Decision 2008: Crossroads

[Cold War Liberal]

Yaaaaas Senator Polis!

Also I’m very glad this is back!

[JG]

Yaaaaas Senator Polis!

Also I’m very glad this is back!

[KaiserDave]

Final McCain Indicators

Presidential Job Approval
Approve: 48%
Disapprove: 45%

Vice Presidential Job Approval
Approve: 39%
Disapprove: 54%

US Unemployment Rate
7.7% ↓

[LoneStarDem]

With Hillary in the White House, all signs pointing towards a GOP landslide in the 2014 Midterms.

[erſatz-york]

With Hillary in the White House, all signs pointing towards a GOP landslide in the 2014 Midterms.

I would wait to see what her first two years look like

[KaiserDave]

PRESIDENT CLINTON

Hillary Rodham Clinton and Michael Farrand Bennet have been inaugurated as President and Vice President of the United States of America. Hillary Rodham Clinton has become the 45th President of the United States. She has made history as the first female President, certainly inspiring millions of young women and girls. At the inauguration, numerous women were congregated, celebrating a historic moment in the Women's Rights Movement. It was a mildly cloudy day, but the sun shone through nevertheless, melting the mounds of snow on the ground. President Bill Clinton was there both as a a former President, but also the first First Gentleman in the history of the country. President Bush, First Lady Bush, President H W Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush, Secretary and Mrs. Romney, as well as President McCain and First Lady Cindy McCain also attended. The Vice President's family and various other public officials and congresspeople were there.  President Clinton's spoke optimistically about the future, and spoke of a soaring and bright future. But she also spoke frankly about the deep economic and social challenges of the nation. She promised to do her best to fix them. The 12 years of Republican administration is over, the Democrats are back, and it's another Clinton.

Pres. Clinton Orders (Most) American Troops out of Libya

On her first day in office, President Clinton signed 5 executive orders, one opened up a new public reserve in Wyoming, another ordered a federal cleanup of a chemical spill in Arkansas, another emphasized progress towards passing the ERA. But the most important one was reversing one of the least popular foreign policies, she ordered the withdrawal of the majority of American soldiers in Libya, to take place by May of 2013. She ordered that the American forces withdraw from Libya, but with some conditions. Soldiers guarding consular and diplomatic institutions would stay in place, as well as soldiers in active combat against jihadist and Qaddafi loyalist forces. The definition of this remains nebulous, but the Department of Defense appeared very much in understanding of the situation.




Presidential Job Approval
Approve: 63%
Disapprove: 34%

Vice Presidential Job Approval
Approve: 60%
Disapprove: 35%

[KaiserDave]

PRESIDENT CLINTON

Biden, Buffet, Webb, Meeks all Confirmed Easily

President Clinton's effort to confirm her cabinet nominees has begun with great success. Joe Biden, Warren Buffet, Jim Webb, and Gregory Meeks were all confirmed by wide majorities to posts as Secretary of State, Secretary of Treasury, Secretary of Defense, and Secretary of Commerce. Biden particularly had an excellent Senate hearing, as he frequently smiled along with his friends in the Senate questioning him. Though he still answered almost every question to the point, and he was confirmed 97-3. The only ones voting against were Jim DeMint, Jeff Sessions, and Ted Cruz. Buffet also was confirmed, though Senate conservatives united against him. He got 80 votes. Gregory Meeks and Jim Webb were also confirmed, both (and Webb especially), have a reputation as moderates. They both got over 75 votes. President Clinton's Press Secretary Brian Fallon applauded the Senate, and called on them to confirm other nominees.

Palin tells her side of the story

Sarah Palin gave an exclusive interview to Fox News, in which she gave her side of the story of the past four years. The interview was very interesting for onlookers. She stated her admiration for John McCain, and repeatedly said he was a good President, and a good man with a good heart. She spoke of his love for the troops, for the flag, and for the country. She also mentioned declining unemployment, and his legacy as a maverick. But it was not all love for the administration. She described the White House as a "place where cowards, Washingtonites, and schemers went. They tried to undermine John and me. They tried to keep me out and shut me up." She called out Steve Schmidt as a "political opportunist. I mean, we'd have a meeting, I was not informed. And John would say 'where is Sarah' and Steve would say 'Oh no Mr. President, she's not coming.'" There were other dubious claims in the interview. Such as that "McCain was talking to the wrong people, Urban Washington think tankers, and establishment puppets." The most damning claim was when former Vice President Palin said that the RNC was rigged for Mitt Romney by the party insiders, and that she was cheated of the nomination. When asked about running in 2016, she said simply "we'll see."



Presidential Job Approval
Approve: 64%
Disapprove: 34%

Vice Presidential Job Approval
Approve: 61%
Disapprove: 37%

US Unemployment Rate
7.7% -

[KaiserDave]

PRESIDENT CLINTON

Vilsack, Sexton, Schweitzer and More Confirmed

The White House got new success in the effort to confirm cabinet nominees. Almost all of the cabinet nominees have been confirmed with bipartisan majorities. But even without bipartisan support, Democrats would still have over 60 votes. Former Governors Brian Schweitzer (Montana) and Tom Vilsack (Iowa) were confirmed to the Department of Labor and Agriculture respectively.  Susan Rice was confirmed as UN Ambassador and John Sexton was confirmed to the Education Department. Neera Tanden, a longtime Clinton ally and head of the Center for American Progress was confirmed to HHS Department. But with a bipartisan opposition. All Republicans voted against her nomination. Senator Collins called it a "Partisan nomination, and a purely political nomination. I respect Ms. Tanden, but she's not right to lead the Department of Health and Human Services." Democrats Ben Nelson, Joe Manchin, Mark Begich, and Mark Pryor opposed the nomination. So did Independents Lisa Murkowski, Bernie Sanders, and Angus King. Senator Sanders said that Tanden "is the person for the pharmaceutical industry and the insurance companies, not patients." Jennifer Granholm was also confirmed to lead the Justice Department. She got the votes of every member of the Democratic cause with the exception of Ben Nelson. All Republicans opposed her nomination with the exception of Susan Collins. All three independents voted for her nomination.

Clinton Signs Dodd-Frank

President Clinton signed the first major piece of legislation of her administration. The signed the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. The banking regulation bill, written in response to the recklessness and criminality of Wall Street during the crisis, contains new regulations on banking activities and new rules on speculation. The bill was vetoed by President McCain, in an unpopular decision. President Clinton promised on the campaign trail to sign the act, and congress passed it again within a week and a half. Republicans cried foul, but Democratic majorettes were very strong. Ben Nelson was the only Senate Democrat to dissent. Democrats claimed that as a previous congress passed the act recently, it had a mandate. President Clinton spoke at the signing, saying:
"Today we lead. We bring Wall Street back in line. After 2008 our leaders vowed to do something to never allow this to happen again. 5 years later, and with a new administration, we do just that."


Presidential Job Approval
Approve: 61%
Disapprove: 35%

Vice Presidential Job Approval
Approve: 60%
Disapprove: 35%

US Unemployment Rate
7.8% ^

[LoneStarDem]

Wonder how VA & NJ gubernatorial elections turn out in 2013 ?

[KaiserDave]

Wonder how VA & NJ gubernatorial elections turn out in 2009.

Do you mean 2013?
In 2009, Corzine won and McDonell won narrowly.

[LoneStarDem]

Hoping the VA Dems win back the VA Executive Mansion in 2013 in this TL.

[America Needs R'hllor]

Clinton 2016, Bennet 2020, Bennet 2024

[KaiserDave]

PRESIDENT CLINTON

Clinton Begins Cool-down in Iraq: 5,000 Soldiers Out

President Clinton has begun to direct a reduction of US soldiers in Iraq. 5,000 soldiers stationed across the country have been sent on ships and planes back to the United States. President Clinton has frequently described the war has a "catastrophic mistake. We need to bring an end to war, and leave the fight against terror to our allies in the region." Clinton has pursued an incremental path lately, promising to "withdraw, without leaving ground to terror." Progressives in the Senate have pushed for a faster withdrawal, while conservatives like Lindsey Graham have railed against withdrawals of any kind.

Dems Rally New Stimulus

House Democrats led by Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Hoyer have began drafting a new stimulus act. Called upon to (quoting Hoyer) "correct the utter failure that was the McCain stimulus, which failed to fix the 2008 economic crisis, and let down the middle class." The as it is officially written, The American Recovery and Investment Act of 2013, would invest 850 billion dollars into the American economy. Into infrastructure construction, middle class tax cuts, new tax credits and business tax reductions, as well as government backed loans and bailouts to struggling institutions and financial structures. House Democrats are expected to back the measure easily.


Presidential Job Approval
Approve: 60%
Disapprove: 35%

Vice Presidential Job Approval
Approve: 59%
Disapprove: 35%

US Unemployment Rate
7.6% ↓