2016: All Shook Up

[MadmanMotley]

I'll never forget that day, it was horrible, and it just showed how split the country was becoming...

July 4th, 2015: The Death of a President
It was July 4th, President Obama was celebrating Independence Day in Washington D.C, when the world changed. In protest of the recent Supreme Court ruling on gay marriage, a large crowd had gather with signs, slurs, and yells. This conservative crowd had come with a message. There were approximately 2500 protesters at the celebration. So amidst protestors and supporters, the President began his speech introducing the fireworks. And that's when all hell broke lose. Shots fired, there was some confusion as it was just assumed that this was just premature fireworks or test firing. But no, one of the protesters had fired upon the president. Unfortunately for the president, the protester was a former military member and accurate with his shot. The president was rushed to the hospital, but it was of no good, the president was dead.

This meant that there was a new president, a growing split among conservatives and liberals, and a big decision for the new president. This was going to be the election of the century.

Barack Hussein Obama, 44th President of the United States (2009-2015)

Joseph Robinette Biden Jr., 45th President of the United States (2015-20??)

[Abraham Reagan]

Scary, but intriguing. Keep it going!

[badgate]

Scary, but intriguing. Keep it going!

[An American Tail: Fubart Goes West]

Scary, but intriguing. Keep it going!

[SATW]

Scary, but intriguing. Keep it going!

[MadmanMotley]

Chapter 1: A Nation in Shock
After the initial shock, President Biden gave a speech addressing the nation. Praising his former president and his accomplishments. You could see the sorrow in the new president's eyes, this was not where he wanted to be yet again, giving a speech mourning someone close to him. Most candidates suspended their campaigns that whole week, the nation need time to heal. The whole Republican strategy was disrupted as well, they could no longer run against Obama, they had to rethink their strategy. This helped a few candidates get back on their feet, as their initial strategy was not attacking the president.

On the democratic side, things were in chaos, would Biden run? Will Clinton drop out in support of him if he runs? It all depended on one thing, would the sitting president run for a full term?

Biden had a lot on his plate, the new role he was placed in, selecting a Vice-President, the death of his friend, the death of his son, would he run? Biden thought it out and came to one conclusion. This was his time to shine. He had planned on retiring, leaving office serving his country for years. But there was a new spark in his heart. He was going to run.

First he had to take a few steps, while the other candidates were not campaigning. The first was his new vice-president. He needed someone who would make the liberal base happy, but also no risk of losing a seat to Republicans. Someone with experience, but younger. Someone who would be happy to endorse him over Hillary, that is where he got the idea.

(Biden announcing his nomination for Vice-President)
...That is why I am nominating for Vice-President, Brian Schweitzer.

The nomination process went smoothly, with the obvious Republican defections, but Schweitzer was nominated 68-32


Brian David Schweitzer, 48th Vice-President of The United States

[Blair]

Very good-I expect some GOP candidate will say he deserved it or something

[MadmanMotley]

Chapter 2: Election Shake Ups
It was offical, at a press conference on July 12th, 2015, President Biden announced his bid for a full term. With him were Michelle Obama and Vice-President Schweitzer who spoke on his behalf and offered their endorsements. Just a few weeks later, Michelle Obama held her own press conference, where she announced her bid for U.S. Senate in Illinois.

(Michelle Obama endorsing Joe Biden)

This put the rest of the Democratic field in a hard place, there were those like Lincoln Chafee who immediately withdrew and endorsed the president, but the rest of the candidates, especially Clinton and Sanders, were not going to give up easily. There was also some backlash on the Republican side, with Senator Ted Cruz saying in a debate, "The president would still be alive if he was tougher on terrorism, we need a strong leader in the White House, not someone who can't keep his house in order." That comment was a shot in the foot to his candidacy, and he never really recovered. Through the season, attack ads were thrown, mainly between Hillary and Bernie, as Biden took the high road, debates were held, where many a candidate gaffed, and town halls were held, and many candidates tried to appeal to people they didn't care about. At last, after long weeks and months of campaigning, it was time for the Iowa Caucuses...

(Ted Cruz making his big debate gaffe of the season)

[An American Tail: Fubart Goes West]

Excellent update. I could definitely see Cruz (or Huckabee or Santorum) making a gaffe like that.

[WVdemocrat]

It would be weird for Biden to pick Schweitzer if he wants a liberal veep, but this is a great TL nonetheless! I'm intrigued.

[An American Tail: Fubart Goes West]

It would be weird for Biden to pick Schweitzer if he wants a liberal veep, but this is a great TL nonetheless! I'm intrigued.

I think that Schweitzer is an interesting choice. He does have some populist appeal, but he is more moderate when it comes to the environment and guns.

(Side note, it would be interesting to see Schweitzer running if he hadn't made that gaffe last year)

[WVdemocrat]

It would be weird for Biden to pick Schweitzer if he wants a liberal veep, but this is a great TL nonetheless! I'm intrigued.

I think that Schweitzer is an interesting choice. He does have some populist appeal, but he is more moderate when it comes to the environment and guns.

(Side note, it would be interesting to see Schweitzer running if he hadn't made that gaffe last year)

Side note on your side note: I think he would if it wasn't for that gaffe. He could have pushed Webb out of the race, and he's got more name recognition.

[MadmanMotley]

Iowa: The Results

Democrats:
Pres. Joe Biden: 42%
Sen. Bernie Sanders 29%
Fmr. SoS. Hillary Clinton 28%
Other Minor Candidates: 1%

While few pundits were surprised by Biden winning in Iowa, what was surprising was Hillary taking third place behind Bernie Sanders. Her campaign was in trouble, and she'd need help if she were to continue. Sanders on the other hand acted as though this was a downright victory, and he did have momentum heading into New Hampshire, but to overcome a sitting president would be a tremendous task. Biden was worried by the results, but he had won, and that's what needed to do. Without a win in the early states, both his candidacy and his presidency would have been tainted. New Hampshire was the great battlefield for the democratic candidates, where all three were tied.

Republicans:
Dr. Ben Carson 20.1%
Sen. Rand Paul 19.6%
Carly Fiorina 16.8%
Gov. John Kasich 14.5%
Sen. Marco Rubio 11.3%
Fmr. Gov Jeb Bush 6.2%
Donald Trump 4.1%
The Rest: 7.4%

The night was good for the top four Candidates, who needed strong placements to solidify their candidacy. Unfortunately, Marco Rubio fell short of where he wanted to place, but it was enough for him to continue. Jeb Bush did not put much stock in Iowa, and was focused on New Hampshire and South Carolina, Trump's placement was a disaster, as was Rick Perry's, Scott Walker's and Rick Santorum's with most of their potential support going towards Dr. Carson. Santorum withdrew and endorsed Carson, while Rick Perry withdrew and endorsed Scott Walker, which made Walker stay in the race. Cruz, seeing he was done withdrew and endorsed Senator Paul. It was on to New Hampshire, where it would be a bloodbath.

[MadmanMotley]

I've decided to revive this short-lived TL.

The Week Leading Into New Hampshire

The polls were tied on the democratic side, but after a third place finish in Iowa, the Clinton campaign was slipping, and that's when she went on the attack. She pulled the S-word. Socialist. In an ad that ran in the next three states, Clinton went on the attack towards Sanders. Invoking fear, and the pictures of the old Soviet Union. This went badly, Sanders painted her as nothing more as a fear-mongering Neo-Conservative. Sanders pulled out the stops in New Hampshire, rallies across the state, pulling out Live Free or Die whenever he could. Biden during this time took the presidential approach, called for an end to the attacks, saying that the democrats were all fighting for the common man, the blue-collar worker, and as democrats, it was their job to do what it takes to remain united. This garnered support for him, and Hillary saw here support fall yet again. Polls show her in a distant third from a tied Biden and Sanders. She was holding out for South Carolina, but she knew her campaign was in trouble.


The Republican side was a different story, Paul was in first after a near win in Iowa, with a strong ground game, it was the fight for second place that was the bloodbath, Trump, Kasich, Fiorina, Rubio, and Bush were all polling around the same. Trump went on an rampage in the debate prior, insulting his fellow candidates, Fiorina began picking up steam after a impassioned defense of her time at HP. Bush tried to attack Trump, but floundered in a fit of boredom, and Rubio made an impassioned defense of his immigration policy. Kasich tried to mellow the tone, and touted his experience as Governor. This was going to be a fireworks show, and with South Carolina looming, these candidates had much to lose.

[MadmanMotley]

New Hampshire: The Results


Democrats:
Pres. Joe Biden 35.5%
Sen. Bernie Sanders 35.4%
Fmr. SoS. Hillary Clinton 29.1%

This result was good new for all the candidates, since it was so close it gave the Clinton Campaign momentum going into Nevada and South Carolina. It was a win for the President. With it being so close, Sanders was building even more momentum. After this, Senator Jeanne Shaheen endorsed the sitting President.

Republicans:
Sen. Rand Paul 23.1%
Gov. John Kasich 19.5%
Sen. Marco Rubio 18.8%
Carly Fiorina 12.9%
Donald Trump 10.3%
Fmr. Gov. Jeb Bush 8.6%
Dr. Ben Carson 6.2%
The Rest 0.6%

This was an interesting development in the race, Bush could not gain any traction, Kasich and Rubio taking second and third place. Fiorina dropped out at this point, but declined to endorse a candidate at this point. Trump refused to drop out of the race, claiming election fraud. Jeb Bush also dropped out of the race, and did not endorse anyone, but hinted he was supporting Governor Kasich. It was onto South Carolina, where Senator Tim Scott had endorsed Rand Paul, and Governor Nikki Haley had endorsed Marco Rubio. Carson was the one leading in the polls however, as his appeal to evangelicals was giving him a major boost.

Breaking News: President Obama's Killer Sentenced to Death!
After several months of hearings, [name redacted] was sentenced to death for the assassination of Barack Obama. After over six long months, the sentence had finally been delivered. He is currently sitting on death row in an undisclosed prison. President Biden gave a speech about how President Obama's legacy will live on, and that we as a nation will be strong and united in this troubled time.