A Republican Obama

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1990s: Tyson Douglas, a young, handsome, charismatic black man from Virginia, becomes the first black President of the Harvard Law Review, and his intelligence, his eloquence, and his inspiring life story attract very positive publicity for him in the legal and academic circles.

He was born in poverty to a drug-addicted mother and a father who was in jail in Washington, D.C.  As a teenager, he sought out peace in his church, where he became very active in and after his mother died of a drug overdose, he was taken in by his pastor.  Through hard work in school, he began to thrive in an inner city school and became a role model for troubled teenagers, particularly those affected by drug abuse.  He also took on the huge responsibility of raising his younger siblings at the age of fifteen and succeeded in steering them away from drugs, gangs, and peer pressure.

With a scholarship, he gets into Harvard where his conservative political views are formed.  He harshly, but eloquently, criticizes welfare and abortion as harmful to society, particularly blacks.

He also is a strong supporter of gun ownership; he kept a gun in his house for self-defense as a teenager and used it to save his sister from being attacked by an intruder who was looking for drugs. 

He also criticizes rap and hip-hop culture for giving the black community a bad image.

He marries Tiani Douglas, a promising young news anchor for a FOX affiliate in Virginia, and settles down in VA to have a family.

He becomes privately disgusted with Bill Clinton's infidelities, which strengthen his Republican sensibilities.

In the late 90s, he publishes an inspirational bestseller, "The Audacity of Hope," which becomes widely read in the evangelical Christian community.

2000: Al Gore narrowly wins the presidential election.  Gore runs a better campaign and ties himself to "The Clinton Economy."  Ralph Nader's name is not on the ballot in Florida, but Pat Buchanan is and he takes votes from Bush.  Florida is still close there but Gore wins the state outright by 1%.

2004: Gore is reelected by a healthy margin, defeating George W. Bush again in a rematch.  Having caught Osama Bin Laden in the summer of 2004, Gore campaigns on national security and terrorism.

At the Republican National Convention, Tyson Douglas, a Virginia State Senator running for Governor of Virginia in 2005, gives an amazing keynote speech.  Even Democrats are impressed with this stunning national debut.

2005: Tyson Douglas runs for Governor of Virginia as a compassionate conservative with a lively, upbeat, positive campaign, emphasizing family values and his strong Christian faith.  He works hard to win over black Democrats in the state.  Through a well-organized network of black churches, he mobilizes his supporters to turn out on Election Day in large numbers. 

He promises a "post-partisan Virginia," to bring Democrats and Republicans together to improve the quality of life for all Virginians, to keep taxes low, to give kids the best education possible, and to "heal the wounds" caused by drugs, gangs, and violence in the black community.

While simultaneously campaigning hard to win black support, he also campaigns equally hard to win over whites, especially moderates and independents from Northern Virginia.

He wins 75% of the black vote.  He gets a lot of positive media coverage from the Washington press.

He also campaigns on college campuses, and despite his conservative views, energizing young voters by reaching out to them and telling them they can make a difference if they change the world.

He is elected in a landslide against Tim Kaine, 63% - 37%, with heavy black turnout and Democrats crossing over to vote for him, and enthusiastic Republican support.

President Gore calls to congratulate the Governor-elect and then tells his White House chief-of-staff that Tyson Douglas will be President one day.

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2006-2007:

Tyson Douglas becomes a nationally-known figure and something of a celebrity as does his wife, Tiani, who as First Lady of Virginia uses her communication skills and media savvy.  She gains recognition across the state for her inspirational-style public speaking.

He is put on the cover on a variety of magazines, including Ebony, National Review, Reader's Digest, Christianity Today, and Time.

Tyson and his wife, Tiani, also appear on The Oprah Winfrey Show, leaving the talk show host impressed with them.  Although progressive in her political leanings, Oprah showers Tyson Douglas with praise and invites Tiani on her show regularly.

Tyson and Tiani bring Virginians together to mourn for the victims of a tragic college shooting and their families.  Governor Douglas closes loopholes in Virginia's gun laws and has a review board study ways to prevent another school shooting.  Bringing together both parties to act quickly, he avoids any controversy around the gun debates.

In mid-2007, Tyson Douglas decides he's going to run for President.

Vice President Joe Lieberman decides not to run.  Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, exhausted after four long years of travelling around the world, decides to retire from politics.

John Edwards, a Senator from North Carolina, re-elected comfortably in 2004, emerges as the front-runner for the Democratic nomination.

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Great!  I have some readers!

Oh, I didn't intend on Barack Obama being a part of this TL even though its an interesting idea to have two black candidates.  Tyson's background is obviously based on Obama.

2008:

Oprah invites Tyson and Tiani Douglas on her show:

Washington is so polarized these days.  You've been a critic of the partisanship in Washington.  What can be done about it, Tyson?
Well, It's such a shame, Oprah.  It turns young people away from politics and that's a shame because public service is very noble.  As I said in my speech at the Republican National Convention, there are no red states or blue states.  This is one country - God bless this beautiful country! - and we should turn towards each other instead of turning on each other.  We could all do so much if we only reached out to one another.  Maybe say, 'You know, we might disagree on some things, but let's sit down and talk, let's be open to hearing what each other has to say, and see if we can come up with a way to solve this problem.'"  People in my party and the other party, we're both guilty of it.  We can do better.  A big part of my campaign is bringing people together.

Some people in the black community have criticized you as an Uncle Tom.  How does that make you feel?  I have a pretty thick skin. (laughs) I've had to.  Look, I've been fighting for black people my whole life, and the African-American community back home in Virginia knows me, they know that I care deeply about them.  I just happen to have some different views than other folks do on some things, that's okay.  That doesn't mean that I'm a traitor to my race.  The color of my skin is just that, it's just a shade, it's not who I am though.  We're all people, we're all individuals.  Within the black community, there are different opinions, different backgrounds, there always have been.  In Virginia, I was able to run a post-racial campaign.  Race was not an issue, and you know what Oprah, I was able to unite whites and blacks.  That's what we need to do as a country.  We need to truly stop thinking in terms of 'white' and 'black' and start thinking of us all as human beings.

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George W. Bush chooses not to run for a third term, deciding he would be a lot happier being a private citizen in Texas.

Democrats have held onto the White House for sixteen years and the Republicans are eager to win back control of the White House.  To do that, they need a strong leader.

Tyson Douglas assembles a young, tech-savvy, innovative staff for his campaign.  Energized young conservatives heavily favor Douglas for the nomination and they use their knowledge and skills with social networking to reach voters.  Colin Powell and Condi Rice also serve as advisors on national security, defense, and foreign policy.

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Sorry, there's an error- George W. Bush decides not to run a third time for President, not for a "third term.."

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Governor Tyson Douglas of Virginia


First Lady of Virginia Tiani Douglas

Tyson Douglas' main opponents for the nomination are John McCain, Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney, and Ron Paul.

At 37, Douglas would be the youngest President ever if elected.  His opponents agree that he is a charismatic speaker, but say that speeches aren't enough - a long record of accomplishing things shows experienced leadership, but with voters extremely tired of Washington, which under Gore is a bland, stale bureaucracy with an uninspiring, unpopular leader, Douglas appeals to many since he is an outsider.  He emerges as a sharp critic of the Gore administration's elitism and arrogance.

"The Gore economy" is also terrible and getting worse by the month.  Jobs continue to move overseas and Gore's free trade views make him unpopular in states where there has been a lot of outsourcing.  Gore's tax cuts, combined with his war in Afghanistan and anti-terrorism policies, have been expensive and the surplus that Gore was once associated with has now become a deficit after the Democrats spent lavishly for the past eight years.  There is a long list that comes out of poor expenditures and excess and waste that embarrasses the Gore administration in his second term.

[Democrats did very well in 2002, benefiting immensely from Al Gore's popularity at the time, as the nation was at war, wrapped itself in the American flag, and rallied around its leader.  They won the House and the Senate that year.  Democrats were also able to establish themselves as the national security party with the war in Afghanistan and Osama bin Laden brought to justice in 2004.  In 2006, they lost seats to the Republicans, but barely held onto the Congress.  Due to their success in 2002, a lot of the Senate seats up in 2008 are held by Democrats and there still are a lot of seats where Democrats barely won in 2006.  Add this to the fact that Democrats have controlled the White House for sixteen years, so people are ready for a change.]

Whoever wins the fiercely contested Republican primary has a very good chance of becoming the President so the stakes are very high for Team Tyson.  Challenges lie ahead...

Will the mostly-white Republican Party choose a black man to be its leader?  Will Tyson be able to market himself to older white voters, many of whom might still have racist views?  Will Tyson Douglas' "post-partisan" image and his criticism of those in his own party make it hard for ultraconservatives to trust him?  Will the black community, overwhelmingly Democratic, bolt their party to back Tyson, or will he too beaten up by the primary to make it to the general election?

And what about Tyson's big secret?  Will it come out and how will his campaign team keep it from destroying their boss' presidential aspirations?

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thanx for all the positive comments

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Douglas is often criticized for lacking in substance and just offering people "hope and change."  His opponents deride him as being a celebrity who is just good at giving speeches, but having no real understanding of how Washington works.

Meanwhile, on the Democratic side, John Edwards receives enough delegates to win the Democratic nomination.  He has run a very populist campaign with poverty as a major theme, but Edwards makes self-destructive personal choices, and he cheats on his wife.  His infidelity becomes public before the Democratic National Convention, causing a crisis in the Democratic Party.

Shamed and losing support from his own party, Edwards decides to drop out of the race to allow his party to choose another nominee.

Tyson does not judge Edwards and says nothing about the scandal, except that he is sorry to see this happen to his family.

*****

"Team Tyson," as it is affectionately called by his passionate volunteers and supporters, creates an innovative media campaign, putting up ads everywhere - electronic billboards, holograms, and a poster with Tyson Douglas' picture on it with the word "Hope" on it.

An internal memo shows the coalition that Tyson Douglas hopes to build:
1. People of faith, including religious minorities
2. African-Americans
3. Latinos, Indian-Americans, Asian Americans, and other racial and ethnic minorities
4. Disenchanted Democrats
5. Young people and college students
6. Independents and swing voters
7. Suburbanites (like the ones he won in Northern Virginia)
8. Women turned off by the John Edwards scandal

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Douglas is confident he can win the general election, but first he has to win his own primary.  He is endorsed by the Bush family, a coveted endorsement because the last Republican president was a Bush and so were the two last nominees.

Primary Results:

Iowa: Tyson Douglas (25%), Mike Huckabee (23%), Mitt Romney (16%), John McCain (6%), Ron Paul (10%)

New Hampshire: John McCain (31%), Mitt Romney (23%), Tyson Douglas (21%), Mike Huckabee (11%), Rudy Giuliani (5%)

Michigan: Tyson Douglas (26%), Mitt Romney (25%), John McCain (18%), Mike Huckabee (16%)

Nevada: Mitt Romney (30%), Tyson Douglas (30%), Ron Paul (14%), John McCain (9%), Mike Huckabee (7%)

South Carolina: Mike Huckabee (27%), Tyson Douglas (25%), John McCain (16%), Mitt Romney (10%)

Florida: John McCain (24%), Tyson Douglas (24%), Mitt Romney (21%), Rudy Giuliani (13%), Mike Huckabee (13%)

Maine: Tyson Douglas (31%), Mitt Romney (27%), John McCain (15%), Ron Paul (18%)

Alabama: Mike Huckabee (41%), John McCain (23%), Tyson Douglas (22%), Mitt Romney (10%)

Alaska: Mitt Romney (40%), Mike Huckabee (22%), Ron Paul (17%), John McCain (14%), Tyson Douglas (6%)

Arizona: John McCain (44%), Mitt Romney (30%), Tyson Douglas (11%), Mike Huckabee (9%)

Arkansas: Mike Huckabee (60%), John McCain (15%), Tyson Douglas (14%), Mitt Romney (7%)

California: Tyson Douglas (29%), John McCain (28%), Mitt Romney (25%), Mike Huckabee (12%)

Colorado: Tyson Douglas (36%), Mitt Romney (35%), John McCain (12%), Mike Huckabee (9%), Ron Paul (8%)

Connecticut: Tyson Douglas (37%), John McCain (32%), Mitt Romney (23%)

Delaware: Tyson Douglas (35%), John McCain (25%), Mitt Romney (23%), Mike Huckabee (13%)

Georgia: Mike Huckabee (31%), Tyson Douglas (30%), John McCain (20%), Mitt Romney (15%)

Illinois: Tyson Douglas (32%), John McCain (27%), Mitt Romney (19%), Mike Huckabee (15%)

Massachusetts: Tyson Douglas (38%), Mitt Romney (37%), John McCain (17%)

Minnesota: Tyson Douglas (29%), Mike Huckabee (20%), Mitt Romney (19%), John McCain (16%), Ron Paul (16%)

Missouri: Mike Huckabee (28%), Tyson Douglas (23%), John McCain (23%), Mitt Romney (20%)

Montana: Ron Paul (25%), Mitt Romney (24%), Tyson Douglas (18%), John McCain (18%), Mike Huckabee (15%)

New Jersey: Tyson Douglas (33%), John McCain (32%), Mitt Romney (18%), Mike Huckabee (8%), Ron Paul (5%)

New York: Tyson Douglas (38%), John McCain (30%), Mitt Romney (14%), Mike Huckabee (7%), Ron Paul (5%)

North Dakota: Mitt Romney (32%), Ron Paul (21%), John McCain (17%), Mike Huckabee (20%), Tyson Douglas (10%)

Oklahoma: Tyson Douglas (29%), Mike Huckabee (29%), John McCain (27%), Mitt Romney (15%)

Tennessee: Mike Huckabee (29%), Tyson Douglas (24%), John McCain (22%), Mitt Romney (17%)

Utah: Mitt Romney (89%), Tyson Douglas (3%), John McCain (2%)

West Virginia: Mike Huckabee (52%), Mitt Romney (32%), Tyson Douglas (15%), John McCain (1%)

Kansas: Mike Huckabee (35%), Tyson Douglas (35%), John McCain (14%), Ron Paul (10%), Mitt Romney (2%)

Louisiana: Tyson Douglas (32%), Mike Huckabee (29%), John McCain (27%), Mitt Romney (3%), Ron Paul (3%)

Washington: Tyson Douglas (22%), John McCain (15%), Mike Huckabee (17%), Ron Paul (21%), Mitt Romney (11%)

District of Columbia: Tyson Douglas (62%), John McCain (16%), Ron Paul (9%), Mike Huckabee (6%),  Mitt Romney (3%)

Virginia: Tyson Douglas (71%), Mike Huckabee (15%), John McCain (10%), Ron Paul (3%), Mitt Romney (1%)

Wisconsin: Tyson Douglas (42%), John McCain (27%), Mike Huckabee (25%), Ron Paul (4%), Mitt Romney (1%)

Ohio: Tyson Douglas (48%), Mike Huckabee (23%), John McCain (19%), Ron Paul (5%), Mitt Romney (2%)

Rhode Island: Tyson Douglas (50%), John McCain (25%), Mike Huckabee (12%), Ron Paul (5%), Mitt Romney (6%)

Texas: Mike Huckabee (30%), Tyson Douglas (29%), John McCain (29%), Ron Paul (6%), Mitt Romney (2%)

Vermont: Tyson Douglas (45%), John McCain (32%), Ron Paul (9%), Mike Huckabee (6%), Mitt Romney (6%)

Mississippi: Mike Huckabee (51%), John McCain (21%), Tyson Douglas (20%), Ron Paul (4%), Mitt Romney (2%)

Pennsylvania: Tyson Douglas (56%), John McCain (21%), Ron Paul (13%), Mike Huckabee (9%)

Indiana: Tyson Douglas (43%), Mike Huckabee (20%), John McCain (18%), Ron Paul (8%), Mitt Romney (2%)

North Carolina: Tyson Douglas (40%), Mike Huckabee (25%), John McCain (21%), Ron Paul (7%)

Nebraska: Tyson Douglas (51%), Mike Huckabee (25%), John McCain (21%), Ron Paul (13%)

Kentucky: Mike Huckabee (51%), Tyson Douglas (25%), John McCain (23%)

Oregon: Tyson Douglas (60%), John McCain (20%), Ron Paul (15%), Mike Huckabee (5%)

Idaho: Ron Paul (36%), Mike Huckabee (35%), Tyson Douglas (32%)

States won:

Tyson Douglas: Iowa, Florida (tied), California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma (tied), Kansas (tied), Louisiana, Washington, District of Columbia, Virginia, Wisconsin, Ohio, Rhode Island, Vermont, Pennsylvania, Indiana, North Carolina, Nebraska, Maine, Michigan, Nevada (tied), Colorado, Minnesota, and Oregon

Mike Huckabee: South Carolina, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Missouri, Tennessee, West Virginia, Kansas (tied), Oklahoma (tied), West Virginia, Texas, Mississippi, Kentucky

John McCain: New Hampshire, Florida (tied), Arizona

Mitt Romney: Nevada (tied), Alaska, North Dakota, Utah

*******

Democrats scurry to find a replacement at the last minute before the Democratic Convention.  They settle on former Secretary of State John Kerry.

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Ooops sorry again a typo

And what about Tyson's John Edwards' big secret?  Will it come out and how will his campaign team keep it from destroying their boss' presidential aspirations?

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Tyson Douglas wins the Republican nomination, becoming the first African-American major party presidential candidate in history

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The Republicans will hold their 2008 convention in New Orleans, Louisiana, considered a very good choice because of the economic boost it will give the city, still trying to rebuild after Katrina.

Now that the extremely competitive primary is behind him, Tyson Douglas needs to make an important choice.  Who will be his Vice President?  Tyson is partial to Colin Powell, but advisors suggest he choose someone who is white.

On the shortlist for VP are:

Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas
Former Secretary of State James Baker (and Reagan Chief of Staff)
Former Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney
Former Governor of Pennsylvania and Attorney General Dick Thornburgh
Governor of Utah Jon Huntsman
Former Governor of Florida Jeb Bush
Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee

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Republicans ready to rally behind Douglas-Baker

After a long process of consideration and vetting, Tyson Douglas announces that he has chosen former Secretary of State James Baker to be his running mate.

"James Baker has a long history of exemplary service to this country. 

He wore our nation's uniform as a proud Marine and attained the rank of First Lieutenant and Captain in the Marine Corps Reserve.

He served as Chief of Staff to President Reagan and later as Secretary of the Treasury.  He also served on the Economic Policy Council, helping to pass Reagan's 1981 economic program, and on Reagan's National Security Council.

Under President Bush, he served as the United States' top diplomat.   

He managed Ronald Reagan's 1984 presidential campaign and was the chairman of George H.W. Bush's 1988 campaign.

During the Persian Gulf War, James Baker helped to build an alliance of 34 countries to fight alongside the United States.

He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1991.

He is the honorary chair of the James A. Baker Institute for Public Policy.

He was the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary General for Western Sahara from 1997-2004.

In 2000, he was the chief legal advisor for George W. Bush on legal issues.

Few have the experience that James Baker has in so many fields - law, domestic policy, economic policy, foreign policy, defense and national security, and peacemaking.  Few have such an impressive record.

It is an honor to share the Republican ticket with you, sir."

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Analysts agree that choosing James Baker showed that Tyson Douglas has good judgement.  Baker is well-liked by the party establishment, with impeccable credentials.  He is more than just merely qualified for the job.  Despite his age (Baker is 78), people feel that he would be ready to be President if anything were to happen to Tyson Douglas.

There is also the race issue.  Baker is a white man over 50 and he will help to make the ticket more appealing to older white voters, who might be uncomfortable with the idea of a black president.

Also of issue is Douglas' youth (he is only 37), so by balancing the ticket with a 78-year-old, Baker provides it with all of the things that Douglas doesn't have - the wisdom of an insider and the experience of a diplomat that continues, even at his age, to be an influential voice in policy debates.

Baker is also adequately conservative, at least for the establishment, and mainstream enough to not alienate the middle.  In other words, he's a safe, reliable choice for Tyson Douglas.

Baker also has a high favorability rating with the people - 66% view him positively, while only 10% view him negatively.

The 2008 Republican Convention in New Orleans is going to be one for the history books, the first time a major party has nominated someone of color to be President.  Already, the image of the Republican Party has changed - from an old-fashioned, mostly white party stuck in the past to one that is diverse, progressive, and modern- a party ready to lead in the future.

In keeping with the theme of "Hope and Change," the message of the Republican Convention is full of optimism and American pride.  Tyson Douglas' hero is Abraham Lincoln, and so he asks the convention committee to show a short film about Abraham Lincoln.  Speakers also use Abraham Lincoln, the first Republican president, as a way to bring the struggle for civil rights full circle.

The Convention Speakers and Guests and Testimonials, in order of appearance are:

Testimonials:
A family who lost everything they had in Hurricane Katrina, but still had each other (a Katrina survival/family values theme)
A conservative college student speaking out on the issue of academic bias
A young mother torn whether to have her child or terminate her pregnancy who made "The Choice of Life"
Three young first-time voters (one white, one biracial, and one black) who were inspired by Tyson Douglas' speeches on the campaign trail
A Marine who fought against Al Qaida and who was very critical of the Gore administration's failure to escalate the war on terror
A female soldier who tells the story of how she was sexually abused in the military while Al Gore was Commander-in-Chief
A small business owner who lost his business because of high taxes (anti-tax theme)
A student born in poverty but who worked her own way through school to go to medical school (a Girl Power!/personal responsibility theme)
A family mourning the loss of a loved one who was told by their city government they couldn't put a simple cross made of flowers on a public memorial (Religious freedom)
A children's choir singing "God Bless America"

Speakers:
LL Cool J
NBA legend Karl Malone
Dr. Ben Carson, director of pediatric neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins Hospital
Businessman Herman Cain
NFL Legend Emmitt Smith
Actor Dwayne Johnson
Actor Jim Caviezel
Actor Dean Cain
Angela McGlowan
Alaska Governor Sarah Palin
Former Congressman J.C. Watts
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
Miss America 2003 Erika Harold
Rick Warren
Yolanda Adams
Pastor T.D. Jakes
George W. Bush
Laura Bush
Condi Rice
Colin Powell
Nancy Reagan
VP nominee James Baker
Tiani Douglas
Tyson Douglas

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Tyson Douglas, in his acceptance speech at the Convention, outlines his First 100 Days Agenda:

A constitutional amendment to give the right of life to unborn children, with an exception to save the life of the mother (Douglas' stance is that even babies born from rape and incest are innocent victims of tragic circumstances and still deserve the right to life)

Term limits for members of Congress

Ending government subsidies, including corporate welfare

Transferring some programs to private funding, like the Smithsonian, the National Endowment of the Arts, etc.

Reorganizing the federal government to make it more efficient

Cutting the excesses of the military budget (unpopular in his party, but necessary to free up money for other necessary areas)

Slashing foreign aid because taxpayer money should be spent more at home

Ending test-driven education policies

Abolishing the Selective Service Agency (a campaign promise to young voters)

Once the national debt is paid off and the budget is balanced, a promise to significantly lower taxes

A special review board to investigate sexual abuse in the military

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For the first time since 1955, the Republicans had a chance to control the Presidency, the House, and the Senate and they hoped that Tyson Douglas would be the leader they needed to pass a long list of legislation.  The party faithful rallied around Douglas-Baker and the cash began to flow into Republican coffers after the Convention to prepare for a billion-dollar ad blitz in swing states.

In his 2004 re-election, Gore had carried New Mexico, Iowa, and Florida (which he won in 2000), plus Ohio, Nevada, and Colorado.

This time around, the Republicans planned not only to win back all six of those states, but encroach upon Democratic territory and pick up some blue states.  This was known as the "50-state strategy," campaigning everywhere.

In the national pro-Republican climate, there are a lot of Democratic incumbents in the Senate that can be defeated with the right candidate:

Arkansas (Mark Pryor)
Colorado (Tom Strickland)
Illinois (Dick Durbin)
Louisiana (Mary Landrieu)
Massachusetts (Ed Markey)
Michigan (Carl Levin)
Minnesota (Walter Mondale)
Missouri (Jean Carnahan)
Montana (Max Baucus)
New Jersey (Frank Lautenberg)
West Virginia (Jay Rockefeller)

In addition, Tom Harkin of Iowa and Tim Johnson of South Dakota both announce their retirement.

Republicans have recruited the following Senate candidates:

Arkansas: John Boozman
Colorado: Jane Norton
Illinois: Mark Kirk
Louisiana: Bobby Jindal
Massachusetts: Scott Brown
Michigan: John Engler
Minnesota: Tim Pawlenty
Missouri: Ann Wagner
Montana: Denny Rehberg
New Jersey: Thomas Kean, Jr.
West Virginia: Shelley Moore Capito

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Things only get worse for the Democrats.

In the fall, the economy collapses and the Great Recession has begun.  Middle class anxiety shifts the debate towards economic issues and Tyson Douglas remakes himself into an economic populist and tells Republicans to capitalize on the anger from middle class Americans.

"The Gore Economy" now becomes "The Gore Recession," and its 1992 all over again, except this time, much worse, and this time, its the Democratic administration that is being blamed for being out of touch with average working people, long a theme among conservatives who have accused the Gore administration of being elitist limousine latte liberals who could never understand how tough it is for everyday people to make ends meet.

Douglas effectively ties the Gore administration to Wall Street and strongly opposes the bailout.  This costs him support from the financial industry, but they aren't going to support the Democrats either.  Douglas privately tells nervous Wall Street backers that his administration will be pro-business, but his rhetoric is very anti-Big Business.

Tyson Douglas wants to win a landslide.  John Kerry is a weak opponent and Douglas spends much of time ignoring him and instead campaigning on his theme of Hope and Change.  Once derided as just a slogan, it fits the mood of the country - tired of Gore, tired of the Democrats, wanting a change, and looking for new leadership.

Douglas offers the American people hope, faith, and optimism.  His TV ad campaign promises that good days are ahead and basically tells the American people that the Recession is not their fault, they did not create this mess, and they are hurting.  They have every right to be angry because they are asked to pay for it, and that's not right.

Tiani Douglas evolves from a quiet, adoring wife into a political force of her own with her "I Believe" campaign, in which she acts as a cheerleader for working Americans, constantly appreciating them for their service to their communities.  She reaches out to "the down-on-their-luck, the brokenhearted, the hopeless" and asks them to keep fighting on.  She offers no policy solutions to their problems, but insists that her husband truly understands where they come from - unlike John Kerry, who symbolizes the wealthy elite, her husband is a simple man - who lives in a humble, suburban home - drives a beat-up minivan, pinches pennies to teach his children how to live within their means...

The story of Tyson Douglas' tragic, impoverished childhood offers Americans a folk hero for the times - a man who pulled himself up by the boot steps, against the odds, conquering poverty, racism, and moral decay along the way - to get to where he is today.

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To excite party base, Kerry takes a bold risk with running mate choice

John Kerry needed to choose a running mate and he needed to do something to energize Democrats and add some excitement to a boring campaign.

He also needed to add some diversity to the Democratic ticket.  He couldn't let the Republicans become the party of diversity.  He needed someone historic.  He needed a "game changer."

So he chose somebody totally unexpected, an unknown freshman Congresswoman from Hawaii.

Representative Kristi Kona

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When cable news networks first showed her picture to America, people thought two things: she's pretty... and... WHO IS SHE?!!

Republicans instantly pounced.  This is the person that Kerry chooses to be a heartbeat away from the Presidency?

Was she even vetted?  She was chosen so hastily that people had to wonder...

A former Miss Hawaii with a degree in communications, Kristi Kona had been chosen to represent Hawaii's 1st congressional district only two years before.

The choice of Kristi Kona had shocked the country... but it did what it was intended to do: rally the base.

Kristi Kona had the most progressive voting record in the House.  She was outspokenly pro-choice, outspokenly pro-gay, and outspokenly pro-gun control.

She was also an agnostic who supported the legalization of marijuana.  She was the only member of the House to vote against a resolution supporting the words "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance, saying the Pledge was unconstitutional because it was government endorsement of religion. 

She proudly and passionately stood against Big Business, Big Oil, and Big Pharma.

She called for a huge tax hike on the wealthy, passage of Cap and Trade legislation, putting the Tobacco industry out of business, and supported amnesty for illegal immigrants.

She had called herself "a very proud liberal" and said she was proud to be "a tree hugger."

As soon as the media began to study her record and pry into her personal life, Kristi Kona became a polarizing, controversial figure.  She was instantly adored by progressives and loathed by conservatives.

Love her or hate her, by the end of her first day as a Vice Presidential candidate, she had become a political phenomenon.

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Relentlessly attacked right away by Fox News and conservative personalities like Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter, the war on Kristi Kona had begun.  Incensed Democrats and progressives, who had previously been on the losing end of a enthusiasm gap, came to the defense of Kona.

Nancy Pelosi called the attacks on Kona "sexist" and Democratic women in the Congress and the Congressional Black Caucus staged a rally in support of their colleague.

Suddenly, Tyson Douglas was no longer headline news.  Everybody wanted to talk about Kristi.

Meanwhile, the tabloids had a field day with Kristi Kona's personal life.  She was single and enjoyed the single life.  She also had been photographed at a club in Hawaii drinking cocktails and dancing.  As innocent as they were, they created an image that clashed with the one that most people had of female politicians. 

She also wore stylish clothes, sometimes with a bare trace of cleavage, a no-no in the conservative world of politics.

After being named as the nominee, Kristi Kona agreed to do an interview with Diane Sawyer:

You are being criticized, among many things, for having no experience in foreign policy.  What can you tell Americans about your foreign policy views?

"Well, I like, many Americans, want us to be at peace with countries around the world.  I want to see America... (pause)  I feel very strongly that we (pause) help countries that desperately need the help.  I also think that we need to use diplomacy to go out and say, 'Hey, the United States wants to work with you to make the world a better place.'  I completely believe that peace in the Middle East is achievable in our lifetime."

What is your opinion of the Gore Doctrine?

"Do you mean by that (pause) his worldview?  Well, I certainly support what our President has been trying to do around the world.  He's such a wonderful leader on so many issues, especially his work with educating people about the dangers of global warming and climate change.  He's waking up the world to this very important crisis."

You voted against a symbolic resolution supporting the words "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance.  Republicans have accused you of being anti-religious.  Are you and can you tell you a little about your own religious beliefs?

"I'm very proud of that vote, Diane.  I don't have anything against people practicing whatever religious or spiritual beliefs they have, but I don't believe that children should be asked to say "under God," especially if they come from families who do not believe in God."

Are you ready to be President of the United States?

Absolutely.  I'm so excited to be a part of this campaign.  To get out there and meet so many Americans.  You know, Diane, people are struggling right now and they're having such a hard time making ends meet.  Me and John Kerry?  We're going to help those people, help those people have the American Dream."

What kinds of magazines do you read?

I read People.

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With many critics questioning her intelligence, Kristi Kona decides to prove them all wrong by giving a really good speech at the Democratic National Convention:

"Thank you!  Thank you!  Mahalo Nui Loa.  I am honored to be your vice presidential nominee.

I'm not afraid to stand up to the powerful, wealthy special interests.  I'm not afraid to make my voice LOUD and CLEAR, and I will NOT BE BULLIED.  (thunderous applause)

To those of you out there who wonder who I am and where I stand, tonight, give me the chance to tell you..."

She uses humor to effectively attack the Republican positions and her speech has a lot of good one-liners.  She tells the audience not to run away from the "liberal" label, but rather to take it back.

Polls show that she is extremely polarizing and she has a problem with independent voters, but still, everywhere she goes to give a speech, the crowds are growing bigger every day.  While her views may be far to the left of the mainstream, she does not apologize for them.  Instead, she goes on the offensive.

Her views make her extremely popular with the party base- with feminists, the gay community, and environmentalists.

Kristi Kona "goes rogue," overshadowing John Kerry, through the fall campaign.  In her debate with James Baker, she is expected to be easily beaten, but the debate is actually considered a toss-up.

Once the presidential debates begin, and Americans see that the election is between Tyson Douglas and John Kerry, people become less focused on Kristi Kona, and more on who's going to be President.

The Great Recession has made President Gore and the Democratic brand very unpopular.  In the last weeks before Americans go to the polls, Tyson Douglas gives a lot of great speeches, has huge rallies, and campaigns on the economy - pushing forward a plan to lower taxes and create jobs.

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Election Night in America

Indiana: Douglas 79%, Kerry 21%

Kentucky: Douglas 75%, Kerry 35%

Vermont: Kerry 54%, Douglas 46%

Georgia: Douglas 89%, Kerry 11%
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South Carolina: Douglas 92%, Kerry 8%

Virginia: Douglas 89%, Kerry 11%

North Carolina: Douglas 85%, Kerry 15%

Ohio: Douglas 71%, Kerry 29%

West Virginia: Douglas 69%, Kerry 31%

Alabama: Douglas 90%, Kerry 10%

Connecticut: Douglas 51%, Kerry 49%

Delaware: Douglas 53%, Kerry 47%

Florida: Douglas 65%, Kerry 35%

Illinois: Douglas 57%, Kerry 43%

Maine: Douglas 54%, Kerry 46%

Maryland: Douglas 65%, Kerry 35%

Massachusetts: Kerry 53%, Douglas 44%

Mississippi: Douglas 93%, Kerry 7%

Missouri: Douglas 72%, Kerry 28%

New Hampshire: Douglas 57%, Kerry 43%

New Jersey: Douglas 56%, Kerry 44%

Oklahoma: Douglas 84%, Kerry 16%

Pennsylvania: Douglas 64%, Kerry 35%

Rhode Island: Douglas 52%, Kerry 47%

Tennessee: Douglas 79%, Kerry 21%

District of Columbia: Douglas 85%, Kerry 15%

Arkansas: Douglas 80%, Kerry 20%

Arizona: Douglas 75%, Kerry 25%

Colorado: Douglas 64%, Kerry 36%

Kansas: Douglas 82%, Kerry 18%

Louisiana: Douglas 86%, Kerry 13%

Michigan: Douglas 71%, Kerry 26%

Minnesota: Douglas 60%, Kerry 37%

Nebraska: Douglas 79%, Kerry 20%

New Mexico: Douglas 62%, Kerry 32%

New York: Douglas 52%, Kerry 43%

South Dakota: Douglas 85%, Kerry 12%

Texas: Douglas 89%, Kerry 8%

Wisconsin: Douglas 62%, Kerry 34%

Wyoming: Douglas 92%, Kerry 7%

Iowa: Douglas 67%, Kerry 32%

Montana: Douglas 78%, Kerry 21%

Nevada: Douglas 59%, Kerry 39%

Utah: Douglas 90%, Kerry 9%

California: Douglas 54%, Kerry 45%

Hawaii: Kerry 52%, Douglas 48%

Idaho: Douglas 91%, Kerry 9%

North Dakota: Douglas 85%, Kerry 13%

Oregon: Douglas 57%, Kerry 43%

Washington: Douglas 53%, Kerry 47%

Alaska: Douglas 83%, Kerry 15%


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African-American turnout was very high.  89% of blacks came out to vote and mostly all of them vote for Douglas, even though he is a Republican.

States with a high percentage of black residents, especially those in the South, saw Republicans win in the 80s and 90s.

Evangelical and conservative Christians swarm the polls, deeply offended by Kristi Kona's opposition to "Under God".   Tyson Douglas' faith-based GOTV campaign is successful in mobilizing both white and black evangelicals.

Latinos vote for Tyson Douglas as well, and he wins his coveted group, as many Latinos are Catholics who perceive Kristi Kona as anti-religious.

Tyson Douglas is elected the 44th President of the United States in a massive landslide.

He wins every state except Vermont, Massachusetts, and Hawaii.

He even wins the District of Columbia.

Douglas wins all age groups, including young voters.

There are long coattails for Douglas in the congressional races:

Senate Results

Republicans pick up 12 seats from the Democrats.

Arkansas: John Boozman defeats Mark Pryor, 68-32

Colorado: Jane Norton defeats Tom Strickland, 60-40

Louisiana: Bobby Jindal defeats Mary Landrieu, 63-37

Iowa (open): Tom Latham defeats Tom Miller, 58-42

Massachusetts: Scott Brown defeats Ed Markey, 51-49

Michigan: John Engler defeats Carl Levin, 54-46

Minnesota: Tim Pawlenty defeats Walter Mondale, 55-45

Missouri: Ann Wagner defeats Jean Carnahan, 65-35

Montana: Denny Rehberg defeats Max Baucus, 60-40

New Jersey: Thomas Kean, Jr. defeats Frank Lautenberg, 53-47

South Dakota (open): Mike Rounds defeats Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, 68-32

West Virginia: Shelley Moore Capito defeats Jay Rockefeller, 62-38

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Republicans now control the Senate 64-36.

House after 2006 midterm elections: 226 Republican, 209 Democratic

Republicans pick up 47 seats in the House.

House after 2008 elections: 273 Republican, 162 Democratic

Republicans have had not had such huge majorities since the 1920s.

All of the black Democrats were reelected, showing that Black voters chose a black Republican President but also chose to reelect their representatives.

Tyson Douglas has been elected the 44th President of the United States, the country's first African-American President, with sweeping Republican majorities in both houses of Congress.

Douglas wins the electoral college 519-19.

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OK, those presidential results are stretching it a bit.

Well, with blacks defecting from the Democratic Party, the Democratic vote is mostly white, and most whites in this election voted overwhelmingly Republican for the black candidate.

President-elect Douglas has won a landslide similar to that in 1984 but this time carrying the black vote.

The point is, its a huge landslide. lol

So basically the Republicans are in a position to ram through pretty much any legislation they want to... they have 60+ votes in the Senate to end a filibuster and in the House, they have a huge majority, and they have a President to sign conservative legislation into law.

However, there are a few Senate Republicans (Collins, Snowe, Specter, and Chafee) that might not be on board with everything, particularly the pro-life constitutional amendment.

So, what happens next?  Well...as we will see the Republicans go overboard and by 2010, they are extremely unpopular because the Recession has not gone away.  The extremely conservative agenda causes a backlash from progressives, and guess who is there to lead this backlash movement... you guessed it, Congresswoman Kristi Kona.

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At their victory rally in Ohio, President-elect Tyson Douglas and his wife, Tiani, and their three children bask in the glory of this truly historic moment.

America is now a sea of red...and analysts predict a new era of Republican ascendancy.

Exit polls showed deep middle class anxiety, a strong desire for change, and in general, a perilous and toxic environment for the Democrats.

Now though, after the partying and celebrating, comes the hard work ahead.  The United States is in the Great Recession.  People are losing their jobs and their homes.  Businesses are forced to close down.  Main Street is hurting.  Corporations are reporting losses and are laying off their workers.  The American auto industry is on the brisk of collapse.  College students are drowning in debt.  Young people are delayed from entering the workforce.  The unemployment rate is soaring.  State governments are broke.  Health care costs are climbing and the average American family can't afford insurance.  The Great American Middle Class is shrinking.  The wealthy are the only people immune to the Recession.

Douglas has to make some very important choices.  He ran on a platform to cut taxes and reduce spending, but with Americans needing help, he has to choose between a rigid and unyielding conservative ideology or a more pragmatic, more moderate course.

Suddenly governing becomes a lot harder than he thought it would be.

After spending months on the campaign trail listening to Americans tell stories of losing their jobs and being unemployed unable to provide for their families, having no health care and being rejected by insurance companies for pre-existing conditions, and losing everything they had in the Recession, Tiani Douglas has come to believe that what Americans need is a helping hand.  She counsels her husband to reach out to them as a Christian and propose a emergency aid bill to provide them with relief.  In other words, a new New Deal.

The Republican leadership in the Congress - Speaker of the House John Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell - want to seize this opportunity the Republicans have been given to pass a wish list of conservative dreams.  They urge the President to steer the ship of state rightward.  Instead of adding onto the New Deal and the Great Society, conservatives now have their first chance to undo these Democratic programs.

Follow the example of Margaret Thatcher, and enact sweeping conservative reforms.  Destroy the greedy public unions.  Gut job-killing regulations on small businesses.  Pass the largest tax cut in American history.  Cut the deficit by defunding expensive entitlement programs.  Wean the American people off the government and let the free market be free.  Save the economy by putting money back into the pockets of the rich and it will just trickle down to everyone else.  We have the political capital, we have the mandate, now let's use it.

Tyson Douglas takes office with a high approval rating and a hopeful country looking to him to solve its problems and pull us out out of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.