SUPERIMPERIALIST AMERICA ERA TWO: Two Paths

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Here's the beginning of Era Two for yall.  Enjoy
ERA ONE can be found here:  https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?board=15;action=display;threadid=1970

ERA TWO
1992—Dick Gephardt and Robert Mugabe poll at 78% approval rating in January.  The American Party decides that they will no longer run presidential candidates, as they’ve never won an election.  They will continue, however, running candidates for Congress and local offices.
The Green Party forms holds its convention in Chihuahua, Polk, and nominates consumer activist Ralph Nader of DC for president and Giuliano Amato of North Italy for vice president.  However no one notices them this time.
The free republics of the world form the Council of Free Republics [CFR] in March to meet in Antwerp yearly to discuss and collectively solve various problems.
President Gephardt launches the United Earth Space Probe Agency, a joint venture of the CFR which is dedicated to further research and colonization, if possible, of space.  UESPA, which is headquartered in Washington DC, will launch rockets from sites in French Guiana, Florida, Pendleton, and Rockefeller.  The CFR begins designing an International Space Station and other various space vehicles.  By September the space probe Polk is off to study Mars, Galileo to Jupiter, and Borden to Venus.
The Republican Party primary consists of George Bush of TX, and Silvio Berlusconi of North Italy.  After some impressive early victories, Berlusconi receives the nomination and chooses Dan Quayle of IN as his VP.
The Gephardt-Berlusconi debates are interesting and are only accomplished through the use of translators.  However, in the end Gephardt’s popularity, and the fact the he created many states which are grateful to him, cause him to cruise to victory on election day.



1993—The nation of Atlantic Brazil holds a new election and the pro-US candidate Itamar Franco is elected prime minister.  Atlantic Brazil and the US sign the treaty of St. Helena in January and agree the A.B. will join the US on July 4, 1994.
The CFR meeting ends on a high note—the viewing of the first UESPA space shuttle, the Challenger, launched from Launch Pad Nineteen in French Guiana.  The Challenger’s mission is a resounding success, and UESPA begins to discuss a return to the moon.
Bill Clinton is appointed to the Senate by the governor of AR to replace an outgoing senator.  The former governor is well liked throughout the country and is considered by many to be a possible candidate for president at some point in the future.  He gets media attention on his first day as senator by settling a shouting match between Senator Helms (A-NC) and VP Mugabe.  Gephardt in September goes to Athens in a conference among the US, Greece, Free Istanbul, and Bulgaria.  Though no plans are finalized, it is assumed that the three nations will soon become US states.

1994—On July 4, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, and South Brazil becomes states 230-232.  UESPA continues launching space shuttles, including the launch of the second space shuttle, Roosevelt.  The Borden reaches Venus, sending back the best pictures, and only pictures since the USSR’s probes 20 years before.
Communists gain many seats in Turkestan’s parliament, and many people worry, considering its proximity to the USSR and China.
In the midterm elections, the Republicans and Americans sweep, under the leadership of Newt Gengrich and his “Contract with the World.”
The Green Party merges with other leftist parties to form the Socialist Party of the United States, and stresses its roots with the Debs and Thomas.  Ralph Nader becomes its spokesman and wins election into the House representing the District of Columbia.  People begin to speculate about VP Mugabe when his record compares closely to the SPUS platform.

1995—President Gephardt proposes a bold new space initiative, calling for a return to the moon by the end of the decade, and a permanent base by 2009.  He speaks of Earth’s overpopulation, and how space colonies could help.  The program will take a tax increase, which some don’t like, but Gephardt gets it through Congress with the help of some Republicans who support it.
Dismayed by the increase of government spending, billionaire Ross Perot forms a new political party, the Reform Party, calling for a balanced budget, and less governmental spending.  This socially centrist party gains steam and many speculate that Perot may run for president the following year.

1996—In January, Ross Perot announces that he will run for president with the mysterious Pat Choate on the Reform ticket.
The Indian Ocean Confederation passes a bill asking the US for annexation.  The US Congress tentatively agrees, and decides to admit them in 1997.
President Gephardt announces that his work is not yet done and that he wants a third term to finish it.  Some people don’t like it, but he does well in early primaries.  Then, in April, comes a much-expected, though still shocking announcement:  Robert Mugabe is leaving the ticket and the party and running for president under the Socialist ticket with Ralph Nader as his VP.  This makes bad publicity for Gephardt, yet he has no challengers in the primary.  At the convention in July, he announces that his VP candidate will be Arkansas senator Bill Clinton, which annoys some Europeans and Asians that he picks his VP from a bordering state to him.
The Republican primary surprisingly gives a second nod to the pro-space program Silvio Berlusconi, who takes on Bob Dole of KS as his running mate.  The fact that Berlusconi is not truly “American” promts the American Party to instead nominate the more “American” ticket of John Ashcroft and Kim Campbell.
Going into August, five candidates have a legitimate shot of winning.  Because of this, five presidential debates are scheduled after an introductory debate between Nader, Clinton, Choate, Dole, and Campbell.
Ross Perot makes big gains toward long-Progressive-held Latin America; throughout much of Africa, Gephardt and Mugabe are the only ones on the ballot; Gephardt runs ads throughout the new states reminding them who it was that made them states.  Berlusconi polls very well in Europe.  By November it’s evident that no one will get  majority, and the house will have to decide the winner.  On Election Day, it’s Gephardt, Mugabe, and Berlusconi who make it into the top 3, and the election is sent into the House, to be decided in early January.

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Silvio Berlusconi...lost Not surprising though.

well it's not over yet for 1996...

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Which state is Rockefeller and why is there is a state named French Guinea?  If it's an American state, then you should name it like Guyane (the OTL French departmant name) or West Guyana.

Rockefeller is part of Ethopia.
French Guiana is called "French" since France is also part of America (?--i guess it's a good explanation)

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Which state is Rockefeller and why is there is a state named French Guinea?  If it's an American state, then you should name it like Guyane (the OTL French departmant name) or West Guyana.

Rockefeller is part of Ethopia.
French Guiana is called "French" since France is also part of America (?--i guess it's a good explanation)

That'd be just like the Germans taking over all of French West Africa after they invaded and took over France, and continued to call French West Africa French West Africa.  French Guinea is called French Guinea because the word "French" indicates that France owns that part of land.  Now if Russia or say the Byzantine Empire had taken that territory, it'd be called either Russian or Byzantine Guinea.   Plus its just like naming one of the African states "French West Africa".

well it's like British Columbia then, which is not just named Columbia.

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I have one question, though; maybe I missed something: why is central Canada divided up in such a weird way?

I kinda explain it in Era One.  Basically the states aren't expanded like the Canadian provinces were (many of them used to be a lot smaller).


Does anyone have a suggestion for the name of a state that would include the Maldives, Reunion, Comoros, Seychelles, Diego Garcia, Mayoette, and Mauritius?

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Possibly Oceania although if that inculdes Sri Lanka too you could just call it that, Sri Lanka!

well Sri Lanka is one state, and the rest of the Indian Ocean is another.
Oceania is all right, but that kinda implies the Pacific Ocean...Indiana is already taken
How about Indian East Africa?

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Indian East Africa?

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well since I now have 4 days off of school (yay!), I'll really have time to work on this.  I'm gonna try to knock out 40 years or so.

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2.2:

1997—The House meets in January, having to decide between Gephardt, Berlusconi, and Mugabe.  With each state getting one vote, and the winner having to get a majority, it is deadlocked for quite a while, with sides refusing to budge.  On the 13th vote (117 required to win) it’s Berlusconi 102, Mugabe 48, Gephardt 72, and 10 deadlocked.
The Senate also has to choose a vice-president, between Clinton and Nader.  The conservatives in the Senate are so disgusted that they don’t even go to the sessions, and the Senate can’t get anyone elected.
So on January 21, there’s no one to install as president or VP.  Gephardt and Mugabe have to leave office, leaving the speaker of the house…Strom Thurmond, age 95, is inauguarated as the first American Party president.  And Strom Thurmond appoints John Ashcroft as his vice-president, which only applies until the Senate can pick one.  And no one in the House or Senate will budge.
Seeing no prospect of Congress solving the presidential election anytime soon, Strom begins to appoint his cabinet and setting out his agenda, such as making English the official language of all of the United States.  When the Senate finally comes into a quorum, Bill Clinton makes a speech asking the Republicans and Americans to make him the VP.  But they’re so irritated, that they agree that they’ll vote for Nader as VP to spite him, also knowing that Nader’s so crazy he’ll get less done than Clinton.
Strom Thurmond is so shocked when he learns that Nader is going to become VP that he has a major heart attack and has to resign.  So John Ashcroft becomes president for a few days until Nader officially becomes vice-president.  And with still no president, Nader is installed as president, according to the 24th amendment, until the House can make a decision.
Nader recognizes that Mugabe and Gephardt together could defeat Berlusconi, and begs one to drop out and endorse the other, but there’s so much bad blood between them now, that neither will.  Eventually in June, some moderates change their vote to Berlusconi, Nader returns to the VP position, and Berlusconi is installed as president.
Right away, a poll shows that 78% of people are skeptical about Berlusconi and Nader being together, but both promise to work together to improve the USA.  (Interestingly, one of Nader’s campaign points was to change the name of the USA to something less American-centric.)
The IOC officially becomes part of the US on July 4, at a ceremony in Columbo with Berlusconi and Nader present.  However their first dispute happens there when Nader tours a manufacturing plant and starts complaining about how badly it’s harming the environment.  Berlusconi and IOC president Chandrika Kumaratunga think they’re telling him privately when they tell him to shut up, but a news camera catches it all.  The New York Times headline reads “PRESIDENT TELLS VEEP TO SHUT UP”
Anyhow, two new states join, Sri Lanka, and Indian East Africa, which includes the Maldives, Reunion, Comoros, Seychelles, Diego Garcia, Mayoette, and Mauritius.

1998—The USSR and China collectively decide to start their own space program and begin working on their own shuttle, Buran.
The UESPA space shuttle Challenger sends up the first piece of the International Space Station.
VP Ralph Nader makes a speech asking China and the USSR to participate and help build the ISS.  President Berlusconi is videoed rolling his eyes during Nader’s speech.
Arabia descends into anarchy as fundamentalists assassinate the president, and the UAR, though it holds together, begins to look shaky.
Berlusconi announces that the US will have to become independent of Arab oil.
Arabia is expelled on the CFR.  Berlusconi sends 15,000 American (or Earthly, as the VP would rather call them) soldiers to the UAR to help keep the peace.  They help tremendously, though journalists who accompany them notice that its president Saddam Hussein has not exactly treated every citizen fairly.
Greece, Bulgaria, and Istanbul agree to join the US on July 4, 1999.

1999—Communist Turkey announces that it will not allow Istanbul to become part of the US.  It threatens to send troops into Istanbul if the US tries to take it.  This creates an international crisis, and the US decides to not annex Istanbul at this time.  Greece and Bulgaria, however, do join on July 4.
The Arctic National Wildlife Reserve is opened for oil drilling in an elaborate ceremony with President Berlusconi attending.  However, as the first trucks are entering the reserve, a mob of protestors runs and tries to stop them.  Among the protestors is VP Nader.  The president and VP share a harsh look, but the protestors are eventually rounded up and drilling begins.
Later that year, Berlusconi is present at a ceremony of the founding of a new timber company, which is going to cut down some trees in an area that once, but no longer is, a part of a national forest in Meta.  The company is creating jobs for thousands of Metans.  The first tree is ready to be cut, when it is announced that some nut has climbed the tree and refuses to come down.  Berlusconi shouts “remove him!”  The worker responds, “Um, sir, the protestor has secret service protection.  We cannot remove him.”  The horror slowly comes over the president’s face when he realizes that the protestor can be none other than Ralph Nader.  He tells them to cut down the other trees, and leave that one standing.

2000—Ross Perot decides not to run again for president, and the Reform Party suffers much.  It decides to go ahead and endorse the American nominees Pat Buchanan and Ezola Foster.
The Progressive Party has a bleak field of nominees, but finally settles on Sen. Al Gore of Tennessee for president and Helen Clark of New Zealand as VP.
The Republican Party easily renominates President Berlusconi and unanimously agrees that he needs a new VP.  They eventually settle on dark horse Denis Burke, the governor District of Northern Australia.
Ralph Nader is able to take the Socialist Party nomination in a cakewalk, and chooses Antonio Guterres of Portugal for his vice-presidential nominee.
The presidential debates are somewhat boring, except for Nader and Berlusconi going at it.

On Election Night, Pat Buchanan fails to really inspire anyone, and the American Party wins only 3 states.  Party leader Jesse Helms comments:  “We once decided not to run presidential candidates anymore, and only concentrate on Congress and state level politics.  We ought to go back to that.”  The American Party falls to 12 senators, and 98 representatives.
President Berlusconi is elected in a somewhat convincing victory, including impressive sweeps in Latin America, Europe, and Northern Africa.  Gore does disappointingly, while Nader comes in a strong second.  Neither Republicans nor Socialists manage to take control of Congress, but a Socialist-Progressive coalition secures it.

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2001—Berlusconi is reinauguarated, and Guterres becomes vice-president.
At the end of the month DC representative Marion Berry resigns, and in a special election, none other than Ralph Nader is elected to replace him.  In a surprising move, Nader becomes the House Minority Whip.
On March 2, the UAR falls apart.  US troops can do nothing; by the end of the month, Arabia, Persia, the former UAR, and Afghanistan have united to form The Caliphate.  Istanbul, in fear for its existence pleads Congress for annexation, and Congress accepts.  In an ironic move, it is Nader who makes sure that most Socialists vote to annex; without his swaying ability, Istanbul would have likely not been annexed.  Berlusconi is reportedly quoted as saying “The nut is a thorn in my side for four years, and when I finally get rid of him, he turns around and helps me!  Why couldn’t he have started helping me four years ago?”
Istanbul becomes a state on March 13.
Socialists, Progressives, Reformists, and moderate Republicans in Congress agree that it’s time to get the US troops out—now, and they do by March 17.
Some hawks in Congress want the US to make a preemptive strike on The Caliphate, especially after reports of human rights violations by the leader, Osama bin Laden, who was thought to have been killed 20 years before—the reports were wrong!
On September 11, 6 planes are hijacked, two of them crashing into and destroying the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, two into the World Trade Center in New York City, one into the world’s tallest freestanding structure, the AN Tower in Toronto, and one crashes into a field in rural Mercia.  The world is utterly shocked.
In a groundbreaking show of unity, Soviet Premier Vladimir Putin and Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji meet US President Silvio Berlusconi in Safe Haven {the capital of the state of Siberia}, and express a common goal to bring those responsible to justice.
By the end of the year, it seems apparent that Osama bin Laden is in fact responsible, and plans are made to take him out.  The plans are careful, though, and an exit strategy is also planned.
Turkey is put in a weird position—go against the USSR, or go against the great Muslim state pushing Turkey to join?
The CFR, USSR, and China officially from the “Coalition Against Evil”

2002—On January 8, Cyprus rebels, and American troops land on the island and secure it.  Cyprus asked to be made “occupied territory,” so that America will have an obligation to protect it.  Soviet troops push down into northern Persia, while Pakistani and Chinese troops head into Afghanistan.
Turks living in Istanbul {now a state of the US} sneak into communist Turkey and begin to spread leaflets.  President Berlusconi covers up his knowledge of this, in order to keep the USSR and China in the coalition.
The war is hard, but supported by Americans across the political spectrum.
The midterm elections are an awkward matter for all parties, and all parties agree not to campaign on the war.
In both houses of Congress, the Socialists take away from the Progressives, and Reformists are phased out into Republicans.
By the year’s end, the CAE has made little apparent progress in the War, but they claim that they’ve made strategic operations and weakened morale, and the war will break open in 2003.

2003—American troops move into Palestine, and head south toward the capital at Mecca, the capital of the Caliphate.  They’re in a tough position knowing that Mecca is such a holy city to Islam, and about 15% of Americans are Muslims.  An official resistance begins in Turkey, and the USSR sends in troops to help put it down, putting Berlusconi in an extremely difficult position.  With the war strategy so dependent on the USSR’s help, he has no choice but to ignore the Turkish resistors.  He draws some criticism from Socialists in the US Congress, but nothing major.
~to be continued~

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Great work Harry. Only thing what I wonder is numbers of electoral votes. For example Finland has 9 votes and Netherlands only 6. In the "real world" Finland has 5,3 million inhabitants and Netherlands over 15 million. There are also a lot of other strange numbers of EV. What has happened? Massacres? Or massive transfers of population?

Nethlerlands probably has less because of the world wars (?).
One could probably come up with explanations for each state's population that fit nicely with the timeline.

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I have to say that this is the best Alternate History timeline that I have read. It is well done and accurate. Your incorporation of Real World leaders into this alternate timeline is also nice and gives it a good base to work off of. The one thing that I have to say is that Electoral counts are off. I think that if the United States did grow that larger than Electoral votes would be given out differently. The EV's of the actual 50 states are the same but when you have states that have 50 or 60 EVs then you know that you will have to change the way the EVs are destributed in the actual United States. I don't know maybe I'm crazy. Well anyway very nicely done and continue the good work.

did you read era one?

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time for an update; more to come over Christmas holidays since I'm home!


2003 continued—Jerusalem is officially liberated and placed under control of Abdullah II, with free elections under the UAR scheduled for July 2004.  Soviet armies move on Tehran, and lay siege to the city.  In Kabul, warlords are able to secure the city with the help of Chinese troops.  American troops from Australia and SE Asia arrive in Chabahar in southern Persia, and also land in Dubai.  The people of Dubai rise up and help the troops defeat the oppressors, and the Trucial States officially ask to be “occupied territory.”
American troops approach Mecca and bin Laden from two directions.  When they reach the city, bin Laden is not to be found.

2004—Mecca surrenders, though the government of the Caliphate cannot be found.  This makes the American government start to scratch their heads a good bit.
MA Senator John Kerry enters the Progressive primary on a “war was justified but handled badly” platform and gains enough traction to gain the nomination over prowar candidates Joe Lieberman (CT), Tony Blair (Anglia), and antiwar candidate Jacques Chirac (AQ).  Ralph Nader convinces the Socialist Party to endorse Kerry, as he is the best hope for bringing down Berlusconi.  Berlusconi runs for a third term and receives the Republican nomination easily, though it puts a damper on the American Party’s plan to endorse the Republican candidate.  In the end, the American Party does not nominate a candidate, which causes people to view them as less of a “real” party.
The war on the Caliphate goes well in other parts, and Communist Turkey descends into civil war.
US troops pour down the Arabian peninsula into Yemen and hear only rumors of bin Laden.  American troops set up Democratic governments in Yemen and Saudi Arabia, and officially annex Cyprus and the Trucial States as “occupied territory.”  On August 8, American troops learn that bin Laden was in Muscat of June 28, and it is later revealed that American intelligence was aware at the time and didn’t get the message out.  John Kerry uses this information to seriously attack Berlusconi and what he feels is an inefficient handling on the war, though Republicans counter that Kerry has never served in a war, though Berlusconi was an officer in World War III, and knows a good bit about the military.
Kerry chooses Jamaican representative Percival J. Patterson as his runningmate.  The Progressive convention is held in Toronto across the street from “ground zero” of the AN Tower, in the process of being rebuilt.  The Republican convention is held in New York City across the street from “ground zero” of the World Trade Center.  Kerry begins to pull ahead of Berlusconi, until three days before the election a tape of Osama bin Laden promising death to America appears.  The race is incredibly divided, and on the last state for polls to close, East Pacifica, gives its votes to Berlusconi in the closest election in US History, with Berlusconi winning 2206-2205.  A dejected Kerry concedes the election the next day.


2005—Berlusconi is inaugurated on his third term, and promises to end the war soon.  American troops install democracy in Oman, which chooses to join Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and Qatar in joining the United Arab Republic.  The USSR tries to set up a Communist government in Iran, but it doesn’t stick.  The USSR sends troops into Turkey to help prop up the failing Communist government, and Berlusconi calls them down on it.  Premier Putin withdraws troops from Turkey, but also from the Middle East altogether, and encourages China to do the same.  This causes the USA-USSR relations which were looking up to all of a sudden look down quickly.  China withdraws its forces from Afghanistan, but waits for American troops to get there first, and makes an effort to be friendly to the US.  Iran gets its act together and reestablishes a democracy.
In August, Operation WYRD invades Bahrain, the island nation where many speculate bin Laden must be.  Islamic terrorists have taken much refuge, and the battle is tougher than many imagine.  American troops secure Manama in October but by Christmas do not have entire island secured, and bin Laden is not found.

2006—American troops trudge through Bahrain and eliminate terrorist cells, but no sign of bin Laden is found.  Socialists embark on a plan to take over the House of Representatives in their own right, while Republicans plan on campaigning during the midterms hard on the war and keeping America safe.  The Progressive Party also has vast plans, though they’re being cut in by both directions, and Socialists are reaching out to the center-left, and Republicans are moving toward the center.  The Caliphate sets up a governmental office on the island of Socotra, the last bit of land they control.  Progressive Party chairman Howard Dean announces his opposition to an invasion of the island, saying that it would be better to confine the terrorists there (the island has no airport), and not risk the extreme loss of life that the invasion would cause.  The American Party makes an official position agreeing with this argument.  Berlusconi and the Republican Party condemn this position and begin drawing up plans for an invasion, which is supported by the Socialist Party.
The invasion gets through Congress and is begun on July 17, with slow progress due to the lack of electricity and paved roads on the island.  Much of the island is secure by September 1, and on September 18, a young solider by the name of Paul Robert King shoots a tall Arab man sneaking through some undergrowth.  He walks up and finds that the man, now dead, is in fact none other than Osama bin Laden.  This launches him to celebrity status.
In the states, the Republican Party starts an extensive ad campaign for the midterm elections, as do the pro-invasion Socialists, while Progressives and Americans scramble.  Republicans and Socialists make huge gains in the midterm elections.  The Progressives fail miserably, as many Progressive politicians switch to the Socialist Party, which in turn makes the party more moderate and more appealing to the average American, which snowballs the Progressive Party away.
Composition of the New House:
Republican—1939
Socialist—1906
American—81
Progressive—11
Demoralized, the remaining terrorists on Socotra are mopped up, and Berlusconi declares the Arabian War over.

2007—More moderate members of the Socialist Party meet in Tulsa, Belvin, to discuss forming a new political party that is socially center-left and economically centrist.  The name they choose is the Democratic Party.  The new Democratic Party attracts several prominent politicians, including John Kerry and Al Gore, and over 800 members of the House, who switch to the Democratic Party all on one day.  The Progressive Party officially ceases operations and merges into the new party, though with an unprominent role.  Pro-invasion people are all that is chosen for the leadership.  This new development is a relief to millions of Americans, as it is looking like Nader is almost a lock for the Socialist nomination in ’08.
~to be continued~

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yeah, maybe I'll update sometime.  Unfortunately I have too many classes and too much work to do in them.  But I haven't forgotten about the ideas I had at one point.

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yall ready for an update?  Because here it comes:

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2007 continued—The American Party starts to fall apart also.  Talk of another new party forming is the big news of the time.  In July the American Party officially closes down, and some of its members join the Republican Party.  However, a Convention of American Conservatives is planned for December, since many feel the Republican Party is too moderate.
Statehood for Cyprus and the Trucial States becomes a big issue.  There is a big pro-statehood movement in each, but also a movement to join the UAR instead.  Berlusconi announces that each OT will hold a referendum choosing USA or UAR.  Some Americans travel to Cyprus and the TS to try to sell American statehood.
In the referendum, Cyprus votes for statehood by a margin of 81-19.  In the Trucial States, however, the margin goes 52-48 against statehood and favoring admission into the UAR.  The pro-US faction is devastated.  The local government of Dubai, the only emirate of the TS that voted for US statehood, doing so by a huge margin.  They announce that Dubai will join the union as a state and break away from the rest of the Trucial States.  They contend that Dubai is larger than Rhode Island in area, larger than many states in population, and stronger economically than many states.  President Berlusconi rebuffs them, saying that the TS have made their decision, though he comes under fire from many Americans, over two-thirds of whom believe that Dubai should be admitted as a state.  In November the UAR decides to negioiate, and Berlusconi is shown in a bad light over the “Dubai Affair.”
In the treaty, the United States is given Dubai, which the UAR is kinda glad to get rid of, in exchange for some naval bases on Cyprus, and the rights of the annexation of Turkey when it stabilizes.
In December, the Convention of American Conservatives meets, but is terribly divided.  Senator Rick Santorum of PA makes a name for himself by stressing conservative values, but it is voted not to make a new party.
Dubai and Cyprus join the US, bringing the total up to 239, and both are of a quite small population, compared to the recently admitted states.

2008—On the Republican ticket, Berlusconi announces that he won’t run for another term for president.  His VP Denis Burke takes the nomination, choosing Santorum as his VP.  Burke is seen as an enigma by most Americans, as he’s not particularly well-known, coming from the District of Northern Australia and staying mostly out of the limelight.  The Socialists do indeed nominate Ralph Nader for president, along with his old friend Antonio Guterres of Portugal for VP.  The new Democratic Party decides to nominate Mel Lastman, the sometimes off-color former mayor of Toronto whose leadership after the 9/11 attacks was exemplary.  He announces his candidacy from the skyfloor of the rebuilt AN Tower, now standing 2001 feet tall.  He chooses Pat Cox of Ireland to be his running mate.  In October, Nader, realizing how close Burke is to winning decides to drop out and endorse Lastman.  The left is finally united, and really feeling good about their odds of victory, but the polls are still dead close.  People begin to speculate if the extremely close election of 2004 could possibly be repeated.
Before Election Day, polls with Lastman ahead in Midwestern North America and South Korea give the left cause to be optimistic, but early returns show Burke with strong returns in Southeast Asia and Africa put the death kneel in Lastman’s coffin.  Burke is elected the 51st president of the US.
The left is totally demoralized…four elections in a row, and some close calls, but no victory.  Berlusconi, and now is heir, Burke are running the country.  Making it worse, John Kerry is defeated for reelection in the senate by Mitt Romney and falls into obscurity.


2009—Denis Burke is inauguarated as president.  The International Space Station is now totally complete.   Ralph Nader finally retires from politics, and Ohio senator Dennis Kucinich becomes the chief advocate of the Socialist Party.  Burke announces that UESPA will begin the construction of a space elevator. The Soviet/Chinese Space Station превосходство/優勢 becomes the base for a planned Soviet/Chinese lunar colony.  Burke steps up the UESPA space program, to aim for its own lunar colony.  On the 10th anniversary of the return to the moon, Burke signs the bill allowing for the construction of a lunar colony by 2015, a measure supported by almost all in Congress, even Kucinich.  The USSR and China begin an official joint space program, known as RCSF, headquartered in Wuhan, with aims for a lunar colony.
In December the foundation for the space elevator is laid outside of Quito, Ecuador.  Some staunch conservatives in Congress complain that it’s not even being built in the US, and that the US is acquiescing to other UESPA nations, despite being by far its biggest contributor.

2010—RCSF puts a eight-man crew on the moon after a stop at превосходство/優勢, a number much higher than the US space missions ever had.  Much progress is made on the CFR space elevator, though there is much worry as the USAR appears to be falling apart.  The regional governor of Paraguay is assassinated in July, and vagabonds terrorize Asuncion for 18 hours before being contained.  The mayor of Cuzco, Peru, puts the town under martial law after similar unrest occurs.  By November, an official terrorist organization, wanting to go back to Communist control, terrorizes some of the USAR.  Many fear for the safety of the space elevator.
Turkey officially joins the UAR.

2011—The CFR meetings have one major item of discussion:  the deteoriating stability of the USAR.  President Burke and Argentine president Guares offer to send troops into the area, and if the inhabitants want it, annexation.  On April 18, Communist rebels pour into several major cities of the USAR and burn down government buildings.  President Janez and many other government officials are shot dead.  President Burke sends thousands of troops into Ecuador to guard the space elevator construction site, and Argentina sends troops into Paraguay to “maintain order.”  An ambassador from China remarks that if China did that, the US would’ve gone nuts.  Regardless, Argentina is successful at “maintaining order.”  American troops maintain order in Ecuador and Peru, and the USAR maintains an uneasy stability.
House reapportment sees gains in Africa and losses in Europe, though no real ground gained for any party.
Dennis Kucinich is the only Socialist to announce a run for the presidency for the 2012 election.  A few Democrats announce, including Anote Tong of East Pacifica and Nancy Pelosi of California, but none really ignite the party’s base.  In December, Kucinich announces that he’ll be seeking the nomination of the Democratic Party as well, and under the combined banner of the Socialist and Democratic Parties, he’s confident he can bring down “16 Years in the Wrong Direction.”

2012—The USAR begins to fall apart when Bolivia secedes in January.  No longer connected, the government of Paraguay falls and declares itself an independent Marxist republic on February 2, claiming the Brazilian jungles with it.  Burke and Guares step up the number of troops and move into Paraguay.  The country descends into anarchy.  As Kucinich blazes through the Democratic primaries, he hits Burke on this.
Peru and Ecuador decide to finally dissolve the USAR and go their separate ways.  Ecuador moves into close ties with the US, and seeks annexation.   Burke signs a treaty bringing it into the US as a state effective January 1, 2013.  The Reelect Burke/Santorum machine cranks up again, but from the get-go the chances look doubtful.  The Republicans have won four consecutive elections; can they eek out another?  Kucinich, perhaps remembering how East Pacifica decided things against Kerry 8 years before, chooses Gov. Tong as his running mate.  The Kucinich/Tong ticket picks up steam in many areas.  On Election Day a difference of 4% in the popular vote turns into an electoral trouncing, as Kucinich more than doubles Burke’s total of electoral votes, winning quite a few former Republican stronghold states, including a total sweep of Southeast Asia.
In Burke’s lame duck period he negotiates a treaty with the non-Communist faction of Paraguay to aid militarily and help maintain order in the country.


2013—Ecuador becomes a state on January 1.  Kucinich is inaugurated on January 21, and announces a bold new plan of high government spending (and higher taxes) that will drastically improve the quality of life for US citizens, especially in the vast impoverished areas.  He also steps up the space program, and calls for the space elevator to be completed by the end of the year.  Some Americans tremble at his new plan, while others rejoice.  Either way, the USA has entered a new era.
~to be continued~

[7,052,770]

Oh gawd- Mel Lastman? You gotta be kidding. He would end up saying the wrong thing about Africans, and lose the whole continent. When he did that in real life, it didn't help Toronto's bid for the olympics. Plus, I dont think he's in the NDP

Anyways, this is great stuff, keep it coming.

yeah I read that Lastman had said some controversial stuff, but in this TL Toronto was a target in 9/11 and Lastman got Guliani-like fame and high regard.  And I meant that the Democratic Party is new at this point (2008).

But thanks for everyone's comments.

[7,052,770]

yeah, the UAR is a conservative Islamic democracy that includes most of the Arab world (not Dubai though)

[7,052,770]

sorry guys, I probably will write more one day...it's just no inspiration right now, and the comp it's on is at home.

Like Chinese Democracy, just have faith that you'll see it one day.

[7,052,770]

problem is...I've forgotten a lot of the details by now...maybe I'd do a relaunch or something.

[7,052,770]

ok, I'll update this sometime.  really.

[7,052,770]

2013 continued--Republicans in Congress aren't happy with Kucinich's presidency.  They remember how Representative Kucinich had proposed a one-term limit on the presidency back during Berlusconi's three terms and decide to introduce it themselves.  Kucinich has little choice but to back it himself, and the Presidential Term Limit Amendment passes Congress.
Kucinich appoints the aging John Kerry, out of the public eye for a while now, attorney general.
Kucinich announces that the US will be neutral the struggles of Paraguay.
The space elevator is completed in December.

2014--UESPA begins planning for the construction of a lunar colony.  Kucinich wants astronuats,cosmonauts, and taikonauts living on it by July 4, 2015, though it won't be fully complete for a few more years.
In Paraguay, the Civil War worsens.  China is suspected of supplying aid to Communists there.
Argentina and China stand on the brink of war.  Some Republicans in Congress want to use US troops to help Paraguay, but others are afraid of a war with China.  Kucinich announces that he'll veto any use of troops.  In the midterm elections, Republicans retake the House of Representatives, now having over 2500 representatives.
China wins the World Cup in a shocker.

2015--Four Americans, four Russians, four Chinese, and Four Arabs depart on July 1 for the moon and enter the Base "Destiny" on the moon.  Though right now simply a few small buildings housing scientific research, those 16 will oversee automated construction of a much larger base on the moon, which will oneday contain a large permanent population.
In Paraguay, Communist rebels in the Brazillian jungles refuse to give up.  They raise the flag of Amazonias, a new communist republic on August 14. The US, Argentina, and other non-Communist countries refuse to recognize it.

2016--Though the PTLA has not yet passed 3/4ths of the states, Kucinich feels bound his support of it, and announces he won't seek reelection.  He says he is disappointed that many of his Socialist reforms didn't pass Congress, he's glad that he got them discussed and hopes that future presidents and Congresses will give them a second look.
Vice-president Tong, of Tarawa, is Kucinich's hand-picked successor and attempts to continue the Democratic-Socialist coalition.  He argues, that since the Democrats backed a Socialist in '12, the Socialists should back a Democrat in '16.  He enters both primaries.  He secures the nomination easily enough.
The Republicans rally around the 69-year-old actor-turned- governor-of-Austria Arnold Schwarzenegger, a popular moderate on the national scene.
Jim Giles of Mississippi announces that he is uncomfortable nominating someone of Chinese descent and an Austrian who wasn't born an American citizen (usually when new states enter, all naturally born citizens of that state become naturally born US citizens.)  He says that he is running for the presidency as an Indepedent.  Giles is accused of racism but nonetheless secures ballot access in several states.  In order to combat Giles, both candidates pick "Americans" for their vice presidents.  Tong chooses Senator Brad Carson of Belvin, and Schwarzenegger chooses Oklahoma senator Mary Fallin.
The population of Destiny base increases to 30, though no civilians yet.
In the presidential debates, Giles is not included, and he fades away in the polls.  Many people are dissatisfied the the parties chose moderates who differ on few issues.  Both candidates are very much in favor of the Destiny Base, and the PTLA.
Kucinich remains adamant about not getting involved much in Amazonias, while Schwarzenegger says he'd like to kick the Communists out.  This turns out to be what puts him over the edge.
In the end, Tong picks up Chinese areas, but Socialist dissatisfaction in Africa and SE Asia causes many to stay away from the polls, making strange results.  Schwarzennger is elected president thanks to unusual areas voting Republican, and Giles's presence only makes a difference in one place--his home state of Mississippi is swung to Tong.

if the map is too small, click here:  http://img373.imageshack.us/img373/1827/ag9ou.png
The Democratic/Socialist coalition takes back the House and Senate.

2017--President Schwarzenneger is inaugurated.  Kucinich, just elected back into the House, becomes Speaker in a surprise vote, ahead of favorite, Democrat Harold Ford.  This begins an intense rivarly between Ford and Kucinich that would not manifest itself until later.
The PTLA fails to receieve 3/4ths of the states by the alloted time limit and dies.  Socialist Barack Obama, who's served a wide variety of offices, from Representative to mayor of Leopoldville, to Governor of Congo, and Senator, proposes that a better amendment to the Constitution would be abolishing the electoral college and having a nation-wide popular vote.
Kucinich authors his own amendment which calls for keeping the electoral college, but stretching the presidential term to 5 years, and if a president dies, the VP takes over until November, when a new election is held.
Destiny Base reaches 450 residents and a few civilian contractors begin moving in.  A great debate begins on whether the tourism industry will all be from UESPA or from private companies.
On April 3, Paraguayan Communists sneak into Sao Paulo.  50 Armed Men storm the capitol, and raise the Amazoniasian flag.  President Schwarzenneger immediately dispatches the army to handle the situation.  In the ensuing battle, all 50 Communists die, along with 19 Americans.  Upon examining the bodies, it is discovered that 13 of the Communists are Chinese citizens, and official papers from the Chinese premier authorizing them to participate are found in the possession of one of them...
<to be continued>

[7,052,770]

I dont know why I cant make the map bigger

[7,052,770]

This timeline is ASB(alien space bats. This is what we in the AH community call an impossible timeline). This is for several reasons.

1 The largest america could ever get would be the addition of canada, mexico, the central american states, the carribean, the phillipines and maybe liberia(this isn't too likely though). The race issue would prevent the US from any imperialism in africa(the only reason I think liberia is possible). The US wouldn't annex black pagan areas or asian pagan areas. The only other african areas I could see the US snapping up besides liberia woudl be the boer republics(ruled by white dutchmen). Other than the lsited territories the only other things I could see america realistically picking up are borneo, new guinea and part of siveria.

2 Putting political figures from our timeline and not doing cultural/eocnomic/social divergences? WTF?

yeah, it's not really attempting to be realistic.  It's just a story.

[7,052,770]

The distribution of electors are weird compared to the actual population of the countries. What method did you use to create them? (or did you just invent them randomly?)

IIRC (and it's been nearly a decade since I thought about this, so take it with a grain of salt), I was a bit lazy about updating them from decade to decade, so they got all out of whack by the end of it.