Four More Years: The 1960 Election

[Jerseyrules]

So..., whaddaya think?

[Jerseyrules]

So..., whaddaya think?

The bias can be a bit hard to stomach at times.

I'm sorry you feel that way, although I try to restrain myself.  Thanks for the advice!

[Jerseyrules]

So..., whaddaya think?

A-W-E-S-O-M-E

Thanks

[Jerseyrules]

I was reading through the beginning of the timeline. First of all, I'd like to know how a candidate is "denominated" for President. Also, I don't think that Rockefeller would have refused to be on a ticket with President Eisenhower, I know he did that for Nixon, but these cases just are not the same. And I don't see republicans winning in both 1964 and 1968 after a third Eisenhower term.

Thanks, I know, but the Democrats did not field good candidates in either election, as Eisenhower was very popular in 64, as was Goldwater in 68.  Privately, Goldwater knew it was unlikely for the GOP to win in 72, which is why he didn't run for a third term.  Also, the reason why Rocky didn't run was because he didn't want to be vice president.  And finally, I apologize for my spelling errors; I'm using an iPad to write this and back then was still getting used to the autocorrect.

[Jerseyrules]

1. I'm afraid I'll have to call you on bias.

2. Oh crap, a liberal pope, & he's young, it looks like. Let's hope he at least cracks down on molesters.

1. My first TL, and I admit it's a conservative wet dream
2. Why "Oh crap"?  Liberal in the church = good for conservatives in government.  They do the job that many believe is the duty of the government, I.e. housing, charity, etc.  And yes, he is very young...And we shall see what he does...

IMMEDIATELY!  Turn the page to find out!

[Jerseyrules]

The Presidency of Jack Kemp, Part IV:



7-18-2005:
President Kemp signs a bill whose purpose is the consolidation of the cabinet into 8 departments to "help bring bureaucracy into the twenty-first century."  The president receives praise from conservatives and even some liberals, with "vertical and horizontal cuts," and helps to pay off the national debt completely for the first time since the presidency of Andrew Johnson.

11-24-2005:
Pope Richard issues a proclamation which declairs that all churches are required to respect the right of women to serve in all levels of the church, and for priests and bishops to be married.  Though he is criticized by many traditionalist cardinals for this bold move, he receives wide praise from many liberal-minded bishops, as well as the full support of the church; according to a Gallup poll, 57% of Catholics agreed with the Pope's ruling, while 12% opposed it, and the rest were unsure.  70% of Catholics approve of their new Pope, while 9% disapprove.

5-21-2006:
President Kemp appoints Governor Hillary Rodham (R-MA) as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.  As a well-respected conservative law professor and well-known Governor, she was long a favorite for the position, and it was her main aspiration.  She was considering retirement after her first term as Governor, believing it would be difficult to win re-election, particularly after speculation of a run by one of the Kennedy boys.

11-4/5-2006:
The Democrats make gains in both houses, securing a strong minority position in the house, though made little more than a dent in the Senate.  President Kemp spent little time on the stump, dispatching the Brothers Bush to do much of that work for him, as well as Senators Sarah Palin of Alaska and Rudy Giuliani of New York, while Democrats Senator John F. Kennedy Jr. and Barrack Obama (a political operative with few political ambitions of his own), took to the streets.

6-8-2007:
Senator Giuliani is shot in New York City while on the stump for Mayor Michael Bloomberg's term limits repeal initiative.  A young man who was recently unemployed shot him "in the name of Charles J. Guiteau" shouting "I am a conservative and a conservative must be our next senator!"  To his disappointment, Giuliani will recover quickly and the Senator's security force was on the man immediately, shooting him quickly before further shots could be fired.

[Jerseyrules]

Oh... Crap.

Rudy's fine, didn't you finish reading?

[Jerseyrules]

Bias meter going down just a tad?

[Jerseyrules]

Oh... Crap.

Rudy's fine, didn't you finish reading?

The post was made when there were only two dates in the last post.

I'm sorry, I've been really busy lately, and I did that while watching Scarface (btw if you haven't seen it watch it, it's brilliant!)

[Jerseyrules]

The Presidency of Jack Kemp, Part IV:



5-18-2007:
Steven Spielberg and George Lucas respectively agree to do the special effects and direct the upcoming Halo movie trilogy, which stars Al Pacino as Master Chief, Ronald Reagan as Lord Hood, Samuel L. Jackson as Sergeant Johnson, Megan Fox as Cortana, and Sir Sean Connery as the Arbiter.  The movie details the events of the first game, and two succeeding movies depict the events of the second and third game, respectively.  This dream team will band together for a high profile and high budget project, and the first installment is set for release in early-2008.  Fans cheer the dream cast and directing and effects genius of sci-fi kings Lucas and Spielberg.

9-21-2007:
President Kemp loses his budget showdown with Congress.  He pushed hard for deeper cuts in taxes and spending, but the moderate GOP leadership and the united Democrats prevailed in the end.  Although conservatives respect him for his tough stance, middle America is becoming increasingly disillusioned with the president they voted for massively.

11-3-2007:
Senator Rudy Giuliani announces his candidacy for President of the United States, the first to do so on either side.  He leads in all polls for both the nomination and general election, and promises a tax cut for the bottom 95% of taxpayers.

1-5-2008:
Vice President Bush announces his campaign for president, joined by Massachusetts Senator Mitt Romney.  Both will clearly give Rudy a run for his money, though there is consensus that the famed "America's mayor" and "King of Senators" is the frontrunner, leading Bush by over 15% in nationwide polls, and leaving Romney far behind.  He is endorsed by Governor Donald Trump (Independence-NY).

2-24-2008:
Halo is a smashing success at the box office, outperforming even Lucas' wildest imaginations, grossing over $400,000,000 total internationally and at home, and succeeding in promoting the game.  Bungie announces a sequel game trilogy and begins planning out second and third movies.  President Kemp loves the movie, watching it three times in theatres.

3-2-2008:
John F. Kennedy, Jr. announces his candidacy for President of the United States.  He is widely considered to be the frontrunner for the nomination, with Senator Paul Wellstone as his only primary opponent, leaving him time to campaign for the votes of independents and working-class GOPers.

5-2-2008:
Four-term Governor Jesse Ventura (I-MN) announces his candidacy for President as an independent, fueling a grassroots movement nationwide, and begins collecting signatures for ballot access in all 50 states.  He will easily obtain ballot access, and "The Body" receives the endosement of Senator Ron Paul (R-TX).  Paul will campaign for him nationwide, as will John McCain, both crusading against "politics as usual."

8-22-2008:
Post-convention, the GOP receives a sizable bump in the polls, with Rudy Giuliani's VP pick of Governor Bobby Jindal going over very well with both the establishment and conservative Republicans, while Senator Kennedy's pick of Diane DeGette is seen as a mistake due to her youth and perceived hard-leftism.  The Kennedy campaign is very hopeful, however, due to their ability to make the race a toss up, working tirelessly to close the initial wide gap against the Giuliani campaign.  Meanwhile, Jesse Ventura is allowed to participate in the Presidential debates thanks to his 50-state ballot access and his polling above 20% consistently in national polls.  His running mate, Donald Trump, will participate in the VP debates.

11-8/9-2008:

John F. Kennedy, Jr. / Diane DeGette (D): 35.7%
Rudy Giuliani / Robert Piyush Jindal (R): 34.2%
Jesse Ventura / Donald Trump (I): 29.4%

Young Kennedy wins the White House after a highly unorthodox campaign, with both major party candidates trying to get a peice of their adversary's home turf, with Kennedy reintroducing the Southern Strategy and Giuliani targeting the northeast.

[Jerseyrules]

5-18-2007:
Steven Spielberg and George Lucas respectively agree to do the special effects and direct the upcoming Halo movie trilogy, which stars Al Pacino as Master Chief, Ronald Reagan as Lord Hood, Samuel L. Jackson as Sergeant Johnson, Megan Fox as Cortana, and Sir Sean Connery as the Arbiter.  The movie details the events of the first game, and two succeeding movies depict the events of the second and third game, respectively.  This dream team will band together for a high profile and high budget project, and the first installment is set for release in early-2008.  Fans cheer the dream cast and directing and effects genius of sci-fi kings Lucas and Spielberg.


2-24-2008:
Halo is a smashing success at the box office, outperforming even Lucas' wildest imaginations, grossing over $400,000,000 total internationally and at home, and succeeding in promoting the game.  Bungie announces a sequel game trilogy and begins planning out second and third movies.  President Kemp loves the movie, watching it three times in theatres.

AWWWWWWWWWWWWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

I know right?!

[Jerseyrules]

Does anyone think the "dream team" halo cast is too dreamy?

[Jerseyrules]

Does anyone think the "dream team" halo cast is too dreamy?

No, just alright!

Alright thanks! . I'm already getting scolded for being biased, and I didn't want to go off-the-charts there!

[Jerseyrules]

Wouldn't the Gipper be 96 by 2007? If so, why is he still acting?

Well, the average human lifespan is 85 in America ITTL, so basically it's not that uncommon to continue acting into your 80s, though Reagan is very old even in these circumstances.  Also, Lord Hood plays a rather minor role; Dutch is actually reading his lines off a teleprompter, and wears boxers during filming, which he can due to the nature of his role .  But yes, this will be his last role, and Ronnie will gallop off into the sunset, thinking its the sunrise, as the screen fades to black, a stunning conclusion to his career.  He goes out with a bang (literally for those who play the game)

[Jerseyrules]

You referred to finishing a timeline. Is this it? Is this the end?

I'm running out of things to talk about.  If I do anymore it'll be one update, and it will consist of John John's presidency and end with the 2012 election.

[Jerseyrules]

Oh what the hell:

The Presidency of John F. Kennedy, Jr:



1-20-2009:
"I, John F. Kennedy, do solemnly swear...."

5-21-2009:
President Kennedy, former presidents Kemp, Laxalt, Buckley, Richards, Senator Giuliani, Speaker Gingrich, and Vice President Bush all visit Brooklyn for the groundbreaking of President Kemp's library.  It is set to be complete by mid-2010.

12-2-2009:
President Kennedy passes a comprehensive tax cut for the middle class into law, easily jammed through the GOP congress, though it required a lot of arm-twisting to ensure Speaker Gingrich didn't tack on cuts for the upper class as well, as Kennedy promised "not to sign such a bill."  Gingrich has become something of a liability to the congressional GOP, and many believe he will stand down in the next election after leading the House Republicans since 1994.

3-2-2010:
William Weld (R-MA) resigns his position as Ambassador to Mexico, which was his dream job.  The President was praised for re-appointing Weld, and the president privately suspects that he will run for Governor of New York.  Four days later, his assumptions are confirmed when Weld declairs his intent to become the first person since Sam Houston to become Governor of two different U.S. states.  He will win the endorsement of the NY Libertarian Party, and formally enters the Republican primary.

7-2-2010:
The oil market takes a plunge when the President announces his support of "alternative energy," and a "comprehensive cap and trade bill."  The president quickly covers with "but it's only an idea," but the damage is done.  The president's constantly reiterates his support for cap and trade, and his approvals and the Dow begin to tank.  The president seals the deal with the kiss of death "I support the U.S. cutting itself off from the Gold Standard permanently."  Kennedy's administration is sinking quickly, and hits 36%.  The Tea Party Movement is born.

11-6/7-2010:
Republicans increase their control over congress as a red landslide pours in from coast to coast.  Kennedy is seen as a lame duck president, not even two years into his presidency.  William Weld wins in New York, carrrying in lots of state republicans on his coattails, while Freshman Senator Rubio coasts to re-election over incumbent Governor Charlie Christ, the independent, and Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, the Democratic candidate.

5-17-2011:
The GOP field is set: Senators Giuliani, Paul, Gary Johnson, D'Amato, Fmr. Vice President Bush and Governors Romney and Tancredo.  The frontrunners are Bush and Giuliani, with Bush maintaining a slim but decisive lead.  Meanwhile, Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) challenges President Kennedy from the right.

7-21-2011:
Senator Webb wins the debate against the president, and receives a thirty-point bounce in the polls as a result, and gains a slim lead in nationwide polling, a huge upset for the president, who had a terrible performance; he privately thinks back to how ironically his father destroyed Nixon in 72, which had carried him to victory.

10-29-2011:
The Dow closes at under 11,000 for the first time since the 1990s, while unemployment hits 10%.  The markets are in widespread panic, and an earthquake in the middle east and Japan caused worldwide panic and shock, while Kennedy lowered interest rates, triggering inflation rates over 7%.  This is the worst economic situation since the Great Depression, and President Kennedy appears clueless.

11-24-2011:
Senator Dean Barkley (I-MN) announces his candidacy for President as an independent, with Former Governor Charlie Christ (I-FL) as his running mate.  The ticket draws less enthusiasm than the one four years prior, but with Senator Paul and Governor Ventura out on the stump, they maintain the 15% required for debate participation.

1-12-2012:
After winning the Iowa Caucus, Webb ekes out a narrow victory in the New Hampshire primary.  He is posed for a landslide in Florida and South Carolina, which the president can not afford to happen.

1-27-2012:
Webb sweeps Florida, South Carolina, and Michigan, and President Kennedy drops out "for party unity."  Webb secures the nomination by default; meanwhile, Bush has the GOP nomination wrapped up after booting Giuliani and the minor candidates out of the race, and Romney drops out after losing his home state of Michigan.  Webb picks Jesse Jackson, Jr. as his running mate, while Bush gives Governor Bobby Jindal (R-LA) the VP nod.

7-21-2012:
Webb and Bush debate to a draw for second, with Barkley winning the debate hands-down, making everything sound simple.  Barkley still trails, but has consistently 25%-ish mark in polling, with Bush maintaining a lead with nearly 40% according to Gallup.  Meanwhile, Jindal wins the VP debate with Crist coming across as likable, while Jackson comes across as angry, hot-headed, and sleep-deprived (the former two being due to the latter, as Jackson spends 14-hour days on the stump for Webb.)

11-7/8-2012:
Former Vice President Bush elected to the presidency in a landslide!

John E. Bush / Robert Piyush Jindal (R): 42.3% PV; 398 EV
Dean Barkley / Charles Crist (I): 35.2% PV; 54 EV
James Webb / Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D): 21.8% PV; 86 EV

[Jerseyrules]

Okay, now I'm done.  Sorry if it seems a bit rushed.  So, what's your final opinion, (besides the bias, which I know was a problem here)?

[Jerseyrules]

Awesome, but my version was that JFK Jr. wins the dem nomination and Webb runs as indy.

You did a TL on Webb/John John?!  I need to see it!  Do you have a link?

[Jerseyrules]

A look at the future:



In the coming decades, President Bush and the GOP Congress will slash taxes, spending, and clean up corruption and bureaucracy.  In 2016, he defeats challenger Andrew Cuomo and wins re-election.  He continues to dismantle federal regulations, and increase "cooperation between government and business," and the space program is revolutionized, with an explosion in technology.  In 2018, Vice President Jindal makes it clear that he will not seek the presidency in 2020, after helping the GOP retain congress in the midterms.  Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) will win the GOP nod with lackluster opposition, and only mild competition from New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.  His father, Senate President Pro Tempore Ron Paul (R-TX), is overjoyed at his son's election to the presidency, and watches his inauguration proudly from a wheelchair.  He begins to weep tears of joy and pride, while his son rushes to comfort him.  The legacy of the Bush administration is its dedication to cleaning up government waste, a tough stand on crime, and reform rather than outright repeal.  Meanwhile, Paul presidency remains to be seen, and while many changes separate our different realities, it all began with the election of 1960.

[Jerseyrules]

In the coming decades, President Bush and the GOP Congress will slash taxes, spending, and clean up corruption and bureaucracy.  In 2016, he defeats challenger Mario Cuomo and wins re-election.  ( ... )

I think Mario Cuomo would be quite too old by then.

Haha sorry, I'll fix it.

[Jerseyrules]

Awesome, but my version was that JFK Jr. wins the dem nomination and Webb runs as indy.

You did a TL on Webb/John John?!  I need to see it!  Do you have a link?

No, I just expected this ending

Alright then.  You got me excited

[Jerseyrules]

Eisenhower was actually the first President to be term-limited after the Constitution was amended for term limits in 1951.  Ike was first elected in 1952. =)

I Know.  That was the pod.