Disclaimer: Shondaland/ABC owns these characters. But I've taken the Gladiator oath as a writer: #OLITZ4LIFE #JAMMMmmmmm #100%
Dead-Mellie and NO-Joke: Public Service Announcement for any accidental non-Olitz readers
World News Update
"…United States President Fitzgerald Grant III was removed from the highest office in the land by his deputy Vice President, Sally Langston last night. And we have a panel of experts to discuss this extraordinary situation. I mean extraordinary is an understatement. What exactly does this mean for the world?"
"We don't know what it means yet, but it's serious. That's why you've got representatives from foreign governments and major world organisations flying to Washington DC today. I understand the leaders of the IMF, World Bank, United Nations and member states in the NATO Alliance, EU and G20 have contacted the new Langston Administration, specifically to ask about the welfare of President Grant, or rather ex-President Grant and his family."
"But is this such a cause for concern? Australia gets rid of its democratically elected Prime Ministers with surprising regularity – and the country simply carries on. Surely it's not outside the realm of reality that it would be same for the United States?"
"Yes, it's true that Australia has 'sacked' for want of a better word, several sitting Prime Ministers without the benefit of a vote. The Governor General sacked the Whitlam government in 1975 creating a constitutional crisis. But there was less of a furore when Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's job was taken by his deputy Julia Gillard in 2010."
"But she herself was replaced."
"Yes, Prime Gillard's tenure as Australia's first female prime minister was short-lived when her nemesis Kevin Rudd took back his job in 2013. So it will be interesting to see if America's first female President shares the same fate as Ms Gillard."
"The other thing to keep in mind is that the United States has a much, much greater impact on the world than Australia. The United States is effectively the only remaining superpower. It has the largest single economy, and it has the largest and most influential financial market – 132 of the world's corporate giants call America home. "
"Not to mention, America also has the most number of active nuclear warheads…"
"So what I'm hearing is that the world can't afford to have the US play Pass-the-Parcel with its Presidents?"
"Essentially."
Cyrus swatted the nurse away as she tried to take his pressure. "Go away!"
"Cy, just let her do her job," said James, who was rocking Ella back and forth in her pram.
"I am fine! I keep telling everyone I am fine! I had a panic attack. But if people keep fussing around me I just might have that heart attack that you want to prevent!"
He glared at the nurse. She looked at him with stoic impassivity.
"Mr Beene, I need to check your blood pressure, and I will check your blood pressure. Now give me your arm. I haven't got all day."
After a moment, Cyrus held out his arm with bad grace, and the nurse completed her work without comment.
After the nurse had departed, Cyrus turned his glare from the closing door back to James. "Get me a wheelchair, I need to see Fitz."
"You can't see Fitz. I tried. The Secret Service Agents won't let me through. They're taking they're orders from Sally Langston."
"That damned woman!" Cyrus gritted his teeth, "I cannot believe she has him effectively under house arrest in a hospital!
"One of the agents did mutter that he was being moved to a secure facility, location classified."
"Why isn't the Attorney General taking action on this?! I need you to contact people – constitutional lawyers, the ACLU – gah!"
"Breathe," James soothed as Cyrus exploded with rage. "No seriously, breathe. I don't want to be a single dad."
Felicia faced the chief usher and said firmly, "I will not let the children be moved to Blair House."
"Ma'am, I'm only following orders from the Vice President, the uh acting President. She believes it would be best for all concerned, as in it would be safer, if they moved."
"They will be safe here. I will make sure of it," Felicia said. "A move now would just add to the anxiety they feel at being separated from their parents. I'm happy to make explain this in great detail to Mrs Langston."
The usher gave her a small smile. "That will not be necessary, ma'am. I will pass on your message."
Half an hour later, Felicia found herself facing Sally Langston in the Oval Office.
"Ms Adams," Sally said remaining seated in her chair as Felicia remained standing. "The reason I asked the children to be moved to Blair House is because my husband is recuperating. It would be less stressful for him and more convenient for me if he were at the White House, then I can keep a close watch on his wellbeing."
Felicia gave Sally a serene smile. "This is the White House, there are 25 bedrooms. There's plenty of room for your husband as well as the children, Mrs Langston. So I see no need to have the children moved. It is unnecessary to disrupt their routines for a few days while this matter is resolved."
"Ms Adams, I can assure you this will take more than a few days and even then the resolution may prove that a move is inevitable!" Sally snapped.
"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it."
Sally took a deep breath, and affected an icy smile. "Ms Adams, I feel it would be in the best interest of all concerned, if the children are moved to a secure establishment – which is not far from the White House – while their father remains in hospital."
"How long do you intend for their father to remain in hospital?"
"I assure you that has nothing to do with me. The doctors will need to test Fitzgerald Grant's mental fitness."
"I see. In that case, it is vital for the children to remain where they feel safe and nurtured. You may be acting President, but with an election looming I don't think even you can afford the sight of screaming, crying children being forcibly moved to Blair House."
Sally looked at Felicia, then said abruptly, "Thank you, Ms Adams. I will consider your request."
National News Update (panel of experts)
"…Isn't section 4 of the 25th Amendment usually invoked when the President of the United States is under sedation?"
"Yes, President George Bush invoked it when he had a colonoscopy. He transferred Presidential powers to Vice President Dick Chaney for about an hour, while he was under sedation."
"From what I understand President Fitzgerald Grant is only under observation at George Washington university Hospital. He was never under sedation."
"Yes, but remember the time he was shot and in a coma. The current changes were made to avoid a repeat of having the Commander-in-chief's office in limbo for any length of time."
"That's right, after there were doubts as to when the President actually regained consciousness."
"Doubts, what doubts? Do you mean those rumours on Capitol Hill?"
"The point is that the disability clause is now invoked whenever the President is admitted to hospital."
"Under this Constitutional amendment, the President can invoke the clause if he does not feel able to do the job."
"Or the Vice President can do the same, with the majority - in this case- of the United States Cabinet, if the President is unfit to carry to his duties."
"President Grant is due to be released from hospital tomorrow. All he has to do is write to the Speaker of the House that he's fit to resume his duties, right?"
"Actually no, the acting President then has four days to repeat the initial process of writing another letter, with the majority of Cabinet, saying essentially they don't believe President Grant is fit to govern."
"And Congress has 21 days to decide on who should be President, one way or another.
"Actually there needs to be two thirds of the vote in both houses agreeing that President Grant is not fit to resume his duties."
"And if Congress doesn't decide in 21 days?"
"President Grants gets his job back."
Senate Majority Leader Edison Davis stared at the Senate Minority Leader in disbelief. "So wait, let me get this straight, we're being asked to support this action to have the President of the United States declared mentally unfit due to post-traumatic stress disorder?"
"Just consider the facts, Ed. That's what I did – the guy's been through hell and back in the last few months. He was shot, he ended up in a coma, then he upped and divorced his wife. Yeah, that still blows my mind, a sitting president getting a divorce right before an election year. The first ever Presidential divorce in our nation's history! Hell, I reckon that bullet that went through his brain did far more damage that we all realised."
"In your expert opinion?" Edison said dryly.
"I don't need to be an expert to know something's wrong with the guy. He divorces his wife, then she gets murdered. Then he gets married a couple of months later, and the new wife almost drowns on their wedding day. That's enough to drive any sane man crazy." The Minority Leader glanced at Edison. "You know her, right? The new Mrs Grant? You two were a thing?"
"Yes, Olivia and I go way back. We're friends."
"Still friends, even after she threw you over for the President?"
"We're friends," Edison repeated firmly.
"Does that mean you're going to fight us on getting this through the Senate?"
"Us? He's your President, man."
"The way he's been acting lately, we've been thinking the real President Grant's been kidnapped by a Democratic stand-in. You wouldn't know anything about that would you?" The man guwaffed.
"A man is about to lose his career. It's not funny."
"I sure as heck agree. I stopped laughing the minute the man attacked the Second Amendment, then went after the guys who butter my bread. Yeah, the guy's turning into a Socialist and if declaring him crazy is the only way to get him locked up, I'm all for it."
"I get it now."
"So you in?"
"I'll wait for the medical report."
Olivia paced her room, glaring at the FBI director. "Where have they taken Fitz?"
"I can't tell you, ma'am. I can assure you that he'll be safe. We moved him because Hospital Administration asked us to do that. They didn't feel the hospital would be the most secure facility to house the President while he was getting his psyche evaluation."
"Who is doing the assessment?"
"A qualified clinical psychologist from the White House Office of Science and Technology, that's at the request of acting President Sally Langston. The Secretary of State has requested a second opinion from a military psychologist recommended by the President of the Society for Military Psychology, someone who treats military personnel coming off active duty; and the US Attorney General has requested a third opinion from a therapist referred by the American Psychological Association board directors."
"I want their names."
"Yes, ma'am."
There was a pause at a knock on the door, followed by the entry of Rowan Pope, accompanied by the President's counsel, the senior partner in Fitz's personal legal team, and Sameera Hussein.
Rowan's gaze quickly darted to Olivia. "Are you all right?"
"Yes," Olivia managed a brief smile, then turned her attention to Sameera. "Thank you for being here at such short notice. I'm sorry, your DC holiday was interrupted for this."
Sameera reached over and squeezed her hand. "I'm just here to take notes, the others will be doing the 'heavy lifting'."
"Has my daughter been advised of her rights?" Rowan asked.
"Yes, sir," said the FBI director, glancing at his colleagues who'd been silent throughout the conversations in the room, and on receiving a nod, he directed his attention back to Olivia and the new arrivals.
"Ready to begin?"
Local News Update
"…First Lady Olivia Pope-Grant was released from hospital early this morning with a clean bill of health. Sources say she left the hospital in the care of her father and a family friend. Sources say Mrs Pope-Grant assisted the FBI yesterday, with their investigation into the kidnapping and murder of US attorney Patrick Dent. But neither the FBI nor the White House has released an official statement. Mrs Pope-Grant was still under medical observation at the time.
"In related news, Federal Judge Claudette Liston from the State of Georgia has made an official statement to the FBI regarding the kidnapping of her grand-daughter. The incident took place during the hearing for a preliminary injunction against President Grant's Executive Order on Gun Safety. At the time, news network XYZ in Georgia reported that Mr Dent's body was found, after Atlanta Police arrived at his house to arrest him on charges of kidnapping and obstruction of justice.
"Now Atlanta authorities say they have no record of those charges. We've been told by XYZ that the archived footage of the news report has gone missing, and the four men who were reportedly helping authorities with the Liston kidnapping, were found dead in their cells this morning, apparent victims of a brawl that has the prison in lockdown.
"But we have evidence to support Judge Liston's claims. This morning we received an email with a video link to recordings made of Dent's conversations at the time of the kidnapping. The footage also show him threatening physical harm to male sexual partner. A copy of the video had been presented as evidence for Dent's arrest, but authorities claim this evidence has been lost. The link has now been posted on our Facebook page…
"Breaking news…
"… This just in, Acting President Sally Langston has declared martial law. That's right martial law on the democratic nation of the United States. She has suspended the writ of Habeas Corpus. The writ allows people who are unlawfully imprisoned to be freed through a court proceeding. Suspending the writ effectively means this civil liberty has been suspended, along with civil liberties relating to the freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures, freedom of association and freedom of movement…"
A/N: So I have had a lot of fun the last couple of days – I have entered the world of Tumblr – YAASSSS! I will now officially log out of real life because I am living in Tumblrland (hmm, maybe I need to reduce my Internet plan – what? No!)
BTW, this came about because I had rant part 2 for two of my reviewers, and I figured rather than making an ongoing saga about it, I'll just open a blog and direct traffic there…
So check it out .com – yes, I'm a maniac because there was ScandalMania already – a Japanese teen band (wonder if they watch Scandal?). I could have gone with Tumblr suggestion I-scandalmania (but that sounded a bit imperious, or a bit I-robot)
Anyway, Janet – you are 'Reader' on that blog. And Lovescandal1, you are 'Reader #2'. I wasn't sure how you would feel about seeing your names on Tumblr, but THANK YOU for your comments (you have given me A NEW HOBBY!)
And this is what I didn't write on there in detail: The other thing is Lovescandal1 , DON'T ABANDON your stories –I've been reading Discovering Me and I sincerely hope you continue to write that story! Good stuff! ;))))
And to all my other reviewers – THANK YOUUUUUUU! Glad you liked the plot twists ;))) – and thank you for encouraging us FF writers to write for the show but I have to say I like autonomy. I'm not sure Scandal Writers have that; last minute editing that puts a different slant to what I intended would drive me NUTS! Again thank you so much for reading ;)))
I will post more responses to comments on the blog, after I finish a couple of assignments for uni!