JFK Lives

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Fernando Collor de Mello

He managed to beat the impeachment charges, and served out his term as President, being replaced by Fernando Henrique Cardoso.

Luis Inacio Lula da Silva

After a failed Presidential run in 1989, he was reelected to Congress in 1990, and ran for President in 1994, losing in the first round to Fernando Henrique Cardoso.

Fernando Henrique Cardoso

He was elected President in the first round in 1994, and currently enjoys great popularity in Brazil.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Good job on keeping this old thing going for so long. I've tried my hand at a couple of TL's at the Alternative History Board, all of whom I lost relative interest for in a matter of weeks.

Thanks; as you can see, I also lose the ability to keep it going for long periods of time, but I always come back to it.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

This is very impressive, Vosem; please keep it up

[Kaine for Senate '18]

So when can we expect the next installment Ben?

No clue.  Probably when I go on spring break, which starts March 27.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

In a speech to the United Nations on January 11, 1995, President Campbell calls for an end to apartheid in South Africa.  “As President of the freest nation on Earth, it is my duty to speak out against oppression worldwide.  I call upon every other free nation of the world to join me in ceasing to trade, or even to cooperate, with South Africa until it ends it heinous abuses of human rights.”  The international response is very positive; British Prime Minister Lamont lauds Campbell for “standing up for human rights; I will happily join him in his crusade.”  Every country of Western Europe signs a document urging South Africa to end apartheid.  They then follow up by, individually, placing severe sanctions on South Africa, to the point that only the USSR and Eastern Europe remain trading partners of any significance with South Africa.

On February 5, 1995, South African President PW Botha dies of a stroke, and is replaced by F.W. de Klerk.  De Klerk acts swiftly, releasing Mandela from prison on February 10.  On February 26, after intense negotiations midwifed by President Campbell, Namibia becomes an independent state.  On March 12, an all white electorate approves, by a vote of 62-38, de Klerk’s decision to negotiate an end to apartheid.  On April 17, de Klerk announces that, on January 1, 1996, South Africa will hold an election with universal suffrage, ending apartheid.

On March 14, Congress begins debate on the Line Item Veto Act of 1995.  Written by Senator John McCain (R-AZ) the act would allow the President to nullify or cancel specific provisions of a bill without vetoing the entire legislative package, and then subject it to the possibility of legislative override.  Strongly supported by conservatives of both parties, the act faced a filibuster from Senator Robert Byrd (D-WV), who threatened to sue if the legislation passed.  On June 5, by a vote of 71-29, the Senate passed cloture, ending Byrd’s filibuster, and on June 15, passed the bill 53-43.

In the House, the legislation faces less opposition.  Congressman Ron Paul (R-TX-14) calls the bill “the best way possible to eliminate pork barrel spending.”  Congressman Owen Pickett (D-VA-02) calls the bill “a necessary power for the President, in order to ensure financial stability.”  The bill passes on September 3, 1995, by a vote of 332-103, and is signed by the President on September 5.

On September 24, Senator Byrd sues, but is dismissed as lacking standing.  On December 8, President Campbell vetoes a provision of an appropriations bill, and the next day, Mayor Thomas M. Menino (D-MA) of Boston sues, and, due to provision in the bill, it goes straight to the Supreme Court, with oral arguments being held on December 14.

From January 1-January 4, 1996, elections are held in South Africa.  The African National Parliament captures 252 of 400 seats, less than necessary to alter the Constitution.  On January 12, Nelson Mandela is sworn in as the new President of South Africa, with Thabo Mbeki and Frederik Willem de Klerk as deputy presidents.

On February 24, the Supreme Court rules 5-4 that the Line Item Veto Act does not violate the Constitution.  The majority opinion, written by Chief Justice Arnold and joined by Aldrich, Robinson, Jolly, and Scalia, says the act, “does not violate any specific textual constitutional command, nor does it violate any implicit Separation of Powers principle.”  The dissent, written by Justice Bayh and joined by the other three dissenters, argued that the bill “usurps the basic power of the purse, and is an unconstitutional delegation of power to the President.”  President Campbell hails the decision, but all the leading contenders for the Democratic nomination condemn it, setting up a major issue for the 1996 election.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

The Democratic Nomination

On June 3, 1995, former Vice President Joe Biden becomes the first Democrat to announce for the 1996 nomination, claiming experience and electability.  On August 8, Senator David Pryor of Arkansas announces his retirement from the Senate, and his intention to seek the Democratic nomination.  August 23 see Governor Bob Casey of Pennsylvania declare, and on October 1, Congressman Bob Wise of West Virginia becomes the last Democrat to declare for the nomination.

In the months leading up to Iowa, the line item veto becomes the major issue, with every candidate making a stand against it; Senator Pryor joins Senator Byrd in conducting a weeks long filibuster, voting against cloture and final passage, as does Congressman Wise.  Vice President Biden calls it, “A gross expansion of federal power,” and while Governor Casey criticizes it, he is attacked for using a line item veto as Governor of Pennsylvania.

On the night of the Iowa Caucus, Vice President Biden wins 39% of the vote; Senator Pryor wins 33%, Congressman Wise wins 16%, and Governor Casey wins 12%.  New Hampshire sees Vice President Biden win 50%, Governor Casey 24%, Senator Pryor 15%, and Congressman Wise 11%.

Following New Hampshire, the candidates spread out prior to Super Tuesday, with primaries being held in Alabama (Pryor), Arkansas (Pryor), Colorado (Biden), Delaware (Biden), Hawaii (Biden), Michigan (Casey), New York (Biden), Utah (Biden), and West Virginia (Wise).  Following the primaries, Wise drops out, and endorses Biden.  In a March 9 interview with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Governor Casey criticizes the people opposed to the line item veto, calling it, “Actually a good idea, in theory.”  This prompts Biden to call Casey, “A shill for the imperial Presidency,” and it hurts Casey in the Georgia primary held two days later, gathering just 21%; Biden receives 41%, and Pryor gets 38%.

A week after Georgia, primaries are held in California and Texas; Biden wins California, and Pryor wins Texas.  Casey then drops out of the race, and endorses Biden.  Facing a severe deficit in both cash and delegates, Pryor drops out and endorses Biden.

At the Democratic Convention held in Philadelphia, Biden selects Senator Barbara Mikulski of Maryland as his running mate, making her the first female on a major party ticket.  They pledge to, “Make the Government responsible to the People, not just some runaway Empire.”

The Republican Nomination

President Campbell enters the race for the nomination unopposed, and enjoying high approval ratings.  At the Convention, he and Vice President Quayle are re-nominated unanimously, and Campbell boasts of the achievements of the past four years, especially the line item veto, which he calls, “A significant step in reducing the deficit, and making Congress accountable.”

The General Election

The general election begins with Campbell enjoying a 45-40-15 lead over Biden.  The first debate, held on September 16, focuses on the economy, with Campbell touting low unemployment, and Biden criticizing the spending cuts made by Campbell, in addition to the line item veto.

In early October, Biden releases a series of ads attacking Campbell for supporting programs that help the rich at the expense of the poor, and he says offhand that Campbell, “Is so far up the asses of big business that they [big business] can taste his shampoo.”  The gaffe provokes outrage, and Biden plummets from 46% in the polls, down just two, to trailing 48-40-12.

In the second debate, Biden tries to attack Campbell for supporting regimes that commit human rights abuses, but Campbell responds with his cutting off of ties to South Africa, and the forcing of change there, and Biden is stymied.

By the end of October, the race appears over; Campbell leads 50-42-8, and all of Biden’s attempts to attack Campbell have failed.  In the third debate, held on October 24, Campbell asks the simple question, “Are you better off today than you were four years ago?”  The voters respond in one direction, overwhelmingly, and Campbell is reelected.

Carroll A. Campbell/Dan Quayle: 56.2% PV, 452 EV
Joe Biden/Barbara Mikluski: 42.7% PV, 82 EV
Others: 1.1% PV, 0 EV

The Congressional Elections

The Campbell Presidential landslide brings major Congressional gains for the GOP, as they retake the Senate for the first time since 1987, and the House for the first time since 1955.

Senate Results

Republicans: 54 (+5)
Democrats: 46 (-5)


House Results
Republicans: 236 (+43)
Democrats: 198 (-43)
Independents: 1 (-)

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Excellent update!

Thanks, much appreciated

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Hey, Ben how close was Pennsylvannia with that being his home state in all? I really would have expected Joe to do better in his native rust belt...

Well, he won his home state of Delaware easily, 57-42, and lost Pennsylvania 50-48, so it was very close.  Biden really ran a terrible campaign; he was lucky to win what he did.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

I will eventually bring this back, but not until after the Extemp TOC, May 14-16.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

YOU MADE TOC?! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!

Thanks   I qualified by winning the State Championship.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Congratulations on that too! And good luck at the TOC!

Thanks!  Once that's done, I'll get to work on this old thing.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Jim Webb

After serving in the military, he was Secretary of the Navy from 1982-1986, before being fired by President Hatfield.  He was Ambassador to Ireland from 1989-1992, when he resigned.  He is currently writing a history of the Irish in America.

Tom Campbell

He's been in the House since 1989, from California's 12th District.

Rudy Giuliani

He served in the Hatfield Justice Department, was Deputy Solicitor General 1983-1988, and was DA for NYC from 1988-1993, when he was elected Mayor.

Al Franken

He's exactly the same, except he sometimes hosts Weekend Update all by himself.

Clint Eastwood

Exactly the same.

Phil Hartman

Alive and well.

Boris Yeltsin

Mayor of Moscow from 1984-1991, he was Ambassador to the UN from 1991-1995, and has been the Soviet Foreign Minister since 1995.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Is Phil Hartman married to Brynn Omdahl ITTL?

Nope; married Jan Hooks.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Excellent.

Yes, yes it is.  This is my timeline, and I will not have one of my favorite actors murdered by a crazy wife.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Since we're talking about favorite celebrities and crazy wives, did John Lennon ever meet Yoko? Is Lennon still alive?

Yes and Yes

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Awesome about him being alive! Have the Beatles ever reunited or at the very least played together since their breakup? 

They've played a number of shows every few years; the last one was at Wimbledon in 1992.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

What about the James Bond series? Is the order of movies the same, and More importantly, did George Lazenby stay on longer?

James Bond has basically stayed the same.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Another question...

Did Arnold Schwarzenegger marry Maria Shriver IITL? If so, what is his relationship with the Kennedy family, and being that he is a Republican, are they close?

Or is he a Republican at all?  

He's actually dead; he was killed during a robbery in 1976.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Who played the Terminator ITTL?

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Yo he gonna run fa Governa of Calirfornia?

Nope.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

He will never run for anything

[Kaine for Senate '18]

May I ask what your next project will be?

I haven't decided yet.  This timeline will run until the 2010 midterms in all likelihood, and I may then switch back to the TR TL, and run that until 2010 as well.  After that, I don't know.  I still have the French story on backburner, or I may just take some time off.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

That would be excellent.

I was hoping you'd mention the French story, too.

It's a tougher project than I'd imagined, especially given the style I want it to be written in.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Yes, that will take a great deal of time, thought, and effort.

Not to mention that it is especially hard to find documents not written from an American point of view.

Indeed; because I'm writing it as a mockumentary, I need to alter the style of writing to be more formal, more historical.  It's tough.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Any update coming soon?

No idea; probably not for another month.