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Turquoise Blue - An Attempt At Reverse-American-Politics
An Attempt At Reverse-American-Politics
Richard M. Nixon (Republican) 1961-1963
1960: def. John Kennedy (Democratic) and unpledged electors ("Dixiecrat")
"If you want to make beautiful music, you must play the black and the white notes together."
Elected as Eisenhower's success, he had grand plans all unfortunately ceased by his assassination in Boston.
Henry C. Lodge, Jr. (Republican) 1963-1969
1964: def. Eugene McCarthy (Democratic) and unpledged electors ("Southern Vigilance")
"It has been well said that a hungry man is more interested in four sandwiches than four freedoms."
The president of the "New Society" reforms shepherded by moderate and conservative advisors, yet criticised by conservatives for being weak on Vietnam.
John Kennedy (Democratic) 1969-1974
1968: def. Milton Young (Republican), John V. Lindsay (Liberal) & unpledged electors ("Southern Vigilance")
1972: def. Guy Vander Jagt (Republican)
"Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names"
No longer a young fresh face, this bitter President tried to carve a way left-wards and found obstacles. Brought down by his two obsessions - sex and power, in a scandal that shook Washington.
Carl Albert (Democratic) 1974-1977
"I like to face issues in terms of conditions and not in terms of someone's inborn political philosophy.''
The president who had to take over after Kennedy's resignation, he crafted a conciliatory path but couldn't win re-election.
Howard Baker (Republican) 1977-1981
1976: def. Carl Albert (Democratic)
"Listen more often than you speak."
The Governor of Tennessee was elected President on a platform of changing Washington, but the economy stagnated and he lost re-election to a charismatic Governor who promised real change.
Robert Redford (Democratic) 1981-1989
1980: def. Howard Baker (Republican) and Henry M. Jackson (Independent)
1984: def. Bob Dole (Republican)
"We put all our concerns on hold to let the leaders lead. I think we're owed a big, massive apology."
The youthful Robert Redford, Governor of California, was elected President by a frustated populace fed up of the status quo. His presidency was one where the Overton Window was shifted to the left.
Birch Bayh (Democratic) 1989-1993
1988: def. George H. W. Bush (Republican)
"You know I don't think we need the Republicans to steal family values from us."
Birch Bayh, the vice-president of Robert Redford, was elected more or less on Redford's popularity over the "boring" George H. W. Bush. He would go down to defeat to Bush's son only four years later.
George W. Bush (Republican) 1993-2001
1992: def. Birch Bayh (Democratic) and Lee Iacocca (Independent)
1996: def. Mario Cuomo (Democratic) and Lee Iacocca (Reform)
"I'm a uniter, not a divider."
Folksy, charismatic, inoffensive, that was the Bush people elected to the Oval Office in November 1992. And despite Democratic attacks on his reputation, he left with his head held high in January 2001.
Evan Bayh (Democratic) 2001-2009
2000: def. Christine Schneider (Republican)
2004: def. John McCain (Republican)
"In honoring their memory, we will remain true to our commitment to freedom and democracy."
Often characterised as greatly inexperienced and "only won because of his daddy", despite his two-term stint as Governor of Indiana, he proved a strong wartime leader, even if a deeply divisive one.
Sarah Palin (Republican) 2009-2017
2008: def. Joe Lieberman (Democratic)
2012: def. Brian Schweitzer (Democratic)
"Here's a little newsflash for those reporters and commentators: I'm not going to Washington to seek their good opinion."
Sarah Palin's legacy still shapes the Republican Party. Combining strong religion with a moderate record and a conservative streak, she energised a whole generation of people, even if Democrats obstructed her policies.
Dennis Kucinich (Democratic) 2017-present
2016: def. Laura Bush (Republican)
"This is a struggle for the soul of the Democratic Party, which in too many cases has become so corporate and identified with corporate interests."
Despite people saying he'll lose, despite his deeply controversial remarks on FacePage and elsewhere, despite divisive rhetoric and dubious ties to Russia, despite the most qualified Republican candidate in history, he still won.
Richard M. Nixon (Republican) 1961-1963
1960: def. John Kennedy (Democratic) and unpledged electors ("Dixiecrat")
"If you want to make beautiful music, you must play the black and the white notes together."
Elected as Eisenhower's success, he had grand plans all unfortunately ceased by his assassination in Boston.
Henry C. Lodge, Jr. (Republican) 1963-1969
1964: def. Eugene McCarthy (Democratic) and unpledged electors ("Southern Vigilance")
"It has been well said that a hungry man is more interested in four sandwiches than four freedoms."
The president of the "New Society" reforms shepherded by moderate and conservative advisors, yet criticised by conservatives for being weak on Vietnam.
John Kennedy (Democratic) 1969-1974
1968: def. Milton Young (Republican), John V. Lindsay (Liberal) & unpledged electors ("Southern Vigilance")
1972: def. Guy Vander Jagt (Republican)
"Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names"
No longer a young fresh face, this bitter President tried to carve a way left-wards and found obstacles. Brought down by his two obsessions - sex and power, in a scandal that shook Washington.
Carl Albert (Democratic) 1974-1977
"I like to face issues in terms of conditions and not in terms of someone's inborn political philosophy.''
The president who had to take over after Kennedy's resignation, he crafted a conciliatory path but couldn't win re-election.
Howard Baker (Republican) 1977-1981
1976: def. Carl Albert (Democratic)
"Listen more often than you speak."
The Governor of Tennessee was elected President on a platform of changing Washington, but the economy stagnated and he lost re-election to a charismatic Governor who promised real change.
Robert Redford (Democratic) 1981-1989
1980: def. Howard Baker (Republican) and Henry M. Jackson (Independent)
1984: def. Bob Dole (Republican)
"We put all our concerns on hold to let the leaders lead. I think we're owed a big, massive apology."
The youthful Robert Redford, Governor of California, was elected President by a frustated populace fed up of the status quo. His presidency was one where the Overton Window was shifted to the left.
Birch Bayh (Democratic) 1989-1993
1988: def. George H. W. Bush (Republican)
"You know I don't think we need the Republicans to steal family values from us."
Birch Bayh, the vice-president of Robert Redford, was elected more or less on Redford's popularity over the "boring" George H. W. Bush. He would go down to defeat to Bush's son only four years later.
George W. Bush (Republican) 1993-2001
1992: def. Birch Bayh (Democratic) and Lee Iacocca (Independent)
1996: def. Mario Cuomo (Democratic) and Lee Iacocca (Reform)
"I'm a uniter, not a divider."
Folksy, charismatic, inoffensive, that was the Bush people elected to the Oval Office in November 1992. And despite Democratic attacks on his reputation, he left with his head held high in January 2001.
Evan Bayh (Democratic) 2001-2009
2000: def. Christine Schneider (Republican)
2004: def. John McCain (Republican)
"In honoring their memory, we will remain true to our commitment to freedom and democracy."
Often characterised as greatly inexperienced and "only won because of his daddy", despite his two-term stint as Governor of Indiana, he proved a strong wartime leader, even if a deeply divisive one.
Sarah Palin (Republican) 2009-2017
2008: def. Joe Lieberman (Democratic)
2012: def. Brian Schweitzer (Democratic)
"Here's a little newsflash for those reporters and commentators: I'm not going to Washington to seek their good opinion."
Sarah Palin's legacy still shapes the Republican Party. Combining strong religion with a moderate record and a conservative streak, she energised a whole generation of people, even if Democrats obstructed her policies.
Dennis Kucinich (Democratic) 2017-present
2016: def. Laura Bush (Republican)
"This is a struggle for the soul of the Democratic Party, which in too many cases has become so corporate and identified with corporate interests."
Despite people saying he'll lose, despite his deeply controversial remarks on FacePage and elsewhere, despite divisive rhetoric and dubious ties to Russia, despite the most qualified Republican candidate in history, he still won.
- Turquoise Blue
- Word Count: 660