Kerry wins

[2952-0-0]

So somehow Kerry wins the 2004 presidential election. Yes, Democrats cheer and party while some on the other side (not naming names) allege voter fraud.

Anyway, how does the first term of the Kerry Administration turn out? For all the efforts on how the two tried to differentiate each other, things may not be that different than they would be currently.

[John Dibble]

Anyway, how does the first term of the Kerry Administration turn out? For all the efforts on how the two tried to differentiate each other, things may not be that different than they would be currently.

Gridlock with Congress for the first two years, and, depending on how the elections in 2006 go more gridlock or some slight compromise.

[Dave from Michigan]

very bad gridlock and government shutdowns due to disagreement over the budget. Kerry's approval numbers in the mid 40's. congress approval very low too. Kerry starts to pull some troops out of Iraq.  All of his campaign ideas are blocked and mocked by the republican congress. congressman Tom DeLay resigns after bitchslapping Nancy Pelosi in the face during a heated debate on the floor of the house (republicans are happy they get rid of Delay and Pelosi gets what she deserves). Republicans filibuster all of Kerry's judicial nomminees (Rehnquist and O' Connor don't retire yet). Kerry tries to set up a universal healthcare program  which fails in congress. He also tries to renew the assult weapons ban, and raise taxes to 40%(all fail)

by 2006 only 50,000 troops are left in Iraq Kerry's approval number is 43% 

after  the senate elections (with record low turnout)

57 republicans
43 democrats

RICK SANTORUM IS REELECTED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
after Casey ties himself to President Kerry and supports his healthcare program Santorum wins by 10000 votes

republicans pick up 5 seats in the house now it's would be 238-199 (I think)

[Max Power]

very bad gridlock and government shutdowns due to disagreement over the budget. Kerry's approval numbers in the mid 40's. congress approval very low too. Kerry starts to pull some troops out of Iraq.  All of his campaign ideas are blocked and mocked by the republican congress. congressman Tom DeLay resigns after bitchslapping Nancy Pelosi in the face during a heated debate on the floor of the house (republicans are happy they get rid of Delay and Pelosi gets what she deserves). Republicans filibuster all of Kerry's judicial nomminees (Rehnquist and O' Connor don't retire yet). Kerry tries to set up a universal healthcare program  which fails in congress. He also tries to renew the assult weapons ban, and raise taxes to 40%(all fail)

by 2006 only 50,000 troops are left in Iraq Kerry's approval number is 43% 

after  the senate elections (with record low turnout)

57 republicans
43 democrats

RICK SANTORUM IS REELECTED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
after Casey ties himself to President Kerry and supports his healthcare program Santorum wins by 10000 votes

republicans pick up 5 seats in the house now it's would be 238-199 (I think)

Keep dreaming.

[Alcon]

very bad gridlock and government shutdowns due to disagreement over the budget. Kerry's approval numbers in the mid 40's. congress approval very low too. Kerry starts to pull some troops out of Iraq.  All of his campaign ideas are blocked and mocked by the republican congress. congressman Tom DeLay resigns after bitchslapping Nancy Pelosi in the face during a heated debate on the floor of the house (republicans are happy they get rid of Delay and Pelosi gets what she deserves). Republicans filibuster all of Kerry's judicial nomminees (Rehnquist and O' Connor don't retire yet). Kerry tries to set up a universal healthcare program  which fails in congress. He also tries to renew the assult weapons ban, and raise taxes to 40%(all fail)

by 2006 only 50,000 troops are left in Iraq Kerry's approval number is 43% 

after  the senate elections (with record low turnout)

57 republicans
43 democrats

RICK SANTORUM IS REELECTED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
after Casey ties himself to President Kerry and supports his healthcare program Santorum wins by 10000 votes

republicans pick up 5 seats in the house now it's would be 238-199 (I think)

Oh, yes.  Just like Bush has, upon re-election, declared Christian the religion of the U.S., saw Iraq turn into the most crumbling mess possible, and declared war on eighty-three other countries.

I could see a few of these things happening, but...come on.

[Ben.]

Where Kerry to have won nationwide, which means bumping up his total in the popular vote by 1-2% then the Democrats probably win the senate races in Alaska, Kentucky, South Dakota and Florida… so while the Democrats don’t retake the senate they aren’t routed in the way they where in 2004, in the end though this probably masks a more long term decline that in reality the 2004 contests helped bring out in the open.

John Kerry is swore in as president on  January the 19th 2005, along with his vice president John Edwards.

Kerry’s quickly sends a bevy of bills to Capitol Hill, but almost all quickly become bogged down  in hearings or simply because the republican leadership won’t support them. Despite this Kerry’s major economic bill introducing a system of tax credits encouraging companies which create jobs at home and raising the minimum wage is passed by a narrow margin with the support of a small number of GOP moderates, but not until other measures such as the reversal of the Bush tax cuts etc… are removed.

For Kerry this is as good as its gets, measures on health care, workers rights and a whole plethora of other issues are blocked, with things made all the worse by moderate Democratic Senators occasionally abstaining or simply openly voting against. 

For Kerry the war in Iraq drags on much as it has for Bush in reality, however unlike Bush Kerry publishes a timetable for a partial US withdrawal and attempts to make representations to other NATO and UN nations for assistance but despite some soothing noises he receives very little. A high profile visit to Europe in conjunction with the G8 summit is well received but as with most US presidents the only genuinely warm reception is from the British Government of Tony Blair (enjoying either a slightly larger or slightly smaller majority after the defeat of George Bush… either it creates momentum behind the campaign to defeat the leaders of the war against Iraq or it takes the wind out of the sails of those who attack Blair for his close relationship with the US and Bush in particular).

At the G8 big strides are made in the area of dept relief and commitment to environmental measures (which Kerry can never hope to get Congress to pass), but he remains unwilling to agree to a large aid deal for Africa.

With gridlock paralysing Washington and the war in Iraq dragging on despite the time tabled withdrawal both parties appeal for the American public to make clear their judgment in the 2006 midterms… they do not. In Pennsylvania, popular pro-life state treasurer Bob Casey faces a fierce primary battle against pro-choice former state  treasurer Barbara Hafer but eventually wins out going on to beat Rick Santorum by fewer than 5,000 votes after several weeks of recounts and litigation which in the end uphold his win, in Ohio GOP Senator DeWine is beaten in a surprise upset as Democrats also take the governors mansion, in MO to there is a close run race for the GOP incumbent Senator Jim Talen… but the Democrats also suffer a string of loses, In Florida GOP State House Speaker Allan Bense oustes Democrat Bill Nelson and in Minnesota Mark Kennedy wins the open senate race.

With the elections over the grid lock continues and former general Tommy franks beings raising a great del of money through GOP sponsored dinners….                                     

[Dave from Michigan]

First my post was kind of a joke, but if you guys don't think that Kerry would govern as an liberal your dreaming I'm not saying he'd be very liberal though.  He said he supports the assult weapon ban, universal healthcare may have been a little much but it's not that far out Clinton tried it an he was somewhat moderate.  Also what make you think Kerry would be so much more popular all republicans would hate him a 45% approval rating is not unreasonable. Republican gains in 2006 is possible if Kerry was not popular.  Sure my
senario is on the bad side and kind of partisan I don't think it's that bad.

[Ben.]

First my post was kind of a joke, but if you guys don't think that Kerry would govern as an liberal your dreaming I'm not saying he'd be very liberal though.  He said he supports the assult weapon ban, universal healthcare may have been a little much but it's not that far out Clinton tried it an he was somewhat moderate.  Also what make you think Kerry would be so much more popular all republicans would hate him a 45% approval rating is not unreasonable. Republican gains in 2006 is possible if Kerry was not popular.  Sure my
senario is on the bad side and kind of partisan I don't think it's that bad.

I didn't criticize your scenario; personally I think that most of Kerry’s legislative plans would be blocked by congress, though I’d expect him to garner some populist support to provide against outsourcing of US jobs… not much beyond that.

He would talk about a planned withdrawal from Iraq but it would never materialise and the campaign would be more confused than at present, indeed he’d probably be portrayed internationally as indecisive.

Kerry could forget about getting a liberal, even a moderate one, court nominee through congress indeed O’Connor wouldn’t retire, so he’d probably have to wait for Rehnquist’s retirement… but as we’ve seen that wouldn’t be quick in coming, especially with a democrat incumbent in the white house. 

Both Kerry and the GOP would look to midterms to break the grid lock but they wouldn’t… Dems might gains seats in PA and OH, but the GOP would be better placed than it is today to take Democrat held seats in MN and FL as well as potentially in Nebraska, then again Ben Nelson might defect with Kerry as president.