alternatehistory.com
Hurricane Dole on Black Monday
October 17th, 1987
“Today in this country we’ve seen fights in the Democratic and Republican Parties, fights that have torn us apart rather than pull us together. ”
“The good people of this country cannot handle this kind of firebrand infighting and obscenity any longer. No, I will say they will not suffer this brand of politics any longer”
“We cannot have politics run by unqualified candidates and polar extremes”
“I for one am tired of people who couldn’t have held office thirty years ago having as much power as they do now. To head into the future, this new millennium, we need a bit of the past”
“We need someone qualified”
“We need someone established”
“We need Bob Dole”
-Bob Dole’s announcement speech for President of the United States
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October 19th, 1987
"Everything's going to hell! It's all going to hell!" Vice President Bush exclaimed at a gaunt, tired James Baker as the two sat in Baker's increasingly messy office. Baker couldn't bring himself to disagree.
The last few days had been the most grueling of Baker's life. London's market, re-opened after the storm the week previous, had collapsed at a startling rate. The shockwaves had hit the United States and other foreign markets, and they had hit hard. The Dow Jones had fallen a record amount once again. The American market was in a panic, and it looked like just as Bush had said - everything was going to shit.
"This is the worst timing. That bastard Quayle is going to smile and laugh while stabbing the party in the back. And I'm going to catch flak for this. As if this way my doing!"
"You've seen the numbers, George! Unemployment is down, inflation is low, interest rates are low. That's what the people care about. They don't care about Wall Street, they care about their own bottom lines!" Bush snorted an ugly laugh.
"Any hick with ears can become an economist! And they're looking for leadership. Quayle, or Falwell, or whoever, aren't stupid. They know how to play to the fears of the regular guy. This is bad, really really bad."
Baker shook his head and stood up, looking in the mirror before walking slowly to the doorway.
"George, you need to stop this defeatist outlook on this campaign. I mean, for God's sake, it hasn't even started yet! Quale is a puppet. You know it, I know it, and the people will know it if and when you point it out to them. Now, I've got to go see the President. We'll be fine, trust me."
On the outside, he was confident. But on the inside, James Baker couldn't help but feel Bush was a broken man.
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October 20th, 1987
Gallup Poll of Current Republican Candidates
George H.W. Bush - 36%
Dan Quayle - 32%
Bob Dole - 29%
Jack Kemp - 2%
Al Haig - 1%
“Today in this country we’ve seen fights in the Democratic and Republican Parties, fights that have torn us apart rather than pull us together. ”
“The good people of this country cannot handle this kind of firebrand infighting and obscenity any longer. No, I will say they will not suffer this brand of politics any longer”
“We cannot have politics run by unqualified candidates and polar extremes”
“I for one am tired of people who couldn’t have held office thirty years ago having as much power as they do now. To head into the future, this new millennium, we need a bit of the past”
“We need someone qualified”
“We need someone established”
“We need Bob Dole”
-Bob Dole’s announcement speech for President of the United States
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
October 19th, 1987
"Everything's going to hell! It's all going to hell!" Vice President Bush exclaimed at a gaunt, tired James Baker as the two sat in Baker's increasingly messy office. Baker couldn't bring himself to disagree.
The last few days had been the most grueling of Baker's life. London's market, re-opened after the storm the week previous, had collapsed at a startling rate. The shockwaves had hit the United States and other foreign markets, and they had hit hard. The Dow Jones had fallen a record amount once again. The American market was in a panic, and it looked like just as Bush had said - everything was going to shit.
"This is the worst timing. That bastard Quayle is going to smile and laugh while stabbing the party in the back. And I'm going to catch flak for this. As if this way my doing!"
"You've seen the numbers, George! Unemployment is down, inflation is low, interest rates are low. That's what the people care about. They don't care about Wall Street, they care about their own bottom lines!" Bush snorted an ugly laugh.
"Any hick with ears can become an economist! And they're looking for leadership. Quayle, or Falwell, or whoever, aren't stupid. They know how to play to the fears of the regular guy. This is bad, really really bad."
Baker shook his head and stood up, looking in the mirror before walking slowly to the doorway.
"George, you need to stop this defeatist outlook on this campaign. I mean, for God's sake, it hasn't even started yet! Quale is a puppet. You know it, I know it, and the people will know it if and when you point it out to them. Now, I've got to go see the President. We'll be fine, trust me."
On the outside, he was confident. But on the inside, James Baker couldn't help but feel Bush was a broken man.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
October 20th, 1987
Gallup Poll of Current Republican Candidates
George H.W. Bush - 36%
Dan Quayle - 32%
Bob Dole - 29%
Jack Kemp - 2%
Al Haig - 1%
- Gentleman Biaggi
- Word Count: 480