The Quayle Presidency

[Reaganfan]

299 people in Iowa. 299 people who cast their ballot for the 43rd President of the United States. In the year 2000, Americans were deeply divided. The Presidential campaign had been by far the most negative, bitter, divisive campaign in the history of American politics. But 299 people in Iowa made the difference between two very different men.

Vying for the Presidency were two Vice Presidents.

Al Gore, the 45rd Vice President of the United States, we trying hard to appease his liberal supporters in the Democratic Party while trying not to alienate moderate Democrats and Independents angry at the incumbent President Bill Clinton. He selected Massachusetts Senator John Kerry as his running mate to help solidify his liberal base. The Gore/Kerry ticket swung out of the Democratic Convention in Los Angeles with a solid 10-pt lead against the Republicans. In solidifying his base, he still had two major obstacles; First, prevent Green Party candidate Ralph Nader from spoiling the election by taking away liberal votes. Second, maintain enough legitimacy in Southern states such as Tennessee.


 
Dan Quayle, the 44th Vice President of the United States, was a surprise nominee for the Republican Party. After Governor George W. Bush of Texas shocked the political world by declining a White House run in late 1999, Dan Quayle became a national frontrunner. His tarnished reputation during his years as Vice President was seen as a major liability. His chief competitor during the primary was Arizona Senator John McCain, seen as the moderate alternative to Quayle. Former Vice President Quayle ran a grassroots campaign and took conservative votes all the way to the nomination. He hoped to defeat Gore by using two tactics; Putting General Norman Schwarzkopf, a hero of the Gulf War on the Republican ticket, and second, using "compassionate conservatism" to sway conservatives and independents to the polls.



The debates were key. If Gore could deliver a knock-out performance, it would be all over for Dan Quayle. If Quayle could hold his own, or even deliver a stellar performance against Gore as he had done eight years earlier, then the election would become a toss-up. Indeed, Quayle hoped that by carrying conservative voters in places like Iowa and Ohio, he could tip the electoral map in his favor. The debate, much like in 1992, was seen as a draw. Gore was seen sighing and Quayle stayed on a consistent message: It's time to restore dignity to the White House after eight years of Bill Clinton and Al Gore.

The year 2000 was a much more favorable electoral climate for Dan Quayle. Unlike 1992, the cynicism of Dan Quayle was contrasted with the dullness and questions regarding Al Gore. Indeed, polls by October showed Gore and Quayle in a dead heat, with Ralph Nader clearly spoiling votes for Al Gore.

The election was one of the closest in American history. The Quayle/Schwartzkof ticket had more momentum going into election day than did the Gore/Kerry ticket.

Michigan fell for Gore. Ohio went for Quayle. New Hampshire went to Gore. Oregon went for Quayle, clearly spoiled by Nader's 85,000 margin in the state.

At 2:00am on election night, the networks called Iowa for Quayle, by just several thousand votes. A half hour later, Gore called Quayle and conceded. He delivered his concession speech to supporters in Nashville. A half hour later, President-elect Quayle and Vice President-elect Schwarzkopf addressed supporters in Indianapolis. By morning, the margin was seen to be even closer than expected. Gore won the nationwide popular vote by 200,000 votes. Quayle won Florida by only 2,300 votes. Oregon by 15,000. Iowa by 299, in the end. Despite the close margin, the election was over, and Dan Quayle was seen for the first time as having the national stage in his own right.



Quayle/Schwarzkopf: 270
Gore/Kerry: 268

Al Gore: 50,850,926
Dan Quayle: 50,660,110


"The time has come for Americans to pull together, to restore faith, family and values to this nation".
- President-elect James Danforth Quayle, November 8, 2000

[Assistant to the Regional Manager Cathcon]

I actually have a tl planned with a near successful Quayle candidacy in 2000. Too bad Gore wins in my scenario. Looks good though. Hoping to see the Quayle foreign policy in the wake of 9/11 as well as Quayle's cabinet.

[ChairmanSanchez]

Quayle---Americas forgotten Vice President.

[Proud Lieberal from Northeast]

So, basically one draft-dodging, spoiled dumbass from rich family was replaced by another draft-dodging, spoiled dumbass from rich family.

[clarence]

This is very interesting... it is like a historical fiction novel

[ChairmanSanchez]

This is very interesting... it is like a historical fiction novel

Its very similar, its called "Alternate History". Its very interesting, I'd reccomend it Kinda "what if" type things. What if Nixon won 1960? What if Sam Brownback became President? What if 9/11 never happened? tyoe scenarios.

[Assistant to the Regional Manager Cathcon]

This is very interesting... it is like a historical fiction novel

Basically what Sanchez said. A bunch of us do "timelines" here of how the world (US in particular) would change if a certain event went differently or if a certain guy became President.

[clarence]

Wow....amazing

[Simfan34]

HOLY MOTHER OF GOD AHH! You might want to check that first post of yours... but it is quite interesting once you get past the bestiality.

[ChairmanSanchez]

Uh....

[Assistant to the Regional Manager Cathcon]

What the hell happened to your first picture!?

[Bacon King]

Offending material deleted.

[SirNick]

How do you accidentally link something to bestiality porn?

[Reaganfan]

I posted a picture of Al Gore campaigning with Gore 2000 signs behind him. What the hell is everyone else seeing??

[Joe Republic]

I like the unexpected direction this timeline has taken.

How do you accidentally link something to bestiality porn?

Remember what happened to Rochambeau's signature?  Same thing.  Though this time replace the black guy with a horse, and his own hand for a naked woman's mouth.

I posted a picture of Al Gore campaigning with Gore 2000 signs behind him. What the hell is everyone else seeing??

Let's just say that whoever hosted that picture does not approve of hotlinking.

[Reaganfan]

I like the unexpected direction this timeline has taken.

How do you accidentally link something to bestiality porn?

Remember what happened to Rochambeau's signature?  Same thing.  Though this time replace the black guy with a horse, and his own hand for a naked woman's mouth.

I posted a picture of Al Gore campaigning with Gore 2000 signs behind him. What the hell is everyone else seeing??

Let's just say that whoever hosted that picture does not approve of hotlinking.

Oh I see. I'm surprised it was the Gore pic and not the Quayle one.

[Simfan34]

I posted a picture of Al Gore campaigning with Gore 2000 signs behind him. What the hell is everyone else seeing??

Well, let's use this picture from the LA Times that has no chance of doing that:

[Is JCL in mushy sappy love]

So I take Gore winning Tennessee was a butterfly though I do believe Gore wasn't close to winning TN.

[hawkeye59]

So I take Gore winning Tennessee was a butterfly though I do believe Gore wasn't close to winning TN.

4 percent isn't close?

[Is JCL in mushy sappy love]

So I take Gore winning Tennessee was a butterfly though I do believe Gore wasn't close to winning TN.

4 percent isn't close?

A Stanford professor said in a class on the history of elections that it wasn't close. I personally think four percent is close.

[Proud Lieberal from Northeast]

So I take Gore winning Tennessee was a butterfly though I do believe Gore wasn't close to winning TN.

4 percent isn't close?

A Stanford professor said in a class on the history of elections that it wasn't close. I personally think four percent is close.

Usually states with margin of victory less than 5% are considered close.

[ChairmanSanchez]

So whens the next update coming?

[Reaganfan]

There will be an update soon, working on President Quayle's cabinet.

[Assistant to the Regional Manager Cathcon]

Hoping for Elizabeth Dole, Jack Kemp, and maybe another reference to the original Bush cabinet (Scowcroft, Powell, or Baker?).

[Reaganfan]

President-elect Quayle wakes up Wednesday morning to a world which he had long dreamed of, but which often seemed impossible. He had won the Presidential election, in the end, by just 299 votes in Iowa, giving him the state, and with it the Presidency. Newspapers across the country read headlines such as "QUAYLE'S MOMENT" and "QUAYLE IN A SQUEAKER". He understands that Vice President Gore won the nationwide popular vote. Late night TV hosts have already made fun of him for the past 12 years, now he will be bombarded with notions of "He didn't really win". As far as Dan Quayle is concerned, the U.S. Constitution says he did. Al Gore is seen boarding a plane with John Kerry waving to a crowd in Nashville, Tennessee. He's headed back to Washington to continue his job until January the 20th comes around.

Quayle has already made his decisions for cabinet posts. The Republican tilt in the Senate gives him optimism that his appointees will be confirmed.

The Quayle Cabinet is expected to be as follows:

President - Dan Quayle
Vice President - Norman Schwarzkopf
Secretary of State - Colin Powell
Secretary of the Treasury - Dan Coats
Secretary of Defense - Dick Cheney
Attorney General - Frank Keating
Secretary of the Interior - Marc Racicot
Secretary of Agriculture - Bill Graves
Secretary of Commerce - Andrew Card
Secretary of Labor - Elizabeth Dole
Secretary of Health and Human Services - Tommy Thompson
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development - Jack Kemp
Secretary of Transportation - Mike Leavitt
Secretary of Energy - John Ashcroft
Secretary of Veterans Affairs - Bob Dole
Chief of Staff - James Baker
Administrator of the EPA - Christie Todd Whitman
Director of the Office of Management and Budget - Rob Portman
Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy - William Bennett

National Security Advisor - Brent Scowcroft




CHRIS MATTHEWS: Well folks the time has come to go back to the past. That's right, fire up the Delorean, get Michael J. Fox en-route back ten years ago. President-elect Dan Quayle has decided to choose a cabinet that looks, sounds and feels of the Gulf War era. In fact the newly "elected" Quayle has gone as far as to keep George Bush's National Security Advisor, Chief of Staff and Defense Secretary as part of the new and seemingly unimaginable Quayle Administration.

Joining us now to discuss it is NBC's own Washington Bureau Chief and host of Meet the Press, Tim Russert. Tim, what in the world is going through the head of Dan Quayle when here is the United States, 10 years without war, foreign policy on the back-burner, filling up his cabinet with a rehash of 1991? What say you?

TIM RUSSERT: Well, it's clear that any Republican that won the White House this year would have appointed people like Mike Leavitt and John Ashcroft, but clearly there is a sense of lost time among Republicans. Remember, Dan Quayle for better or worse, had been seen for many years as a potential President. I recall back a decade or so ago when people used to almost jokingly say that after Reagan came Bush and after Bush would come Quayle. Bill Clinton, in the eyes of many Republicans, was a typo in the Reagan-Bush and now Quayle legacy. Now, all the nitpicking aside, this is an experienced cabinet. These are men and women who are ready on day one to get the job done, but of course, from Vice President-elect Schwarzkopf to Colin Powell and Dick Cheney, there does seem to be a rehash of the Bush administration.

CHRIS MATTHEWS: I'm just in shock, utter shock, it's like oh boy ET phone home...anyway...I'm just stunned that in a peacetime environment with no national security threats, why Quayle would fill his cabinet with people who, no offense to those people, are wartime leaders. Dick Cheney was the front-man during the Gulf War. Schwarzkopf, Powell, Scowcroft...it just sends chills down my leg to think that he we are talking about values and education and tax cuts, and we have a cabinet totally obsolete for the current times.