Dream Scenarios

[#CriminalizeSobriety]

Basically, you list your "dream scenarios" for future elections, and run a list by a few maps until we start going into obscurity. This is where you get to be as much of a "hack" as you want.

I'll start us off...

2012: Amidst a divided primary, Gary Johnson edges third in Iowa and scores off as narrow win in New Hampshire, racking up victories in the more moderate states on Super Tuesday. Despite the opposition hopping from one candidate to another, Johnson becomes the Republican nominee. To satisfy a surprisingly unenthused base, he selects Senator Marco Rubio of Florida.

With the Afghanistan war being an uphill battle and unemployment climbing to 12.7% due to a "double dip" in 2011, Governor Johnson already has his case made for him, and cruises to victory.

2016: Having instituted a repeal of Obamacare and surviving a minor bloodletting in the 2014 midterm elections, Johnson pushes forth an agenda of tax cuts and severely scales back the War on Drugs - sometimes to the chagrin of his own party, but is unable to fully implement his stance on the issue. Withdrawal begins in Afghanistan, and by election day, unemployment is lowered to 4.9%.

Having seen itself as going "Too far to the left", the Democratic Party nominates Governor Mike Beebe of Arkansas, selecting Kirsten Gillibrand of New York to try and not only satisfy the base, but also make a play for female votes.

2020: Despite initial success, consumer confidence begins to bob and weave on the eclipse of Johnson's second term - unemployment hikes back up to 5.7%. After much deliberation, Vice President Marco Rubio opts not to run for the Presidency, and Governor Charlie Baker seizes the nomination - selecting Governor Nikki Haley as his running mate. The Democrats nominate former Governor Brad Henry, whom teams up with Governor John Hickenlooper to make a play towards the West. Baker manages to come out on top, though with some lack-luster results.

[Dr. Cynic]

These maps make my head hurt

[#CriminalizeSobriety]

These maps make my head hurt

I'll make it up by posting a Baker defeat in 2024 when I'm not lazy tomorrow.

[#CriminalizeSobriety]

No takers?

[feeblepizza]

2012: Gary Johnson passes the GOP hurdles by using the conservative split to his advantage. He and his running mate, Florida Senator Charlie Crist, appeal to America's moderate voters and win in a landslide.

2016: President Johnson succeeds in ending the War on Terror and stabilizing the U.S. economy. Governor Alexi Gianulious and Senator Mark Warner challenge the Johnson/Crist ticket, and pick up less than 90 Electoral Votes.

I'll do 2020 sometime soon.

[Dr. Cynic]

Dream Scenario? Okey Dokey Smokey...

Hubert Humphrey and Morris Udall's corpses rise from the grave to destroy Sarah Palin and her new boytoy, Mitt Romney.

The nation is saved. The end.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

What a mad hackery!

[tmthforu94]

2012:
Mitt Romney manages to snag the Republican nomination, and thanks to a weak economy, narrowly defeats Obama/Biden.

Mitt Romney/Mitch Daniels vs. Barack Obama/Joseph Biden

2016:
Romney has a successful first term, with unemployment numbers going back down and the economy continuing to slowly improve. By 2015, major portions of Obamacare have been repealed. Desperate to gain momentum, Democrats become the first major party to nominate a female for President, but it fails to swing the election. Republicans officially win the West, but start losing ground in the South due to Romney's moderate social stances.

Mitt Romney/Mitch Daniels vs. Kathleen Sebelius/Andrew Cuomo

2020:
Mitt Romney's second term goes relatively smoothly, with no major drops. Vice President Mitch Daniels opts not to run for the Presidency. The Democrats nominate former Governor John Hickenlooper, and Governor Carte Goodwin is selected as his running mate. Though Romney's approvals are mid-50's, many do not want to see 12 years of Republicans in the White House, and Hickenlooper's moderate stances gain him victory. The Republicans perform strong in the Northeast, while Democrats make huge gains in the South and West.

John Hickenlooper/Carte Goodwin vs. Chris Christie/Joe Miller

[Penelope]

The economy rebounds, unemployment hits 5 percent by election day 2012. The Republicans have an awful primary season, and have largely spent the last 2 years claiming that Obama has Kenyan/Socialist tendencies.

Obama/Biden v. DeMint/Risch
518   -   20

[CatoMinor]

2008: Romney/Murkowski vs Dean/Freudenthal

[feeblepizza]

2012: Obama/Biden vs. Paul/Schiff

[#CriminalizeSobriety]

Edit: You may now do past "Dream Scenarios" if you like, for hypothetical election match-ups in a previous election season.

[Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey]

1964: Barry Goldwater defeats Lyndon Johnson in a landslide, due to voter concerns about Lyndon Johnson's efforts to expand government.

Barry Goldwater (R-AZ)/Margaret Chase Smith (R-ME): 53.4% PV, 360 EV
Lyndon Johnson (D-TX)/Hubert Humphrey (D-MN): 45.6% PV, 178 EV

Barry Goldwater spends his first term winning the war in Vietnam. He goes all out, giving the military political cover to do whatever they wish so long as they win the war. He also is able to portray North Vietnam in a light that encourages volunteers to join the army, eliminating the need for a draft. Barry Goldwater also gets some tax cuts passed and some minor reductions in deficit spending, but his first term is definitely foreign policy oriented. Although hippies protest, he is a popular president, and wins the Vietnam War by 1968, leading to an epic landslide over Hubert Humphrey.

Barry Goldwater (R-AZ)/Margaret Chase Smith (R-ME): 61.1%% PV, 525 EV
Hubert Humphrey (D-MN)/Edmund Muskie (D-ME): 35.6% PV, 13 EV

With the War in Vietnam won, Barry Goldwater can now devote his time to implementing domestic libertarianism. He cuts income taxes down to 15%, implements a balanced budget amendment, and drastically cuts domestic spending to the point where government is only providing what is . He ends the Selective Service, and also legalizes drugs and allows LGBTQ members to join the armed forces. With the economy in tip top shape, his protégé, Ronald Reagan, defeats Edmund Muskie in a landslide.

Ronald Reagan (R-CA)/Gerald Ford (R-MI): 56.4% PV, 456 EV
Edmund Muskie (D-ME)/Jimmy Carter (D-GA): 42.2% PV, 82 PV

[feeblepizza]

2012: Obama's popularity plummets along with the economy. Distrust in Republicans grows (even among Utahans!). And so the Johnson/Paul ticket saves the day in a massive landslide.

Former Governor Gary Johnson (R-NM)/Congressman Ron Paul (R-TX14) 41%, 311
Former Governor Mitt Romney (R-MA)/Governor Haley Barbour (R-MS) 37%, 142
President Barack Obama (D-IL)/Vice-President Joe Biden (D-DE) 19%, 85

[Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey]

Ronald Reagan holds military spending at an all time high, attempting to outspend the Soviets in the Cold War. He begins SDI. At the same time, he keeps taxes down, even though the minimally enforced Balanced Budget Amendment is still in place. He also sends troops to Laos and Cambodia (and all over the world) to help the anti-Communist governments out. The economy goes well, and it's clear that Communism is rolling back. Due to the national fervor, Ronald Reagan defeats George McGovern in the greatest landslide in history.

Ronald Reagan (R-CA)/Gerald Ford (R-MI): 62.0% PV, 535 EV
George McGovern (D-SD)/Eugene McCarthy (D-MN): 34.4% PV, 3 EV

In his second term, Ronald Reagan continues his work started in his first term. He prevents the Iranian government from collapsing. He also gets a line item veto passed. The Soviet Union is well on its way to its demise, but deficits and inflation are high. Due to voter fatigue and the souring economy, Robert Kennedy, a DLC moderate Democrat, is able to defeat Vice President Gerald Ford in 1980.

Robert Kennedy (D-NY)/Lloyd Bentsen (D-TX): 52.1% PV, 329 EV
Gerald Ford (R-MI)/Bob Dole (R-KS): 47.7% PV, 209 EV

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

^^ Awesome dream scenario with Goldwater and Reagan.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Cathon, are you intending to overtake me as a most prolific what if newbie ever?

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

^ Yes.

[#CriminalizeSobriety]

*A swing map from the 2012 election.

[HappyWarrior]

2012
Mitt Romney manages to just barely win the 2012 Presidential election, along with his Vice Presidential candidate, Mitch Daniels.  Despite the increasingly conservative views of his party, Romney takes advantage of a divided field to garner a victory as a moderate to libertarian conservative.  Though President Obama is not entirely unpopular, Romney's moderate stances and the continuing unsteadiness of the economy allows Romney to eek out a victory by wins in the West and unexpectedly in certain Northern states.  The election would not be determined until two days after the election, with the state of New Jersey finally being determined.

Romney/Daniels-281
Obama/Biden-257
Of coures this is not the end, I'll continue it later with 2016