My Al Gore Timeline

[DownWithTheLeft]

I was watching a video on the 2000 election yesterday I found when I was cleaning out my study and thought I would take a stab as others have at writing an if Al Gore was elected timeline.  Except, I'm going to start back right after the primaries occur.  It starts May 18th, with the announcment on May 19th that Rudy Giuilani would not run never coming.

On May 18, 2000, Rudy Giuilani announces that despite a diagnosis of prostate cancer, he feels he can continue in the race and this sets up a huge showdown between Rudy Giuliani and Hillary Clinton.  The polls show this race as of so far:

Bush 46%
Gore 44%
Nader 2%
Undecided 8%

Everyone believes this race will come down to a few key states including FL, NM, NH, OR, WI, and PA.  The VP nominees could have a huge effect on this.  Gore is the first to make his annoucement and he chooses up and coming pro-gun Vermont Gov. Howard Dean.  Many feel Gore chose him to try and sure up the Northeast, especially appealing the pro-gun crowd in New Hampshire.  Bush later announces his choice and to the suprise of many Bush picks Fmr. Sec. of State James Baker.  Many had speculated this might be Bush's choice if Baker announced a few days earlier he was moving from Texas to Arkansas.  Both party are rather happy with the VP choices and the following poll is released by Mason-Dixon:

Gore/Dean  45%
Bush/Baker  44%
Nader            2%
Undecided     7%

What is amazing though is a Mason-Dixon poll released for New Hampshire shows Gore has jumped out to an eight point lead.  The conventions come and go, each candidate getting a bump from their convention.  Then the election:

The race is tetter-tottering back and forth with three states left to call, West Virginia, Oregon, and Florida.  (NH already went for Gore).  Bush must win Florida and another to win the election.  If Gore wins Oregon or Florida he wins, and if he wins West Virginia there is a tie.  Bush is currently leading in all three states.  Then at 1:04 AM Wednesday, West Viriginia is called for Bush, however, Oregon is moving in Gore's favor.  At 3:32 AM, Buhs is declared the victor in Florida.  At 3:35, by a margin of 18,000 votes, Al Gore is declared the winner in Oregon, and therefore the winner of the presidency.  Al Gore is the 43rd president of the United States of America.  Senate races go the same as before, except Rudy Giuilani defeats Hillary Clinton 51-47 in New York giving the Republicans a 51-49 advantage.

[DownWithTheLeft]

Gore holds his inaguration and annouces that this is a time that a bitterly divided country needs to be united together.  He annouces that as a gesture of bipartisanship, he will appoint Fmr. Gen. Colin Powell as his Sec. of Defense.  He will focus the beginning of his term on reforming health care and other things he considers social ills.

Everything goes fine until late July when Gore receives word that al-Qaeda is planning an attack in the United States.  Gore okays a bombing of Tora Bora in Afghanistan.  The offensive continues until early September when al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden is killed.  Many Americans are unaware of the organization and do not see this is that big of an event.

However, early on September 11, 2001, a plane crashes in the World Trade Center.  News agencies report that witness say it is a small private plane and a bad accident.  However, at 9:03 a second plane hits the other tower and Americans realize this is not accident.  The media immeidatley speculates that the attack is a result of intagonizing them and killing their leader.  The blame is placed on Gore and people are furious with him.  Gore then leaves Washington on Air Force One and leaves VP Dean is charge of operations.  Gore calls for all planes to be grounded at 9:13.  However, at 9:37 another plane strikes this time hitting the pentagon.  A few planes are still out there including Flight 93 where the passengers are phoning to say that they have been hijacked.  Minutes later while the passengers look to have succesfully overthrown the hijackers and tell loves when they are going to land the plane, two F-16 fighter jets shoot it down causing great outrage.  On top of that, New York City Mark Green is unsure of what he is supposed in this situation and decides to just close all of NYC and tells residents to evacuate to the suburbs.  Gore closes down all the national landmarks.  How will this unfold?

[DownWithTheLeft]

Even though no one has reponsed I am enjoying writing this and will continue:

The country is now in total chaos and no one knows when the next attack is going to occur.  Gore has scrambled all fighter jets and is beginning to station the national guard at points of interest.  People near the borders of Canada and Mexico are scrambling to leave the country as the media is saying that Gore has no control over the situation.  Just when it is thought that the attacks are over, another plane crashes straight into the Seattle space needle now panicking the west coast as to what will happen.  After the day is done, the country is now in a state of shock and not knowing what to do.  People seem to be united that Gore's attacks on al-Qaeda, thought meaningless by his opponents, are what caused these attacks.  Gore's approval rating plummets to 24% from 72%

Gore calls a speech in the next few days to explain what is going on.  He defends his decision to take out Osama bin Laden saying the attack took a long-time to plan and would have happened either way.  People are not willing to believe this and Gore seems to be renoundly hated.  Even Senator minority leader Tom Daschle calls for Gore to step down.  However, he does not.  Instead he declares "war on terror" and sends troops into Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Yemen.  Many question this decision and say it is time to end this encouraging of new terrorists.  In the 2002 midterms, the Dems are crushed and the results that differ are as follows;

AR: Tim Hutchinson defeats his seat not getting a strong challenger
MN: Wellstone lives but is defeated by Coleman
SD: John Thune narrowly edges Tim Johnson
LA: Rep. Bobby Jindal defeats Mary Landrieu 54-46 in a runoff.
MT: Gov. Marc Racicot defeats incumbent Max Baucus
TN: Fred Thompson does not retire

The Republicans gain 8 seats sending them to 58 and Democrats look to be in huge trouble.  Following the elections, Gore's approval has dropped to 11% and he says a big annoucement is coming.  More to follow..

[DownWithTheLeft]

Great story.  At what point does Al Gore get arrested for treason?

Possbily later, however, this is just showing an exaggerated story of what could have happened to him.  It is basically showing how Bush had bad breaks and Gore could have them too and how the media spins things instead of letting the military do what they must.  The coincidence of killing bin Laden and then that being to blame is the same as the WMDs being moved we went to Iraq

[DownWithTheLeft]

Just a few days after the election Al Gore, as promised annouces that he is recognizing the country is not supportive of his policies and he is here to serve the nation.  He annouces a phased withdrawal of United States will occur in Yemen and Pakistan with United States forces completly out of the region by July 2003.  He says, however, troops that were stationed in Iran will now be moved the Afghanistan immediatley to overthrow the Taliban.  Many praise this decision but the next one Gore reveals that is most shocking.  He annouces that he will not be seeking a second term in 2004 and instead will support whoever the Democratic party puts forward.  After the speech and the decisions his approval rating goes up to a still miserable 26%.  It seems the tide is turning against the Democratic party for the time being.  The frontrunners on both sides at this point are Gov. George W. Bush (R-TX) and Sen. Tom Daschle (D-SD).

The plan goes quite well and the troops slowly return home to the delight of most of the American public.  Gore had planned to concentrate his time in office on the environment and health care, but those are still taking a back seat.  In July, the final troops return home and Gore approvals climbs back up to 37%.  But the most shocking development comes in September when America annouces it has overthrown the government in Afghanistan.  It seems that by August 2004 they will conduct free elections.  For the time being, the United States appoints Abdullah Abdullah, head of the Northern Alliance, as the interim president of Afghanistan.  After this Gore's approval has hit 50%.

Now in October 2003, the primary polls show as follows (includes all annouced candidates):

Democrats:
Sen. Tom Daschle 58%
Sen. John Edwards 12%
Sen. John Kerry 10%
Gov. Ed Rendell 8%
Undecided 12%

Republicans:
Gov. George W. Bush 78%
Gov. George Pataki 12%
Undecided 10%

This polls hold pretty steady and the country is ready for a Bush/Daschle matchup, however, in January 2004, just weeks before New Hampshire, President Al Gore announces he has changed his mind and will be running for reelection.  A bloody primary ensues in which somehow Gore comes out the winner.  Bush easily wins his primaries.  Gore again chooses Dean as his VP but this time Bush chooses Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts.  Who will win?

[DownWithTheLeft]

The Democrats are incredibly split and many refuse to attend the convention and are ashamed of Gore for going back on his word.  However, the Republicans could probably not be more united.  However, the Republicans look like they will lose the House as many see Bush winning as inevitable and a 60 seat majority in the senate, so they will vote Democrat for the House.  Polls as of June 2004:

Bush/Romney 58%
Gore/Dean 32%
Nader 9%
Undecided 1%

Many are looking for a credible third party challenger from the to step in, but many feel at this time that is unrealistic.  So it seems to the country as if Bush will go pretty much unchallenged, and that is what happens:

Bush/Romney    500 EV   54%
Gore/Dean           38 EV   36%
Nader/LaMarche    0 EV    10%

2004 Senate races that changed:
LA: Suzanne Hank Terrill def. Mary Landrieu by just over 250 votes in a runoff in Louisiana
MN: Paul Wellstone lives and defeats Norm Coleman
MT: Marc Racicot def. Max Baucus 52-47

Republicans now have 60 seats

[DownWithTheLeft]

Okay, let me get this straight.

In 2002, Wellstone lives and is defeated by Coleman, but he makes a stunning comeback in 2004 to take his seat back?

 Also, in 2002 Rep. Bobby Jindal (who's seat does he hold?), defeats Sen. Mary Landrieu, but she runs again in 2004 and loses?

 Also, a Marc Racicot vs. Max Baucus campaign can only happen once every six years, atleast for a Senate race.

Damn, I was hoping no one would pick up on it after I realized I used the 2004 senate results for 2002 and then tried to use them again.  Oh well, looks like this timeline is dead.

[DownWithTheLeft]

Okay, let me get this straight.

In 2002, Wellstone lives and is defeated by Coleman, but he makes a stunning comeback in 2004 to take his seat back?

 Also, in 2002 Rep. Bobby Jindal (who's seat does he hold?), defeats Sen. Mary Landrieu, but she runs again in 2004 and loses?

 Also, a Marc Racicot vs. Max Baucus campaign can only happen once every six years, atleast for a Senate race.

Damn, I was hoping no one would pick up on it after I realized I used the 2004 senate results for 2002 and then tried to use them again.  Oh well, looks like this timeline is dead.

No, keep it going. I think it's good. I like reading these while working on my new timeline. I pretty much retired mine. It's hard to keep going after 2012, because I keep forgeting who should have retired by than, or who should be dead by than, blah blah blah.

Ok, but for 2002 the assumption will be the Republicans gained two seats in 2002 and then bumped up the huge margins in 2004 that I mentioned before.

[DownWithTheLeft]

So let me guess, the Democrats also lose 2008 and then disband and America is sent into eternal prosperity through the benevolent one-party leadership of the Republicans.

Way, way, way too predicatble, however, the Democrats as always will fade into oblivion, but the Republicans will as well.  The Libertarians and the Populists will become the major parties.

[DownWithTheLeft]

Update, the two 2004 changes were not what was mentioned before but this:

IL: Mike Ditka def. Barack Obama
FL: Betty Castor def. Mel Martinez

Republicans gain 4 seats and now have 60 in the senate however it happens

George W. Bush begins his term as president by saying that a mandate has been given to him and that the country needs to be brought in a direct of "compassionate conservatism", however, for the beginning it looks as if Bush is acting as more of a populist than a conservative.  He starts by pushing a gay marriage amendment through the senate, but it narrowly fails 63-37, four votes shy of the needed 67.  Blance Lincoln, Ben Nelson, and Robert Byrd break ranks with the Democrats.  Bush continues by reforming prescription drugs and boosting spending for national security.  Quickly within a few months Bush is gaining a lot of critics on the right.  His approvals still stand at about 65%, but conservatives are hoping he will soon push for the spending cuts and such that he had promised for when his term began.  Instead the next issue Bush decides to bring up is the Flag Burning Amendment, while this excites conservatives, they want to see the fiscal responsiblity that Bush promised.  In September 2005, news comes that Chief Justice William Rehnquist has died and that Bush must now choose a succesor.  In line for the position are Judge John Roberts, Deputy Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez, Judge Priscilla Owens, and Sen. Arlen Specter.  To the chagrin of many conservatives, Bush selects Gonzalez, who is hailed as the third most conservative more conservative than only Specter.  Gonzalez passes through the senate, but conservatives are starting to become angry.  They are even more infuriated when Bush passes up Thomas and Scalia for Souter as the chief justice.  Strict constitutionalists are outraged.  The outrage starts to spill into congress and many feel something must stop this.  In January 2006, Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) annouces that he will be running as a Libertarian for the senate seat in Texas that will be vacated by retiring Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson.  It will be a three-way race between Republican Rep. Pete Sessions, Democratic Rep Henry Cuellar, and Ron Paul.  It is seem as the Libertarians first chance to gain a seat in a national office.  More to follow

[DownWithTheLeft]

Oh, the Democratic demise has started.

Actually, the Republicans are the ones that are demising, the Democrats really already demised in this scenario.  Hint: Ron Paul is going to win, I already stated Republicans and Dems will slowly be phased out

[DownWithTheLeft]

Working with the sixty seat majority, the Republican senate still is listening to the president's ideas, but they are starting to get a little angry with the lack of economic conservative policies being pushed through.  Annoucing he too is get angry with this, Steve Forbes annouces he will be running as a Libertarian in New Jersey.  Many feel this dooms the campaign of St. Sen. Tom Kean Jr, but Forbes says he must do this to try and make the Libertarians a force to be reckon with.  Bush continues to ignore these requests and his approval is dipping below 50%, it looks as if the Republicans are going to lose big time in the 2006 midterms.  The results that differ from actual 2006 are as follows:

PA: Rick Santorum does not draw a great challenger and defeats a sacrificial lamb after Bob Casey Jr. withdraws for personal reasons in late September
RI: Lincoln Chafee survives
ME: Olympia Snowe retires and is replaced by Democrat Tom Allen
VA: George Allen wins
MD: Michael Steele wins
TX: Ron Paul defs. his GOP and Dem challengers 42-30-27 (Libertarians first seat)
NJ: Menendez defs. Kean and Forbes 47-41-11
TN: Harold Ford Jr defs. Bob Corker

55-42-3
Republicans lose five seats net but more importantly lose the Texas seat to an Independent, it looks as if 2008 will be the really bad year for Republicans.  Libertarians, fresh off their victory, annouce that Lincoln Chafee and Arlen Specter have defected to them, making the senate count 53 Republicans, 42 Democrats, 3 Libertarians, 2 Independents.  It also appears they will make a strong push in the 2008 presiential election.

[DownWithTheLeft]

Bush is starting to get the message now in early 2007 that fiscal responsiblity is what must be done.  Bush's decision is to try and focus now social security privitization, something that finally economic conservatives can get excited about.  However, Sen. Paul says it is a feeble attempt to try and quiet economic conservatives and calls for more to happen.  The reform is not well received in congress, the strength playing the Republicans is the weakness of the Democrats.  The plan gets somewhat sidetracked, however, when Sandra Day O'Connor announces her retirement from the Supreme Court.  Again Bush is forced to choose this time between conservative John Roberts and a more libertarian constitutionalist in Janice Rogers Brown.  Bush continues to raise the ire of the libertarians by picking Roberts over Brown.  Now in mid 2007, the Democrats have a few frontrunners for their nomination including Sen. Paul Wellstone (MN), Sen. Hillary Clinton, Gov. Brad Henry, and the very liberal Sen. Barbara Boxer.  Populists in the Democrat are threatening to do what the Libertarians are doing to the Republicans if anyone but Henry is the nominee saying that they need a place in the party too.  They feel the big loss in the last election signaled the Democratic party needs a new direction.  Bush is again sidetracked when North Korea and Kim Jong Il threthen that they will attack South Korea in a matter of weeks.  Bush orders troops sent to North Korea to fix the mess.  In the ten day offensive, the North Koreas are crippled and they seem to be on the run.  Bush, however, trying to appeal to the Libertarians pulls out, but this creates a problem when Kim Jong Il resurfaces.  Bush's approvals dip to 44%.  The great news for the Libertarians is the senate seats they hope to pick up due to retiring senators:

AK: Ted Stevens annouces he will retire, the Democrats are yet to field a candidate and instead it appears they will back Libertarian candidate Andrew Halcro.  Republicans are nominating Ben Stevens, Ted's son
NJ: Frank Lautenberg annouces he will also retire, setting the door for Steve Forbes who will run under the Libertarian banner but will receive the Republican endorsement
DE: Joe Biden annouces his retirement and now Libertarian Rep. Mike Castle will run against Gov. Ruth Minner for the seat
ME: Susan Collins annouces she is switching to being a Libertarian (54-42-4), and will run under that banner come 2008.

The Libertarians see this as great oppurtunity to gain 3 more seats.  They also receive great news when Rep. Jeff Flake annouces he will seek their presidential nomination.  He wins it and chooses Michael Badnarik as his VP.  The Democratic nominee for president is Paul Wellstone, which raises the ire of moderate Democrats.  Two Democrats, Ben Nelson and Robert Byrd, break away from the Democrats into the newly formed populist party.  The Senate now contains 54 Republicans, 38 Democrats, 4 Libertarians, 2 Populists, and 2 Independents.  However, it is expected that Libertarians will gain more seats.  In the 2008 presidential election, Flake kills Bush and Wellstone wins rather easily.  Flake finishes second in some states but it is his 25% showing the PV that dooms Bush, especially in states like Montana and Arizona that Bush would have won handily.

[DownWithTheLeft]

Who is elected President then?

Wellstone, sorry I did not make that clearer

[DownWithTheLeft]

I thought I'd pick this one back up:

In January 2009, President Paul Wellstone takes over a government more divided than ever.  Wellstone has put progressive social reform at the top of his agenda which is angering the more populist sect of the Democratic party.  He dares to take on an issue most would not, drug legalization.  Wellstone calls the immediate legalization of marijuana, a move hearalded by Libertarians and Democrats, but renounced by Populists and Republicans.  Newly elected senator Steve Forbes gives a speech on the senate floor about the economic ramificaitons of the legalization which is broadcast on TV and seems to turn the public in favor.  It is realized that the Libertarians are around to stay.  The current senate count is 52 Republicans, 39 Democrats, 5 Libertarians, 2 Populists, and 2 Independents.  However, more defection comes sending the Republicans under 50 seats.  Senators Ditka, Voinivich, and Smith annouce their defection to the Libertarian party as they say the two party system is broken.  Wellstone's drug legalization passes and now the Christian right is more fired up than ever.  Angry at the Republicans voting in favor, several senators including Tom Coburn, James Inhofe, and Rick Santorum break to the Constitution Party, now making the count 46 R, 39 D, 8 L, 3 C, 2 P, and 2 Indy.  Early polls show the following to be the frontrunners for all the parties:

Republicans: Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN)
Democrats: Pres. Paul Wellstone (D-MN)
Libertarians: Sen. Ron Paul (L-TX)
Populists: Gov. Brad Henry (P-OK)
Constitution: Sen. James Inhofe (C-OK)

The election seems like no one will get close to 270 EV

[DownWithTheLeft]

Ha ha. This is a far-right fantasy, I'm sure.

It's more just insanity if you read it.  There are 5 different parties holding seats in the senate

[DownWithTheLeft]

Recap on current numbers:
Senate
Republicans 47
Democrats 40
Libertarians 8
Constitution 3
Populists 2

Lieberman has caucused with the Republicans, Sanders with the Democrats

House
Democrats 186
Republicans 180
Libertarians 42
Constitution 17
Populists 10

In an effort to try and become more of a major force in American politics, the Populists and Constitution parties merge to form the new Traditionalist Party.  This does not have much objection between the current party members as the party will have a platform of social conservatism and moderate economic views.  Then have 5 seats in the senate and 27 in the house, enough to make problems for the other parties.  As 2011 approaches, Wellstone continues to move to the left and pushes the Kyoto Protocol through angering many, most importantly the Traditionalist leader in the senate, James Inhofe.  Inhofe annouces his candidacy for the presidency.  The race is really heating up and many think Wellstone will only keep his job if he can get the necessary votes in the house.  Wellstone nexts calls for nuclear disarmorment but this is voted down in the senate.  This is the first major blow to the Wellstone presidency and the first victory for the Traditionalists as the vote failed 51-49.  More later

[DownWithTheLeft]

I wanted to pick this back up, one of the last things I did before:

It is now late 2007 and the election is really getting into full swing.  However, the Republicans realize they have absolutley no shot at being able to recapture the presidency.  They realize that the Democrats and Traditionalists will not be able to reconcile together, so they agree to run with the Libertarians.  Almost all of the remaining Republican senators switch over either to the Libertarians or the Traditionalists.  The only remaining Republican senators are Chuck Hagel, Johnny Isakason, Joe Lieberman, Michael Steele, and John Kyl.  The RNC merges with the Libertarian party, however, most state and local GOP agencies stay in tact.  Libertarians are still yet to make as many inroads into local politics.  Numerous Democrats also defect.  So the current numbers are:

Libertarians 39
Traditionalists 32
Democrats 24
Republicans 5

Ron Paul currently holds a commanding lead as the 2012 presidential election approaches.  Wellstone announces that he will seek reelection and dismisses Paul, now 77, as way too old to be the president.  The Traditionalists hold their first ever convention right in the heart of the Bible Belt, Birmingham, Alabama.  The party did not hold primaries and the convention voters have been given a list of names to choose from for a nominee, it includes: Fmr. Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry, Fmr. Alabama SC Justice Roy Moore, and Fmr. Georgia Gov. Sonny Purdue.  Moore, thought to be the most controversial of the bunch, is given the nomination after a grueling battle that last nearly a week.  As his VP, Moore chooses an equally controversial figure in James Dobson, who has no political experience.  Fearing the party is not getting off to a good start, many northern Traditionalists jump ship back to the Republicans.  Looking for a way to combat the new forces, the Republicans and Democrats that are left band together to form the new American Party.  Their platform is virtually non-existent except for calling together those who do not like the extremes of the new parties.  They hold their convention a few months later and choose Fmr. Libertarian and current Illionis Sen. Mike Ditka as their nominee, Ditka chooses Maryland Sen. Michael Steele as his running mate.  The Libertarians do not surprise anyone at their convention and choose Sen. Ron Paul along with Rep. Jeff Flake as his VP.  The campaign gets brutual and Paul seems to convince America that the American Party is more of the same.  Polls show that the PV remains heavily in Ditka's favor, but that is because Paul runs 3rd in the south.  It is anyone's guess who will win.

The election turns out as follows:

Sen. Ron Paul/Rep. Jeff Flake             276 EV         39% PV
Sen. Mike Ditka/Sen. Michael Steele       194 EV        44% PV
Judge Roy Moore/James Dobson           68  EV        17% PV

Libertarians win a lot of states out of disgust for others rather than like of them.  Paul will struggle mightly to accomplish his agenda.

[DownWithTheLeft]

Paul is inaguarated in 2013 and announces less than one month in that this will be his first and only term.  He pushes an agenda of strict fiscal policy and disarmorment.  He immediatley recalls almost all troops home from foreign countries and vows not to use the military as a means of flexing muscle.  He comprises with the Traditionalists and uses the Libertarians and some Republicans to pass the long awaited marriage amendment in exchange for a vote to institute a Flat Tax.  The tax calls for a flat percentage on American families with a ceiling of $25,000 and a $5,000 deduction for each dependent.  While many oppose both plans, most are happy that two sides were able to work together to achieve something.  Paul is currently going down as one of the most liked presidents ever with an approval rating near 80%.  Paul, however, is faced with a hardship when Chief Justice William Renhquist dies and he must now appoint a new CJ.  He chooses Thomas for the CJ position and makes a safe, but reliable pick, for a new AJ in Janice Rogers Brown.  Brown easily passes the senate and takes her place on the bench.  Traditionalists feel they are truly only one vote away from overturning Roe v. Wade.  Paul gets back on the issue of wasteful spending and cuts out almost 15% of the federal budget in a intiative that he calls "Taking What is Yours".  The program is incredibly successful and Paul now pushes for social security privitization.  His approval rating stands at 81% when in 2015 he annouces that he wishes the Libertarian party to nominate VP Jeff Flake for the presidency.  However, most Libertarians fear that Flake being Mormon will hurt them dramatically and rally around Fmr. New Mexico Gov. Gary B. Johnson.  After a bloody convention, Johnson comes out on top but as a gesture of good faith offers Flake his VP spot, but Flake declines and instead opts to run for Gov. of Arizona in two years.  This leaves Johnson without a VP, so he chooses Susan Collins.  The American party is equally split, but has decided to run a liberal president and a conservative VP given Ditka's nomination four years ago.  The candidates that line up in the primary are Illinois Gov. Barack Obama, Indiana Sen. Brad Ellsworth, Fmr. Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and Rhode Island Gov. Patrick Kennedy.  Many have reservations about nominating a conservative liberal, a black, or a woman, so Kennedy becomes the frontrunner.  He has seemingly made up for his DUI and has done a good job running Rhode Island.  He loses Iowa to Ellsworth, but wins New Hampshire.  Obama and Sebelius drop out, but the other two rage on.  In a battle that almost goes to the convention, Kennedy becomes the nominee.  He chooses Indiana Gov. Mike Pence as his running mate.  The Traditionalists seemed lost in losing so badly in the last election, so while they don't leave the South they look to a bit more moderate candidates.  Without the fight of last time, they nominate Fmr. Gov. Sonny Purdue and make a huge surprise with his running mate choosing Fmr. American Party candidate Brad Ellsworth who switched.  The election looks like a nail-biter, and is, it goes tot he house.

Johnson/Collins             77 EV         29%
Kennedy/Pence            270 EV        36%
Purdue/Ellsworth          191 EV        32%
Others                            0 EV           3%

Johnson wins PA by less than 6,000 votes

[DownWithTheLeft]

won't Paul be like 77 years old in 2013?

As I noted, and that is why at 81 he does not seek reelection in 2016

[DownWithTheLeft]

81% approval ratings? A flat tax would kill his approval among poors. Has he done anything to reach out to the left?

Yea, show he can work with people and more drug legalization, military troop withdrawals, and not appointing a strict conservative to the bench

[DownWithTheLeft]

81% approval ratings? A flat tax would kill his approval among poors. Has he done anything to reach out to the left?

Yea, show he can work with people and more drug legalization, military troop withdrawals, and not appointing a strict conservative to the bench

But...CJ Thomas?

And besides, none of those issues matter to the unions.

Maybe intially they would despise it, but after seeing how effective it is and how much better their lives are, they would run to Paul's side.  The fact is that America needs Ron Paul but they are not ready for Ron Paul.  Plus, personal bias takes a little bit here

[DownWithTheLeft]

Continuing for fun (obviously not serious):

Gov. Patrick Kennedy assumes the presidency on January 20, 2017 and many are happy to see another Kennedy carry on in tradition of the family name.  The current totals in the senate are as follows:

Libertarians: 49
American: 43
Traditionalists: 8

Kennedy was elected as a moderate, but begins to govern like a liberal.  In response to Paul's flat tax, he now makes the push for UHC.  It seems destine to fail, but Kennedy feels it is necessary to try and push through.  The idea for this single-payer system actually does better than expected, but still fails by 4 votes.  In 2018, the final troops are brought home from Iraq and Afghanistan and Kennedy declares a period of peace and prosperity.  Americans seem to be warming up to him and think of him in the mold of his uncle.  In mid-2019, the party seem ready to begin the election process up again.  All three major parties will hold primaries, but it seems that they will be unnecessary.  Kennedy faces no major opposition in his primaries, and AZ Gov. Jeff Flake is all but handed the nomination he feels he was denied 4 years ago.  Mike Pence, however, decides that another term as VP as not what he wants.  He chooses Rep. Barry Goldwater Jr. as his running mate.  Kennedy makes a controversial decision to replace him with not only another liberal, but a minority, in NY Gov. David Patterson.  The Traditionalists think this might finally be there election to capitalize on the faults of the other parties, they want to expand their geographic base.  They decide to settle on a candidate that is further north and select VA Gov. George Allen.  Allen, though, seems to be slightly plagued by the macaca scandal to this day.  As his VP, they choose a Deep Southerner in MS Sen. Roger Wicker.  The election proves to be a cakewalk to Kennedy:

Pres. Patrick Kennedy/Gov. David Paterson
Gov. George Allen/Sen. Roger Wicker
Gov. Jeff Flake/Rep. Barry Goldwater Jr.

[DownWithTheLeft]

Kennedy begins his second term pushing a liberal agenda.  The senate is still deadlocked, and nothing seems to get accomplished.  A new senator elected in the 2018 midterms, Steve Hart from Texas, is rising up the ranks.  He proposes a new set of legislation for the Traditionalists, which includes many religious undertones.  He looks to get prayer in schools and heavy censorship of television and the rest of the media.  He pushes for a high tax on gambling earnings and other issues.  He is hailed in the South and parts of the Upper Midwest, but most of the nation sees him as a kook.  In response, the newly elected governor of Washington, Jason Sparrow, announces his state will not respect the new federal laws and challenges them as unconstitutional.  The case takes a long time to reach the courts, but it turns out being a battle between Sparrow and Hart.  In the end, Hart's laws are declared unconstitutional in 2022, but a bad battle is brewing.  President Kennedy stays neutral in the dispute saying he thinks both sides are being far too extreme.  This is really the worst fight between the Traditionalists and the Libertarians.  The Libertarians had tried to filibuster these new laws at first, but the American Party allowed a vote and they past by the slimmest of margins.  Libertarians feel invigerated and saw it time to get the government out of the home and to have them stop being the moral police.  To rally more to the cause, they nominate Gov. Sparrow in 2024.  For Vice President they choose another up and comer, Sen. Ted Rush of Maine.  The Traditionalists feel they have finally found their face in Sen. Hart and give him the nomination, for VP they turn to the newly elected Governor of Alabama, Bob Jackson.  The American Party goes with VP David Paterson, hoping to capitalize on the popularity of the Kennedy regime.  For VP they choose another mainstay of the Kennedy regime, Sec. of State Sherrod Brown.  The election is a party one, the Traditionalists campaign solely in the South and upper Midwest hoping to assure those states and push it to the house where they feel they can get enough votes to win.  The Libertarians concentrate hard on the coasts and in the Upper South.  The American Party is starting to be demoted to 3rd party status even though they have the incumbent president.  There congressional numbers lag far behind the other parties and they hold only a few governorships.  People are beginning to feel they are more of the same.

To everyone's surprise, the LP scores an outright victory:
Gov. Jason Sparrow/Sen. Ted Rush  280
VP David Patterson/Sen. Sherrod Brown  88
Sen. Steve Hart/Gov. Bob Jackson  169