N U T part 2: The Presidency of Bernie Sanders and the 2022 midterms

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

On Jan 21 2021, Sanders is inaugurated to a crowd of approx. 1.6 Million people, the second largest ever, only being beaten by Obama's 2008 inauguration.


Sanders before taking the oath of office

Roberts: Please repeat after me. "I, Bernard Sanders, do solemnly swear..."

Sanders: I, Bernard Sanders, do solemnly swear...

Roberts: " that I will faithfully execute the Office..."

Sanders:  that I will faithfully execute the Office...

Roberts:  "of President of the United States..."

Sanders: of President of the United States...

Roberts: "and will to the best of my Ability..."

Sanders: and will to the best of my Ability...

Roberts: "preserve, protect and defend..."

Sanders: preserve, protect and defend...

Roberts: "the Constitution of the United States."

Sanders:  the Constitution of the United States.

Roberts: Congratulations Mister President.

Cheers and applause

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

2020 Election results:

Bernie Sanders/Amy Klobuchar: 426* EV, 54.42%
Donald Trump/Mike Pence: 109* EV, 44.11%
Bill Weld/Austin Petersen: 0 EV, 0.98%
William Kreml/Cornel West: 0 EV, 0.22%
Don Blankenship/Tom Parker: 0 EV, 0.18%
Rocky De La Fuente/Michael Steinberg: 0 EV, 0.03%
Gloria La Riva/Eugene Puryear: 0 EV, 0.02%
Others, including faithless elector votes for non-candidates: 3 EV, 0.03%

*3 Sanders electors voted for Trump, and 3 Sanders electors voted for Ron Paul.


Senate:

64 Democrats
34 Republicans
2 Vacant

Governor:

House:

317 Democrats
108 Republicans

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

Before the inauguration:

Governor Tim Walz (D-MN) announces he will appoint Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan to the Senate seat vacated by Amy Klobuchar as she becomes Vice President-Elect. She will be the first Native American to represent Minnesota in Congress.

Governor-Elect David Zuckerman (P-VT) announces he will appoint PPT of the Vermont State Senate Tim Ashe to the Senate seat vacated by Bernie Sanders. Ashe says he will continue to be a member of the Progressives, but will caucus with the Democrats.

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

The First Cabinet Appointments:

Sec. of State: VACANT
Sec. of Treasury: VACANT
Sec. of Defense: VACANT
Attorney General: VACANT
Sec. of the Interior: Fmr. State Rep Paulette Jordan
Sec. of Agriculture: VACANT
Sec. of Commerce: VACANT
Sec. of Labor: Fmr. Sec. of Labor Robert Reich
Sec. of HHS: Fmr. DNC Chair and Gov. of Vermont Howard Dean
Sec. of Education: VACANT
Sec. of HUD: VACANT*
Sec. of Transportation: VACANT
Sec. of Energy: VACANT
Sec. of Veterans' Affairs: VACANT
Sec. of Homeland Security: VACANT
White House Chief of Staff: Jeff Weaver
EPA Admin: VACANT
OMB Director: VACANT
US Trade Rep.: VACANT
US Ambassador to the U.N.: VACANT

*Sanders was overheard in a conversation that was leaked to the press that he wanted incoming Governor of Indiana Pete Buttigieg to serve, but was unsure if he would take the position.


Sanders' nominee for the Secretary of the Interior was a surprise as several believed he would appoint former Montana Governor Brain Schweitzer to the position.

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

Sanders announces New York AG Zephyr Teachout will be the next Attorney General, Al Gore to be next head of the EPA

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

More cabinet picks:

Fmr. Texas Agriculture Commissioner Jim Hightower for Secretary of Agriculture
Professor Paul Krugman for Secretary of the Treasury

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

More cabinet picks:

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard for Secretary of State
Fmr. Texas Agriculture Commissioner Jim Hightower for Secretary of Agriculture
Professor Paul Krugman for Secretary of the Treasury

This can't go well.

thinking about it i've decided to change it.

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

After days of speculation over who Sanders would choose as Secretary of State, he finally unveiled his pick, an extremely surprising one.

"After contacting her and her family, and after she confirmed she is willing to do the job, I am announcing that I am nominating Former First Lady Michelle Obama to be Secretary of State. I know that she will do a great job just as she did as First Lady."

This was, to say the least, an extremely shocking announcement. Several believed Sanders would nominate Tulsi Gabbard, but after he had consulted several more moderately Democratic Senators, he doubted he could get her through.  However, Gabbard wouldn't be completely snubbed of a position.

"I am also nominating Representative Gabbard to be the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations."

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

The Sanders Cabinet so far:

Sec. of State: Fmr. First Lady Michelle Obama
Sec. of Treasury: Professor Paul Krugman
Sec. of Defense: VACANT
Attorney General: New York AG Zephyr Teachout
Sec. of the Interior: Fmr. State Rep Paulette Jordan
Sec. of Agriculture: Fmr. Texas Agriculture Commissioner Jim Hightower
Sec. of Commerce: VACANT
Sec. of Labor: Fmr. Sec. of Labor Robert Reich
Sec. of HHS: Fmr. DNC Chair and Gov. of Vermont Howard Dean
Sec. of Education: VACANT
Sec. of HUD: VACANT*
Sec. of Transportation: VACANT
Sec. of Energy: VACANT
Sec. of Veterans' Affairs: VACANT
Sec. of Homeland Security: VACANT
White House Chief of Staff: Jeff Weaver
EPA Admin: Fmr. Vice President Al Gore
OMB Director: VACANT
US Trade Rep.: VACANT
US Ambassador to the U.N.: Representative Tulsi Gabbard

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

A slew of new cabinet appointments:
Energy: Representative Paul Tonko
Defense: Representative James Langevin
Commerce: Mr. Mark Weisbrot
VA: Representative Mark Takano
Homeland Security: Representative Raul Grijalva

the most controversial pick of all was Sanders' choice for Secretary of Education:

Education: Linguist Noam Chomsky

Almost immediately, several Democratic Senators announced their disapproval of Sanders' pick, along with several Republican Senators decrying Chomsky. Jim Inhofe (R-OK) said on the Senate floor:

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Sanders rebutted, stating that:

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Still, pundits believe that Sanders will have a tough time getting Chomsky through.

SPECIAL THANKS TO FUDOTEI WHO FOUND THESE PEOPLE FOR ME

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

Sanders announces Fmr. Governor Brian Schweitzer, originally considered top pick for Secretary of the Interior, will be the head of the Office of Management and Budget, pointing to large ending fund balances in Montana, and his commitment to Universal Healthcare, which was a large part of Sanders' platform. Schweitzer has stated in previous interviews that he believes a healthcare system based on Canada's system would actually save the United States money.

This leaves only the positions of Secretary of Transportation, Secretary of HUD, and Trade Representative left, although Sanders may have to find a backup for Secretary of Education.

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

Several independent commissions are working hard on new maps for several states after the supreme court ruled to make partisan, and bi-partisan, gerrymandering illegal. The recent 2020 census showed that Rhode Island, New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Minnesota, and Alabama lost one seat each. Oregon, Montana, North Carolina, Arizona, and Colorado gained one seat each, and Texas and Florida gained two seats each. Meanwhile, several states were forced to redo their boundaries due to blatant gerrymandering, such as Maryland and Oklahoma.

I'll be releasing these maps in a separate thread shortly before the 2022 coverage starts.

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

Still working on the last cabinet members, but here's a map of states with one-party congressional delegations.

(30% is if you count caucusing members.)

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

Still working on the last cabinet members, but here's a map of states with one-party congressional delegations.

(30% is if you count caucusing members.)

Heitkamp lost?

oops I forgot, brain no workie.

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

In a confirmation hearing, Sanders' nominee for Attorney General, Zephyr Teachout, has indicated she will direct the DOJ to look for possible indictments of Trump due to his immigration policy, which has rumored to have caused the deaths of several immigrant children after they were separated from their families. This may also extend to several members of the Trump administration, such as former Attorney General Jeff Sessions, Former Vice President Mike Pence, as well as several members of ICE.

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

The Final Cabinet (senate votes TBD)


Sec. of State: Fmr. First Lady Michelle Obama
Sec. of Treasury: Professor Paul Krugman
Sec. of Defense: Representative James Langevin
Attorney General: New York AG Zephyr Teachout
Sec. of the Interior: Fmr. State Rep Paulette Jordan
Sec. of Agriculture: Fmr. Texas Agriculture Commissioner Jim Hightower
Sec. of Commerce: Mr. Mark Weisbrot
Sec. of Labor: Fmr. Sec. of Labor Robert Reich
Sec. of HHS: Fmr. DNC Chair and Gov. of Vermont Howard Dean
Sec. of Education: Linguist Noam Chomsky
Sec. of HUD: Governor Pete Buttigieg
Sec. of Transportation: Mayor of Jackson Mississippi Chokwe Antar Lumumba
Sec. of Energy: Representative Paul Tonko
Sec. of Veterans' Affairs: Representative Mark Takano
Sec. of Homeland Security: Representative Raul Grijalva
White House Chief of Staff: Jeff Weaver
EPA Admin: Fmr. Vice President Al Gore
OMB Director: Fmr. Governor of Montana Brian Schweitzer
US Trade Rep.: Fmr. Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy
US Ambassador to the U.N.: Representative Tulsi Gabbard

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

The confirmation of Chomsky:

Noam Chomsky, in the end of his confirmation hearing, said he would "almost certainly" only serve until the end of Sanders' first term.

He managed to narrowly pass the Senate, 51-49.

By the way I'm too f**king lazy to make the voting roll thing for this.

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

State of the Congressional Progressive Caucus:
House: 160 of the 317 Democrats, holding a narrow majority in the caucus
Senate: 11 of 65 in the Democratic caucus.

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

THE FIRST 100 DAYS

         President Sanders was quick to work after the inauguration. He scaled back the Trump tariffs significantly, saying that "Trump was far too hasty in implementing tariffs. Although the reason they were put there was good, several industries couldn't keep up with something so drastic." He would, in the first week, call Prime Minister Singh and President Obrador and discuss re-opening trade after the massive trade war Trump waged. Sanders would then turn his focus to healthcare. He worked with Secretary Dean, Newly-elected House Speaker Ro Khanna, and the leader of the Senate's Progressive Caucus Jeff Merkley to create an ideal bill. He would then meet with more moderate Democrats, and after several negotiations, would introduce the American Guaranteed Healthcare Act, or AGHCA. This bill would, similarly to Canada, require each state to provide a public insurance plan for all residents. It would also open the door for states to prohibit private health insurance from covering what the public plan does, but would not require it. It was packaged with a tax increase, however much of the increases were in corporate tax and the highest income tax. However, it did include small tax increases for everyone. It would be considered by Republicans as the "gateway to socialist takeover" and "the absolute worst bill to come to the floor since Obamacare". However, the bill had a 57% Approval, and would easily pass the House. However, in the Senate it was more difficult. Eventually the vote would see it pass 60-40, just barely passing what was needed to get past the filibuster. Sanders would then turn to Education, meeting with Secretary Chomsky in early March to discuss a possible Free College bill. During this time, Sanders would meet with other world leaders as well, attempting to mend relations with them. Towards the end of the first 100 days, a Bipartisan bill would pass, mandating a total government audit to find possible ways to save money without cutting necessary programs. Sanders stated that "We all need to see where money is actually going. The Pentagon hasn't done an audit in decades, and we have all heard rumors that several billion dollars were wasted or went missing. We can use those funds to get the healthcare system and free college I talk about so much." This bill was extremely popular, with a Gallup poll showing 89% Supported the bill versus 6% Against it. This poll would also include Sanders' most recent approval ratings. The last few days of those first 100 would be spent mostly with European leaders such as President Macron and newly-elected Prime Minister Corbyn.

Do you approve of Bernie Sanders' job performance?
Yes: 61%
No: 34%
Unsure: 5%

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

THE REST OF 2021

          The rest of the year of 2021 would prove to be mostly uneventful, at least compared to the first 100 days. AG Zephyr Teachout had begun her investigation into the disappearance of 1,134 children during Trump's "zero-tolerance" policy. Sanders would, after much pressure, sign a bill that abolished ICE. More legislative accomplishments would come, such as a bill that made college completely free was able to pass, but only narrowly above the filibuster mark, similarly to the healthcare bill. A 15$ minimum wage increase was negotiated, and the bill implementing it would raise it incrementally over a period of 5 years, as to minimize damage to small business. The bill also would require the minimum wage to be raised at the beginning of the next fiscal year based on inflation. Then, a budget plan that cut the Military budget by 30% (206 Billion Dollars) and redirecting it to other programs was passed, although a good amount was unallocated. The next plan would put that money to good use. Sanders, along with other progressives, would unveil the "New New Deal", a 1 Trillion Dollar infrastructure plan. The plan included building new large roads to smaller towns around the nation, fix roads and bridges, and to build seawalls and other protections against natural disasters, after Hurricane Henri had caused major damage to Pensacola FL and Mobile AL. This would use funds from the Defense cuts and the tax increases. It would pass quite resoundingly in both chambers, and had a 69% Approval rating. nice Sanders would go on tours to other nations to mend ties throughout the year. Sanders' approval rating would slowly rise, which was found to be surprising given the polarizing climate from a few years ago. To Republicans dismay, Sanders may cause 2022 to be yet another Democratic year.

Gallup Poll
Do you approve of Bernie Sanders' Job Performance?
Yes: 66%
No: 31%
Unsure: 3%

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

Anchor 1: Hello and welcome to Election Night in America 2021.

Anchor 2: We have a few small races tonight that we will cover. First, let's look at the special elections from earlier this year:

Rhode Island's 2nd Congressional District: DEMOCRATIC HOLD
State Representative Brian Kennedy: 58.95%
Town Clerk Jean Fecteau: 32.21%
Town Council Member Gordan Rogers: 8.52%
Other: 0.32%

New York's 20th Congressional District: DEMOCRATIC HOLD
Mayor Kathy Sheehan: 65.91%
City Councilman William Baaki: 33.87%
Other: 0.22%

Arizona's 3rd Congressional District: DEMOCRATIC HOLD
Mayor Jonathan Rothschild: 53.92%
Mrs. Gabby Mercer: 45.79%
Other: 0.29%

Hawaii's 2nd Congressional District: DEMOCRATIC HOLD
Mrs. Sherry Alu Campagna: 78.04%
State Representative Lauren Matsumoto: 18.09%
Other: 3.87%

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

7 PM

Polls have closed in Virginia.

7:54 PM

We can call the Gubernatorial Election in Virginia:

Virginia Gubernatorial Election:  DEMOCRATIC HOLD
30% Reporting
Fmr. Envoy Tom Perriello: 56.79%
Fmr. Chair of Supervisors Corey Stewart: 42.12%
Attorney Cliff Hyra: 0.98%
Other: 0.11%

8 PM

Polls have closed in New Jersey.

8:21 PM

Democrats will hold both houses of the New Jersey Legislature.

8:30 PM

We can call the New Jersey Gubernatorial Election:

New Jersey Gubernatorial Election: DEMOCRATIC HOLD
22% Reporting
Fmr. State Assemblyman John Wisniewski: 59.98%
Fmr. State Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli: 38.15%
Other: 1.87%

After Governor Murphy's shock decision to not run for re-election, many saw this race as being close, but those expectations were thrown out the window tonight.

9:03 PM

Finally, we can project that Democrats will gain control of the Virginia House of Delegates.

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

2022 Part 1

          2022 would see several changes. Several bills to eliminate several tax loopholes, penalizing companies moving assets overseas, etc. were passed. After yet another referendum on Puerto Rico statehood, as well as one on Washington D.C. statehood, were voted on (with the "yes" vote winning over 90% in PR, and over 80% in DC) progressives in congress would finally act by creating, and eventually passing, the Puerto Rico Statehood Act and the Washington D.C. Statehood Act. To ensure no state would be in control of the centers of government, a Federal Territory, simply consisting of several enclaves around the Capitol, White House, and Supreme Court would be created. Sanders would sign this into law. The two territories would be officially recognized as States in 2023, and they would have their elections in 2022. In April of 2022, America mourned as Justice Ginsburg would pass away at the age of 89. Sanders would nominate Ketanji Brown Jackson, from the D.C. district court, and who was considered a possible replacement for Scalia in 2016. She would easily pass the senate. After that, Sanders would push hard for campaign finance reform, saying in a speech that "We can not let corporate interests buy our politicians and make them do their bidding! Money is not free speech!" Letters would flood the offices of Progressives, Moderates, and Conservatives alike. A poll in May of 2022 showed that 89% of Americans wanted to overturn the decision through any possible means. This would result in the re-introduction of the Democracy For All amendment by Tom Udall. This would allow Congress to create caps on campaign donations. It would pass the Senate, with all Democrats in favor, plus Lisa Murkowski. It would also pass the House. After much pressure to State Legislatures, it would be ratified. A law putting the aforementioned cap on campaign donations was passed soon after. This would be considered one of the biggest achievements of the Sanders presidency.

Gallup Poll: Do you approve of President Sanders' Job Performance?
Yes: 68%
No: 28%
Unsure: 4%

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

2022 part 2

          In Summer of 2022, President Sanders would sign a bill crafted by EPA Director Gore that would put new regulations on the most polluting businesses and create a system similar to Sweden to incinerate trash instead of keeping it in landfills, which causes large greenhouse gas emissions. This bill would also create a carbon tax, which introduced quite a bit of new revenue. This bill would see intense debate, culminating in the removal of the filibuster and a vote in the senate of 57-43. The bill had a 61% Approval rating.  Sanders would then turn to gun control, and along with several Democrats bring a bill banning assault rifles, magazines with more than 10 bullets, and several attachments such as bump stocks, from being sold. This bill also included a universal background check, as well as a program to buy assault rifles back from citizens for the average value of the gun at the time. This bill would be one of the least popular yet from Sanders, but would still have a 55% approval. The bill would pass the senate 55-45. By the point these two accomplishments were finished, the campaign season was underway, and most of the time Sanders would spend would be on campaigning for Democrats across the nation as another Blue Wave seemed to be on the horizon. The only major legislation at this time was pushed hard by Secretaries Buttigieg and Lumumba, which would use the majority of the Carbon Tax money to build larger, cheaper, and more efficient public transport systems in the 20 largest cities in America. This would pass easily.

Little did Republicans know about the bombshell about to be dropped on them that would solidify a blue wave.

Gallup Poll: Do you Approve of President Sanders' Job Performance?
Yes: 66%
No:30%
Unsure: 4%

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

Gubernatorial Elections considered to be close, polling October 25th 2022

Part 1

Alaska:
Fmr. Congressman Don Young: 45%
State Assemblyman Jim Sykes: 41%
Undecided: 14%

Arizona:
Mayor Kate Gallego: 49%
State SOS Michele Reagan: 43%
Undecided: 8%

Florida:
Governor Andrew Gillum: 49%
Fmr. Governor Rick Scott: 40%
Undecided: 11%

Iowa:
State House Majority Leader Mark Smith: 48%
Governor Kim Reynolds: 43%
Unsure: 9%