The Shift: A 2010 - 2028 TL

[Sestak]

Sidenote: I was originally going to have Clyburn pull off a narrow, shocking upset. However, after the whole Conyers situation, that's no longer happening. He's lost and will never again be mentioned in this TL.

Also, I missed it earlier, but Blumenthal succeeded Dodd.

[Sestak]

Alright, as the results continue to come in, let's talk about the policy achievements of the Republicans during the Chafee adminstration. Although, it really is more like the lack of acheivements.

The President's been wanting to come at things from a more moderate angle. Said he supported some 'moderate' reforms of Wall Street. So much Republican bickering on it and nothing ever manifested. Said he wanted a push for a market-based healthcare reform. It was killed in committee. He wanted to cut corporate tax rates, and even that–The GOP's bread and butter, where they even had some Democrats on their side –they couldn't do, as a group of GOP Senators led by DeMint said they couldn't do taxes until Planned Parenthood was defunded. Which, by the way, they also weren't able to do.

They tried to push through a marraige amendment, which polling showed was extremely unpopular, and that fell short with the President coming out strongly against it.

Really, it's almost a bigger story when you look at the Democrats' near-victories. The first was the immigration reform, the 'conservative' immigration reform, Rubio-Smith, which had majority Democratic support, and that bill failed dramatically on the Senate floor. Then, of course, there was George Voinovich's...shocking...gambit, where he, having decided to retire, decided to defy party leadership, and with the support of Democrats, tried to seize control of the chamber to force a vote on Don't Ask, Don't Tell. And in that very, very dramatic vote, they ultimately fell just one vote short of what they needed. So really, it's been a story of a dysfunctional Republican Party and a very, very determined Democratic Party, who have nearly been able to push major legislation despite not controlling any branch of government.


Alright, I'm going to have to interrupt you there, because it is nearly half-past eight, and polls are about to close in the state of Arkansas.

[America Needs R'hllor]

Damn, a shame Chafee didn't manage to get anything through. Tea Party extremist Republicans should be blamed for this- not the President.

[BuckeyeNut]

Damn, a shame Chafee didn't manage to get anything through. Tea Party extremist Republicans should be blamed for this- not the President.

It's the 2010 midterm -- it doesn't seem like there is a Tea Party ITT. Not yet, anyway.

[Sestak]

Damn, a shame Chafee didn't manage to get anything through. Tea Party extremist Republicans should be blamed for this- not the President.

It's the 2010 midterm -- it doesn't seem like there is a Tea Party ITT. Not yet, anyway.

Well, there's no Tea Party (though there are some elements of it), but most of the GOP is way to the right of Chafee and has a different agenda. Hastert and McConnell have no real interest in pursuing a moderate agenda (McConnell especially, as he single-handedly killed the Rubio-Smith immigration bill by forcing Sen. Smith to include the Gregg provision. The bill would have likely passed without it.) Among other things, GOP leadership (and extreme conservatives like DeMint) believe that Chafee has not governed in a conservative way (for instance, he vetoed an estate tax repeal). They want him to make more concessions to conservatives (for instance, he promised to appoint conservative judges to the federal bench and make his first SCOTUS appointment a strong conservative in exchange for their full support during the election). They wanted more concessions in exchange for their continual support of his administration and its agenda.

But I'm getting into quite a bit of spoiler territory. We'll get into this more during the flashbacks of Chafee's first two years.

[Sestak]

8:30 PM EDT



In the governor's race in Arkansas, incumbent Mike Beebe is unopposed and will win.



Arkansas – Governor
9% Reporting
Mike Beebe (D) – 94%

In the Senate race, we are not ready to make a call, but incumbent Democrat Blanche Lincoln does lead.

 

Arkansas – Senate
9% Reporting
Blanche Lincoln (D) – 60%
Asa Hutchinson (R) – 36%

[Kamala]

Changing the definition of "blanching," huh?

[Sestak]

Goddamn Asa Hutchinson doesn't have a 240px high portrait.

Anyway, the next update will be our first flashback. The appearances of these flashbacks are going to be sporadic, and they aren't in any particular order. I will be focusing on the first two years of Chafee before Kerry's term, though. Flashbacks will usually be accompanied by some statistic, such as an election result, poll result, or congressional vote, but not always.

[Kamala]

Goddamn Asa Hutchinson doesn't have a 240px high portrait.

Anyway, the next update will be our first flashback. The appearances of these flashbacks are going to be sporadic, and they aren't in any particular order. I will be focusing on the first two years of Chafee before Kerry's term, though. Flashbacks will usually be accompanied by some statistic, such as an election result, poll result, or congressional vote, but not always.

You can change the image size like this



just remove the space after the 240

[America Needs R'hllor]

Goddamn Asa Hutchinson doesn't have a 240px high portrait.

Anyway, the next update will be our first flashback. The appearances of these flashbacks are going to be sporadic, and they aren't in any particular order. I will be focusing on the first two years of Chafee before Kerry's term, though. Flashbacks will usually be accompanied by some statistic, such as an election result, poll result, or congressional vote, but not always.

You can change the image size like this



just remove the space after the 240

Yep. It's good to prevent oversized images.
To check what width and height you need to have a scaled image which is not stretched weirdly, I'd suggest saving the images and experimenting in an editing program (such as photoshop or gimp) to see what's the right scale for the width\height you're aiming for.

[Sestak]

just remove the space after the 240

Ah, thanks. Will fix.

[Sestak]

November 5, 2009, 3:30 PM EST - Providence, Rhode Island

President-Elect Lincoln Chafee looked at the TV screen, still displaying the results that had trickled in the previous night.

Chafee/Hostettler – 328
Kerry/Nelson – 210

The headlines, of course, were hailing this as a new era of the Republican party. The largest Republican electoral victory since Reagan's presidency. The first person to win both the electoral vote and popular vote this millenium.

Lincoln Chafee, on the other hand, was thinking about his Cabinet.

Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney would be leading the transition team, and they'd already figured out a few of the spots. They'd talked to Chuck about State, and he seemed to be up to them. For Treasury, every Republican seemed to want Meg Whitman, and he saw no reason to go against that. Defense...he'd need someone who was anti-Iraq, to be sure. But they also couldn't be too dovish, lest they give the impression that America was toothless. And maybe contrast it with someone with a strong military background at Homeland Security.

There was no use thinking about AG without a LOT more consultation with Mitt and other Republican leaders. So his mind next turned to the Democrats. During the campiagn, he'd promised to have three Democrats in his initial cabinet to promote bipartisanship. The question was which three they would be. The first was obvious: Education. In fact, he knew of an education-oriented Democratic congressman who'd just lost his job.

After a little bit more thinking, he decided it'd be easy enough to keep Gephardt on at Labor. The third one was probably between Ag, Transportation, HUD, and VA. But he wanted to look at the actual candidates before he decided on which one.

He'd probably need to elevate a Bush guy, just to satisfy the party establishment. Commerce would probably be good for that. And that wasn't the only concession he'd be making to them. Congressional leadership had already informed him that Rep. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia was their pick for Energy.

He also owed Jodi Rell for being a prominent early endorser of his campaign. HHS would probably be a good position for her.

At that moment, a knock came at the door. The rest would have to wait.

CABINET OF LINCOLN CHAFEE, 45TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

Elected Officials

President: Former US Senator Lincoln D. Chafee from Rhode Island – Inaugurated Jan 20, 2009

Vice President: Former US Representative John N. Hostettler from Indiana – Inaugurated Jan 20, 2009

Department Heads

Secretary of State: Former US Senator Charles T. Hagel from Iowa – Confirmed Feb 4, 2009

Secretary of the Treasury: Former CEO of eBay Margaret C. Whitman from California – Confirmed Feb  20, 2009

Secretary of Defense: Former US Representative Walter B. Jones, Jr. from North Carolina – Confirmed Mar 30, 2009

Attorney General: Former US Senator R. Michael DeWine from Ohio – Confirmed May 26, 2009

Secretary of the Interior: Former US Representative Cathy A. McMorris Rodgers from Washington – Confirmed Mar 3, 2009

Secretary of Agriculture: Former US Representative Jo Ann Emerson from Missouri – Confirmed Feb 12, 2009

Secretary of Commerce: Former Deputy Secretary Theodore W. Kassinger from Georgia – Confirmed Jan 29, 2009

Secretary of Labor: Former US Representative Richard A. Gephardt from Missouri – Confirmed Mar 2, 2005

Secretary of Health and Human Services: Former Governor M. Jodi Rell from Connecticut – Confirmed Feb 17, 2009

Secretary of Housing and Urban Development: Former US Representative Judith B. Biggert from Illinois – Confirmed April 9, 2009

Secretary of Transportation: Former FHWA Administrator Mary E. Peters from Arizona – Confirmed April 10, 2009

Secretary of Energy: Former US Representative Shelley W. Moore Capito from West Virginia – Confirmed Feb 26, 2009

Secretary of Education: Former US Representative Bobby R. Etheridge from North Carolina – Confirmed April 21, 2009

Secretary of Veterans Affairs: Former State VA Director L. Tammy Duckworth from Illinois – Confirmed April 22, 2009

Secretary of Homeland Security: US Navy Admiral J. Paul Reason (Ret.) from Virginia – Confirmed Jan 21, 2009

Cabinet-level

White House Chief of Staff: Former Governor John E. Bush, Sr. from Florida – Took office Jan 21, 2009

US Trade Representative: Former Governor George E. Pataki from New York – Confirmed Mar 31, 2009

Director of National Intelligence: US Navy Admiral Dennis C. Blair (Ret.) from Washington, D.C. – Confirmed Feb 26, 2009

Ambassador to the United Nations: Former Governor John M. Hunstman, Jr. from Utah – Confirmed Feb 23, 2009

Director of the Office of Management and Budget: Former US Representative Robert J. Portman from Ohio – Confirmed Jan 21, 2009

Director of the Central Intelligence Agency: US Army General David H. Petraeus (Ret.) from New Hampshire – Confirmed Feb 10, 2009

Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency: Former US Representative Dave Reichert from Washington – Confirmed Jun 24, 2009

[Sestak]

I'm thinking of doing another flashback before we get back to the election night. Does anyone have any specific event they want highlighted? (Chafee admin, please.)

[America Needs R'hllor]

Well, I don't have anything specific in mind other than the 2008 Republican primaries, because I don't really know the specific events of the Chafee administration. I'd be glad for anything, though.

[Sestak]

Well, I don't have anything specific in mind other than the 2008 Republican primaries, because I don't really know the specific events of the Chafee administration. I'd be glad for anything, though.

You can see an overview of some in Reply 26, and a few more in Reply 29. Also, in general, major world events, figures' deaths, SCOTUS retirements, etc. happen at about the same time (at least at this stage in the TL).

[Sestak]

Well, I don't have anything specific in mind other than the 2008 Republican primaries, because I don't really know the specific events of the Chafee administration. I'd be glad for anything, though.

Also, the primaries may take a while to make, because there's a lot of calculations to do for it, and I haven't finalized how they played out. I'll get to them eventually, but probably not now.

[Sestak]

Alright, so I'm just going to speed through the rest of these results.

9:00 PM EDT
NY-Sen called for Schumer
NY-Gov called for Kirsten Gillibrand
RI-Gov called for Frank Caprio
KS-Sen called for Moran
WI-Sen called for Feingold
NE-Gov called for Heineman

(Senate 37-41)


9:13 PM: IL-Gov called for Quinn over Kirk

9:19 PM: GA-Gov called for Perdue over Barnes
9:19 PM: SD-Sen called for Thune over Sandlin (Senate 38-41)

9:22 PM: AR-Sen called for Lincoln over Hutchinson (Senate 38-42)

9:27 PM: OH-Gov called for Strickland over Kasich

9:34 PM: NM-Gov called for Diane Denish over Martinez

9:41 PM: MI-Gov called for Archer over Hoekstra

10:00 PM EDT
IA-Sen called for Grasslord
ND-Sen called for Hoeven
ID-Sen called for Crapo
ID-Gov called for Otter
AZ-Sen called for McCain
AZ-Gov called for Brewer
NV-Sen called for Reid
UT-Sen called for Bennett
UT-Gov called for Herbert
(Senate 43-43)

10:07 PM: IA-Gov called for Culver

10:11 PM: FL-Gov called for Sink over Scott

10:13 PM: RI-Sen special called for Sheldon Whitehouse over Sen. Avedisian (Senate 43-44)

10:17 PM: PA-Gov called for Onorato over Corbett

10:38 PM: OH-Sen non-special called for Brown over Portman (Senate 43-45)

10:46 PM: KS-Gov called for Brownback

11:00 PM
CA-Sen called for Boxer
CA-Gov called for Gavin Newsom
OR-Sen called for Wyden
OR-Gov called for Jeff Merkley
WA-Sen called for Murray
HI-Sen called for Inouye
HI-Gov called for Abercrombie
(Senate 43-49)

11:02 PM: NV-Gov called for Rory Reid over Sandoval

11:05 PM: OH-Sen special called for Ryan over Tiberi (Senate 43-50)

11:12 PM: Senate control called for Democrats as PA-Sen called for Sestak over Specter. 51-43, Democratic control.

11:21 PM: House control called for Democrats

11:25 PM: NC-Sen called for Hagan over Burr (Senate 52-43)

11:29 PM: CO-Sen called for Udall (Senate 53-43)

11:42 PM: CO-Gov called for Michael Bennet

11:46 PM: MO-Sen called for Carnahan over Blunt (Senate 54-43)

12:00 AM: AK-Sen non-special called for Murkowski (Senate 54-44)

12:20 AM: LA-Sen called for Landrieu over Vitter (Senate 55-44)

4:07 AM: AK-Gov called for Ethan Berkowitz over Palin

5:20 AM: AK-Sen special called for Mark Begich over Sen. Joe Miller

Final Senate Composition: 56-44 Democrat (previously 51-49 Republican)
Final House Composition: 230-205 Democrat (previously 250-185 Republican)

Previous Congressional Leadership
Senate:

Vice President: John Hostettler (R-IN)
Majority Leader: Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
Majority Whip: Jon Kyl (R-AZ)
Minority Leader: Harry Reid (D-NV)
Minority Whip: Dick Durbin (D-IL)

House:

Speaker: Dennis Hastert (R-IL)
Majority Leader: Roy Blunt (R-MO)
Majority Whip: John Boehner (R-OH)
Minority Leader: Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)
Minority Whip: Steny Hoyer (D-MD)

Incoming Congressional Leadership
Senate:

Vice President: John Hostettler (R-IN)
Majority Leader: Joe Biden (D-DE)
Majority Whip: Barack Obama (D-IL)
Minority Leader: Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
Minority Whip: Pat Roberts (R-KS)

House:

Speaker: Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)
Majority Leader: John Lewis (D-GA)
Majority Whip: Steny Hoyer (D-MD)
Minority Leader: John Boehner (R-OH)
Minority Whip: Eric Cantor (R-VA)

[Sestak]

Is there any remaining interest in this or should I just kill it?

[America Needs R'hllor]

Is there any remaining interest in this or should I just kill it?

It's an interesting and unique scenario, I'd like to see it continued.

[P. Clodius Pulcher did nothing wrong]

Is there any remaining interest in this or should I just kill it?

It's an interesting and unique scenario, I'd like to see it continued.

[Cold War Liberal]

Is there any remaining interest in this or should I just kill it?

It's an interesting and unique scenario, I'd like to see it continued.

[Anti-Bothsidesism]

Is there any remaining interest in this or should I just kill it?

It's an interesting and unique scenario, I'd like to see it continued.

[Sestak]

SENATE

GOVERNORS

Lincoln Chafee stared glumly at the screens. 57? 230? He knew the Democrats would be taking the Senate, and was prepared for a narrow takeover of the House, but this...this was absolutely ridiculous.

The only places where they won governorships were the Deep South and the Desert West. That was it. In addition to the West Coast, Democrats had built a solid coalition in the East and Center. In addition to the Northeast, they also cut through the rust belt and to the MIMAL states, and also won big in the coastal Upper South. In fact, out of all of those states, the only Republican to win was Chuck Grassley.

He'd been prepared for the Alaska special and for Palin losing. He'd been prepared for Florida's governor race. He'd been prepared for Ohio. But... North Carolina? Louisiana? The Nevada governorship? Even TEXAS was still too close to call, with White currently holding a small lead.

Of course, Perry with his comments on the "gay lobby", attacks on Chafee, extreme education cuts, and genuine cluelessness was far from an ideal incumbent, but this had to be the shock of the night. They'd called the race for him. No one had paid any attention to it. And then a few hours later, Boom! Too close to call. They said they wouldn't jump the gun again like they did for Gore in Florida... It took them just ten years.

His mind wandered to what it'd be like with a Democratic Congress. Mitch had stalled immigration reform—that was probably going to happen now. DADT was on its way out the window. Corporate tax reductions? Nah, that's not happening.

Then there was the big one. Healthcare. The GOP trifecta's inability to handle the healthcare crisis was still a dark cloud over his administration, and the Democrats were ready to capitalize. Russ Feingold was already waving around his single-payer plan, dubbed GoldCare by the media. Lincoln, however, knew the Senate. This wasn't going to pass. Democrats had pushed single-payer into the party mainstream with a winning midterm campaign centered around it, but it wouldn't be enough. And of course he couldn't sign it.

A more mild Democrat-led bill, on the other hand, would be able to pass. Hell, it might even give him something to sign. But that wasn't going to gain traction unless...unless.

Link paused for a moment, then came to a decision, calling for his secretary.

"Get me the new Senate Majority Whip!"

[Sestak]

Is there any remaining interest in this or should I just kill it?

It's an interesting and unique scenario, I'd like to see it continued.

Well, I guess the people have spoken. Ask and ye shall receive.

[Sestak]

Headlines for November 1-22, 2010

GIANTS WIN WORLD SERIES                DEMOCRATS WIN BIG IN MIDTERMS, TAKE BOTH HOUSES                SPACE SHUTTLE DISCOVERY'S FINAL MISSION DELAYED                5.3 MAGNITUDE EARHTHQUAKE HITS SERBIA                MASSIVE US-MEXICO DRUG TUNNEL DISCOVERED
TOYOTA RECALLS OVER 100K VEHICLES                WHITE WINS INITIAL COUNT, PERRY WILL DEMAND RECOUNT                MERAPI ERUPTION CRISIS CONTINUES                GEBRSELASSIE FAILS TO FINISH NY MARATHON, WILL RETIRE
CONAN RETURNS... ON TBS                SUU KYI RELEASED AFTER FIFTEEN YEARS                PACQUIAO WINS EIGHTH BELT                 FRENCH CABINET RESIGNS                SEN. DURBIN: SINGLE PAYER "ON THE TABLE"                HAITI CHOLERA DEATHS PASS 10000                TEXAS RECOUNTS CONTINUE                CHAFEE ALLY BOEHNER WILL BECOME HOUSE GOP LEADER
29 MINERS TRAPPED IN NEW ZEALAND                JOHNSON WINS 5TH STRAIGHT SPRINT CUP SERIES                HEZBOLLAH MAY HAVE KILLED HARIRI