The following exchange is from Dialogue Group 9, Thread 1.

214. Bulletin
Wed, Jan 27, 1999 - 3:04 PM/EST
George

Bulletin:
October 30, 2000: 7:30am EST
Rooter's International News Service

Military takes over the White House.


In a short, but bloody, confrontation on the White House steps, troops from the 33rd infantry, under the command of General Every Bloodgood, took control of the American executive mansion. Casualties on both sides are reported to be light, and there were no fatalities.

Moments after overcoming resistance from the Secret Service, the infantry troops unceremoniously evicted William Jefferson Clinton, Hillary, the entire White House staff, and the dog. At this writing personal possessions are being thrown out second story windows. The first family was last seen walking up Pennsylvania Avenue with the President nursing a very large, bloody, nose.

General Bloodgood, in a written statement released shortly after the early morning commando style raid, attempted to calm the nation, saying that his actions were aimed only at upholding the Constitution. His statement alluded to the Senate's finding that President Clinton had committed perjury and obstruction of justice in the impeachment trial of 1999, and the Supreme Court's refusal last spring to rule, in the case of House Managers vs. Senate, on whether the Senate had Constitutional authority to separate the issue of guilt from that of removal from office, as the Senate, in fact, did when it took separate votes on these issues in that now infamous trial.

According to General Bloodgood, "this action, although regrettable, is absolutely necessary to reaffirm the supremacy of the Constitution of The United States.

General Bloodgood asserted support from the Joint Chiefs of Staff, but Rooters was unable to reach any representatives from the Pentagon who would confirm or deny this claim. However, military bases all around the country have gone on full alert. Thus far, Rooters has not been able to confirm any actual troop movements outside the immediate Washington D.C. region.

Speaker of The House of Representatives, Henry Hyde, issued a press release stating that he "hoped General Bloodgood's actions would, finally, resolve this matter for good."

Vice President Al Gore is campaigning in California and could not be reached for comment, as the satellite communications system has been appropriated to military uses only.

Further bulletins as events warrant.

215. Good one!
Wed, Jan 27, 1999 - 3:17 PM/EST
LouisC

Very funny George... especialy since I heard on the Today Show this morning that the Senate may indeed take up 2 seperate votes, one on a 'finding of fact' that clinton commited purgery, and another on the actual question of guilt or inocence resulting in removal from office!

Isn't that like a jury saying, "the evidence shows he did it, but we find him not guilty anyway!" ?

Guess they want to have thier cake and eat it too ;-)

216. Ah ha.
Wed, Jan 27, 1999 - 3:42 PM/EST
RatGirl

I notice that Bloodgood let the cat stay. Socks for president.

217. But seriously
Wed, Jan 27, 1999 - 5:22 PM/EST
George

It *could* happen!

219. VP
Thu, Jan 28, 1999 - 10:06 AM/EST
LouisC

and Buddy can be Vice President! Hey, if Jessie Ventura can become Governor... why not ;-)

222. really--it could happen
Thu, Jan 28, 1999 - 7:43 PM/EST
George

Sorry, I didn't mean to encourage a complete breakdown of the serious side of this discussion group!

I think the fictional coup d' etat is not entirely a joke. The Senate is considering just such a split in the charge given them by the constitution and the House. I cannot imagine for a minute that the right wing will allow a finding of fact that Clinton is guilty of perjury and obstruction of justice while simultaneously finding that he should not be removed from office without a supreme court challenge.

Nor will they accept a non-verdict should the court refuse to rule on the case. Their rhetoric will only escalate. In that kind of atmosphere, General Bloodgood is neither funny nor so far fetched.

If the Supreme Court holds for the House that the Senate cannot do what it is currently attempting to do, it would probably "send" the decision back to the Senate for reconsideration (best scenario), or attempt to force Clinton out by virtue of their order. In the latter case, we would probably have a clash prompted by Clinton refusing to go, perhaps complicated by Gore refusing to accept the mantel of President, and even possibly by the Speaker of the House laying claim to the office since the VP won't. I don't doubt for a minute that shots will be fired in such a scenario.

Of course, the court could hold for the Senate, but I don't think that is likely. Most likely to me seems the "refuse to hear the case" option.

The point being that this option, as I understand it now, will resolve nothing and give the right wing exactly what it thrives on--more controversy--more division in America.

This potential "exit strategy" will get us out of nothing!

George