Star of the Southwest

[GoTfan]

So, while I work out my next major update, I have a few questions for my loyal readers.

First and foremost, how have all of you been enjoying the format and presentation? I decided to go for a more literary writing style than what seems to be typical on the board - I love the professional, almost newsreel-style updates I've seen in other timelines, but the way I've done things has been working out well for me so far.

Second: would any of you be interested in contributing? I know other timelines have involved outside posters as newscasters and such, and I've been considering doing a similar thing for this timeline. I also desperately need consultants for races outside of Arizona, Nevada, and maybe New Mexico; my intimate political knowledge is very limited to my state and region, and I intend to start changing things appreciably after I finish off my alternate 2012.

As always, all input is appreciated. Thank you all for following.

- Saguaro, the Victor Hugo Wannabe Formerly Known as Cactus

There's no reason Kirsten Gillibrand shouldn't win with 70%+ of the vote, or a Democrat versus Democrat battle in California's jungle primary (maybe Feinstein vs Harris).

Also, using other posters as reporters and pundits is basically a way of getting out of doing work. It doesn't quite work for me.

Duly noted. For me, it's less a way of dodging work and more a way of including my readers, but to each their own.

Any other takers?

I'd be up for it.

[GoTfan]

Rumors of my demise have been greatly exaggerated, but not too exaggerated. Anyone still interested in this?

Hell yeah!

[GoTfan]

So after promising to post an update twice and promptly disappearing both times, I think I've coined a new definition of the ever-popular term: SAD!

These last few weeks, I've started to realize something about myself as a writer: I absolutely suck at it, at least in terms of consistency, when I'm not doing it collaboratively. In other words, I have ideas with the potential to be great and absolutely no motivation to actually act on them.

So, with that in mind, I'm putting it to the good authors and readers of the What-Ifs board: should I be honest with myself and quit entirely? Or should I be honest with myself and seek out a co-author or two? Admittedly the latter idea sounds pretty fantastic to me, since I love writing as a part of a team, but I don't want to saddle anyone else with my frankly hilarious failure as a writer.

Sincerely,
- Definitely Not Stephen King

Writing is my specialty

[GoTfan]

Arizona Senate Race "Almost Second Presidential Election"

The two frontrunners  for the US Senate race in Arizona, Rep. Giffords and Rep. Flake

While the race for the Republican Party nomination heats up, the eyes of the Democraric and Republican National Committees are also upon the Senate race in Arizona next year, where the frontrunners, Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and Congressman Jeff Flake, are vying for the seat being vacated by John Kyl next year.

Democrats, seeing Giffords as a chance to flip the seat and solidify their Senate majority, have poured money and resources into the seat. Originally, Giffords was to face a contested primary, but the withdrawal of former Surgeon General Richard Carmona and the former Chair of the Arizona Democratic Party Don Bivens has left her with mere token opposition for the nomination. Already, Giffords has been endorsed by President Obama and Vice-President Biden, as well as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.

Flake, by contrst, is facing a constested primary, as Republicans desperately try to hold the seat. Flake, who has been endorsed by Presidential candidate Ron Paul, faces an uphill challenge for the seat, as he tries to fight off his primary opponent, businessman Wil Cardon.

"It's definitely on our list of targets." Said Patty Murray, Senator from Washington and Chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. "It's shaping up to be a very close contest . . . Gabby is a great candidate and we can flip the seat this year." Murray also implied that the race was being treated very seriously by both sides. "It's almost turning into a second Presidential election, and I believe it's one we can win."

John Cornyn, Texas Senator and Chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee declined to offer a formal comment, instead saying that he was in no doubt that that the seat would be held.

Meanwhile the Republican Presidential field remains sharply divided between Former Senator Rick Santorum, Former Governor Mitt Romney, Former Speaker Newt Gingrich, and Congressman Ron Paul. It remains to be seen which of these candidates can gain the momentum to take the nomination, though many have been talking up Romney as almost the default candidate, as these people are worried that Santorum, Paul and Gingrich may not be electable on the national stage.