WI: Bill Clinton as a Republican?

[Clark Kent]

Former President Bill Clinton has been criticized from the left for his conservative policies as President, like DOMA, welfare reform, deregulation of the financial sector, free trade agreements, and tough-on-crime legislation. What if Clinton had become a Republican at some point prior to his presidency? Would he still have run for President? How well would he have done?

[Kingpoleon]

I expect we would have something like:
1993-2001: Albert Gore/Joseph Lieberman
2001-2009: William Clinton/John McCain

Obviously no 2008 recession occurs, but depending on when another Democrat is elected, I'd say there's probably a recession in 2010 or 2013.

[Clark Kent]

Even funnier if Hillary Rodham (Clinton) remains a Goldwater-ite and they end up fighting for the Republican nomination.

[Clark Kent]

Bump

[Kingpoleon]

Even funnier if Hillary Rodham (Clinton) remains a Goldwater-ite and they end up fighting for the Republican nomination.

Maybe Representative Hillary Reagan? She could meet Michael Reagan on the Goldwater campaign. Or maybe Michael Goldwater. Either way it would be pretty ironic.

[Thunderbird is the word]

I think he'd have a tougher time building a political career as a Republican in 1970s Arkansas at a time when the state was mostly Democratic.

[Kingpoleon]

I think he'd have a tougher time building a political career as a Republican in 1970s Arkansas at a time when the state was mostly Democratic.

The Rockefellers did it pretty easily. I can see Clinton building a similar coalition.

[Agonized-Statism]

I could actually see Clinton still winning the Governor's Mansion in 1978, with the Republican bench non-existent and the Democrats' spot still wide open. If not then, Republiclinton is elected statewide in the 1980s. Even more interesting is how the 1990s political climate changes without a Democrat President Clinton- my guess is President Paul Tsongas, who's given the unenviable task of picking a running mate to appease the economic left and the South (black and Yellow Dog). Common sense says Vice President Dick Gephardt, but I think he picks someone better able to tack to the right to compliment his agenda- Joe Biden. Clinton sits out 1996 with the country mourning the late Tsongas, who dies earlier with the added stress, but jumps in for 2000 on the advice of his Beltway Insider running mate, Senator Rodham.


President Joe Biden (D-DE) / Vice President Joe Lieberman (D-CT)
Governor Bill Clinton (R-AR) / Senator Hillary Rodham (R-IL) ✓

[NewYorkExpress]

I could actually see Clinton still winning the Governor's Mansion in 1978, with the Republican bench non-existent and the Democrats' spot still wide open. If not then, Republiclinton is elected statewide in the 1980s. Even more interesting is how the 1990s political climate changes without a Democrat President Clinton- my guess is President Paul Tsongas, who's given the unenviable task of picking a running mate to appease the economic left and the South (black and Yellow Dog). Common sense says Vice President Dick Gephardt, but I think he picks someone better able to tack to the right to compliment his agenda- Joe Biden. Clinton sits out 1996 with the country mourning the late Tsongas, who dies earlier with the added stress, but jumps in for 2000 on the advice of his Beltway Insider running mate, Senator Rodham.


President Joe Biden (D-DE) / Vice President Joe Lieberman (D-CT)
Governor Bill Clinton (R-AR) / Senator Hillary Rodham (R-IL) ✓

I have to object to Hillary and Bill not being married in this universe. I have to imagine that if they were both Republicans, they'd still marry each other.