Feel the Franken DISCONTINUED

[MAINEiac4434]

Concord, New Hampshire. September 14, 2016. 4:37 PM.

“I can’t believe we met Molly Fucking Ringwald!” Blake exclaimed as we set out for canvassing. It was chilly, and the leaves crunched beneath our feet.

“I’ve had a crush on her since I saw Sixteen Candles when I was like 14,” I said.

“Oh yeah? You have a thing for redheads Ben?” She teased.

“Nah...brunettes on the other hand...” I grinned. She blushed. We walked in pleasant silence for a few minutes.

“I’m glad she didn’t get a psycho.” I began “Did I tell you about this one lady I had who told me she knew Hillary was a satanist?”

“Yeah, I overheard you tell Molly that.” We were quiet for a moment as we approached our neighborhood. “What’s the matter?” She said, looking at me.

“It’s just...this thing that’s been bothering me. That was the most full I’ve seen the HQ since I started working here over three months ago. In 2012, in Maine, the HQ was always full. Here we are in New Hampshire, the swing state, with a senate and a gubernatorial race, and we can only fill it up when we trot out these celebrities.”

“Meh.” Blake said. “It’s still kinda early. Plus some people might think she has it in the bag already and can’t lose.”

“Then they should come out for Maggie, and Carol, and Colin. They could lose. God forbid this state sends Kelly Ayotte back to Washington to be the one Senator to give the GOP the majority. God forbid we have a GOP governor undoing all of Maggie’s hard work. God forbid Frank Guinta wins again, and makes it that much harder to get stuff through the House.” I said. She grabbed my hand.

“We’re not going to lose. Trust me.”

And I trusted her.

Concord, New Hampshire. November 8, 2016. 6:45 PM.

“I bought champagne!” Blake bellowed as she entered the Hillary HQ. Pizza and sandwiches were on a table, as staffers and supporters huddled around computer screens and a TV that was broadcasting MSNBC. She pulled me aside. “I know you’re too young, but I got you a little something, too.” She pulled out a small bottle of absinthe, my favorite.

“You shouldn’t have. And I mean really, you shouldn’t have, I don’t want one of the best nights of my life ruined with an underage drinking charge.” I told her, barely suppressing my smile.

“Hush,” she said, and poured two shots. She raised one. “To Governor Colin Van Ostern, Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter, Senator Maggie Hassan and President Hillary Rodham Clinton.” We clinked glasses and drank. She began pouring us another one.

“Seriously?” I said, somewhat bemused.

“I have another toast,” she stated matter-of-factly, and handed me the glass. She looked me in the eye. “To new friends.” We clinked and drank again, and went back to the rest of the party.

Concord, New Hampshire. November 8, 2016. 10:08 PM

Things were quiet. Much too quiet. Virginia was too close. Wisconsin was too close. New Hampshire was too close. Trump was leading in Florida. Pennsylvania was uncalled. Michigan was uncalled.

I needed to find Blake.

She was sitting by herself in her office, clicking back and forth between the AP, New York Times and FiveThirtyEight.

“Blake,” I began. But I didn’t know what to say after that. So I went to the only thing that was going through my mind.

“What the fuck.”

She got up and hugged me. We walked back to the main room. She held my hand. We found a nice spot at the back. She rested her head on my shoulder.

“And we have a major projection to make...Donald Trump will win the state of Florida and its 29 electoral votes.”

Gasps, sobbing, shock.

I looked at Blake. “Oh my god.” I said. “Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my god.”

I started to cry. She held me close. “We need to get out of here,” she whispered. I nodded. She escorted me to her car and drove me to her apartment.

In her apartment, we didn’t put on the TV. I sat on her couch, tears running down my face as she made me tea.

“Blake,” I choked out.

“What, Ben.” She said.

“She’s gonna fucking lose!” I wailed, and started weeping. Blake rushed in.

“Ben...she’s up in Michigan and Pennsylvania...if she wins those and Nevada and Colorado, and holds Virginia, she’ll get over 270.” She said, wrapping her arms around me.

“Blake...look,” I sniffled, handing her my phone. Trump had just taken the lead in Pennsylvania.

“Oh no,” She whispered, as she buried her face in my shoulder, her breath catching in her throat.

I started worrying. “Blake...what about Merrick Garland? What if you need birth control or an abortion? What about my dads?” She looked up at me, her makeup smeared.

“Ben. We stick together. We’re going to have to.”

We held each other longer.

“Ben...” she whispered, “I’m scared.”

“Me too.” I sniffed. I kissed the top of her head. “As long as we’re together though,” she let go of me, and looked up. “I think we’ll be alright.”

She smiled slightly to herself, leaned in and kissed me.

[MAINEiac4434]

“Ben...she’s up in Michigan and Pennsylvania...if she wins those and Nevada and Colorado, and holds Virginia, she’ll get over 270.” She said, wrapping her arms around me.

I should note that this isn't even true. That's intentional. If Hillary won Michigan and Pennsylvania, that would've put her at 268, and put a ton of attention on Maine's second district, because it would either result in an electoral college tie or Trump hitting exactly 270.

The election was over when Wisconsin slipped from Hillary's grasp, because there was no path to 270 without flipping a Romney state.

I was trying to capture the confusion of that night, how many Democrats were so confused by the results that they couldn't conceive of Hillary losing the election even after Ohio, North Carolina, Florida and Wisconsin, in spite of the math. I myself used the same rationalization that Blake used before Trump took the lead in Pennsylvania. I told my friends "all we need is Michigan and Pennsylvania and we'll win."

[MAINEiac4434]

Are Blake and/or Ben based off of real people? If so, let them know they make the sweetest fictional couple ever.

Aw, shucks. They’re fictional, though parts are autobiographical (for example, I worked in Concord, NH for the campaign, noticed how little volunteer action we were getting, I did have a crush on circa 1984 Molly Ringwald as a teen, and did yell ‘She’s gonna fucking lose!’ on election night. Everything else is made up, though.)

Welcome to the forum.

[MAINEiac4434]

Portland, Maine. June 12, 2018. 7:47PM

"Make sure we don't drink the absinthe early this time," I said to Blake as we entered the Portland Holiday Inn, the headquarters of Betsy Sweet's gubernatorial campaign.

"Hush," she told me, not looking up from her phone. "Turnout numbers are looking excellent."

"Great, I need to go feed the vultures. See you upstairs." I said, as she continued on to the elevator and detoured to a ballroom, where the victory party would be held. Only a few supporters were there, along with the media. It was still mostly empty. Polls wouldn't close for another fifteen minutes.

"Ben, anything for us?" a grizzled reporter asked me.

"Betsy remains confident that the people of Maine will choose change and progress tonight. She expressed congratulations on a well-fought campaign to the other Democratic candidates, and wants to remind voters that they still have time to get in line. If they're in line before 8, they will be allowed to vote."

"Any comment on the power outage at the polling place in Kingfield?"

"The Sweet campaign, and several other campaigns, filed a lawsuit to extend voting hours in Kingfield because of the power outage. We believe the lawsuits will be successful." I looked at my watch. "Okay, one more question guys, better make it good."

"Why'd you go to some of the most conservative areas of the state in the last week?"

I paused. "Betsy Sweet is running to be governor of all of Maine, not just the progressive parts of Maine. The people of Piscataquis and Aroostook and Penobscot have voices that deserve to be heard, too. And they may just deliver us victory tonight. Alright, I'll see you guys around 9."

I went upstairs to the HQ. I looked at the handmade sign on the door. "Welcome to the Sweet Suite." I smiled to myself, knowing Blake had something to do with it.

She was sitting on the couch, a donut in hand, still staring intently at her phone screen.

"Hey babe," she said.

"Hey..." I said. At that moment I noticed our reflection in the mirror. Goddamn, we looked grown up. I was only 20, Blake 23. Here I was, in a blue suit, my curls replaced with a crew cut. Blake in a black blazer and pencil skirt. I'd never even seen her in a skirt until we got this job.

"First results! From Andover!" Blake yelled, breaking me from my thoughts. About a half dozen people crowded around her, including me. "Boyle, 12;" she read, "Cote, 34; Dion, 6; Eisenhart, 2; Eves 68; Mills 55; Russell 39; Sweet...98!" We cheered, and high fived.

"Game on," I said, looking Blake in the eye.

"Game. On." She said back.

10:03

"Betsy does not believe there to be any need for a recount at this time, Jack." I told a particularly annoying reporter. The victory party was in full swing now. And the race was close. While Mary Mayhew easily swept away opposition on the GOP side, it had turned into a real nailbiter between us, Mark Eves, and Janet Mills. "That could change if we believe there are irregularities. But right now we have no reason to believe that."

"Have you received any concession calls?" another reporter said.

"Senator Boyle, Senator Dion, Representative Russell and Commander Eisenhart have each called Betsy. Though I believe they've also called Speaker Eves and Attorney General Mills to express their congratulations. It's important to remember that this party is united behind whoever wins tonight. Alright, I'll see you guys soon." I moved to leave.

"Can anyone claim a mandate with only a quarter of the vote?" Jack yelled after me. I stopped.

"If we had ranked-choice voting that wouldn't even be a question, now, would it?" I said, as I left.

Back upstairs, everyone was staring at a screen. Blake had her phone, iPad and laptop all in front of her.

"Has Eves called to concede yet?" I said. She shook her head. "Well, we know that bastard's stubborn." I sat next to her, and looked at the numbers.

Maine Democratic primary
95% of precincts reporting
Too close to call
Betsy Sweet: 48,782, 26.54%
Janet Mills: 48,399, 26.33%
Mark Eves: 47,612, 25.90%
Diane Russell: 12,398, 6.74%
Adam Cote: 11,590, 6.30%
James Boyle: 8,702, 4.73%
Mark Dion: 4,201, 2.28%
Patrick Eisenhart: 2,135, 1.16%

"This isn't going to be decided tonight." Blake said, somewhat glumly.

"Don't look so disappointed, darling." I said to her. "It's only our careers." She smiled ruefully.

"You suck," she said, suppressing a laugh. Just then her phone vibrated.

"This is Walsh," she said into it. "Bath's three precincts are the only ones left, I think." She listened. Her eyebrows raised. "Really?" She looked at me. "When will we see this?" she grabbed her iPad and began running her fingers around the screen on it in earnest. "She's how far behind? Cote's above her?" She dropped her iPad on her lap and grabbed my wrist. "Well, thanks again Rachel. I'll be sure to tell Betsy." she calmy hung up the phone, and looked at me. "We won." she said simply, a smile crawling across her lips.

"We won?" I said, not quite believing it.

"We won!" she yelled this time, and through her arms around my neck. "She landslided Bath! Cote came in second, ahead of both Eves and Mills! We won! We won!"

We cheered, and hugged the other staffers in the room. My phone vibrated.

"This is Ben Johnston." I said into it as calmly as I could manage.

"Hi Ben. This is Janet Mills, I'm calling to concede." A woman's voice said to me. Blake kissed my cheek.

"Okay, Attorney General, let me find Betsy for you. And let me be the first to congratulate you on a well-fought race." I walked across the hall and knocked on the Sweet family's private room. Betsy's daughter answered the door. I gave the phone to her, telling her who it was, before going back across the hall. Blake was now also on the phone.

"Of course, Speaker Eves, let me just find Betsy for you." she said. Panicking, I gestured violently towards her, and she somehow understood that Betsy was currently on the phone with Janet Mills.

Eventually, the concession calls were made. Betsy came in and took a shot of absinthe with us ("Don't remind me of your age, Mr. Johnston"), before heading downstairs to the party. I fed the vultures one more time.

"This is a victory for progress. Politics as usual has come to an end in the Democratic Party, and on November 6th, it will come to an end in Maine."

"In her victory speech, Mary Mayhew alluded to Betsy Sweet by saying 'the Democratic candidate has no political experience, only radical activism.' Care to comment?" Jack asked. A surprisingly softball question.

"Secretary Mayhew can claim Betsy has no experience. Betsy's lifetime of work achieving major victories for women, disabled people and LGBTQ people in this state, from both inside and outside Augusta, speaks volumes. What also speaks volumes is Secretary Mayhew's experience. Her experience of limiting access to healthcare to Maine's most vulnerable, cruelly cutting food programs for the hungry and lobbying for Philip Morris." Blake walked over.

"Guys, it's midnight," she said to the reporters. She slung her arm around my shoulders, though she had to stand on her toes to do it. "He's mine now." I shrugged my shoulders.

"She's the deputy campaign manager...she's technically my boss." I said, as she pulled me toward the elevator by my tie.

[MAINEiac4434]

Also, in case you're wondering, Atlas forum posts are returning shortly. I have one more Ben/Blake background post, and then we're gonna get an atlas forum post, a debate, and some more atlas forum posts.

[MAINEiac4434]

Augusta, Maine. February 14, 2019

We had swept the election, Betsy going virtually unchallenged by Independent State Treasurer Terry Hayes (a role that Hayes retained in the new Sweet administration) and Republican former DHHS Head Mary Mayhew (who retired into obscurity). The Democratic landslide gave us huge majorities in both houses. I had been named Press Secretary for the Governor, Blake Chief of Staff and Liaison for Legislative Affairs, where she quickly gained a reputation for hard-assery (while Betsy Sweet lived up to her name when it came to dealing with people, Blake had become her enforcer).

We sat in our office, staring at our computer screens in silence. I broke it.

"Is Richardson coming around on single payer?"

"He'll have to come around, or else he'll lose a primary." she said, without looking up. I sighed.

"You want a drink?"

"We can't drink on the clock, darling." She said. I reached for my briefcase.

"Well, that's a shame, I guess we're going to have to wait until we get home to crack this open." I handed her a bottle of 1995 Chardonnay. Her birth year. She smiled that smile of hers.

"You shouldn't have..." she began.

"But I did." I said. She grabbed my hand.

"Unfortunately, I can't give you your gift until we get home," she grinned. I squeezed her hand.

"Well we can probably find a broom closet or--"

"Umm...I hope I'm not interrupting anything," a voice said from our door. We both jumped.

"No, not at all Heather," I said. Heather was the Governor's private secretary. "What is it?"

"Governor Sweet would like to see you. Both of you."

As we followed Heather to the Governor's office, I whispered to Blake "Do you think we're in trouble?"

"I don't know," she whispered back.

"Darling, did you call Senator Miller a 'hateful dumbfuck' again?" I asked.

"Did you call that one reporter a 'Poliquin plant' again?" She shot back, grinning.

After Heather shuffled us into Betsy Sweet's office, she left and closed the door behind her.

"Blake. Ben. Sit, please." The Governor said, gesturing to the two armchairs in front of her desk.

"How can we help, Madam Governor?" Blake asked.

"You know I value both of you very much. I wouldn't be sitting here without either of you and your commitment to my campaign," she began. "And you're both doing just spectacular work for me now that we're in office. Really. You two are the two best people in this administration."

"Well, I..." I began, but Betsy cut me off.

"Let me finish, Ben. And you know I care about both of you deeply, like you're my own children. Which is what makes this so difficult," Blake and I exchanged glances.

"Madam Governor, if I may, I apologized to Senator Miller and Ben had absolutely nothing to do with it. I'll resign, he can stay." Blake said quickly.

"I apologized to Jack Reddick, too, and Blake had nothing to do with that. I'll resign, she can stay." I said just as quickly. Betsy looked confused.

"You guys think you're in trouble?" she asked.

"Uh...well it just sort of sounded...like it." Blake said.

"Good lord, no. You two are great. I'm giving you permission to seek other opportunities, with a presidential campaign. You're both too talented and too smart to be here in Augusta." the Governor said. "I don't want to lose you, but I don't want you to stay here at the expense of your careers out of pure loyalty to me."

Blake and I looked at each other again.

"Ma'am, if I may, we..." I stammered

"We both love working here. We're living out our dreams." Blake finished.

"I'm not telling you to leave. But if you find a campaign that you like, you have my permission to go. But only if you go together. You two work best when you work with each other. And if you don't find a Presidential candidate you like, that's more than fine by me."

We left the office.

"Is Liz Warren running?" Blake asked me. I shook my head.

"It looks like she's sitting this one out. Bernie's running," I offered.

"He's too old. Gillibrand?" she said.

"I like her, but not enough to leave my work here. Kamala?"

"She already has her campaign apparatus in place, there's no room for us." We sighed.

"I guess you're stuck with me and Betsy for the next four years," I smiled.

"There are worse things than being stuck with Betsy Sweet and you for the next four years." She smiled.

[MAINEiac4434]

Questions? Comments? Critiques?

[MAINEiac4434]

Ask, and ye shall receive.

---

KRIST JOINS MODERATES
Says Senate Moderate Caucus Should Move to Become Formal Political Party
July 25, 2019

Nebraska Governor Bob Krist, elected in 2018 as an Independent with the backing of the state's Democratic Party, has formally filed paperwork with the Nebraska Secretary of State's office to create the "Nebraska Moderate Party," and has called on Senator Susan Collins (M-ME), the leader of the Senate Moderate Caucus, and John Kasich, the ex-Republican Governor of Ohio mounting an Independent campaign for President, to formalize their nascent "Moderate movement" into a formal political party.

Krist has become the third Governor to unite with the Senate Moderates, after Kasich and Kasich’s presidential running mate Brice Rainer (I-IL). Krist remains the only sitting Moderate Governor.

Former Illinois Congressman Dan Lipinski, who lost a Democratic primary in 2018, announced last week he was running to return to Congress as an Independent, and hoped to create a House Moderate Caucus. The Central Committee of the United Utah Party, the party of Utah congressman Jim Bennett, formally voted to endorse Kasich's Presidential campaign last month, and UUP spokesperson Monica Bell has announced that the UUP will seek to formally affiliate with a national Moderate Party should such a Party come into existence.

When asked about Krist's and the UUP's statement, Governor Kasich said that deciding on a national party "Wasn't much of his concern," but also said he was glad "that many elected officials are realizing how much the two-party system has distorted our democracy." Susan Collins said she will "look into" forming a national Moderate Party. Collins supporters in Maine have already filed paperwork to form a "Maine Moderate Party," and Collins is expected to seek reelection next year on that ticket.

[MAINEiac4434]

Atlas Forum
- Presidential Elections - Analysis and Discussion
-- 2020 U.S. Presidential Election (Moderators: NebraskaTrot, Bill, MAINEiac8868)
--- Tulsi to skip next debate

Nebraska Trot Omaha Trotsky       Moderators ★★★★★ Posts: 4555

Tulsi to skip next debate « on: July 30, 2019, 03:58:09 pm »Tulsi will skip the next Democratic debate. She's pulling a Trump.

Spenstar Spenstar YaBB God       YaBB God ★★★★★ Posts: 8850

Tulsi to skip next debate « Reply #1 on: July 30, 2019, 07:00:15 pm »Jesus. She really thinks this is gonna be a power move? No one else will join her.

Kasich/Rauner 2020 Not_Madigan YaBB God ★★★★★ Posts: 4122

Tulsi to skip next debate « Reply #2 on: July 30, 2019, 04:01:36 pm »Honestly this will hurt her more than help her.

Never Tulsi ihatetulsigabbard YaBB God ★★★★★ Posts: 2121

Tulsi to skip next debate « Reply #3 on: July 30, 2019, 04:01:42 pm »LOL TULSI KNOWS SHE IS NOT WELCOME

Peebs Peebs YaBB God ★★★★★ Posts: 1223

Tulsi to skip next debate « Reply #4 on: July 30, 2019, 04:01:55 pm »Thank god.

Acting Delegate The Saint The_Saint YaBB God ★★★★★ Posts: 3848

Tulsi to skip next debate « Reply #5 on: July 30, 2019, 04:02:13 pm »Kinda disappointed tbh. She was a breath of fresh air, compared to the rest of the field.

Al Franken 2020 MAINEiac4434 YaBB God ★★★★★ Posts: 8851

Tulsi to skip next debate « Reply #6 on: July 30, 2019, 04:02:39 pm »Honestly? Good. She does nothing but gaslight. The only negative is that Franken won't verbally destroy her again. Good thing Cuomo's showing up.

Kamala (2020) Kamala YaBB God ★★★★★ Posts: 4554

Tulsi to skip next debate « Reply #7 on: July 30, 2019, 04:02:59 pm »LMAO she can't pull off the Trump debate-skip move. You can only do that when you're ahead in the polls, not penultimate. Who's advising her? People who want her to lose?

Al Franken 2020 MAINEiac4434 YaBB God ★★★★★ Posts: 8851

Tulsi to skip next debate « Reply #8 on: July 30, 2019, 04:03:39 pm » You must be logged in to read this quote. AKA everybody? It honestly wouldn't surprise me if she's annoyed her senior staff into outright sabotage.

Newsom 2028 Libertarian- Leaning Progressive       YaBB God ★★★★★ Posts: 1392

Tulsi to skip next debate « Reply #9 on: April 8, 2019, 04:03:09 pm »Cuomo must be quaking in his boots now. No Tulsi to take Franken's attention off him. Wouldn't be surprised if he bows out next, leaving only the big hitters.

(Acutally working for Franken) Blake       YaBB God ★★★★★ Posts: 1221

Tulsi to skip next debate « Reply #10 on: July 30, 2019, 04:03:35 pm »We were under a gag order, but not anymore, so I'll tell you guys. The Franken campaign, at least, expected this. We haven't even been prepping with a Tulsi stand in. I imagine the other campaigns figured it out, too. Privately, many other campaigns (though not the Franken campaign) think she's about to go third-party, maybe seek the Green nomination.

Never Tulsi ihatetulsigabbard YaBB God ★★★★★ Posts: 4122

Tulsi to skip next debate « Reply #11 on: July 30, 2019, 04:04:42 pm »TULSI GO TO THE GREENS AND LOSE EPICLY

Saguaro azcactus YaBB God ★★★★★ Posts: 1223

Tulsi to skip next debate « Reply #13 on: July 30, 2019, 04:04:30 pm » You must be logged in to read this quote. UGH. She would. I hope the Franken campaign is right about this. She could be incredibly disruptive to the Democratic nominee's campaign. Like Jill Stein on steroids. Would almost certainly cost Dems electoral votes, and could hand a second term to Trump. Not good if you're wrong and the other campaigns are right...

Never Tulsi ihatetulsigabbard YaBB God ★★★★★ Posts: 3848

Tulsi to skip next debate « Reply #14 on: July 30, 2019, 04:15:47 pm »TULSI WOULD GET LESS VOTES THAN STEIN

[MAINEiac4434]

Does Gov. Walker have anything to say re the Moderates?

Also, just a sidenote, I think it'd be really cool to include a new icon color for the Moderates in the Atlas chats ITTL. Maybe purple? (If it's possible ofc)

If it's possible I'd love for the Moderates to be Purple.

I've looked into this and, while possible, it'd be too much work. You're all stuck with your current avis

As for Walker: he is also joining the Moderates.

[MAINEiac4434]

ALASKA GOV WALKER TO JOIN MODERATES
Becomes Second Sitting Governor to Join Centrist Movement

Alaska's Independent Governor Bill Walker, a former Republican elected in 2014 and reelected in 2018 both as an Independent with the support of the Democratic Party, has announced he is forming an Alaska branch of the Moderate Party, and is backing the John Kasich/Bruce Rauner Independent campaign for President.

Lieutenant Governor Byron Mallott, a Democrat, is remaining with his party.

Allies of Walker in both parties in the legislature have also announced that they are forming a Moderate Party, which now controls both houses of the Alaska Legislature.

[MAINEiac4434]

OH.... I'M AN IDIOT. I forgot Scott Walker existed. Sorry if I confused you there initially.

I wish I forgot Scott Walker existed.

[MAINEiac4434]

GABBARD, KASICH TO DEBATE NIGHT BEFORE DEMOCRATIC DEBATE

HONOLULU - Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) and Democratic presidential candidate will debate independent Presidential candidate Governor John Kasich in Memphis, Tennesee on August 2, the night before the rest of the Democratic presidential field meets in Bangor, Maine at the invitation of Maine Governor Betsy Sweet for a debate on rural issues and democratic reform.

Gabbard had announced she was not attending the next Democratic debate on July 30, calling it "pointless" and "rigged." The other candidates - frontrunners Al Franken (D-MN), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Kamala Harris (D-CA) as well as less-well-known candidates Andrew Cuomo (D-NY), Tim Ryan (D-OH), Martin O'Malley (D-MD), Terry McAuliffe (D-VA) and Steve Bullock (D-MT) - have all announced that they do plan to attend the Bangor debate.

The Kasich campaign released a statement: "We of course accepted Congresswoman Gabbard's invitation to debate, and we hope to debate everyone else running for President, including President Trump. We will never decline an opportunity to espouse our common sense, moderate platform to more people."

The Gabbard/Kasich debate will be held live on CNBC and moderated by Lawrence O'Donnell, while the Democratic debate will be hosted by CNN and YouTube and moderated by Don Lemon.

[MAINEiac4434]

[MAINEiac4434]

Well, shit. In light of the allegations against Senator Franken, this TL is now suspended indefinitely. I may spin Ben and Blake off into a separate, future, fiction TL.

[MAINEiac4434]

Request to delete or lock this topic due to recent events.

I mean, we have TLs with far worse people finding political success. The TL will be merely discontinued, but I don’t think it should be deleted.

[MAINEiac4434]

God damn it. How hard is it to not assault anyone?

Very, apparently.

Request to delete or lock this topic due to recent events.

I mean, we have TLs with far worse people finding political success. The TL will be merely discontinued, but I don’t think it should be deleted.

I agree with this. I'm shocked right now.

So upsetting and shocking. I loved having him as our senator, now I hope that he resigns.

Any threads discussing this?

Check the US general discussion board.

[MAINEiac4434]

Freaking Franken touching women stopping me from seeing how Kasich/Rauner would do.

BOOOOOOOOOO

No states, but 18% of the popular vote.

[MAINEiac4434]

Freaking Franken touching women stopping me from seeing how Kasich/Rauner would do.

BOOOOOOOOOO

No states, but 18% of the popular vote.

That's great!  Also I'm sorry if I was a bit insensitive with what I said there, but Franken went from FF to HP today and I'm just a little bit pissed at him.

I'm not mad. Just disappointed.

[MAINEiac4434]

How much of this whole story did you have planned out?

I had a rough outline through the primaries and Presidential election.

Franken would narrowly win Iowa, take a strong second place in New Hampshire in the midst of a mild scandal, win Nevada, Super Tuesday, and coast into the nomination. Franken is never challenged in the general election and coasts to the presidency in a landslide. Ben proposes to Blake during the celebration.

In an epilogue, Blake is elected the first female president of the United States in 2040.

[MAINEiac4434]

Jesus Christ. This is well beyond just awkward.

[MAINEiac4434]

It's a shame Franken turned out to be a creep. This was an enjoyable TL.

I'm copying-and-pasting most of it, just changing Franken to someone else.

[MAINEiac4434]

One of my favorite TL’s, wish this didn’t have to happen. Thanks for the great times, Maineiac.

It's a shame Franken turned out to be a creep. This was an enjoyable TL.

I'm copying-and-pasting most of it, just changing Franken to someone else.

Presumably Murphy, right?

Liz Warren.