The liberal Republic

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Yay! Other than Nevada, where I'd enthusiastically support Reid over Laxalt, these are just the results I hoped for. Go Brown!

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I like the passive aggressive attitude against Agnew Curious to see when, if at all, will his scandal break.

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I think we're going to have an interesting situation in this TL where Presidents barely survive their terms, twice. I mean, there's Johnson, and now we're going to have Rocky, who died in 1979 IOTL, but I guess will survive a couple years longer here thanks to the Presidency. Also, both of them might die of a heart attack.

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Finally! This is about to get bad for Agnew

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FF cabinet!

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I like the alternative energy initiative. Also, I'd root for Scoop Jackson but honestly, every current candidate would be a great President. What a time would this be to be alive.

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I like the alternative energy initiative. Also, I'd root for Scoop Jackson but honestly, every current candidate would be a great President. What a time would this be to be alive.

That's true except for Jimmy Carter (massive FF personally, but not so capable president despite noble intentions). However, I promise it won't stay the way that all contenders are great in this TL

Where are you planning to get with this TL, chronology-wise? Just Rocky's two terms or further to the future?

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This is exciting.

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I'm actually gonna break with RFK here- go Moynihan, one of the greatest FFs in American politics! Abzug would be my 2nd preference, since Cuomo used homophobic slurs in his campaign in our TL.

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The Muskie campaign is a mess. Go Rocky and downballot Democrats!

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Bobby 1980! And hope Rocky focuses on the Middle East and helps us find a solution

Did something change in this timeline since George Mitchell is a Republican?

No, Edmund Muskie retires from his senate seat and George Mitchell, the Republican, replaces him. In real life, Mitchell also became Muskie's successor in the senate following his appointment as secretary of state by Jimmy Carter in 1980.

But Mitchell is a Democrat IOTL. He's wondering if the lack of a rightward shift in the GOP has led to Mitchell switching parties.

There you got me, that's absolutely correct. IRL, Mitchell was even Majority Leader after Robert Byrd from 1989-95. You never stop learning. I replaced him now with former Republican governor John H. Reed in order to keep the 53-47 senate composition

Awh, I hope massive FF Mitchell wins a Senate seat soon

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Interesting. Looks like despite the Rockfeller administration's stark difference from the Carter one, the Peace between Israel and Egypt will be signed like IOTL. Also, is Begin still Prime Minister ITTL? He probably has a good relationship with Rocky if so.

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If this passes, Rocky becomes one of the best Presidents ever!
And Humphrey should punish Stennis.

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Southern Democrats are useless lol.

Also, sad Byrd was elected leader despite his past here, too. I hope he gets ousted soon somehow.

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RFK 1980!
Barring him, go Albert Brewer or Jerry Brown, but none of the other candidates is really exciting.

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Just one important detail- the Golan Heights aren't an issue in the Egyptian agreement, that's the Sinai peninsula, which Israel would indeed give back in any possible agreement.

The Golan Heights are a Syrian demand for a peace agreement, but it's more dear to Israelis than Sinai (though in 1978 it was less so). I, personally, would hate to give it back even in 1978, and I'm on the left side of the Israeli population, so make of it what you will

Also, shame on Reagan for supporting the racist Helms- go Holshouser!!!

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Who is the Democrat in the NC race?

To be determined in the primary, but probably no change from the actual 1978 race

Just one important detail- the Golan Heights aren't an issue in the Egyptian agreement, that's the Sinai peninsula, which Israel would indeed give back in any possible agreement.

The Golan Heights are a Syrian demand for a peace agreement, but it's more dear to Israelis than Sinai (though in 1978 it was less so). I, personally, would hate to give it back even in 1978, and I'm on the left side of the Israeli population, so make of it what you will

Also, shame on Reagan for supporting the racist Helms- go Holshouser!!!

Right, the Sinai will be definitely be part of the agreement. But as the Golan Heights are a source of conflict, they are included even though it doesn't affect Egytian territory. Would you support a demilitarized zone under de facto UN control? I think that's not too unrealistic, especially if the Russians get on board.

Well, I'd not really be up for that since demilitarized zones with UN responsibility never work- UN soldiers are really the worst, they run at the first sign of danger.

That's another point though- as an Israeli, I'd be pretty annoyed at Rockfeller for making this a Cold War issue- originally, the Carter administration helped negotiations but it was also clear that it's going to be a Middle Eastern issue, with Sa'adat visiting the Knesset and the two leaders negotiating in good faith, with America as a bridge. Making this a Cold War issue of compromise between the U.S. And the USSR would personally make me a bit iffy, since I'd see this as the two great powers using Israel and Egypt as chess pieces in the game again.

So to summarize- I'd be more supportive of an agreement between two nations with America as a negotiator, and I'd find it pretty important to keep Israeli military protecting at least the Kineret, an important water source of ours, and the very strategic position of Mount Hermon.

Of course, in retrospect, Israel was very wise not to give up on the Heights- today it serves as a very important strategic defense against the Iranian influence in Syria, and it saved the Druze population there from the horrors of the civil war, as well as the people of the Galilee in northern Israel (where I live actually) from being caught between the hammer and the anvil- Hezbollah from Lebanon in the north and the very unstable and dangerous Syria in the east.

Back in 1979, we obviously couldn't predict all that, so it would be more possible than later, but I guess it's also important to note that Begin was very stubborn on this issue- his government was the one that later on officially annexed the Golan Heights, annoying the international community. The Golan Heights were very important to him because of their strategic importance and natural beauty, much more important than Sinai, so it won't be easy.

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I'd advocate kicking out anyone who opposed the bill in the midterms and replacing them with people more left wing on the issue, especially the Democrats. Pass it in the next congress!

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Damn. With Bobby out, I guess I'll be supporting another Democrat, though definitely not Bentsen. For the Republicans, I'd like Scranton.

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Damn. With Bobby out, I guess I'll be supporting another Democrat, though definitely not Bentsen. For the Republicans, I'd like Scranton.

Why not Bentsen? He was not too far left but not a DINO either. Would you support Hatfield, Scranton or Ford over him?

I just don't feel like Bentsen is particularly exciting. I'd support him probably, but he's just like... eh. There are better options.

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Damn. With Bobby out, I guess I'll be supporting another Democrat, though definitely not Bentsen. For the Republicans, I'd like Scranton.

Why not Bentsen? He was not too far left but not a DINO either. Would you support Hatfield, Scranton or Ford over him?

I just don't feel like Bentsen is particularly exciting. I'd support him probably, but he's just like... eh. There are better options.

Parrotguy, I watched Lloyd Bentsen's debate. I knew Lloyd Bentsen. I wish Lloyd Bentsen was a friend of mine. Parrotguy, you're no Lloyd Bentsen.

P O T A T O E

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Finally caught up. RIP Rocky, you were a great President From the direction Ford is going, he's gonna be tolerable but not enough to support a Republican, so I'm likely to support a Democrat in 1980. I really wonder what'll happen- if Dems lose to Ford, they might be in the wild for 16 years until they finally win it back, and even 1988 is not certain.

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If Glenn runs- GO GLENN!

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GO GLENN!

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Switching my support, go Brown!