A Kinder, Gentler Nation Continued: A Collaborative Bush wins '92 TL:

[dw93]

Here's What We Have For 1994 and '95:

March 1994: Former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onasis announces that her non-Hodgkin lymphoma had disappeared.

April 22, 1994: Richard Nixon dies.

April 23rd, 1994: At Richard Nixon's funeral, President Bush proudly recalls his days serving President Nixon at the White House and tells many uplifting stories about the former President, helping to rehabilitate his image and set the tone for the funeral.

June 17th 1994: O.J. Simpson is found murdered outside of his home in Brentwood, California.

June 18th 1994: LA Police declare Nicole Brown Simpson a person of intrest in the Murder of OJ Simpson

September 1, 1994: President Bush signed a massive new crime bill putting 100,000 more police officers on the streets. The bill got widespread support at the time and the President declared "Now is not the time to be sot. Now is not the time for empathy. We can have that later. Now is the time to be tough, tough on crime and tough on criminals. That is what we owe to our country to stifle this crime epidemic." The bill has since been criticized for fueling mass incarceration.

September 22nd 1994: The critically acclaimed television series, Friends, premieres. (ATL, Leah Remini plays Rachel Green (the story about Aniston trying out for Monica and getting Rachel is the same thing here), Nancy McKeon plays Monica Geller, Megan Mullally plays Phoebe Buffay, Eric McCormack plays Ross Geller. Jon Cryer play Chandler Bing (who's gay like in the original script.) and Joey Tribbiani is still played by Matt LeBlanc)

November 5th, 1994: Former President Ronald Reagan releases a statement admitting he is suffering from Alzheimer's disease, in what would be his final public statement to the American people.

November 8, 1994: Democrats retained a huge Senate majority, with 57 seats to 43 Republicans, unseating Republicans in Delaware, Minnesota and Vermont. As the opposition party they had the advantage in midterm elections. However a still struggling economy, opposition to NAFTA, and bitter partisanship on Capitol Hill, along with conservative frustration with the President, led to Democrat victories. Democrats gained 18 seats in the House to get 276 seats to 158 Republicans.

November 29th, 1994: Vice President Dan Quayle begins to assemble former Bush operatives to form the groundwork for a presidential campaign in 1996.

February 15, 1995: Dick Gephardt announces run for the presidency.

March 28, 1995: New Jersey Senator Bill Bradley throws his hat into the ring.

March 31, 1995: Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter mounts a run for President.

April 1, 1995: Reverend Jesse Jackson announces a third presidential run

April 6, 1995: California Governor Pete Wilson announces a run for President.

April 10th, 1995: Senate Minority Leader Bob Dole of Kansas, despite overtures from the White House against him, announces he will run once again for the presidency. He is the first candidate from either party to announce a run.

April 19th 1995: A bomb explodes at The Federal Reserve Bank of New York. 317 people are killed and approximately 600 injured. The perpetrator is Billy Lee Davis, a Neo-nazi, and a member of Stormfront, his motive was to bring about "a war against the Jews who tyrannically control the world economy."

May 3, 1995: 1992 Bush primary challenger populist Pat Buchanan announces a run for the 1996 Republican nomination. Pundits dismiss his chances.

May 4, 1995: Senator Phil Gramm of Texas joins the Republican primaries.

June 3, 1995: Georgia Senator Sam Nunn announces a run for President.

June 4, 1995: Alan Keyes is running.

June 5th, 1995: Batman Forever premiers with glowing reviews. Critics site the selection of Sam Raimi as director, as he managed to strike a happy medium between the darkness of Batman Returns and the campier direction the studio was intent on pursuing to avoid further backlash. Other highlights include the young Christian Bale as Robin (who had great chemistry with Michael Keaton's Batman), John Malkovich's performance as the Riddler, and Clint Eastwood's performance as Two-Face.

NOTE: All of the actors featured are OTL cast choices that fell through.

June 12th, 1995: Senator Bob Kerrey of Nebraska announces he will run for president again, becoming the first Democrat to announce a bid.

June 17th 1995: Texas Governor Ann Richards announces that she's seeking the Democratic Nomination for President in 1996.

4 July, 1995: UK PM John Major wins a leadership contest in his party but resigns, thinking he got too little support.

July 11th 1995: After weeks of speculation, Tennessee Senator and former Democratic Vice President Nominee 1992, announces that he will not be seeking the Democratic Nomination for President in 1996. Republican media rumour that he has dropped out, due to his links with Clinton.

July 14, 1995: Massachusetts Senator John Kerry joins the race for the Democratic nomination.

July 15, 1995: Indiana Senator Richard Lugar is running.

July 20, 1995: Vice-President Dan Quayle announces a run for the Republican nomination.

July 25, 1995: Former New Jersey Governor Tom Kean announces a run as a Republican for the presidency.

August 2, 1995: Delaware Senator Joe Biden runs for the Presidency.

August 2, 1995: Secretray of Education Lamar Alexander throws his hat in the ring.

August 7, 1995: Billionaire Steve Forbes is running.

August 11, 1995: Former Texas Senator and Dukakis running mate Lloyd Bentsen announces a presidential run.

August 12, 1995: Congressman Robert K Dornan is running.

August 22, 1995: Former Secretary of Education and 'tough on crime conservative' William Bennett is running.

September 6, 1995: Former Virginia Governor Doug Wilder joins the presidential race.

September 6, 1995: Former California Governor Jerry Brown joins the Democratic field.

7 September, 1995: The UK Conservative Party elects Micahel Portillo as their new leader and PM, beating other opponents such as Ken Clarke.

September 22nd 1995: Hillary Rodham announces her candidacy for Senator of Illinois after incumbent Paul Simon decides not to run for re-election.

October 3rd 1995: Nicole Brown Simpson is found not guilty of murdering O.J. Simpson

October 10, 1995: New York Governor Mario Cuomo will make a speech on the presidential race and either run or decline to do so.

October 11, 1995: New York Governor Mario Cuomo announces a run for the Democratic nomination and the presidency.

October 13, 1995: Indiana Governor Evan Bayh joins the race.

October 17, 1995: Vermont Governor Howard Dean joins the race.

October 18, 1995: Former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell of Maine enters the Democratic field. The field has at least 14 serious candidates(depending on you definition of serious).

4 November, 1995:Israeli PM Yitzhak Rabin survives an assassination attempt by ultranationalist Yigal Amir, who opposed Rabin's peace initiative. Rabin and Palestinian leader Arafat were able to come to an agreement in the Oslo Accords after stellar negotiating by President Bush. Rabin living means the process can continue.

November 5, 1995: Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien and his wife, Aline, are found stabbed in their bed, within their house of 24 Sussex Drive. The assalunt, André Dallaire, a paranoid schizophrenic, is found dead in the basement, from a self inflicted wound.

Republican candidates as of November

•Bob Dole
•Dan Quayle
•Pete Wilson
•Arlen Specter
•Pat Buchanan
•Tom Kean
•Steve Forbes
•William Bennett
•Lamar Alexander
•Robert K Dornan
•Richard Lugar
•Alan Keyes
•Phil Gramm

Democratic candidates as of November

•Mario Cuomo
•Evan Bayh
•Howard Dean
•Dick Gephardt
•Jerry Brown
•Bob Kerrey
•George Mitchell
•Sam Nunn
•Doug Wilder
•John Kerry
•Jesse Jackson
•Bill Bradley
•Lloyd Bentsen
•Ann Richards
•Joe Biden

(OOC IOTL Re-electedMichael Forbes (R) 54.72% Nora Bredes (D) 45.28%)

November 6, 1995: Deputy Prime Minister, Sheila Copps, succeeds Jean Chrétien, to become the second female prime minister of Canada, is sworn in, while the Liberal Party, is in the process of organising a leadership election.
(OOC Potential candidates: Sheila Copps, Paul Martin [PM 2003-08] Herbert "Herb" Gray [Jewish leader 1990] John Manly [Deputy leader 2002-2003] or any other liberal MP really)

 

[dw93]

My Last Post on the old Board. Will Make a post for '96 once the site is updated. Thank you for your contributions, and good work.

 

[Pericles]

Thanks for making this TL people. Let's continue this on the new board. Minor nitpick about the update, Bob Dole was the first candidate of either party to announce-after 5 other candidates.

 

[Pericles]

November 6, 1996: In an interview after his election defeat, Bob Dole blames Perot for his defeat, saying Perot "divided the conservative vote and undermined our cause"

November 7, 1996: A Gallup poll shows outgoing President Bush's approval rating at 61%. The economy is prosperous and America at peace. Many analysts credit Bush with ensuring a successful breakup of the Soviet Union, liberating Kuwait and bringing peace to Bosnia and Somalia, and the Oslo Accords which were a huge step to ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the peace process there is gaining momentum. However the genocide in Rwanda is a stain on his record, and domestically Bush did not have many notable accomplishments or 'the vision thing'.

November 7, 1996: Illinois Senator-Elect Hillary Rodham says that the election of a first female President was " a real move for progress in this country".

November 8, 1996: President-Elect Ann Richards meets with President Bush for the transition.

December 1, 1996: The US unemployment rate falls to 4.8%.

December 2, 1996: 10 UK Conservative MPs defect to the Referendum Party, a Eurosceptic political party, in protest on ken Clarke's leadership. One defector, Iain Duncan Smith, calls for the Tories to "purge out the Europhiles and socialists. If this party isn't willing to take a firm stand on the right side of the European issue, then we'll start from scrath." Polls show Referendum Party with single-digit support in the polls.

December 6, 1996: A new UK election poll shows 41% Labour, 25% Conservative, 17% LibDem and 7% Referendum Party.

December 9, 1996: President Richards says in an interview with Diane Sawyer that "we're gonna totally tackle healthcare reform once and for all, you hear me!"

 

[Pericles]

January 20, 1997: Dorothy Ann Willis Richards is inaugurated President of the United States. Richards takes the office from outgoing two-term President Bush. Richards gives her address, saying "Well now, there's a woman as President!" The bulk of her speech was focused on outlining her vision for America. She said "We have a nation stronger than at any point before in history. But our work is not yet complete. More needs to be done, so we can be a kinder, gentler society. That is why I will push for measures as President that will lift people up and made America a better place. We are going to have healthcare reform, and we're going to always fight for the little guy, and the little gal. But a strong economy and strong society aren't mutually exclusive, we are going to work to balance the budget and keep our economy going strong. I promise you this, I will always fight for you as your President." Richards starts off with broad public support and few enemies, but that support is wide but likely not that deep.

 

[dw93]

January 20, 1997: Dorothy Ann Willis Richards is inaugurated President of the United States. Richards takes the office from outgoing two-term President Bush. Richards gives her address, saying "Well now, there's a woman as President!" The bulk of her speech was focused on outlining her vision for America. She said "We have a nation stronger than at any point before in history. But our work is not yet complete. More needs to be done, so we can be a kinder, gentler society. That is why I will push for measures as President that will lift people up and made America a better place. We are going to have healthcare reform, and we're going to always fight for the little guy, and the little gal. But a strong economy and strong society aren't mutually exclusive, we are going to work to balance the budget and keep our economy going strong. I promise you this, I will always fight for you as your President." Richards starts off with broad public support and few enemies, but that support is wide but likely not that deep.

Excellent Updates!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Pericles]

Excellent Updates!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you! Let's make more!

 

[Jonathan]

January 20, 1997: Dorothy Ann Willis Richards is inaugurated President of the United States.

Cabinet Appointees (OOC: Awaiting Congress Approval)
Secretary of State: John Kerry
Secretary of Defense: Sam Nunn
Secretary of Treasury: William Perry
Attorney General: Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Secretary of the Interior: Jesse Jackson
Secretary of Agriculture: Gary Hart
Secretary of Education: Bruce Babbitt

 

[Pericles]

Cabinet Appointees (OOC: Awaiting Congress Approval)
Secretary of State: Paul Tsongas
Secretary of Defense: Sam Nunn
Secretary of Treasury: William Perry
Attorney General: Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Secretary of the Interior: Jesse Jackson
Secretary of Agriculture: Gary Hart
Secretary of Education: Bruce Babbitt

By January 20, 1997, Tsongas was dead. Jackson in Interior is interesting, but would it be plausible? Other than that good. We could have Kerry at state instead.

 

[Jonathan]

By January 20, 1997, Tsongas was dead. Jackson in Interior is interesting, but would it be plausible? Other than that good. We could have Kerry at state instead.

I forgot that he died 2 days earlier I will change him now. I was contemplating Kerry as SoS, but though having only served in the senate since 1985, was a bit to soon in having him in cabinet, but if you think so too I'll give him the position.

As an out-spoken woman, I would like to believe that Ann would want another, like minded southern democrat in the interior, rather than a northern one?

 

[Pericles]

I forgot that he died 2 days earlier I will change him now. I was contemplating Kerry as SoS, but though having only served in the senate since 1985, was a bit to soon in having him in cabinet, but if you think so too I'll give him the position.

As an out-spoken woman, I would like to believe that Ann would want another, like minded southern democrat in the interior, rather than a northern one?

Ah, glad that's explained and fixed. Looking forward to more.

 

[RepMR]

September 6th 1996 - The new British Prime Minister Tony Blair begins an affair with a Downing Street assistant, Lauren Hunter
November 18th 1996 - Downing Street Press Secretary Alistair Campbell becomes aware of the affair, agreeing to cover it up despite warning Blair to end it
December 2nd 1996 - Campbell privately briefs security staff at Number 10 to ensure cover ups of Blair's affair are made by security, contrary to government rules/regulations
January 16th 1998 - Prime Minister Tony Blair breaks off his affair with Lauren Hunter, fearing his wife Cherie is getting suspicious
May 17th 1998 - Tom Hopkins, a fired Downing Street political staffer following poor local election results for the Labour party, sells the story of the Blair/Hunter affair to the newspapers, causing a great scandal
May 19th 1998 - Blair admits to having an affair, saying he apologises to his wife Cherie and to the nation
May 24th 1998 - Rumors and allegations begin to surface about whether improper abuses of power were made by Blair and Campbell in covering up the affair
May 25th 1998 - Lauren Hunter sells her story, arguing it was Blair who instigated the affair
June 2nd 1998 - Amidst growing furore in the press about potential abuses of power, Alistair Campbell resigns as Downing Street Press Secretary
June 18th 1998 - Just over a month after the scandal broke, with growing political and personal pressure upon him, Tony Blair announces he is stepping down as Prime Minister and Leader of the Labour Party upon the election of a successor

 

[Jonathan]

June 18th 1998 - Just over a month after the scandal broke, with growing political and personal pressure upon him, Tony Blair announces he is stepping down as Prime Minister and Leader of the Labour Party upon the election of a successor

June 22nd 1998 - Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, throws his hat into the ring, stating that he will unite that party behind a trust worthy candidate.
June 23rd 1998 - Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown, states that he is the only true successor, with bookies placing him as the overwhelming favourite to succeed Blair.
June 25th 1998 - President of the Board of Trade, Margaret Beckett, who has served briefly as Leader of the Labour Party after Smith died suddenly, is the third person to place their name on the ballot.
June 30th 1998 - An email is leaked between Gordon Brown and Tony Blair, in which an angry Brown, demands Blair, to steak to their deal made at the former Granita restaurant in Islington, in which Blair promised to give Brown control of economic policy in return for Brown not standing against him in the leadership election.
July 1st 1998 - Following the leaked email, Gordon Brown, removes his name from the ballot.

 

[RepMR]

July 3rd 1998 - With Brown's withdrawal, Foreign Secretary Robin Cook enters the leadership race
July 6th 1998 - Education Secretary David Blunkett joins the leadership contest
July 10th 1998 - Scotland Secretary Donald Dewar becomes the fifth Labour MP to enter the race
July 16th 1998 - In a surprise turn of events, former Cabinet Minister Tony Benn enters the race, arguing the need for the 'true left wing' to be represented
July 20th 1998 - Nominations from MPs for the ballot close, with John Prescott, Tony Benn, Margaret Beckett, Robin Cook, David Blunkett and Donald Dewar confirmed as the leadership candidates. The leadership election result is set to be formally announced on October 2nd 1998 at the Labour conference.

 

[Ol'GarryBoldwater]

What do people think of the idea of Benn pulling an early Corbyn?

 

[Jonathan]

Improved List of Cabinet Appointees (Awaiting Congress Approval)
Secretary of State: Joe Biden
Secretary of Defense: Sam Nunn
Secretary of Treasury: William Perry
Attorney General: Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Secretary of the Interior: Joan Finney
Secretatry of Housing and Urban Developement: Jesse Jackson
Secretary of Agriculture: Gary Hart
Secretary of Education: Bruce Babbitt
Secretary of Health and Human Services: Mario Cuoma

Put Babbitt at Interior. Biden as Secretary of State. Put Jackson at HUD.
Cuomo at Health and Human Services. I'll post

I've made a compramise but have given you 3/4. Bide as SoS is a good call, Jackson will bring a New Deal style to the SUD department, while Cuomo was a shoe in for the H&HS department.
I feel like Bruce Babbitt is still to northern for Richard's liking, so have gone with former Kansas Governor and fellow feminist and pro-choice southerner.

What do people think of the idea of Benn pulling an early Corbyn?

I don't know if 1998 britain is ready for post recession socialism, remember that Neil Kinnock was still unelectable 6 years ago. But as you can tell by my Gordon Brown post, it would be nice to see Labour move away from Blairites and Brownites policies. And hopefully with no Brown, we will lead to no Ed Miliband and Ed Balls.

 

[RepMR]

What do people think of the idea of Benn pulling an early Corbyn?

I threw Benn in there as an option should people think it was feasible, he has potential to do well but the more amenable frontrunners from my guess would be Prescott and Cook

 

[Pericles]

I think Benn will lose, New Labour was at its height and while its leaders have fallen the ideology is still ascendant and Benn is unelectable. I think Cook will win, defeat a divided Tory Party and avoid Iraq ensuring Labour remains dominant. Though might want to spice it up somehow. ..

 

[RepMR]

I think Benn will lose, New Labour was at its height and while its leaders have fallen the ideology is still ascendant and Benn is unelectable. I think Cook will win, defeat a divided Tory Party and avoid Iraq ensuring Labour remains dominant. Though might want to spice it up somehow. ..

Cook also had an affair with his secretary OTL 1997 onwards so possible he could've done the same as Blair ITL and it's not come out in the media yet, plus he died in 2005 of heart issues so also plausible he could eventually befall the same fate as John Smith whilst leader

 

[Sasalele]

Improved List of Cabinet Appointees (Awaiting Congress Approval)
Secretary of State: Joe Biden
Secretary of Defense: Sam Nunn
Secretary of Treasury: William Perry
Attorney General: Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Secretary of the Interior: Joan Finney
Secretatry of Housing and Urban Developement: Jesse Jackson
Secretary of Agriculture: Gary Hart
Secretary of Education: Bruce Babbitt
Secretary of Health and Human Services: Mario Cuoma


I've made a compramise but have given you 3/4. Bide as SoS is a good call, Jackson will bring a New Deal style to the SUD department, while Cuomo was a shoe in for the H&HS department.
I feel like Bruce Babbitt is still to northern for Richard's liking, so have gone with former Kansas Governor and fellow feminist and pro-choice southerner.

Babbitt's from Arizona, but Finney is a pretty unique choice, I like it. Here's what I have.

Secretary of Agriculture: Mike Espy (D-MS) (Hart's Scandal in '87 will still be on the table and Hart's not really an agriculture guy. Maybe International Trade Rep?)
Secretary of Labor: Robert Reich (D-MA) (He was thought to be one of the greatest Labor Secretary under Clinton OTL.
Secretary of Transportation: Norman Mineta (D-CA)
Secretary of Energy: Bill Richardson (D-NM) (I feel like Richards would really like him after meeting him at the '96 Convention.)
Secretary of Veterans' Affairs: Chuck Robb (D-VA)

February 3rd 1997- President Ann Richards announces the formation of The White House Council on Healthcare Reform (WHCHR, pronounced "Wicker"), A Bipartisan Comittee consisting of 6 Democrats, led by HHS Secretary Mario Cuomo, and 6 Republicans, led by Pennsylvania Senator, Arlen Specter. It's goal is to determine the most viable options for Healthcare Reform.