 'language' or fine-tune whatever it was they were attempting to author. If one peered closely, it became apparent that these groups almost always consisted of the same individuals. If one were to speculate, it was probably reasonable to assume these groups were the 'committees', or panels, that had been formed to create the final, formal legislation from each of the twenty-two non-binding resolutions that had so far been brought to the floor. Each committee had been assigned a specific resolution, charged with developing the language that would ultimately be presented for another popular vote before actually becoming the new law of the land.
After about an hour of this videographic roaming, the cameras suddenly focused on the large American flag that still hung below the readerboard sign. The sign's bright red letters still recorded the results of the last vote, electing Colin Powell as the interim President of the United States. It took some extraordinary camera work to create the next frame. Almost appearing to materialize from thin air came a vignette of John McCain, the edges of his profile gently shading the background of the flag.
"Good afternoon," said McCain. "For those of you who don't know me, my name is John McCain, and I have been proud to represent the great state of Arizona over these many years. Today, I come to you as a representative of the entire union. I have been asked to speak to you on behalf of this revolutionary organization called O.U.T.R.A.G.E.
Oppressed, United Taxpayers Revolting Against Government Excesses. This is the culmination of what I've been told has been a work-in-progress for over five years. The members of this organization are common, everyday people from all walks of life. They have but one commonality: they are repulsed by what has become a corrupt, evil, contemptuous political system that no longer serves the American people. They believe in our U.S. Constitution. They believe in our Declaration of Independence. They believe that our republic form of government was in need of dramatic overhaul, and there was only way to achieve such overhaul. Members of this group number in the tens of thousands, spread out across America. What they did, in effect, was start a second American Revolution; but, instead of using guns and weapons as our revolutionary forefathers had to, they chose to use America's highest technologies. What they did was abhorrent; some of us will never be able to forgive their murderous actions. But these people truly believe our country was being torn apart and methodically dismantled by corrupt politicians, scurrilous special interest groups, evil billionaire elitists, selfish and immoral celebrities, and multi-billion-dollar corporations obsessed only with more profit. Countless corporate headquarters, government buildings, military bases, private luxury homes, media outlets, movie studios, and other 'undesireable' facilities were destroyed in the stroke of a computer key. Thousands upon thousands of wealthy individuals, celebrities, corporate executives, and political leaders have been killed. Out of this one massive, immoral, contemptible act of rebellion, the members of O.U.T.R.A.G.E. expect to rebuild a 'kinder and gentler' nation, one based on morality, honesty, integrity, family values, and democracy in its truest form. Our government will now be governed by the people instead of a group of elected representatives whose personal interest and self-absorption take priority over the wants and needs of the people. While I do not condone their actions, I can understand their motives. I believe these people to be trustworthy and dedicated to their cause. We cannot go back, but we must move forward. It is imperative that those of us who have survived this terrible so-called 'Rebellion of '08' now come together and collectively begin the process of healing and rebuilding."
As McCain paused, the same three middle-aged men who had introduced Article XXII, the resolution to elect Colin Powell as interim President, came forward with another official-looking document. One of the men, sporting a bright lime-green O.U.T.R.A.G.E. button on his jacket lapel and a 'Powell for President' badge, spoke first. "We are here to introduce the next resolution."
ARTICLE XXIII. RESOLUTION: ELECT JOHN McCAIN AS INTERIM VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
"I don't believe this resolution needs further explanation. As you just emphasized, Mr. McCain, we must get on with the re-construction of our great nation. That will require honest leadership from men and women with unblemished integrity and impeccable standards of decency, morality and objectivity. We humbly introduce this resolution to be put to a popular vote, with the full intent of refreshing our political system in America." He turned to McCain and shook his hand, then turned back to the cameras and ended his brief announcement. "Please use the portable voting devices supplied to cast your vote."
The cameras continued to pan the room, eventually getting a shot of Powell and McCain together, framed in such a way that it could have been mistaken for a staged photo-op. After another twenty minutes, the two-line message appeared, and the screen faded to black, as always.
As the videoconference opened at 4:55 P.M. EST on Wednesday, February 20, there was still an atmosphere of levity among the O.U.T.R.A.G.E. members. Cameras panned the huge hall, sometimes focusing on small groups working furiously at their laptops, apparently trying to work out 'language' or fine-tune whatever it was they were attempting to author. If one peered closely, it became apparent that these groups almost always consisted of the same individuals. If one were to speculate, it was probably reasonable to assume these groups were the 'committees', or panels, that had been formed to create the final, formal legislation from each of the twenty-two non-binding resolutions that had so far been brought to the floor. Each committee had been assigned a specific resolution, charged with developing the language that would ultimately be presented for another popular vote before actually becoming the new law of the land.
After about an hour of this videographic roaming, the cameras suddenly focused on the large American flag that still hung below the readerboard sign. The sign's bright red letters still recorded the results of the last vote, electing Colin Powell as the interim President of the United States. It took some extraordinary camera work to create the next frame. Almost appearing to materialize from thin air came a vignette of John McCain, the edges of his profile gently shading the background of the flag.
"Good afternoon," said McCain. "For those of you who don't know me, my name is John McCain, and I have been proud to represent the great state of Arizona over these many years. Today, I come to you as a representative of the entire union. I have been asked to speak to you on behalf of this revolutionary organization called O.U.T.R.A.G.E.
Oppressed, United Taxpayers Revolting Against Government Excesses. This is the culmination of what I've been told has been a work-in-progress for over five years. The members of this organization are common, everyday people from all walks of life. They have but one commonality: they are repulsed by what has become a corrupt, evil, contemptuous political system that no longer serves the American people. They believe in our U.S. Constitution. They believe in our Declaration of Independence. They believe that our republic form of government was in need of dramatic overhaul, and there was only way to achieve such overhaul. Members of this group number in the tens of thousands, spread out across America. What they did, in effect, was start a second American Revolution; but, instead of using guns and weapons as our revolutionary forefathers had to, they chose to use America's highest technologies. What they did was abhorrent; some of us will never be able to forgive their murderous actions. But these people truly believe our country was being torn apart and methodically dismantled by corrupt politicians, scurrilous special interest groups, evil billionaire elitists, selfish and immoral celebrities, and multi-billion-dollar corporations obsessed only with more profit. Countless corporate headquarters, government buildings, military bases, private luxury homes, media outlets, movie studios, and other 'undesireable' facilities were destroyed in the stroke of a computer key. Thousands upon thousands of wealthy individuals, celebrities, corporate executives, and political leaders have been killed. Out of this one massive, immoral, contemptible act of rebellion, the members of O.U.T.R.A.G.E. expect to rebuild a 'kinder and gentler' nation, one based on morality, honesty, integrity, family values, and democracy in its truest form. Our government will now be governed by the people instead of a group of elected representatives whose personal interest and self-absorption take priority over the wants and needs of the people. While I do not condone their actions, I can understand their motives. I believe these people to be trustworthy and dedicated to their cause. We cannot go back, but we must move forward. It is imperative that those of us who have survived this terrible so-called 'Rebellion of '08' now come together and collectively begin the process of healing and rebuilding."
As McCain paused, the same three middle-aged men who had introduced Article XXII, the resolution to elect Colin Powell as interim President, came forward with another official-looking document. One of the men, sporting a bright lime-green O.U.T.R.A.G.E. button on his jacket lapel and a 'Powell for President' badge, spoke first. "We are here to introduce the next resolution."
ARTICLE XXIII. RESOLUTION: ELECT JOHN McCAIN AS INTERIM VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
"I don't believe this resolution needs further explanation. As you just emphasized, Mr. McCain, we must get on with the re-construction of our great nation. That will require honest leadership from men and women with unblemished integrity and impeccable standards of decency, morality and objectivity. We humbly introduce this resolution to be put to a popular vote, with the full intent of refreshing our political system in America." He turned to McCain and shook his hand, then turned back to the cameras and ended his brief announcement. "Please use the portable voting devices supplied to cast your vote."
The cameras continued to pan the room, eventually getting a shot of Powell and McCain together, framed in such a way that it could have been mistaken for a staged photo-op. After another twenty minutes, the two-line message appeared, and the screen faded to black, as always.
posted by Bushwacker! at 7:21 AM
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