Talk Elections

303 EV 49.5% PV
235 EV 46.9% PV
0 EV 2.4% PV
0 EV 1.1%

In a close and hotly contested race focusing mainly on the stagnant economy, President Barack H Obama would prove himself once again the better of two evils by a smaller margin than in 2008. In doing so, he would become the first president since Franklin Delano Roosevelt to win re-election with reduced popular and electoral college votes.

His main opponent, Former Governor Mitt Romney of Massachusetts ran on his business experience with the defict and taxes as his issues of focus. Few had expected him to significantly hurt Obama's re-election prospects, even when US Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy's swing vote effectively struck down several provisions of ObamaCare as unconstitutional. Many pundits accredit this to the similarity of Romney's own healthcare reform law in the state of Massachusetts (see 'ObamneyCare').

()

A convention divided by his primary opponents in Tampa Bay nominated Romney's Running Mate pick of Bobby Jindal on a roll call as a self-aggranidizing display of power. The delegates second choice was Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, a choice many believe cost Romney the election by denying him the support of popular libertarian Congressman (and father to the Senator, Ron Paul) and diverting it to the spoiler Libertarian Party candidate Gary Johnson. However, others believe a running mate from any one of the election's three key swing states would have been the smarter choice.

The man who derided Obama's lack of shovel-ready jobs created threw his hat in the race for the Libertarian nomination after dropping out of the GOP race before the primaries. Many think he handed Nevada and Colorado to Obama and may have hurt Romney in New Hampshire and Ohio sufficiently to deprive him of victory. His response to the September and October massacres in Syria of rebels combatants received widespread attention when he proposes the US withdraw all aid to "level the playing field strategically".

Jill Stein, baptised in the 2006 Gubernatorial election in Massachusetts fires up her Occupy Protestors in Zucotti Park, campaigning for electoral reform and her Green New Deal over the Internet mainly. She was never considered a spoiler for Obama's reelection, unlike Ralph Nader in 2000.

The debates would all work in Obama's favour. His executive order to allow Greens and Libertarians take the stage in the first debate was seen as risky but probably boosted his ratings by making him seem above it all. Romney's proposal to blockade Syria would provide Obama with ammuntion to destroy the GOP candidate's foreign policy credibility, replying "Governor Romney doesn't know how hard it is to put US troops in harm's way. How easy it is to get tangled up in violent conflicts halway across the world. The American people do remember however..."

The President would also call for a Congressional commission on the atrocities and attend a helpful UN Convention on them also, increasing his incumbent man-in-charge factor. Polls indicate he won a greater number of independents due to his military command but fewer liberal support. According to the same poll conducted by Reuters, he won women voters over in a landslide while Romney won a plurality of males.

()

Bold = Incumbent
> = Defeated

After having passed a constitution favouring the Semi-Presidential system in July of last year, the Libyan General Congress dissolves to face it's country's first ever free election and the world holds it's collective breath. Independent Abdurrahim El-Keib faces the recently-formed National Forces Party candidate and former Quaddafi regime official Mahmoud Jibril, who also preceded El-Keib as Interim Prime Minister. The dynamic of the runoff race is much like Egypt's in 2012, with a reformer fighting the Old Guard 'convenenient defector'. Congratulations are forthcoming form the GCC, Arab League, Muslim Brotherhood and Western nations as a sign of much-needed stability.

National Forces capture a plurality of seats in the parliamentary elections and Jibril becomes Prime Minister.

All Quiet on the Western Front of the Capitol...

As Vice-President Joseph Robinette Biden and President Barack Hussein Obama are re-sworn in to their respective offices in that order, before the former delivers his Inaugural Address.

"My fellow citizens: I stand here today honoured by your commitment to the principles I have expounded. Your enduring faith in and commitment to change is a reflection of the best we as a people represent...

We have crushed those forces that sought to misrepresent a people as violent and hateful while those same cultures once so opposed to us as a result of our wars of aggression have been reborn as allies. But clearly our work is not done and it will take a still different approach to heal those old wounds...

For we are all Americans, black or white; gay or straight; rich or poor; religious or irreligious and we all have things to contribute to this great society of ours, and we all deserve a fair shot at the American Dream...

Let us continue to build that more perfect union. Thank you!"


"Not quite the triumphant Socialist rally for Revolution many Republicans warned us of, but it could be said it was the first inaugural address in which the inaugurated closed without 'God Bless America' refreshingly and most notably, referred to gay Americans. Something this commentator was very grateful for."

-Rachel Maddow, MSNBC

"You'd expect something more declarative after four years in office: a mission statement, if you will. All the American people got today was more nothing intoned with the President's characteristic self-importance. He refers to gay Americans, the irreligious as he puts it but omits those timeless words, God Bless America? Unthinkable."

-Sean Hannity, FOX

Looks good, though I don't know why people think the GOP will do so badly in congressional elections this year

"Mr Speaker, Mr Vice President, members of Congress, distinguished guests, and fellow Americans...

The American people did not choose to stay this course with us because they thought we would allow aggressors like Bashar al-Assad to remain in power. If any of you were uncertain of my position on this, let me make it certain, that I will pursue his removal from office with every tool at my disposal. The United States can not and will not stand idly by while these atrocities are committed...

In the eternal wisdom of the American voter, this Congress has been returned as one half Republican and one half Democratic. They would not have voted this way if they felt so strongly partisan in their intent and we must respond not with empty rhetoric
but with compromise, with solutions equally pleasing to both sides of the aisle...

We have seen the economies of once mighty empires fall while countries which were once considered peasant lands now explore the Solar System with their own space programs. In a world where China can produce and export peanuts cheaper than any Georgia farmer can, or microchips with less regard to the environment than any Silicon Valley manufacturer it is becoming harder and harder for the honest American entrepeneur or worker to compete. But just like these once poor nations have arisen so spectacularly, American will surely rebound..."

C'mon, John. You know this is what the people want. If you want to keep ye seat as bad as I used to you'd heed the polls.

Joe, this is something we're just fundamentally, ideologically opposed on. It'd take a brain transplant to get my vote on this. Which the government no longer provides funding for anyway thanks to my tireless efforts

You know, we -I coulda jsut went straight to to the handful of your guys who really care about the deficit. I'm here out of appreciation for you as a speaker, a statesman if you will. Big ears thought we should do it the other way...

Well, I appreciate you're appreciating me, Mr Vice President. But on the off chance, do you think big e -the President would like to hear our side of the deal?

Sure, fire away (winks and smiles). I won't tell him who told me...

You say he wants these extensions for the bottom whatever it is percent, right? Now, you know as well as I this guy isn't fearing re-election right now. The two of you ain't. And we can all agree on the deficit as a priority, yeah? I mean he ain't exactly Hubert H Humphrey, right?

I'm... following you.... You want... cuts in Medicare? Medicaid? We're open to that...

[surprised] Well... Yes, we would want that with the er... ceasing er... discontinuation of the tax cuts for the bottom percentile as well as... ye know. Another Deficit Reduction Act. Bipartisan. What's not to like?


It's good to talk with reasonable people in powerful places. You get stuff done.  

Biden finishes his coffee before grabbing his coat off the stand at the door.

Yeah, if only we had a one-party state. No wonder China's kicking our ass.

(laughs) Well, I'll tell our illustrious leader and get back to you. You guys still have your poker games every Friday?  

Na, no time now. Being Majority Leader and all...

Me, I've got nothing but time.

They both laugh, bid goodnight to one another but no sooner the Vice president's left, the Speaker is on the phone to Maj Whip Cantor.

Yeah, i've just been talking to Ol' chicory. Looks like we've got a deal...

Cool.

Barry Obama stares at the red phone as Jay Carney and David Axelrod walk into the Oval Office.

I just got a call from John Boehner. Says he wants to cut Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare with us.

Did he forget Romney lost?

Seems like he did.

You wanna make a statement before this gets outs of hand?[/teal]

Na, I want to speak to the Vice President.

I'll get a line to him.

Barry and Ax wait for Jay to close the door before resuming the discussion.

F**k me. I coulda done with that trip to Waikiki Beach.

You've got a swimming pool and indoor tennis court here. Take the time off and have what they call a staycation right here in the District.

...Can I tell you something?

What?

I'm... not sure I even wanted this second term. My legacy was secure. A CEO President couldn't have overhauled any of the crap. We could've won big in 2016.

Na, the country needs you right now. Not him. Besides, how could a non-incumbent fix this Middle-Eastern quagmire we've made so much progress on? Honestly, I think you'll go down as one of the greats?

Really?

Hm... More like Nixon without the Watergate.

That's kinda what I thought.

You really think a talk with Biden's gonna do any good?He's pretty diffident.

I know. We shouldn't give up on his schooling yet though. I can't be at the Speaker's beck and call night and day can I?

He ain't worth a bucket of warm piss 'times.

Hm. I wonder...


You want to know the polling on Medicare cuts?

Yeah.

Fifty-fifty pretty much. And on deficit reduction?

Yep.

You're talking a supermajority.

The Ax wants to cut?

The Ax wants to cut.

Christ, we make Clinton look like Hubert frickin Humphrey.

And you'll look like Abraham f**in Lincoln. Savin the goddam Union, man.

Let's forgive the Vice President's indiscretions and get Boehner on the line. Get Jay back in here. I don't want it to souhnd like we're giving up without fight.

More please ;)

Thankyou for meeting with us, Mr President. How are Michelle and the kids?

Fine, Speaker, fine. And Debbie, Lyndsay and Trixy?

 Tricia, they're great. Well, let's cut to the brass tacks here. I understand you've been working on a budget.

I trust you've brought you're calculators. Or, preferably, you could just take me at my word.

How easy would matters be then, huh? If it wasn't for those pests at the CBO...

Barry chuckles politely while Boehner and an aide peruse the documents before them.

So, we both know this extension of the Bush tax cuts to the bottom one percenters is just... politics, right?

You're more astute than I gave you credit for, John. Yeah, a little argumental tassle that we can call a compromise.  

We also want to cut Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.

If you guys'll agree to defense cuts.

...Sold.

They shake hands.

The White House, following though on a last-ditch campaign promise to GOTV, announces it's intention to block the Keystone Pipeline XL extension amidst energised enviromental protests across the country, which call for a complete refusal and decommisioning of the pipelines. By presenting this, the news media paints the President as a middle-of-the-road Great Compromiser and his approval ratings rise.

() Also announced is the Administration's intention to attend a UN conference on the Syrian crisis, in the hopes that the international community will be willing to levy sanctions on the wartorn nation and it's widely-considered 'illegitimate' government.


On the domestic front, the drafting of a first budget to Congress begins...

Cool

Thankyou for meeting with us, Mr President. How are Michelle and the kids?

Fine, Speaker, fine. And Debbie, Lyndsay and Trixy?

 Tricia, they're great. Well, let's cut to the brass tacks here. I understand you've been working on a budget.

I trust you've brought you're calculators. Or, preferably, you could just take me at my word.

How easy would matters be then, huh? If it wasn't for those pests at the CBO...

Barry chuckles politely while Boehner and an aide peruse the documents before them.

So, we both know this extension of the Bush tax cuts to the bottom one percenters is just... politics, right?

You're more astute than I gave you credit for, John. Yeah, a little argumental tassle that we can call a compromise.  

We also want to cut Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.

If you guys'll agree to defense cuts.

...Sold.

They shake hands.

Well that sucks.  For us and Iran.  I'm surprised Akmadinijad didn't try to give himself a third term.  He'd likely win with 98-125% of the vote too ;)

Actually, he's pretty unpopular with the Ayatollah who run matters and was effectively rendered a lame duck by this years legislative elections.

Larijani's a reformer in Abadgaran clothing. he only wins because he comes from Ayatollan lineage.

The new austerity budget, which includes the Obama tax hikes; cuts in Medicare and Medicaid as well as in defense, passes the House 217 - 214 and the Senate 48-47 with some controversial absences. President Obama will take a lot of flak from the Party, with Bernie Sanders calling him a DINO for his decision to cooperate but he insists it was in the "vital national interest to solve our fiscal woes together".

()

Meanwhile at the UN, the Chinese and Russian delegations gear up to veto another UN resolution, but the US will cancel at the last minute upon, unbeknownst to the rest of the Congress, realising the greater effectiveness of circumventing the likely veto by speaking to more open EU officials.
 EU High Rep for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton beilieves the Union is under too great a strain with it's current oil sanctions in place on Iran. The US considers the upcoming Iranian Presidential elections and the obligatory Syrian sanctions weighing upon them too big an opportunity to miss, and so commences Operation Flourishing Democracy...

()

Barry Obama talks with newly appointed Chief of Staff Jay Carney in the Oval Office.

That's a pretty gay name, isn't it? Flourishing Democracy? Did we fire the guy who came up with Neptune's Spear? Just Cause?  

They were too different guys, Sir.

I liked returning to the mythical themes of the early days you know. Operation Ajax. I was ready for a... Zeus's Beard or something.

It's too... flowery...

Yeah, yeah. Like Buttercup Dreams or some sh**t.

How about Galvanised Response?

(laughs) Na. No, no. It needs to be curt and authoritative, but sexy. Like...

Kindling Flame?

That's... too sexy.

...Flickering Embers?

No.

Burning Beacon.

Hmm... Nope.

Urgent Beacon?

Ain't bad...
Got it.

What?

How'd it pass me by? Hope. Hope!
...Urgent Hope

That's pretty cool.

No, it's hot's what it is.

Interesting.  I'm assuming still President Putin?  So could Turkey become a member of the EU?  Maybe Russia if/when no putin?

A new pro-Assad Islamic uprising is incited in Iraq, in part as a response to the authoritative response of Western leaders to the kindling Civil War. An attempt on President Talabani's life will fail but will bring the country closer to the brink after the Iraqi government's reaction to round up families in villages where supposed terrorist sympathizers reside.


 UN Special Envoy and former US President James Earl Carter travels to Egypt to mediate a renewal of the peace treaty between Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Carter's presence angers both groups as a sign of Western interventionism and Islamic favouritism (due to the 39th President's renowned commentary on Israel) respectively.



 Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto and a Secretariat of Health delegation convene with President Barack Obama and a Kathleen Sebelius-led DHHS delegation at the North American Anti-Drug Trafficking Summit. They both agree that a new approach is necessary and in the words of Obama, "We can't Just Say No anymore. Those days are behind us. We need to drastically change course in the War on Drugs. We can win it as a war of attrition by focusing on those committing the crimes of drug-related violence and save the taxpayer money while ensuring their safety also." Nieto concurs and also promises to aid the President in similar cross-border crime fighting missions.

()

Ok

In a closer and less controversial election than the last, Parliamentary Chairman and former Speaker Ali Larijani would, under the Abadgaran banner, once again defeat Reform candidate Mir-Hossein Mousavi. Fewer irregularities were reported, but suspicions were raised when many of the more hardline anti-Western pro-Ahmajinedad candidates fell ill or dropped out even though polls favoured them. Many suspected foul play on behalf of the Larijani camp in the form of intimidation or extortion, but more hushed voices suspected the West.
 Mir-Hossein Mousavi called to congratulate President-Elect Larijani as well as incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the expected fellow OPEC nations; Brazil, Russia and China; but most surprisingly, Larijani recieves a phone call from none other than President Barack Hussein Obama II:

Congratulations, Chairman Larijani. or should that be President Larijani now?

(laughs statesmanishly) It will be a week from now. Thank you very much for your call, Mr President

I hope you and I can negotiate more successfully than myself and your predecessor did, Chairman.

My President, Mr President.

Yes, of course. That's what I meant.  

I hope together we can make this world a safer place for our children.

I very much appreciate that, Mr Chairman and i wish you all the best.

Obama puts the phone down then throws a mini basketball through a hoop attached to the back of one of the Oval Office doors to tha applause of a State Department contingent.

Urgent Hope Delivered.

Interesting.  Keep it coming ;)

       

After three years in government, the Tory-Lib Dem coalition disintegrates and a united left-wing new New Labour vowing to protect public service jobs from Tory cuts is ready to administer Westminster with a shot of post-Blair red-to-the-underwear virtues. PM Cameron steps down and MP Miliband accept's the Queen's offer to form a new government.
 

As arranged, Croatia becomes the 28th member nation of the EU, without the adoption of the Euro as a mandate for integration. It is believed that the recently wartorn country will enjoy greater stability and attract further tourism and trade to boost it's vastly deindustrialized economy. President Ivo Josipovic calls it "a great a day for the European people".

However, it is an even greater day for the European Socialists & Democrats in the European parliament as they narrow the margin between them and the Conservative-Reformist caucus in the European Parliament.

President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ali Larijani attends a UN conference on nuclear inspections and Iranian openness to them, which The New York Times dubs "salving the wounds his predecessor inflicted two years ago." US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pitches the dropping of sanctions on Iranian oil and nuclear energy in return for the opening of Iranian nuclear facilities to UN Inspectors, which after some deliberation with an Iranian foreign policy delegation on how to word their response, Larijani agrees to.
 The EU will also relieve Iran of it's hefty sanctions in return for the allowance of some inspections in coordination with the UN. At home, the President's policies will garner mixed reacions, veering from hardline protestors outside nuclear facilities to sated though silent Green Reformists.
 Now begins the imposition of extreme sanctions on Syria by the newly relieved EU, which economists estimate will cost the divided nation upwards of E3bn in exports. A very much onesided and likely succesful sanction, many agree.

()

NB: GTA V came out earlier in May 2013

On  the twelfth anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and Bashar Al-Assad's 48th birthday, the Syrian government is toppled by dissidents led by opposition leader Barhoun Ghoulian and a provisional interim administration is formed. The Republic of Syria is recognised by the EU and US but a more hesitant seal of approval is awaited of the GCC and Arab League nations. Russian President Putin's amnesty of Al-Assad will further strain relations with the West and incite rioting within the Federation. President Barack Obama has a 'My Pet Goat' moment when an underling of his interrupts his commemorative speech in Shanksville, Pennsylvania but he brushes it off, finishing his address.

RGA Vice Chairman Chris Christie will comfortably defeat Democratic Congressman Frank Pallone while the uninspiring Bill Bolling will fight an uphill battle against former DNC Chair Terry McAuliffe, after a contentious primary defeat of Tea Partier Ken Cuccinelli. Some pundits view it as a sign of the Tea Party's waning power nationally but unanimously agree that it was a boring year electorally, with zero changes in the balance of power gubernatorially.

After a tumultuous six years in office for the ALP including a divisive 18-month-long internal struggle for the leadership of the Party, the Australian people throw out the old and put in the new post-culture war Tony Abbott-led Liberal/National coalition.

()

After violating Ecuadorean information law, Julian Assange is expelled from the Republic and temporarily becomes a stateless person, before US authorities pick him up hiding aboard a Sea Shepherd vessel in the Pacific, to face extradition and probable incarceration in the United States.
Another diplomatic crisis arises when the 'latter-day Daniel Ellsberg' is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in absentia in a controversially close 3-2 decision by the Nobel Committee in a runoff against Syrian transitional leader Burhan  Ghalioun. Many consider it a ploy on behalf of former Liberal leader Lars Sponheim to lure Assange back to Sweden where he is wanted for questioning in relation to last years' sexual misconduct allegations.

After mulling over a boycott of the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, Secretary of State Kerry will remind the President of Jimmy Carter's same dud move in 1980, which came in the wake of the arguably more heinous Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Obama scraps the plans but advises the US athletes to wear wristbands emblazoned with the insignia of the new Syrian flag.

"Americans live in a safer world thanks to leaders like Abdurrahim El-keib, Ali Larijani and Burhan Ghoulian. I would like to welcome their respective nations back into the community of ally nations and pray that we can sustain this friendship over the course of mine and subsequent administrations...

In an age of technological innovation, the demands for the openest and most accountable government is made more and more by a hungry citizenry. But this government will not confuse transparency with allowing those who put our national security at risk to get away unabated. That is why Secretary of State John Kerry and myself remain determined in our talks with Brazilian Premier Rousseff for Julian Assange to be extradited back to the United States where he can be prosecuted under the Constitution and receive a sentence in due course.

As President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan leaves office and our troops begin their withdrawal to be completed by the end of this year, we are reminded of the human cost of this conflict. More Americans have now been killed in the conflict than those who perished in the September 11th Attacks of almost thirteen years ago. To our detractors, we are not leaving behind a safe haven for terrorism but a nation better equipped to deal with such threats. The war for peace will be waged longer still..."

 

Spain goes the way of Greece, Portugal and Ireland when it defaults on it's loans. Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy appeals for refinancing by the EU as well as a second bailout package. He agrees to the Merkellian austerity cuts. Riots tear up the Basque country and Catalonia, bolstering the nationalist movements in those regions and solidifying the leftist parties with a year to go til the next general election.

As both a gamer and a Sony fanboy, I'd like to mention that most major consoles are never even released in China, let alone are launched there.

The PS4 is released in China then Japan in the Spring of 2014 to great fanfare. It will be fully compatible with Avatar-esque 3D technology to give worlds a realisic depth and incorporate MotionScan technology to truly reflect the voice actor's facial muscles and retinae to portray emotion more accurate. The new console will, like XBox 720, still rely on HDMi yet use advanced motion-sensing technology to record body movements. Complaints arise of the abundant handheld guns and gadgets many of the games require but the console breaks records as the fastest-selling of all time.

Hussain al-Sharistani
State of Law 
In the midst of a bloody civil war, the Shia Islamist party of Al-Iraqiya led by Hussain al-Sharistani wins a large majority of seats. President Adil Abdul-Mahdi, a majority Shia Muslim himself, welcomes the victory with 'hope that majority rule shall continue in Iraq and civil strife shall soon cease". China, Russia and Iran support the Shia government's subjugation of the Sunni minority. No official response is forthcoming from the US while the EU "abhors the Iraqi government's response to 'civil strife'" and promises sanctions if the regime persists.

{President Barack Obama, StateSec John Kerry and NSC Director Sam Power confer in the decision room}

If we come out against the regime we admit that our policy in Iraq was a failure, if we support it we alienate Europe but can probably get them to follow.

Our policy? I ran against that sh**t. And i'm pretty sure the world remembers when that monkey-looking  was behind the desk

I miss Saddam...

Nods of concurrence all 'round.

With the aid of the Russian Space Agency, India launches it's second unmanned lunar rover, this time operating partly on solar power and equipped with stereophonic camera-based 3D. The lander will be Russian-designed, the orbiter Indian-made.

This timeline is underrated. Keep up the great work!

I'm not sure how to read the victories.  But this TL is very good, keep it up!  ;)

With most of the Operation Enduring Freedom coalition's intra-national militaries withdrawn, the US Army stands alone at polling booths across deserts and mountains as President Hamid Karzai prepares to step down.



Violence occurs at several barely-guarded Indian consulates due to the election's strain on US troops whose presence at polling stations is considered more impotant.
With such an expectedly close race between a drug trafficker and a women's rights activist, US, UN and NATO officials push for a November runoff in the hopes that what remains of their troops will vote for Samar. Unfortunately for them, Fahim wins the runoff comfortably and is sworn in on 7/12/14.

Alexander Salmond's SNP government at Holyrood take the results of the long-awaited two-question referendum as a partial victory as does Ed Miliband's Labour government at Westminster. Little had changed in the electorate's estimations of independence in two years since the announcement of the referendum. If anything, the answer to the full independence question was an improvement of 2% for the 'Yes Scotland' campaign and the devolutionary mandate a definite success.
 Prime Minister Miliband and First Minister Salmond confer to discuss the extent of maximum devolution. They will agree to Scotland's retaining of £ sterling as her fiscal currency, the British monarch remaining as Head of State and the general move of the UK to federal status.

As election day nears, President and House GOP reach a 'Grand Bargain' to partially privatize social security, close the Medicare Part D 'Donut Hole' and raise capital gains taxes on those earning over 1 million dollars to lower the deificit.  The plan provides that Social Security be cut by 1.5 % of it's current cost annually until 2081 when it will be no more, meaning Americans born today will have to save up. The provision can be halted by Executive order or Congressional decree; reverted by supermajorities in both houses. Pundits consider it a law without claws but it's passage still hurts it's proponents in the polls.


It will pass the House with most Republicans and a few DLCers supporting it; and will be dropped by the Democratically-controlled Senate. Obama and his mostly Republican supporters will wait for the GOP Senate newcomers to take their seats in a McConnell-led Seante before pushing the bill any further.

Conflict erupts in the capital of Baghdad, where secularists confront Shia and Sunni militants as well as the security forces, dirtying the name of the secular Al-Iraqiyaa party as well as the Ba'athist movement further. Car bombings increase in the predominantly Kurdish northern regions where Prime Minister al-Sharistani will deploy troops.


 After thirteen long years and President Mohammed Fahim's inauguration, US troops will fully withdraw from the country, leaving it to fend for itself by the end of the year. One of the President's first hign visibility decisions will be to host talks with Indian President Shri Panjab Mukherjee and declare peace between Hindu and Muslim nations.


 President Obama will redeploy many troops and divert others to Pakistan to the dissaproval of much of his liberal base and delight of neocons who he see it as a new opportunity to focus on one mission.

A two question referendum was ruled out, although I realise this is an alternate history timeline. :P

"With an independent Afghanistan now free to govern itself, it is important that we concert our efforts wholly in Pakistan to finally destroy the Haqqani Network and restore peace to the whole of the region. America is going to need stable partners when the fighting is done and that requires funding for training our Pakistani collaborators with the know-how to get that job done. I would like to take a moment to applaud our brave troops who have served us all well.
 In Iraq, we are witnessing the price we are having to pay for an unnecessary and costly war. The United States condemns all prosecution on ethnic or religious grounds but through sanctions and our condemnation only will we work to stop them. For we are learning I hope, as have all great empires, that we cannot fight more than one war at a time. The War on Drugs, the War on Poverty and the War on Women must all end if we are to win this actual war in Pakistan. Let's win this war for something...
On spending cuts, I will not take any one program off the table as you should know by now. Some of you are new around here, but all of you have faced elections knowing that it's always safer to say what people want than do what needs to be done. Well now you have that chance. It may be the deal breaker that swings your constituents votes the other way but it's what the next generation needs. When our seniors are given the choice between their own Social Security cheques and the paychecks of their grandchildren, they will not be selfish. They will do what's right, and so should this Congress.
 We will make these cuts so that we can provide for the next great generation of Americans. So that we don't go the way of Greece, Italy and Spain. We want a strong America where everybody plays by the rules and a strong governemnt that plays by the rest of the world's rules."

The speech is viewed as a challenge by the President's own party members in congress and as plagiarism by one New Jersey governor, Christopher J Christie who takes credit for "our seniors will not be selfish".

The long awaited memorial to the Septemper 11th attacks and adjoing streets open to the public in early 2015. The leaves on the Survivor Tree have not yet regrown but Governor Cuomo and Mayor Christine Quinn both deliver rousing speeches intended to awaken the civic pride and rememberance of all New Yorkers. A surprise visit by President Barack H Obama is expected but never transpires, but as former mayor Rudy Giuliani once prophesised, "the skyline will be made whole again," and New Yorkers agree that it has.

The economic and political integration of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyztan, the Russian federation Tajikistan is solidified when President Vladimir and other less notable national leaders sign their nations up for what critics call "a restoration of the Soviet Union".

A single currency is not ruled out at the meeting, whereupon the member nations hoped to implement measures in light of the EU financial crisis.

The Senate passes the Saving Social Security Act (SSSA) 53 - 47 with full GOP support and two Blue Dogs. No threat of filibuster is vocalised by the Democrats but for one member of their caucus, independent socialist Bernie Sanders. The absence of any serious filbusters will lead to allegations of stealth complicity on behalf of Seante Democrats and will become more of a hot-button issue than ever during the imminent primaries. Obama signs the act into law, for his poll numbers to plummet along with the GOP.

Christ, what have I done?

The invisible primaries commence when Democrats Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, NYC Mayor Christine Quinn of New York, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano of Arizona, former Speaker Pro Tempore of the House Tammy Baldwin and Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia all announce their candidacies in what will be dubbed 'the War of the Women with Tim in'.

 Meanwhile, Republicans former Senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, former Congressman Allen West of Florida and Representative Mia Love of Utah will anounce theirs to pick up the early bounce. Santorum, the 2012 runner-up, leads the pack for most of the Summer, while another Rick, former Governor Perry of Texas, will offer Santorum his endorsemnt after considering a run of his own along with Fmr Governor of Pennsylvania Tom Corbett.

 The ultimate polls still show the prospective candidacies of Jeb Bush and Hillary Clinton as the two major party's front runners, but no news is forthcoming.

Americans Elect will begin drafting candidates in the visible primary season for the major parties.

The first election to be instigated under the requirements of the 2011 Fixed-term Parliaments Act and 2014 Single Transferable Vote Act will see Prime Minister Ed Miliband face his first election as the incumbent party leader with an apparent economic recovery underway.

Labour will stimulate it's working-class base with the passing of living wage legislation, reach out to students with it's lowering of student fees and as-yet-unpassed graduate tax and attract Lib Dem supporters with it's passage of the STV while the Tories will campaign against high taxes and the 'Divided Kingdom', or Britain and Northern Ireland Federalism Act of 2014 as well as implying that a Miliband ministry would not be as ready to retaliate to a national security threat from Iran as well as being a divisive PM.

The election will result in a hung parliament for the second time in the  decade and will see the Lib Dems split between the Farronite centre-left and Cleggish centre in coalescing with the Labour and Conservative parties respectively, over the course of the summer recess becoming the Liberals and New Democrats.

With the full support of the Greens, Respect, Monster Raving Loonies, Plaid Cymru and the SNP a new broad coalition os social progressives and liberals willtake their seats in September with Ed Miliband as PM and Tim Farron as his Deputy.

David cameron, menawhile, will resign, triggering a leadership election immediately. Newly-reinstated MP Boris Johnson, MP Sajid David and MP Fiona Bruce will vie for the leadership.

Over the summer, the Republican field will widen to a dozen candidates, with the more notable announcements of the presidential candidacies of Senators John Thune of South Dakota, Marco Rubio of Florida, Rand Paul of Kentucky, Governor Sam Brownback of Kansas and Congressman  Paul Ryan of Wisconsin. Shortly after this, Rick Santorum will announce the suspension of his campaign and the big endorsements will mostly be divvied up between the latter four. GOP rising Hispanic star Governor George P Bush of Texas will decline to run, claiming that he knows the party will "pick a winner for sure this year".
 The Democratic Field will also be shaken with the big announcements of Governors Andrew Cuomo of New York and Martin O'Malley of Maryland, as well as the shocker that former StateSec and US Senator Hillary Clinton firmly declines to run for President ever again in her lifetime. "Maybe in another life, guys..."
 Several big endorsements will come from former Governor Jeb Bush of Florida for Marco Rubio, former Governor and 2012 nominee Mitt Romney of Massachusetts for Paul Ryan and former Governor Rick Perry of Texas for Sam Brownback while on the Democratic front Vice President Joe Biden will single out Martin O'Malley for his work on immigration and crime, though few formal endorsements are forthcoming from the Obama administration, the liberal party base rallies around Tammy Baldwin.
 

The Catalonian struggle for independence from Spain will continue unabated, until French President Francois Hollande steps in to call for compromise. Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy will argue that the autonomous status granted to Catalonia in the early post-Franco years was enough but Hollande, realising that bankrupt Spain can not do without it's major economic engine of Barcelona in the northeast, offers the idea of a power-sharing autonomous region administrated by the French and Spanish governments. Rajoy, very wary of the slim majority his centre-right Partido Popular holds in the parliament, will initially reject the idea before agreeing to terms that Spain receive all revenues generated by the Catalonian state. Hollande accepts.

Governor of Louisiana Bobby Jindal will announce his intention to run for President, receiving the endorsement of none other than 2012 nominee former Governor of Massachusetts Mitt Romney, who vows to fight for the evangelicalish Roman Catholic Indian-American in states as far away as Utah, Nevada, Idaho and Wyoming where the Mormon party leader-of-sorts is still popular, making Jindal the frontunner temporarily.
 Mayor Christine Quinn of New York City will drop out of the race and offer Tammy Baldwin her endorsement, for former Governor Deval Patrick to step into the race and steal centre-leftists away from Cuomo and O'Malley, as well as an endorsement from Secretary of State John Kerry.
 

The US and South Korea will dissolve the Combined Forces Command, effectively leaving the door open for negotiations between the countries on either side of the 38th parallel. The Panmunjon Accords will be held in the traditional truce village, without US, Chinese or Russian mediation between Premiers Choe Yong-Rim and Lee Myung-bak, from which another hit Psy K-pop sensation will be inspired by - 38th Parallel.
 The negotiations are seen as a positive yet indecisive baby step forward by the international community.

Chris Christie will make the biggest splash in September when he gives a definite 'YES' to reporters at a press conference with regards to a 2016 run, stealing the Gillibrand-Warner-O'Malley thunder from the Democrats and leading the GOP field immediately. Meanwhile, Jon Huntsman avoids the big question at a press conference and Ron Paul speaks on behalf of his son at a rally in Newport News, Virginia.
 Cheri Honkala, Stewart Alexander and Van Jones all announce for the Green Party nomination; R Lee Wrights, Gary Johnson and Daniel P Gordon contest the Libertarian nomination; while Jim Clymer, Darrell Castle and Susan Ducey will vie for the Constitution Party nomination.

Senior citizens take to the streets in the immediate and less immediate wake of the SSSA bill's passage to protest it's enactment. Bipartisanship is but a far-off dream to the vast majority of American voters who showed in record lows at the last midterm elections, but hold on... A new Gang of 10 moderate Senators will switch party alliance to the Modern Whig Party or drop it entirely in favour of demonstrating bipartisanship to the American electorate.

They are

Mark Begich
Scott Brown
Susan Collins
Joe Donnelly
Jeff Flake
Mary Landrieu
Joe Manchin
John McCain
Mark Pryor
Brian Schweitzer

They pledge to bridge the divide in the Senate and work with the President regardless of party colour and for "the American people who put us here above all."