1980 Primaries

[Senator Spiral]

Though the election was seen as a challenge, 1976 was a year that President Taft was able to overcome, winning another four years and solidifying his accomplishments in office thus far. Having already scored major victories on foreign affairs, Taft began to focus more on domestic policy in his second term—the opposite of what is usually true for incumbent presidents. Taft lobbied for the deregulation of the airline industry, which soon became federal law. The beer industry also was deregulated during the Taft years to allow for homebrewing, a move which would be celebrated for generations to come. President Taft himself increasingly showed his liberal side in office, however, breaking away from conservative orthodoxy on a number of occasions. Civil rights reforms on workplace discrimination that many have wanted to see pass since the ‘60s got the president’s stamp of approval, displaying a different philosophy on the issue than the previous AU president, Barry Goldwater. Taft would also be noticeably pro-union and expanded unemployment benefits along with other welfare programs.

The state of the economy, which has been rocky since the late ‘60s, began to go further down south with the onset of stagflation. An emerging energy crisis led to nationwide gas shortages, prompting President Taft to call for R&D on alternative energy sources as the nation’s next big challenge. As government assistance for struggling Americans was expanded, interest rates were also jacked up to 20% by 1980 to combat inflation. Overseas, things were likewise not going so swell. The Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan against the wishes of the US, endangering the progress in fostering better relations that has taken place in recent years. The US-friendly government of Iran was also toppled and replaced by an Islamic state, bringing new complications in the Middle East.

Despite the sheer number of adversities, President Taft went forward with a campaign for a third term, stating that “what this nation needs more than anything now is steady leadership.” As his approval ratings have tumbled down to the 30s and his policies have upset and alienated many in the AU, several challengers have emerged confident that the nomination could be theirs. Aging movie star and movement conservative icon Ronald Reagan is making one last go at a run. Senator George Bush is promoting himself as a moderate on economics with strong national security credentials, having once led the CIA. There is also Congressman Larry McDonald, arguably the conservative man in Washington known for his constitutionalist and anti-communist views. Over at the DA, 1976 VP nominee and funnyman Mo Udall is making another run, campaigning as the frontrunner. Other candidates include the eclectic Jerry Brown, progressive environmentalist Frank Church, bored-of-Congress John Anderson, and award-giving dairy enthusiast William Proxmire. The WP features two repeat contenders from last election: Jimmy Carter and Walter Mondale. Other candidates in the mix are Cliff Finch, running on a Southern populist message, in addition to New York’s Hugh Carey. Radical activist and confirmed Anglophobe Lyndon LaRouche is also a presence in the race.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Ideally a Taft with Reagan's foreign policy. I guess Bush then? He's pro-choice though... Urgh.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

Udall!

[Mr. Smith]

Now is the time for one 'ol peanut farmer, one who'll truly be powered by the people and share their dreams, and further the sane detente policies of Taft.

That man is Jimmy Carter!

With Mondale (MN) or Floyd K. Haskell (CO) for slot 2

I'm going DA if LaRouche is the nominee though.

[SNJ1985]

Congressman McDonald has my enthusiastic support!

[Maxwell]

Going with President Taft.

[Cranberry]

Frank Church!

Depending on the final, eventual nominee, I could myself seeing voting WP, though.

[Intell]

Udall,again.

[Miles]

Carter.

[Chancellor Tanterterg]

Senator Frank Church/Senator Howard Metzenbaum

[🦀🎂🦀🎂]

Lol at LaRouche

[TDAS04]

Church. 

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

Lol at LaRouche

On the bright side, this might encourage the left to unite behind whoever the DA nominee is.

[Mr. Smith]

Lol at LaRouche

On the bright side, this might encourage the left to unite behind whoever the DA nominee is.

My support is there for the DA if that happens, if there is no run-off called and/or LaRouche wins the run-off against Carter.

Wouldn't be surprised if Bayh voters did this just to sabotage and force the populist New Dealers to join with the party of RFK the elitist.

Nor would I be surprised if it was AU voters trying to make things more hilarious.

But I have a hard time believing the Muskie/Sanford crowd would go for LaRouche.

It's probably just heightened turnout (highest since '68)

Either way, considering how 1964 and 1972 turned out, I wouldn't count on a complete uniting from the left.

[They not like us]

Cliff Finch.

[Senator Spiral]

With voting over, this election will probably be interesting.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Spiral, humor me for a moment, if you will. Are we to assume that the Democratic Alliance is more socially liberal and dovish, while the Worker's Party has became a largely paleo-liberal party, with standard leftists split between these two ends? And what real life Republicans occupy the Democratic Alliance besides John Anderson? Lowell Weicker seems like a good fit. Jacob Javits, of course. I wouldn't be too sure in asserting whether the Rockefellers or other liberal Republicans would hop over to the DA. Obviously, Percy hasn't.

[Senator Spiral]

Spiral, humor me for a moment, if you will. Are we to assume that the Democratic Alliance is more socially liberal and dovish, while the Worker's Party has became a largely paleo-liberal party, with standard leftists split between these two ends? And what real life Republicans occupy the Democratic Alliance besides John Anderson? Lowell Weicker seems like a good fit. Jacob Javits, of course. I wouldn't be too sure in asserting whether the Rockefellers or other liberal Republicans would hop over to the DA. Obviously, Percy hasn't.

You got it pretty close, yeah. The DA was formed in the first place as a reaction against both the strident conservatism of Goldwater and the Southern populism of Wallace. New Left figures fit pretty comfortably in that party. The WP symbolizes more of the populist Old Left that doesn't give as much attention to social issues. A labor candidate tends to find their home at the WP while an antiwar voice would be happy with the DA. As for Republicans in the DA, Weicker and Javits would both belong there. In addition, I'm thinking of people like Charles Mathias. There won't be too many, though, as the Bull-Moose faction of the AU is still prevalent despite having shrunk since Goldwater. The Rockefellers and similar figures would identify with the AU as they tend to be more connected with the establishment and less likely to be as 'radical' as those in the DA.

[Chancellor Tanterterg]

Spiral, humor me for a moment, if you will. Are we to assume that the Democratic Alliance is more socially liberal and dovish, while the Worker's Party has became a largely paleo-liberal party, with standard leftists split between these two ends? And what real life Republicans occupy the Democratic Alliance besides John Anderson? Lowell Weicker seems like a good fit. Jacob Javits, of course. I wouldn't be too sure in asserting whether the Rockefellers or other liberal Republicans would hop over to the DA. Obviously, Percy hasn't.

The Rockefellars were presumably butterflied away by the LaGaurdia administration's nationalization of the oil industry.  At least that's why I thought Nelson Rockefeller hasn't popped up.

[Senator Spiral]

Spiral, humor me for a moment, if you will. Are we to assume that the Democratic Alliance is more socially liberal and dovish, while the Worker's Party has became a largely paleo-liberal party, with standard leftists split between these two ends? And what real life Republicans occupy the Democratic Alliance besides John Anderson? Lowell Weicker seems like a good fit. Jacob Javits, of course. I wouldn't be too sure in asserting whether the Rockefellers or other liberal Republicans would hop over to the DA. Obviously, Percy hasn't.

The Rockefellars were presumably butterflied away by the LaGaurdia administration's nationalization of the oil industry.  At least that's why I thought Nelson Rockefeller hasn't popped up.

That's correct. You mentioned that to me in private before and I thought it made sense, so I never have included them.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Spiral, humor me for a moment, if you will. Are we to assume that the Democratic Alliance is more socially liberal and dovish, while the Worker's Party has became a largely paleo-liberal party, with standard leftists split between these two ends? And what real life Republicans occupy the Democratic Alliance besides John Anderson? Lowell Weicker seems like a good fit. Jacob Javits, of course. I wouldn't be too sure in asserting whether the Rockefellers or other liberal Republicans would hop over to the DA. Obviously, Percy hasn't.

The Rockefellars were presumably butterflied away by the LaGaurdia administration's nationalization of the oil industry.  At least that's why I thought Nelson Rockefeller hasn't popped up.

I knew Protestant Italians couldn't be trusted.