Gustavo's OCs thread

[Blow by blow, the passion dies]

I will keep all my fictional characters here to avoid clogging the board.

[Blow by blow, the passion dies]

2008 United States presidential election

In 2004, Governor of Oregon Steve Welch had narrowly defeated President George W. Bush.

Cabinet

Secretary of State: Wesley Clark

Secretary of Defense: Colin Powell

Secretary of Treasury: John Edwards

Attorney General: Dennis Kucinich

Otherwise, I don't know.

Domestic policy

- Doubled teachers' wages across the board, while increasing funding for the Department of Education.
- Created a $50,000 tax credit to offset the cost of private health insurance, while expanding Medicaid, providing a reinsurance pool for employers, and protecting people with preexisting conditions; other healthcare reforms were thwarted by the Republican congress.
- Raised the federal minimum wage to 5.95 dollars per hour, while allowing small businesses to opt out of it.
- Legalized same-sex civil unions nationwide.
- Closed the gun show loophole, while requiring all firearms manufactured after May 10, 2006 to come with trigger locks.
- Implemented mandatory rehabilitation for drug criminals through drug courts.
- Failed to raise the federal minimum wage to 6 dollars per hour, make trade schools tuition-free, codify Roe vs Wade into federal law, provide full Medicare coverage for eligible children, require congressional districts to be drawn by independent commissions, permanently ban assault rifles, tax outsourcing at 10%, repeal the No Child Left Behind Act and repeal the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy.
- Ratified the Kyoto Protocol, while transferring $3 billion in subsidies from fossil fuels to renewable energy.
- Started transferring coal workers to other sectors, until the policy was struck down by the Supreme Court.
- Weakened the Patriot Act, while increasing oversight over Guantanamo.
- Signed a major immigration reform bill in 2006.
- Began to connect every school and library in the US to the Internet by 2008.
- Passed an $1 trillion stimulus package following the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy, while increasing oversight of the financial sector.

**Foreign Policy**

- Issued an executive order requiring all US Military units to withdraw from Iraqi territory by 2007, while increasing military aid to Iraq. On September 6 2007, the United States fully withdrew its military from Iraq.
- Began an Afghanistan troop surge in 2005.
- Formally declared China a currency manipulator, while deepening relations with Japan and India.
- Killed the Central American Free Trade Zone.
- A replacement of NAFTA, with greater protection for American manufacturing, workers and the environment, came into effect in 2007.
- Cooperated with Russia on tackling terrorism until the invasion of Georgia.
- Increased foreign aid to Latin America, to reduce immigration.
- Continued the United States' strong alliance with Israel.
- Developed close relations with Gaddafi's Libya after he gave up his chemical weapons.

US Senator for Arizona and war hero John McCain ran an optimistic campaign of hope and change, emphasizing his moderate stances and maverick history to create a broad, bipartisan coalition. McCain promised to extend the Bush tax cuts, spend $800 billion rather than $1 trillion in economic stimulus, create a bipartisan oversight board to ensure the money did not go into a black hole of bad debt, deregulate insurance markets, and maintain Common Core while giving school vouchers and charter schools a greater role. On foreign policy, he supported the war in Afghanistan and the United States continuing to play a role in Iraq; he was reluctantly in favor of continuing Steve Welch's foreign policy towards China. McCain chose youthful Governor of Minnesota Tim Pawlenty as his running mate, highlighting his experience in state government.

President Steve Welch ran for reelection promising full Medicare coverage for eligible children paired with a public healthcare option and the abolition of premiums, greater oversight of the financial sector together with a trillionaire stimulus package (which was still being fiercely debated in Congress), repeal the Bush tax cuts for the rich, make trade schools tuition-free while taxing outsourcing at 10%, continue to stand against Chinese expansionism worldwide, and ban assault rifles. Welch frequently attacked McCain for the Keating Five scandal and his "outdated" ideas, saying a McCain presidency would be the same thing as George W. Bush's; to a certain degree, he went after Tim Pawlenty for campaign finance violations as Governor of Minnesota.

At one point, John McCain temporarily suspended his campaign to negotiate a stimulus bill, opting to not debate Steve Welch; which damaged him in the polls, as his reaction was seen as erratic.

Welch won the first debate, but both candidates performed strongly in the second, and Dick Gephardt was widely seen as the winner in the VP debate due to hiring a debate coach.

John McCain won by an unexpected margin, carrying all of the Plains and Southern states and the lower Midwest (except for Illinois); he even flipped Minnesota, which voted Republican for the first time since 1972. McCain's appeal to moderates caused him to flip New Hampshire; Missouri was only relatively close due to Gephardt's appeal as a running mate.

[Blow by blow, the passion dies]

2012 United States presidential election

With Congress safely in Republican hands, McCain set on implementing his moderately conservative agenda (Democrats made considerable gains in the 2010 midterms, reducing the Republican majorities to 232-203 and 52-47-1)

Domestic policy[b/]

- Passed an $800 billion stimulus package and middle-class tax cuts, paired with a strong dollar, creating a bipartisan oversight board for the stimulus package.
- Provided healthcare vouchers for those with a lower income, while deregulating insurance markets.
- Increased the number of school vouchers in circulation, while increasing funding for Common Core.
- Named moderate judges to the Supreme and other courts.
- Expanded offshore drilling and began the construction of two nuclear power plants.
- Unsuccessfully pushed for a balanced budget amendment.
- Opposed most gun controls.
- Raised the federal minimum wage to 7 dollars per hour, keeping it optional for small businesses.
- Resisted efforts to abolish the electoral college, which had grown increasingly unpopular.
- Took a moderate stance on LGBT rights, refusing to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell.
- Created a Board of Mental Health to reduce gun violence without gun control.
- Continued Steve Welch's goal to connect schools and libraries to the Internet.
- Banned Partial-birth abortion nationwide after 2011, but refused to overturn Roe.
- Cut red tape for small businesses.

Foreign policy

- Killed Osama bin Laden on December 8, 2010.
- Tightened sanctions on Iran while supporting Green Movement protesters with propaganda.
- Strengthened sanctions on North Korea, while installing the THAAD missile system in South Korea.
- Continued the Welch Administration's tough stance towards China, albeit focused on deterrence instead of fair trade.
- Signed free trade agreements with Colombia and Peru.
- Sponsored propaganda against the Venezuelan government.
- Continued to fight the war in Afghanistan, with a greater use of air power to undermine the Taliban.
- Cooperated with European countries on tackling climate change.
- Mantained strong relations with Saudi Arabia, eventually signing a peace treaty between the Saudis and Israel.
- Deepened cooperation with Latin American countries in the fight against drug trafficking.

John McCain ran for reelection by focusing on the economic recovery seen under his first term, and promising to continue his current policies; at the same time, the President promised to pass an infrastructure bill to fix America's roads, buildings and ports, while creating a tax credit for new businesses (an idea suggested by rising star in the GOP Ed Donnell), ratifying a Balanced Budget Amendment, and increasing oversight of the financial sector to prevent another recession. McCain attacked Barack Obama for his ties to Tony Rezko, Bill Ayers and Jeremiah Wright, without dragging the campaign into the gutter with those attacks.

Barack Obama used the slogan "Yes, We Can" and promised to raise taxes on the wealthy while closing corporate tax loopholes to control the deficit, implement a public healthcare option along with adequate funding and controls on prices, raise the federal minimum wage to 12 dollars per hour, pass a bill increasing bank regulation, create a system of work permits and strict licensing for employers, codify Roe vs Wade into federal law, permanently ban assault rifles and high-capacity magazines, make childcare and school meals free, and provide grants for homeless shelters providing a place for homeless individuals to sleep. Obama rarely attacked John McCain, only addressing his attacks – failing to dent into the incumbent's popularity might have caused Obama's defeat.

Barack Obama's victory in the first debate probably helped him keep the race close, although the second presidential and VP debates were a tie.

[Blow by blow, the passion dies]

2016 United States presidential election

During McCain's second term, tensions with Russia increased, while the US economy recovered from the Great Recession by 2014. Democrats almost flipped the House of Representatives in 2016.

**Domestic Policy**

- Created a $50,000 tax credit and $45,000 tax deduction for Americans starting new businesses – Ed Donnell's idea.
- Increased oversight of the financial sector.
- Started providing grants to city police departments, to make them more effective.
- Unsuccessfully pushed for a balanced budget amendment.
- Signed a $430 billion infrastructure bill into law on October 27, 2015.
- Fully repealed the Patriot Act.
- Named a moderate conservative to replace Antonin Scalia.
- Increased the federal minimum wage to $8.3 per hour.
- Reduced funding for Planned Parenthood.
- Opened 250 trade schools throughout all 50 states, DC and Puerto Rico.
- Expanded tax breaks for electric cars.
- Repealed Don't Ask, Don't Tell on December 18, 2014.
- Signed into law a bill implementing mandatory parental notification and consent (with a judicial bypass) for minors seeking abortions on March 27, 2014.
- Expanded background checks for gun buyers under 21, and closed the boyfriend loophole, after the Charleston shooting.

**Foreign policy**

- Imposed sanctions on Russia after the invasion of Crimea.
- Created a safe zone for the Free Syrian Army, to protect them from Assad's forces.
- Implemented a THAAD missile defense system in Eastern Europe starting in May 2015.
- Increased aid to Vietnam and the Philippines due to the Spratly Islands dispute.
- Opposed the Paris Agreement, seeing it as unfair to the US.
- Hacked into Iran's nuclear program, substantially increasing regional tensions (and putting the world into the brink of war in December 2015-January 2016).
- Unsuccessfully tried to allow Ukraine into NATO, until Romania and Poland dissented.
- Condemned the military crackdown in Turkey.
- Continued the embargo on Cuba.
- Tightened sanctions on Venezuela.
- Tried to deprive the North Korean government of hard currency.
- Sold weapons to Saudi Arabia after its invasion of Yemen.

US Senator for New York Hillary Clinton ran a moderate liberal campaign, calling for a public healthcare option with adequate funding and controls on prices, a minimum wage of 12 dollars per hour, renegotiating the Trans-Pacific Partnership with greater protection for American manufacturing, defending the Syrian safe zone against Assad and ISIS, free preschool and expanded Pell Grants, raising taxes on the wealthy, protecting Roe vs Wade, legalizing and regulating marijuana, a "clawback" ending tax breaks and other benefits for companies that move jobs overseas, and banning assault rifles. Clinton chose US Senator for Pennsylvania Bob Casey as a running mate, with the goal of appealing to Midwestern voters and progressives. She rarely attacked Trump, instead focusing on his main opponent, to split the Republican vote.

Vice President Tim Pawlenty called for continuing and expanding John McCain's policies; he promised tax cuts, McCain's efforts to pass the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the naming of conservative judges, a points-based immigration system paired with a path to citizenship, cooperating with European countries and Israel in the fight against international terrorism, increasing the tax deduction for these new businesses to $50,000, extending sick leave while doubling pay for nurses and hospital staff across the board, and to oppose most restrictions on gun ownership. Pawlenty attacked Hillary Clinton on her emails and ties to Goldman Sachs.

The election's surprise was the strong performance of billionaire businessman Donald Trump, who ran as the nominee of the Constitution Party in the general election after losing the Republican primaries. Trump promised to eliminate federal taxation for those making below $10,000 a year, raise tariffs on Chinese products, construct a wall in the border with Mexico, temporarily ban Muslims from entering the country, and repeal and replace Welchcare. Trump's campaign gained surprising traction with working-class and rural voters, but the Access Hollywood tape damaged his credibility. However, Trump managed to qualify for the first presidential debate, where all three candidates performed strongly.

Hillary Clinton was elected by winning the "blue wall" and all swing states, with the exception of North Carolina due to Tim Pawlenty's running mate. Trump became the first third-party candidate in 48 years to win a state, after carrying West Virginia by 2.7%; he finished second in Mississippi, Kentucky, Alaska and Montana.

[Blow by blow, the passion dies]

2016 United States presidential election

WIP

I forgot to erase that faithless elector in Hawaii

[Blow by blow, the passion dies]

1960 United States presidential election

Oscar Darlington Fields, who was born in Portland but moved to San Diego as a child, joined the US Navy in 1926, as a sailor in a battleship. He gained an idealist reputation, especially due to his preference for aircraft carriers; Fields was continuously moved to them, rising through the ranks along the way, and becoming the commander of a major carrier stationed at San Diego in 1939. He was a New Deal Democrat.

Fields commanded an aircraft carrier during WW2 and US forces in Korea between 1951 and 1953.

In 1955, a "Draft Fields" movement was formed by grassroots Democrats, but the Admiral refused to run for President due to Eisenhower's popularity.

**1960 Democratic primaries**

**New Hampshire primary**

March 8, 1960

John Kennedy 74%
Oscar Fields 36%

Kennedy won due to being from Massachusetts, but Fields' strong showing caused some panic from his supporters.

**Wisconsin primary**

April 5, 1960

Oscar Fields 43%
John Kennedy 29%
Hubert Humphrey 28%

Fields began a whistle-stop tour of Wisconsin immediately after the New Hampshire primary, personally meeting with farmers and factory workers, giving interviews to local newspapers, and spreading campaign propaganda together with supporters. This strategy worked, and he won an upset victory in WI; Humphrey's third-place showing threw his campaign into disarray.

**Illinois primary**

April 12, 1960

John Kennedy 42%
Oscar Fields 33%
Hubert Humphrey 25%

Kennedy's strong support from Catholic voters and the Democratic machine helped him make a comeback in Illinois. After another disappointing showing, Hubert Humphrey dropped out and endorsed Fields.

**New Jersey primary**

April 19, 1960

Unpledged 85%
Oscar Fields 15%

The state overwhelmingly voted for unpledged delegates, but Fields racked up one sixth of the ballots cast.

**Massachusetts primary**

April 26, 1960

John Kennedy 93%

Oscar Fields refused to get in the ballot in Massachusetts, making John Kennedy sweep his home state.

But the big contest of the night was the:

**Pennsylvania primary**

April 26, 1960

Oscar Fields 49%
John Kennedy 47%
Hubert Humphrey 2%

Fields tried to wean Catholic voters away from Kennedy by spreading rumors of his infidelities, and attract the working-class vote by pointing out Kennedy's elitist background. The Senator for Massachusetts accused Fields of "lying", and said the Admiral should have been "ashamed", but these tricks (and Fields' late use of television advertising) helped him pull off an Appalachia-fueled upset; the state was very close due to Kennedy campaigning with his wife and brothers.

**Indiana primary**

May 3, 1960

John Kennedy 47%
Oscar Fields 46%

On April 29, Kennedy gave a long speech to dispel the rumors spread by the Fields campaign, helping the Senator and hurting the Admiral; spreading information of dubious accuracy made Fields look corrupt in comparison to Kennedy, who made another comeback.

**Ohio primary**

May 3, 1960

Michael DiSalle 55%
Oscar Fields 28%

Favorite son candidate and Governor Michael DiSalle crushed Admiral Fields in his state.

**D.C primary**

May 3, 1960

Hubert Humphrey 43%
Oscar Fields 36%

Fields and Humphrey were the only candidates in the ballot in DC, with Humphrey's record on civil rights pushing him to victory in spite of dropping out.

**Nebraska primary**

May 10, 1960

Oscar Fields 48%
John Kennedy 35%
Hubert Humphrey 2%

Fields' populist liberalism and appeal among rural voters helped him defeat the "New England elitist" Kennedy.

**West Virginia primary**

May 10, 1960

Oscar Fields 50%
John Kennedy 33%
Hubert Humphrey 11%

Kennedy heavily tried to pull off an upset in WV, but Fields had an advantage among red-blooded Protestants, and the Admiral had focused on protecting miners. The state was much closer than earlier polls predicted, however.

**Maryland primary**

May 17, 1960

John Kennedy 48%
Oscar Fields 39%

Fields emphasized his naval record, thinking this would help him in the coastal state; while focusing on civil rights.

**Oregon primary**

May 20, 1960

Oscar Fields 53%
John Kennedy 40%
Hubert Humphrey 3%

The "favorite son" effect and Fields' popularity in the east of the state made him carry Oregon by thirteen points, only Kennedy's charisma keeping the state relatively close.

**Florida**

May 24, 1960

George Smathers 89%
Oscar Fields 11%

As the "favorite son" candidate, Senator Smathers won every county, and Florida by 78 percentage points.

**California**

June 7, 1960

Oscar Fields 51%
John Kennedy 43%
Pat Brown (Write-in) 3%

Kennedy's campaign was already on its last legs, but he placed lots of effort into an upset win in California, given his support among Hispanic Catholics. But Fields had been raised in California (where his parents moved in 1910), denting this appeal as swing voters coalesced behind the Admiral.

**South Dakota**

June 7, 1960

Oscar Fields 58%
John Kennedy 33%
Hubert Humphrey 12%

The final contest in the Democratic primaries was won by Fields by a landslide due to Kennedy's unpopularity in the state and Fields' WWC appeal.

In the meantime those primaries were held, John Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson were racking up lots of delegates from caucus states, where they had the support of Democratic bosses.

***Democratic National Convention**
 
**First ballot**

**July 11, 1960**

Oscar Fields 643 votes

John Kennedy 317 votes

Lyndon Johnson 216 votes

Stuart Symington 74 votes

Robert B. Meyner 28 votes

George Smathers 24 votes

Hubert Humphrey 23 votes

Ross Barnett 22 votes

Herschel C. Loveless 1 vote

Pat Brown, Orval E. Faubus each 1 vote

After Humphrey, Johnson and Meyner pledged their delegates to Fields, he won the nomination on the second ballot.

 Oscar Fields gave a speech at the Democratic National Convention highlighting his war record and receivership of the Medal of Honor and Presidential Medal of Freedom, while mentioning his views on healthcare, education, civil rights and the Cold War.

On the general election, Admiral Fields called for:

1. Repealing the Taft-Hartley Act, and weakening state right-to-work laws.
2. Requiring corporations to provide paid family leave to a pregnant women and her husband.
3. Reducing interest rates by 5%.
4. Creating a $1,500 tax credit for families with children.
5. Estabilishing an optional, federal healthcare program providing health coverage for every American.
6. Raising the federal minimum wage to $1.50 per hour, while allowing small businesses to opt out of it.
7. Making employment in the civil service and federal government programs guaranteed.
8. Lowering the top marginal income tax rate to 80%, while closing corporate tax loopholes and reducing rates for the middle class.
9. Creating the Department of Education, and Department of Housing.
10. Making trade schools tuition-free.
11. Desegregating schools, banning the poll tax, working with Congress to write and pass Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts, and banning discrimination in employment, housing and education.

**Foreign policy and military**

1. Beginning a buildup of ballistic missiles to address the missile gap.
2. Defending all of Taiwan, including the Quemoy and Matsu islands.
3. Increasing foreign aid to Latin America and Southeast Asia, to prevent communism from spreading.
4. Supporting moderate independence movements in Africa and the Middle East.
5. Supporting the government in South Vietnam with military and financial aid.
6. Monitoring the Cuban government to prevent a tilt towards Communism.
7. Creating an "Eastern Underground Railroad", helping people escape from Communist countries.
8. Focusing on nuclear missiles instead of strategic bombers.
9. Continuing to draw closer to Saudi Arabia and Iran.
10. Beginning a naval buildup, phasing out all battleships by 1968.

Fields campaigned on these, focusing on domestic policy while bringing up his war record on TV advertisements. The Admiral chose Stuart Symington as his running mate, with the goal of appealing to those who supported John Kennedy. In spite of their relationship during the primaries, Kennedy campaigned for Fields in the East Cost, even giving a speech at the DNC where he called for the Democratic Party to move into the future by reforming civil rights, education and healthcare.

The Admiral was undermined by his lack of political experience, a poor performance in the first presidential debate against Richard Nixon and Harry Byrd's segregationist third-party candidacy meant to deadlock the Electoral College. However, Fields had more popular policies, better luck and superior campaigning skills.

[Blow by blow, the passion dies]

Harry Parker could've chosen Chuck Grassley as a running mate in 1988, instead of Lamar Alexander.

[Blow by blow, the passion dies]

Oscar Fields pushed for many domestic reforms, but universal healthcare, the Department of Education, paid parental leave and tuition-free trade schools failed to pass

**Major pieces of legislation signed by Oscar Fields**

- Education Act of 1961 (May 7, 1961): doubles pay for public school teachers across the board, while making trade schools publicly funded, and estabilishing Student Aid.
- Minimum Wage Act of 1961 (August 4, 1961): Raises the federal minimum wage to 1.05 dollars per hour, with some exceptions for small businesses.
- Fair Taxation Act (January 2, 1962): Creates a child tax credit of $850 per month, while reducing income tax rates for the middle class.
- Medicare Act of 1962 (February 19, 1962): Creates a federal healthcare program providing free medical care for retirees, while protecting those with preexisting conditions.
- Paid Leave Act of 1962 (March 24, 1962): Requires corporations to provide up to one month of paid leave to sick employees.
- Housing Act of 1962 (May 14, 1962): Creates the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and calls for all housing to be desegregated by 1968.
- Interest Rate Act of 1962 (June 28, 1962): Reduces interest rates by 5%.
- Collective Bargaining Act (July 12, 1962): Provides collective bargaining rights for the federal government's employees.
- 24th Amendment (August 19, 1962): Bans the poll tax.
- Immigration Act of 1963 (January 17, 1963): Eases restrictions on immigration from Latin America and Asia.
- Police Grants Act (May 5, 1963): Provides grants to city police departments, to make them more effective.
- Civil Rights Act (March 17, 1964): Bans discrimination in employment and housing.
- Voting Rights Act (December 26, 1964): Bans racial discrimination in voting.

**Foreign & Military Policy**

- Negotiated with Nikita Khrushchev and Fidel Castro to solve the Cuban Missile Crisis.
- Imposed a trade embargo on Cuba.
- Supported South Vietnam with weapons and money even after the Buddhist crisis.
- Doubled foreign aid to Latin America and South Korea between 1962 and 1963.
- Deepened relations with Ethiopia, Iran and Liberia.
- Called for the decolonization of Africa, and democratization of Spain.
- Retired all but three battleships, while constructing 5 nuclear submarines, launching the first nuclear aircraft carriers, and refitting older ones.
- Launched a nuclear buildup, constructing 100 ICBMs and 250 tactical nuclear weapons.
- Supported a military coup in Brazil.
- Met with Chiang Kai-Shek two weeks after the Chinese nuclear test, discussing military spending.
- Unsuccessfully pushed for the independence of East Pakistan.
- Developed a jet attack aircraft to replace the A-1 Skyraider.
- Founded the Eastern Underground Railroad, helping people escape Communist countries; 100,000 did so during Fields' first term, less than the expected.
- Conditionally increased foreign trade with European countries and Japan.

On November 23, 1963, Oscar Fields kicked off his reelection campaign in St. Louis, Missouri.

Fields focused on the modest economic growth seen under his first term, promising to expand upon it by implementing paid parental leave, universal healthcare, tuition-free trade schools, guaranteed employment, a repeal of the Taft-Hartley Act, and creating the Department of Education. Fields attacked Barry Goldwater – whom the President had an acrimonious relationship with since his days as Secretary of Navy – on his vote against the Civil Rights Act, and gaffes such as sinking the Eastern Seaboard, "extremism in defense of liberty is no vice", and wanting to make Social Security voluntary. He said during a speech: "Why someone would want to chop off an entire part of our country is beyond me". A big opportunity for Fields' campaign came on October 6, when a civil war broke out in South Vietnam; the President's military airlift boosted his popularity.

Goldwater did not call for the use of nuclear weapons, and the Democratic nominee did not get a sympathy boost from his predecessor's assassination.

[Blow by blow, the passion dies]

1932 United States presidential election

After losing 1928, Henry Edwards remained in the US Senate, where he continued to write progressive legislation "like a conveyor belt", according to a contemporary. Edwards was a major opponent of Herbert Hoover's policies, especially his opposition to unemployment insurance, and decided to run for a rematch "in early 1930" in the words of Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr.

During the Great Depression, Edwards changed his mind on Prohibition, pushing for its repeal.

He called the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act "absolutely terrible" and called for the legislation to not be docketed; this failed.

Edwards announced his second candidacy for President on July 4, 1931. He gave an announcement speech hitting on themes of optimism, pledging to create the "Widespread Prosperity" programs: unemployment subsidies, comprehensive, progressive pensions for the elderly, farm subsidies, a $5 billion land reclamation project to end the Dust Bowl, public works, a federal electrification program, repeal of the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act, corporate and capital gains taxes, a federal ban on children under 14 working, greater regulation of banks and other utilities, paid sick leave of up to one week, and a minimum wage of 30 cents per hour.

During the Democratic National Convention, Edwards was nominated on the first ballot, due to being a former nominee. He chose second place finisher Al Smith as a running mate, due to his fiscal conservatism and appeal to immigrant voters.

Edwards' speech in the DNC talked about his views on economics, which he said were the only way to lift America out of the depression. He said the Democratic party should "relentlessly fight for material and social progress, while being mindful of reality", a phrase which became widely known.

During the general election, Edwards widely campaigned on the Northeast, particularly New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, largely ignoring his native Midwest. He rarely attacked Herbert Hoover, instead running a campaign of optimism, and frequently using the automobile instead of train. The Democratic nominee emphasized unemployment, electrification and farm issues most often.

Edwards won by a landslide, with his Widespread Prosperity Coalition remaining in control for decades.

[Blow by blow, the passion dies]

2016 United States presidential election

During McCain's second term, tensions with Russia increased, while the US economy recovered from the Great Recession by 2014. Democrats almost flipped the House of Representatives in 2016.

**Domestic Policy**

- Created a $50,000 tax credit and $45,000 tax deduction for Americans starting new businesses – Ed Donnell's idea.
- Increased oversight of the financial sector.
- Started providing grants to city police departments, to make them more effective.
- Unsuccessfully pushed for a balanced budget amendment.
- Signed a $430 billion infrastructure bill into law on October 27, 2015.
- Fully repealed the Patriot Act.
- Named a moderate conservative to replace Antonin Scalia.
- Increased the federal minimum wage to $8.3 per hour.
- Reduced funding for Planned Parenthood.
- Opened 250 trade schools throughout all 50 states, DC and Puerto Rico.
- Expanded tax breaks for electric cars.
- Repealed Don't Ask, Don't Tell on December 18, 2014.
- Signed into law a bill implementing mandatory parental notification and consent (with a judicial bypass) for minors seeking abortions on March 27, 2014.
- Expanded background checks for gun buyers under 21, and closed the boyfriend loophole, after the Charleston shooting.

**Foreign policy**

- Imposed sanctions on Russia after the invasion of Crimea.
- Created a safe zone for the Free Syrian Army, to protect them from Assad's forces.
- Implemented a THAAD missile defense system in Eastern Europe starting in May 2015.
- Increased aid to Vietnam and the Philippines due to the Spratly Islands dispute.
- Opposed the Paris Agreement, seeing it as unfair to the US.
- Hacked into Iran's nuclear program, substantially increasing regional tensions (and putting the world into the brink of war in December 2015-January 2016).
- Unsuccessfully tried to allow Ukraine into NATO, until Romania and Poland dissented.
- Condemned the military crackdown in Turkey.
- Continued the embargo on Cuba.
- Tightened sanctions on Venezuela.
- Tried to deprive the North Korean government of hard currency.
- Sold weapons to Saudi Arabia after its invasion of Yemen.

US Senator for New York Hillary Clinton ran a moderate liberal campaign, calling for a public healthcare option with adequate funding and controls on prices, a minimum wage of 12 dollars per hour, renegotiating the Trans-Pacific Partnership with greater protection for American manufacturing, defending the Syrian safe zone against Assad and ISIS, free preschool and expanded Pell Grants, raising taxes on the wealthy, protecting Roe vs Wade, legalizing and regulating marijuana, a "clawback" ending tax breaks and other benefits for companies that move jobs overseas, and banning assault rifles. Clinton chose US Senator for Pennsylvania Bob Casey as a running mate, with the goal of appealing to Midwestern voters and progressives. She rarely attacked Trump, instead focusing on his main opponent, to split the Republican vote.

Vice President Tim Pawlenty called for continuing and expanding John McCain's policies; he promised tax cuts, McCain's efforts to pass the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the naming of conservative judges, a points-based immigration system paired with a path to citizenship, cooperating with European countries and Israel in the fight against international terrorism, increasing the tax deduction for these new businesses to $50,000, extending sick leave while doubling pay for nurses and hospital staff across the board, and to oppose most restrictions on gun ownership. Pawlenty attacked Hillary Clinton on her emails and ties to Goldman Sachs.

The election's surprise was the strong performance of billionaire businessman Donald Trump, who ran as the nominee of the Constitution Party in the general election after losing the Republican primaries. Trump promised to eliminate federal taxation for those making below $10,000 a year, raise tariffs on Chinese products, construct a wall in the border with Mexico, temporarily ban Muslims from entering the country, and repeal and replace Welchcare. Trump's campaign gained surprising traction with working-class and rural voters, but the Access Hollywood tape damaged his credibility. However, Trump managed to qualify for the first presidential debate, where all three candidates performed strongly.

Hillary Clinton was elected by winning the "blue wall" and all swing states, with the exception of North Carolina due to Tim Pawlenty's running mate. Trump became the first third-party candidate in 48 years to win a state, after carrying West Virginia by 2.7%; he finished second in Mississippi, Kentucky, Alaska and Montana.

Democrats had a majority in both chambers from 2017 to 2019, when Republicans took control of the House of Representatives (221-214)

**Domestic policies**

- Raised the federal minimum wage to 11 dollars per hour.
- Began to cut subsidies for the fossil fuel industry.
- Created a federal program of renewable (wind, solar and geothermal) energy development.
- Banned high-capacity gun magazines nationwide for 10 years in 2018, like her husband had done with assault rifles.
- Increased funding for childcare.
- Expanded the child tax credit.
- Named moderately liberal judges to the Supreme and other courts; Mitch McConnell did not allow her to replace RBG.
- Formally decriminalized the possession of cannabis; conservative Democrats prevented her from legalizing the *sale* of marijuana.
- Raised taxes on the wealthiest 1% of Americans, while cracking down on tax evasion.
- Increased benefits for Social Security and Medicare.
- Made the Violence against Women Act permanent, with protections for transgenders and illegal immigrants.
- Increased funding for scientific research, especially on the environment.
- Allowed transgender people to serve in the military.
- Made period products tax-exempt.
- Unsuccessfully tried to implement a public healthcare option, raise the federal minimum wage to 12 dollars per hour, ban assault rifles, make birth control free on demand, name a liberal black woman to replace RBG, and ban fracking.
- Strictly followed CDC advice over COVID-19, including a federal mask mandate; however, she did not impose a federal lockdown.

**Foreign policy**

- Continued the anti-China policy started by Steve Welch, providing millions of dollars in military aid to India, Taiwan and South Korea.
- Unsuccessfully tried to convince North Korea to get rid of its nuclear weapons in return for an end to sanctions.
- Renegotiated the Trans-Pacific Partnership to contain greater protection for American manufacturing.
- Joined the Paris Agreement, continuing to work closely with European countries to reduce CO2 emissions.
- Reduced weapons sales to Saudi Arabia, but did not fully stop them.
- Signed a nuclear deal with Iran in 2019.
- Increased economic and military aid to Ukraine and the Baltic states.
- Improved relations with African countries to prevent China from gaining a foothold in the continent.

[Blow by blow, the passion dies]

Hemingway was a lawyer and Senator for Pennsylvania since 1843, and one of the main people responsible for the compromise of 1850. He promised expanded credit for industrialists, keeping slavery a state issue while freeing the children of slaves born after January 5 1854, allowing literate and noncriminal European immigrants, public works such as making the Mississippi River more navigable, a foreign policy based on friendly relations with Latin America, creating a flat income tax, and improving sewage systems.

Originally, his running mate was Daniel Webster, but when Webster died, he got replaced with Congressman Abraham Lincoln. Hemingway ran a front porch campaign.

[Blow by blow, the passion dies]

In November 2021, Ed Donnell caused controversy by tweeting, "Let's go Brandon! By the way, this also refers to my nephew Brandon Donnell, who faces a difficult test this week"

[Blow by blow, the passion dies]

In 2018 and 2022, Ed Donnell endorsed Jair Bolsonaro, eventually lamenting Lula's victory

[Blow by blow, the passion dies]

During his first term, Henry Edwards created unemployment insurance and farm subsidies, built massive public works, started a federal electrification program, began a $5 billion land reclamation project to end the Dust Bowl, banned children under 14 from working, created Social Security (which is slightly different than OTL) and failed to implement paid sick leave, corporate and capital gains taxes, and a minimum wage.

Edwards also ended US interventionism in Latin America.

[Blow by blow, the passion dies]

Henry Edwards ran on the Widespread Prosperity, highlighting the achievements of his first term, while using rethoric about defending the American worker, and blaming the Republicans for the Great Depression. He said Alf Landon knew that, to explain his disappearance. Edwards' campaigning focused on the Northeast.

[Blow by blow, the passion dies]

2016 US Senate elections. Ed Donnell's coattails were enough for Kelly Ayotte to win reelection, with other races being closer.

(By the way, it was 54 seats, with Democrats winning a special election in West Virginia)

[Blow by blow, the passion dies]

Abortion after 24 weeks of pregnancy has been illegal in the United States since 2018, when Ed Donnell signed the Unborn Protection Act into law

[President Johnson]

I thought OC means this was a secular timeline featuring the presidency of our secular king.

[Blow by blow, the passion dies]

I thought OC means this was a secular timeline featuring the presidency of our secular king.

OC means fictional character

[Blow by blow, the passion dies]

If Steve Welch was the Democratic nominee in 2012

[Blow by blow, the passion dies]

2020 without COVID



This would be a more interesting timeline than Donnell losing reelection.

[Blow by blow, the passion dies]

Joe Manchin and Heidi Heitkamp voted with Ed Donnell most of the time

[Blow by blow, the passion dies]

Steve Welch was the United States' first atheist president; he regards the concept of gods as "absurd", while supporting religious freedom.

[Blow by blow, the passion dies]

Porter, a charismatic orator, gave a speech at the Democratic National Convention where he focused on the Democratic Party's history of fighting for liberty and justice at home and abroad; the Senator for Montana said he was the lastest in a long line of learners, while stating his views on education, healthcare, unions, Vietnam and welfare programs. His quote "We shall make the future starting in 1973" became widely known.

The Democratic nominee ran on:

- Implementing Ted Kennedy's healthcare plan;
- Making employment in federal programs and the civil service guaranteed for anyone willing and able to work;
- Creating Departments of Education, Infrastructure and Energy;
- Naming strict constructionists to the courts;
- Increasing funding for key social programs;
- Continuing Richard Nixon's Vietnam policy;
- Creating a Consumer Protection Agency, while strengthening anti-monopoly laws;
- Only using busing in limited circumstances.

Porter visited France, Britain and West Germany, meeting with George Heath, Georges Pompidou, and Willy Brandt; he also condemned the Black September Massacre.

The Senator for Montana also made campaign appearances with Edmund Muskie, George Wallace and George McGovern, while holding a huge rally with Ted Kennedy in Chicago. He profusely attacked Spiro Agnew for his attack dog personality, as well.

Porter highlighted his military service in World War II as the focus of television ads; this helped him among swing voters.

Richard Nixon was estimated to win 350 electoral votes during most of the campaign. However, on October 5, 1972, *The New York Times* published the results of an investigation by the Nixon Administration, which found Porter had taken campaign funds for personal use. Of course, the Senator provided a strong denial, but the damage was done, and Nixon rose in the polls.

Henry Kissinger's statement that "peace was at hand" in Vietnam was also criticized.

In the final ways of the campaign, Porter focused on attacking Nixon over Watergate, which had little effect.

Richard Nixon won by a landslide, becoming the first Republican to sweep the South

[Blow by blow, the passion dies]

Franklin Porter was an US Senator for Montana between 1961 and 1973