Kerry-Richardson wins a narrow 270-268 victory over Bush-Cheyney in 2004, with AZ the only state that switches. Kerry cuts back troop involvement in Iraq, turning much over to the UN. New Secretary of Defense Wesley Clark catches and kills Osama bin Laden within 4 weeks of taking office. Kerry secures and oil deal with the new Iraqi government, and gas prices plummet. He rescinds tax cuts on the wealthy and begins to balance the budget. His approval rating soars into the 90's. In midterms of 2006, Democrats retake the House and Senate by a large margin. Gephardt becomes speaker of the house [pelosi is axed somewhere
]. The GOP begins to be taken over by reactionaries like John Ashcroft and Roy Moore and merges with the Constitution party, prompting several moderate republicans to jump ship and become independents. Puetro Rico joins the Union as the 51st state, and the number of Representatives is reset to 450. In 2008, Kerry-Richardson is reelected over Moore-Ashcroft 542-13, with the GOP only taking Utah, Wyoming, and Idaho. By 2009 the Senate is composed of 76 Democrats, 14 moderate Independents, and 10 reactionary Republicans. The House contains 371 Democrats, 47 Independents, 27 Republicans, 3 Greens, 1 Libertarian, and 1 Socialist. 33 governors are Dems, 10 are Independent, and 8 are republican. President Kerry is well loved and has an approval rating in the 90's.
At this point the 28th amendment is passed, stating that a president can serve no more than 2 CONSECUTIVE terms, but no overall limit. Also there is NO limit on VP terms.
The Dems continue their hold in 2010. In 2012, Bill Clinton receives the Democratic nomination and retains Bill Richardson as his VP. Clinton-Richardson rolls through in 2012, even receiving endorsements from John McCain, Colin Powell, and Rudy Giuliani, who have become moderate Democrats. The Republicans try to nominate Roy Moore again, but he fails to get any electoral votes, and Clinton sweeps a 555-0 shutout.
Canada offers itself for annexation to the US, and BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick all become states. [the rest is added to other states or Nunavut territory]. There are now 60 states, and 600 representatives in Congress.
The Republicans find new gains in AB, MT, WY, ID, UT, and WY. Moderates begin rejoining the party. When people begin to criticize Clinton for staying on as president, he decides not to run again in 2016, leaving office with a 94% approval rating. Bill Richardson ascends to the presidential ticket and chooses Mary Landrieu as his VP. Though the Republicans get their act together and get out the vote, Richardson-Landrieu soundly defeats Norm Coleman-Condoleeza Rice by a tally of 524-199. The Dems don’t look like they will be having problems any time soon.
2004
John Kerry and Bill Richardson 270George W. Bush and Dick Cheney 2682008
John Kerry and Bill Richardson 542Roy Moore and John Ashcroft 132012
Bill Clinton and Bill Richardson 555Roy Moore and Howard Phillips 02016
Bill Richardson and Mary Landrieu 524Norm Coleman and Condoleeza Rice 1992020
Bill Richardson and Mary Landrieu 501Condoleeza Rice and Chip Pickering 2222024
Mary Landrieu and Harold Ford 706Condoleeza Rice and Chip Pickering 17
