Troubling Times 2.0

[Former Senator Haslam2020]

Rise of the Donald


”Now begins a new era in American history!!!...”

The President-elect went out to the crowds outside of Central Park, he waved. His life ambition had been complete. Not only did he run a huge Fortune 500 Company, become a household name, be successful, have a hot a** wife and daughter, he had just became the next President of the United States.

He imagined his father looking down on him, he imagined what he would do as President. Donald smiled, and looked at Senator Obama. They then immediately held their hands in a victory sign.

Mr. Donald Trump/Sen. Barack Obama: 484 Electoral Votes, 57.9%
Sen. John McCain/Mrs. Meg Whitman: 54 Electoral Votes, 41.0%

[Former Senator Haslam2020]

President Trump

”...We have begun a new era in American history, and we shall wash the stains of the neoconservatives away, we shall Make America Great Again!!!...”

Donald Trump was inaugurated as the 46th President of the United States, with a crowd of about two million watching. It was easily the most viewed inauguration, everyone was excited. The Trump/Obama ticket had promised change for America, hopefully it would deliver. Hopefully he will be great.

The crowds cheered on as he announced most likely one of the most liberal agendas ever to be presented to America. Outgoing President Pelosi smiled. She would finally get to leave that dreadful White House, she would get to be in a nice villa in Italy, soon. She would be the Ambassador to Italy, a lifelong dream of hers. She looked on as the Donald spoke, she sensed something that she hadn’t before. She sensed she would be needed in the future. There was something off about this man. She didn’t know if it was good, or bad.

Donald Trump did the annual walk, he was welcomed with much applause and cheer, it seemed like America would be saved. The new President had just taken a seat in the Oval Office, and a his eyes were noticeably fixated on something: a bust of George Washington. The Donald thought to himself: “I will make America Great Again, I will be remembered as the man who did that. One day, a new bust with my face on it will sit right there.” The President already had a few Cabinet secretaries confirmed, now he would implement his legacy.

46th President of the United States, Donald John Trump (January 20th, 2009-)

[Former Senator Haslam2020]

The Cabinet:

 

President: Donald J. Trump (2009-)
Vice President: Barack H. Obama (2009-)
Secretary of State: Hillary R. Clinton (2009-)
Secretary of the Treasury: Timothy Geithner (2009-)
Secretary of Defense: Condoleezza Rice: (2005-)
Attorney General: Rudy Giuliani (2009-)
Secretary of the Interior: Tom Daschle (2009-)
Secretary of Agriculture: Tom Vilsack (2009-)
Secretary of Commerce: Bill Richardson (2009-)
Secretary of Labor: Robert Reich (2009-)
Secretary of HHS: Howard Dean (2009-)
Secretary of Education: Richard P. Mills (2009-)
Secretary of HUD: Ron Sims (2009-)
Secretary of Transportation: Matt Driscoll (2009-)
Secretary of Energy: Steven Chu (2009-)
Secretary of Veterans’ Affairs: Lee Hamilton (2009-)**
Secretary of Homeland Security: Robert Gates (2009-)
Secretary of Peace***: Dennis Kucinich (2010?-)
Chief of Staff: Roger Stone (2009-)
EPA Administrator: Cynthia McKinney (2009-)
OMB Director: Carolyn Maloney (2008-)
U.S Trade Representative: Neil Bush (2009-)*
U.S Ambassador to the U.N: Gary Hart (2009-)

*After resigning as Chief of Staff (after Goss was implicated in the death of his brother), Trump decided that his service was excellent, and appointed him to be U.S Trade Representative as an olive branch to Republicans.

**President Trump nominated Lee Hamilton, the Former VA Secretary under Bush after Hamilton had previously resigned due to disagreements with Republican policies in 2007.

***President Trump felt compelled by Kucinich’s requests for a Department of Peace, and decided he would create one and it would be functional by 2010, it is likely to pass the House, and Dennis Kucinich is the nominee he has chosen.

[America Needs a 13-6 Progressive SCOTUS]

H U C K A B E E
2 0 1 2

NO!

[GM Team Member and Deputy PPT WB]

hm. Some interesting, and some solid picks. Giuliani as AG is... bleh.

[Former Senator Haslam2020]

H U C K A B E E
2 0 1 2

H U C K A B E E
2 0 1 2

NO!

At this point of Trump’s early stages of his presidency, he’s the Republican front runner

hm. Some interesting, and some solid picks. Giuliani as AG is... bleh.

Giuliani was a very controversial pick. He passed the Senate, barely. Trump felt that Giuliani did good as Mayor, and as Homeland Security secretary. Giuliani made a well known plea that he would be non partisan as AG.

[Former Senator Haslam2020]

The First 100 Days

President Trump got off to a quick start. The House and Senate were completely controlled by the Democrats, so he took advantage of the moment. The President passed tax cuts for middle class families, as well as adding more border patrol funding onto the Immigration act that was passed by Cheney. The Recovery Act was also passed. Many other bills were, as well.

President Trump declared that all U.S troops would be out of Iran by March, as the country had just had a free election. The promise was kept. The President also declared that U.S troops would be out of Iraq by March 2010.

All and all, the Donald was happy with his first one hundred days. They weren’t fundamentally changing of the country, but his main promises and such would come to fruition later. The neocons were in jail, and he was sitting on top of the world.

President Trump Approval Rating, April 29th, 2009:

Approve: 60.1%
Disapprove: 33.0%
Undecided: 6.9%

[OBD]

The First 100 Days

President Trump got off to a quick start. The House and Senate were completely controlled by the Democrats, so he took advantage of the moment. The President passed tax cuts for middle class families, as well as adding more border patrol funding onto the Immigration act that was passed by Cheney. The Recovery Act was also passed. Many other bills were, as well.

President Trump declared that all U.S troops would be out of Iran by March, as the country had just had a free election. The promise was kept. The President also declared that U.S troops would be out of Iraq by March 2010.

All and all, the Donald was happy with his first one hundred days. They weren’t fundamentally changing of the country, but his main promises and such would come to fruition later. The neocons were in jail, and he was sitting on top of the world.

President Trump Approval Rating, April 29th, 2009:

Approve: 60.1%
Disapprove: 33.0%
Undecided: 6.9%

*andrew jackson lurks in background*

[Former Senator Haslam2020]

2009

President Trump speaking to U.S soldiers on the USS Nimitz.

Everyone loved the Donald in the White House. Throughout the campaign, he had used social media to connect with supporters extensively, in a way that John McCain just couldn’t. His tweets and such always continued, his personal account would feature personal opinions. He was likable.

Many policy promises not completed within the first 100 days were being worked on, and passed. The Donald decided to introduce what would become known as “Trumpcare”, and it passed. Trump and co personally took a lot of inspiration from Massachusetts’s healthcare system, and also decided to take out a proposed penalty out of the bill. It became a very popular law.

The Recovery Act, personally altered by Trump slightly, seemed like it was becoming more popular.

President Trump also rebuilt the VA, and visited Iraq and Afghanistan twice each, promising to “get them out of here soon, once the job is done”. The troops loved him. Republicans were in shock and awe. He was outdoing their expectations.

With more funding to border security and an easier pathway to legal immigration, he oversaw the biggest immigration compromise since the 2005 Immigration bill that President Cheney had signed.

All and all, Trump’s presidency seemed like it was successful, at least within the first year. President Trump, Vice President Obama, and their families all smiled as the ball dropped.

President Trump Approval Rating, December 31st, 2009:

Approve: 62.9%
Disapprove: 34.3%
Undecided: 2.8%

[MycroftCZ]

Uh, oh... something's coming

[adamevans]

Will the Tea Party come soon?

[Former Senator Haslam2020]

Uh, oh... something's coming

Maybe

Will the Tea Party come soon?

Not in the way we know it (Trump was one of the founders of the irl tea party), but to make a long story short, yes

[P. Clodius Pulcher did nothing wrong]

President Trump, Vice President Obama, and their families all smiled as the ball dropped.

This feels...ominous

[Former Senator Haslam2020]

President Trump, Vice President Obama, and their families all smiled as the ball dropped.

This feels...ominous

Dang, wasn’t even supposed to. You’ll see what happens in the next update though.

[Former Senator Haslam2020]

2010

President Trump went into the year with high approvals, and everything seemed well. In reality, something was going on behind the scenes. The New Years Attack in St. Louis killed around 20 people, and Trump spent the early hours of 2010 in the situation room. It was homegrown terrorism.

Those hours were remembered by the President for the rest of the year, or so he told his staffers. They inspired him to broker a deal between Israel and Palestine. Trump was able to work with the leaders of both nations, and create a lasting resolution between the two countries. The United States would stop arming Israel to the extent that it was, recognize Palestine as a nation, and the two nations would have “shared zones”, overseen by the U.N. Although criticized from the far right, many agreed that this was the best policy.

Along with Trump’s withdrawal from Iran and Iraq, something was beginning in those regions. A divide was forming, that would come to haunt America later.

The Peace Department that Representative Kucinich had worked so hard for had narrowly passed the legislative system, and was to become a federal department on January 1st, 2011 (which Dennis Kucinich would head). This was another major victory for Trump in the foreign policy front.

President Trump had also helped fund recovery in Haiti, which had seen a horrifically strong earthquake. Back home, domestic policies weren’t as hailed as the foreign policy of the Trump administration. Many bills favoring small business, job creation, and internet security were passed. The far right was slowly and steadily gaining more influence on the right, something referred to as “The Tea Party” was forming.

President Trump’s General popularity held the line against the new rising “Tea Party”. The House was still narrowly Democratic, having lost around 30 seats yet still having a narrow majority. The Senate races were close, but the Democrats still held a moderate majority. Democrats also lost a few governorships, but it was considered okay for the midterm situation.

Also, the President had some shifts in his Cabinet in 2010. Attorney General Rudy Giuliani resigned, and was replaced by Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (who was replaced by appointed Senator Robert Weygand. Secretary of Defense Condoleezza Rice also resigned, and was replaced by retired General Wesley Clark. Chief of Staff Roger Stone also resigned, but his job was taken by Pete Rouse.

President Trump went into 2011 remembering what had happened the previous year.

President Trump Approval Rating, December 31st, 2010:

Approve: 55.0%
Disapprove: 40.7%
Undecided: 4.3%

[UWS]

If Trumpcare took a lot of inspiration from Massachusetts’s healthcare system, would it look like Obamacare since social conservatives despised Romney for his Romneycare which they argued was too similar to Obamacare IRL?

[Former Senator Haslam2020]

If Trumpcare took a lot of inspiration from Massachusetts’s healthcare system, would it look like Obamacare since social conservatives despised Romney for his Romneycare which they argued was too similar to Obamacare IRL?

Yeah, it does look a lot like Obamacare but except without the penalty and some other unpopular things with the bill. It’s relatively liked.

[Former Senator Haslam2020]

2011

The President went into the year generally liked, and had a stable relationship with the media. Many of his new reforms in early 2011 were mediocre, “smaller” ones. The GDP was growing by around 2.6%, and it seemed like Trump’s economic policies were working.

The 2011 White House Correspondent’s Dinner  would be remembered infamously. The press thought it would be for his hilarious, outrageous humorous attacks on potential 2012 opponents. However, what the media didn’t know was that Osama Bin Laden, the terrorist the U.S had been trying to get for years, was about to be killed. President Trump had a calm, normal demeanor throughout the dinner. The world didn’t know what was about to be announced.

Operation Neptune Spear was executed excellently, and the terrorist leader had been killed. The Pakistanis had not been informed of the decision, which privately angered Secretary Kucinich. However, the mission was done. America regained a lot of confidence, and the President’s approval rating soared ever so higher.

The question that had been on many political pundits’ minds in 2010 had been answered as a result of the midterms, and the answer had been known for even some time before then. President Trump was running for a second term.

That fact was known, but who would face him on the Republican side? The primary field seemed scattered, and it looked as if many top Republicans were holding back, in fear of a humiliating Electoral loss to President Trump.

One by one, the candidacies were announced. The 2008 Republican runner up, Mike Huckabee, seemed to be the front runner. Quitting his popular Fox News show to do so, he was ahead of other candidates by quite a bit. Former Governor Romney declined to run, due to “family health concerns”. Newly elected Pennsylvania Governor Rick Santorum declined, as well as former Governor Bush. The only credible challenges to Huckabee were likely to be Governor Christie and former 2008 VP Nominee Meg Whitman. The main question was who would be the main challenger to Huckabee?


Democratic Candidates for President, 2012:

Pres. Donald J. Trump

Republican Candidates for President, 2012:

Fmr. Gov. Mike Huckabee
Gov. Chris Christie
Mrs. Meg Whitman
Rep. Ron Paul
Rep. Michele Bachmann
Fmr. Gov. Jon Huntsman
Fmr. Sen. Pete Coors
Fmr. Gov. Tim Pawlenty

[America Needs R'hllor]

I'd support Whitman, Huntsman and Pawlenty against Trump. Would support a 3rd party with the others as the Republican nominees.

[adamevans]

I hope Mike Huckabee becomes POTUS in this timeline.

[Former Senator Haslam2020]

2012: The Beginning of the Race


Mike Huckabee and Chris Christie exchange shots in a Presidential Debate.

The first parts of 2012 were remembered for the Republican Nomination fight. While Huckabee and Christie were battling it out, Trump would regularly roast them as they fought in the debates, or he would point out when they lied, or exaggerated.

The results of the early primaries weren’t necessarily surprises. The evangelical candidate and Republican front runner, Mike Huckabee won the Iowa caucus by a good margin. The victory forced Rep. Michele Bachmann and Fmr. Gov. Tim Pawlenty out of the race. New Hampshire surprisingly went to Congressman Ron Paul. This forced Fmr. Gov. Jon Huntsman and Fmr. Sen. Pete Coors out of the race.

South Carolina went for Huckabee, just as it did in 2008. Florida and Nevada went to Governor Christie though, earning him some well needed victories to stay relevant in the race. The 2008 VP Nominee, Meg Whitman decided to withdraw after Governor Christie’s victory in Florida and Nevada.

Colorado and Minnesota went to the anti-war, anti-establishment candidate, Ron Paul. Mike Huckabee won the state of Missouri.

All of but one of the remaining states scheduled to have primaries before Super Tuesday (Arizona, Wyoming, and Washington) went to Governor Christie. The state of Michigan narrowly went to Mike Huckabee due to an increased Ron Paul voter turnout.

By the time Super Tuesday would come, the race to be the Republican Party Presidential Nominee would only be more competitive.

President Trump was very happy with the instability occurring in the Republican Party, he was favored to win a second term handily.


State of the Republican Presidential Primaries, March 5th, 2012:

Gov. Chris Christie: 5 states, 38.9%
Fmr. Gov. Mike Huckabee: 4 states, 39.8%
Rep. Ron Paul: 3 states, 21.0%

U.S Presidential Election Polls, March 5th, 2012:

Pres. Donald Trump: 52.3%
Fmr. Gov. Mike Huckabee: 43.0%
Undecided: 4.7%

Pres. Donald Trump: 51.9%
Gov. Chris Christie: 42.6%
Undecided: 5.5%

Pres. Donald Trump: 48.9%
Rep. Ron Paul: 45.3%
Undecided: 5.8%

President Trump Approval Rating Poll, March 5th, 2012:

Approve: 54.6%
Disapprove: 42.0%
Undecided: 3.4%

[Former Senator Haslam2020]

I'd support Whitman, Huntsman and Pawlenty against Trump. Would support a 3rd party with the others as the Republican nominees.

A third party will rise, trust me

I hope Mike Huckabee becomes POTUS in this timeline.

Well he’s doing pretty good in the GOP Primary rn

[P. Clodius Pulcher did nothing wrong]

Why on Earth is Ron Paul polling better than Christie or Huck lol

[Former Senator Haslam2020]

The Ides of March, 2012

Governor Christie campaigning in Illinois.

Americans’ lives were pretty much dominated by the 2012 Republican Primary. It was all over the news, it was always talked about, etc.

The hype was real on Super Tuesday. When the night returns came, people started to sense, maybe, just maybe a sense of closure.

The results were kind of predictable, with a couple surprises. The evangelical candidate, Former Governor Huckabee won Georgia, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Tennessee. Governor Christie won Massachusetts, Vermont, and Virginia.
Alaska, Idaho, and eventually Maine both went to the insurgent libertarian candidate, Representative Ron Paul, who was improving on his 2008 performance.

The other mid March states went heavily for Huckabee, with the territories being split between Paul and Christie.

The President was happy with the results, and he believed he’d win regardless of some “Tea Party”.

State of the Republican Presidential Primaries, April 1st, 2012:

Fmr. Gov. Mike Huckabee: 13 states, 39.9%
Gov. Chris Christie: 10 states, 35.4%
Rep. Ron Paul: 6 states, 24.1%