What happens if Lieberman becomes president in September 2001?

[Mister Mets]

Interesting scenario.

My guess is that Lieberman would be hawkish, but that he would avoid Bush's most significant mistakes (IE- going into a war without an exit strategy.)

He would still likely have been a war President heading into 2004. He might not have been as controversial in that department.

The top Republican argument in the 2006 elections would be the need for a change on domestic policy after three terms of Democrats.

The 2002 elections would likely have still been good for Republicans. Democrats from the Class benefited from Clinton's coattails in 1996.

John Thune would probably have won the South Dakota senate election, which he lost by 0.1%. Jean Carnahan might have won the Special election in Missouri.

Paul Wellstone probably would not have died, just because chaos theory makes it unlikely he would have been on the same plane and had the same problems in a world with a different President. He might still have lost to Coleman.

Potential Vice-Presidents for Lieberman...
John Edwards: Young Southern Senator.
Dick Gephardt: Prominent member of Congressional leadership.
Colin Powell: Show of bipartisanship. Historic milestone.

In such a patriotic time, the Republicans would likely have nominated John McCain. Giuliani would have been a potential running mate, with the greater proximity to 9/11. Plus, a ticket with a 68 year old and 60 year old is slightly preferable to one with a 72 year old and a 64 year old.

[Mister Mets]

Clinton did not have any coattails in 1996. The Democrats lost two seats in the senate in that year.

That doesn't necessarily mean anything against Clinton.

1990 had been an okay year for the Democratic party, so winners from that election in increasingly conservative states were vulnerable in conservative states in the South (Arkansas, Alabama) and the West (Nebraska).