Swift-Flop: An Alternate 2004 Election

[NeverAgain]

Swift-Flop: An Alternate 2004 Election

On March 11th, 2004, John Forbes Kerry had accumulated the 2,162 delegates needed to clinch the Democratic Nomination for President of the United States. The 2nd Catholic ever to win that position since John F. Kennedy almost 44 years prior. Back then, Kennedy had to deal with suspicions that a Catholic president might be unduly influenced by the pope. Now, a primary that had lasted ever since Howard Dean announced his campaign 9 months before, had come to a close. The Democratic National Convention being held in Boston, Massachusetts, Kerry's Home State, where Kerry would be officially nominated was almost four months away. Now marked an interval seen again four years ago with Al Gore's abrupt win many months before his convention.

In those months, Kerry filled his time with campaigning, collecting endorsements, and the occasional scandal or two, especially one over his attendance at a Vietnam Veterans Against the [Vietnam] War (VVAW). A Group known as the "Swift Boat Veterans for Truth emerges announcing their opposition to the Kerry campaign. During May, Sen. Kerry sees an uptick in his polls, directly related to the disgust for the Bush Administration due to the treatment of Abu Ghraibi Prisoners and the video of the brutal beheading of Nick Berg, both of which are blamed on the Bush Administration.

Newsweek Polls:

Do you approve of the Bush Administration? 40% YES - 47% NO

Do you approve of the Bush Administration's handling of Iraq 29% YES - 54% NO

Who do you support between Sen. Kerry and Pres. Bush 48% KERRY - 46% BUSH

As the months prolonged, Kerry won more primary states with 60%+ Margins. Only Rep. Dennis Kucinich still was in the race, campaigning on an almost fringe platform of far-leftist ideals, like creating a single-payer system of universal health care and free pre-kindergarten and college for all. These ideas scared many Democrats who felt that they must be united around a sensible moderate platform if they were going to defeat President Bush. Kucinich campaigned extensively in Oregon, but wins only 18% of the vote. Kerry, who has been focusing on shifting gears from a debate among Democrats, to a nationwide audience.

Kerry had crisscrossed the nation by this point, holding rallies and fundraising, with a meet-and-greet along the way. But on June 5th, Fmr. President Ronald Reagan died of pneumonia, complicated by Alzheimer's disease. Both campaigns took a break away from their campaign to mourn the loss of the former President.

Thanks so much for reading! If you have any thoughts, comments, or concerns please let me know! Part Two will be up tomorrow!

[NeverAgain]

Swift-Flop: Veepstakes

"Who will it be?" was the question on every Democrat's mind as the election entered the summer months. The campaign had released teases of Fmr. First Lady and Sen. Hillary Clinton, Sen. Bob Graham, and even General Wesley Clark. By late June the campaign released the top three, Sen. John Edwards, Rep. Richard Gephardt, and Gov. Tom Vilsack, all of which were asked to clear their schedules for the week of June the 6th.

Many assumed that while Gephardt had much experience to add to the ticket and would help in the swing states of Iowa and Missouri (his home state), Kerry would pick the younger charismatic Senator Edwards, providing a "regional balance" to the ticket. Some thought that picking Tom Vilsack would provide not only a new Midwest appeal, but also popular executive experience and leadership. The choices were clear; the pawns had been moved. The Kerry Campaign announced a rally in Philadelphia, PA, which thought it could be any of the three. But when Sen. Kerry walked out with his new running mate, the American people saw his choice.

Gephardt. Kerry's former opponent, now will be his closest ally in the White House. The Kerry/Gephardt team was widely heralded by even dissenters as competent and noted as the "Team to beat" by many liberal news sources.

New York Post Polls:

Do you approve of Kerry's VP Pick? 51% YES - 38% NO

If the election were between Rep. Gephardt and VP Cheney, who would you vote for? 43% CHENEY - 40% GEPHARDT

Who do you support between Sen. Kerry and Pres. Bush? 45% KERRY - 43% BUSH

Thanks so much for reading! If you have any thoughts, comments, or concerns please let me know!

[LLR]

2004 timelines are great

[GoTfan]

*leans forward* Oh well now, this looks interesting.

[DKrol]

*leans forward* Oh well now, this looks interesting.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Great job so far!

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

Great job so far!

[NeverAgain]

Swift-Flop: The DNC

Boston. Here, just over two centuries prior to this convention, a group of men dressed up as Native Americans took their anger on unfair taxes on a local commodity, out on the British ships carrying it. Here, just 3 years ago, 19 men left this city's airport with the intent of striking terror and fear into the hearts of every American, and every peace-loving citizen of the world. A day now known as - 9/11.

Now on this day, in this year. The men and women who nominate one of the two men who will lead the country for the next term of a President shall meet in this city.

This Convention takes place, while this nation is ravaged by two wars precipitated by the other party's nominee. A man despised by all Democrats, a party seemingly united here to defeat him.

But looks can be deceiving as a long primary can have nasty results. John Kerry had to go through too many primary challengers to count... Including Dennis Kucinich, who while reluctantly endorsing Senator Kerry, has not made an effort to bring his, albeit limited, anti-war supporters to the Kerry camp. Kucinich, en route to the convention to make his small zero-coverage appearance, stopped at the Free-Speech Zone outside the Fleet Center. There, Kucinich made a passionate appeal to stop the war and stop President Bush's tyranny against working families.

The convention now underway was faced with cheers and jeers on the first night, with speakers ranging from two former Presidents, to Sen. Hillary Clinton, and an impassioned speech by Al Gore to "count all the votes".

The second night, became probably the most memorable for one reason and one reason only. The Keynote of Senatorial Candidate, Barack Obama. Obama seemed like not just a rising star, but a shooting star, in the Democratic Party. He walked on that stage and lit up the room with a statement of unity, saying: "There is not a liberal America and a conservative America — there is the United States of America".

Then came the third night with a rousing speech by VP Nominee Gephardt lambasting the status quo and made a passionate appeal for his namesake ticket. "Words can be cheap in a political year, we all know that. But I'm going to borrow some familiar ones, to tell you that we need John Kerry as president — because we need a uniter, not a divider, in the White House. We need John Kerry as president because it's time to restore honor and dignity to the White House — to have a president whose whole life is a testament to his goodness and decency, to his courage under fire. We need John Kerry as president of the United States of America, because he will fight for working families, and help America to be what it ought to be."

And then there was one man unspoken for. And there he was, approaching his convention - the face of the Democratic Party.

He rose to the stage and proclaimed, "I'm John Kerry, and I am reporting for duty!"

Pew Research Polls:

Did you approve of the Democratic National Convention 59% YES - 37% NO

Do you support the President's actions in Iraq 51% NO - 43% YES

Who do you support between Sen. Kerry and Pres. Bush? 46% KERRY - 41% BUSH

Thanks so much for reading! If you have any thoughts, comments, or concerns please let me know!

[GoTfan]

Great to see this back!

[NeverAgain]

Swift-Flop: Blue Dogs and Red Elephants - The RNC

♫ New York, New York! ♫ "The City That Never Sleeps!" A city that has been a beacon of hope, a spotlight of destiny, and the dream of our nation to forever be free for so many. Now, for three years, this city has mourned the day that brought them to their knees.

A day immortalized by its date engrained in our American psyche for generations, and generations. A day forever known only as 9/11.

This Convention takes place, while this nation is ravaged by two wars attacked continually by the other party's nominee. A man despised by almost all Republicans, with a party seemingly united here, at Madison Square Garden, to defeat him and his liberal ideas.

Now, a month after the Democrats met in Boston, the Republicans meet just shy of the 3rd anniversary of the terrible tragedy that occurred in this city.

First came the mayors, there was Bloomberg, Giuliani, and even Ed Koch. All spoke of the atrocities committed to their great city, a city which only President Bush could defend. Then came McCain, former primary challenger to the President, four years prior. McCain focused his speech on the work Bush had done in his past four years, Bush's war abroad, and even attacked filmmaker Michael Moore, who was in attendance.

The Second Night showed America Republican Stars like the First Lady, and even the "Governator" Arnold Schwarzenegger. They both gave speeches of the true meaning of being a Republican and what true Republican beliefs are.  But on the third night, the biggest and most powerful speech was the one spoken by a man who wasn't even a Republican. Walking on to the stage was Democratic Georgia Senator, Zell Miller.

Throughout Miller's speech, he referenced weapons bills, which Senator Kerry voted against. Miller talked about needed a President with a backbone, one that Kerry just didn't have. He also attacked another fellow Democrat, Ted Kennedy, saying that "no pair has been more wrong, more loudly, more often."

Miller, still identifying as a Democrat, said he'd stay his affiliation until the end of his term that year. But his real affiliation was with the Republicans. The worry for many Democrats was his Senate seat, now up for grabs could go to a Republican and therefore deny them the Democratic Senate they so desperately  need.

On the third night, the man from Wyoming and his wife approached the convention floor with a rousing speech on the power of the Bush Administration and what the Bush/Cheney ticket will do: "Just as surely as the Nazis during World War Two and the Soviet communists during the Cold War, the enemy we face today is bent on our destruction. As in other times, we are in a war we did not start, and have no choice but to win. Firm in our resolve, focused on our mission, and led by a superb commander in chief, we will prevail. The fanatics who killed some 3,000 of our fellow Americans may have thought they could attack us with impunity because terrorists had done so previously. But if the killers of September 11 thought we had lost the will to defend our freedom, they did not know America and they did not know George W. Bush."

The last day came with, almost relief, as the Convention had been mired with numerous protests and arrests. The scene was a disaster for anyone on the "outside", but America watched the patriotism and the charm of George W. Bush, from the inside.

Bush rose to the stage to speak of what he demanded in his next four years: "To everything we know there is a season a time for sadness, a time for struggle, a time for rebuilding. And now we have reached a time for hope. This young century will be liberty's century. By promoting liberty abroad, we will build a safer world. By encouraging liberty at home, we will build a more hopeful America. Like generations before us, we have a calling from beyond the stars to stand for freedom. This is the everlasting dream of America and tonight, in this place, that dream is renewed. Now we go forward grateful for our freedom, faithful to our cause, and confident in the future of the greatest nation on earth. God bless you, and may God continue to bless America."

New York Times Polls:

Did you approve of the Republican National Convention 62% YES - 33% NO

Do you approve of the Bush/Cheney Ticket? 52% YES - 46% NO

Who do you support between Sen. Kerry and Pres. Bush? 44% KERRY - 45% BUSH

Thanks so much for reading! If you have any thoughts, comments, or concerns please let me know!

[GoTfan]

Wow, it's close. Big post-convention bump for Kerry, small one for Bush.

Is Kerry's Vietnam War record going to be attacked at any point?

[GoTfan]

Wow, it's close. Big post-convention bump for Kerry, small one for Bush.

Is Kerry's Vietnam War record going to be attacked at any point?

[NeverAgain]

Wow, it's close. Big post-convention bump for Kerry, small one for Bush.

Is Kerry's Vietnam War record going to be attacked at any point?

A group known as Swift-Boat Veterans for Truth has formed, but has gained little attention. Kerry has still held his own on any attacks about his service and his Peace Activism afterwards.

More will come about Kerry's service will come later.

[America Needs R'hllor]

Really fun to read so far! Can't wait for more.

[Blackacre]

MORE PLZ AND THANK

[RC (a la Frémont)]

*bump

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

MORE PLZ AND THANK