Alternate History ðŸ“° EAGLE IS DOWN: November 23, 1996: The Clinton Assassination and Ramifications....

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The Pardon of the Cajun Governor

Sergeant Foley

Well-known member
BREAKING NEWS ALERT: PRESIDENT WHITE PARDONS FORMER LOUISIANA GOVERNOR EDWIN W. EDWARDS (D) OF ALL CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS; THEREFORE ENDING CRIMINAL PROSECUTIONS
2:56 PM EST, Sunday, February 22, 1998

med_res

President White announcing his decision to pardon former Louisiana Governor Edwin W. Edwards (D).
In an unusual move, President Mark W. White delivered midday Presidential Address to the Nation from the Oval Office of the White House on February 22nd.

He called in a handful of newsmen then on duty after attending church services. President White during his midday speech proceeded to drop a bombshell-------the announcement of unconditional pardon of former Louisiana Governor Edwin W. Edwards (D)-------a decision he reached without consulting party leaders, members of the Louisiana congressional delegation, federal prosecutors or even the public.

Several members of the White House staff expressed their disgust by resigning immediately. Former United States Senator Dolph Briscoe (D-TX) and former US Treasury Secretary Llyod Bentsen, felt their words had been undermined because they had previously assured reporters and journalists that White wouldn't interfere with the federal investigations against Edwards.

White, who at his swearing-in speech, two months earlier had promised "openess and candor," was quickly deluged by phone calls, telegrams, angry letters denouncing his decision. Members of Congress in both political parties were angered both by the pardon and at not having been consulted in advance. The backlash within days and weeks escalated: especially federal prosecutors at the US Justice Department, whose investigation into Edwards was immediately null and void.

Back at the federal courthouse in New Orleans, Louisiana: Edwards addressed reporters who gathered outside expressing thanks to President White for sticking to his guns in pardoning him as well as being grateful to living out his life in the private sector.
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Former Louisiana Governor Edwin W. Edwards (D) holding press conference outside the Federal Courthouse in New Orleans after learning of President White's bombshell decision to pardon him.

Bewildered that he should've become the center of the controversy for actions that he regarded as humanitarian, White could only repeat to critics that the pardon and the conditional amnesty both were "my honest and conscientious effort to healing the wounds for the people of the State of Louisiana."

COMING UP THIS WEEK: Backlash against President White begins over the pardon and political fallout.
 
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The Backlash!

Sergeant Foley

Well-known member
POLLING SURVEYS: President White's approval ratings plunges after backlash over controversial pardon of former Louisiana Governor Edwin Edwards (D).

*February 28, 1998: In less than six days after announcing his pardon of former Louisiana Governor Edwin Edwards (D) on national television, ABC News reported that when polled majority of Americans strongly disapproved the President's job performance.

On January 17th during the tailend of the Freedom Revolution in India, White's approval rating had reached 68%. Fast forward today: ABC News Poll reveals President White now has a 40% approval rating with 56% disapprove.

During a meeting with the National Conference of Mayors in Rockford, Illinois: President White was heckled by a group of protesters who used names such as "TRAITOR TO THE CONSTITUTION!"; "Hey! Hey! Mark White. How much secret bribes did you receive to pardon the crook?"; "Disgrace to the American People. Resign!" The hecklers were aggressively escorted out of the ballroom.

Politics 98: Republicans smell blood in the political water!

*March 3, 1998: Buoyed by the pardon backlash, Republicans (who are in control of both houses of Congress) secretly and gleefully expressed their joy of seeing political blood in the water as the President's approval ratings have been plunging downward in the past few days.

Asked if they'll pursue investigation hearings, US House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-GA) summed it up "Stay tuned". While US Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-MS) declined to offer specifics on a potential oversight investigation due to the distraction from the 1998 midterm elections.
 
Explosive incident back home

Sergeant Foley

Well-known member
BREAKING NEWS ALERTS: MISSISSIPPI STATE TROOPERS, LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS OPEN FIRE AT PROTESTORS IN JACKSON SUBURBS, TWENTY-FIVE PEOPLE KILLED, COUNTLESS OTHERS WOUNDED
*Protests near the outskirts of Jackson, Missisippi in Jackson turn ugly, Mississippi Highway Patrol opens fire on protestors via sniper.
*Forty-Nine protestors killed, countless others ranging from 40-73 injured.
*Death toll rising according to unconfirmed reports.
*President White strongly condemned the violence, mobilized the National Guard; US Justice Department investigating
*Missisippi Governor Kirk Fordice (R) doubles-down on justification: "These outside agitators need to know their place!"


*March 24, 1998: Less than three weeks after signing executive orders banning all affirmative action programs throughout the entire Magnolia State including preventing businesses, industries or state, local government from giving contracts to minority-owned businesses as well as pushing a controversial statewide initiative banning racial preferences in colleges and universities Proposition 61 (which passed in November 1997) which was the poster-child of the controversial California Proposition 209 which was passed in 1996, a group of national and international journalists began publishing reports of ugly heinous crimes of brutality committed by the Mississippi Highway Patrol and other law enforcement agencies, loyal to hardcore staunch neo-conservative Mississippi Governor Kirk Fordice (R), including allegations of violent methods of brutality against opponents of the Fordice administration in Jackson: instances including mysterious kidnappings, lynchings, violent rapes, etc.,

Protests among non-white Mississippians, impoverished or disadvantaged Mississippians and others broke out across Mississippi and other parts of the country. After the newest piece by Jet Magazine revealed more heinous violent crimes committed by a secret police force within the Mississippi Highway Patrol and local law enforcement agencies as well as depletion of natural resources in neglected communities in the Magnolia State, another protest escalated when protestors ranging from over an estimated large group of protestors ranging from college students to civil rights activists marching toward the suburbs of Jackson suddenly emerged. The original plan was to march to the grounds of the Mississippi State Capitol in Jackson. About 572 to 673 people attended the march on the morning hours of March 24th with just over 7,000+ law enforcement personnel including troopers of the Mississippi Highway Patrol present keeping watch. Although the protest had remained peaceful somewhat in the early parts of the day, things began to take a dark turn.....

Depending on whom you ask, rumors circulated that Governor Fordice or associates of his administration instructed all white men over the age of twenty-one to report to the county courthouse to be deputized. Commanding officer Seymour Lee told the demonstrators to "go home and go back to your church. This is an unlawful and illegal assembly." When Rev. Dr. Theodore McPherson of the First United Methodist Church, tried to speak with the officer, Lee curtly told him "There is nothing to discuss!" Seconds later, the troopers assisted by local law enforcement officers began aggressively shoving the demonstrators, knocking some of whom to the ground and beating them with nightsticks, baseball bats and crowbars. Another detachment of troopers fired tear gas and mounted troopers on horseback charged the crowd on horseback.

What happened next was the worst phase of brutality.

Members of the Mississippi Highway Patrol, some of whom opened fire on the demonstrators via sniper fire from rooftops killing forty-nine. Other rumors alleged that members of local law enforcement chased some of the younger demonstrators into the woods and violently tortured them to death. The relentless and ruthless sadistic suppression continued as the state and local law enforcement agencies (nicknamed the Fordice-ista's) upped the ante even further by gunning down more of the demonstrators, some of whom smiled and laughed as a bleeding Gwendolyn McGuire was dying as she begged for mercy to stop the beating, one of the troopers yelled "Know your place you half-breed piece of shit!" before striking her with a baseball bat killing her. Another instance was McGuire's 12-year-old son, Jeremiah attacked one of the troopers "You killed my mommy. You murderers!" before Trooper Joseph Moody used a crowbar to bash his head and kept bashing him until Jeremiah was dead.

The confrontation continued to escalate further as the troopers were assisted by members of the Council of Conservative Citizens as they participated in the shooting of over 40-73+ demonstrators when chased into the minority neighborhoods and shot ruthlessly.

The entire nation watched in absolute horror as Mississippi unceremoniously took its horrific place as "Selma 2.0" in reference to the carnage of the Jackson suburbs. According to whom you ask, Fordice was gleefully watching the disgusting incident on television inside his office at the Mississippi Governor's Mansion while eating lunch and drinking some coffee.


COMING UP:
*Personal PoV from some politicians pleading with Governor Fordice to stop the violence.
*President White addresses the Nation on the Carnage in Mississippi.
*The Nation watches the Horror on television.
 
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Chapter 4: The Reaction

Sergeant Foley

Well-known member
BREAKING NEWS ALERT: PRESIDENT WHITE ADDRESSES THE NATION; REFUSES TO CALL FOR FORDICE'S RESIGNATION

*April 16, 1998: Less than nearly four weeks after the Carnage in Mississippi, lawmakers (mostly on the Democratic side including few Republicans) and mostly journalists and political analysts called for severe consequences against Mississippi Governor Kirk Fordice (R), who during a press conference at the State Capitol in Jackson doubled-down on justifying the violent crackdown on demonstrators which resulted in the deaths of 75 people while over 300+ were injured in the violent, vicious attack by state troopers and local law enforcement officers. Some even called on the Democratic-controlled Mississippi State Legislature to pursue impeachment proceedings against Fordice.

Nonetheless, on April 16th, President White during a press conference at the 2nd Summit of the Americas in Santiago, Chile, condemned the violence in the March 24th crackdown in Mississippi and called on "restraint" and also called for "respecting law and order, including law enforcement". However, he also directly and bluntly dismissed calls when asked if he would join those in demanding Governor Fordice's resignation only saying "That's only on the Mississippi State Legislature to decide if they want to take any course of action." When pressed further if the US Justice Department would investigate, White said "I am NOT going to interfere in any ongoing investigation by the Justice Department." During an interview on television, the Rev. Jesse Jackson forcefully condemned White's response on the Carnage in Mississippi dubbed "Selma 2.0". "Unfortunately, President White has proven to many people in the community that he's not interested in fighting for civil rights and using this moderation mess by suggesting we calm down and get over it. He is slowly becoming a huge disappointment when it comes to civil rights and other domestic issues. The worst President in America. It's a huge disappointment."
 
Chapter 4: Personal PoV's

Sergeant Foley

Well-known member
*The following will be quite violent and graphic. Viewer discretion advised

Personal PoV: Gabby's story
10:23 PM CST, April 16, 1998

[Part I]: Gabby Jenkins was recovering from injuries she sustained in the Carnage of Mississippi on March 24th, she had been trying to avoid another fit of excruciating pain in the lower part of her body by gripping the bedsheet.

She had tried to get some sleep in the second floor of her aunt's house. It was 10:23 PM CST and Gabby was breathing heavily "This pain won't go away. What's wrong with me?" She wondered to herself so she tried once again to get some sleep..... PTSD kicked in including the flashbacks: the redneck State troopers beating her friends ruthlessly in broad daylight while hearing the jeers from rednecks waving the Confederate flag singing "Dixie"; Gabby also remembered in another flashback of one mean Anglo state trooper telling her "Come back here you half-breed agitator" as he threw her to the ground and violently beat her across the back with a large batton.

The horrible flashbacks continued: Gabby remembered two racist rednecks dragging her to an undisclosed location and violently raping her repeatedly non-stop, three other rednecks with Confederate tattoos joined in on the rape, threatening to kill her if she talked.

COMING SOON: Part II of Gabby's Personal PoV
 
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Chapter 4: 1996 College Football Bowl Games (Part III)

Sergeant Foley

Well-known member
FLORIDA GATORS AVENGE REGULAR SEASON LOSS BY THROTTLING FLORIDA STATE SEMINOLES IN REMATCH; WIN FIRST NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
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*January 2, 1997: In their rematch, No. 3 Florida Gators (12-1), Southeastern Conference champions unleashed sweet revenge on No. 1 Florida State Seminoles (11-1) with a 52-20 pounding of the Seminoles in the Sugar Bowl at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Florida Gators QB Danny Weurffel, the Heisman Trophy winning quarterback who had been pushed around by the Seminoles during the regular season finale loss, threw for three touchdowns and ran for another. Florida's unrelenting defense, put the clamps on Florida State Seminoles running back Warrick Dunn and Co., as the Seminoles couldn't muster anything in solving the Gators' aggressiveness on either side of the football before 78,344 people, the largest crowd to watch a football game at the Superdome.

The outcome muted the Gators' 1995 embarrassing 62-24 loss to Nebraska in the 1995 Fiesta Bowl and also made amends for Florida's 24-21 loss in Tallahassee on November 30, 1996. The Gators had a 24-10 lead heading into the last two minutes of the first half. The Seminoles cut the deficit down to 24-20 four minutes in the third quarter, but Florida stiffened its resolve, got some more big plays in the punting game, and ran off had scored two additional touchdowns in the last six minutes of the third quarter.

The first required only a 24-yard drive and followed pivotal punts. On the first, Florida State failed to field Robby Stevenson's kick for the second time in the game, and had to take over on its 3. Four plays later, Florida's Jacquez fielded a Seminoles punt at the 50, and returned it 26 yards.

Following a 17-yard run by Fred Taylor, Weurffel went back to Ike Hilliard, who tied a Sugar Bowl record with his third touchdown, on an 8-yard slant that made it 31-20 with 5:43 left in the third quarter.

After Florida State ran three plays and punted for the seventh time, Florida showed it could run the ball too, as Weurffel scrambled for a 16-yard touchdown with 3:50 left in the third quarter to make it 38-20.

The carnage escalated with 8:52 to go in the game, when Terry Jackson took a pass from Weurffel and rambled 42 yards to make it 45-20. Florida State lost its cool at this point and was hit with three late penalties that set up Florida's final touchdown, with a 1-yard dive by Jackson on fourth down that quickly added more ill will between the two schools. In addition to it being the highest-scoring Sugar Bowl ever, it was also the most penalized.
 
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Upcoming Segments in Chapter 4: College Football

Sergeant Foley

Well-known member
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Chapter 4: 1996 NFL Playoffs (Part I)

Sergeant Foley

Well-known member
1996 NFL Playoff Schedule (December 28, 1996-January 26, 1997)
***Author's Note: We begin SLOWLY with the 1996 AFC and NFC Wild Card Playoff matchups.


AFC Wild Card Playoffs:
5.) Jacksonville Jaguars (9-7) vs 4.) Buffalo Bills (10-6)
December 28, 1996
Rich Stadium
Orchard Park, New York State

6.) Indianapolis Colts (9-7) vs 3.) Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6)
December 29, 1996
Three Rivers Stadium
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

NFC Wild Card Playoffs:
6.) Minnesota Vikings (9-7) vs 3.) Dallas Cowboys (10-6)
December 28, 1996
Texas Stadium
Irving, Texas

5.) Philadelphia Eagles (10-6) vs 4.) San Francisco 49ers (12-4)
December 29, 1996
Candlestick Park
San Francisco, California
 
Political developments out of Mississippi

Sergeant Foley

Well-known member
April 17, 1998

SPECIAL REPORT: IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS AGAINST MISSISSIPPI GOVERNOR KIRK FORDICE (R) MOVED TO THE FULL MISSISSIPPI HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

*House Committee on the Judiciary voted on party-lines approving articles of impeachment against controversial Mississippi Governor.
*Full floor of Mississippi House of Representatives expected to debate the five articles of impeachment.
*Vote expected to take place sometime within two weeks.


Following weeks of eyewitness testimony before the Mississippi House Judiciary Committee and the Subcommittee on Ethics over the past few weeks, the Judiciary Committee voted on partisan lines in approving five articles of impeachment against Governor Fordice.

Eyes of the nation will be on the Magnolia State in determining the Long Political Saga which will have huge implications.
 
Chapter 4: 1996 College Football Headlines

Sergeant Foley

Well-known member
BREAKING NEWS ALERT: SPLIT NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS BETWEEN FLORIDA, ARIZONA STATE, BYU

*January 27, 1997: Following the crazy and most intriguing games from the 1996 College Football Season, the decision on which team was declared national champions was deliberated by the Bowl Alliance, Coaches Poll members, etc.,

After dragging for nearly an entire month since the Bowl games ended, the result was:
*Florida Gators (12-1): Coaches Poll National Champions
*Arizona State Sun Devils (12-0): Associated Press National Champions
*BYU Cougars (15-0): CFRA National Champions
 
Chapter 4: Impeachment in the Magnolia State

Sergeant Foley

Well-known member
BREAKING NEWS ALERT: MISSISSIPPI HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES VOTES TO IMPEACH MISSISSIPPI GOVERNOR KIRK FORDICE (R); FIVE ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT MOVE BEFORE FULL FLOOR OF MISSISSIPPI STATE SENATE.

*April 28, 1998: The Democratic controlled Mississippi House of Representatives voted by an overwhelming majority of impeaching embattled Mississippi Governor Kirk Fordice (R) on all five articles of impeachment.

Now the impeachment proceedings go to the full floor of the Mississippi State Senate, where it'll go to trial and constitutional experts predict the impeachment trial might last nearly two months depending on how long it'll drag out.

During a press conference in Hattiesburg, Governor Fordice doubled-down on not resigning from office.
 
Chapter 4: Spring 1998

Sergeant Foley

Well-known member
WILL HE OR WON'T HE? THE ONGOING POLITICAL SCOOP OF PRESIDENT WHITE'S POLITICAL FUTURE

With the Midterm elections only seven months away, the next political campaign the day after November 3rd will almost certainly be about the 2000 Presidential election.

Political experts and analysts from both political parties have been wondering if President Mark W. White will seek a full four-year term in 2000: when asked if he was running, White said his main focus was leading the country during peacetime, getting the economy booming, balancing the federal budget, aggressively tough on crime such as pushing strong tough-on-crime policies in maintaining public safety for the American people and showing strong leadership on the international stage in foreign affairs and national defense.

If White chose not to run, the obvious frontrunner on the Democratic Party will be Vice President Dick Gephardt. While the Vice President is considered as the likely nominee of the Democratic Party for the Presidency, there's speculation other Democrats might jump in.

On the Republican Party side: The list of contenders range from the following: Texas Governor George W. Bush (R), former Education Secretary Lamar Alexander (R-TN), United States Senator John McCain (R-AZ), former US Transportation Secretary Liddy Dole (R-KS/NC).

Polling surveys showed Bush leading overwhelmingly in hypothetical head-to-head matchups against President White from 16-32 points.
 
Chapter 4: Over in Mississippi

Sergeant Foley

Well-known member
BREAKING NEWS ALERT: MISSISSIPPI STATE SENATE VOTES TO CONVICT AND REMOVE CONTROVERSIAL MISSISSIPPI GOVERNOR KIRK FORDICE (R) FROM OFFICE; LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR RONNIE MUSGROVE (D) TO BECOME 61ST GOVERNOR

*June 21, 1998: Following a long, dragged out impeachment trial over the five articles of impeachment, the Democratic-controlled Mississippi State Senate voted 37-15 to remove controversial Mississippi Governor Kirk Fordice (R) from the Governorship altogether effective immediately.

Upon these developments, staff members of the flamboyant two-term Governor packed up his personal effects out of his Capitol office at the Mississippi State Capitol Building in downtown Jackson; television news crews drove to the grounds of the Mississippi Governor's Mansion where they saw U-haul trucks parking at the back of the mansion: assuming Fordice's personal belongings were being packed up.

This means Mississippi Lieutenant Governor Ronnie Musgrove (D) will ascend to the Governorship as the Magnolia State's 61st chief executive.
 
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Chapter 4: International Headlines (Part III)

Sergeant Foley

Well-known member
BREAKING NEWS ALERT: ELECTIONS IN INDIA SET FOR SUMMER 1999

*June 24, 1998: During a televised Address to the Nation from the presidential palace in New Delhi, Indian President Troy DeNaluze announced that democratic elections will be set for next Summer 1999 including the elections for the Presidency as well.

Having took office five months ago following the Freedom Revolution which ended the Military Junta's grip on power following 13 1/2 years, DeNaluze declined to say whether he's a candidate for the Presidency next summer, "The main focus is leading the Republic of India toward true democracy as we close out the 1990s."

EXCLUSIVE: GUTIERREZISM'S SITUATION ON BEING ALLOWED BACK INTO INDIAN POLITICS UNCLEAR

*Despite the return of democracy in India, there's still the unresolved questions regarding whether the Gutierrezism Movement will be allowed back into the political spectrum. Gutierrezism is the nickname of the political movement during the administration of then-Indian President Winston Gutuerrez, who held office from January 31, 1986 until his ouster in the National Reorganization Revolution on June 19, 1996 which drove him into exile.

Gutierrez, who currently lives in Spain, was asked if he'll be allowed back into the South Asian country and potentially seek the Presidency in 1999. "The new government will have to make that decision on whether they want me or my supporters back in India, where I was born and raised. I encourage majority of the Gutierrezistas to keep up the good fight!"


BREAKING NEWS ALERT: SEARCH WARRANTS ISSUED FOR FORMER JUNTA MEMBERS

*June 25, 1998: Interpol and other federal law enforcement agencies issued over 600+ search warrants on over 20+ former members of the Military Junta of India in broad daylight.

Among those who were given search warrants and affidavits was disgraced former Indian President Ved Malik, who had been taken to booking, fingerprinted, photographed. Victims of over 40,000 families including human rights organizations accused Malik and members of his administration of massive war crimes against humanity as well as the corruption scandals that occurred during his administration.
 
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Sports Segments in Chapter 4

Sergeant Foley

Well-known member
@bintananth @WolfBear @almostinsane @Atarlost @Buba @Tiamat

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Coming up this week, I'll be slowly working on the Sports Headlines of the 1996 NFL Playoffs, 1997 NFL Playoffs including the 1997 College Football Season.
Be on the look out for these stories once they're posted.
 
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