Talk Elections

31/01/2012 Florida Republican Primary

()

Mitt Romney 44.3%
Newt Gingrich 28.9%
Ron Paul 16.7%
Rick Santorum 10.6%

"Thank you Florida! You've been terrific! But I would also like to extend my thanks to Speaker Gingrich, Rick Santorum and Congressman Ron Paul for keeping this race interesting. All of them could do a better job than this President, whose only job it seems is to destroy jobs like here in Central Florida..."
-Mitt Romney

"If the results of this primary contest mean anything, it's that the people of Florida buy conservatism. The salesmen they purchased it from may have been dubious in his methods but the basic idea excites Americans and will unite us in defeating Barack Obama come the fall campaign."
-Newt Gingrich

"You know, we mightn't a won one of these things yet but we've got something they all don't have. And that's a consistent message and as is evident from you all the enthusiasm to express this. That's what's got us this far. Every poll shows them up and down then down and up but we've got the momentum. We will win in Nevada and Liberty will prevale!"
-Ron Paul

"Well, I just congratulated Governor Romney and his family on his victory but first I'd like to thank my wife Karen, our children and all of you for running such an excellent campaign. But you know, I was born for a battle and next up's the battle-born state. Sounds like the perfect chance to reclaim our momentum and I accept the challenge, Nevada!"
-Rick Santorum

()

Ron Paul 30.2%
Mitt Romney 29.7%
Newt Gingrich 23.5%
Rick Santorum 17.2%

"WE DID IT! America has heard our voice tonight! We are taking this country back one state at a time!"
-Ron Paul

"I'd like to congratulate Congressman Paul on his victory tonight. I understand this is his first win and it must mean a lot to his supporters. He's ran a great campaign I understand in the caucus states but I gotta tell ye Colorado's next and I'm feeling pretty good about our chancees there. Thank you and God Bless America!"
-Mitt Romney

"Thank you Nevada! I couldn't have done it without my wife Karen, our daughter Bella, who as you know, was recently hospitalized but is now fighting fit for this thrid place victory! I disagree with Congressman on many issues but congratulate him tonight on what will probably be his last victory."
-Rick Santorum

"What Dr Paul's victory has meant tonight is a black eye to the establishment of both parties. In that respect I stand with him. We may differ on foreign policy but we both stand resolute in our determination to oust President Obama's socialist regime."
-Newt Gingrich

Next up, the Maine Caucus way out in Romney country, but one whch has been polling well for libertarian Ron Paul

()

Ron Paul  32.9% ("Two in a row ain't bad. Now they can't ignore us!")

Mitt Romney  32.7% ("Well someone's off to the races. I just called to congratulate Ron on his second victory and he could barely keep the excitement out of his voice, lemme tell ya.")

Newt Gingrich 21.8% ("I'm sure tonight's victory has enthused the libertarian right of which I am very supportive though not always in agreement with. Some might say Congressman Paul's chances of getting to the convention are silm, but tonight he has certainly disproved some of thsoe critics.")

Rick Santorum 11.9% ("I just got off the phone with the congressman to compliment him on tonight's results. I recalled how when they saifd I didn't stand a chance last year but then we took Iowa and won eight delegates and those same people had to turn around and say well Gee, well we called that wrong. Let me tell ya, it's a very satisfying feeling.")

07/02/12

()

Ron Paul puts new scores on the board, including the (nobinding) primary in Minnesota.

22/02/12

Santorum's daughter Bella was hospitalized again, which gave the candidate another surge in the polls when it broke the headlines. His supporters were unsure if he would hang in with his domestic troubles when Colorado and Minnesota, two states polling well for him, were just around the corner.

"Good evening, I'm Wolf Blitzer or Blitz Wolfman if your Herman Cain (no laughs) and welcome to the CNN Mesa, Arizona GOP debate. Onstage are the three of the four remaining candidates: Ron Paul, Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich. Rick Santorum has suspended his campaign citing family concerns but I'm sure tonight's debate will still be an interesting one."

It is. Previously warm and Paul-friendly former frontrunners Mitt and Newt savage Ron for his attack ads, 'Democrat' foreign policy leaving the old amn flustered and babbling about bubbles.
Next are the Arizona and Michigan rpiamries, in which Romney is expected to win big but underperforms spectacualrly.

()

Great timeline! This is my dream scenario as a Paul supporter :)

[/color]

Rick Santorum has dropped out of the race!

"Thank you all for having the courage to fight for America! It's not that I don't (laughs), but my family needs me more than you brave souls and I know you'll keep fighting for our American values in the ongoing primaries and caucuses. MItt and Newt and even Dr Paul are both, are all good men, good Americans who believe in restoring our values but right now I haven't made my mind up as to who I'm going to root for... God bless them, God bless you and God bless America!"

On his way into Super Tuesday, Santorum's old hero Newt picks up another not-as-sought endorsement from a certain 2008 VP candidate -Sarah 'Pitbull' Palin. This is enough to win over the tea party and other voters of Washington State.

 ()

Newt Gingrich
Ron Paul
Mitt Romney

()

After Mitt Romney's Super Tuesday trouncing, a wave of endorsements hit Gingrich, including Rick Santorum:

"America needs strong, consistent, conservative leadership and I believe that Newt Gingrich is the man for the job!"

The Romney camp unleashes a slew of new attack ads against Paul and Gingrich, calling them unelectable crazies intent on destroying America and heads off to Missouri where he stands a chance of reclaiming some fire.
 Meanwhile, Newt campaigns throughout the deep south with Haley barbour, Saxby Chambliss and the Palins.

()

Ron Paul takes Wyoming with 37.6% of the vote to Romney's 31.7% and Gingrich's 30.6%. At this point, with the looming open primaries and caucuses in places such as Kansas and Alabama, the RNC approaches both the Gingrich and Romney camps with offers of a STOP PAUL coalition merger but there is no deal.

()

Gingrich takes Kansas and Romney takes US Virgin Islands, Guam.

()

Gingrich sweeps the South, including wins in Hawaii and American Samoa. It seems like the Paulites has been extinguished, for now...

Another decisive Gingrich win in Missouri, with Paul in second and Romney last but not least.

()

24/03/12

()

A win for each candidate, as Romney campaigns successfully in Puerto Rico with Governor Luis Fortuna as does Paul in Illinois and Gingrich in Louisiana.

03/04/12

As Gingrich camapigns happily in Wisconsin as the frontrunner with Ron Johnson and Scott Walker, strange things are happening in Texas. Hundreds of thousands of young and old Texans, democrat and Republican are amassing to vote for Ron Paul in a proportional open primary.

()

Romney is feeling the heat now and pours his war chest into the upcoming Pennsylvania primary and campaigns with Governor Tom Corbett. Gingrich does the same with Senator Pat Toomey at some events and Santorum at others.

Romney defeats the two Pennsylvania-born politicians in his most decisive victory yet, with Ron Paul coming in last.

()

()

Three important wins for Gingrich, Romney in second in all three.

()

Romney continues to do well in closed primaries like Oregon, where his ad "Who Can Win?" plays well upon the fears moderate (and some conservative) GOPers have of Gingrich's electoral ability.

Gingrich wins the high contest straw poll in Nebraska.

()

Ron Paul comes in a close second to Newt and hugs his son Rand in his concession speech in a teary moment unusual for Dr No. A big 47.8% in Arkansas victory is what the other Doc ordered though.

()

Next up, Ron Paul's biggest victory speech yet: the California primary

[/color][/b][/u]

Mitt Romney 806
Newt Gingrich 665 (+127 convention)(+Santorum 29)
Ron Paul 524 (+40 convention)

Commentators point to the Paul campaigns multi-million dollar and grassroots effort in the state to register Democrats, Independents and 3rd party members.

"Thankyou California! We have forced the other candidates and the party as a whole to take our mission of liberty seriously. We will go to the convention and rattle some cages! But this cause cannot be stopped, we will continue to fight for the constitution and our rights as Americans!"
-Ron Paul

Unsure whether the Doc was implying a third-party run, Neocons panic at the thought while the Romney and Gingrich camps try to come up with a coalition to put across the table to Paul. It doesn't work as Paul demands a campaign platform of non-interventionism and big cuts. 

Gingrich tries to woo convention and unbound delegates as a way of climbing to the top of a presumed Gingrich-Romney ticket. He wins few over and eventually decides to stand by his earlier pledge of avoiding intra-party issues, agreeing to be Romney's running mate.

Ron Paul announces his independent run for the Presidency from the steps of the Lincoln Monument.

Yes!

With Paul out of the GOP race, Romney and Gingrich fight for his delegates and the remaining undecideds. Heading to the convention the party is contentiously divided, with DRAFT DANIELS and DRAFT CHRISTIE movements popping up all over the place.

27/08/12 Tampa Bay, Florida

As Occupy protesters fill the streets, Romney and Gingrich battle it out inside the Times Forum. In the end, the deadlock leads to a smoke-filled room, where party bosses will pick a nominee.
 Meanwhile, Gary Johnson will drop his libertrian party bid and endorse Ron Paul.

After a month of political infighting between the moderate Romney and conservative Gingrich camps, the Republican Party will nominate a centre-right candidate in Mitch Daniels, the popular Indiana governor, with neocon Senator Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire as his running mate. Gingrich and Romney tepidly endorse the ticket, with the former giving the neoconservative Republican equivalent to Teddy Kennedy's 'Dream Will Never Die" speech at the 1980 Dem convention - a firey rhetorical boot to the gonads of Obamacracy, in which he alludes to foreseeable conflicts in the Middle East to which the President (and by name, candidate Paul) won't be able to commit. He quotes Ronald Reagan: "Should Moses have told the children of Israel to live in slavery under the Pharoahs? Should Christ have refused the cross? Should the Patriots have thrown down their guns to never fire the shot heard around the world?" However, the speech's focus is also on ObamaCare and the domestic policies of the administration, with phrases like "An End of Dependency" earning the rank of title in certain publications. In the end, he reiterates party unity as his foremost priority.
 Outside, Occupy protestors rub up against Tea Partiers, shouting slogans at each other and being pricks. However, the biggest prick of them all, Officer Alan Edouard of the TBPD maces a young Occupy Protestor sparking what the media dubs a riot.

Officer Edouard --name may change later ;)-- becomes a hero to law-and-order Teabaggers. Along with Sam the Plumber's Assistant Wurzelbacher of Ohio, he will become a right-wing darling and Fox News correspondent overnight. It turns out he only threatened to spray mace in the face of a foul-mouthed protestor and that was that. White House Press Secretary Jay Carney says that President Obama "takes unwarranted acts of aggression like this seriously" after early reports come in and the administration is subsequently lampooned on the late nigt shows.
 Meanwhile polls are still favouring a comfortable margin of victory for Obama and Dave Leip has Virginia and Ohio in the red with Florida and New Hampshire in the pink.

Uh oh...

Governor Daniels' speech at the convention is again tepidly received by the audience. He proves an undynamic speaker but his themes unite Republicans. Notable highlights include a lame joke comparing the event to his hosting of the Superbowl in Indianapolis earlier in the year; the assumed Obama admin's juking of new labor stats and his neocon-rousing support of carpet-bombing Iran. Kelly Ayotte, another awkward speaker, still manages to raise a few cheers from the far right-wingers and some moderates who like this MSNBC-dubbed 'Palin with a brain'.
 The Libertarian Party formally endorses Ron Paul for President and he addresses them at the Las Vegas convention: "My fellow libertarians, this is an election where Americans, not Democrats and not Republicans will decide the future of our country. As you know, I recently dropped my bid for the Republican nomination to run independently. Many in that party have called me a traitor and have accused me of handing over the election to Obama. This is so wrong -I will hand this election over to the American people and they will decide who the best proponent for peace, freedom and democracy is." Polls have Paul running nationally at 21%?
 Mitch Daniels watches the speech on a TV monitor backstage at the Times Forum and turns to his aides, saying "Guys, I think I know how we can win this thing."

Daniels makes the Balanced Budget and Iran his campaign platform, and uses his own Syrian ancestry as a pretext for intervention in the war-torn nation.
 Paul demands the withdrawal fo all troops from the region an d a strict policy of non-interventionism.
 President Obama hopes the US can rely on allies in the region as well as the UN to "secure a lasting peace" for the nation, deriding Daniels idea of picking a leader for them.
 "What allies? They need our help!" demands Daniels.

Up next: the first 3-way Presidential Debate since 92. With High-pitched Texan Included

So pissed Ronny didnt win last night! :(

Aye, twas a pisser like.

So Mitch, Ron and Barry battle it out on stage in Dayton, Ohio. The Obama re-election team led by Comm Director David Pfeiffer and former Deputy Ops, current 2012 camp manager Jim Messina draft a new playbook after resignedly throwing out the old Romney one. It requires more imagination, as Daniels' experience and squeaky-clean conservatism-with-results reputation proves difficult to tarnish. In the end, they decide to go for an easy point-scorer and attack his crazy lady running mate. "If it ain't broke..." says Pfeiffer. They also decide to focus on domestic issues more with the still-decreasing unemployment rate and the Consumer Protection Act, hoping to win the independents and tie his deregulatory plans to Paul's in order to split the Conservative vote more decisively.

"Good evening I'm Jim Lehrer and welcome to the 1st 2012 Presidential Debate from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio... "

President Obama opens with a defense of his healthcare reform legislation and consumer protections as succesful, "necessary regulations to ensure American financial security". He stresses his "belief that govenment has a role in creating jobs, and a constitutionally-decreed duty to promote the general welfare of the American people".

Governor Daniels expresses his regret at the President's lack of intervention in the ongoing Syrian conflict and wants to know what the President means by "our allies in the region?" He continues to use his Syrian heritage as a pretext for foreign policy expertise. He complains of rife military inaction during Obama's term and the President's questionable courage to go to war in the event of a military atttack.

Congressman Paul blames both parties for causing the 2008 subprime mortgage crisis and pledges to withdraw troops from abroad. He offers himself as the only candidate who can and will pay down the debt, end the wars and his usual libertarian mantra.

The debate begins...

How's the annointed one doing in polls?

Obama 45%
Daniels 37%
Paul 18%

Daniels and Obama use Paul as a stick to batter each other with but the president still comes off as Presidential. This the cornerstone of each of their strategies. A poll released after the debate indicates that the American public still prefer the President, still unfamiliar with Daniels and either bored or scared of Paul's isolationist non-interventionism.

Daniels responds to this by releasing a 'Life Story' ad showing him throwing an American football around with his kids, riding a Harley davison a la Huntsman and laughing in a construction hat. It works mildly with dumbass voters.

Obama will eventually go ahead with bombings in Syria to cripple the al-Assad regime upon realising the neccessity of intervention to secure his re-election bid. This will take much of the neocon vote from the GOP.

RNC Chairman Reince Priebus lets slip the fun fact that "It ain't 1920 anymore" in his attempt to explain why the electorate needs at least a year to familiarise themselves with the candidate. Prominent GOPer Karl Rove calls for Priebus to stand down.
 Romney and Gingrich campaign for Mitch Daniels in New Hampshire and North Carolina, respectively. They are hated equally by the tea Party and moderate wings of the party for presumptively delivering the election to Obama and dividing the convention.

Keep going!

Biden, Ayotte and Johnson go head-to-head in the only Vice Presidential Debate. Democrats sweat it out as they believe Palin 2.0 will own Joe like in 2008.
 One notable moment occurs when Ayotte talks of her family's military heritage to the point of tears and Biden offers a tissue and consoling pat on the back.
 Johnson's coolness and lack of any discernible accent do little to sway prospective Paulites and his years out of office are evident in his relaxed demeanour, healthy tan and wet voice, unused to the rigours of debate.
 Joe Biden is said to have further sealed the President's re-election bid and Democratic strategists let out a sigh of relief when he doesn't mispronounce his own name. "That's forbidden", he jokes in private.

As election day nears, the lagging candidacy of Governor Daniels resorts to wild aspersions such as a presupposed Obama admin lifting of the Cuban Embargo while capaigning in South Florida. It energizes the Cuban-American community but loses him the cigar buff vote to Obama.
 Paul continues to rail against the administration and it's healthcare industry-meddling with his son Rand in Nevada. His son hesitantly speaks for him, probably due to fears of it derailing a potential GOP run of his own in 2016.
 President Obama tentatively opens negotiations with Iran, in order to put an end to the escalating Syrian conflict...

*Syrian Civil War
Ron Paul refuses to release his tax returns without any of the usual BS. A croaky voice barks "NO!" at reporters. In the end, Paul will turn out to be in serious doo-doo with the IRS...

06/11/12

ELECTION NIGHT

()

Boy, the past four years have just flown by!

National polls have Obama comfortably in the lead and Paul, who has already downed the GOP ticket, is himself sinking fast. A last minute money bang in New England and the Intramontane West is what the Doc ordered. But the Obama landslide is evident by 12pm EST

()

Obama-Biden 51% PV
Daniels-Ayotte 34% PV
Paul-Johnson 14% PV

President Barack H Obama (D-IL)/Vice President Joseph R Biden  (D-DE) 379 EV
Governor Mitchell E Daniels (R-IN)/Senator Kelly A Ayotte (R-NH) 151 EV
Congressman Ronald E Paul (I-TX)/Fmr Governor Gary E Johnson (I-NM) 8 EV

:(((((((((((

Notable House & Senate results:

Ohio 9: Wurzelbacher (TPR) > Kaptur (D)
Massachusetts 4: Kennedy (D) > Childs (R)
Texas 14: Lampson (D) > Stockman (R)

MISSOURI Akin > McCaskill
OHIO Mandel > Brown
NEVADA Heller (R) > Berkley (D)

What does that mean?

> =defeated
Bold =incumbent

MASSACHUSETTS Elizabeth Warren (D) > Scott Brown (R)

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!  So is the GOP in control of Congress?

Just. It's a lot like the House situation in 2000. Senate remains Democratic with only two losses.

Governor Daniels give his concession speech from the front steps of the Indiana State House:

"Earlier tonight, I congratulated the President on his victory. We spoke of the immense challenges the American people are going to face over the next four years, and the need for us to find the common ground that will bridge the partisan gap in Washignton and all across this land. To all the young people out there, I would like to thank you for all your efforts in this greatest of contests and leave you with this: this is not the last of us. You will fight the good fight for generations to come."

Ron Paul, not mentioned in the above, also concedes from his Lake Jackson home:

"Thank you America! I have valued all of your support over my career as a champion for liberty in the Congress but this is where my career ends. However, the mission is greater than the man. We won the youth vote in this election, but it just wasn't enough. But one day you will all grow up, maybe start a family, have a full-time job after college and then the libertarian voting bloc will be the largest voting bloc in the country and that is when we'll take this country back.
 I did just get off the phone with both of our opponents in this race, with the President, and though he means well it was still a gracious call and I accept the results. Governor Daniels was also courteous and I understand the resentment some of his supporters hae to us but this should make them take us seriously."

The President gives his victory address on the steps fo the Lincoln Monument:

"What has unfolded tonight is the next chapter in our American story. Tonight's victory was a small one in comparison with what we will achieve in the next four years. I know that old campaign slogan may be a little rusty now but as my campaign manager likes to say: "if it ain't broke..."
 Have we drafted legislation that will comprehensively reform the way Wall Street practises it's business over the past four years? Yes, we have. Have we gotten our servicemen and women out of unnecessary harm's way in Iraq? yes, we ahve. Have we made it easier for middle and lower income families to buy health insurance and saved lives? yes, we have.
 Can we make it still easier for less wealthy folks to have health coverage over the next four years? Yes, we can. Can we have democracy flourish over the globe even more over the next four years? yes, we can. Can we build a new American energy base and transport system for all Americans over the next four years? yes, we can. Can we make sure every American family can aford college education? YES WE CAN!
 Will we accomplish all of these things and more over the next four years? YES WE WILL! God bless you and god bless America!"

As Obama's Inaugural Address nears, former Speaker Newt Gingrich crawls out from under his rock to warn the world of the four years of left-wing radicalism the electorate has incurred.

Also, Vice President Biden's health is said by some to be waning.

20/01/13

"I, Barack Hussein Obama, do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.
 So help me J... God."

This slight hesitation will be Fox News fodder for months to come, with pundits propagating postulations that the President paused to portend the secular objectives of his second administration. The jittering J is interpreted as his consideration of replying with 'John' (G Roberts, instead of God).

Other than that, and a thousand-strong throng of Teabaggers assembling on the mall, the Address goes off without a hitch.

"In this last election, or the very last election for those of you on the Mayan calendar, yeah I'm still here (warm chuckles)... the American people have reaffirmed our mission to rebuild this nation....
 We will take decisive action to fight the poverty which pervades our society and reach out to those dark corners of the world to form new, stronger alliances."

The speech receives much milder applause unlike his first, with less vague pleasantries and a more aggressively liberal tone. Commentators interpret this as a declaration of the 'Obama docrine': letting other nations do the job of settling conflicts through negotiation and a new healthcare/stimulus bill.

This is great, but can we see some pictures?

I don't have Photoshop so I don't see how pasting some pictures anyone can look up on Google will serve my narrative.

If i did have such technologies at my disposal, you'd be seeing a skinny (well, almost) Chris Christie at the Superbowl in 2014.

However, they would add some colour to my posts. Could you tell me how it's done?

[img] [ /img] and put your pictures link in between.  However, you must make sure that it's the only thing on the page, ex. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c1/Robert_Todd_Lincoln_-_Harris_and_Ewing.jpg.  Just no space between the [ and the /

22/01/13

In the first press briefing of the second term, Jay Carney announces the President's plans to visit the Provisional Syrian head of Government and acting leaders of the new Arab democracies s well as Iran to discuss ways to bring lasting peace to the region.

Republicans call it a dangerous appeasement but he brushes the dirt off.

So barhoun Ghoulian turns out to be a standup guy. So good infact that Obama pushes for UN membership for all the Arab Springers. He also opens talks with North Korea for the release of two American journalists, with Billary as special envoy. With the Iranian elections only six months away, the President will visit Iran to twist Ahmadinejad's arm westerly.

()

"The United States will reach out to its new allies in this region and work together to develop a consensus on the best way to go forward."

()

Back home, the President will deliver his State of the Union, in which he announces his rejection of the Keystone Pipeline and focus on "creating jobs without destroying America". Boos ripple throughout the audience a la Joe Wilson.

Yay!  Pix!  Great update, btw.

()

In Cuba, the capitalist reforms of Raul Castro are starting to take effect and Obama drops in to negotiate a possible lifting of the Embargo with the recently-appointed leader, flaring Cuban-American sentiment back home to the point where Senator Marco Rubio feels its necessary to make a speech:

"For the last fifty years, the United States has sent a strong message to Castro, that we will not tolerate or negotiate with him as long as he oppresses the Cuban people. President Obama has thrown this standard out of the window and I hope more Americans will stand up to the new lows of this administration."

()

On the home front, the President will make clear his intent to discontinue the Bush tax cuts and works on a fiscally sensible budget.

()

In what will become known as the 2nd Scramble for Africa, Russia and the US will fight for the new Arab nations membership in OPEC and UN, respectively.

I like Rubio, but he should STFU on Cuba.  (mutters) piss me off....

(normal voice) Great TL!

Cuban lobby-backed Republicans and Democrats in Congress try to dissappropriate funds for Obama's future foreign visits if, in the words of David Rivera FL-25, "our President continues to shake hands and take pictures with murdererous dictators."

()

Vice President Joe Biden is asked for comment, and replies "Well it can't be much worse than shaking hands with Dave or any other members of Congress." Quickly realising it isn't funny, Biden drops the Hollywood smile and retreats with "No, but Raul Castro isn't a murderer or a dictator and we believe he is a reformer seeking to overthrow the regime which has been in place for so long. They've, the anti-Cuban lobby've got it all wrong."

Speculation of an imminent resignation request is rife in DC and JRB uncharacterisitically shuns the spotlight for weeks.

Meanwhile, elections transpire peacefully in Iran thanks to Obama's boot-to-the-throat sanction threats and the more liberal candidate Ali Larijani emerges as the new President. All world leaders call to congratulate him.

()

The paps huddle outside No 2 Observatory Circle for the Vice President's forthcoming announcement. Soon, a solemn yet confident VP emerges from the mansion and stopping at the gate, reads from a prepared statement:

"Good evening. Throughout my long legislative and executive career, I have garnered a reputation for verbal missteps. Tonight, I want to apologise to all of the people my remarks have offended. Dave Rivera, if you're watching, I hope you know I didn't mean it. I was being stupid. As we all can be at times. But I'm going to continue in my service of this country as Vice President and this administration stands with me. Just to clear that up... Goodnight, and thanks. Keep doing your job, keep making me apologise for stuff I say."

At this point he comically covers his mouth then smiles that big Biden grin before walking back to the mansion.

()

Back at the White House, Obama watches angrily as Biden speaks without notifying the administration, nullifying their plans for his resignation and selection of Hillary for Vice President.

On one humid June day, Fidel Castro will topple over in a coughing fit after inhaling deeply on a good cigar. He is pronounced dead shortly thereafter.

()

1926-2013

President Obama will make a call of condolence to President Raul Castro before publicly announcing another visit to Cuba to discuss the lifting of the embargo and closing of Guantanamo.

The right balks and Rubio/Rivera hit the stump to citicize the President again, which will backfire on them when they receive a flurry of constituent letters in favour of the President's mission.

Stop being stupid Marco!  I liked you in 2010 but your being a prick!

North Korean negotiations on behalf of Billary succeed when Kim Yong Nam agrees to release all hostages, disband the nuclear program and generally continue down the path of liberalization in return for further humanitarian aid.

The rest of 2013 is dominated by Obama's gradual lifting of sanctions on Cuba (which pass House & Senate easier than expected), the EU's on Iran and further economic recovery through lower oil prices and geopoltiical stability.

But will it last?

Bashar al-Assad is sentenced by the new Syrian government to life in prison for crimes against humanity, heralding a new year of peace in the Middle East and around the world. The President's approval ratings are in the high 50s but his domestic agenda hasn't even gotten off the ground. He looks to offset this image of pragmatic caretaker by drafting a budget to Congress.

()

Billary?  ;)

Hill and Bill (StateSec/FmrPrez: one-two punch, no?) are the special envoys.

Ah ;)

"For the first time in more than fifty years, Americans can freely travel to and from the United States. This would not be possible without the trieless efforts of President Raul Castro."

-Obama's SOTU

President Castro bows to the President and Congress, who in turn entreat him to a standing ovation. Senator Marco Rubio will remain seated throughout, in a move which will only further excerbate tensions between himself and the GOP leadership, leading the pundits to speculate of a likely primary challenge in 2016.

Meanwhile, President Obama's sensible budget will pass with surprisingly little pork attached. He will then announce an ambitious plan to overthrow the American public school system: the Federal Quadmester, with longer school days

Republicans lick their lips at the first piece of legislation to savage in a long-time. It goes down predictably.

The Midterms see little change take place as the House and Senate remain respectively Republican and Democrat-controlled.

Meanwhile, a counter-protest movement of conservative Muslim men will take to the streets in Iran, Iraq and Syria packing heat.

I think the GOP would be able to make much better gains in 14, just because of the 6 year itch combined with the massive 08 Hope and Change landslide

A strong economy means pretty much everyone can claim some credit and keep their seat.

Governors

Chris Christie re-elected (NJ).
Nikki Haley re-elected(SC).
George P Bush elected(TX)*.

*Perry retires.

15/12/14

In Iran, democratically-elected President Ali Larijani is assassinated by Islamic fundamentalist opposition. This evident will ripple throughout the region and the world and come to be known as the first snowflake of the Arab Winter.
 Civil Wars kindle in Iraq and Syria...

The second term is quickly turning into a nightmare. Healthcare, Electoral and Education reform are but distant memories. Support for military intervention in Iran is voiced in the Congress, most ebulliently by Senator John McCain, who as a result of his ebullience will collapse on the Senate floor mid-speech. News of the Senator's apparent stroke will consume the airwaves and capture the public's heart for days.
 But that attention will be swiftly diverted when President Obama flies to Afghanistan on a goodwill visit to troops...

On a morale-boosting mission to FOB Geronimo, Afghanistan, President Obama and a State/Defense department contingent perish onboard Air Force One when suspiciously advanced surface-to-air missiles penetrate it's fuselage over South Waziristan, killing all onboard. The Taliban claim responsibilty for the attacks. Among the fatalities are Secretary of State Hillary Clinton; Congressmen Buck McKeon and Adam Smith; Senators Kerry and Lugar; White House and respective staff of both departments.
 Vice-President Biden reportedly vomits upon receiving the news before addressing the nation from an undisclosed location, telling Americans that "Together we will get through these hard times. The Taliban may have taken President Obama's life, but they didn't take our pride, courage and commitment to the ideals he fought for."
 Just hours later, the deceased Presidents's former campaign rival John McCain will too pass away after a week-long battle with cerebrovascualr ischemia. The nation mourns for what will seem an eternity and the largest crowds ever gathered for such an event will attend his state funeral, where a dark-veiled First Lady will audibly sob with her visibly distraught daughters.

()

02/02/15

Joe Biden is sworn in as the 45th President of the United States in a ceremony at the White House, which he will follow with a short address before sitting down to sign an executive order authorising a further troop surge in South Waziristan in a move symbolic of a tireless administration.

His first legislative pushover will be the nomination of Jeanne Shaheen to the Vice-Presidency. She is nominated on acclamation to become the 48th Vice President of the United States.

Special Senate Elections will be held in Massachusetts, Arizona and Indiana to fill the seats of Kerry, McCain and Lugar, respectively. DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano will consider resigning for a run but President Biden talks her out of it.

The President will ask for Chief of Staff Jacob Lew's resignation before appointing long-time aide Ted Kaufman to the position.

You said that Hillary was killed in the attack.

And could you use a smaller image?

D'oh! Thanks for the heads up.

 I'll be more wary of picture ratios in selecting subsequent pictures.

Neat update

Biden's sweeping reforms will be put on hold til the expected Democratic Congressional landslides of 2016. For now, he will fight a new War on Fear with troop surges in Pakistan, which will only further exacerbate tensions and act as "recruitment bonanzas" for a reformed Taliban/Al Quaeda, which seeks to unite all Muslims (Sunni and Shea) against Western Imperialism. The insurgency is pushed out into the surrounding nations of Tajikistan, Iran and rubs up agaisnt India in the form of car-bombings which will lead to Inidan military involvement in the conflict.

Sorry, I'm confused.  With "it's a big f---king deal" in the white house, how exactly are the Dems expected to get landslides after eight years of incumbency?  Even if Obama died, that wouldn't make people any more likely to go along with what this guy has to say:

The landscape for 2016 (in the Senate) is ugly for Republicans. They'll have to defend seats they picked up by a hair in 2010 when they had maximum momentum against the GE electorate, which would be more favorable to the dems (youth+minority turn out). I imagine the battles for WI, IL, NH, PA, NC, FL, AZ, IA, OH could all have the potential to be hard fought, depending on Dem turnout and retirements. Not saying all of those will be competitive 4 years from now, but they'll be in the boat Democrats are in this year: fighting for the majority of the seats.

The country's wrapped un pin another big War on Terror, so a Neocon coalition of bipartisan big Govt-ers can dominate the legislative agenda, as in 02. Seeing as the incumbents are Dems, we're expecting what we saw in the 02 midterms.

Biden recognises the new Republic of Cuba, and appoints Senator Rubio as Ambassador to reflect the new administration's bipartisan, forgive-and-forget attitude. Rubio accepts, though his Cuban base of support will mostly turn their backs on him. Although many consider it to be the best thing that could ahve happened to his career, as he would have likely been primried out of office in 2016.

GOP stage starts to emerge, with Nikki Haley, Chris Christie, Chris Pence and Bobbb Jindal leading the pack.

Can you please use a smaller obusha Image?

Sorry fellas, but I'm dumping this timeline as I don't feel Islamic jihadism is quite so topical or interesting anymore (anybody get the jab I made with Biden's inauguration date?). I will start another 2012-onwards tl soon...

:(