Westman Timeline Pt. I

[Mechaman]

May 9th, 1984
Billings, Montana:

Scott Westman is at a news conference to address his opponent Max Baucus ads.
Westman: It has become apparent to me that the esteemed Senator has no interest in playing nice.  Well that's fair Senator, let's see how much mean you can take.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Why does reading about Westman's social life always make me feel jealous & lonely?

[Mechaman]

Why does reading about Westman's social life always make me feel jealous & lonely?

Well he has 24 years on you, so I wouldn't lose too much sleep over it.

Also keep in mind that he said a lot of this stuff quoted by the Baucus commercial was during his first three years (1977-1980) in the US Senate.  The sole exceptions are the comment where he calls a fellow Senator's legislative idea "gay" in May 1982 and the "Middle Class honky" comment he jokingly made to Joseph Biden after Biden told a group of reporters that Westman was going to buy everybody in DC free drinks in October of 1981.  1981 and onward he settles down quite a bit once he starts seeing Caroline Kennedy, though he isn't completely monogamous (this is implied in the entries with Maria Cantwell).  It remains to be seen, after marrying Caroline Kennedy in July 1983, if Scott Westman will be able to stay completely monogamous after failing to in the two years they dated.

Also, considering that he did someone who was technically a dude (and he loved it) I wouldn't feel too jealous if I were you.

[Mechaman]

So, what do you think about the Baucus Campaign's recent ads against Scott Westman?:

Joseph Biden: He had me at "middle class honky".
Lawrence Watson: Meh I think the ads were kind of gay.
Morris Udall: Oh so that's what it was?  I thought those were ads about increasing sexual stamina.....huh.
Mendelik D'Israeli: As a citizen of Montana I think it's kind of sad as to how low the Baucus campaign is going to score a few approval points.  Who cares how much wealth Scott Westman has?  Who cares about some joke comments he made while in the US Senate?  Let's just keep this all focused on the issues relating to the Gubernatorial campaign.
David Walters: Perhaps a little hard hitting and rude with the sarcasm, but I can't really say I didn't see it coming.  Scott Westman kind of set himself up for it by having a freewheeling lifestyle while in the Senate.  He should've seen this coming.
John Warner: Anything that keeps Scott Westman away from political office is a good thing.  The man is a menace.
John Chafee: I don't have a high opinion of Mister Westman but I must say that the ads are a bit abrasive in some ways.  That said I think it's a great new strategy.
Steve Symms: A man of Westman's lifestyle is best staying where he belongs: away from political office.
Jacqueline Kennedy: It seems that politics have reached a whole new low when a man has to be dragged through the dirt just for political gain.  Max Baucus personal attacks hurt more than Scott Westman, they affect those closest to him too.  I want him to stop it.
Joseph P. Kennedy II: Low disgusting tactic.  Sure Scott isn't the most serious of politicians but when it comes time to doing his job he does a damn fine job of it.  And I will have you know that whatever amount of screwing around Scott Westman did in the past isn't happening now.  Max Baucus is deliberately bringing up Westman's past to win political gain.  That in my opinion is low.
Caroline Kennedy Westman: I do not appreciate his attack ads at all.  My husband is no angel but to have the Senator bring up his past behavior as an indication of who he is now is low.  Me and Scott have been through a lot, he has poured his heart out to me, he's told me of his failures even as hard as they were.  He is my husband, I am his wife.  Therefore I will stand by him.  I love him.
Adrian Moore: I guess Max has gone tired of his current job occupation and is looking for early retirement.
Tobin MacMahon: Frankly I've always found Mister Westman to be a spirited man and I believe that the ad by Max Baucus best exudes that.  We need more characters like Westman.  Okay maybe not morally but in terms of oratory and good jokes?  Definitely need more of that.
George Carlin: The bit about the middle class honky made me laugh.
Eddie Murphy: That Scott Westman dude from Montana: totally badass.  I mean I thought I was good with the ladies but damn!  Twin Olympic gymnasts?  Man of the Year material definitely.
Jodie Foster: Oh silly Max Baucus, thinking that bringing out Scott Westman's uncontrollable sex drive will stop him.
Beauregard D'Israeli: I always knew that Scott Westman was really a blue blooded richie, just like I always knew that Max Baucus is a raging moralf****t in need of a beheading.  Once I'm president and capital punishment is back on the express lane his will be the first to go.
Thad O'Connor: I thought it was an SNL parody at first.
Randy Rhoads: I'm sorry I don't keep up with politics.  Oz did though, God rest his soul.
James Carter: Such mudslinging has no place in a proper society.

[Mechaman]

This is CNN, May 13th, 1984
Interview Excerpt from Caroline Westman:

King: Now we all know about the campaign between your husband and Max Baucus.  How has it affected you emotionally?
Caroline: It just it hits here y'know (points to her heart).  I mean Scott had a life before me I know it.  It wasn't perfect but ever since then he has done the very best he can to get it back together.  It's just so outrageous that Max Baucus would go back into his past and bring up his numerous affairs and (chokes up) it's just a painful experience to live through.
King: So I take it that it was a very serious deal with you?
Caroline: Yes it was.  I was appalled that he slept around behind me when we were dating King.  It was the hardest thing in the world for me to forgive him but y'know it's just (sobs) I love him so much Larry.  More than anybody in the world and I just wanted to spend the rest of my life with him so I let it go.
King: Well apparently this is a very emotional issue.
Caroline: I mean yes he messed up, but he's made great gains in the way he lives his life King.  There hasn't been a day since we been married that we haven't seen each other.  We have spent almost every moment together on this campaign.  Ever since getting married in July we haven't been a day apart.  And now we're having a child together.  I don't appreciate when a man like that comes up saying things like this about my husband I just don't.
King: You're pregnant?
Caroline: Yes.

The news that Caroline Westman was pregnant would end up affecting the Montana state race as people began to see the portrayal of Scott Westman in the Baucus ad as being out of line.  As a result Westman would come back up in the polls to within a point of Baucus.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Ozzy's dead?!

[Mechaman]

Ozzy's dead?!

That reminds me:

March 19th, 1982
CBS News:

Rather: Today we bring you some tragic news.  This morning while at a tour stop is Leesburg, Florida White Knight vocalist John Michael Osbourne, otherwise known to his fans as "Johnny", was found dead in his touring bus after suffering a cocaine overdose.  The progressive rock vocalist was well known for his public struggles with alcoholism and drugs as well as controversial moments like when he bit the head off of a duck on stage.  White Knight's lead guitarist, one Randy Rhoads, says that at the moment the band is uncertain about it's immediate future.  One of Osbourne's closest friends, Bon Scott of Air Conditoner, says that the loss is very tragic and that progressive rock has lost one of it's most legendary frontmen.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

I love it! Black Sabbeth become White Knight, Ozzy become Johnny, and AC/DC become air conditioner!

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

seeing as you're active, any butterflies on Rush, the Doors, Led Zeppelin, YES, etc?

[Mechaman]

seeing as you're active, any butterflies on Rush, the Doors, Led Zeppelin, YES, etc?

I'll make this quick because I should be studying for my Intermediate Accounting II test tomorrow.

Rush: No real change here, except that Rush is one of the most successful rock bands of the mid 80's, selling 6 million records of their album "Perspectives" in the US in 1983
the Doors: Are currently on their first reunion tour after splitting up eight years earlier.
Led Zeppelin: Are currently in the studio working on their first album since 1981 (entitled "Xanadu").  Their newest album, to be released on October 9th, 1984 will be entitled "Shangri La".  Rolling Stone Magazine, however, still hates them for some reason.
Yes: Also despised by Rolling Stone Magazine, Yes (like Rush) is one of the most successful rock bands of the mid 80's.  In the early 1980's Progressive Rock makes a comeback as bands like Rush, Yes, Crimson Tide (Crimson King IOTL), The Mark (Boston IOTL, but a lot more prog rock sounding), and White Knight (has the Oz in it, but it's not really an alternate TL version of Sabbath.  Does have a few members of OTL Blue Oyster Cult and Deep Purple along with Michael Schneiker of UFO (in the early years) and Randy Rhoads (1979-present)).  Yes is currently in the process of recording a new album that is speculated to be released anytime from December 1984 to as late as sometime in late 1985.

[#CriminalizeSobriety]

What would Scott Westman's PM score be?

[Mechaman]

What would Scott Westman's PM score be?

Individual Autonomy: strongly agree*
penalize outsourcing: strongly disagree*
faithbased charities: disagree
foreign aid: strongly disagree*
education funding: strongly agree*
heterosexual rights more important: strongly disagree*
free trade sucks: strongly disagree*
reduce government programs: usually agree
abortion should be illegal or restricted: disagree
funding for the arts: usually agree
government subsidized health insurance: strongly agree*
censorship: strongly disagree*
unfair that wealthy people pay higher taxes: usually disagree
minimum wage should be raised: neutral
marijauna legalization: strongly agree*
forced equality: neutral
freedom for security: strongly disagree*
excessive regulation on industry: usually disagree*
government should provide basic needs for all people: neutral
death penalty: strongly disagree*
reduce difficulty of immigration: agree
Union protection: strongly disagree*
prostitution: agree
flag burn ban: strongly disagree*
affirmative action: usually agree
tariffs: strongly disagree*
euthanasia: strongly agree*

(based on the test results)

Social: -9.39 (yes pretty loony when you think about it)
Economic: 0.65 (economically right Democrat)

[Mechaman]

Time for some party averages:

Democrats:
Individual autonomy is important: agree
Penalize outsourcing: Usually Disagree
Faith based organizations: neutral
Increase foreign aid: usually agree
Increase education: agree
Heterosexual rights more important: Disagree
Free trade sucks: usually disagree
reduce government: neutral
abortion restrictions: usually agree
arts funding: usually agree
health insurance:  agree
censorship: disagree
wealthy pay more tax unfair: disagree
Minimum wage raise: usually agree
marijuana legalization: usually agree
forcing equality: neutral
sacrificing freedom for security: disagree
excessive industry regulations: usually disagree
basic needs provided by government: usually agree
death penalty: usually disagree
immigration difficulty reduction: agree
Union protection: neutral
Prostitution legalization: usually disagree
Ban flag burning: disagree
affirmative action: usually agree
tariffs: usually disagree
euthanasia: usually disagree

Economic: -2.32
Social: -3.13

[Mechaman]

Republican average views:

Individual autonomy is important: usually agree
Penalize outsourcing: usually disagree
Faith Based organizations: neutral
Increase foreign aid: disagree
Increase education funding: usually disagree
heterosexual rights more important: neutral
Free trade sucks: usually disagree
reduce government: agree
abortion restrictions: neutral
arts funding: disagree
health insurance: disagree
censorship: neutral
wealthy pay more tax unfair: usually agree
Minimum wage raise: disagree
marijuana legalization: usually agree
forced equality: usually agree
sacrificing freedom for security: disagree
excessive industry regulations: usually agree
basic needs provided by the government: usually disagree
death penalty: usually agree
reducing difficulty of immigration: neutral
union protection: disagree
Prostitution: usually disagree
flag burning ban: disagree
affirmative action: neutral
tariffs: neutral
euthanasia: neutral

Economic: +4.9
Social: -1.04

So yeah, in this TL the Democratic and Republican parties aren't that much different in respect to social issues.  Obviously this America is a bit more libertarian on civil liberty issues and other issues like gay rights in 1984 than we are in 2011.

[Mechaman]

Constitution Party:

Individual Autonomy: neutral
penalize outsourcing: strongly agree
Faith based organizations: agree
Foreign aid: Strongly disagree
Education funding: strongly disagree
Heterosexual rights more important: usually agree
Free trade sucks: Strongly agree
decrease government programs: usually agree
abortion restrictions: neutral
arts funding: disagree
government health insurance: strongly disagree
censorship: agree
wealthy paying more taxes is unfair: agree
minimum wage raise: usually agree
marijuana legalization: usually disagree
forced equality: strongly agree
sacrificing freedom for security: usually disagree
government providing basic needs: disagree
death penalty: agree
excessive regulation on industry: usually agree
reducing difficulty of immigration: disagree
Union protection: usually disagree
Prostitution: strongly disagree
ban flag burning: disagree
affirmative action: strongly disagree
tariffs: strongly agree
euthanasia: strongly disagree

Average:
Economic: +3.61
Social: +4.00

[Mechaman]

Moderate Reform Party:

Individual autonomy: neutral
penalize outsourcing: usually disagree
faith based organizations: disagree
foreign aid: neutral
education funding: usually agree
heterosexual rights more important: disagree
free trade sucks: disagree
reduce government programs: usually agree
abortion restrictions: disagree
arts funding: neutral
government funded health insurance: usually agree
censorship: neutral
wealthy paying more taxes unfair: usually disagree
minimum wage increase: usually disagree
marijuana legalization: usually agree
forced equality: usually disagree
sacrificing freedom for security: usually disagree
government regulation on industry: usually disagree
government should provide basic needs for all people: neutral
death penalty: disagree
immigration difficulty reduction: agree
union workers protected: disagree
prostitution legalized: usually disagree
flag burning ban: disagree
Affirmative Action: strongly support
tariffs: strongly disagree
euthanasia: neutral

Average:
Economic: +0.26
Social: -4.17

So ironically the "Moderate" Reform Party is overall the most left on social issues.  This has to do with the fact that almost all MRP members hail from the northeast which is more socially left wing than other parts of the nation.

[Mechaman]

Lawrence Watson's (D-PA) score:

Individual autonomy: strongly agree*
Penalize outsourcing: usually agree*
faith based organizations: usually agree
foreign aid: agree
increase education funding: strongly agree*
heterosexual rights more important: strongly disagree
free trade hurts more than it helps: neutral*
reduce government programs: strongly disagree*
abortion illegal or restricted: usually disagree
arts funding: agree
government funded healthcare: strongly agree*
censorship: disagree
unfair that wealthy pay more taxes: strongly disagree*
raise the minimum wage: strongly agree*
marijuana legalization: usually agree
forced equality: strongly disagree: *
sacrificing freedom for security: disagree
government overburdening industry: strongly disagree*
government should provide basic needs: usually agree
death penalty: strongly disagree*
reduce difficulty of immigration: usually disagree
union workers should be protected: strongly agree*
prostitution: neutral
flag burn ban: disagree
Affirmative Action: strongly support*
Tariffs: neutral*
euthanasia: usually agree

Economic: -8.26
Social: -5.22

Lawrence Watson, one of the most progressive members of congress, is known for his social democratic views and being a passionate supporter of the working class people of Pennsylvania.  He won "the biggest upset" of 1980 when he beat the favored Republican candidate Arlen Specter.  His victory made him one of a few Democrats to represent Pennsylvania in the US Senate.  Unlike a lot of his partymates he remains skeptical of free trade, however economic protectionism has always been unsettling to him.  He prefers to be called a supporter of "the common man" when it regards trade issues and that he ultimately votes based on what would benefit the people of Pennsylvania rather than an ideologically charged view on trade.  At the young age of 33 in mid 1984 he is known for his vigorous opposition to the "right wing agenda" that is being enacted by President Crane and other Republicans that he says will "destroy this country's dignity".

*=critical issue

[Mechaman]

Thad O'Connor, (R-ME) representative:

individual autonomy: strongly agree*
penalize outsourcing: disagree
faith based charities: usually disagree
foreign aid (non-military): strongly disagree*
education funding: usually disagree
heterosexual rights more important: strongly disagree*
free trade sucks: disagree
reduce government programs: strongly agree*
abortion should be illegal or heavily restricted: usually agree
arts funding: disagree
government funded health insurance: usually disagree*
censorship: strongly disagree*
unfair that wealthy pay more taxes: usually agree
minimum wage should be raised: disagree
marijuana legalization: strongly agree*
forced equality: usually agree
sacrificing freedom for security: strongly disagree*
regulations on industry excessive: agree
government should provide basic needs for all people: strongly disagree*
death penalty: strongly disagree
reduce difficulty of immigration: neutral
union protection: strongly disagree*
prostitution legalization: agree
flag burning: strongly disagree*
Affirmative action: usually disagree
tariffs: disagree
euthansia: agree

Economic: +7.23
Social: -7.48

The only thing that kept O'Connor from being a -9 social score was his opposition to abortion, making him one of the most radical Republicans in congress.

[Mechaman]

Beauregard D'Israeli (R-WY):

Individual Autonomy: neutral
Penalize outsourcing: strongly agree*
faith based organizatoins: strongly disagree*
foreign (non military) aid: strongly disagree*
Educations funding: strongly disagree*
hetereosexual rights more important: strongly disagree*
free trade sucks: strongly agree*
reduce government programs: strongly agree*
abortion restrictions: strongly disagree*
arts funding: disagree
government funded health insurance: strongly disagree*
censorship: strongly disagree*
taxation unfair: strongly agree*
minimum wage increase: strongly disagree*
marijuana legalization: strongly agree*
forced equality: strongly agree*
sacrificing freedom for security: neutral
regulations on industry excessive: usually disagree
government provide basic needs: strongly disagree*
death penalty: strongly support
reduce difficulty of immigration: usually disagree*
Union protection: strongly disagree*
legalize prostitution: strongly agree*
flag burning ban: strongly disagree*
Affirmative action: strongly disagree*
tariffs: strongly agree*
Euthanasia: strongly agree*

Economic:+5.03
Social:-5.74

Note: this isn't what D'Israeli has alway believed.......

[Mechaman]

President Phil Crane (I-IL):

Individual autonomy: usually agree
penalize outsourcing: usually disagree*
faith based charities: usually agree*
foreign aid: usually disagree*
increase funding for education: usually agree
heterosexuals more rights: neutral
free trade sucks: disagree
reduce government programs: usually agree*
abortion should be restricted: usually agree
arts funding: usually disagree
government funded health insurance: neutral
censorship: neutral
unfair that wealthy pay more taxes: usually agree*
minimum wage increase: neutral
marijuana legalization: neutral
forcing equality: usually agree
sacrificing freedom for security: neutral
industry regulations excessive: usually agree*
government provides needs for all people: usually disagree*
death penalty: usually agree*
reduce difficulty of immigration: usually agree
union protection: disagree
prostitution: disagree
flag burning: disagree
affirmative action: neutral
tariffs: usually disagree*
euthanasia: usually disagree

Economic: +4.77
Social: +1.57

As you can see President Crane is more of a moderate conservative than an outright one in this timeline.

[Mechaman]

William Westman (D-NY):

Individual autonomy: strongly agree*
penalize outsourcing: strongly disagree*
faith based charities: usually agree
foreign aid: usually disagree
increase education funding: strongly agree*
hetereosexual rights more important: neutral
free trade sucks: strongly disagree*
reduce government programs: usually agree*
abortion restricted/illegal: strongly agree*
arts funding: usually agree
universal healthcare: strongly agree*
censorship: strongly disagree*
unfair tax rates: usually agree
minimum wage raise: usually disagree*
marijuana: neutral
forced equality: strongly disagree*
sacrificing freedom for security: usually disagree*
regulations on industry excessive: strongly agree*
government should provide basic needs for all people: usually disagree
death penalty: usually disagree
reduce difficulty of immigration: agree
protect union workers: usually disagree
legalize prostitution: disagree
ban flag burning: disagree
affirmative action: usually disagree
tariffs: strongly disagree*
euthanasia: disagree

Economic: +2.45
Social: -1.22

Ironically the die hard partisan Willie Westman would be closer to the modern day Republican Party than he would the Democratic Party (average pm score wise).

As you can tell the Westmans (at least the ones who have been in congress) are pretty economically conservative for Democrats despite having (at the times they were in Senate) more liberal than average social views.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Is this Ray Hutchinson a real person?

Also, feel free to do Christian Mattingly. In Americana he opposes free trade, but you can have him go either way.

[Mechaman]

Is this Ray Hutchinson a real person?

Also, feel free to do Christian Mattingly. In Americana he opposes free trade, but you can have him go either way.

Yep.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Hutchison

And considering that this TL is always in need of anti-trade reactionaries, sure.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

As a Vietnam vet (I don't know how that translates in this timeline), in Americana, Mattingly would vehemently oppose flag burning given that he saw several of his fellow soldiers go down fighting for that flag. However, I don't know how long the Vietnam War went, though he joined in 1966.

On economics, I'd make him a bit more Conservative. Despite a working class background (which influences his views on trade), he's also a businessman and doesn't like regulation or taxes.

On other issues, I'm not going to worry or bug you about given that I view them as more minimal, or right. I view Mattingly as a Reagan Democrat, however, there's no such thing in either Americana or here (at least not in the current definition).

However, you can shift his ideology any way you want in order to make it suit the story or just because. I'm not going to try to micromanage how you do things, or even manage.

[Mechaman]

As a Vietnam vet (I don't know how that translates in this timeline), in Americana, Mattingly would vehemently oppose flag burning given that he saw several of his fellow soldiers go down fighting for that flag. However, I don't know how long the Vietnam War went, though he joined in 1966.

On economics, I'd make him a bit more Conservative. Despite a working class background (which influences his views on trade), he's also a businessman and doesn't like regulation or taxes.

On other issues, I'm not going to worry or bug you about given that I view them as more minimal, or right. I view Mattingly as a Reagan Democrat, however, there's no such thing in either Americana or here (at least not in the current definition).

However, you can shift his ideology any way you want in order to make it suit the story or just because. I'm not going to try to micromanage how you do things, or even manage.

This is true.
I'll keep his "neutral" position on marijuana, for the hell of it.
I believe Percy got us out of Vietnam in '62, if Mattingly fought in a war it would've been the Persian War where flag burnings were a lot more common.  However, I think that some of his libertarian influenced views would override any of his personal feelings towards banning flag burning.
Obviously I don't want a repeat of Americana, as since the average American is more libertarian socially ITTL Mattingly probably would be called a RINO by most social conservatives IOTL.
Yes I just admit I put some bias in this TL.