Collaborative Election Timeline

[beaver2.0]

The premise of this is simple, you make a map and a write-up of the administration of the previous posters Presidential election victor.  It must be at least a paragraph to stop ye fools that would try to pass off a sentence and a half as a proper explanation.  It would be nice if you could include info on the most important players in the cabinet and world affairs.  A map is mandatory.  The game starts in 1944.

Go!

US Presidential Election, 1944

Thomas Dewey (R-NY) / Arthur Vandenburg (R-MI) (Republican) - 337 EVs
Harry Byrd (D-VA) / Walter Burgwyn Jones (D-AL) (States Rights Democratic) - 128 EVs
Henry Wallace (D-IA) / Alben Barkley (D-KY) - 76 EVs (Democratic)

Next person covers 1948.

[Former Senator Haslam2020]

The U.S Presidential Election of 1948:

Pres. Thomas Dewey/VP Arthur Vandenburg: 317 Electoral Votes 46.7%
Sen. Harry Truman/Sen. Claude Pepper: 155 Electoral Votes 44.6%
Gov. Strom Thurmond/Gov. Fielding Wright: 59 Electoral Votes 6.9%

[beaver2.0]

I forgot to say that you should only do four years.  You can set up reelection by having the candidate win, but you don't write their administration.

[Former Senator Haslam2020]

I forgot to say that you should only do four years.  You can set up reelection by having the candidate win, but you don't write their administration.

o whoops, sry!

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

While historians would rate Dewey favorably, by the end of his second term, the American people were incredibly dissatisfied. South of the Mason-Dixon line, the nation was practically in a state of rebellion in opposition to the Civil Rights Act of 1950--passed during the lame duck session of Congress as Republicans were about to lose both houses. However, at the national level, the citizenry was in an uproar over the perception of mass infiltration of communism in Dewey's State Department, the quagmire in Korea, and the lagging economy as a result of the administration's spending cuts.

1952
Seeking to create the perception of anti-communism and racial moderation, the Republicans sought for an "Anti-Dewey" despite the President's general respect within the party's Eastern wing. In a revolt against Secretary of State Stassen, the conservative wing won out in a "devil's bargain" with Southern delegates, nominating Senator Milton Young of North Dakota. Young, while he had voted in favor of the CRA, he had voiced concern over some sections and had stood as a voice of compromise in the Senate. The fiery, young anti-communist Richard Nixon of California was selected for the Vice Presidency. The Democrats faced a similar conundrum. Liberals partnered with anti-communists to nominate the young Hubert H. Humphrey of Minnesota over Senate Majority Whip Lyndon Johnson. With popular uproar over Korea, Humphrey proposed a more domestic anti-communism partnered with a strong governmental hand in the economy, delivering Democrats victory.

Senator Hubert H. Humphrey (D-MN)/Senate Majority Whip Lyndon Johnson (D-TX) 297 electoral votes
Senator Milton Young (R-ND)/Senator Richard M. Nixon (R-CA) 197 electoral votes
Unpledged Electors 37 electoral votes

WRITER'S NOTES:
1. With a point of divergence at the Democratic National Convention or earlier, Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. might still be alive. Future writers take note!
2. Milton Young was chosen by myself since he is one of the few Republicans to vote against the 1964 CRA.

[Maxwell]

The early 50s would be remarked upon as the golden era of liberalism - strong democratic majorities and a visionary President pushed forward roads programs, increase in funds to education, an early form of medicare, and a reduction in military spending that expanded America substantially. Republican opposition criticized the administrations supposed lack of willingness to do battle with the communists, and as a result picked up several seats in 1954.

1956
With Nixon deciding to wait it out until a new administration came forward, the Republican field was divided. The early leaders were General Doug McCarthur and Governor Christian Herter. Herter represented the liberal wing of the party while McCarthur represented the conservative wing. The party big wigs, afraid to throw this election to the dogs, decided to reach toward the center by reaching back for... Senator Milton Young. Polls showed Young still popular with Republicans of all walks of life, but little room to actually beat Humphrey. Nevertheless, Young's viability as a party unity choice allowed him to win substantially at the convention. To expand the map and reach for moderates and Democrats, Young went with Former Massachussets Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, a decision that angered party conservatives.

Humphrey thought long and hard about dumping Lyndon Johnson in favor of the young John F. Kennedy, but decided that Johnson was too integral a part of the administration to give away despite Johnson's odious personality. Humphrey would beat Milton by a larger margin than he did in 1952, in a lower turnout, boring election. Humphrey's active stance on civil rights pushed the South potentially further in the hands of the Republicans, but Young proved to be the wrong candidate in that regard, so those electors were unfaithful.

President Hubert Humphrey (D-MN)/Vice President Lyndon Johnson (D-TX) - 388 EV's
Senator Milton Young (R-ND)/Former Senator Henry Cabot Lodge (R-MA) - 94 EV's
Unfaithful Electors - 49 EV's

[beaver2.0]

Great posts!  Haslam, you could have written up the Dewey Administration from 1944-1948.

[beaver2.0]

President Humphrey's second term was considered much worse than his first.  Despite pressure from the Republicans and hawkish Democrats, Humphrey refused to authorize the deployment of US troops to French Indochina to fight the Communists there.  The fall of South Vietnam in 1958 galvanized public opinion.  Uprisings in Cuba the next year, followed by US deployment, which appeared unhelpful, gave the Republicans more support.  Humphrey refused to run for a third term.  His Vice President and Illinois Senator Adlai Stevenson battled.  Johnson aligned with conservative and hawkish Democrats while Stevenson represented the liberals.  Stevenson won the nomination on the 83rd ballot at the Convention.  Johnson was convinced to run under the Independent Democratic label.  They both faced Republican Senator Frederick A. Seaton, a moderate who leaned conservative.  Seaton portrayed Stevenson as an out-of-touch liberal in Humphrey's mold with Johnson attacked as a segregationist.  In November, Seaton won in a landslide.  The fate of the Independent Democrats, who had the endorsement of most Democratic candidates in the South in 1960, is to be seen.


US Presidential Election, 1960:

Senator Frederick A. Seaton (R-NE) / Senator Thurston B. Morris (R-KY) (Republican) - 378 EVs
Senator Adlai Stevenson (D-IL) / Governor Joseph P. Kennedy (D-MA) - 96 EVs(Democratic)
Vice President Lyndon Johnson (D-TX) / Senator Albert Gore (D-TN) (Independent Democratic) - 63 EVs

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

"I was never the obvious choice for the Presidency", President Seaton would write in his memoirs. Nevertheless, Seaton had been given a gift, and he chose not to waste it. The new President would base his vision of governance on that of his old boss, the aging former President Dewey--who he would appoint to the Supreme Court. Seaton had served as Interior Secretary from 1949 to 1951, and, though a minor cabinet position, he felt himself to now be the natural inheritor of the internationalist and progressive President. His cabinet would reflect this, as former Ambassador to the United Nations Nelson Rockefeller would return to his career of diplomacy as Secretary of State. Nevertheless, the new President made clear his determination to squelch the growth of international communism, appointing veteran and red-hunting Senator Richard Nixon to the post of Attorney General and Walter Judd to Secretary of Defense.

Major markers of the Seaton administration would be the decision to not only vigorously enforce the Civil Rights Act of 1950, but to sign off on the Civil Rights Act of 1962 and to pass a private sector-based universal health coverage program. Seaton would also buck Republican conventional wisdom in pushing for a trade deal with countries that had benefited from the Dewey Administration-funded reconstruction of Europe--a careful blend of diplomacy and economic policy. Attorney General Nixon, meanwhile, would be tasked with purging the civil service of "eight years of Humphrey" while Walter Judd's Pentagon would begin the deployment of missiles to nations the Humphrey administration had neglected to foster alliances with--this would sometimes be at the expense of human rights and other liberal concerns.

1964

Joe Kennedy, Jr. would cement his place as one of the 20th Century's political geniuses in reviving the seemingly moribund New Deal Coalition. Nationwide regulations on school busing between districts--backed up by Supreme Court decisions--had caused middle class and suburban households from Massachusetts, to Illinois, to the Deep South to go into an uproar. Meanwhile, Seaton's internationalist policies had not only ballooned American overseas spending, it had alienated swaths of voters across the industrial Mid-West--a region that had, crucially, fallen to Seaton in 1960. Joey Kennedy, seeing this opening, had worked since 1961 to build a delegate coalition across the nation to take the nomination without contest on the first ballot. The decision of Republicans to campaign on "right-to-work" legislation in 1962 (to significant loss) would be key in  Democratic electioneering. President Seaton, despite general prosperity and an impressive legislative record (especially in dealing with four years of Democratic majorities), faced significant backlash including a grassroots primary challenge from the right in the form of Senator John Bricker. Nevertheless, President Seaton and Vice President Morton would be renominated. In the general election, the Democratic campaign engineered a victory rooted in not only a re-energized labor, but a Southern United States that had rediscovered its roots.

Governor Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. (D-MA)/Senator George Smathers (D-FL) 395 electoral votes, 54.2% of the popular vote
President Frederick A. Seaton (R-NE)/Vice President Thruston B. Morton (R-KY) 143 electoral votes, 45.1% of the popular vote

Kennedy came into office promising middle- and lower-class tax cuts, greater development of America's atomic arsenal, the protection of labor and of American manufacturing, and a "return to normalcy" on civil rights in a nation on the verge of racial violence.

[Maxwell]

Kennedy expanded defense spending and cut taxes, but despite promising fairer trade agreements and a "return to normalcy" on race relations, Kennedy largely stayed the course on those two issues, finding too much fight back from Republicans and a small smattering of Democrats. Kennedy was popular in large parts of the country as a fighter for most of his term, but faced increasing opposition over race. He avoided an assassination attempt in 1968.

1968

The Republicans hoped to nominated Former Attorney General Richard Nixon would jump in the race, but Nixon remained ever elusive and rejected the office. Secretary of Defense Walter Judd ran, but his position in the Seaton Administration proved unpopular with rank and file Republicans, and Judd would be decimated by Senator Barry Goldwater. Goldwater was considered a radical - and several Republicans went so far to endorse Kennedy (including Former President Seaton). Kennedy would retain the unenthusiastic support of manufacturing and the Midwest, but would lose the support of Southern Whites en masse.

President Joseph Kennedy Jr. (D-MA)/Vice President George Smathers (D-FL) - 55.3%, 420 EV's
Senator Barry Goldwater (R-AZ)/Senator Frank Carlson (R-KS) - 41.5%, 118 EV's

[VPH]

President Kennedy's second term was marked by a continuation of his largely middle of the road approach. One major success of the administration was the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment, a major feminist goal. Around early 1971, however, unemployment steadily began to rise, and race relations once again declined. President Kennedy announced a major infrastructure development package with an emphasis on urban areas, but a right-leaning congress stymied his efforts. Eventually, a highly watered down bill was passed to repair American cities. On foreign affairs, Kennedy's administration was marked by a seeming isolationism as problems continued to mount at home. This was met with opposition from internationalists in congress.

1972
After the Goldwater fiasco, Republicans ran a more moderate, internationalist course, nominating New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller, who selected Pennsylvania Senator Hugh Scott as his VP. The Democrats, after a chaotic convention, settled on Arkansas Senator J. William Fulbright and New York City mayor John Lindsay. Republicans promised to keep up the fight against communism, improve the economy, and bring the country together. Democrats kept to a populist appeal centered on improving America before fighting communism abroad. The Democratic ticket greatly appealed to the south, but received a drubbing in other parts of the country.

Governor Nelson Rockefeller/Senator Hugh Scott-54.3%, 312 EV's
Senator J. William Fulbright/Mayor John Lindsay-45.7%, 226 EV's

[NeverAgain]

The Presidency of Nelson Rockefeller

President Rockefeller started off with a crisis not only domestically, but also internationally. In early 1973, the MWP (Mexican Workers Party) took control of Mexico City descending the country into full civil war. Anti-Communists in the North, bordering the U.S., and communist forces in the south. President Rockefeller took quick action and sent immediate aid to the NMN (Northern Mexican Nationalists). The MWP angered at this took fire upon patrol ships in the Gulf of Mexico, sinking three and killing 65 sailors. The Gulf of Mexico Resolution was quickly passed by Congress and troops were sent in only for "diplomatic and humanitarian purposes", but as Defense Secretary Scranton put it in a private address "Our boys are doing everything they can to preserve peace, and if that means killing a couple of spics then so be it".

Things did seem to pick up domestically for the President with his S.I.N. campaign (Stop Inflation Now) and his push for continued tax cuts in 1975 seemed to create what was later called "The Golden Age of Economics". The mood soon shifted to tragedy for the President when the "Black Cougar" movement set off four bombs at a diplomatic function following the President's announcement of the "Continued Mission in Mexico" killed 12 including Vice President Scott. President Rockefeller's pick of Massachusetts Governor and former Interior Secretary under President Seaton, Ed Brooke became a controversial pick. He was confirmed on almost strict party lines, the Republicans accused the Democrats of racism, while the Democrats accused the President and his party of trying to bootlick black voters.

The 1976 Presidential Elections

After the 1974 Midterms, the President seemed done for. With Inflation, Unemployment, and International Affairs weak he was destined for a loss two years later. In what some called the "Midwestern Miracle", the economy particularly in the Midwest and Rust Belt area picked up dramatically and led to some of the lowest unemployment and inflation rates in decades in the country. After the death of VP Scott and the attempted assassination of the President, Rockefeller's approvals soared.

The Democrats fearing a 50 state landslide decided to tap into the anger against the Black Cougars and the continual racial riots with a call for law and order. At the DNC they nominated Senator John Brown of Kentucky and Governor Robert Byrd of West Virginia. The RNC in Boston was given much attention due to it was the first real campaign appearance of VP Brooke.

✓ President Nelson Rockefeller (R - NY)/VP Edward Brooke (R - MA) 326 E.V., 50.34% P.V.
Senator John Brown (D - KY)/Governor Robert Byrd (D - WV) 212 E.V., 46.19% P.V.

The Re-Election looked secure for President Rockefeller but his stances on busing and his seemingly "easy-going" attitude towards Communism turned some Midwestern voters to the hardline positions of the two Southerners. Though it may not have looked like it at the time, but this proved to be a realigning election securing the battleground of the Midwest and the "Solid South + Northeast".

[Pragmatic Conservative]

1976-1980
President Rockefeller would continue with his economic and Foreign policy platform through the first two years of his mandate finishing with a 60/30/10 approval rating by midterm time. in 1978 the GOP had a large wave picking up many senate and house seats.

However shortly after 1978 the economy began to crash, as inflation rates began to skyrocket. Rockefeller continued with his tax cuts for the middle class in hopes of stimulating the economy,however this proved to be ineffective. Rockefeller however was credited with being strong on Foreign policy in his second term. 

1980
Jack Kemp won the GOP Nomination after initial front runner Ronald Reagan declined to run. Kemp beat Senator Howard Baker and CIA Director George H. W. Bush in a close election. On the democratic side Jerry Brown beat out Senator Walter Mondale and Governor  Jimmy Carter. for the Democratic Nomination.

In the General Jack Kemp hoped to use the issue of Abortion as a wedge issue in order to win another 4 year term. Jerry Brown promised to cap interest rates, raise the minimum wage to match current inflation, as well as to increase  stimulus spending to boost the economy.  Kemp promised a Constitutional amendment allowing states to decide abortion policy, within 1 year of becoming president. Kemp campaigned on keeping taxes low for the all, insisting that the rescission would be back to normal by 1984.

Jack Kemp would pick Howard Baker as his running mate to help gain independent and Conservative Democratic Support. Meanwhile Jerry Brown would pick Jimmy Carter as his running mate in the hopes of keeping more conservative democrats and southern democrats on board.

1980 would prove to be a divisive election, in particular on the issue of abortion. Jack Kemp would gain many southern states that approved of his anti-abortion proposed amendment, but at the same time would alienate much of the north east loosing every state but in the NE, except for narrowly holding on to Vermont, and NH.

In the end Jerry Brown eked out a narrow victory.

[Figueira]

Jerry Brown's presidency went okay; however, he had trouble passing things due to opposition from the Republican-controlled Senate (although they did get a moderate stimulus passed). However, the Democrats managed to retake the Senate during the 1982 midterms, largely thanks to a favorable map, picking up several key northern seats that had been lost in 1976. In 1982, Brown managed to pass a minimum wage increase.

Tragedy struck on June 3, 1983, when Brown was visiting Denver and someone attempted to assassinate him. Brown survived, but he was severely injured and decided he had to resign from the presidency in order to fully recover. The attempted assassin turned out to have no ideological motive.

In a somewhat surprising move, President Jimmy Carter chose the popular young Governor of Vermont, Patrick Leahy, as his Vice President.

1984 election

Carter was unopposed in his bid for re-election, although other candidates such as Minnesota Senator Walter Mondale and Arizona Governor Bruce Babbitt were reportedly considering. Leahy remained on the ticket.

The Republicans had a very divisive primary. The main candidates early on were Senator Howard Baker of Tennessee and Senator Bob Dole of Kansas. However, several people emerged seemingly out of nowhere to do really well in the primaries: Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah, Governor William Cohen of Maine, and Senator John McCain of Oklahoma. Hatch, who represented the conservative wing of the party, had a surprising victory, and chose McCain as his running mate.

Hatch also tried to use abortion as a wedge issue, but failed, largely because President Carter was relatively popular, particularly in the South. Carter was easily elected to a full term.

President Jimmy Carter (D-GA)/Vice President Patrick Leahy (D-VT): 363 EV, 53.8% PV
Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT)/Senator John McCain (R-OK): 175 EV, 44.9% PV

[msnmllr]

The first year of the full Carter presidency went well, but fell flat almost immediately afterwards. Unemployment grew and Communism continued to spread across Europe.

There was little opposition to Carter from the Democratic side, except from former Colorado Senator Gary Hart who gained support from Western Democrats. Patrick Leahy was still the Vice Presidential candidate, despite the criticism from many political scientists who felt that Gary Hart would act as a unifier of the Democratic Party.

The Republican primary was significantly more quiet than it was in the 1984 election. The frontrunners were Former Governor Reagan of California and Senator Lowell Weicker of Connecticut. Weicker proved to be too liberal for the Republican Party in this primary, as he only won the primaries in New England and Minnesota. Reagan selected George H.W. Bush as his running mate.

During the election, Reagan slammed Carter for the poor economy as well as the rise of Communism in Western Europe. Additionally, Reagan declared Carter as the reason for the decline of the middle class, as the taxes that Carter passed effected the middle class the most. Furthermore, Reagan called Carter a watered-down Communist, which resonated with a large part of the American people.

Former Governor Ronald Reagan (R-CA)/ Director of CIA George H.W. Bush (R-TX): 402 EV
President Jimmy Carter (D-GA)/ Vice President Patrick Leahy (D- VT): 136 EV

[President of the great nation of 🏳️‍⚧️]

The Reagan Administration was generally uneventful. It began on January 20, 1989, setting out to right the wrongs of President Carter's only full term, which it did successfully. Reagan announced that he would opt to retire instead of seek a second term on June 21, 1991, citing his age. Later that day, Vice President Bush announced that he would run. Later that month, former Vice President Patrick Leahy would announce that he would run for the Democratic nomination. They both won their nominations.
On February 29, 1992, Ross Perot announced he would run an Independent campaign. His main goal was to split the electoral vote to the point that he would rise in the House as a compromise candidate.
On November 3, the world turned upside down.

Former Vice President Patrick Leahy (D-VT) / Governor Bill Clinton (D-AR) - 253
Vice President George Bush (R-TX) / Representative Newt Gingrich (R-GA) - 150
Ross Perot (I-TX) / James Stockdale (I-NY) - 135
With the country in disarray, Perot is inaugurated on January 20, 1993.

[Maxwell]

In one of the more fascinating periods of American history, President Perot reigned as the first President since Washington not to be of one of the two major parties. Unlike Washington, however, Perot didn't possess the leadership qualities necessary and was consistently combative with Congress. His main initiative, a push to balance the federal budget, was stalled in Congress. Ten members of the Senate and forty members of the House switched to the Reform Party along with Perot to create a coalition, but Perot's proposals were often blocked by members of both parties. In 1994, his push for a potential majority in the Reform Party fell through, as the party only gained one seat in the Senate and four seats in the House, making them a distant third in both chambers.

1996

Nevertheless, Perot ran for re-election. Despite low approval ratings in the beginning of his term, Perot began rising in terms of approval thanks to an improving economy and a three man field. Democrats had a diverse field, but settled on Speaker of the House Dick Gephardt after his successful operation in Iowa and New Hampshire put Bill Clinton out to pasture. Republicans had a two man fight between Vice President Newt Gingrich, who had terribly combative relationship with President Perot, and Senator Bob Dole, who felt the position was rightfully his. Gingrich ended up the victor, but the party remained bitterly divided.

Perot managed a surprisingly large victory thanks to the economy, his strong debate performances, and general signs of improvement for the country, and swept with him a sizable 30 seats in the House and 4 seats in the Senate, giving the Reform Party more influence even as the distant third party minority. Perot would also cross the magical 270 Electoral votes line, meaning his vice presidential candidate, Senator Ed Zschau, would join the ticket in the White House.

President Ross Perot (I-TX)/Senator Ed Zschau (I-CA) - 41.3%, 391 EV's
Vice President Newt Gingrich (R-GA)/Governor Tom Ridge (R-PA) - 34.2%, 96 EV's
Speaker Dick Gephardt (D-MO)/Senator John Breaux (D-LA) - 24.5%, 51 EV's

[msnmllr]

2000

The second term of Ross Perot went well, as the future of the economy was looking incredibly bright. Perot played an isolationist role in the Middle East, stating that another war would put the economy in shambles.

The Republicans were searching for answers, after getting the short end of the stick for the past two elections. The primaries were considered wide open, with the frontrunners being Ohio Senator George Voinovich, Texas Governor George W. Bush, and Texas Representative Ron Paul. Paul was deemed as too Libertarian, and actually became the Libertarian Party's candidate. After Voinovich dropped out due to health reasons, Bush became the Republican nominee. Bush selected New York Governor George Pataki as the Vice President candidate.

The Democrats were attempting to make a splash in the election, and the two frontrunners were Vermont Governor Howard Dean and Tennessee Senator Al Gore. The party felt that Dean would have the best chance of stealing votes from the Reform party, as well as Republican states. Dean selected Ohio Representative Dennis Kucinich as his running mate

The Reform Party primaries were a bloodbath, with many of the candidates being too small to be successful. The frontrunners were California Governor Clint Eastwood, Vice President Ed Zschau, and Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura. Eastwood ended up winning the nomination, after being endorsed by the popular Perot. Eastwood choose Businessman Donald Trump as his running mate.

Eastwood narrowly edged out the victory, as Bush was able to make huge gains in some of the Midwestern states. Dean's candidacy was seen as a failure, as he only capable of winning 3 states (plus DC). Eastwood was able to prove that his governorship of California was worthy enough for him to win, as he effectively fixed the state's infrastructure

Governor Clint Eastwood (RF-CA)/ Businessman Donald Trump (RF-NY) EV: 351
Governor George Bush (R-TX)/ Governor George Pataki EV: 173(R-NY)
Governor Howard Dean (D-VT)/ Representative Dennis Kucinich EV: 14 (D-OH)

[Maxwell]

At the height of the reform party, after the 2000 election, the Reform Party held 173 seats in the House and 34 seats in the Senate, and the frenzy allowed the Reform Party to cling to the majority for the first time ever, with the agreement that a few leadership positions would be held by the turncoat members (mostly Republicans, but included a few Democrats like Tim Penny and Diane Feinstine). This majority allowed President Eastwood to claim a mandate for his policies.

However, the Reform Party, with little direction beyond platitudes of change and "fairer trade agreements" (and many within the group disagreed on that), fought violently. Eastwood would reach out to Senate and House Republicans to pass the largest tax cut in history, while reaching out to Democrats to pass Environmental protection. Eastwood had little loyalty among his own party, and found it difficult to deal with them.

The world stage began erupting as terror attacks began popping up around the world, and pressure mounted on President Eastwood to act. Eastwood, feeling his conscience would not let him go if he didn't act, decided to invade the Middle East to halt the movement of terror. This proved unpopular with the Reform Party rank and file and Eastwood would have a tough time regaining renomination over Vice President Donald Trump, who attacked Eastwood as a "trigger happy hawk" and a "loser".

2004

Eastwood would nevertheless prevail in his primary, and despite several liberal appeasements, he nevertheless proved to be sufficiently conservative for most Republicans to endorse him over Congressman Ron Paul, whose libertarian movement shocked and awed the Republican establishment. Interestingly enough - lots of Reform members would vote for Paul, but more Republicans would vote for Eastwood. Democrats, who made major gains in the 2002 mid-terms, went with a "new" kind of Democrat in General Wesley Clark. Wesley Clark was a moderate, who challenged Eastwood's tax cuts as fiscally irresponsible, pivoted to Eastwood's right on the war and on crime, saying he could manage it better, while halting to Eastwood's left on healthcare and education, pledging to reform the healthcare system in America so every American is covered. Clark would also Out-Reform the Reformers - demanding a change in trade after Eastwood worked a backroom deal with the Democrats and Republicans to expand trade into Central America.

This would go along with major gains for the Democrats in both houses of Congress, allowing the party to re-gain a plurality in the chamber, while the Republicans sink to an all time low.

General Wesley Clark (D-AR)/Senator John Kerry (D-MA) - 41.2%, 313 EV's
President Clint Eastwood (I-CA)/Senator Henry Ross Perot Jr. (I-TX) - 37.8%, 222 EV's
Congressman Ron Paul (R-TX)/Former Congressman Barry Goldwater Jr. (R-CA) - 20.8%, 3 EV's

[beaver2.0]

Wesley Clark became the first Democratic President since 1989 when he won the 2004 election.  He withdrew US troops from many foreign engagements and doubled down on the financial sector.  Clark gained the support of the Democratic Party and Reform, which came under the rule of Trumpite protectionists.  In the midterms, the increasingly libertarian Republicans lost handily.  Disaster struck in January 2007 when Vice President Kerry was shot by a crazed sniper.  Kerry was in the hospital for twenty-five days, but stayed in office, but decided not to run for the Vice Presidency in 2008.  The Republicans nominated New Mexico Senator Gary Johnson, while Donald Trump won the Reform Primary.  President Clark, with a booming economy and the US out of foreign affairs, won reelection by a large margin.

US Presidential Election, 2008:

President Wesley Clark (D-AR) / Senator Paul Wellstone (D-MN) (Democratic) - 338 EVs
Former Vice President Donald Trump (Ref-NY) / Lt. Gov Walter Jones (Ref-NC) (Reform) - 200 EVs
Senator Gary Johnson (R-NM) / Businessman Charles Koch (R-TX) (Republican) - 0 EVs

[Maxwell]

During Wesley Clark's second term as President of the United States, the Country made some big changes. The first in the political system - The Republican Party had been hijacked as the far-right Libertarian Party, while the Reform Party was fighting it's own internal struggle between the Eastwoodites and the Trumpites. In the Republican Party, the more center-right faction bolted and joined the Eastwoodites to take over the Reform Party. The Republican Party, now filled with a large band of far-right activists, became an awkward third wheel on the American system.

Clark's administration began facing problems as his major electoral reforms failed to catch traction and were almost considered a power grab and the economy beginning to slow after long periods of consistent growth, and the Reform Party once again acquired a majority in the House and Senate (Speaker Charlie Dent and Majority Leader Tom Campbell), except for real this time as Republican officers across the nation retired in protest to the nomination of Paul and Johnson. In the second half of his first term, Clark's advocacy of alternative fuel sources became a source of potential impeachment as it was perceived as  conflict of interest when Solyndra violated campaign finance contribution laws after getting a big subsidy from a bill that the President particularly acted upon.

In Review,

Democrats - center left, attempted to tread center during the Clark administration as a part of the "New Democrat" initiative
Reform - waring between vulgar populists and vaguely center-right conservatives with moderate stands on the environment, trade, and civil rights.
Republicans - a far-right cauldron of libertarians, facists, ect.

2012

Impeachment would not go through, but President Clark was a liability. Vice President Paul Wellstone, despite being highly decorated as a liberal lion, was not called upon to serve, and instead Clark's rival in the "New Democrat" realm, Oklahoma Senator Dave McCrudy, won the primaries in a walk as the Democrats continued to view Clark's general policy outlook as the right way to go. McCrudy proved a more awkward campaigner than expected, and things looked tough for the Democrats to take control.

The Reform Party, the new center right party in the country, decided to heed to the center by nominating Majority Leader Tom Campbell of California to the ticket. Campbell, a Senate veteran, was a boring policy wonk who put a nicer face on a party that had recently been thrown around by a vulgar populist. But Campbell's calmness helped give people ease after an eventful last eight years.

The Republicans, jumping off the deep end, nominated Talk Show Host Alex Jones, who ran with Former Congressman Kerry Bentivolio.

Campbell posted double digit leads most of the election, but as Clark's trial began looking more and more like a witch-hunt, McCrudy's campaign began gaining steam. The last polls had McCrudy ahead, but Campbell's fateful win of California put him over the top.

Majority Leader Tom Campbell (RF-CA)/Governor Michael Bloomberg (RF-NY) - 44.6%, 299 EV's
Senator Dave McCrudy (D-OK)/Congresswoman Jane Lewis* (D-MI) - 43.8%, 186 EV's
Talk Show Host Alex Jones (R-TX)/Congressman Kerry Bentivolio (R-MI) - 10.2%, 53 EV's

*Lewis is a fictional character.

[msnmllr]

Tom Campbell had a very easy going presidency. However, there was a growing resentment within the Democratic Party. Senators Bernard Sanders and Elizabeth Warren were seen as outsiders in the party, and saw little support from most Senators.

Campbell was able to create a short term treaty in the Middle East and sent the Peace Corps to Ukraine in order to help reestablish the broken infrastructure

2016

Tom Campbell ran unopposed in the Reform Party primaries and faced little challenge prior to the fall of 2016.

The Democratic Party was incredibly divided between the moderate Democrats and the "Progressives". The frontrunners were Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley, Delaware Senator Joseph Biden, and Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown. O'Malley and Biden attacked Brown for being "far too liberal for the American people". After Brown dropped out, Biden and O'Malley seemed to go after each other for the longest time, until one of the two men would drop out. This happened to be Biden, as O'Malley seemed to have the greatest appeal to the mainstream Democrat. O'Malley selected New York Senator Kirsten Gellibrand as his Vice Presidential candidate.

The Republican Party seemed to finally get its head out of its ***, as the primaries only had real, established politicians. The two major candidates were Utah Senator John Huntsman Jr. and Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam. The Republican Party wanted to prove to the nation that it wasn't completely compromised of loons. Despite Huntsman being a Mormon, he managed to win the (somewhat brokered) convention. Huntsman did select Hallam as his running mate.

The Senators Sherrod Brown, Elizabeth Warren, and Bernard Sanders felt that they were betrayed by the Democratic Party, and launched the Social Progressive Party. This was seen as an attempt to possibly steal votes from the Democrats and the Reform Party. Brown was selected at the new party's candidate, with Sanders as the running mate.

O'Malley and Campbell practically waged war on one another, as they seemed to be the two frontrunners in the race. Huntsman wasn't too far behind, as he was able to make huge gains in the Mountain West and the South. Brown only campaigned in New England and the Northwest.

Due to the candidacy of Brown, O'Malley barely lost to Campbell. Huntsman reestablished the Republican Party as a serious political entity, and Brown proved that the Democratic Party wasn't as stable as it appeared.

President Tom Campbell (RF-CA)/ Vice President Michael Bloomberg (RF-NY)- 282 EV
Governor Martin O'Malley (D-MD)/ Senator Kirsten Gellibrand (D-NY)- 149 EV
Senator John Huntsman Jr. (R-UT)/ Governor William Haslam (R-TN)- 89 EV
Senator Sherrod Brown (SP-OH)/ Senator Bernard Sanders (SP-VT)- 18 EV

[President of the great nation of 🏳️‍⚧️]

Governor Martin O'Malley (D-MA)

Actually, O'Malley is from Maryland.
(skip)

[beaver2.0]

I suppose someone can do 2020 then we can start over at 1796.

The next time around, we should have it a lot less convergent.

[President of the great nation of 🏳️‍⚧️]

Tom Campbell's presidency ended well. VP Bloomberg, age 78, decided not to run. Elizabeth Warren was the favorite throughout the Social Progressive primary, after Bernie Sanders decided not to run. Senator Patrick Murphy of Florida was a front-runner for the Reform nomination. Kirsten Gillibrand won the Dem nomination, and former Senator Marco Rubio, who ran in 2016 but lost the nomination to Huntsman, won the Republican nomination. Kanye West ran as an Independent.

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (DM-NY) / Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) - 211
Senator Patrick Murphy (RF-FL) / Senator Jim Webb (RF-VA) - 146
Kanye West (IN-IL) / Ben Carson (IN-FL) - 66
Senator Marco Rubio (RP-FL) / Governor John Kasich (RP-OH) - 64
Senator Elizabeth Warren (SP-MA) / Senator Jeff Merkley (SP-OR) - 51
When put into Congress, West and Merkley were selected be the House and Senate, respectively.
What had been a system of two parties 25 years ago was now one big, five-party mess.