The Ford Legacy Family
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Maxwell
mah519
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« on: May 03, 2015, 10:54:43 PM »

1980: Former President Ford wins unexpected landslide





Former President Gerald Ford (R-MI)/RNC Chairman Bill Brock (R-TN) - 54.4%, 479 EV's
President Jimmy Carter (D-GA)/Vice President Walter Mondale (D-MN) - 44.6%, 59 EV's

November 4th, 1980 - A mostly neck and neck campaign ended with a complete wipeout of President Carter at the hands of Former President Gerald Ford. Ford, who faced controversy over his pick of Vice President and some gaffes, came back strong in the debates against Carter, going aggressively against the President's failures and promising four years of prosperity with the experience he accumulated versus the relative inexperience of President Carter. Carter, aided by a united Democratic front, attacked Ford's tenure in the White House, his complete appeasement of the GOP base, and his pardon of Nixon, but that has thus far left the voters minds compared to Carter's failings as President.

Many wonder how Ford got here. In the early months of 1979, the Republican frontrunner looked to be Former Governor Ronald Reagan of California, an outspoken conservative. Reagan, however, had a heart attack in July of that year, which forced him out of the race. The sleeping giant, Ford, was awoken that day and announced in August his own campaign for President. Reagan allies were furious, but had little bench to speak of. Ford's initial biggest challenge for the nomination was Congressman Phil Crane, but Crane proved to be a pushover. Congressman Jack Kemp, however, won a surprise victory in New Hampshire and made sure to challenge Ford throughout the race. Ford, nevertheless, had the party apparatus behind him and won. In return, he picked a significant leader of the conservative wing of the party who had supported him, RNC Chairman Bill Brock, as his VP nominee. This proved to be a controversial pick on the trail, with many conservatives threatening to bail due to Brock's abandonment of the conservative candidate Kemp. Nevertheless, they came home on election night.

Unlike Democrats, who seemed to stay home or outright vote for Ford. Carter faced a rough and tumble primary with Ted Kennedy, who many expected to topple the President until his infamous Mudd Interview. Still, Kennedy waged a battle until the convention, and was less than cordial when his defeat was ultimately announced.

Ford, or rather displeasure with Carter, managed to carry several Republicans with him. Notably, though, the Republican trending south still managed to stay Democratic, with several strong Republican challengers falling behind. Jim Folsom barely defeated Jeremiah Denton to hold on to the Alabama Senate seat with a few thousand votes. Controversy plagued Herman Talmadge, but he held on against a strong Mack Mattingly 51-49. The only Southern state where the Republicans managed success was in Florida - where Paula Hawkins defeated Senator Richard Stone fairly comfortably (54-45).

Beyond the south, things were pretty brutal for the President's party. In Alaska, Frank Murkowski defeated Senator Mike Gravel in a landslide (61-39). In Idaho, Steve Symms lights the political world on fire by defeating Senator Frank Church (49-48). In Indiana, Dan Quayle defeats Senator Birch Bayh (53-46). In Iowa, Chuck Grassley wins in a walk against Senator John Culver (55-44). In New Hampshire, Warren Rudman defeats Senator John Durkin (52-48). In North Carolina, John Porter East defeats Robert Morgan (51-49). In South Dakota, James Abdnor defeats Former Presidential Nominee George McGovern in a landslide (60-38). In Washington, Slade Gorton defeats Walter Magnuson in a wash (55-45). In Wisconsin, Bob Kasten upsets Senator Gaylord Nelson (50-48). And finally, one state that surprised all of us, Missouri, Former Governor Kit Bond will upset Senator Thomas Eagleton (51-48). Looks like America wanted to kick out the blue and put in the red.

Some say this is the night that changes political discourse forever.
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Atlas Has Shrugged
ChairmanSanchez
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« Reply #1 on: May 04, 2015, 02:55:21 PM »

Interesting start!
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NHI
Junior Chimp
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« Reply #2 on: May 05, 2015, 09:12:22 PM »

Great start. I've thought for a long while of creating a Ford in '80 timeline. Looking forward to see how this goes!
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#CriminalizeSobriety
Dallasfan65
Junior Chimp
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« Reply #3 on: May 05, 2015, 09:27:39 PM »

Maybe Ford can stop the madness. Smiley
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NHI
Junior Chimp
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« Reply #4 on: May 05, 2015, 09:43:41 PM »

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Maxwell
mah519
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« Reply #5 on: May 07, 2015, 08:12:50 PM »

1990 - The Steve Ford Miracle

Found on a porch naked and drunk at his family pool on October 17th, 1978, his older brothers saw Steve and thought it was time to give Steve an intervention. For years, Steve had wallowed in his woes, throwing bottle after bottle at the emptiness in his life hoping he would find fulfillment at the bottom. His brothers let him know how much they loved him, and even at the time Former President Jerry let him know what he truly meant to him. After a year in rehab, Steve came out the other side a better man.

He spent his time afterwards talking to other people who had similar issues to him. As a motivational speaker, Steve made his problems known to the world. He loved the idea of helping others as his brothers had helped him. But in those talks, he felt, something missing still from his life. One day, he told a friend, he was this close to once again hitting the bottle.

But in 1986, it hit Steve - he needed to follow his father's path and head into politics. For years, Steve had made his life attempting to make other's lives better. Now he could have the oppurtunity to do it on a bigger scale. But he didn't know where he'd go - so he went to Republican leaders in his home state of Michigan.

Michigan leaders told him that he should start smaller - state house or senate, perhaps even congress, but not to overstep himself. Steve looked at those possibilities - all felt too small for his widening ambitions. He felt in his heart his purpose was bigger.

Three years later, in 1989, just as the President Hart scandals unveiled, Steve decided...




"I am announcing my candidacy for United States Senate in Michigan!"

The Michigan Republican Party wasn't ready nor happy with Mr. Ford's late and unannounced ambition.
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Maxwell
mah519
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« Reply #6 on: May 07, 2015, 09:05:01 PM »

Spring 2015 - The Jack Problem


He was the hope and doom of the Republican Party. Jack Ford, Former Governor and current Senator of Virginia, defeating a Republican-turned-Democrat Jim Webb in 2012 for the Senate seat, and running popular enough in his home state of Virginia, had a great background, a well-known name, and had a great policy background. His father, Gerald, had repaired his image greatly from his Presidency, and it looked like nobody could compete with Jack's resources. However, another Ford haunted him, and that Ford's Presidency ended with a drastic thud. Jack, as much as he tried, didn't seem like he would escape his shadow, and embracing it would be the wrong strategy.

Jack met with billionaire after billionaire to attempt to get money, and they gave like none other, to prevent the possible swarming horde (including, yikes, another Huckabee candidacy). However, no matter how much word came out about the potentially record breaking fundraising Jack did, nothing could sway GOPers from his toxic name. Another thing that potentially doomed Jack was his stance as one of the last Republican Moderates. On fiscal issues, Jack fell in party line, voting for tax cuts, increases to military spending, and in some senses was even more conservative than his relatives on those issues. However, Jack supported immigration reform, supported letting gays in the military, supported lowering restrictions to vote, and even supported certain criminal justice reforms. Jack Ford was the anti-thesis of the Tea Party movement that swept so many conservatives into congress during the Obama administration.

Jack always felt a lot of frustration. He lost his first race - in 1989, he lost the Gubernatorial race in Virginia to Doug Wilder. In that sense, his brother got a head start on him. Of the two, Jack Ford was always the more policy forward type - when he finally became the states Governor in 2005 after several terms in Congress, he became automatically popular, taking pragmatic and technocratic approach to state spending and managed to forge a middle ground that allowed Virginia to grow like never before. His brother never was interested on the policy side, yawning when he was explained the specifics. "That isn't what Presidents do" Jack would think to himself in his earlier days, even as he would help his brother to the highest office in the country. No matter how frustrated he got, though, he would help his brother like he helped him during his drinking days.

Now Jack faced his own problems, to handle them like a man. And man, the problems he faces are mountainous.
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