A Man and a Mask: An Alternate 2020

[Compuzled_One]

September 17th, 2020



There was a man who lived in Arlington. By all accounts, he was an average 30-something year old realtor, with a nice wife and kids. And like most people that year, he was dealing with a pandemic that uprooted everything. He didn't particularly like wearing masks, but most establishments kinda required it, and he wasn't about to boycott any of the restaurants he went to-or the establishment where his client was meeting him.

The man was rushing that morning. His alarm was just a bit late due to a slip of the finger. One of his kids hurt himself. The food entered his mouth the wrong way one time. Point is, he was rushing.The man was about to step out the door when he realized something. The familiar sensation of the mask in his pocket-it was absent. He turned back, saw his mask sitting on the shelf near the door, and yoinked it. The man thought, much later, about what would've happened in the meeting (he sold the house) if he hadn't gotten one-especially given he tested positive for COVID days later.

Luckily, the meeting was brief, and the man did do every other precaution. His client lived with his wife like he always did. His wife didn't make her brother look to his sons birthday party with disdain after hindsight set in. And said brother didn't cough in the vicinity of the US President on September 26th, 2020.



October 5th, 2020

Reuters: Will Trump Attend the Second Debate?

With just ten days to go until the second Presidential debate is held in Arsht Center, speculation has swirled that Trump may skip the stage. While Biden has committed to it yesterday, the President has declined to do so.

The speculation is fueled by the fact the Commission on Presidential Debates has announced changes to the format, which Trump has condemned. The incumbents performance in the first debate last week, which he is widely considered to have lost, has added further speculation.

Despite this, some believe Trump and his allies know a lack of appearances would jeopardize his chances in the already uphill battle against Biden, and many people believe Trump enjoys debating. However, speculation remains high.

October 8th, 2020

AP News: Trump to Attend Second Debate

Rumors of Trump's non-attendance have seemingly been put to rest. President Trump addressed the speculation at a rally in Wisconsin earlier today. Taking shots at reporters who discussed the possibility, Trump said claimed the discussions were ploys by the "mainstream media" to disparage him and help Biden so their ratings could go up, disparaging Biden.

"You know, these media people, these MSM people," Trump said at a rally, "they're all like "He's not gonna attend! He's scared!". I'm not scared. I beat Sleepy Joe handily, no matter what those polls say. He should be scared. I'll debate him once, twice, a hundred times if I have to! No matter what the phony polls say, no matter what the moderator shouts, we'll win and win big there and in November!". The crowd cheered loudly for several seconds before the President moved on to Israel.

With his exaggerated statement mentioning a "hundred debates", it's expected that Trump will attend the third debate despite said exaggeration. Biden is expected to accept the invitation.

[GM Team Member and Deputy PPT WB]

I love butterfly effect stuff, interested to see where this goes.

[Prez_zf]

This looks really good, can't wait to see the effects one mask can have!

[Compuzled_One]

Am busy with stuff, but expect an update late tomorrow.

[Compuzled_One]

October 15th, 2020


Steve Scully was pinching his nose so hard he thought it'd crack. The candidates went of the rails again. Trump had gone of the rails on the question about the border, first rambling about illegal aliens voting and then about Biden packing the courts to jail his opponents. Biden, as payback, "went dark" as the kids call it and began interrupting Trump to.

"You're gonna get the courts to ignore all the illegals, all the loopholes, you're gonna tell them to lock me up-"
"The courts are already ignoring the blatant gerrymandering, the voter suppression, the-"
"Gentlemen, I remind you again, I can mute -"
"You talk about fraud and get mad when I call foul because you are hurting Mexico-"
"Oh my god, don't you ever quit yapping-"
*click*

There, Scully thought. Trump was muted-he'd started this, after all. Hopefully, he wouldn't have to mute Biden as well.

"Look at you, scarredy Scully, silencing me in front of all my people-"

OH GOD DAMNIT! Man, the guy could shout. Scully's best hope was that his vocal cords would give out as he continued rambling about god knows what. It seemed Biden wanted to take the opportunity.

"You know, for a man of personal responsibility, you sure-"
*click*

Okay, that should get him quiet, the moderator thought. He is an old ass man, he can't raise his voice that much, right?

"-ain't accepting yours for this."

COME ON, MAN, Scully thought, what the hell are they giving the guy? He ignored the passive aggressive potshot Biden took at him as he buried his face in his lap, and the two candidates continued shouting for about a minute until their vocal cords gave out.

"You see where this idiotic shouting match got you?!" Scully snapped as the two panted. "Jesus Christ, it's like I'm watching a teacher struggle with a child" he mumbled that last part. The debate, after that, was surprisingly normal-mostly because the two were still dealing with their vocal cords being damn near torn for half of it, and didn't want to experience it again in the other half.

October 16th, 2020
AP News: Who won the second debate, according to the polls

The chaotic second debate, already infamous due to the muting of the two candidates and Steve Scully seemingly hitting a breaking point thirty minutes in, has ended. It is widely believed by most polls Biden emerged as the narrow victor-his surprising energy and fighting back against Trump helping. However, the former Vice President being muted at all made those gains pyrrhic at best-most respondents say he only won narrowly.

Steve Scully and the CPD are viewed as losers-with the former snapping and the mute button only serving to make the candidates' throats sore, both were viewed as biased and ineffective by one side or the other according to nearly every online poll.

The surprise beneficiary is Jo Jorgensen, who saw a spike in online searches, as did other third party candidates like Kanye West.

October 20th, 2020
Reuters: Trump confirms attendance in third debate early

President Trump has confirmed he'll appear in the third debate. At a rally in Pennsylvania, the President said "You know, even though Scummy Scully gave me a tough time, I had fun, I had a fun night. I'm going to the third debate, and I'll win even bigger. They're to scared to shut my mic off now." As the crowd cheered, he moved onto talking about the Supreme Court packing.

With this, all indicators point to this election having the same number of debates as every election since 1996.

[Compuzled_One]

October 23rd, 2020
Wall Street Journal: Takeaways from the Third Debate

The third debate in the cycle has concluded, bringing that part of the season to a close. With it comes the time of whirlwind tours, October surprises, and all the hallmarks of the late campaign season. But first, it is time to analyze the debate.

Analysts generally say the debate started of strongly in Bidens' favor-both candidates spoke measurably, but he seemed to have a better grasp on it than his opponent. However, as the debate wore on, Trump became more testy-Biden responded in kind. As the candidates began to slowly but surely get more heated while the moderator did nothing, Trump began to take a hold of the conversation. By the end, Biden found himself unable to speak as Trump unleashed a bombastic speech about his sons laptop, until Biden cut in at what was supposed to be the end and demostrated surprising energy.

In the end, it seems no one can be considered the winner-both sides walked away like they proved something. The loser seems to be the moderator, Kirsten Welker, as well as the CPD and the debate format in general. Online, discussions are abuzz on how to change the system.

October 25th, 2020
AP News: Polls Begin To Tighten; A Second Upset?

Polls have begun to tighten as the nation inches to the final stages of an election that has radically altered the national landscape. Current polling shows Biden in the lead, but the average has shrunk to a 7.7% one in the wake of controversy involving his son and the debates.

Despite this favorability, not only are the polls within the margin of error, but Trump has shown the captability to beat polling, as proven by his upset in 2016. Some have speculated that lightning may strike twice-and ensure a second Trump term.

Despite previous trends and the current polls, the chasm is wider, and some believe polling has improved. But the chance of a second comeback shouldn't be underestimated.


October 28th, 2020

Oh how he enjoyed this feeling.

Donald John Trump looked onwards to his enormous crowd of supporters. Far bigger than the crowds Joe pulled-or the ones Harris was pulling just a bit farther away. But that wasn't his problem. Because nothing mattered than how much he did to these people. Not the Arizona heat, not the half-baked election, not nothing. And he would show it, his enormous glee, in 3...2...

"...And we will keep this country great!"

The crowd stood up and clapped. The area was filled with glee, adoration, for all he had done-or said he did, anyway. And as the claps intensified and made the air shakier then it already was, an enormous grin enveloped the Presidents face. A grin some people, some very bad people, had called smug. But his supporters adored it-from the distance, and up close.

He went down the tarmac as his happiest followers rushed to greet him. He shook hands with as many as he could. He made sure to get real close to the most ecstatic. And almost every time he looked into the eyes of those most loyal ones, he found the most beautiful gems, the most beautiful gold. Trust. Excitement. Camaraderie. Loyalty. All reflecting brightly under the hot sun.

But there was one man the President didn't see this in as he came close to him. His jubilant shouts spoke of the same loyalty as those before him. So did the shaking in his arm as he held it. The way the man had rushed through a dozen people to get close to him. But his eyes were mute. Cold. The sun lay cooled in them, the gems hidden away. And then, they were gone-first beneath the eyelids, then the Presidents eyesight alltogether. It only lasted a moment.

The man reeled back and coughed on him.

Trump briefly recoiled. His smile was shaken. But as the man laughed the cough of, Trump put it back on. As he continued down the tarmac, he picked up the pace. It only shortened what would've been a 45 second journey to a 30 second one. As Trump got into the limousine, he prayed internally that it wasn't what he thought it was-that the man was laughing at the thought of having the virus, not that it was deadly. A cold was disgusting, sure, but he knew how to deal with that pestilence. He knew he'd get through-he always did.

Unfortunately for Trump, a lot of things are bound to happen sooner or later.

[Compuzled_One]

November 3rd, 2020
7:00 AM

"What. The. HELLDOYOUMEANITSTHEVID!" said the President of these United States of America.

"Sir, you've taken three tests. It's official. You have COVID-19." Sean Conley said. The President had been feeling unwell since Halloween, but it took an assistant being diagnosed with the virus to have the President agree to a test. Seems the worst has been confirmed. Conley had tried to tell Trump not to go to any rallies, but he fully expected the President to say-

"I can't stay, Sean. Joe will eat me up, he'll squash me if he of all people is doing rallies. I gotta win this thing, I gotta keep this house."

That.

November 3rd, 2020
5:00 PM

Well, Biden thought, absorbing the short applause, this is it. And he was right. After 77 years, several thoughts, three tries, and a hellish year, it would all come down to this. He'd either become the 46th President, serve two terms, and retire peacefully, or...well, that, but without the President part. At this point, he knew he was the moderate wings last shot. A part of him thought he'd loose. But hey, America survived for years of Trump and his insane eternal campaign. Without campaigning for a third term, he'd surely be less destructive. After all, he'd never try to violate the 22nd amendment...right?

Biden put the loony, paranoid thought aside. He needed to be confident. And so, before the paltry (due to COVID, he told himself) crowd, the former Vice President began the last part of his last campaign speech.

"Folks, I want to thank you all. You've done so much for me, for my campaign, for this country. We are on the edge of deposing one of the worst Presidents in this nations history. A President who has ignored the threat of COVID, ignored the threat of Russia, ignored the threat of radicalism. We have to return to normality. We have to build back our country. We have to repair bridges. And with your support, with your help, we can do that. We will win, and we shall bring back sanity to this nation. And I will be watching as you watch, from Delaware, every minute. Thank you."

The crowd clapped. The Vice President smiled. He hoped it was enough, but he gave it his best shot no matter what. With that, he walked of the stage, and into the car. From there, he'd get to Charlotte Douglas. And then, he'd fly back home.

November 3rd, 2020
6:00 PM

Trump couldn't listen to the crowds applause. The smile on his face appeared rehearsed, like a generic goofy smile of his. His eyes were watery.

Why?, the President thought, Why now?. He was about to win. Enormously. Gigantically. He'd win so much Joe would have a heart attack. So much California would turn red. And now, of all times, that disease had burrowed into his soul. He suppressed a thought in the back of his mind. A dark, paranoid thought. A thought that no matter what happened tonight, he'd be dead. That he couldn't enjoy his four years even if he wanted.

But that's not what the crowd called for. They called for showmanship. For rage. For bombast. And so, Trump mustered the last of his strength. The anger at Biden. At Hillary. At China. At the socialists. At each and every person he had called out since he came down that flight of stairs. And most important, at Obama.

"People of America! In the past year, we've seen the radical socialist Democrats try to tear our nation apart! The COVID scare! The Marxist BLM riots! The fake news media continuing its rampage! But we'll prove them wrong. We'll win, bigger than last time. Bigger than anytime! We will send Joe Biden back to his basement, we will keep the patriots in control, and we. Will. KEEP. THIS. COUNTRY. GREAT!"

The crowd roared as Trump left the stage. No one noticed the glove he had as he shook hand after hand. As for the President, he relaxed himself for a moment, the crowd's euphoria becoming his own. But as he stepped into the limouisine, drove away, and heard the noise quiet down, he couldn't wait to get to the hospital. Sadly, Georgia to DC is a long flight.

Final Aggregate
Biden: 50.9%
Trump: 44%
Undecided: 5.1%

November 3rd, 2020
8:04 PM

Jen Dillon sat nervously before the map of the US. Most states hadn't yet closed, but two did-Kentucky and Indiana. The results were coming in, and while the Republican domination was expected, the margin was what mattered. Dillon analyzed the results, compared them to exit polls, did everything over the past hour. Now, she had it. And it was shocking.

"Mr. Biden?", she called.

The old politician walked into the room. "Yeah?"

Take a look. Biden did as he was told. After looking at calculations, Biden began to get nervous. "I assume this means what I think it does?" The man said.

Dillon nodded. "Indeed. The most early results from Kentucky, at 12%, had Trump leading you by 4%, which was unexpected given historical patterns. After analyzing exit polls, historical data, the increasing lead the President is maintaining, and the Indiana results, we may have something nearly unprecedented."

She typed some things into a makeshift program she made. "Based on these results, there is a strong possibility there is a 269-269 Electoral College tie-the first tie since 1800."

Biden gulped. Considering the Senate and such, a tie wouldn't end well for him-although Harris could be a different story. "Can we still win?"

"With the margin of error in exit polls, yes." Dillon said. "Of course, you could also loose. Let's hope it doesn't go there."

[100% pro-life no matter what]

This is well done.  Would love to see the end of it when you have time!