Alternate Oral History: Vignettes from an alternate 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s

Wikipedia entry for Howard Metzenbaum

Clarence Thomas confirmation

On July 1, 1991, Clarence Thomas was nominated to serve as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, to replace Thurgood Marshall. After routine hearings in September, Thomas appeared to be well on his way to confirmation.

When the contents of an FBI file were leaked to NPR reporter Nina Totenberg, there was a flurry of reporting on the allegations. A second round of hearing provided no proof of the allegations, and featured numerous character witnesses on Thomas's behalf. While the controversy did not prevent Thomas from being confirmed by a 61-39 vote, it hung over the Senate.

A Senate Ethics Committee investigation later found that a staffer from Metzenbaum's office later leaked the file. Metzenbaum was censured by the Senate for his failure to secure the file. The staffer ended up serving a two-year federal prison sentence.
 
Excerpt from It Doesn't Take a Hero, by Norman Schwarzkopf

I never could fathom why Saddam Hussein, less than four years after the Lebanon War had ended, thought we were kidding when we told him not to cross into Kuwait. But he did.

When the invasion happened, it did not take us long to respond. The 82nd Airborne was deployed to Saudi Arabia, along with the 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade.

We met at Camp David on August 5. After discussing plans for the defense of Saudi Arabia, President Kemp then asked about setting up plans to eject Iraqi forces from Kuwait and to ensure long-term stability.

"If we go to war, we are going to win," the President told me. "We will not take half-measures. If Saddam wants a war, then he will be out of power, and held to account - if not here, than before God. I am not going to leave him hanging around for my successors to deal with."

I glanced at Vice President Bush, who seemed to show similar resolve. I was taken aback, but also grateful. I hate war. If we have to fight it, make sure we win, and that what sacrifices we make are worth it. At the same time, should Saddam be toppled, it would mean a long occupation, and we'd have much to do in that case.
 
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I wonder who the excerpt is from. What does count as offerized by you anyway because you said some of t he posts weren't.
 
"If we go to war, we are going to win," the President told me. "We will not take half-measures. If Saddam wants a war, then he will be out of power, and held to account - if not here, than before God. I am not going to leave him hanging around for my successors to deal with."

I glanced at Vice President Bush, who seemed to show similar resolve. I was taken aback, but also grateful. I hate war. If we have to fight it, make sure we win, and that what sacrifices we make are worth it. At the same time, should Saddam be toppled, it would mean a long occupation, and we'd have much to do in that case.

:eek:

Although in this TL, I suppose we will be greeted as liberators. :)
 
Grateful Dead’s Jerry Garcia in critical condition after massive heart attack.
New York Times Headline: August 9th, 1995.

Jerry Garcia, the face of the psychedelic rock band “The Grateful Dead” was rushed to the hospital late last night after suffering a massive heart attack. Garcia, who has been known to have had serious health problems for the better part of a decade, as well as multiple drug addictions throughout the years, is reportedly in critical condition. The Grateful Dead’s spokesman, Dennis McNally, confirmed that Garcia was at a rehabilitation center in Forrest Knolls at the time when he suddenly collapsed.

The Grateful Dead has weathered death and close calls before; in 1973, Ron “Pigpen” McKernan died. Shortly after he left the band, Keith Godchaux died in a car accident in 1980. And in 1990, Brent Mydland died the age of 37 from a drug overdose.
 
Ah. Perhaps you'll consider doing threads like this for other decades like the 60's and 70's?

Actually, there may be a TL with reverberations in the 1960s and 1970s stemming from a POD in 1942... but I also think it may be good enough to publish as a for-real book (if I can find the time to write it).
 
Excerpt from A World Transformed, By George H.W. Bush

When Saddam invaded Kuwait, Jack [Kemp] was determined to reverse it - and he had immediate support from Margaret Thatcher. The decision, though, was how far to go.

I watched as Jack wrestled with the decision, talking with Secretary of Defense James Watkins, and Secretary of State James Baker. My biggest sense, though, was that the most influential meeting was with Robin Olds, a pilot who had flown combat in World War II and Vietnam, and who had served in staff positions during the Korean War.

It was after that meeting when he told me, "George, if this comes to a war, we go all the way to Baghdad. No half measures."

"This could be very risky," I told Jack.

"I know it is," Jack responded. "But as President, sometimes you have to take risks. One thing for sure, I do not want to see the children and grandchildren of Americans have to go back there just because we didn't finish the job. Can you and Jim get the Saudis on board with that?"

I thought it over - the Saudis were pleading for help, the Kuwaitis had fled as well. I finally nodded.

"Let's do it."
 
"I know it is," Jack responded. "But as President, sometimes you have to take risks. One thing for sure, I do not want to see the children and grandchildren of Americans have to go back there just because we didn't finish the job. Can you and Jim get the Saudis on board with that?"

I thought it over - the Saudis were pleading for help, the Kuwaitis had fled as well. I finally nodded.

"Let's do it."

Let me preface this by saying that -- at the time IOTL -- one could very plausibly argue that George H.W. Bush's ability to get the Saudis to permit U.S. air forces to stage in their country was a masterstroke of diplomacy that allowed the U.S. to successfully prosecute Operation Desert Storm with minimal casualties. Actually; that's an understatement -- with the U.S. air superiority projected over the region, you had entire divisions of the Iraqi Republican Guard surrendering to whatever American soldiers they could find (including, hilariously, one episode in which a detachment surrendered to a jeep full of journalists). I think it's fair to say that it ranks among the very best discrete foreign policy accomplishments of any modern U.S. president.

However, in retrospect, the U.S presence in Saudi Arabia directly fueled Al-Qaeda's recruiting efforts, which in turn led to 9/11. A vastly expanded U.S. presence there -- particularly one that leads to the occupation of Iraq -- will very likely multiply that backlash effect by several orders of magnitude. Instead of a few hundred religious loons following Osama bin Laden, we could be looking at hundreds of thousands of terrorists, including high-profile strikes at our "temporary" bases in Saudi Arabia (which are somewhat easier to reach than NYC).

So, on the foreign front, you're setting up a clusterf*ck of epic proportions that combines the worst of OTL's Vietnam circa 1968, Iraq War II, and a dozen 9/11s. On the domestic front, you've butterflied away the George H.W. Bush budgets in favor of more supply-side tax cuts, and you've butterflied away the Clinton economic boom.

Yikes! :eek:
 
Excerpt from Milwaukee Police Department Arrest report dated May 27, 1991


Unit responded to 911 call about screaming male and possible domestic incident. Upon arrival we requested identification from both males present, Subj later identified as Jeffery Dahmer M/w DOB: May 21, 1960 explained that second subject leter identified as Konerak Sinthasomphone, was his boyfriend and they had an arugment and Sinthasaomphone was intoxicated.

Escorting the men back to their residence, Ofc Gabrish detected a scent that believed to be the odor of decomposing remains. At this time officers requested consent to search from subj Dahmer which was declined. At this time we confirmed that Sinthasaomphone was a minor and Dahmer was arrested for criminal sexual assault of a minor.

R/O's requested supervisor and detective response due to odor. Subj Dahmer was advised of his Miranda rights and declined to make a statement and again declined consent to search. Detectives obtained a warrant and upon search found decomposing human remains which showed signs of trauma. Dahmer was transported to district 3 detectives for interview.....
 
Let me preface this by saying that -- at the time IOTL -- one could very plausibly argue that George H.W. Bush's ability to get the Saudis to permit U.S. air forces to stage in their country was a masterstroke of diplomacy that allowed the U.S. to successfully prosecute Operation Desert Storm with minimal casualties. Actually; that's an understatement -- with the U.S. air superiority projected over the region, you had entire divisions of the Iraqi Republican Guard surrendering to whatever American soldiers they could find (including, hilariously, one episode in which a detachment surrendered to a jeep full of journalists). I think it's fair to say that it ranks among the very best discrete foreign policy accomplishments of any modern U.S. president.

However, in retrospect, the U.S presence in Saudi Arabia directly fueled Al-Qaeda's recruiting efforts, which in turn led to 9/11. A vastly expanded U.S. presence there -- particularly one that leads to the occupation of Iraq -- will very likely multiply that backlash effect by several orders of magnitude. Instead of a few hundred religious loons following Osama bin Laden, we could be looking at hundreds of thousands of terrorists, including high-profile strikes at our "temporary" bases in Saudi Arabia (which are somewhat easier to reach than NYC).

So, on the foreign front, you're setting up a clusterf*ck of epic proportions that combines the worst of OTL's Vietnam circa 1968, Iraq War II, and a dozen 9/11s. On the domestic front, you've butterflied away the George H.W. Bush budgets in favor of more supply-side tax cuts, and you've butterflied away the Clinton economic boom.

Yikes! :eek:

The 1983-1987 Lebanon War is a bit of a game-changer on the foreign policy front. The threat posed by jihadists isn't being blown off - at least by the Reagan-Kemp Administrations.

Also, in late September, 1984, copies of the Hamas Charter, which calls for the destruction of Israel (as is the case in @), were found. Not only did that convince the United States to fight and win there, it also had serious domestic political effects as well. In essence, even as Communism fades, radical Islam is replacing it as a distinct foreign policy question.

The liberal Democrats found themselves caught having argued inaction against a foe that has expressed its intention to carry out a second Holocaust. As a result, the Democrats found themselves split big time from 1984-1988, and it cost them some credibility.

The problem is, they still control the party - and as a result, there is a split almost down the middle. Anti-war Democrats can win the primary, but lose a general. Pro-war Dems can win a general, but struggle in the primary - and some lose general elections due to liberals either sitting out or going with a protest vote.

Also, there is no Mario Cuomo to give the 1984 DNC keynote, and no Bill Clinton to really propel the DNC.

Domestically, there is going to be another economic boom - in this case, Kemp is not only going to keep the two-rate structure from the 1986 Tax Reform Act, he's going to lower the capital gains rate. No 1990 budget deal, no room for Buchanan's 1992 primary challenge.

No real room for Perot, either. The fact is, the 1991-1992 recession was quite mild, and if anything, the Clinton economic boom may be in even higher gear if the top marginal rate is 28% as opposed to 39.6%. The fact that the military may end up remaining closer to the size it was at the end of the Reagan buildup also means that there is no contraction of defense jobs because there will be no "peace dividend." At most, there is some re-tooling to address the perceived threat of Islamic radicalism.

As for bin Laden... stay tuned.
 
JAGMAN Investigation Statement of Lt. Col. Oliver L. North, USMC, Commanding Officer, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment - 19 November, 1990

At 2344 on 17 November, 1990, four Marines on a security detail challenged a group of intruders who were near the perimeter of the base camp of 2/2 Marines. When challenged and ordered to show their hands, the intruders instead appeared to be reaching for weapons.

At that time, the Marines opened fire with their rifles, killing one of the intruders, and wounding the other two. Host nation authorities identified the deceased men as Osama bin Mohammed bin Awad bin Laden, a vocal critic of the presence of American and British troops in Saudi Arabia.

An AKSU-74 rifle was recovered from the body of bin Laden, who also was in possession of a bomb consisting of approximately six pounds of Semtex explosives. The wounded insurgents were carrying AK-47 rifles, hand grenades, and also had similar devices. The devices were destroyed by a controlled demolition carried out by EOD personnel.

The two surviving intruders were later convicted of felony murder by Saudi authorities. They were sentenced to death. The incident lead the Saudis to crack down on extremists.
 
Excerpt from Rob Neyer's Big Book of Baseball Blunders

1992 - Rangers Trade Rodriguez and Palmeiro

The Milwaukee Brewers were just coming off a World Series win in 1991. All was not necessarily happy in Milwaukee, though. Despite seven straight post-season appearances, the team was having some financial struggles - simply because post-collusion-era free agency was

Gary Sheffield, acquired as part of a trade that sent right-handed pitcher Moose Haas to Oakland, was not the happiest of players on the team. Furthermore, he was entering arbitration after posting an OPS of .878 over the last three seasons, and he was due for a huge pay raise.

Milwaukee had suitors for Sheffield, and he was eventually traded to the Texas Rangers with Dave Nilsson for Ivan Rodriguez and Rafael Palmeiro.

Sheffield performed well for the Rangers for five years, and hit 528 home runs over his career. He helped the Rangers reach the post-season in 1995, the same year that Brewers third baseman Cal Ripken set the consecutive games played record. But Rodriguez and Palmeiro ended up cornerstones of the 1990s Brewers, and both are seen as potential Hall of Fame players today, and they played 16 and 10 seasons for the Brewers.

Getting five seasons of a future Hall of Fame player (Gary Sheffield) and eight of Dave Nilsson in exchange for 26 seasons from two future Hall of Famers (Rodriguez and Palmeiro) counts as a baseball blunder.
 
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