by Mark Spivak
“Because he is the voice of many inmates who cannot speak for themselves. While I don’t agree completely with all of his methods, he has been successful in calling attention to the plight of his fellow immigrants who are being caged like animals in those camps.”
“I believe that Josh Rulander, Press Secretary to President Atalas, has pointed out that Gonzalez had an extensive criminal record back in Mexico, which once characterized him as a terrorist.”
“Throughout history, Scott, there have been people with messages that are revolutionary and unpopular. It is very easy to categorize these people as dangerous threats to the social order. And in fact, Gonzalez is a threat, because he’s shining a spotlight on the way our society treats those who are less than fortunate. To be honest, I found him to be a passionate and thoughtful young man.”
“What do you think of the legislation apparently being drafted by the American Values Caucus, which we understand would make it mandatory for the President to deport the detainees in the camps?”
“Like you, we have not seen the bill yet. But we are prepared to fight it. And for the sake of Khaleem Atalas, I hope he is prepared to fight it as well.”
“That sounds like a threat.”
“It is reality, Scott.” Jorge Mendoza smiled and leaned forward in his chair. “I don’t know if you’ve seen his poll numbers lately, but a majority of Americans condemn the President for his inaction in this matter. And I can tell you this: Presidents have been brought down for less.”
Vice President Bassen Hospitalized with Chest Pains
Currently in ICU at Walter Reed
By Kenneth Jablonski, National Editor
September 30: Special to The Washington Post
Vice President Curtis Bassen was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit at Walter Reed Army Medical Center last night after suffering from chest pains.
The Vice President, 69, began complaining of discomfort in his chest shortly after dinner. Around 8:00 p.m. he was transported to the hospital and placed in the ICU in what officials describe as a “precaution.” As we went to press, details of his condition had not yet been released.
“With a cardiac patient, it’s not unusual to be put into intensive care until all tests are run and the symptoms are sorted out,” said the Vice President’s personal physician. “The fact that he’s in the ICU doesn’t necessarily mean that he has suffered a heart attack, but simply that we’re acting with an abundance of caution. We’ll have further information for you sometime tomorrow, after we get the results of the tests.”
Bassen has a history of heart problems, but his condition was brought under control years ago by medication, and he has not experienced any problems for several decades. According to his doctors, the general state of his health is excellent.
In the absence of concrete information, commentators are speculating as to the possible cause of Bassen’s sudden health issues. Some believe that his current condition may be related to the recent assassination attempt on his eldest son. Curtis Bassen. Jr., who works as a federal prosecutor in Ohio, was the target of an attack several weeks ago by a lone gunman. He suffered a gunshot wound to the leg and is recovering quickly, but sources close to the administration reveal that the incident placed a great deal of stress on the Vice President, who is exceptionally close to his children.
The White House briefing room was dark last night, and the administration has had no comment on the situation thus far. Bassen’s team of doctors are scheduled to hold a press conference this afternoon, and hopefully will have more information on his prognosis at that time.
Chapter 34
“Give it to me straight,” said Khaleem Atalas, closing his eyes and leaning back in the chair he brought with him from suburban Philadelphia to the White House.
“Okay,” replied Joel Gottbaum. “You’re in deep shit.”
The President opened his eyes.
“Care to elaborate?”
“The natives are getting restless up on the Hill. I spoke to Eddie Lupin yesterday.”
“Hell, I wasn’t aware he even took your calls.”
“He’s a nice enough guy, but he can’t control his caucus anymore.”
“When did he ever?”
“This is different. The right-wing whack jobs are calling the tune up there, and the rank and file is constantly looking over their shoulders. These guys are watching every vote. They’re terrified that some Tea Party bozo is going to challenge them in a primary, and they’ll lose their seat.”
“So I gather the bill is going to pass?”
“For starters, that’s what I’m telling you.”
“Do we know what’s in it yet?”
“They’re keeping it top secret, but it should be released in a day or two. According to Lupin, it’s short and sweet—the immigrants are in violation of the law, and it’s your responsibility to deport them.”
“Can we litigate it? Have you talked to Gilliam?”
“I have, yes. He hasn’t seen the bill either, but he did say that it was black letter law and the detainees were on the wrong side of it. Obviously the four conservative Justices would uphold it, but he’s not sure one way or the other how he’d vote.”
“What about the issue of due process?”
“The text of the Constitution is split on that, as I don’t have to tell you. It’s not certain how they’d choose to interpret it. But that’s a long way off—we’d have to file suit, and the case would have to work its way through the system. Even if it were fast-tracked, it would still take a couple of months.”
“Well, that would buy us some time.”
“Maybe, maybe not. I’m sure the bill would be filled with timetables and deadlines.”
“The deadlines would have to wait until we had our day in court. But from what you’re saying, I gather I don’t have a great chance if it goes up to the Supremes.”
“I’d say it’s fifty-fifty. But remember at least half the public is convinced that you’ve stalled around on this, and for all the wrong reasons—because you’re in debt to the Hispanic lobby, because you want the immigrants naturalized so they can vote Democratic, or even worse, because you can’t make a decision. On top of that, you seem to be forgetting that we have nearly 100,000 immigrants detained at the border, in facilities that the public believes are concentration camps.”
“Do you have any suggestions?”
“If it were me, I’d deport the detainees who have criminal records. That would at least calm things down a bit. It would improve conditions in the camps, and it would be a move that would be hard for any reasonable person to argue with.”
“Criollos Unidos would go beserk.”
“Let them go beserk. You could still say that you support due process, but you’re removing the criminal element for the sake of the others.”
“I’m not going to do that—certainly not until the immigrants have their hearings, and we can determine whether or not they’re qualified for asylum.”
“May I ask what’s taking so long? Because speeding up the hearings would be enormously helpful. I really thought that putting the military guys on it would accelerate the progress.”
“I thought so too, but it’s a mess. Every hearing takes forever. The detainees all need interpreters, for one thing. And if they’re making a claim for asylum, which many of them are at this point, they have to give a detailed statement about the threats they’d face if they were sent back. And then we have to send investigators down there to check the statements out. It goes on and on.”
“I have to warn you, they’re talking impeachment in the House. And Lupin says these guys have constituencies at home that would love them for it.”
“I don’t think they have the guts.”
“Do you really want to take the chance and find out?”
“All right.” The President rubbed his forehead. �
��I’ll have Justice look at the bill when it comes out, and they can advise me on whether we can fight it in the courts. If they agree with you that it’s fifty-fifty, I’m going to go ahead and do it. An extra two or three months would give us the time to resolve this, regardless of what the Supremes say.”
“Don’t worry about the Supreme Court,” said Gottbaum. “Worry about the court of public opinion.”
House Resolution 42—known as the Repatriation Act, or more popularly as the Deportation Act—passed by a margin of 265-170 on the day the total number of detained immigrants officially exceeded 100,000.
H. Res. 42
In the U.S. Congress, House of Representatives
The House finds and declares the following facts:
As of this date, there are approximately 100,000 immigrants housed in temporary structures on the U.S.-Mexican border. These individuals entered the United States illegally, and they remain in violation of this country’s immigration statutes. A number of them have criminal records, and some of them may pose a terrorist threat which has not been adequately assessed.
The Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution guarantees the right of due process to all citizens “born or naturalized in the United States,” and excludes by omission those who have violated U.S. law by intentionally coming to this country without documentation.
We therefore establish the following provisions, to be known in the aggregate as the Repatriation Act:
The detainees currently held along our border with Mexico are to be deported as soon as possible and returned to their country of origin.
It is the immediate duty of the Attorney General, as the chief law enforcement officer of our nation, to ensure that the deportations begin in a timely manner.
It is the ultimate responsibility of the President, as our nation’s chief executive, to verify that the deportations take place without any delay, whether that delay be administrative, procedural, or legal.
This act, when passed, shall become the law of the land in this matter, and the President shall be accountable to the House for its implementation.
Should any delay occur in the deportations, the House shall regard it as a dangerous and wanton disregard of the law, and this body will take all necessary steps to safeguard the nation’s security.
Later that week, the bill passed the Senate by a vote of 58-42, with nine Democrats ignoring the President’s lobbying efforts and voting for the legislation.
Vice President Bassen Suffered Mild Heart Attack
Will Remain in Hospital at Least Another Week
By Kenneth Jablonski, National Editor
October: Special to The Washington Post
Vice President Curtis Bassen has suffered a mild heart attack, and will remain at Walter Reed Army Medical Center for at least one more week while his doctors decide on a course of treatment and rehabilitation.
“Tests have shown that the Vice President suffered a minor cardiac event,” said Dr. David Connelly, Bassen’s personal physician. “This was essentially a flare-up and extension of the heart problems he had several decades ago. He’ll be kept in ICU for a few more days while we monitor his condition, then moved to a regular hospital bed. His overall health is very strong, and we anticipate a complete recovery.”
Connelly said that Bassen had been treated for symptoms of heart disease earlier in his career, and that the condition had been brought under control with medication. He refused to speculate about whether his current heart attack had been brought on by the stress of a recent assassination attempt on his son, Curtis Jr., who works as a federal prosecutor in Ohio.
When asked if his health problems would prevent Bassen from serving out his term as Vice President, Connelly said:
“Certainly not. We anticipate a full and complete recovery, and in fact the Vice President will be placed on an exercise regimen by the end of the week. As I stated, this was a minor event, and in no way would be impediment to his remaining in office if he chooses to do so.”
Bassen was rushed to Walter Reed Army Medical Center several days ago after complaining of chest pains. He has been attended by a team of cardiac specialists who performed a battery of tests, the results of which were made public today. The White House has been closely monitoring his condition and announced that President Atalas planned to visit the Vice President once he is moved to a regular hospital room several days from now.
“Our thoughts and our prayers are with Curt as he recovers from this minor setback, as we know he will,” said the President in a prepared statement. “I have no doubt that he will achieve a complete recovery very quickly, and I look forward to beating him on the golf course again soon.”
Chapter 35
“Thanks for coming, Dick.” Khaleem Atalas sat down at his desk across from Richard Donovan, the United States Solicitor General.
“It’s been quite a while since I’ve been here, sir.”
“Since I nominated you, I believe. But we’ve talked on the phone a number of times.”
“A few times, yes.”
“Feeling neglected?” The President grinned. “Talk to my wife before you leave. The two of you can commiserate.”
“I assume I’m here to discuss the case against the Deportation Act.”
“Of course. Although it may be obvious, I want to make sure you understand how important this is.”
“Go ahead, sir.”
“This one’s for all the marbles, Dick. What’s at stake here is the power of the President to make crucial decisions on policy without meddling by the Congress. If this meddling is allowed to stand, it will have serious consequences for my successors in years to come.”
“The constitutional issues aren’t completely clear, as I’m sure you’re aware.”
“They’re crystal clear to me. That’s why I want you on this case all the way through, particularly if it goes to the Supreme Court.”
“I’m not sure it will, sir.”
“Well, run down the situation for me.”
“This will be a short process, both because of the high profile of the case and also due to the urgency of the situation. We start out in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, which is where you might catch a break—the justices are weighted on the liberal end of the spectrum and may see things your way, although that’s not guaranteed. From there, whoever loses goes to the U.S. Federal Court of Appeals, and then to the Supreme Court, if they agree to hear it.”
“I know all that. I’m looking for a reading on our chances.”
“It’s hard to say, sir. Certainly, if you do catch an early break that gets upheld on appeal, you’re well on your way to dispelling any political problems you might have. But I’m not certain the Supreme Court will want to get involved in this. It’s a no-win situation for them.”
“Is there any way to rename this? Calling it Khaleem Atalas vs. The Congress of the United States sounds a bit too drastic.”
“Well, there’s no getting around the fact that it’s drastic. At the very least, the folks on the Hill will see it as a turf war, and also as a war they don’t want to lose.”
“Do you think I have a shot of winning this thing?”
“I honestly don’t know—the precedents are pretty evenly split. Congress does have the right to pass laws, after all, and you have the responsibility to steer the ship of state. So I think it totally depends on who they retain to argue the other side, not to mention the temperament of the judges who hear the case.”
“Spoken like a true lawyer.” Atalas paused. “Well, I’m going to leave this in your capable hands, and I know there’s nobody better. I’m sure you’ll do fine.”
“I’ll do my best, Mr. President.”
“I’m counting on you.”
After the President’s ceremonial entrance to Walter Reid, and after the obligatory picture-taking sessions with the do
ctors and nursing staff, the two men were alone in Curt Bassen’s hospital room.
“How’re you doing, Curt?” asked Atalas after the door was closed.
“Not too bad for an old white guy. I never felt badly, to tell you the truth.”
The President grinned. “Well, two things you can be sure of when they put you in Walter Reed: lousy food and ugly nurses.”
“You got that right.”
“From everything they tell me, this was a very minor event. I believe you should be released in another week.”
“That would be great.”
“Knowing you, I’m sure you can’t wait to get back to work, but I want you to take it easy for a while. In fact, I’d like to see you take a brief vacation before you come back full time. Go someplace warm, drink pina coladas in the sunshine.”
“Khaleem, I have to be honest with you. I won’t be coming back.”
There was a long pause.
“Come on, now,” said Atalas finally. “You’ve had a rough time, first with your son and now this. I understand how you might feel at this point, but this isn’t the time to be making snap decisions.”
“It’s not a snap decision. I’ve had the time to think, and I’ve considered this from every angle. I know you’ll be disappointed, but I’m done. No one is sorrier than me to disappoint you, but I’m going to step down.”
“Curt, look—”
“I’m almost seventy years old, Khaleem. I want to spend the time I have left with my family. I don’t expect you to understand this. You’re still a young man. But I’ve been in this game for thirty-five years, and it’s time to get out.”
“Step back a moment, if you can. Don’t you think the attack on Curt Jr. has magnified the situation for you?”
“Yes and no. Don’t misunderstand me, I’m not quitting immediately. I know you’ll need some time to figure out a strategy going forward. You’ll need to pick the right guy, and he’ll have to be someone the Senate can confirm. I’d like to be out by the end of the year, possibly early next year, but I’ll make sure you have a smooth transition.”
