The year-by-year rundown, as it will be presented on TV just a few years from now!

2000: Whatever happened to Y2K?

Teen pop continues to thrive, Survivor and CSI hit the TVs, and for a while it seems like nothing has changed since 1999. Well, that is until the NASDAQ crash. And Florida.

2001: The Migraine Begins

George W. Bush is inaugurated after the most acrimonious election battle in modern history, teen pop is promptly replaced by hip-hop on the Billboard charts, and everybody continues in their blissful Robert Blake-obsessed ignorance until a fateful Tuesday morning in September.

2002: The Dark Days

Bush invades Afghanistan and talks about invading Iraq, all to the tune of a 65% approval rating. Music sucks, but American Idol wants you to believe otherwise! Tight jeans take over fashion thanks to Britney Spears, and the entire nation falls into an enduring anxiety spell about terrorism, Islam, and the rest of the world.

2003: It Doesn't Get Any More '00 Than This

As the Iraq War begins with huge popular support, the entire nation seems obsessed with celebrities, media, music, and fashion. Hip-hop peaks in its dominance of the music charts, and Beyonce rapidly establishes herself as the Whitney Houston of the decade in terms of success. Ugg Boots become fashionable even if you live in Miami or San Diego, and, oh, did I mention the celebrities? Headlines made by Britney Spears, Madonna, and Michael Jackson garner more coverage than those made by Saddam Hussein.

2004: The Turn

Iraq isn't going as easily as planned. And suddenly celebrities are scary - especially the liberal ones! Suddenly you either hate Bush with all your life force, or he's the Second Coming. The presidential election is the most talked-about and analyzed in a generation. The media suddenly shows an introspective streak, as celebrities' obnoxious actions and even more obnoxious quotes start to look silly, Culture Wars follies peak in fervor, and "controversy" is almost starting to look designed. In music, Usher's crunk sound rules the charts and everybody in the music industry is inexplicably doing duets.

2005: Buyer's Remorse

Okay, so Iraq gets a lot worse. And Bush's approval rapidly goes from 50/50 to at best 45/55, and by the end of the year more like 40/60. Public confidence is down, big time. Suddenly everything in pop culture and government looks bad. The media makes itself more irrelevant still, and after some hurricane somewhere, politicians can't seem to do or say anything right. In music, Mariah Carey has a brief but overwhelming comeback, and '80s nostalgia begins to influence fashion.

2006: It's All Over

Bush's coalition is gone, as The Decider's approval hits 35%. Iraq is a mess. The entire legacy of the early '00s is falling apart. In fact, the world feels like it's in chaos, with Israel fighting an all-out battle for a grand total of one month, North Korea and Iran talking scary talk, and a sort of silent meltdown afflicting the entire world. At the end of the year, Democrats sweep back into power and talk big for the future, and Christmas sales are the weakest in years. Hip-hop begins to imperceptibly blend into other musical forms as disco did some 25 years before; more traditional pop fare enjoys an unexpected comeback.

Now it's your turn. Finish the decade.

Originally Posted by 1990

The year-by-year rundown, as it will be presented on TV just a few years from now!

(snip)

2002: The Dark Days

Bush invades Afghanistan and talks about invading Iraq, all to the tune of a 65% approval rating. Music sucks, but American Idol wants you to believe otherwise! Tight jeans take over fashion thanks to Britney Spears, and the entire nation falls into an enduring anxiety spell about terrorism, Islam, and the rest of the world.

One nit. In 2002, it was low-rise jeans (with thong undies showing under) that were popular. In 2006, skinny jeans made a blg splash, preferably to be worn under boots in colder weather.

Just thought I should make that clear.

Originally Posted by 1990

2005: Buyer's Remorse

Beautiful. You did forget Katrina, though.

2005:Lake Charles after Katrina/Rita : See lots of trailers and blown down trees

Arrive at the Casino
Get dealt the Q-10 hearts

2005 Flop

K hearts, 9 hearts, 10 spades

Originally Posted by 1990

The year-by-year rundown, as it will be presented on TV just a few years from now!



2005: The Turn
J hearts

River 2 clubs

::Wins hat/hand with str8 flush. ::

Originally Posted by Pink Splice

Beautiful. You did forget Katrina, though.

No he didn't. See below.

2005: Buyer's Remorse

Okay, so Iraq gets a lot worse. And Bush's approval rapidly goes from 50/50 to at best 45/55, and by the end of the year more like 40/60. Public confidence is down, big time. Suddenly everything in pop culture and government looks bad. The media makes itself more irrelevant still, and after some hurricane somewhere, politicians can't seem to do or say anything right. In music, Mariah Carey has a brief but overwhelming comeback, and '80s nostalgia begins to influence fashion...

Just to be silly, I'll try some fiction. Just for fun, I am selecting full Tom Clancy mode.

2007: They're Off: Way Off.

The presidential horse race dominates news until the proxy war (Sunni/Shia) in Iraq regains the spotlight, spectacularly. The housing and credit crunches continue the economic squeeze, fueled by an Iranian threat to block the straits. Fox's MyTV fails. Congress dithers, waiting for Bush to take the fall. Bush dithers, hoping to hang Hillary with the withdrawal from the Middle East. Major financial houses fail in the fall (hedge funds, plus fallout).

2008: The Only Endgame In Town:

A not-so-Merry Christmas comes in the middle of a bad winter. With the beginning of the primary season, and with America distracted, Iran mines the Straits Of Hormuz. The First Battle of Bandar Abbas is the first battle of the General Middle East War/Third Gulf War.

Fox News uses "World War 3" in graphics.

The US Navy and USAF maintain air superiority, but are unable to prevent covert mining operations, and missile strikes on shipping (think of the Great Scud Hunt). At least one CVN (nuclear carrier) will be damaged in attempting to operate inside the Persian gulf, probably by diesel-electric sub attack. The carrier's battle group will deal with surface threats and missiles adequately, until the CVN can retire to port for repairs. Individual ships will still operate, at risk, inside the Gulf. Major airstrikes are carried out on Iran's military and nuclear assets.

The Iranian population supports it's government. Full mobilization occurs. Major Iranian ground units prepare to enter Iraq. All other local powers quickly follow suit, including India, Pakistan, Syria, and Izzyland.

Musharref is assasinated. Pakistan ejects US presence, including the embassy. The old Soviet republics follow suit. US units in Afghanistan are forced to beat a hasty retreat by air, to avoid being captured piecemeal. 95% escape back to the US, after being forced to stage through Russia, China, and India, enduring much humiliation.

CENTCOM is cashiered by Bush for this. The Admiral will never need to buy a drink again, however, as public opinion supports the decision to withdraw, and the rescued troops praise the former CENTCOM.

Terror threat elevated. Travel restrictions imposed. Oil prices double.

In a suprise move, House Speaker Pelosi challenges the President to activate Selective Service, and implement a surtax- or end the war.

The President angrily refuses.

The Shia gain ground. US forces hold a pocket of Baghdad and Anbar. US forces withdrawn from Kurdistan. Jordan overwhelmed by Sunni refugees.

Late spring before Super Tuesday: It's Barack and Hillary for the Dems, and Rudy and McCain for the GOP.

Day before Super Tuesday: Barack Obama survives first assasination attempt (rifle). Secret Service agent killed.

Day after Super Tuesday: President Bush activates the IRR (individual ready reserve), Reserves, and federalizes all National Guard units. The announcement had been planned for before Super Tuesday, but the Obama assasination attempt pre-empts the news cycle.

150,000 US troops are stuck between millions of Shia and Sunni fighting for control in the region. Formal national boundaries between Iran, Iraq, and Syria no longer effectively exist. US forces at borders overwhelmed, forced to retreat or be captured. Gruesome videos are posted of US troops captured and tortured/killed.

The Golan, Lebanon, the West Bank, and Gaza go berserk. There is no other word for it. Many in Izzyland begin to quietly take "vacations" in Great Britain, Ireland, Canada, Switzerland, and the US. Inflation in Izzyland skyrockets.

By stripping US units worldwide, and denuding the CONUS, President Bush is able to produce a 300,000 man "expeditionary force" by late July. These troops are light on weapons, and transportable by the overburdened air assets. They are fed in parcels into Baghdad through October by air. Each full aircraft is met by a half load of wounded and dead for the trip back. Strict press restrictions cannot mask the casualties, as families get The Telegram. Only nuclear units remain as a reserve option for the United States. Naval units are in constant rotation from the Pacific and Atlantic fleets to the entrance to the Gulf. Military air accidents balloon, as tired crews screw up, and tired planes and choppers break. The Iranians prove a wily and resourceful enemy, still able to disrupt shipping at will. Most US airstrkes only succeed in infuriating the Iranian population.

Mid-August: Assasination attempt (bomb) seriously wounds Barack Obama. Nine others killed. Obama forced to withdraw from campaign.

September: Hillary Clinton and John Edwards are the winners for the Democratic Convention. John McCain and Rudy Guiliani are the Republican candidates.

Oil prices triple from 2007 levels. The US dollar is down by 50% against most world currencies.

Monday 13 OCT 08: Hillary Clinton and John Edwards are both asassinated by bombs planted on thier seperate campaign jets. Many others are killed, both in the air and on the ground. President Bush publicly mourns the deaths, and promises a full investigation.

Late October: After the most intense media speculation and many lawsuits, the Supreme Court rules that the Democrats must hold a new caucus to select new candidates. The names of Clinton and Edwards must be struck from the ballots.

Albert Gore, Jr. is thrown into the breach by the Democratic party, with Jim Webb as his VP candidate. Many local ballots are not updated.

Election Day 2008: McCain and Guliani are elected by less than 2% margins. The Democrats gain firm, nearly veto-proof majorities in both houses of Congress.

11 NOV 08 In Gore Vs Gonzales, US et al, the Supreme Court refuses to hear challenges to the balloting issues, and upholds the election results.

December: During certifying the Electoral Colleges' results on the Senate floor, Vice-President Cheney enters into an argument with Senator James Webb of Virginia. Webb's son, a Marine has been seriously wounded in Iraq, and Cheney jibes at Webb "you won't get out of this one unwounded, either". A scuffle ensues, Cheney and Webb are seperated. Webb is removed from the chamber. Cheney re-mounts the podium, grins, pauses, attempts to grab the podium-and then drops dead on the floor. Effots to revive him are not successful. All of this is carried live on C-Span.

The election results stand, after succession procedures are followed. Webb is not charged, and resumes his seat in the next Congress.

As Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi is sworn in as Vice President of the United States. John Dingell becomes Speaker of the House.

President Bush's approval ratings stand at 18% on Christmas Eve. Few references to President Harry Truman are heard.

A brief service is held for Richard Cheney at the Capitol, before being flown to Wyoming for burial.

After peaking at 375,000 in late October, US forces number about 300,000 in Iraq on 31 DEC 08.

2009: The Bitter End

3 JAN 09: In a suprise development, an Al Queida courier is accidentally captured by US Marines in Baghdad during November, attempting to deliver instructions to a local cell. Follow-on investigations generated an astonishing revalation: Osama Bin-Laden was behind the assasinations of Clinton and Edwards, and the bomb attempt on Barack Obama. Islamic extremists working in the corporate aviation industry in Detroit, and in the Chicago area were responsible for the attacks. Two had been captured. A reuful President Bush delivers the announcement at a short press statement at which no questions were allowed. Within two days, a tape of Bin Laden (filmed in October 2008), claiming responsibility and praising the attackers is released worldwide by Islamic sources- not by the US government.

8 JAN 09: President Bush issues over 300 pardons, including a posthumous pardon for Richard Cheney (originally written in 2006)- and himself.

The entire JCS resigns (as do many lesser officers and administrators).

9 JAN 09: President John McCain is sworn into office, along with Vice-President Rudolph Guiliani. It is a somber ceremony. Security is heavy, but there are few protestors. McCain pledges unity and pragmatism will guide his Administration.

Ex-President Bush is flown back to Texas on a private aircraft (supposedly to avoid attack). Nancy Pelosi retires from seeking political office, but not from politics.

McCain's starting approval rating is 44%.

Late January-Early February 2009: US forces are down to 325,000 in Iraq. Continuing revelations of Bush Administration mistakes, military failures, and crimes (now openly admitted with the pardons, some gleefully) seep out daily.

The process of creating a new command establishment for the military takes most of President McCain's time. VP Guiliani is tasked with the domestic problems, including gas at $8.42/gal, and the dollar at 40% of it's 2007 purchasing power. Official unemployment now stands at 8%.

The words "Stalingrad" and "Appomattox" (and some place in Viet Nam) are now being uttered in the media, even by Fox News. US forces now down to 300,000 in Iraq. The offical US death toll is now admitted to be greater than Viet Nam's. Rush Limbaugh is asked on-air if he is happy now. The caller is cut off. Unfortuantely, the tape delay is not attended to, and the comment makes the news for the day.

FRIDAY 13 MAR 2009: President McCain, working through back channels in Russia, has arranged an armistice, in which all US forces in Iraq will be withdrawn. 278,000 US troops will eventually be repatriated back to the United States.

Oil stabilizes at 200 Euro's/bbl. As part of the CIS's terms, the value of oil will be denominated in Euro's on all exchanges.

China immediately protests this development. China's relations with the EU, CIS, and the US become quite strained.

MONDAY 16 MAR 2009: The End Of The Empire. The long slide of the capital markets in the US begins. It will take until 2011 to play out. 85% losses.

Early April 2009: With US forces mostly withdrawn from the Middle East, the scramble begins.

Back to work.

Originally Posted by The Wonkette

No he didn't. See below.

Missed that without the italics.

I can always count on the Wonkette for proofreading...

Wally:

I hear FOX needs new writers for "24." You'd be a slam dunk.

Originally Posted by Child of Socrates

Wally:

I hear FOX needs new writers for "24." You'd be a slam dunk.

You should see how I ran Traveller...

2007: Dubya's deeper doo-doo
Malawai, Tonga, Venezuela, the Hebrides, and Persia are given over to Reform by Presidential Order and a narrow Congressional consent on bi-partisan lines. The resistance of the Tongan monarchy gives America a recall of the their own past and eases the Restorations to come.
Opera begins to replace rap music in the square states as the Casinos of the First Nations (and then Las Vegas) introduce the beauty of the soprano, contralto, tenor, and bass to an ignorant America.

2008: The election erruction
It's a repeat of 1860 in spades. The electors in the Several States ignore King Numbers when legally allowed. The House in December is offered up Mr. Paul of Texas, Mr. Hunter of California, Mr. Kucinich of Ohio, Mr. Obama of Illinois.
The Senate has Mr. Tancredo of Colorado, Mr. Richardson of New Mexico, Mr. Pawlenty of Minnesota, and the S.W.O.T.E. on its Vice-Presidential salver.
The Reform of Eurasia is renounced in a lame duck session over the vetoes of the POTUS. All troops will be home by 2010 from the mega-continent and will follow on from Africa, Oceania, and the other Americas. Corporations are made mortal and given lifespans by lot.
Opera with counter-tenors is accepted in California and New York. NTTIAWWT

2009: The United States again are
Also the Greater, Medium, and Lesser White Norths begin to appear. The threat from Canada, so long a dagger in the heart of the U.S. is dulled. The lack of a POTUS for most of the year allows for a revitalized Congressional Government and a weakened executive.
Heavier than air flight is banned for pleasure, then commerce, then military, and finally scientific persons. Only missles and lighter than air craft are allowed in the North American airspace. Commerce with Eurasia, et al. is by watercraft or the Internets. Vocal Telephony is likewise made illegal by landline, satellite or mobile. Only the text is to be allowed.
Boomers and cuspers on both ends for the sake of safety are removed from office in all governmental jurisdictions by the Not-Retirement Act of 2009. The new House, Senate, Executive, and Courts find this most pleasing. Commercial America follows this path.
Domestic livestock in required for the exercise of the franchise in all North American polities (though in certain coastal sectors due to PETA and vegetarianism bean sprouts are given legal status as livestock).
An arms race most acoustic begins as Opera House are built in all major cities; schools for the voice bellow across the land.

2010: Federalism decays
The Articles of Re-Confederation are submitted to the Several States and accepted. This quickly leads to a Convention in which the Concert of Waters is placed in possession of the Several Sovereignties because of the example of the Oceanian Kings:

• Under the Second Most Xian King, from the cadet branch of the French House of Bourbon; The Ohio Sediment (OH,KY,IN, IL) and St. Laurentia (QUE, ONT, PEI, MN, WI, MI)
• Under His QuasiCatholic Majesty from the cadet branch of the Spanish House of Bourbon; The Plano d' Missoura y Platte (The Square States), The Fregadero of the Saints (Great Basin), Reptilia y Citrus (Gulf Coast)
• Under the Penultimate Defender of the Faiths from a cadet Stuart; The Mackenzie Cooling (Yukon), Rupert's Lands (Alberta, Sask, Man, NoDak, MN), The Fifteen of the Ante-Appalachia (NB. NS, the 13 Colonies)
• Under the Tsardom of Salmonia (Alaska, BC, OR, WA, CA)
• Under the Kingdom of Hawaii (HA)

All to the height of land. The Several States might have one, two or three Royal Sovereigns depending on the drainage basin. Minnesota will be in all three royal jurisdictions of the Concert of the Waters. If you wish to know your future initial Royal House try this link to a rather large file.

A great canal system for barges of commerce and pleasure is installed to connect the great waters of America. Floating casinos are joined by opera houses and showboats.

2011: F & I W undone

The pariah District of Columbia is given to its own management. Only the rump Kuomintang Celestials, the Bishop of Rome's state, the Dakotas send dignities to the unwanted home of lobbyists.
Quebec corporations offer a massive rail transport system to the Fifteen in exchange for the abandonment of the House of Stuart to the House of Bourbon (<FR); the Nor'easter based upon the Mistral is begun from Kennebunkport to the Sea Islands. The fleurs-de-lis fly along the Atlantic coast. French opera is tout le monde.
At the end of the decade, the Coming Crisis causes Strauss and Howe to flee to the Protection of Their Nordic Majesties cattlefarms in L'Anse, Newfoundland as the sad experience of prophets in their own country is repeated. They will churn butter for a decade before returning to great honor.

Originally Posted by Virgil K. Saari

2007: Dubya's deeper doo-doo
Malawai, Tonga, Venezuela, the Hebrides, and Persia are given over to Reform by Presidential Order and a narrow Congressional consent on bi-partisan lines. The resistance of the Tongan monarchy gives America a recall of the their own past and eases the Restorations to come.
Opera begins to replace rap music in the square states as the Casinos of the First Nations (and then Las Vegas) introduce the beauty of the soprano, contralto, tenor, and bass to an ignorant America.

2008: The election erruction
It's a repeat of 1860 in spades. The electors in the Several States ignore King Numbers when legally allowed. The House in December is offered up Mr. Paul of Texas, Mr. Hunter of California, Mr. Kucinich of Ohio, Mr. Obama of Illinois.
The Senate has Mr. Tancredo of Colorado, Mr. Richardson of New Mexico, Mr. Pawlenty of Minnesota, and the S.W.O.T.E. on its Vice-Presidential salver.
The Reform of Eurasia is renounced in a lame duck session over the vetoes of the POTUS. All troops will be home by 2010 from the mega-continent and will follow on from Africa, Oceania, and the other Americas. Corporations are made mortal and given lifespans by lot.
Opera with counter-tenors is accepted in California and New York. NTTIAWWT

2009: The United States again are
Also the Greater, Medium, and Lesser White Norths begin to appear. The threat from Canada, so long a dagger in the heart of the U.S. is dulled. The lack of a POTUS for most of the year allows for a revitalized Congressional Government and a weakened executive.
Heavier than air flight is banned for pleasure, then commerce, then military, and finally scientific persons. Only missles and lighter than air craft are allowed in the North American airspace. Commerce with Eurasia, et al. is by watercraft or the Internets. Vocal Telephony is likewise made illegal by landline, satellite or mobile. Only the text is to be allowed.
Boomers and cuspers on both ends for the sake of safety are removed from office in all governmental jurisdictions by the Not-Retirement Act of 2009. The new House, Senate, Executive, and Courts find this most pleasing. Commercial America follows this path.
Domestic livestock in required for the exercise of the franchise in all North American polities (though in certain coastal sectors due to PETA and vegetarianism bean sprouts are given legal status as livestock).
An arms race most acoustic begins as Opera House are built in all major cities; schools for the voice bellow across the land.

2010: Federalism decays
The Articles of Re-Confederation are submitted to the Several States and accepted. This quickly leads to a Convention in which the Concert of Waters is placed in possession of the Several Sovereignties because of the example of the Oceanian Kings:

• Under the Second Most Xian King, from the cadet branch of the French House of Bourbon; The Ohio Sediment (OH,KY,IN, IL) and St. Laurentia (QUE, ONT, PEI, MN, WI, MI)
• Under His QuasiCatholic Majesty from the cadet branch of the Spanish House of Bourbon; The Plano d' Missoura y Platte (The Square States), The Fregadero of the Saints (Great Basin), Reptilia y Citrus (Gulf Coast)
• Under the Penultimate Defender of the Faiths from a cadet Stuart; The Mackenzie Cooling (Yukon), Rupert's Lands (Alberta, Sask, Man, NoDak, MN), The Fifteen of the Ante-Appalachia (NB. NS, the 13 Colonies)
• Under the Tsardom of Salmonia (Alaska, BC, OR, WA, CA)
• Under the Kingdom of Hawaii (HA)

All to the height of land. The Several States might have one, two or three Royal Sovereigns depending on the drainage basin. Minnesota will be in all three royal jurisdictions of the Concert of the Waters.

A great canal system for barges of commerce and pleasure is installed to connect the great waters of America. Floating casinos are joined by opera houses and showboats.

2011: F & I W undone

The pariah District of Columbia is given to its own management. Only the rump Kuomintang Celestials, the Bishop of Rome's state, the Dakotas send dignities to the unwanted home of lobbyists.
Quebec corporations offer a massive rail transport system to the Fifteen in exchange for the abandonment of the House of Stuart to the House of Bourbon (<FR); the Nor'easter based upon the Mistral is begun from Kennebunkport to the Sea Islands. The fleurs-de-lis fly along the Atlantic coast. French opera is tout le monde.
At the end of the decade, the Coming Crisis causes Strauss and Howe to flee to the Protection of Their Nordic Majesties cattlefarms in L'Anse, Newfoundland as the sad experience of prophets in their own country is repeated. They will churn butter for a decade before returning to great honor.

So, a return to isolationism, followed by the Nine Nations of North America. Interesting.

I'm particularly proud of the scene where GWB and Pelosi are standing next to each other in the sleet, relations colder than the weather, while McCain and Guiliani are handed the Booby Prize To End All Booby Prizes: America after Bush.

Al-Q whacking any GC they can find was also a neat trick, I thought. The Dems lose, the GOP loses, everybody in America loses. No joyful noise, just the long hard, cold sleeting rain of winter.

With the lottery jackpot spent, an entire country has to go to work for a living. And every smartass in America (me included) has to STFU and GBTW.

Rest of 2007:

Terrorists attack oscars with Chlorine Gas-Entertainment industry blames bush and Hollywood begins to leave America

Civil war begins in Equador

Separate Botched bio-weapon attack in USA sickens Terrorists and their family members; even though they all survive-to be interrorgated

Russia starting in March fights two month war with Republic of Georgia over Abkhazia and South Ossetia-Russia wins even though USA and EU bitch and moan

Bush and Chaney are removed by coup in April of 2007-replaced by Pelosi and McCain

Iran is hamstrung it's self by political disafection, alienation, and Unrest among it's largely moderate population

More terrorist attacks, mostly on sporting events at the end of the year, and one non-sporting event dirty bomb goes off

Dollar drops 18% by end of year

2008: Revolts Begin in China~new chinese revolution will last 3 years

Hillary clinton is prevented from running and america flirts with civil war; White Liberals and White Conservatives begin thinking of each other as Separate Ethnicities

American Military begins to reach out to some American milita(Left and Right Wing) members

Villsack and Tancreado Elected on Compomise Party Ticket

America Boarders tightened; around 45% of illegal Workers allowed to become citizens, the rest deported; criminal illeagal aliens Imprisoned

America has to compealty pullout of Iraq but Iran can't go in because Iran is in a state of upheaval

Right-Wingers in Venezuela are Put down by Chavez and Right wingers in Argentina Rise Up-South American wars begin in strength

2009 Iran recovers(Cracks down Hard!) and goes into Iraq which is just holding its self together at this point so far

OLB dies; Taliban defeated

America can't go back to Iraq because it is now fighting Venezuela

Russia invades Moldova to protect Transdninistra and Serbia.

Serbia holds parts of Kosavo but Russia Can't procede due to popular uprising agaist ruling party--Russia's awakening comes alittle early

EU begins to dissolve and fail

2010:
Chavez dies South America wars End

Isreal and America surgically take out Iran's nuke sites and America Take souther Iraq back form Iran~Irans political situation begins to turn against the ruling party at home

UN officaly dissolved

2011: Iranian Shi'ite Extreamists use single hidden Nuke Missile to attack NewYorkCity~ Missile is successfully intercepted in Low Earth Orbit

New Partys take power in Iran and Russia

democracy truly begins in China

2012:
Colin Powel and Sam Brownback elected

Extraterrestial Life's existance is disclosed to the general public

Talks begin to resart the UN in responce to the Existance of Extraterrestrials

How is that for you all?

Originally Posted by purple-state extreamist

Rest of 2007:


Villsack and Tancreado Elected on Compomise Party Ticket

Vilsack withdrew today...

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/02/...008/index.html

Originally Posted by Pink Splice

Vilsack withdrew today...

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/02/...008/index.html

Whew! That was fast.

And then there were two ...

(but maybe there were two from the start)

Originally Posted by MichaelEaston

Whew! That was fast.

And then there were two ...

Only two? Yep, conservatives need not even apply... it's 4T Big Brother solutions, under the guise of little sister's "for the children", to just about everything from here on out. Sieg heil!

If Bush and Cheney are removed in a coup a couple of months from now, as one of the posters here has suggested, wouldn't it create a constitutional crises worse than the one nearly created by Watergate. As much as they are disliked by so many, I can't imagine Americans having the balls to be able to pull it out, especially as apathetic as most of the country still seems. (This is why I think we are still 3T). I think we today are far too educated to pull a Bastille like event in this country.

Originally Posted by Brian Beecher

If Bush and Cheney are removed in a coup a couple of months from now, as one of the posters here has suggested, wouldn't it create a constitutional crises worse than the one nearly created by Watergate. As much as they are disliked by so many, I can't imagine Americans having the balls to be able to pull it out, especially as apathetic as most of the country still seems. (This is why I think we are still 3T). I think we today are far too educated to pull a Bastille like event in this country.

Cheney will not be removed, Bush would almost surely "pardon" him before he himself were removed.

And you may be right about the 3T, but if I am right (i.e., we are already cascading), such Bastille-like craziness will be entirely possible very soon, and it will catch most by surprise.

Spring 2007
America and Israel attack Iranian nuclear sites. Iran declares war, mines Strait of Hormuz.
Summer 2007
Gas hits $5, Dow hits 10K.
Fall 2007
Gas hits $9, Dow hits 8K. Unemployment hits 10%. Bush in a speech to the country declares emergency powers, reinstating Selective Service for all men 18 to 26, to be implemented with "all due expediency" using Vietnam birthday lottery and imposition of gasoline rationing using credit or debit cards keyed to license (so you can't use multiple cards). In a famous quote, he warns that war with Iran will not be fought with "Queen of Marksbury" rules..
Winter 2008
Gas rationing goes into effect, priced at $5. Dow hits 6K. Unemployment is at 12%. No clear frontrunner in first primaries.
Spring 2008
Democrats Obama and Hillary. Republicans McCain and Gulianni. Dow at 4K, COL index twice the 2007 level. Unemployment peaks at 20% 20%.
Summer 2008
Bush invades Iran, reinforces Iraq and Afghanistan as troop levels surge with draft. Unemployment drops to 10% as military construction soars, young workers taken out of work force by draft. Dow stable at 4K.
Fall 2008
Obama wins election. Surprising number of Independent Congressmen and Governors elected. Dow remains stable. Rationing extended to food as petroleum based fertilizers are in short supply.
Winter 2009
House of Saud overthrown by radical Islamists. China leadership falls to coup, declares Taiwan will be reunited by force if necessary. Obama vows to support Taiwan, orders more troops to be drafted. Practically everything put under rationing.
Spring 2009
China invades Taiwan. Pakistan taken over by coup, invades Kashmir. India vows to end situation "once and for all" and invades Pakistan. Pakistan forced to use its nukes on "Black Easter", followed by india. India devestated, Pakistan essentially destroyed.
Summer 2009
America counterinvades Taiwan. Most Muslim governments are taken over by extremists who are enraged at seeing a Muslim nation obliterated by "infidels". They form the Coalition of Muslim States.
Fall 2009
Because of growing hardship caused by loss of oil from Muslim nations, the West (including Russia) forms a military Alliance. The Coalition, in an "enemy of my enemy" joins forces with China, promising to send all the petroleum they can get there in return for a Chinese invasion of Russia to distract the Alliance. World War III has begun, but memories of India and Pakistan prevent use of nuclear weapons.
January 1, 2010
TV shows at retrospective of the past decade.

Originally Posted by Tom Mazanec

Spring 2007
America and Israel attack Iranian nuclear sites. Iran declares war, mines Strait of Hormuz.
Summer 2007
Gas hits $5, Dow hits 10K.
Fall 2007
Gas hits $9, Dow hits 8K. Unemployment hits 10%. Bush in a speech to the country declares emergency powers, reinstating Selective Service for all men 18 to 26, to be implemented with "all due expediency" using Vietnam birthday lottery and imposition of gasoline rationing using credit or debit cards keyed to license (so you can't use multiple cards). In a famous quote, he warns that war with Iran will not be fought with "Queen of Marksbury" rules..
Winter 2008
Gas rationing goes into effect, priced at $5. Dow hits 6K. Unemployment is at 12%. No clear frontrunner in first primaries.
Spring 2008
Democrats Obama and Hillary. Republicans McCain and Gulianni. Dow at 4K, COL index twice the 2007 level. Unemployment peaks at 20% 20%.
Summer 2008
Bush invades Iran, reinforces Iraq and Afghanistan as troop levels surge with draft. Unemployment drops to 10% as military construction soars, young workers taken out of work force by draft. Dow stable at 4K.
Fall 2008
Obama wins election. Surprising number of Independent Congressmen and Governors elected. Dow remains stable. Rationing extended to food as petroleum based fertilizers are in short supply.
Winter 2009
House of Saud overthrown by radical Islamists. China leadership falls to coup, declares Taiwan will be reunited by force if necessary. Obama vows to support Taiwan, orders more troops to be drafted. Practically everything put under rationing.
Spring 2009
China invades Taiwan. Pakistan taken over by coup, invades Kashmir. India vows to end situation "once and for all" and invades Pakistan. Pakistan forced to use its nukes on "Black Easter", followed by india. India devestated, Pakistan essentially destroyed.
Summer 2009
America counterinvades Taiwan. Most Muslim governments are taken over by extremists who are enraged at seeing a Muslim nation obliterated by "infidels". They form the Coalition of Muslim States.
Fall 2009
Because of growing hardship caused by loss of oil from Muslim nations, the West (including Russia) forms a military Alliance. The Coalition, in an "enemy of my enemy" joins forces with China, promising to send all the petroleum they can get there in return for a Chinese invasion of Russia to distract the Alliance. World War III has begun, but memories of India and Pakistan prevent use of nuclear weapons.
January 1, 2010
TV shows at retrospective of the past decade.

I really wouldn't disagree with your timeline, but I find it hard to believe that the U.S. wouldn't use nukes against China (and vice versa). What I would expect is that both countries would have an agreement not to use nuclear weapons.

However, something either will eventually go wrong and each will use that as justification for the use of nuclear weapons, or the country with their backs to the wall will use it as a desperation measure.

If the previous post is true, at least as far as gas prices, then by the turn of the decade the cost of driving a car will be out of reach of most Americans' pocketbooks. Then we will have little choice but to reduce such dependency. So far the pundits and pols have been afraid to go there. Seems as though we will take severe pain later rather than moderate pain now.

By the year 2013, the centennial year of the income tax, we may have the biggest tax revolt since the Boston Tea Party. In that same year, or at least by mid-decade, the culture wars should be history, with the anti-smoking, anti-trans-far arguments seeming trite. By then I predict that the smoking bans, if not outright repealed as Prohibition was last 4T, will at least be largely ignored, because by then we should have far bigger fish to fry than worrying if someone lights up in a bar.

Originally Posted by Brian Beecher

If the previous post is true, at least as far as gas prices, then by the turn of the decade the cost of driving a car will be out of reach of most Americans' pocketbooks. Then we will have little choice but to reduce such dependency. So far the pundits and pols have been afraid to go there. Seems as though we will take severe pain later rather than moderate pain now.

Right. Let's eliminate the automobile, so when our masters finally re-enserf us, we'll be stuck with state-controlled mass transit as the only option for long-distance travel. Can't wait to have my freedom of mobility determined by my standing with the local feudal magnate. Nope.

Originally Posted by Arkham '80

Right. Let's eliminate the automobile, so when our masters finally re-enserf us, we'll be stuck with state-controlled mass transit as the only option for long-distance travel. Can't wait to have my freedom of mobility determined by my standing with the local feudal magnate. Nope.

Wow, for being born in 1980 you are one hell of an Xer!

I seriously doubt that will happen. Government-run, bloated, inefficient, past-its-prime, moribund idiocy is very late 3T (think the US today, or the USSR twenty years ago).

4Ts are about washing away the old and bringing in the new, remember?

In view of MichaelEaston's comment, plus the fact that this thread specifies 2011 and not 2010, I have decided to continue my timeline:
Winter 2010
General Winter aids the Russians, who are used to the cold weather and they begin to push the Chinese out of Siberia. The Coalition attacks Israel and the Allies attempt to support it, but they are spread thin and eventually the Arab numbers tell. As Israel is being pushed into the sea, they launch their nukes against the Coalition. The crew of an Israeli bomber, in a conspiracy of folly, diverts coarse from Medina to Mecca and drops their nuke on the Kabaa. China responds by using its nukes against Allied forces in Taiwan. The Allies warn that any further use of nuclear weapons by Coalition forces will result in "carpet nuking" of Coalition territory. Since the Allies have the arsenals of both russia and America, this is not an idle threat. With the bulk of their nukes expended, the Coalition is forced to accede.
Spring 2010
Coalition strategy switches to asymmetric and acupuncture warfare, which they use with considerable skill. Meanwhile, the climate is cooling even as the ozone layer is eroding. Altered weather and increased UV begins a "nuclear autumn".
Summer 2010
Crop failures are ubiquitous. Food rationing in the First and Second world reaches medicinal amounts, while the Third World collapses into famine, chaos and anarchy. Frontlines in the war are stalemated or fluctuating. World population is in decline for the first time since the mid 14th Century.
Autumn 2010
The Liberty and American parties now have more registerd voters than the Republicans and Democrats, and most of the midterm elections are of four major candidates. Most elections are messed up because of this, and when the dust clears there are more "third party" winners than the old two party candidates. Speculation is rife on how this will affect the 2012 election.
Winter 2011
The long dreaded mutation in the H5N1 bird flu virus finally occurs, and it goes pandemic. The generally malnourished state of the world's population turns what would have been another Spanish Flu into another Black Death. At the time my future self dies of it, 600 million had perished instead of 60 million, and the War was basically on hold.

Sorry I can't get anymore info from my future self (being dead and all). There is no doubt on the website that we be 4T, and most give the 2007 attack on Iran as the Catalyst.

Originally Posted by Tom Mazanec

In view of MichaelEaston's comment, plus the fact that this thread specifies 2011 and not 2010, I have decided to continue my timeline:
Winter 2010
General Winter aids the Russians, who are used to the cold weather and they begin to push the Chinese out of Siberia. The Coalition attacks Israel and the Allies attempt to support it, but they are spread thin and eventually the Arab numbers tell. As Israel is being pushed into the sea, they launch their nukes against the Coalition. The crew of an Israeli bomber, in a conspiracy of folly, diverts coarse from Medina to Mecca and drops their nuke on the Kabaa. China responds by using its nukes against Allied forces in Taiwan. The Allies warn that any further use of nuclear weapons by Coalition forces will result in "carpet nuking" of Coalition territory. Since the Allies have the arsenals of both russia and America, this is not an idle threat. With the bulk of their nukes expended, the Coalition is forced to accede.
Spring 2010
Coalition strategy switches to asymmetric and acupuncture warfare, which they use with considerable skill. Meanwhile, the climate is cooling even as the ozone layer is eroding. Altered weather and increased UV begins a "nuclear autumn".
Summer 2010
Crop failures are ubiquitous. Food rationing in the First and Second world reaches medicinal amounts, while the Third World collapses into famine, chaos and anarchy. Frontlines in the war are stalemated or fluctuating. World population is in decline for the first time since the mid 14th Century.
Autumn 2010
The Liberty and American parties now have more registerd voters than the Republicans and Democrats, and most of the midterm elections are of four major candidates. Most elections are messed up because of this, and when the dust clears there are more "third party" winners than the old two party candidates. Speculation is rife on how this will affect the 2012 election.
Winter 2011
The long dreaded mutation in the H5N1 bird flu virus finally occurs, and it goes pandemic. The generally malnourished state of the world's population turns what would have been another Spanish Flu into another Black Death. At the time my future self dies of it, 600 million had perished instead of 60 million, and the War was basically on hold.

Sorry I can't get anymore info from my future self (being dead and all). There is no doubt on the website that we be 4T, and most give the 2007 attack on Iran as the Catalyst.

<snark follows>

So, like, the whole nuclear war thing is so cliched, but do you really predict four major parties by 2010? That's, like, 3 years away.

<snark over>