Magna Carta 2.0

April 18, 2035 – New York City
President John Paladino’s
motorcade is headed to JFK for the flight back to Washington. The president has
just concluded a speech to the New York Chamber of Commerce promoting his new
economic stimulus package which has been blocked in Congress for weeks.
The president looks with
pride on the city he helped restore as mayor. The city had been a wreck when he
took office. Looking to the example of his mentor Rudy Giuliani, Paladino had put the city back on track. He had done such a good job that he had been asked
to join his party’s presidential ticket as vice president.
Paladino had ascended to
the presidency just a few months earlier when his predecessor, President
Richard Lyons, had died in a tragic hunting accident. Lyons had been a very
popular president and Paladino would have to work hard to get out of his
shadow.
Just before reaching the
JFK, an explosion nearly destroys the presidential limo and sends its occupants
tumbling. The source of the explosion is an advanced road-side bomb, and it is
quickly followed by several more such explosions which cause the motorcade to
stop dead in its tracks. Almost immediately over 30 heavily-armed men wearing
masks (they will later by indentified as an elite group of ISIS commandos)
attack the motorcade with the goal of taking the president hostage.
The secret service and
NYPD fight heroically in defense of the president and his 14-year old son Jack
Jr. The firefight lasts for less than ten minutes but will leave effects felt
for years in America. When the smoke clears all but one of the ISIS commandos
are dead, the last one is severely wounded and was spared only for
interrogation purposes. The cost to the president is much more severe. Thirteen
secret service agents (including three women) lay dead; seventeen more are
wounded. Fifteen NYPD personal are dead and twenty-nine wounded. Twenty-nine
civilians have been killed and over sixty wounded. Most tragic of all, Jack Jr.
was struck by shrapnel and dies in his father’s arms.
During the week following
the New York attacks, news reports reveal that most of the ISIS commandos came
across the Mexican border with most of their heavy weaponry. They acquired more
weapons from sleeper agents in the US and were joined in New York City by their
unit commander who arrived by airplane on a fake visa.
Paladino is furious after
the death of his only child and is determined that such an attack must never
happen again. He knows what he wants to do won’t be popular, but he isn’t very
worried. “After Waco, Oklahoma City, 9/11, the Patriot Act, wiretapping, internet
spying, and all the rest, Do you really think these sheep who call themselves “free
citizens” will do anything about this but moan a little bit and stage a protest
or two?” Paladino sneers to his chief of staff. “They will do exactly what they
are told.” The chief of staff grins and replies “Yes, Mr. President.”
May 4 – Washington
President Paladino signs
several emergency executive orders which will (1) create a national gun
registry; (2) close loopholes in the purchase of guns; (3) create a mandatory
buy-back program for all assault weapons; (4) create an domestic uniformed
police force; (5) allow all the phone, email, and web traffic of Americans to
be monitored in detail by the NSA; (6) triple the U.S. Border Patrol; (7) build
fence on both borders; (8) and change airport screening and visa process with
the practical result of making it virtually impossible for non-citizen Muslim
men other likely terrorists to legally get into the country without great
scrutiny. The orders are collectively known as the Defend America Executive
Orders (DAEO).
DAEO is meet with great
opposition. Protests erupt in many cities. In Washington protesters chant “USA”
and “Death to All Tyrants”. Opposition comes from elected officials as well,
with one southern governor decrying DAEO as “Un-Constitutional, Un-American,
Tyrannical, and Hitlerian”
President Paladino
responds to the criticisms by stating that DAEO is “absolutely necessary to
national security. This is no time for internal division and backbiting.” Paladino
scoffs at the attacks commenting “The Bill of Rights is not a suicide pact.” Paladino
warns dissidents that “Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists.”
Over the next few weeks,
several governors and hundreds of sheriffs and mayors announce they will not
comply with certain parts of DAEO. Virtually every elected official in America
is against at least one part of DAEO.
Governor Steven Langdon
of Georgia announces that he will be filing a federal lawsuit to stop DAEO and
vows to call out the Georgia State Defense Forces to protect his people if the
federal government attempts to seize any guns in Georgia. Governors of both
parties express support for him.
June 4 – Atlanta
The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals
blocks the implementation of DAEO pending review by the Supreme Court.
Governor Langdon
addresses a cheering crowd of over 50,000 in Atlanta shortly after the court
decision, declaring “George the Third had his Washington, Hitler
his Churchill; and Jack Paladino would do well to learn from their
examples. “Sic semper
tyrannis – thus
always to tyrants”. Within days, Sic semper tyrannis will appear on t-shirts, cars,
and most prominently on yard signs stuck on the sides of highways all over the
country.
President Paladino
announces that he will proceed with DAEO until the Supreme Court rules on the
issue. The president mocks Langdon as an “18th century throwback” and a “Jefferson
wannabe”.
Paladino has counted the
votes on the Court and believes he has a 5-4 majority for DAEO.
June 8 – Washington
U.S. Supreme Court Chief
Justice Michael Lee announces that the Supreme Court will hear the case from Georgia
regarding DAEO.
June 15-17 – Denver
President Paladino and
several governors meet to discuss potential reforms to the DAEO. Both sides
appeal to the Constitution, federal law, and the Supreme Court for
assistance to justify their positions in the dispute. Georgia Governor Steve
Langdon is specifically excluded from the talks. During the negotiations, the
governors produced an initial document, which calls for the amending of DAEO
and several other changes to federal policy. Paladino hopes that the courts
(who almost always side with the federal government against the states) will
give him the valuable legal and moral support he needs, and so he plays for
time.
Paladino also begins
preparing police and military forces for the implementation of DAEO. There is
much less opposition then expected from the military leaders on the idea of
martial law and gun confiscation. Ever since the 1990’s the military had been
purged of it’s more conservative members of the officer corps and there is no
Patton, MacArthur, or even an Eisenhower to be found in the top brass anymore.
The same cannot be said
for the lower ranks and enlisted men. Media reports indicate that the number of
sick leaves, family leaves, and AWOLs are at an all time high. Speculation runs
rampant that this is due to opposition to DAEO.
In a further move to
shore up his support, Paladino starts plans to bomb and possibly invade ISIS
bases in Yemen and Sudan, a move which he hopes will give him additional
political support, and take attention away from the domestic crisis.
June 18 – Washington
Drudge Report breaks the story that the
White House has been working with the NSA, IRS, CIA, and FBI to threaten and
blackmail private citizens, journalists, members of congress, and even a
supreme court justice. This is the biggest leak of government information since
the Edward Snowden leak of 2013.
These revelations show
Governor Langdon and several other governors that there is nothing Paladino
will not do to get his way. Paladino has control over the military, the
intelligence services, and even (it appears) the courts.
Afternoon, June 28 – Washington
The U.S. Supreme Court
announces that they are divided on the issue of DAEO case. 4 justices rule that
it is constitutional, 4 rule that is not, 1 (the one who Paladino had been
trying to blackmail) abstains. Both sides see this as a justification of their
case since lower courts have already ruled both ways on the issue.
Evening, June 28 – Atlanta 
One of Chief Justice
Lee’s clerks meet secretly with Governor Langdon. The clerk informs Langdon
that the Chief Justice is willing to support Langdon if the governor decides to
resist DAEO with military force. “You must change your tactics or lose the
game, governor” the clerk tells Langdon. The governor is silent for a moment
and then speaks words that will change America forever. “The die is cast; there
is no going back. Sic semper tyrannis”.
June 29
Governor Langdon (in his
capacity as Chairman of the National Governors Association) calls an emergency
conference of governors in Atlanta to discuss how to respond to the Supreme
Court’s decision and the eminent implementation of DAEO.
July 1 – Atlanta
36 governors meet at the
Georgia State Capitol to discuss the proper response to DAEO. About two-thirds
of the governors want to resist with non-compliance. The more radical governors
point out that strategy won’t work since President Paladino is planning to use
the military to enforce DAEO.
July 2 – Atlanta
The radicals (led by
Governor Langdon) propose a series of resolutions collectively known as the Articles
of Freedom. The articles assert the rights of the states and of the
people to resist Paladino’s tyranny based on precedents going all the way back
to the Magna Carta. The articles require President Paladino to resend DAEO as
well as hundreds of other executive orders put in place by his predecessors
going back over fifty years. The articles call on Congress to pass
constitutional amendments which include, giving the states a veto over federal
action by majority votes by governors or state legislatures; establishing an
automatic sunset on all federal laws, regulations, and executive orders; and
requiring a balanced budget and super majorities to raise taxes or the federal
debt limit. The articles further state if congress does not pass such
amendments within 100 days, the states will call an Article V Convention to
pass them. The most radical part of the articles is saved for last. The final
article states that if President Paladino refuses to resend his “unconstitutional
and tyrannical” executive orders, the states will regard him as an “illegitimate
usurper and despot, who has forfeited all protections and prerogatives of the
Office of President of the United States”.
Although an informal vote
on passage fails 17-18, the radicals are encouraged on how close the vote was.
July 2 – Washington
President Paladino is
informed of the actions of the NGA and calls a press conference for the next
day.
July 3 – Washington
President Paladino holds
a morning press conference to announce that “certain subversives” are meeting
in Atlanta to discuss “treason against the people of the United States”. He
further announces that he will travel to Atlanta that afternoon to “settle to
issues and bring the matter to an end”. He announces that those who have been
misled will have mercy extended to them. Paladino also declares that for those
who continue in their “treason”, the punishment will be trial and execution.
July 3 – Atlanta
The governors are shocked
and galvanized by Paladino’s announcement. Two governors leave but thirty-four
remain, determined to see it through. A formal vote on passage of the draft Articles
of Freedom passes
20-11. The conference decides to hold formal release of the articles until
meeting with Paladino. Governor Langdon is working to get a unanimous vote in
favor and so prepares for the meeting with the President.     
July 4 – Atlanta       
 
President Paladino
arrives at the Georgia State Capitol with fewer than usual secret service
agents. Paladino wants to show his contempt for the governors by appearing to
be unafraid of them and their states.
In his address to the
governors, Paladino offers no compromise and warns them that if they do not
adjourn immediately, he will order the FBI to arrest them when they return to
their states. The governors boo him and shout “Sic semper tyrannis”.
After Paladino finishes
his speech, Governor Langdon responds with a short and powerful speech that
brings the governors to their feet with applause. Langdon then calls a recess
after which the Governors will vote on the final draft of the articles.
President Paladino,
Governor Langdon, and a few other governors meet during the recess. Paladino
refuses to discuss any compromises until the conference adjourns and Langdon
resigns from office.
Langdon surprises all
when he opens a side door and in walks Chief Justice Lee. Lee declares that he
is siding with the governors and gives them his blessing. Paladino still
refuses to relent.
Langdon informs Paladino
that the Georgia State Defense Force (SDF) has sealed the building and the
President will not be permitted to leave unless he signs the articles. To prove
it, he opens the door to reveal the SDF have disarmed the secret service agents
on the president’s detail.
A furious Paladino
screams and threatens for a solid ten minutes before realizing that the
Langdon, Lee and the governors will not relent. He then agrees to sign the
Articles.
The conference reconvenes
with Chief Justice Lee presiding, Lee, Langdon, and Paladino makes short
speeches supporting the articles, which then pass unanimously and the
President, Lee, and all the governors sign them.
On the plane back to
Washington that night, an enraged Paladino declares that “I will have the
traitors in jail by next week or I’ll be dead”. He has no idea how prophetic
his statement will be.
July 5 – Washington
President Paladino orders
an airborne brigade deployed to Atlanta to arrest Langdon, Lee, and the NGA.
Paladino’s Vice President Theodore “Buck” Henry urges him not to take this
drastic step. Henry is a moderate and civil libertarian who has opposed DAEO
(in private) from the start.
July 7 – Atlanta    
Paladino lands with the
airborne brigade at the Atlanta airport to find Langdon and the Georgia SDF
waiting for them. Paladino mounts the lead tank and nearly fails off as his
smooth soul shoes get almost no traction on the slippery armor plates.
Paladino leads the tank
column and airborne troops to the edge of the airport to confront Langdon.
Langdon orders the SDF to “not fire unless fired upon. But if he wants a war,
let it begin here.”
Paladino’s tank stops
just short of strips of three-inch spikes laid down by the SDF to stop trucks
and jeeps. Paladino (mindful of the cameras and reporters watching) declines
any help dismounting the tank.
Paladino meets Langdon
for a few minutes in between the two forces. Langdon offers to resign as
Governor if Paladino will honor the Articles and withdraw the troops. Paladino
refuses and declares that he will not honor the articles and intends to arrest
Langdon and all the governors as well as declare martial law in every state
whose governor signed the articles. Langdon tells the president that he will
resist to the last rather than submit to such terms. The two part and prepare
for battle.
Paladino is so angry he
fails to watch his step and as he reaches the top of the tank he slips and
falls backwards onto the spikes, his body impaled and pierced over twenty
times. A truce is called and Paladino is rushed to a hospital, but he falls
into a coma shortly after reaching surgery.
July 7 – Washington    
Paladino’s cabinet
invokes the 25th Amendment and Vice
President Henry becomes Acting President. Henry’s first two actions are to
order the withdraw of troops from Atlanta and the halting of the implementation
of DAEO.
July 8 – Atlanta    
President Paladino,
having never come out of his coma, dies from his wounds. Governor Langdon
writes in his diary, “Today a dishonorable man died in a dishonorable manner. Sic
semper tyrannis”.
July 8 – Washington    
Acting President Henry is
formally sworn-in as president in a quiet ceremony in the Oval Office.
Afterward
The death of Paladino
ends the crisis that might have resulted in tyranny or civil war.
President Henry works to
secure passage of the Articles of Freedom amendments (collectively know as the “Second
Bill of Rights”) through Congress as well as resending the executive orders
named in the Articles.
Henry wins re-election in
2036 and 2040 and presides over an era of peace and prosperity. Henry takes
limited roles in both congressional affairs and the state maters, allowing both
to regain their rightful influence. When he leaves office in 2045, Henry will
have the highest approval rating for a retiring president in the history of the
Gallup poll.
Governor Langdon declines
many calls to run for President and instead accepts an appointment to the U.S.
Supreme Court from President Henry. Langdon serves on the Court for over forty
years, including thirty-two as Chief Justice. Langdon will lead the court in a
constructionist direction and will be remembered as one of the three most
influential Chief Justices in history, along with Earl Warren and John
Marshall.
Epilogue
Though, while but a
hundred of us remain alive, we will not submit in the slightest measure…We do
not fight for honor, riches, or glory, but solely for freedom which no true man
gives up but with his life. — Scottish Declaration of Independence
The tree of liberty must
be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. — Thomas
Jefferson
Freedom is never more
than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it on to our
children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on
for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our
children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United
States, where men were free. — Ronald Reagan
Victory or Death — General George Washington
Category:United States of America
Category:Politics
Category:Scenario