If you look, Bush's campaign had a stronger performance in 2000 than IOTL... also this isn't Decision Points -- Bush wins in 2000, not Gore, and the successes of Bush's first term enable the GOP to do very well
Liberty's Century: The Story of George W. Bush and the New Millennium
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If you look, Bush's campaign had a stronger performance in 2000 than IOTL... also this isn't Decision Points -- Bush wins in 2000, not Gore, and the successes of Bush's first term enable the GOP to do very well
Nice update - it's interesting to see Iraq averted, if only for now, and the effects that may have.
If Davis increases car taxes like OTL, you bet he'll be unseated, especially after the utilities fiasco. Might be a different Republican that becomes Governor in the aftermath - Bill Simon, anyone? Or perhaps Bustamante gets the nod instead?
Could you at least have Wellstone survive and get reelected, along with Cleland? Please?
It's probablt Issa that gets the nod if not Schwarzenegger.
Here's hoping for a Christmas present in an update 
This was one of the most unique, and IMO interesting and well-written TL's on this board. I hope this isn't dead.
This was one of the most unique, and IMO interesting and well-written TL's on this board. I hope this isn't dead.
In Washington state in 2000, Slade Gorton (R) barely lost to Maria Cantwell (D). I don't think it's ASB to suggest a better GOP year would allow him to keep his seat.
Chapter 9: Out With Dubya
Liberty's Century: The Story of George W. Bush and the New Millennium
"'It's down-in-the-gutter nasty on both sides. We could really see a donnybrook, with all of us rolling around in mud, blood and the beer." -Jim Duffy
Liberty's Century: The Story of George W. Bush and the New Millennium
"'It's down-in-the-gutter nasty on both sides. We could really see a donnybrook, with all of us rolling around in mud, blood and the beer." -Jim Duffy
On a Sunday morning in early February, Meet the Press's Tim Russert sat down for an interview with former Vice President Al Gore, the 2000 Democratic Nominee for President. Speculation had been mounting that Gore would throw his hat into the ring for another campaign against George W. Bush. Al Gore was doing better than any potential Democrat against the president, and internally there was hope Gore could mount a serious campaign. In the green room, the former Vice President contemplated the interview ahead. He would not announce his campaign today, he hadn't decided if he was going to run, but this was his formal entrance into the "testing the waters" phase. Gore would drop some ideas, hint at some policy approaches, and heavily apply that he was intending to rematch George Bush. Then, the press would take care of the rest. They would cover the potential of a Gore campaign, the former Vice President would travel to Iowa and New Hampshire, and soon there would be either significant support for a Gore campaign or the ex-VP would realize that now wasn't his time. The success of his testing the waters phase depended on the interview.
Russert asked Gore about lots of issues, including how he would rate the president's job performance. At the end of the interview, Russert asked, point blank, "Are you going to run for President in 2004?" Gore smiled and responded, "Oh, I'm giving it a great deal of thought -- a great deal of thought." The media was abuzz. Gore's numbers were through the roof, even higher than Hillary's numbers. Suddenly, it looked like the Democrats had found a new front runner. Then, Gore's attention was cut short. In North Carolina, Senator John Edwards announced that he would stand as a candidate for President of the United States. Johnny Reid Edwards was a dashing gentleman with well-trimmed hair and a glowing smile. His story was a politician's dream background. He had started poor, was the first in his family to go to college, and then, suddenly, he was a lawyer and a U.S. Senator, and now, a front runner for the 2004 Democratic Presidential Nomination. Support for Gore was still strong, but voters who were considering Gore were drawn to Edwards, who talked a good game. In his announcement speech, Edwards had spoken passionately about poverty and the economy. "We deserve a President who is close to our people, not the lobbyists. Who listens to our people because he knows them, he works for them," Edwards proclaimed. The Senator was passionate about connecting with the people; he was running to be the people's president.
He said that Bush's leadership style was "twisted." He attacked, at length, the repeal of the estate tax as nothing more than a "chance to please [Bush's] most loyal constituency: the super-rich." He argued that it was Bush's lack of leadership on economic issues that had forced low-income and middle class families to fall further and further behind. "Just look at the current tax structure, if you're a minimum wage worker, you're breaking your back out there trying to make ends meets and the wealthiest Americans are skating by with little to no tax burden. It's wrong!" It was Edwards who had presented the strongest argument against Bush: that the president was not a president of the average American. With success in foreign policy and much of the domestic sphere, Edwards had been able to carve out a talking point, which would become the basis of his campaign: John Edwards: man of the people, George W. Bush: enemy of the middle class. As a result of Edwards' clear message and persistent campaigning, the Senator saw his name rise to the top of the pack, as he began to edge out Senator Joe Lieberman and others to rise ahead of the field. In New York, Hillary Clinton watched with unease. She did not want to become president through a bloody primary battle, instead she had been hoping she could ride her name to the nomination. Bill urged her to stay out, but Hillary was still entirely undecided. "You can't beat him," Bill said, "Wait it out, come back in 2008, and win. Win big." Hillary saw the appeal of waiting, but in some sense she was anxious to run the campaign.
In Massachusetts, a different Senator had made his determination. John Kerry decided that he wouldn't pursue a presidential campaign. The announcement was made in a press release by the Senator's office. Kerry had planned to run on a platform of defense and homeland security in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, but with Bush doing well as Commander-in-Chief, Kerry thought it best to wait it out and let Edwards and other liberal Democrats turn out the populist sector of the Democratic Party. Kerry still had his eyes on the White House, and he was hoping that he might be able to wage a presidential campaign in 2008, perhaps under more favorable circumstances. As Kerry announced he would stay out of the race, Senator Joe Lieberman determined that he would benefit from being the only national security candidate in the race. He visited defense plants, talked about the need to restore America's image in the world, and discussed his ideas for national security. He also spoke about bipartisanship and the importance of compromise. "We have to work with the other side," Lieberman told attendees at a rally in New Hampshire, "or we're just asking for an ineffective Washington." Lieberman also appealed to many establishment Democrats by offering a plan on how to return to the Congress Democratic majorities. He said that what was needed was a clear platform with solid ideas and a figurehead (aka: Lieberman himself) who would be able to unite independents and moderate Republicans behind the Democratic Party because they would be painted as the party of fresh ideas and innovative leadership. While this wasn't a major selling point to the campaign, it painted Lieberman, who was rather boring on the stump, as a successful and calculating political wonk who understood how to play the game.
As less formidable candidates, like Dick Gephardt, Dennis Kucinich, and Al Sharpton entered the campaign, the race became foggier and foggier. There was no definitive front runner, no candidate who would be able to lock up a significant amount of support. With President Bush’s approval ratings high, many Democrats were not willing to run against him, much like the situation in 1992, when Democrats shied away from challenging Bush’s father for reelection. Without a firm Achilles heel on which to attack President Bush’s claim for a second term, Democrats were scrambling to shore up a message and strike back against the Bush White House and the Bush Campaign.
deathscompanion1
Banned
I think Bush will win re-election by a greater margin than OTL. Nice to see some major political butterflies.
Actually quite glad to see Kerry out of '04 - that seems to be an election a lot of people don't like changing, so I'm very pleased to see such a different take on it. Kind of pulling for Gore but not expecting it. There's so many other names in the race right now he's probably more looking like last year's loser than he was a while ago.
Tom Daschle still staying out of this one?
Tom Daschle still staying out of this one?
