# Copperhead time *The Urth list — 4 messages, 3 voices, 08 May 2001* > Exported from an unofficial mirror of a public mailing list. Copyright > in each message remains with the person who wrote it. > Email addresses are obscured as `user at host`, the form the original > archive published. This file was rebuilt from parsed fields rather than > retained headers, so it is faithful in content but not byte-exact. --- ### Roy C. Lackey *08 May 2001, 01:32* Anyone else notice the temporal problems within the story? GW is on record as stating that he doesn't like to repeat himself wrt important story information. Yet, the protagonist is repeatedly referred to as the "new President" (hereafter NP). Why? He can't be the "new" President. Such an adjective could or would normally only be used for the first few months in office, yet, on the evening that the story action takes place, he has been in office for about 15 months. If we use the timeframe of the most recent election as a referent, the story yields the following facts: A) The NP's campaign lasted most or all of the year 2000, culminating in his successful election in November. ("I had been working hard. Not only after my inauguration, but for more than a year before it.") B) He was inaugurated January, 2001. C) He and his wife went to their country retreat in the Spring of 2001 for R&R, but returned to Washington after "eighteen hours". D) August, 2001, a UFO crashed. E) Autumn, 2001, ("Fall came. Football season.") the NP receives the Changer and the naked woman appears. F) A murder and suicide follow. G) It is Spring, 2002. ("She rose again and went to the window, staring out into the spring night.") The NP had this exchange with George, earlier that same evening: ********************************** "I'm sure you're right, Mr. President." "I know I am. Fortunately we've got three years until the next election." "Longer than that, Mr. President." "Nearly three years until the next campaign." Although no one was watching, the new President made himself smile. Smiles showed in your voice. "That's what matters." ********************************* Now, the next election will be in the Autumn of 2004, only about 2 1/2 years in the future, and campaigning begins long before the election, so the next presidential campaign will begin, at most, two years from the day the story takes place, and definitely not "longer" than the three years mentioned above. What's going on here? -Roy --- ### Jeff Wilson *08 May 2001, 13:48 · follows Roy C. Lackey* > From: "Roy C. Lackey" > Anyone else notice the temporal problems within the story? > "I'm sure you're right, Mr. President." > > "I know I am. Fortunately we've got three years until the next > election." > > "Longer than that, Mr. President." > > "Nearly three years until the next campaign." Although no one was > watching, the new President made himself smile. Smiles showed in your voice. > "That's what matters." > ********************************* > > Now, the next election will be in the Autumn of 2004, only about 2 1/2 > years in the future, and campaigning begins long before the election, so the > next presidential campaign will begin, at most, two years from the day the > story takes place, and definitely not "longer" than the three years > mentioned above. What's going on here? I haven't read the story, but it seems clear to me that an extension of the president's current term is being implied. The Changer could be suggesting that he can keep the president in power without need of reelection. ``` Jeff Wilson How Am I Posting? 1-800-555-6789 "If your SecOp can see you, so can the enemy." -Cpt Law ``` --- ### matthew.malthouse *09 May 2001, 14:58 · follows Jeff Wilson* > On 08/05/2001 07:32:13 Roy C. Lackey wrote: > Now, the next election will be in the Autumn of 2004, only about 2 1/2 > years in the future, and campaigning begins long before the election, so the > next presidential campaign will begin, at most, two years from the day the > story takes place, and definitely not "longer" than the three years > mentioned above. What's going on here? Where does it say that a Presidential term is only four years in *that* universe? Matthew --- ### Jeff Wilson *09 May 2001, 14:31 · follows matthew.malthouse* > From: matthew.malthouse at guardian.co.uk > On 08/05/2001 07:32:13 Roy C. Lackey wrote: >> Now, the next election will be in the Autumn of 2004, only about 2 1/2 >> years in the future, and campaigning begins long before the election, so the >> next presidential campaign will begin, at most, two years from the day the >> story takes place, and definitely not "longer" than the three years >> mentioned above. What's going on here? > Where does it say that a Presidential term is only four years in *that* > universe? Indeed. Perhaps the NP is himself a replacement from another timeline where he was a junior politico. References to disasters and unrest that we don't see could be pointing to events there. ``` Jeff Wilson How Am I Posting? 1-800-555-6789 "If your SecOp can see you, so can the enemy." -Cpt Law ``` ---