The Obama Presidency

[Lieutenant Governor Clinton1996]

"Today I say to you the challenges we face are real. They are many, and they are great. They will not be met easily, nor in a short span of time. But know this America, they will be met."- President Barack Obama

Cabinet of The 44th President of The United States, Barack Obama

Secretary of State - Hillary Clinton
Secretary of Treasury - Warren Buffett
Secretary of Defense - Robert Gates
Attorney General - Eric Holder
Secretary of Interior - Ken Salazar
Secretary of Agriculture - Tom Vilsack
Secretary of Commerce - John Bryson
Secretary of Labor - Paul Krugman
Secretary of Health and Human Services - Mitt Romney
Secretary of Housing and Urban Developement - Shaun Donovan
Secretary of Transportation - Ray LaHood
Secretary of Energy - Steven Chu
Secretary of Education - Arne Duncan
Secretary of Veterans Affairs - Max Cleland
Secretary of Homeland Security - Janet Napolitano

[NHI]

Interesting, please continue.

[MRX]

More please!!

[ChairmanSanchez]

Is Biden still VP?

[Lieutenant Governor Clinton1996]

On his first day in office, the President signed an executive order closing Guantanamo Bay and outlawing any forms of torture. Then he turned his attention towards the economy and called a Joint Session of Congress to present his plans to alleviate the crisis.

"Our nation is in crisis. So, I am sending a bill to congress that shall pump money into the economy. It shall include things that both parties can agree on. The Reinvestment and Recovery Act should stop the free fall. So Madam Speaker, let's get this done."- President Obama

The American Reinvestment and Recovery Act included a lot of measures, including about 300 billion dollars in middle income tax cuts, an extension of unemployment benefits, and about 600 billion in direct government spending on infrastructure projects. Originally, the plan would have included more tax cuts and less spending, but at the urging of Labor Secretary Krugman, the government would take a more Keynsian approach.

Gallup Poll
Do You Approve Or Dissaprove Of The Job Barack Obama Is Doing As President?
Yes-68
No-29
No Answer-3

[ChairmanSanchez]

Is Biden still VP?

Disregard this question, I see he still is

I really look forward to seeing how Romneys career pans out with the Department of Commerce.

[Jerseyrules]

Is Biden still VP?

Disregard this question, I see he still is

I really look forward to seeing how Romneys career pans out with the Department of Commerce.

HHS.  I'm scared; although eight years of Obama means Jindal or Rand in 2016 or 2020.

Although Gitmos closed!  (Yaaaaaay!)

Look forward to seeing PATRIOT repealed, and a quicker end to Iraq and Afghanistan.  I'm wondering if this would all cause more or less backlash against Obama in 2010.  Regardless, I'm looking forward to seeing this unfold.

[Lieutenant Governor Clinton1996]

The First 100 Days or the Obama Administration were marked by something that both progressives and albeit reluctantly, conservatives, could agree on: success. From the Housing and Student Loan Debt Program and Auto Bailout to the repeal of the PATRIOT Act and closure of Gitmo, the President had achieved much. But there was one thing campaign promise he'd fell to deliver on. The environment in Washington was extremely partisan. The Democrats had gained the White House and Congressional supermajorities; and the GOP was itching for a comeback.

"Our top political priority over the next two years should be to deny President Obama a second term in office"- Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell

"Today I'm announcing my plan to fundamentally alter the Health Care system that has refused to provide coverage to millions of Americans. The Affordable Care Act will open Medicare to all Americans. Americans have the most expensive health insurance system in the modernized world, and it provides some of the worst care. This is something that I hope the public will support, and something that has bee a goal for the county, going back a century."- President Obama

The Republicans saw their opportunity and pounced. Taking to the Sunday talkshows, congressional floors and streets. Cries of socialism afoul.

"My constituents don't want a bill that will make them give up the family doctor for some beurocrat. Nor do they want some Washington Beuracracy to tell them what care they deserve. We can't let socialism corrupt our great nation"- House Minority Whip Eric Cantor on NBC's Meet The Press

"This administration is following policies that this country has long railed against.the American People have a message Madam Speaker: Vote No. No Obamacare. No new Beuracracy. No new taxes. And No socialism."- House Minority Leader John Boehner

Public support for the Affordable Care Act was at best 50-50, but the administration pushed on. Focusing more on legislating than messaging and afraid of making Bill Clinton's mistakes, the President took a back-seat to the debate over the bill, instead optimg to focus on jobs and the economy.

Gallup Poll
Do You Support The Affordable Care Act, Better Known As ObamaCare?
Yes-36
No-43
Don't Know-21

[MRX]

Now what?

[Lieutenant Governor Clinton1996]

"It's Done"- President Barack Obama

With the narrow passing of Obamacare, by one vote in the House of Representatives,The President set out to close the chapter on a goal that Presidents have had going back a century before to Theodore Roosevelt. He saw it as more than just a check mark on his record, but something he'd be remembered for long after his Administration ended. It was his legacy, and one he would be proud of. If only the public agreed.

For Which Party's Candidate Do You Intend To Vote For In The 2010 Midterm Elections?

Republican- 56%
Democratic-39%
Neither/DK- 5%

By November, the GOP had won the messaging war, and were headed towards historic rout. The Democrats couldn't get their act together and string together a coherent vision, and they would pay dearly for their failures.

2010 Midterm Election Results

Senate
Republicans- 44, +3     Incoming Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R) Kentucky
Democrats- 56, -3         Incoming Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D) Illinois
US Senate, 2010 Freshman Class
John Hoeven (R) North Dakota
Ron Johnson (R) Wisconsin
Mark Kirk (R) Illinois
John Boozeman (R) Arkansas
Jerry Moran (R) Kansas
Roy Blunt (R) Missouri
Kelly Ayotte (R) New Hampshire
Rob Portman (R) Ohio
Marco Rubio (R) Florida
Mike Les (R) Utah
Richard Blumenthal (D) Connecticut
Joe Sestak (D) Pennsylvania
Adam Edelen (D) Kentucky

House of Representatives
Incoming Speaker of The House- John Boehner (R), Ohio's 8th District
Republicans- 236, +57 Incoming Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R), Virginia's 7th District
Democrats- 199, -57 Incoming Minority Leader Steny Hoyer (D), Maryland's 5th District

The Republicans picked up a historic 57 seats in the House of Representatives, but only a meager 4 in the US Senate, thanks to stunning upsets by Joe Sestak of Pennsylvania and Adam Edelen of Kentucky and the re-election of Evan Bayh of Indiana, which denied the GOP of 3 easy pick-ups. With a divided Congress and a wounded party, times were looking tough for the incumbent President. Lame-Duck negotiations were underway with the Bush Tax Cuts and Unemployment Benefits scheduled to expire at year's end. A standoff was innevetable.

[MRX]

Who were the opponents of Boozeman, Portman, Blunt, Ayotte, and Portman?

[Lieutenant Governor Clinton1996]

They got their same opponents ad IRL.
Bozeman faced Blanche Lincoln.
Portman faced Lee Fisher.
Ayotte faced Paul Hodes.
Blunt faced Robin Carnahan.

[Lieutenant Governor Clinton1996]

In the Lame-Duck session, Senate Democrats scrambled to finish their work, knowing that the filibuster-proof majority would be over in a matter of weeks. And so, on November 30th, they agreed on the final Democratic bill of the 11th Congress: The Dream Act.
Having passed the HoR the bill moved on to the Senate, where a Democratic Caucus would face a filibuster, unless they could tangle up enough Blue Dogs and Republicans to pass it. With the help of President Obama's harassing of members and Dick Durbin's ranging of votes, the bill was still short two votes. Jon Tester of Montana and Joe Manchin of West Virginia were up for re-election in 2012 in tough states and agreed to skip the vote. Then the unexpected happened, and 3 Republicans switched their votes; Dick Lugar of Indiana, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and outgoing Bob Bennett of Utah.

DREAM Act Senate Vote
Yea- 62
Nay- 36
Abs- 2

The easy part was over, now on to the Great Compromise of 2010.
"Any word from John yet on that deal?"- President Obama
"No sir, he'll call you later today with the details."- Rahm Emmanuel

[Shadowlord88]

Liking it so far, but a little curious what the causes behind some of these changes are.  For instance, did Romney just abandon his Presidential ambitions?  Seems like an incredibly risky move to be part of the Obama administration if he was planning to run against him in 2012. 

Also, I love the idea of opening medicare to all Americans as part of the ACA, but how did Obama convince the more conservative Democrats to back him on it? 

Looking forward to the next update.

[MRX]

They got their same opponents ad IRL.
Bozeman faced Blanche Lincoln.
Portman faced Lee Fisher.
Ayotte faced Paul Hodes.
Blunt faced Robin Carnahan.

Thanks!

[Jerseyrules]

Y.  Y u take away the one good Republican senator?  Y?

[SetonHallPirate]

In the Lame-Duck session, Senate Democrats scrambled to finish their work, knowing that the filibuster-proof majority would be over in a matter of weeks. And so, on November 30th, they agreed on the final Democratic bill of the 11th Congress: The Dream Act.
Having passed the HoR the bill moved on to the Senate, where a Democratic Caucus would face a filibuster, unless they could tangle up enough Blue Dogs and Republicans to pass it. With the help of President Obama's harassing of members and Dick Durbin's ranging of votes, the bill was still short two votes. Jon Tester of Montana and Joe Manchin of West Virginia were up for re-election in 2012 in tough states and agreed to skip the vote. Then the unexpected happened, and 3 Republicans switched their votes; Dick Lugar of Indiana, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and outgoing Bob Bennett of Utah.

DREAM Act Senate Vote
Yea- 62
Nay- 36
Abs- 2

The easy part was over, now on to the Great Compromise of 2010.
"Any word from John yet on that deal?"- President Obama
"No sir, he'll call you later today with the details."- Rahm Emmanuel

One minor correction...Mark Kirk should have been seated immediately, as he was replacing Rolland Burris, who was occupying the seat previously owned by the current (in both this timeline and reality) PotUS, and Burris was nominated, not elected. Also, if the Vice President was Joe Biden, as historical, shouldn't Chris Coons have been part of that freshman class?

I like this and all of them, as it's something that I don't have nearly the imagination to do myself, and it's greatly fascinating to think "what might have been".

[MRX]

Now what?

[MRX]

Liking it so far, but a little curious what the causes behind some of these changes are.  For instance, did Romney just abandon his Presidential ambitions?  Seems like an incredibly risky move to be part of the Obama administration if he was planning to run against him in 2012.  

Also, I love the idea of opening medicare to all Americans as part of the ACA, but how did Obama convince the more conservative Democrats to back him on it?  

Looking forward to the next update.

That makes 2 of us! Perhaps we can get the DISCLOSE Act passed, in addition to DADT and the Missile Treaty in the Lame-Duck session!

[Lieutenant Governor Clinton1996]

Liking it so far, but a little curious what the causes behind some of these changes are.  For instance, did Romney just abandon his Presidential ambitions?  Seems like an incredibly risky move to be part of the Obama administration if he was planning to run against him in 2012.  

Also, I love the idea of opening medicare to all Americans as part of the ACA, but how did Obama convince the more conservative Democrats to back him on it?  

Looking forward to the next update.

That makes 2 of us! Perhaps we can get the DISCLOSE Act passed, in addition to DADT and the Missile Treaty in the Lame-Duck session!

He got Reid to threaten primaries for them if they voted no. Update tonight!

[MRX]

Thanks. Look forward to it.

[Jerseyrules]

Thanks. Look forward to it.

[Lieutenant Governor Clinton1996]

After much debate and arm twisting between the President, Erskine Bowles, Alan Simpson, Boehner and Jack Lew, a deal was made. The Bush Tax Cuts would be extended for those families making less than a million dollars and unemployment benefits would be extended, but cuts would need to be made to domestic spending programs. And so a Super Comittee would be created to plan out subsequent deficit reduction. It would be comprised of four Senators and four Congressmen, and headed by Bowles and Simpson.

December 23rd, 2010

"I'm not willing to let working families across this country become collateral damage for political warfare here in Washington. And I'm not willing to let our economy slip backwards just as we're pulling ourselves out of this devastating recession. ... So, sympathetic as I am to those who prefer a fight over compromise, as much as the political wisdom may dictate fighting over solving problems, it would be the wrong thing to do. ... As for now, I believe this bipartisan plan is the right thing to do. It’s the right thing to do for jobs. It’s the right thing to do for the middle class. It is the right thing to do for business. And it’s the right thing to do for our economy. It offers us an opportunity that we need to seize."- President Obama

Super Committee Members

Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia

Sen. Patty Murray of Washington

Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa

Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina

Rep. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland

Rep. Heath Shuler of North Carolina

Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin

Rep. Tom Price of Georgia

"Let me finish about this new Super Committee. According to the picks on both sides, the parties seem to be serious. They've chosen a few moderates to represent them, and with Simpson and Bowles at the helm, there should be no BS. But will they be able to come to an agreement by the Ides of March?"- Chris Matthews

Up next in 2011; the State of the Union, budget deals and battles, and the beginning of Republican primaries.

[MRX]

Along with Tucson and the death of Bin Laden!

[MRX]

When will the next update be?