get some popcorn, sit back, and make sure the tin foil is snug... I'm gonna spin a tale...(try to not skip ahead)
The date, sometime before summer 1998. Imagine you are politically hyper-active, power hungry, and love the life style afforded the highest office in the land. You realize it will all end in 2.5 years, at which point you will be pushed to the side. This just won't do. You are HRClinton, what's your next step?
You have all your friends in the media begging you to run, but you have never held office, any office, at any level. You aren't stupid and know you'd never make it. Therefore, you will have to hold some high level office in 2000. So that rules out running for POTUS in 2000. 2004 would also be out since you'd only be a freshman. You know you'll have to serve one successful term without controversy and without pissing off too many people.
This leaves you with 2008 and 2012. 2012 would be out since you'd be getting even longer in the tooth and the shine would be too far off the apple (being as nice as possible here) to sell. Therefore, 2008 it is.
No problem. If a democrat wins in 2000, he'd run again in 2004. If he wins in 2004, his running mate would be tossed to the 2nd seat again in 2008, if you put your hat in the ring. If he loses in 2004, you're set for an uncontested shot at 2008 top slot.
Only a democrat loss in 2000 causes problems, because you'd have to insure a democrat loss in 2004. This could be accomplished after the DNC in July 2004 by reduced or unflattering news coverage. Potentially leaking of damaging information (which you have, of course) would also insure a democrat loss in 2004.
So... you have it all set. You figure it's a no brainer. You only have to pick the type of high level office you want. This leaves governor, senate, or congress. Congress doesn't yield enough power. Governor's do a lot of work, and run the higher risk of pissing people off. That leaves the Senate. Powerful, low risk, most people don't even know their senators. Therefore, senator clinton it is. Next question, which state? Has to be a big, powerful state with the possibility of getting in. The 4 most powerful states would be (in no particular order): Texas, California, New York, and Florida. Texas and Florida are off the ticket right away. California is unlikely, and that leaves New York. No problem.
So the only thing you need to do is buy a house in New York.
Then the unthinkable. Someone has the gaul to actually suggest they want to run for the same seat! YOUR seat! This person can't just be dismissed, unlike the others. This one is a democrat! And he's well respected by democrats AND republicans! Whoa! This isn't good. He's well liked by all demographics. He has actually had a successful business in New York and the people genuinely like him. Worse still, the media loves him... they swoon all over him!
This cannot be allowed to stop *US*, the co-presidents! How dare he?!
The question: You're HRClinton, what do you do?
Yes, we have all heard the term 'arkan-cide'.. and you've deflected all the stories in the passed, what's one more? This guy even flies a personal airplane (what was he thinking?!). No problem.
Question: Who do you think that 'pretender' was?
JFK Jr.
Remember, they were found, all three of them, still in the plane. None of them even tried to unbuckle their belts. My guess, something in their drinks to help them sleep. Don't forget... they were also given a 'burial at sea'. Nah... no cover up here.
The outrage or shock you may be feeling is due to the subconscious realization of just how well that all fits.
You are not alone. I have seen people jump up from a table upon hearing the name. Shock and disbelief in their eyes... from it 'clicking' into place.
How much earlier? I seem to remember a post like this, but it was a few years back.
JFK Jr was popular in the way that a movie star or a prince is popular, because of his parentage and because he was very charming and extraordinarily handsome. However, I wouldn't say that he was respected. All he did was run a stupid magazine. He failed the bar exam twice. His wife was known around town as "difficult" (i.e., a crazy bitch) and possibly a drug addict with an eating disorder. At the time, it seemed that he was happy doing what he was doing. So he didn't have the resume to be a senator and moreover, there's no reason to think that he actually wanted to be one or was making a run for office. Anyway, pilot error - i.e. stupidity - is much more consistent with the rest of the facts than murder by a power-hungry Hillary Clinton. Why would she take such a risk? If anyone found out, she'd get lynched.