http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-21768668

What are thoughts? Not that the news is really surprising but still.

Should Nixon been in prison for treason for undermining the President and prolonging a war for four years that could have been ended in 1968.

It would make a great timeline.

My scenario:

Lieberman gets in with huge approval ratings, equal to those of Bush. The war in Afghanistan will be inevitable. Lieberman will go in even more than Bush did, go after Bin Laden with everything the military has. After all, with a dead president it has become even more personal. They had been close in getting Osama in real life so it's not out of the question that in this scenario they will get for real. That will be some where in late 2001 or early 2002. It will keep his ratings sky high going in to the midterms. Lieberman might use his popularity to get some things done on the domestic front. With Republicans reluctant to oppose a extremely popular president they might work with him on issues like health care and education.

During the midterms the Democrats win the majority in the Senate (the Democrats would never have gained the majority in the scenario because of Lieberman's resignation from the Senate and the Republican governor of Connecticut appointing a Republican to his seat. That seat will be won back a Democrat in 2002, Max Cleland wins his reelection bid. Shaheen wins in New Hampshire and with Jeffords becoming an independent it gives the Democrats a majority. Early in the new year, McCain also leaves the Republican and becomes a Democrat. The Democrats also win enough seats to gain a majority in the House making Dick Gephart the Speaker.

After Gore's death, Lieberman decides to give the Vice Presidency to former Senator Bob Kerrey of Nebraska. And for the Presidential elections of 2004 this will also be the ticket for the Democratic Party.

Lieberman doesn't go in to Iraq but he starts to undermine Saddam Hussein, trying to get him out of office. The War in Afghanistan stills goes on. Al Qaeda has been hit hard, but the Taliban is still going on. But with the death of Bin Laden the war is seen as more successful. Lieberman hopes to get the troops out by 2006. 2003 Is a good but also difficult year for the President. His ratings start the drop and by the summer they fall below the 60% for the first time. Still, most people approve of his work and most Republicans don't see a reason to jump in the race for the Presidency. The number one candidate, Jeb Bush, decides to stay out, and with McCain having joined the Democrats the party has no real front runner for 2004.

Lieberman wins the nomination for his party's candidacy easily. With the Republicans it's a longer process but ultimately Governor George Pataki of New York gets the nomination. Having won reelection in 2002 in a good year for the Democrats, he is seen as their strongest candidate. But most experts don't give him much change against the popular President.

The campaign is a boring one. The candidates agree for the most part on foreign policy and after 9/11 foreign policy and national security are the number issue with the voters. The Republicans attack Lieberman on domestic spending and the economy (the economy is still recovering from the Dot Com bubble and 9/11) but most voters see in the President a strong and determent leader.

On November 2 Lieberman wins a strong victory. Altough is approval ratings have dropped to around 50%, it is enough to win a majority of the vote, the first for a Democrat in 28 years.



Lieberman - Kerrey: 51% and 325 ECV
Pataki - Alexander: 47% and 213 ECV

His second term and his only elected term start strong for Lieberman. With increased majorities in the House and the Senate and the election behind him, the President starts to build a coalition to fight against Saddam. Still in the power after years of pressure, Lieberman decides to take him out. His newly appointed Secretary of State, John McCain, is all for it and travels the world to get the support from other nations. With the War in Afghanistan slowly winding down, the attention is now focused on Iraq and for months the White House prepares the plans for a invasion and prepares the nation for a new war. However most countries decide to stay out and the US only has a small coalition. It is deemed enough. After Saddam kicks the UN weapons inspectors out in early 2006 the war starts and within weeks the Iraqi army is defeated. Saddam however flees and is nowhere to be found. The approval ratings for the President rise again after the success in Iraq and after ending 2005 with a approval rating of just 43% they are now above 55% again.

On the domestic front things are more difficult. The Republicans, after recovering from losing the fourth presidential election in a row, decide to make life much more difficult for the President. So nothing really is achieved. Katrina hits New Orleans but is far better handled by the administration.
The new year however will not bring better news. With the midterms coming up, the Democrats worry about the backlash. After 14 years of Democratic rule the nation wants fresh blood.

The Iraq War goes in to much of the same problems that it had in real life, but less severe. With Al Qaeda more of less gone, rogue terrorists create havoc in Iraq, but never to a degree as they did in real life. By the elections of 2006 the Democratic Party is in trouble. Divided over the foreign policy of the President and with the President's approval ratings at 45% things look bleak. During the midterms the Republican Party gains a small majority in both houses of Congress, making it almost impossible for Lieberman to get anything done in his last two years. He decides to focus even more on foreign policy. With Iraq becoming more problematic he needs a big success. The peace process is the most obvious and he decides to use his Jewish background to force Israel to make a deal with the Palestinians. In the summer of 2007, after months of negotiations a peace accord is agreed between Abbas and Olmert. A new Palestinian state is founded, consisting of the West Bank and Gaza with Ramallah as it's captital. Israel is allowed to get three major settlements on the West Bank, defended by the Israeli army. Al other settlements will be demolished. Jerusalem is given a special status, neither nation can claim it and make it their capital. The Wall will remain for now but it will be redrawn to place it along the border. The checkpoints will also stay in place.
The accords are seen as a big achievement and after that Lieberman decides he has done enough. The economy however starts to collapse. And 2008 will prove to be a very hard year. With the economic downturn the prospects for the Democrats are dark. Many topcontenders decide to stay out and the nomination goes to Senator John Edwards of North Carolina. The Republicans nominate Jeb Bush and in November he defeats Edwards in a landslide victory 53% - 45%:



On January 20, 2009 Lieberman leaves the White House. The economy is in trouble (altough not as bad as in real life, because no tax cuts and a later Iraq War), and a messy War in Iraq. He does however has is successes and most experts agree that Lieberman was for the most part a good and successful President.

Official Ballot

Representative:
[3] Matt from VT (Federalist Party - Vermont)
[4] Kalwejt (John Engle Party - Vermont)
[2] bore (Labor Party - Rhode Island)
[1] sirnick (Liberal Party - New York)
[5] 20RP12 (The People's Party - Maine)
[] Write-in:________________

Chuck Hagel is certainly no less qualified to be Secretary of Defense than John McCain would be.

And we all know that McCain wouldn't say no to the job if it were offered to him.

Obama might have given him a job, if he hadn't acted like a total jerk in the last four years.

That word makes no sense.

It's the Republican Party.

He is still going to win.

Aye

[Official Ballot]

Official Ballot

Governor
[2] Scott (New Jesus Christ Party - Delaware)
[1] Write-in: Napoleon

Assembly
[8] NHI (Federalist Party - New Hampshire)
[6] Poirot (Independent - New York)
[4] bore (Labor Party - Rhode Island)
[3] Snowball (Labor Party - New York)
[5] HockeyDude (Liberal Party - New Jersey)
[1] Napoleon (Liberal Party - Connecticut)
[2] Spenstar3D (Liberal Party - New York)
[7] Fezzyfestoon (The People's Party - Vermont)
[-] Write-in:____________

Constitutional Amendment I

AN AMENDMENT

To formally and constitutionally establish the new capital of the Northeast Region in the city of Buffalo, New York.


Be it enacted by the Assembly of the Northeast Region convened.

SECTION 1. TITLE

This legislation may be cited as the ‘Capital Relocation Amendment of 2013.’

SECTION 2. CAPITAL RELOCATION

Article I of the Northeast Constitution is amended to read:

The Northeast Region and the Constitution thereof shall be representative of the states of Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

The administrative center for the government of the Northeast Region established in this Constitution shall be New York City, NY Buffalo, New York.

[ ] Aye
[ ] Nay
[ ] Abstain
[/quote]

[PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT]

PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT

[5] Cathcon of Michigan and Spamage of Oregon
^{Federalist Party}

[4] Keystone Phil of Pennsylvania and tmthforu94 of Indiana
^{Fratelli d'Atlasia - Federalist Party}

[1] Kalwejt of South Dakota and Wolfentoad of California
^{John Engle Party - Liberal Party}

[2] Marokai Blue of Iowa and AHDuke99 of South Carolina
^{Labor Party - The People's Party}

[3] Winfield of Rhode Island and Simfan34 of New York
^{Social Credit Party}

[-] Write-in:______________________________
^{-__________________}

[-] None of the above

AT-LARGE SENATE - to fill vacancy

[2] Adam Griffin of Georgia
^{Labor Party}

[3] fezzyfestoon of Vermont
^{The People's Party}

[4] Goldwater of Delaware
^{Federalist Party}

[1] Napoleon of Connecticut
^{Liberal Party}


[-] Write-in:______________________________
^{-__________________}

[-] None of the above

NORTHEAST SENATE

[1] Averroes Nix of New York
^{The People's Party}

[2] Poirot of New York
^Independent

[-] Write-in:______________________________
^{-__________________}


[-] None of the above

Darwin.

Debs.

Of the others only La Follette is acceptable. Smith is just corrupt and Coolidge is inept.

Lincoln.

And final should have been between Lincoln and FDR. These man are the two greatest Presidents in history, Washington is a distant third at best.

Weasels.

Who?

And yes, stop paying attention to this people. They are not worth it. The people of North Korea are starving and we can only talk about the nuclear weapons.

They should pick a gay guy.





Oh wait.......

Judas I

If Christie can't handle this criticism he will be in for a hard road three years from now. Because the critics will only become harder and louder.

And yes, he is overweight and should seriously consider losing weight in the next few years. But his character will be the most negative thing about him. His big mouth might work for some but it will drive away a lot of other people.

[Ballot]

Today I shall caucus for Keystone Phil/Tmthforu94.

Ballot

Party Leadership

Chair
[X] Wolfentoad
[] Write-In:_____________

Vice Chair
[X] Mr. X
[] Write-In:_____________

Whip
[X] Clinton1996
[] Write-In:_____________

Platform Proposals

THIS PARTY is hereby founded on the conviction that every Atlasian has the opportunity to succeed, to prosper, and to live freely in this great society. We resolve the debate over the role of government in our lives by demonstrating that it is neither the enemy nor the solution, but instruments to give our people the tools and conditions to make the most of their lives.

The Liberal Party, as it shall forever be known, holds the following:

- That investment in education and the creation of private sector jobs, while keeping deficits and interest rates low, is the path to a stronger economy.
- That government's primary duties are to the individuals of its nation.
- That the government must be as non-interventionist as possible while still defending Atlasia against a variety of threats foreign and domestic.
- That taxes on working people should be lowered and loopholes closed to make a fairer, more progressive tax system.
- That welfare is a tool, not a way of life, and should be designed to help people get back on their feet and back to work.
- That free trade agreements are the best way to create global prosperity, within limits.
- That every child deserves a high-quality, free education.
- That Fritzcare and the NSSA should be maintained and its services improved.
- That the death penalty is a barbaric relic that infringes on human rights.
- That rehabilitation is the best way to lower crime.
- That a compassionate yet realistic immigration policy will strengthen our economy and nation.
- That high-speed rail should be expanded.
- That renewable energy and other ways to reduce carbon emissions should be invested in.
- That civil liberties, be they the rights to privacy, expression, the various rights accorded to those in our criminal justice system, or any other Constitution liberties, must be held sacrosanct.
- That all people, of all classes, colors, races, ethnicities, nationalities, religions, genders, and sexualities should be granted the same rights as others.
- That this party is founded on substance and results, not ideologies or partisan loyalties.

[X] Aye
[] Nay
[] Abstain

Bylaw Proposals

Section 5. Endorsements a. The Liberal Party may choose by majority vote to cross-endorse candidates from other parties running for federal or regional offices, assuming no Liberal candidate is already in the race.  Endorsement votes shall be held for every office available no longer than one week before one of the offices are officially contested

b. Should there be no Liberal candidate running, the endorsed candidate(s) shall appear under the Liberal ballot line.

c. The Chair shall inform the SoFE which candidates of other parties shall appear under the Liberal Party ballot line.

[X] Aye
[] Nay
[] Abstain

X Earthling

I always think of this in the Old Gay Man Attracted to Youths sense rather than the military sense.

Yeah, I thought that too, and since clarence was the original poster I thought he was going to "out" someone here.

Yes, I believe we are of one mind on this'n, old chum.

Scary................

Which part....that we thought the same thing, or that there might be a chickenhawk in our midst?

Both.

I always think of this in the Old Gay Man Attracted to Youths sense rather than the military sense.

Yeah, I thought that too, and since clarence was the original poster I thought he was going to "out" someone here.

Yes, I believe we are of one mind on this'n, old chum.

Scary................

Ten years ago the Republicans started to smear a severely wounded Vietnam veteran in order to get him out the senate. Two years later they did the same to another Vietnam veteran in order to keep the President in office. And now a third Vietnam veteran is under attack from Republicans.

Is the Republican Party suffering from a Vietnam War syndrome?

I'm pretty sure your second and third person are the same.

Cleland, Kerry, Hagel.

Options for Clinton:

1. Mark Warner (former governor and current senator, lots of experience, will keep Virginia blue (or red)).

2. Tim Kaine (former governor and current senator, lots of experience, will keep Virginia blue (or red)).

3. Brian Schweitzer (former governor of western state, experienced, may play well in the west).

4. Michael Bennet (current senator of western state, several years in the senate, young, westerner, blue Colorado again?).

5. Jay Nixon (current governor of southern state, experienced, will put Missouri in play for Democrats)

If he runs he will have to resign as Secretary of State. Why would he throw that job away for what is at best a longshot campaign?

Ten years ago the Republicans started to smear a severely wounded Vietnam veteran in order to get him out the senate. Two years later they did the same to another Vietnam veteran in order to keep the President in office. And now a third Vietnam veteran is under attack from Republicans.

Is the Republican Party suffering from a Vietnam War syndrome?

Perry is seriously thinking about running again in 2016?