Feel the Franken DISCONTINUED

[The Govanah Jake]

Yay, my boy Robb Ryerse won.

[Don Vito Corleone]

I would rather move to Stalinist Russia then New Jersey.

[MAINEiac4434]

I would rather move to Stalinist Russia then New Jersey.

Lol, oops.

[MAINEiac4434]

Just outside Des Moines, Iowa. 2:32 AM (eastern time)

"Ben, we're here."

I woke with a start, Blake's words shocking me from a rather pleasant dream. I looked out my window to see the skyline of Des Moines emerging before me.

"The goddamn campaign couldn't send us to New Hampshire..." I said groggily. She giggled.

"C'mon, Ben. This is where the action is."

"Where are we staying?" I asked, hoping that wherever it was had decent coffee.

"I was hoping to find a motel somewhere so we can hit the hay before we have to report to the Franken HQ tomorrow...er, today morning." She noticed my arched eyebrow. "Don't look too excited," she smirked. "I've been driving for six hours, I'm sleeping when we find a Motel 6."

I smiled back at her before pulling out my phone. Naturally I went to Atlas. It didn't load. It was 2:30 in the morning. It never loaded after two in the morning. Sighing, I checked Twitter. Josh Barro had a scoop.

"Hearing Tim Ryan will announce Presidential campaign at 7 PM tomorrow."

"Goddammit,"

"What?" Blake asked, keeping one eye on the road while leaning toward me.

"Ryan's running." I told her.

"Why the Christ is Paul Ryan running for President?" She yelled.

"No, Tim Ryan,"

"Oh." She paused, then a disgusted look emerged on her face, "oh."

"I know. Don't worry, babe. Al'll take care of him." I said, as I closed my eyes again and drifted back to sleep.

[MAINEiac4434]

This is the first in a series of first-person posts featuring two fictional characters, Blake and Ben, as they navigate their way through the Franken campaign. In addition to the news posts and Atlas posts, I'll use these to try to convey how the campaign feels at a grassroots level.

[Cactus Jack]

I smiled back at her before pulling out my phone. Naturally I went to Atlas. It didn't load. It was 2:30 in the morning. It never loaded after two in the morning.

Oh ye gods, I'm f**king dead. Peak comedy.

[MAINEiac4434]

Atlas Forum
- Presidential Elections - Analysis and Discussion
-- 2020 U.S. Presidential Election (Moderators: NebraskaTrot, Bill, MAINEiac8868)
--- Tim Ryan to announce

Al Franken 2020 MAINEiac4434     YaBB God ★★★★★ Posts: 4555

Tim Ryan to announce « on: June 2, 2019, 07:17:09 am »Just got a text from my friend Ben, who's working for Franken in Iowa. Barro has the scoop. So, we lose one congressperson in Delaney and gain another. Why is he announcing so late?

Spenstar Spenstar YaBB God       YaBB God ★★★★★ Posts: 8850

Tim Ryan to announce « Reply #1 on: June 2, 2019, 07:18:35 am »Didn't Trump not announce until like June 15, 2015?

Kasich/? 2020 Not_Madigan YaBB God ★★★★★ Posts: 4122

Tim Ryan to announce « Reply #2 on: June 2, 2019, 07:28:46 am »Ryan would be a decent Democratic candidate.

Govanator Jake Jake Jewvinivisk YaBB God ★★★★★ Posts: 94844

Tim Ryan to announce « Reply #3 on: June 2, 2019, 07:29:42 am »More establishment candidates. He did try to knock-off Pelosi, though, so he has that going for him.

TimTurner YaBB God ★★★★★ Posts: 4590

Tim Ryan to announce « Reply #4 on: June 2, 2019, 07:30:05 am »Literally who?

Peebs Peebs YaBB God ★★★★★ Posts: 3848

Tim Ryan to announce « Reply #5 on: June 2, 2019, 07:20:33 am » You must be logged in to read this quote. I know you hate the establishment, but it's not like Ryan's all that progressive. Gabbard and Bernie are still your best bets.

Skunk Skunk YaBB God ★★★★★ Posts: 8457

Tim Ryan to announce « Reply #6 on: June 2, 2019, 07:22:39 am »He eats into Bullock and Franken's base, I think. Bullock's base of WWC, Franken's base of midwesterners. He might resonate in Iowa and NH.

Kamala (2020) Kamala YaBB God ★★★★★ Posts: 4554

Tim Ryan to announce « Reply #7 on: June 2, 2019, 07:41:19 am » You must be logged in to read this quote. Agreed on all counts. But his entrance into the race makes it more likely one of the coastal candidates wins.

Parrotguy   YaBB God ★★★★★ Posts: 9392

Tim Ryan to announce « Reply #8 on: June 2, 2019, 07:33:09 am »How many more candidates will announce?! We're beyond clowncar level here!

America First Degree Burns firstdegreeburns       YaBB God ★★★★★ Posts: 9212

Tim Ryan to announce « Reply #9 on: June 2, 2019, 07:33:35 am »Probably the candidate who's the best bet to win back the WWC in the rust belt for the Democrats. Everyone else is too damn liberal.

Kasich/Rauner 2020 Not_Madigan YaBB God ★★★★★ Posts: 4122

Tim Ryan to announce « Reply #10 on: June 2, 2019, 07:33:42 am »Indeed. May be the only candidate who could win Ohio away from Kasich.

razze YaBB God ★★★★★ Posts: 9315

Tim Ryan to announce « Reply #11 on: June 2, 2019, 07:34:30 am »Let's be real here: he doesn't think he actually has a shot to be the actual President of the actual United States. He's running to be veep or, failing that, a prominent cabinet position. Labor secretary, maybe.

CUOMO markwarner2020 YaBB God ★★★★★ Posts: 803848

Tim Ryan to announce « Reply #12 on: June 30, 2019, 07:35:47 am »ANOTHER SACRIFICE TO THE ALTER OF ANDREW

Al Franken 2020 MAINEiac4434 YaBB God ★★★★★ Posts: 8849

Tim Ryan to announce « Reply #13 on: June 2, 2019, 07:44:59 am »He'd be a decent VP pick for someone like Harris or Gillibrand. Middle of the country, from a more rural area. I don't see a nominee Franken or Bullock picking him, though. They'd want a coastal person to shore up those areas, make sure something crazy like Virginia flipping doesn't happen.

bruhgmger2 YaBB God ★★★★★ Posts: 4554

Tim Ryan to announce « Reply #14 on: June 2, 2019, 07:46:13 am »Agreed, MAINEiac. He'd be a perfect pick for Booker or Gillibrand.

Saguaro azcactus YaBB God ★★★★★ Posts: 3513

Tim Ryan to announce « Reply #15 on: June 2, 2019, 07:46:48 am »Another one who'll get one delegate and drop out after finishing 7th in Iowa. Whatever keeps his career going, I guess.

[TheSaint250]

Yay for Ryan!

[OSR STANDS WITH PALESTINE]

I’m now endorsing Tim Ryan

[MAINEiac4434]

Pew Research Center, June 30, 2019

Al Franken: 30%
Bernie Sanders: 19%
Kamala Harris: 18%
Kirsten Gillibrand: 13%
Tim Ryan: 7%
Cory Booker: 3%
Terry McAuliffe: 2%
Steve Bullock: 2%
Tulsi Gabbard: 1%
Andrew Cuomo: 0%
Martin O'Malley: 0%

Pew Research Center Poll of Iowa Democrats, June 30, 2019
Al Franken: 25%
Bernie Sanders: 20%
Kamala Harris: 10%
Steve Bullock: 9%
Tim Ryan: 6%
Kirsten Gillibrand 5%
Martin O'Malley: 5%
Cory Booker: 4%
Tulsi Gabbard: 2%
Terry McAuliffe: 2%
Andrew Cuomo: 1%
Undecided: 9%

Pew Research Center, June 30, 2019:
Al Franken: 55%
Donald J. Trump: 38%
John Kasich: 5%
Undecided/Other: 2%

Pew Research Center, June 30, 2019:
Bernie Sanders: 57%
Donald J. Trump: 33%
John Kasich: 8%
Undecided/Other: 2%

Pew Research Center, June 30, 2019:
Donald J. Trump: 44%
Tulsi Gabbard: 40%
John Kasich: 15%
Undecided/Other: 1%

Pew Research Center, June 30, 2019:
Donald J. Trump: 46%
Andrew Cuomo: 36%
John Kasich: 17%
Undecided/Other: 8%

[RC (a la Frémont)]

eh, Tim Ryan's decent, not my favorite but better compared to other candidates in this "race."
*COUGH CORY BOOKER *COUGH* TULSI GABBARD *COUGH*

[MAINEiac4434]

eh, Tim Ryan's decent, not my favorite but better compared to other candidates in this "race."
*COUGH CORY BOOKER *COUGH* TULSI GABBARD *COUGH*

I do think many of these candidates will run in real life. I actually think Franken's the least likely of everyone on the D side to run.

[MAINEiac4434]

FiveThirtyEight Election Chat
July 5, 2019

clare.malone (Clare Malone, senior political writer): Exit Delaney, enter Ryan.

natesilver (Nate Silver, Editor in Chief): Second candidate to enter after the first debate. Now, I think the field's settled.

perry (Perry Bacon Jr., senior political writer): I mean I certainly hope so. The writers of this great electoral drama are probably having trouble keeping track of the characters.

harry (Harry Enten, senior political writer): I know I am.

micah (Micah Cohen, politics editor): The first post-Ryan polls were released last week. Showed him getting a not-insignificant 7% nationally, 6% in Iowa. Is that his floor? And what's his ceiling?

harry: I think Ryan's getting a boost from being the most recent announcer, and going on a media blitz. He's always on one of the 24-hour networks.

clare.malone: He was even on Fox & Friends this morning.

perry: Dude has balls, that's for damn sure.

natesilver: I think we'll see Ryan crash back to earth. But he represents a working-class community in Ohio, so his economic message will resonate, and he (and Bullock) is the only one who's not from a big city.

perry: Ryan is definitely eating into Bullock's potential base. Maybe Franken's, too.

micah: Personally, I don't think he's running to become president, he's running to be veep if one of the coastal candidates wins the nomination, or a cabinet secretary if Bullock or Franken win the election.

clare.malone: Speaking of Franken, he's opened up a bit of a lead over Bernie.

natesilver: pre-April debate, he was polling fairly high but still behind Harris and Bernie. Since then, he's been on a steady increase.

perry: If he can keep the momentum, he'll probably win Iowa. Bernie's just dominating the field in his backyard of New Hampshire, though.

harry: which is why most candidates are just straight up ignoring the Granite State.

micah: Tim Ryan isn't, he's having a big rally in some mill town.

perry: Tim Ryan wants to be Bernie's running mate.

clare.malone: You think so? They have polar opposite views on corporate taxation.

natesilver: Yeah, I think it's more likely that he sees everyone else ignoring NH and sees an opportunity there to pick up some delegates other candidates are leaving on the table.

natesilver: Anyway, Kasich is polling well.

clare.malone: Well enough to completely screw over Trump's path to 270.

harry: yup, if Kasich takes around ~15% in every state, Trump would end up with less than 100 EV, not including Trump 2016 voters who are already defecting back to the Democrats, and will over the course of the campaign.

micah: and Kasich could gain more supporters over the course of a campaign, too.

[BuckeyeNut]

An Atlas thread on an Ohio politician in which I don't comment? Unrealistic.

[MAINEiac4434]

Joy Behar: Our guest on The Political View today is the junior Senator from Minnesota.

Raven-Symoné: Recent polls have shown him leading the Democratic presidential field, and his online followers have recently been getting a lot of attention across the media.

Meghan McCain: He's perhaps most famous, though, for making the leap from comedy to politics, as he was a longtime writer and cast member on Saturday Night Live.

Whoopi Goldberg: Please welcome Senator Al Franken.

Al Franken: Hello, how's everybody?

JB: Senator, you're now leading national polls and polls in Iowa. When you launched this campaign did you ever expect to have this much success.

AF: Well first, Joy, thanks again for having me on. I'm actually a big fan of The View. [crowd cheers]. But when I started my campaign, I started with absolutely no expectations. I never thought I'd be a Senator, let alone a candidate for President of the United States. I even mocked the idea in a book in 1998. But, after President Trump was elected, I was just inundated with requests, including from people I respect and admire very much. But people would stop me on the street, in Minnesota, in Washington and say "Senator Franken, if you run, you'd have my full support." And that's not just flattering, but terrifying! So I thought about and eventually I came around to it. And I went in with no expectations. I just wanted to lay my cards on the table and see where I ended up.

MM: Senator, what would you say has been the biggest surprise of running a presidential campaign.

AF: How much fun this has been. Really. I expected it to be a drag. But, you know, when I'm out campaigning I can let my hair down a little bit. Do you remember a few years ago when I was questioning Secretary DeVos, then nominee DeVos? There were like a dozen funny things I wanted to say, and I couldn't say any of them. And that happens all the time in Washington. But when I'm out campaigning, I can now say one or two of those things.

WG: But you can't say the rest?

AF: Absolutely not, no. [crowd laughs and applauds]

RS: Senator, what do you think the biggest issue is that's gone overlooked in the campaign so far?

AF: The opioid epidemic has gotten worse with each passing year. The President has done nothing to tackle it. An also, no one's really talking about how fundamentally flawed our democratic system is.

WG: Can you expand on that, because I've felt the same way for a long time.

AF: Well, in the past 20 years, two people who've won the popular vote have not become president. I shouldn't be running right now, Hillary Clinton should be running for reelection! [crowd cheers] We need to abolish the electoral college. It's long outlived its usefulness [crowd applauds].

WG: Finally, Senator, here's a challenge: say something nice about the President [crowd laughs].

AF: It's actually not that hard Whoopi. He's a survivor. He always bounces back. If I'm the nominee I'm taking nothing for granted.

JB: We need to take a break, thank you so much, Senator Al Franken, everybody! [crowd cheers]

[MAINEiac4434]

HATCH TO BACK KASICH/RAUNER

After being prevented from running for GOP Chair by President Trump, former Utah Senator Orrin Hatch has announced his support for the conservative independent ticket of former Ohio Governor John Kasich and former Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner. Hatch joins his successor as Utah Senator Mitt Romney in endorsing Kasich/Rauner, but unlike Romney is retaining his membership of the Republican Party. Hatch joins a growing number of conservatives abandoning the President.

[The Govanah Jake]

A little too big of a picture

[MAINEiac4434]

holy shit, fixing.

[Sestak]

This TL is really great so far!

0/10 No Scaramucci or Zuck running though


(PS: What's Jason Kander up to, by the way? With the way he's been in and out of Iowa I'd think he'd be running or campaigning hard for someone else. Unless he's running for governor or something.)

[MAINEiac4434]

I back Kasich now

Okay, thanks for letting me know.

I'll have a few posts coming this weekend.

[Pyro]

This is a fun future-history, and it's good to see Trump hasn't started a nuclear war in this TL.
I wonder if this will come down to a Franken vs. Sanders thing. That Clinton comment may not play well with the Berniecrats after all.

[MAINEiac4434]

This is a fun future-history, and it's good to see Trump hasn't started a nuclear war in this TL.
I wonder if this will come down to a Franken vs. Sanders thing. That Clinton comment may not play well with the Berniecrats after all.

Thanks, but I'm not spoiling anything.

But, Trump was told by Mattis and Kelly that they should keep the nuclear launch codes, "in case the North Koreans kidnap [him.]"

[MAINEiac4434]

(all Trump tweets are sic in re grammar and spelling).

[America Needs R'hllor]

(all Trump tweets are sic in re grammar and spelling).

HAHAHAH.
I love this Trump is unraveling and hilarious to watch. Also, thank god for Mattis and Kelly, lol.

[Sestak]

Wait, Mattis and Kelly survived this long?  

(Also, given that this TL deviates from reality sometime before the Tim Murphy scandal, did Price resign over the whole private jet thing? Or is he still there?)