Second Term - A Novel of America in the Last Days (The End of America Series Book 1) by John Price

condition report at all on Vice
President McAlister?
    ““While we await
further news on the mass shooting of a number of elected federal officials in Dallas,
I would just like to comment about what I’m beginning to hear from our friendly
competitors on cable and beginning to read on some of the blogs. Just as in the
Arizona shooting where journalists and some bloggers immediately jumped to
conclusions, unwarranted as it turned out, and speculated that the shooter was
a ‘right winger’, I am starting to hear, actually increasingly now, that these
shootings were the acts of right wingers, or the militia or tea party folks. I
would suggest that everybody in my profession just hold on, be patient and let
the federal agencies, and the state authorities, do their jobs. We don’t need
any witch hunts at this point in time. We’ve got enough troubles, obviously,
without pointing fingers, or assessing blame….this early…. and….without all the
facts. Enough said. Now let’s take a quick break and we’ll be back to try and
sort all this out for you.” Walter’s unsolicited advice was ignored by most
American media.

 
    ELEVEN
    Washington,
DC
    Presidential
historians were soon called into television and radio outlets to put the Dallas
shootings into historical perspective.
    “No, Charles, except
for the Lincoln Conspiracy, all other attempts to assassinate American
Presidents, whether successful or not, were by single gunmen”, replied
Historian Dorene Goodwink to her network interviewer the morning after the
shootings were labeled by many in the mainstream national media as the “Guns
Against Government Conspiracy”.
    “But, what about the
JFK assassination, there are still many who think that Lee Harvey Oswald didn’t
act alone?”
    “There’ll always be
conspiracy theorists who question every suspicious act, Charlie. However, let’s
look at a true, actual conspiracy of men, and it appears, also women, who got
together to accomplish one primary objective – to decapitate the federal
government by killing its President and certain members of the President’s Cabinet.
That, historically, was a confirmed joint action, a conspiracy, to violate the
law through murderous acts.”
    “I take it you see
similarities with yesterday’s shootings in Dallas?”
    “On its face there appears
to have been a conspiracy yesterday to kill, with guns, high federal officials.
Fortunately, our President is doing better than expected, we all understand.
Unfortunately, Senator James R. Blevins is still in serious condition. Plus,
Charlie, as you just reported on this network, the Dallas media are raising
questions now as to whether the Vice President will survive his wounds.”
    “Dorene, except for
the obvious fact that all three were shot at about the same time, on the same
day, why do you conclude, to use your words, that there was a conspiracy, on
its face?”
    “Just look at
history. Secretary of State William Seward, was attacked, and nearly killed,
but for his neck brace that spared him from his assailant’s knife stabs, in his
home the very same night as Lincoln was shot at Ford’s Theater. The conspirators’
plans to kill Vice President Andrew Johnson and General Grant fell apart at the
last minute. The conspirators were convicted and hung for working together to
kill officials of the government. Plus, and this is quite important in light of
what happened yesterday, they acted together for a common political purpose.
The Confederate States had lost the war, with surrender by General Lee just
five days before. These conspirators were trying to throw the government into
turmoil and confusion, thus hoping to lead Confederate soldiers to continue
fighting. They tried to change the government, and history, through violence,
using weapons of violence and hate, guns and bullets.”
    “So, how is that like
yesterday’s shootings in Dallas?”
    “Simple, really. Just
answer these questions. Who hates this President?