This new HBO film follows John McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign, from his selection of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate, to their ultimate defeat in the general election. “Game Change” premieres on March 10th.
They watch the HBO promo, intently. When it finishes, the President turns to Chief of Staff Fullbright.
“Funny. She’s always so funny. To watch her is such a hoot. I’ll be sure to tune in. Your thoughts.” The President playfully smiles and bats those long eyelashes of hers.
“To look so much like you. To dress to much like you. And, yet to be nothing like you. Then again, different universe. Or, as the faerie say, different world.”
“Good answer. Looks like you’ll be staying on as my chief of staff.” She chuckles. His return is a cautionary smile.
There’s just the two of them in the Oval Office. The memories of President Joe Kennedy’s stepping down and her subsequent, immediate ascension to absolute power are fresh in their minds.
In his bid for a second and what turned out to be his last term, Kennedy chose Sarah Palin as his running mate. A Democratic and a Republican on the same ticket. Hadn’t happened in over a century. Only immortals remembered when.
The political reaction to his choice? The Liberals wrote them off from the git go. The talking heads had a field day at their expense. Even the Conservatives of her own party denounced her as a joke. But, unlike her counterpart on that other Earth, our Sarah Palin proved to be the real deal, a pitbull with lipstick. Coming from dead stick last in the polls, they won the election by a landslide.
Sarah’s choice as a Vice President? Gertrude Vance-Lott. Former Director of the CIA. Retired five-star general in United States Colonial Marine Corps. Former member of the Joint Chiefs. Another lipstick-wearing pitbull. For the first time in its history, two women will rule the Great Republic.
“And how goes Warlock production at Boeing’s plant in Saint Louis, Missouri?”
“It goes well, Madame President. We and the Chinese Government should be able to publicly admit their existence by winter time. By then they will be in full service in both of our militaries.”
“Excellent.”
And, so it begins. Glimmers of The Empire that will be and The Republic that was. Finally. The New World Order.