When I resumed work on my new political thriller novel last year, I did so again with a joint intention to inform and shock my readers. I did not realize when I finished the book this past April that my story would include events that so clearly echo the stormy American present.
Five Themes Explored in Bull Moose Book 1
1 Expanded Executive Authority in the Context of Immunity
Throughout the novel, we watch in horror as the 49th President of the United States (elected in 2040), commits sweeping questionable acts despite Congressional objection and in spite its inaction. President Russell Warner’s actions increasingly cross the line from horrific to outright illegal. The word illegal appears 11 times in the book, nearly all about orders and actions by the President, including arresting a state official for failing to do his bidding, disqualifying a candidate from challenging him, ordering the murder of border-crossers, manipulating the media, shutting down news networks’ access to public airwaves, shutting down the Capitol, and more. And picking up on the President’s approach, his allies engage in even more egregious illegal behaviors.
Why will no one stop them? Because the actions are claimed to be official. Upon giving an order that a Cabinet member views as illegal, President Warner has this comment:
“What a p****,” said Warner. “When will I find true leaders to serve in my government who understand what it takes to lead this country away from the weakness and whining that has diminished in?”
What It Takes to Kill a Bull Moose, Chapter 19
2 Reforming America, including how to deal with a SCOTUS out of sync with the public
The resurrected Bull Moose Party stakes out a bold new platform of fundamental reform during its multi-city convention in the novel. Among the many planks, relevant to the stormy present include banning gifts for elected and appointed federal officials, including judges; expanding suffrage to include 16-year-olds; national referenda to enact or repeal laws Congress is afraid to pass or that the Supreme Court of the United States hands down through unpopular decision; mandatory retirement age for all judges at age 75; expanding the House of Representatives and removing its authority to exempt itself or its members from laws it would pass for the rest of the nation.
3 Using the Presidency to violate criminal law
Bribery is the most likely crime an executive might commit, given the insatiable demand for money (personal or campaign), and the many appointments, pardons, and actions the President might take to the benefit of a private citizen or a company. Chief Justice John Roberts asserted as much during the oral argument of Trump v. The United States case in 2024. According to the ruling in that case, the President enjoys absolute immunity for official acts and his motivations for such actions (appointments, pardons, and actions) may not be considered when determining whether or not to criminally prosecute him for such acts after leaving office.
Bull Moose Book 1 is built around a $1 billion bribe at the start of the book, except it is never clear who actually is on the take besides President Warner. Does it also include the Other Party chairwoman Diane Fogarty? Senator Paul Drummond? Olivia Clay? Ron Bender?
4 Conspiracy, Conspiracy, Conspiracy
The definition of a federal criminal conspiracy is:
- The agreement by two or more persons to commit a federal crime or to defraud the United States or any federal agency in any manner and for any purpose.
- At least one co-conspirator must take an overt act in furtherance of the conspiracy.
Conspiracy fills the 41 chapters of this political thriller. There is a conspiracy to rig the presidential election. There is a conspiracy to replace the Vice President. There is a conspiracy to stop Jackson Piper. There is a conspiracy to subvert the new Bull Moose Party. There is a conspiracy to endanger the life of the Bull Moose nominee for President and his wife. There is a conspiracy to subvert the Constitution. And the list goes on and on, reading like many suspense books.
5 The Highest-Stakes Presidential Campaign Ever
Every election in my lifetime has been coined “the most important election ever” – so much so, that I think people have come to disregard the warning. When I first began writing this novel in 2004, it was a result of the 2004 results. When I revised the book in 2012, it was in response to the 2012 election, and again in response to the 2016 election. The final version has the context of the past thirty years of presidential elections that I can recall, but with the stakes raised even higher as evidence by the books final chapters in Part V. Most Americans can’t imagine what the end of democracy might look like, but I take a hard swing at revealing how suddenly and easily it might arrive with the culmination of the right circumstances.
To get your copy of my debut novel, What It Takes to Kill a Bull Moose, visit the Book Shelf on MichaelFedorBooks.com.
Book Facts
Author: Michael Fedor
Chapter 41
Pages: 464
Setting: October 2043 – January 2045
Major Characters: Jackson Piper, Marco Alvarez, Russell Warner, Ron Bender, Ziggy, Jessica Brown, Sterling Powers, Olivia Clay, Sylvester Billings, Art Huerta, Esmael, Parker Lawrence, Valerie Lawrence, and more!
Genre: Political Thriller, Science-Fiction Crime and Mystery, Political Suspense
Publisher: Epoch Edge Press
Publication Date: June 18, 2024
Editors: Thea Newell, Joshua M. Coffey
About the Author
Former political operative Michael Fedor takes readers on a gripping journey through the murky waters of American politics in his debut novel, What It Takes to Kill a Bull Moose: A Political Thriller. Drawing on his extensive first-hand experience working on campaigns from local government to President, Fedor crafts a chillingly realistic portrayal of corruption and intrigue at the highest levels of government.
