"A Rich, Cool Texan..." A President Lloyd Bentsen TL

Are we from the same TL? The Democratic Party is somewhere between center-right and mainstream right.


Bill Clinton was fiscally conservative. Reagan, however, was anything but, and neither are today's Republicans. Unless you care to explain how exploding budget deficits are fiscally conservative?

Very Good Point, the Budget situation, that was inherited from Reagan's adminstration is one of the first major problems that will plauge the Bentsen adminstration. In OTL's Bush said he wouldn't raise taxes to fix the solution and ended up being forced by the Democratic Congress to do so. One could argue that this is what cost Bush the election in '92. I tend to think, Bentsen with his expeirence with as the former chairman of the Senate Finance Commitee as well as having a more friendly Congressional enviorment will be more effective in dealing with the problem.
 
Very nice cabinet. Not too sure about Young for Sec State, but I think if Bentsen wants it, it'll probably happen. I agree with the previous poster, though, that I seriously doubt Jackson agrees to be Sec HUD -- it's one of the least glitzy posts in the US Gov't and hence doesn't have the prestige Jackson thinks he's earned.

Interesting to see how Pres Bentsen handles the fall of the Wall and the collapse of the USSR (and Tiananmen Square). With Summers at Treasury, would Bentsen push for some form of NATO? Also, having Summers at Treasury is a big throw-down to the old-school, union-based Democratic Party. OTL Clinton struggled between the two schools s o this should not be without political consequence.

Yeah, after doing some heavy research I think It would be the strongest but most politcally viable that Bentsen could come up with. A nice fusion of some of the best that Carter's adminstration had to offer, while looking forward to some of the more prominet newbies in the party at that time aswell. I tend to think that his meeting with the PLO, although not the smartest move politically, did have good intentions. Also, his newfound popularity as mayor of a major US City(Atlanta) and clinching the 96 Olympics, would I think be seen as a pretty smart pick.

The collapse of the USSR and Tinamen Square will all be revealed in the next few installments...I also see the NATO probably does get passed in TTL and Im definatley going to have to research the fight within the party between the Old school union democrats and the ones supporting Globablization. Thanks for the Heads up lol
 
The collapse of the USSR and Tinamen Square will all be revealed in the next few installments...I also see the NATO probably does get passed in TTL and Im definatley going to have to research the fight within the party between the Old school union democrats and the ones supporting Globablization. Thanks for the Heads up lol

On further thought and proofreading, we probably both meant NAFTA, rather than NATO, which passed in 1949.
 
On further thought and proofreading, we probably both meant NAFTA, rather than NATO, which passed in 1949.

Wow, Im suprised I didn't catch that mistake on both of our ends lol but yes, I do think Bentesen will try to get some form of NAFTA passed in TTL.
 
A New Era of Greatness: 1989


200 years, after General George Washington was sworn in to become the nation’s 1st President, a former WWII bomber pilot, businessman, and Texas Senator…Lloyd Millard Bentsen Jr. proudly stood on the steps of the west front of the Capital Building and uttered that same oath of affirmation. After he placed his hands on the Bible, and was sworn in by Chief Justice William Rehnquist, the child of the Rio Grande became the 41st President of the United States. Not particularly known for his skills as an Orator, most historians agree that he delivered one of the most well-crafted and significant speech of his career during on that cold winter day of January 20th, 1989. The most memorable lines of his rather lengthy, Inauguration Speech were that of:

“I am proud to have been given the ability to govern this great country of ours by the American People. In return, I promise to provide experience, tempered and capable leadership as this nation’s Commander in Chief. The time is now, especially as the world lies in such a period of transition, not to cling on to the old ideals of the past. For In this new era, we as Americans cannot be content to rest our laurels simply because the stakes are just too high. We as Americans must move into the future united in a commitment to make this country of ours, the most powerful, most prosperous nation in the world. For, We as Americans honor our past but we also must not forget about our children in the process, who will live in such an uncertain future. However, in the words of my late and dear friend Michael Dukakis, I believe that the best America is yet to come. With your blessing and your help, I promise that my administration will bring America to a New Era of Greatness.”


The 41st President soon quickly made good on his promise to the American People, as he and his administration smoothly made the transition of power into the White House. His first true test of his skills as President of the United States came in the form, by compiling his first budget on February 9th, which is originally hailed as a success modeled his largely fiscally conservative policy initiatives and to contrast himself with his predecessor’s rather expensive budget plans. Bentsen also knew that the growing deficit was the biggest roadblocks in helping America regain her place in the word, so through the year he would continue to work with the 101st congress to create a plan to solve the nation’s greatest economic issue.

Abroad, President Bentsen was able to flex his strong stance on Foreign Policy through the crises in Panama and China. Upon ascending to his office, Bentsen kept the freeze put in place by President Reagan on all Panamanian assets in US banks and, due to the increased tensions between Americans and Pro-Noriega supporters, He also pursued a more aggressive economic sanctions against the Central American country. However by, May of 1989 it soon became apparent that the US, may have to commit troops on the ground in order to depose Noriega, after he annulled a Presidential election that would have given the post to Guillermo Endara and viscously put down protesters who spoke out against the fraud. In private conversation with Secretary of State Young, and Secretary of Defense Brown, President Bentsen after laboring for hours upon whether or not to “Sacrifice our Boys to clean up Reagan’s mess” initiated Operation CLEAN SLATE, and sent 1,900 troops into Panama in order to resolve the situation. The situation finally cumulated in December, when Noriega declared himself Dictator of Panama and issued a declaration of war against the United States. Following the death of an American Serviceman, President Bentsen with the support of his newly appointed Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff David E. Jeremiah, angrily declared a full invasion of Panama under the name of Operation SMOKEOUT citing the need to protect American lives, restoration of democracy, combat drug trafficking and to enforce the Torrijos-Carter Treaties. He would commit more than 10,000 American troops to join with the 12,000 already stationed in Panama. Within a few days, Noriega’s PDF forces were completely subdued and by the end of the year, the main focus of the Operation changed to finding the exiled Noriega.

In China, President Bentsen provided a much more tempered response to the atrocities committed by the Chinese Government in Tiananmen square. Thousands of protesters were killed and tens of thousands were arrested much to the American Public’s dismay. To match, the Public disapproval of the actions of the Chinese Government President Bentsen swiftly ordered sanctions against China in the form of a ban on arms/police equipment shipment, cessation of high-level talks with Chinese officials, suspension of talks on nuclear cooperation, froze funds for the expansion of US/China trade and declared that sanctions would not be lifted until that China made progress in the area of Human Rights. The Rio Grande native would see his approval rating from the American people and Congress skyrocket after the sanctions were imposed and continued more or less at a high rate throughout the year.

By the end of the year, President Bentsen along with the American people watched on their television sets as one of the most infamous symbols of the Cold War, was torn asunder before their very eyes. And once news came that President Mikhail Gorbachev supported the East Germans in their action, the Bentsen Administration buzzed with enthusiasm over the idea that the leader of the Soviet Union was indeed interested in a new relationship with the West. This led to, the first-ever summit led by the two executives on the island of Malta and talks soon began to emerge of a possible end to the Cold War. Although little was actually accomplished in this first summit between Bentsen and Gorbachev, they did make their positions known as Gorbachev stressed the need of US support in his attempt of Domestic Reform within the Soviet Union while Bentsen cautiously promoted the need for Human Rights protection and arms control. Nevertheless, the talk was one of the first steps to see to it that America was led into its New Era of Greatness.
 
Intersting, but I think picking Casey would alienate much of the Democratic base.

It would alienate the activist left base, yes, but after eight years of Reagan it's plausible that they'd be hungry enough for any Democratic President to gloss over the VP.

And, of course, it would be very appealing to Reagan Democrats.
 
It would alienate the activist left base, yes, but after eight years of Reagan it's plausible that they'd be hungry enough for any Democratic President to gloss over the VP.

And, of course, it would be very appealing to Reagan Democrats.

All very true, Like I stated allthough Casey may be an hard pill to swallow for some of the more-liberal democratic base...I think strategically, It would be the best choice for Bentsen to go with...He's a Governor of Big State, He wins back those pesky Reagan Democrats and Catholic voters, and he was also known to be a champion of Healthcare and Welfare reform in Pennyslvannia. I think he would make a very strong VP.
 
Hey, If hit alil bit of a roadblock on my next installment...Im trying to figure out what exactly would be a President Bentsen's response to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait? I know many at this board have supported the idea that a President Dukakis would have been in favor of tougher sanctions but would stand short of a total invasion...Would Bentsen have done the same? Or might he favor a a war pretty analagous to how Operation Desert Storm went down? Might he be even more of a hawk that I expect and want his mission to invade Bagdahad to overthrow Saddam? Any other thoughts?
 
On Iraq I imagine it would be pretty similar to what happened IOTL—Bentsen is a fairly conservative Democrat and the Gulf War did have a lot of Democratic backing, especially given that it was protecting a US ally and had UN support.

In my opinion how it effects the domestic situation would be the concern to me. Which Republican Senators vote against it because a Democrat proposed it? Do Bentsen's approval ratings scare off Republican challengers as they did to the Democrats in '92?
 
Do Bentsen's approval ratings scare off Republican challengers as they did to the Democrats in '92?

As per the last, I suspect that challengers that will be "scared off" include Dole, Baker, or anyone of that sort. Does this open the way for a Republican in the Gingrich mold to run against and beat Bentsen on the economic issues in an analogous way to how Clinton beach Bush I?

I could see Jack Kemp, who was laissez-faire in the Reagan mold but still quite respectful towards labor and minorities, as being a plausible challenger to Bentsen. There is certainly no other Republican I can think of who could use the "It's the Economy, Stupid" mantra as well as he. If he picks a social conservative as a running mate, he could have a chance.
 
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On Iraq I imagine it would be pretty similar to what happened IOTL—Bentsen is a fairly conservative Democrat and the Gulf War did have a lot of Democratic backing, especially given that it was protecting a US ally and had UN support.

In my opinion how it effects the domestic situation would be the concern to me. Which Republican Senators vote against it because a Democrat proposed it? Do Bentsen's approval ratings scare off Republican challengers as they did to the Democrats in '92?

Yeah, that's what I was leaning more toward but some interesting Butterflies that I revealed in TTL, is that Powell is not the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, so there is no "Powell Doctrine" as it was created in OTL. Secretary of State Young and Chairman might be more infavor of a longer conflict, focused on rebuilding Iraq's Political and Socioeconcomic structure, If they decide to depose Saddam. Yet who would be the most American friendly person to appoint to lead the fractious coalition within Iraq?

What happens during and the aftermath of the ATL Gulf War will put the GOP in an odd position. I still think Dole becomes the front runner amongs a race of smaller candidates with the bigger fish(Kemp, Buchannan etc) deciding against running against such a popular President.
 
As per the last, I suspect that challengers that will be "scared off" include Dole, Baker, or anyone of that sort. Does this open the way for a Republican in the Gingrich mold to run against and beat Bentsen on the economic issues in an analogous way to how Clinton beach Bush I?

I could see Jack Kemp, who was laissez-faire in the Reagan mold but still quite respectful towards labor and minorities, as being a plausible challenger to Bentsen. There is certainly no other Republican I can think of who could use the "It's the Economy, Stupid" mantra as well as he. If he picks a social conservative as a running mate, he could have a chance.

I just don't see Kemp as of yet(He would be a strong frontrunner in '96 or '00) but I can definatley see the Party Leaders convincing Dole to run against Bentsen in '92, where he is still relativley popular from his '88 challenge against Bush and still has strong Southern support(Thurmond)...But Im still researching events so, Im not entirely sure how it will all turn out.
 
I still think Dole becomes the front runner amongs a race of smaller candidates with the bigger fish(Kemp, Buchannan etc) deciding against running against such a popular President.

Dole just ran in '88 and by all accounts had a very trying experience on multiple levels. He strongly considered not running in '96 and I doubt that he'd run in '92.

As always, I nominate Governor Carroll Campbell, of South Carolina, as the most likely GOP candidate in a '92 scenario where the Democrats control the White House.
 
Born into the '90's: 1990

President Bentsen would welcome the start of the last decade of the millennium with a newfound sense of optimism, as his Operation SMOKEOUT proved largely to be a success with the capture of Manuel Noriega within the first couple of weeks in January. On the 13th of January, would receive more support amongst the African-American base, when he delivered a widely-acclaimed speech during the inauguration of the first elected Black Governor….Douglas Wilder of Virginia. Bentsen is also one of the responsible factors in pressuring State President Willem de Klerk, to make sure that his promise to release the imprisoned Nelson Mandela. After his release in February, President Bentsen would urge his former colleagues in the Democratic-controlled congress to pass a bill to remove Mandela from the Terrorist Watch list, due to his former affiliation with the African National Congress. After months of rankling, the bill is passed during the summer of ’90, which President Bentsen hailed as “A triumph in the war against Bigotry”.


However, reality would soon sink in as the nation’s looming deficit problems would take center stage in the Bentsen Administration in 1990. Being most famous for his fiscally-conservative policies when he served as chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, President Bentsen would work hard with his Treasury Secretary Summers to try to come up with a solution to the growing “Reagan Deficit” as Bentsen had come to call it, would send a proposal using a series of Tax cuts and curbs in Government spending in order to reduce the deficit by $500 Billion dollars over a span of five years. Although Bentsen, although known for the most to part for his ability to reach a consensus within the congress, In an odd turn off events the President would find himself with the support of many House Republicans but found the proposal shot down by many members of the Democratic Majority Congress. House Democrats, who fundamentally believed that the only way to curb the deficit would be to raise taxes, which they could not bring themselves to support such a “flawed” plan. After months of deliberation, President Bentsen would finally reach a compromise in the form of the Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1990, which increased the marginal tax rate, but capped the capital gains rate at 28 percent. Although, Bentsen would loose a lot of support from Congressional Republicans who had supported the President due to his fiscal conservatism, he would gain more support back from within his own party due to the Reconciliation.

Domestically, President Bentsen would see to it that more federal spending be directed toward childcare, education and advanced technology research. But one of the most memorable laws signed into being that year would be the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Which is considered the most pro-civil Rights bill seen since the last Texan occupied the White House. The old oil man would also see to it that the 101st Congress pass his amendments to the Clean Air Act which added provisions for addressing acid rain, ozone depletion, toxic air pollution, reformulation of gasoline as well as emissions trading. With the retirement of liberal Justice, William Brennan, President Bentsen sought out the appointment of New York Governor Mario Cuomo to the seat. After a near unanimous decision by the Democratic Congress to approve Cuomo, which would see to it that the 1988-1990 ratio of Liberal to Conservative Justices within the Rehnquist court remain the same.

In June of 1990, President Bentsen would have another set of talks with that of Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in their second three-day summit. With the main topic of the conversation being over that of a possible reunification of Germany in the near future especially with the obliteration of the Berlin Wall in ’89 and Communist rule being almost nonexistent in East Germany. However, differences would soon become apparent over whether or not a new Germany would be permitted to join NATO as a member which the US supported and the USSR being afraid over a united and rearmed Germany were against. Gorbachev attempted to propose to Bentsen a plan where Germany could join both NATO and the Warsaw Pact but fell on the Texan’s deaf ears. The Bentsen administration also made it stance against Soviet aggression against the Lithuanian Independence and although no agreement was made on either Germany of Lithuania…President Bentsen would declare the meeting overall very positive and constructive.

On August 2nd, 1990…Saddam Hussein launched a full invasion into the sovereign nation of Kuwait. The Iraqi Republican Guard easily overran Kuwait’s armed forces within two days, which prompted the US and Kuwaiti delegations to call to order on the UN Security council meeting. The UN swiftly demanded a full withdrawal of Iraqi forces, economic sanctions be placed on Iraq and a full condemnation of Saddam’s actions. However, soon after his successful conquest of Kuwait, the nation of Saudi Arabia came under verbal attack from Saddam with the threats of possible invasion into the US Ally. A staunch supporter of the Carter Doctrine, President Bentsen would see to it that Saudi Arabia be protected against a possible Iraqi invasion under the name of Operation Arabian Knight. Within the first weeks of August, almost 545,000 American troops would be deployed to Saudi Arabia, and largely thought off as one of the quickest Military Buildups in Recent history. Following the build up, the UN Security Council along with the Arab league would pass Resolution 678 giving Iraq a withdrawal deadline of January 15th, 1991 and the ability to enforce the Resolution by any means necessary. This would also be crucial as it would be seen as a defining moment in Secretary of State Andrew Young’s career as he assembled an impressive coalition of 34 countries united with the US against Iraq. Although many of the coalition’s members were reluctant to join, as they saw it as a interference in Arab affairs or feared increased American influence in Kuwait. Yet in the end, most of the nations were completely on board citing Secretary Young’s diplomatic skills and Iraq’s increasing belligerence toward other Arab states.

As increased tensions pushed the United States of America toward war with Iraq, a moment of celebration was heard from the Bentsen administration upon hearing of the news of a reunified Germany in October. The popularity of President Bentsen and his administration in his handling over the several crucial foreign crises as well as his progressive domestic policies enacted at home in his first two years in office are able to translate well into the Congressional Midterm elections. The Democratic Party is able to hold onto both their majorities in the House and in the Senate, much to the GOP’s chagrin. However the 102nd congress couldn’t spend too much of a wait dwelling in their victory, as with the coming of the new year in 1991 along came rumors of war
 
Dole just ran in '88 and by all accounts had a very trying experience on multiple levels. He strongly considered not running in '96 and I doubt that he'd run in '92.

As always, I nominate Governor Carroll Campbell, of South Carolina, as the most likely GOP candidate in a '92 scenario where the Democrats control the White House.

All very much true, Dole is probably content with being Senate Minority leader for the moment and should support the popular Bentsen with TTL's Desert Storm. I also think Carrol Campbell might do well in TTL's 1992 as he is from the Attwater school of Republicans and will probably engage a hard fight between Carville and Begala in the '92 election, but how the war actually breaks down is probably going to be the biggest dependent on who runs in '92. Any other comments on my latest installment?
 
Any other comments on my latest installment?

I know next to nothing about the Gulf War so, um, no :).


As regards balancing the budget the principal fight in the Clinton years was between the White House—pushing for a 10 year balance the budget plan—and Newt's Congress pushing for a 7 year balance the budget by cutting things plan. (This was after Dole failed to get through the Senate the Balanced Budget Amendment.)

Other economic-ish issues at the time included block transfers to the states instead of federally run programs, tax rates (all Republicans were screaming that raising taxes would cause the economy to go south…*they conveniently forgot they said anything when the economy boomed), deregulation, health care, and welfare reform.
 
I know next to nothing about the Gulf War so, um, no :).


As regards balancing the budget the principal fight in the Clinton years was between the White House—pushing for a 10 year balance the budget plan—and Newt's Congress pushing for a 7 year balance the budget by cutting things plan. (This was after Dole failed to get through the Senate the Balanced Budget Amendment.)

Other economic-ish issues at the time included block transfers to the states instead of federally run programs, tax rates (all Republicans were screaming that raising taxes would cause the economy to go south…*they conveniently forgot they said anything when the economy boomed), deregulation, health care, and welfare reform.

Those are some interesting points raised Electric, I'm definataley going to research further and try to figure out how Bentsen and the Democratic controlled congress are going to handle those issues(I still think Newt's Revolution happens right on schedule as in OTL, giving Bentsen alot more chances to actually get things passed)
 
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