The Next President: A Mr. Hobbes Production

[George W. Hobbes]

The Next President[/u]

After four years of Republican President Noah Silverhawk of Oklahoma, America is on the precipice of change.

The unpopular President, battling with an Democratic Congress that emerged from the 2006 midterm elections, has spectacularly failed to achieve any of his major domestic and foreign policy goals in his term of residency at the White House.  The only significant victory, if one would wish to call it that, was the U.S.' withdrawal from the United Nations after the unveiling of corruption among UN peacekeepers in Iraq and the oil-for-food scandal.

The Supreme Court, a contentious issue in the fight between Democratic Governor Ted Little and then-Governor Silverhawk in the 2004 election, has remained generally the same.  After the resignation of Chief Justice William Rehnquist, the President elevated Clarence Thomas to head the bench and plucked an obscure conservative from the Michigan federal appeals court to fill Thomas' role as associate justice.

NATO and UN presence in Afghanistan is completely unheard of, with the democratic government successfully maintaining a critical centrist balance between the Islamists and tribal insurgents.  Iraq is an entirely different story, despite democratic elections and the installment of a moderate leader, northern Kurds are demanding independence and many have resorted to terrorist attacks against coalition forces in the country.  The coalition remains a force in Iraq at the official "request" of the Iraqi Parliament.

Domestically, the Democratic leadership in Congress has constantly warred with a neo-conservative White House, much to the detriment of the country.  Democratic-backed legislation to re-import perscription drugs from Canada, roll back tax cuts, re-new the assault weapons ban, and grant amnesty to illegal immigrants have met with a stone wall of vetoes from on high.  In return, Democrats refused to expand the powers of the Homeland Security Department, pass an additional $45 billion appropriations bill for Iraq, and partially privatize Social Security.

Last month, citing "personal medical problems", President Silverhawk announced that he would not be seeking a second term as President of the United States; the first President to deny himself re-election since Lyndon Baines Johnson in 1968.  With both the Democratic and Republican fields for the Presidency wide-open, and a wide range of American talent has shown up.

[George W. Hobbes]

The Republicans

Governor Hobby Newsom
The successful governor of California, Hobbes R. "Hobby" Newsom also happens to be one of America's greatest sports legends.  As a pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers from 1979 to 1997, Newsom struck out nearly four thousand batters and maintained a career earned run average of just under three runs a game.  Although world renowned for his power pitching, perhaps his most memorable moment came in the 1988 World Series, when he was allowed to hit in the bottom of the tenth inninng and cracked a two-run homer to secure the title for L.A.

Governor Newsom is a self-styled reformist, and has proposed setting a mandatory retirement age of 75 for all sitting Supreme Court justices and a twenty-year term for all future justices appointed to the bench.  He has also embraced gun control as a means of appealing to independent voters, and remains staunchly committed to pro-life politics, and the President's proposed Social Security bill.

Perhaps most surprisingly, Newsom managed to successfully spin his personal objections to the death penalty, calling the practice "too easy on criminals, it gives them an escape" and arguing that "it is the sick sign of a generation that would rather kill a man to give him peace than lock him in solitary for the rest of his life when it's cheaper for us to keep him alive and suffering for his sins."

On the war on terror, Newsom is committed to a total intelligence overhaul and seeking to destroy terrorist organizations before they "even become a threat.  We cannot wait for America to be threatened with a code red alert...because then we will have waited too long."  He also wishes to re-join the United Nations.

Newsom, 45, is a Caucasian-American from San Jacinto, California.

Senator Ford Westerly
Rhode Island's lovable maverick, Senator Westerly has been the bane of the Christian Fellowship Alliance and Southern archconservatives since his first election in 1982.  A self-described "Rockefeller Republican", Westerly has been one of the Administration's harshest critics in recent years and blamed the loss of the GOP majority in Congress on "the ineptitude of a sorrowful leadership."

Westerly has proposed ending the capping of Social Security taxes for those making over $98,000 a year rather than privatization, and made headlines with his staunch opposition of the President's proposed Social Security reforms.  He also stands as one of the few Republicans on the national scene adamently opposed to any sort of school voucher plan.

His moderately pro-choice stance ("I personally deplore the practice, but I will never get in the way of a woman's inalienable natural rights.") is nominally overlooked due to his support for massive increases in defense spending, particularly since the 9/11 attacks and the war in Iraq.

He has supported the President's attempts to pass the ill-fated "Patriot Act II" bill, as well as withdrawal from the UN; and has shown signs of being more interested in foreign intervention than even Silverhawk, having made several comments on the Senate floor concerning possible Iranian proliferation of nuclear weapons.

Westerly, 60, is an Irish-American.

Governor Paul Russell
If there was one word readily avaliable to describe the Governor Paul Russell of Iowa, it would have to be charisma.  Not since Ronald Reagan has the Republican Party had such a likable public figure on the Presidential figure.  His Main Street values and strident support of nominal Republican positions has not prevented Russell from winning three terms as governor of the Democratic-leaning Midwestern state.

Fiercely pro-life and anti-tax ("What did the Founding Fathers fight for if it wasn't for lower taxes and the pursuit of life and liberty?"), Russell has completely eliminated the state income tax in Iowa and signed legislation to ban partial-birth abortions.  He also has remained committed to a balanced budget, sending Iowa in the red only one fiscal year.  Russell has proposed reforms to Social Security along the lines of the President's bill, and has come out strongly against any attempts to raise taxes to save the entitlement.

His support of the Republican status quo has gleaned him tacit support from President Silverhawk, although the unpopular chief of state has not been officially used to advance Russell's agenda.

He remains committed to the Patriot Act and the war on terrorism, although he was critical of the President's actions involving the United Nations.  He has weakly proposed allowing a UN-mandated referendum on Kurdish independence, but maintained that such a referendum would only come with the consent of the Iraqi national government.

Russell, 51, is an African-American.

Senator Amanda Hatterly
Ohio's senior U.S. Senator, Amanda Hatterly has made waves within the Republican Party in recent months by presenting herself to the party as a more libertarian candidate.  Foremost amongst this position has been a vehement anti-war stance and she has sworn that she will withdraw all U.S. forces from Iraq as soon as she is sworn in as President.

She has also suggested decriminalizing, although not outright legalizing, marijuana; exposing massive outcry from Southern Republicans and "family values" special interest groups.  This has allowed her to move left on same-sex marriage, opposing any Constitutional amendment "big government at its worst."

Hatterly has balanced this view by embracing supply-side economics, out endorsing tax cuts for big businesses on the theory that funds will "trickle down" to the lower and middle-classes.  A self-described "small-government small-l libertarian," Hatterly hopes to return the Republican Party to its heritage as the party of anti-federal activists like Bob Taft and Barry Goldwater.

On the foreign policy front, she has embraced the withdrawal from the United Nations and has pledged that she will fight "a smarter, stronger, war against terrorism."

Hatterly, 55, is a Caucasian-American.
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To vote for the next Republican nominee for President of the United States, click here:
http://demochoice.org/dcballot.php?poll=TNPgop

[YRABNNRM]

Well this is quite a tough choice...hmm this will take some thought....

[Keystone Phil]

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Ok, I'd just like to state that I find it weird that this conservative Republican Governor has the first name of the late, very liberal Senator Paul Wellstone and his last name is the first name of Senator Russell Feingold. And Iowa borders the state that Wellstone represented (MN) and the state Feingold still represents (WI). I wonder if Hobbes did that on purpose or if it was a coincidence?

Ok, I'm done 

[George W. Hobbes]

The Democrats

Former Mayor Ronald V. Danforth
The former Republican mayor of New York City, Ronald V. Danforth exhibited star power as the chairman of "Republicans for Little" in the 2004 election.  The mayor has left behind the Republican Party, but is one of the few party-switchers who can honestly say that the party left him first.  As a candidate for re-election as mayor, he was denied re-nomination in the primary and was forced to launch an Independent bid to win his second term.

Danforth remains an activist for balanced budgets and lower taxes, typical Republican values, but has expressed his belief that marriage should not be regulated by the federal government and is ranked as one of the staunchest defenders of choice by the National League of Women.

He has adamently demanded that the United States re-enter the United Nations, citing that "international diplomacy is the only way to defeat terrorism and establish a lasting world peace."  He applauded Congress' rejection of a $45 billion appropriation for Iraq, shouting that the money would be better spent on American education, hospitals, and workers.

Danforth supports raising the minimum wage to $7.25 an hour, to be paid for by rolling back the Bush and Silverhawk tax cuts.  He has made establishing opportunity for all, particularly through the advancement of some sort of universal health care allotment as the central issue of his campaign.

Danforth, 36, is an African-American.

Governor Vernon Shaw
The moderate governor of Wisconsin, Vernon Shaw made himself the "education governor" while at work in the stae house in Madison, and wishes to parlay his "Wisconsin Triumph" onto the rest of America as the "education President."

Calling for a fully-funded No Child Left Behind Act, raising teacher's salaries, and delivering education funding to the districts to spend as they see fit rather than demanding where the dollars are to go; have stood as the cornerstone of what is often referred to as the "Shaw Doctrine".

Although Shaw admits that he opposes the death penalty, he has spun his viewpoint along the lines of the governor of California, although he has remained a bastion of pro-choice politics, unlike Hobby Newsom.

Shaw has voiced his opposition to the "redefination of marriage to support a special interest group" although he has called for federal recognition of civil unions as a means of protecting the "natural human rights of same-sex couples."  Despite the fact that this is a fine line to dance on, Shaw seems to have done so successfully.

He remains opposed to any attempts at privatizing Social Security, and applauded the Congress' decision to block the President's proposed legislation.  He does however, demand the immediate renewal of the assault weapons ban.

Governor Shaw has called for continuation of the war on terrorism, re-aligning America with the United Nations, and promoting human rights around the planet.

Shaw, 58, is a Caucasian-American.

Senator Mitchell Callahan
The upset winner of a Senate race in the conservative stronghold state of Utah, Mitch Callahan, has brought the face of the Blue Dog Democrat back into vogue.  The two-term junior senator has remained a fierce advocate of Second Amendment gun rights, and voted against his party on the Social Security bill.

Although pro-choice and opposed to further involvement in Iraq, Callahan has been vilified by the Democratic elite as a "conservative in sheep's clothing."  In response, Callahan notes that his views are not entirely unlike the last two Democrats to sleep in the White House, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton.  

Callahan has remained a strong supporter of the re-importation of perscription drugs of Canada, the only Democratic candidate to do so in the 2008 election cycle.  He also supports passing a patient's bill of rights and moving in the direction of a "smart, bi-partisan" universl health insurance bill.

On terrorism, Callahan has remained lukewarm about foreign "adventurism" by the United States, and has proposed instead sealing the borders with the U.S. military, doubling funding for the Homeland Security Department, and moving towards a more "shock and awe"-styled military force, rather than having a large number of boots on the ground.

Callahan, 48, is a Caucasian-American.

Senator Alyssa Potter
The junior U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania, Alyssa Potter is commonly known as "Madam Democrat" by both the press and other legislators on the Hill.  She's regularly ranked by Newsweek as one of the five most liberal members of Congress, and has been rewarded by massive media attention for this distinction.

Senator Potter was the author of the bill to provide amnesty for illegal immigrants, citing it as "the next logical step" from President Silverhawk's proposed guest worker program.  As one might expect, she has also supported the repeal of the Patriot Act.

She has sworn that she will withdraw all American troops from Iraq and plead "with the international community to forgive America for the sins of Noah Silverhawk" by re-joining the United Nations.  She has, however, proposed withdrawing from NAFTA, citing outsourcing as the "single largest detriment to the American Dream."

A former mayor of Philadelphia, Potter has called for the same fiscal sanity and balanced budgets that she delivered for six consecutive years in Philly.  She has, however, promised "never to raise taxes on those making over $200,000 a year" and supported rolling back the Bush/Silverhawk tax cuts.

Senator Potter remains committed to the war on terrorism, but will never go to battle unless all attempts at all possible diplomacy fail first.

Potter, 49, is a Caucasian-American.
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To vote for the next Democratic nominee for President of the United States, click here:
http://demochoice.org/dcballot.php?poll=TNPdnc

[Keystone Phil]

The Democrats

Senator Alyssa Potter
The junior U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania, Alyssa Potter is commonly known as "Madam Democrat" by both the press and other legislators on the Hill.  She's regularly ranked by Newsweek as one of the five most liberal members of Congress, and has been rewarded by massive media attention for this distinction.

Senator Potter was the author of the bill to provide amnesty for illegal immigrants, citing it as "the next logical step" from President Silverhawk's proposed guest worker program.  As one might expect, she has also supported the repeal of the Patriot Act.

She has sworn that she will withdraw all American troops from Iraq and plead "with the international community to forgive America for the sins of Noah Silverhawk" by re-joining the United Nations.  She has, however, proposed withdrawing from NAFTA, citing outsourcing as the "single largest detriment to the American Dream."

A former mayor of Philadelphia, Potter has called for the same fiscal sanity and balanced budgets that she delivered for six consecutive years in Philly.  She has, however, promised "never to raise taxes on those making over $200,000 a year" and supported rolling back the Bush/Silverhawk tax cuts.

Senator Potter remains committed to the war on terrorism, but will never go to battle unless all attempts at all possible diplomacy fail first.

And Allyson Potter reminds me of Allyson Schwartz...except Potter was Mayor of Philly (Schwartz was not) and she pledged not to raise taxes on those making over $200 thousand a year (and Allyson Schwartz would have no problem doing that).

[Akno21]

I went Shaw over Danforth in a very close race.

[Hitchabrut]

Russell!

[George W. Hobbes]

Keystone, sorry to disillusion you, but neither of those are the people I had it made.  Governor Russell was slightly modeled after PBrunsel, and I decided that "Russell" was a good euphemism for "Brunsel".  As for Alyssa Potter, she's based more off Nancy Pelosi with some Kucinich influences, but she hails from the ultra-liberal city of Philadelphia.

But keep guessing...there's Atlas and real politicians that each candidate is a template of.  (With some slight differences, anyway.)

[PBrunsel]

Keystone, sorry to disillusion you, but neither of those are the people I had it made.  Governor Russell was slightly modeled after PBrunsel, and I decided that "Russell" was a good euphemism for "Brunsel". 

I thought so, that line about the Founding Fathers was one I made.

[George W. Hobbes]

Keystone, sorry to disillusion you, but neither of those are the people I had it made.  Governor Russell was slightly modeled after PBrunsel, and I decided that "Russell" was a good euphemism for "Brunsel". 

I thought so, that line about the Founding Fathers was one I made.

Seriously?  And here I thought I'd made it up on the fly...must have been my subconsious or something.  Guess I got ya pegged pretty well PB!

[Reaganfan]

Russell!

[ilikeverin]

What a coincidence, I'm supporting another 4-lettered Democrat

[PBrunsel]

Keystone, sorry to disillusion you, but neither of those are the people I had it made.  Governor Russell was slightly modeled after PBrunsel, and I decided that "Russell" was a good euphemism for "Brunsel". 

I thought so, that line about the Founding Fathers was one I made.

Seriously?  And here I thought I'd made it up on the fly...must have been my subconsious or something.  Guess I got ya pegged pretty well PB!

I guess you do Mr. Hobbes.

And I guess that Hobby Newsom is a political copy of yourself

[Keystone Phil]

As for Alyssa Potter, she's based more off Nancy Pelosi with some Kucinich influences, but she hails from the ultra-liberal city of Philadelphia.

Philadelphia isn't really ultra-liberal but we can have that discussion elsewhere. And Allyson Schwartz, just like this Alyssa Potter, is like Nancy Pelsoi, Jr.

[George W. Hobbes]

PB: Well, I guess that wasn't too difficult to figure out...

Keystone: Well, all I know is that Philly went hevaily Democratic so I gave her that town.  Besides, Pennsylvania needed a candidate in TNP.

ILV: And the first letter is "S" again!

[Platypus]

Shaw!

[King]

Good to see you active again, Hobbes.

[DanielX]

For the Republicans, Russell or Hatterly would be best. Combining the two into one candidate would be close to ideal.

For the Dems, the only one i could possibly vote for would be Callahan.

[ilikeverin]

Bump!

[George W. Hobbes]

Come on folks...get out the vote!