A second George H.W. Bush term

If Bush had won a second term, I think we might have had (or at least an effort to have) the Brilliant Pebble anti-ballistic missile system.

Basically a constellation of little satellites that ram enemy missiles in-flight and can also destroy enemy satellites.

(I remember Clinton used the BP technology for the Clementine probe but otherwise let all the effort go to waste.)
 
It's not culture, but economics. Culture does help, but not the deciding factor. If it was, Hispanics wouldn't have solidly backed the social centre-leftist Hillary against the social progressive Obama. And how exactly is NY "Rust Belt"? If anything it is the antithesis of Rust Belt.
 
Bush in office would mean that he keeps his pledge to Gorbachev. NATO doesn't go east, thus US-Russian relations are much better.
George W. Bush would have less desire to run for office (Yay...except if you're a Rangers fan...), as would Jeb. Perhaps he runs for MLB commissioner.
Gore would be a likely 1996 frontrunner. (Clinton would be out and damaged goods (Yay!)) Expect a Democratic gain in 1994, with Lawrence Walsh still involved (Hey, many Iran-Contra conspirators got out thanks to Bush's Chiristmas Pardon). I'm not sure if Ann Richards would stay in- not with Karl Rove out to get her.
In the Mideast, we'd still be containing Iraq (as under Clinton). Bin Laden would still hate us. We likely wouldn't go into Yugoslavia, except as part of a UN force. (And even then, that would be after Somalia.)
 

pnyckqx

Banned
Two related questions:

1-How could Bush 41 have defeated Bill Clinton to win a second term?

2-How would the country have proceeded from there?
Simple.

Bush keeps his 1988 promise: "Read my lips. NO NEW TAXES"

Clinton can't hit him on that in the debates, and make him look like a fool, and it minimizes the Perot factor somewhat. Although some evidence suggests that Perot was actually more of a factor to Clinton than to Bush OTL.
 

pnyckqx

Banned
A Democratic victory is guaranteed in 1996, particularly since the GOP has no viable candidates. Gramm is too polarizing, Quayle is the male Palin, McCain isn't well-known at this point, etc.
Yeah, Birch Bayh thought the same thing in 1980.

Let's face it, all Vice Presidents as of late have been painted as baffoons by the media.

i can remember similar treatment as far back as Agnew. It didn't let up for Walter Mondale either. It's just gotten worse over the years.
 
Here's another question: Who would George H.W. Bush have appointed as a Supreme Court justice if he had won a second term?
 
I agree that with Bush in the WH, Newt never becomes Speaker. In 1994 the GOP will have been in office 14 years and will have had four terms in the WH. A Democratic victory is guaranteed in 1996, particularly since the GOP has no viable candidates. Gramm is too polarizing, Quayle is the male Palin, McCain isn't well-known at this point, etc.


GHWB could endorse Pete Wilson and put the party aparatus behind him early to short circuit any of the hard right candidates (assuming DQ sees the writing on the wall early and doesn't run)

It would still be ideal to butterfly away or delay Pete Wilson throat cancer so he doesn't lose a lot of time on the stump unable to speak (maybe have Wilson's doctor pick it up in 1994 during a physical and he can have the treatment to have his voice in top shape for the campaign)

In 1996 the economy is booming and there is relative peace in the world... Pete Wilson should be able to run competitively against Clinton/Gore/whoever and be able to run on the republican track record of economic growth
 
I read in a book by Jan Greenburg that one of the people George H.W. Bush wanted to put on the Court was Ken Staar (but was convinced by some NH backers to put Souter in). Staar would probably get put in in place of OTL Ginsburg.
 
I agree that with Bush in the WH, Newt never becomes Speaker. In 1994 the GOP will have been in office 14 years and will have had four terms in the WH. A Democratic victory is guaranteed in 1996, particularly since the GOP has no viable candidates. Gramm is too polarizing, Quayle is the male Palin, McCain isn't well-known at this point, etc.

Powell, maybe?
 
Talk about necro...

Anyhoo, I think the likeliest GOP ticket would be Kemp/Alexander or Alexander/Kemp. For the Dems, Gore/Bradley. Gore wins simply because of GOP fatigue.
 
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