Bill Clinton resigns

Hilary would probably leave him, since he is no longer politically valuable.

Riiiight, because political considerations are the only thing she things about, the harridan </snark>

Why is it so many attribute such crash, shrewish, mustache-twirling villainy to Hillary Clinton?
 
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Gore is a favorite imo if he's incumbent in 2000

economy is doing well/clinton was pretty popular even while being impeached/nothing bad was happening, OTOH it's 3rd term for a democrat

True, Ford almost beat Carter in 1976. And he would have if he hadn't pardoned Nixon or if the economy was better. So Gore is the favorite in 2000, but thanks to the 22nd Amendment he'd be ineligible to run again in 2004. That said if the GOP retains control of Congress Gore wouldn't be able to enact any major liberal proposals. Either the Republicans obstruct everything he tries to do, or he'd have to make serious sacrifices and compromises just to get anything passed. He may get a primary challenge from the left, although he still wins the Democratic nomination.

Another important issue here is Clinton's legacy. IMO he'd be remembered as the Democratic Nixon: he pushed through some major accomplishments but ultimately he put the country through a painful scandal and was forced from office in disgrace. Instead of being listed in the top 20 Presidents, he'd be in the bottom 10 somewhere above Nixon.
 
Remember the tech bubble burst in 2000 before the election so Gore getting re-elected is far from certain. In OTL he wasn't blamed (even though he did invent the internet;)) but here if he took over as President and then the internet bubble burst he may get blamed
 
True, Ford almost beat Carter in 1976. And he would have if he hadn't pardoned Nixon or if the economy was better. So Gore is the favorite in 2000, but thanks to the 22nd Amendment he'd be ineligible to run again in 2004.

This depends on whether Clinton's resignation is before or after January 20, 1999. I could see the plea bargaining negotiations drag on until after that date...
 

RousseauX

Donor
Remember the tech bubble burst in 2000 before the election so Gore getting re-elected is far from certain. In OTL he wasn't blamed (even though he did invent the internet;)) but here if he took over as President and then the internet bubble burst he may get blamed
the us economy wasn't in recession until 2002 otl, average people don't care about stock market bubbles until it hits them through the job market. the economy was doing well in nov 2000
 

Philip

Donor
Looking ahead, this would likely bolster Hillary's political ambitions since she would have a lot of sympathy and could divorce Bill for good. She could be remembered as the "Good Clinton" and be associated with the positive aspects of his tenure in office.

Not sure. She could easily be remembered as the one who enabled Bill for all those years.
 
Riiiight, because political considerations are the only thing she things about, the harridan </snark>

Why is it so many attribute such crash, shrewish, mustache-twirling villainy to Hillary Clinton?

I mean I don't buy into the caricature of Hillary as some evil woman who puts her personal, political ambitions above everything else. But at the same time, she does very much have those ambitions...and if Bill lied to everyone else about it, why not her? That could very much be enough to make her leave him. And even if he doesn't lie to her, I could see her being very upset about it both based on her marriage and the damage it could do to her future prospects. I don't think that makes her a villain, it's just honest.
 
Not sure. She could easily be remembered as the one who enabled Bill for all those years.

She has that reputation today, or at least she does on the right. Frankly I think sticking with Bill hurt her more than helped her in 2016. A lot of religious conservative voters who ended up voting for Trump despite his history of philandering and vulgar remarks were probably able to rationalize it by reminding themselves of Bill's behavior and Hillary's alleged role in enabling all that. The Trump campaign certainly played that up by inviting Juanita Broaddrick to one of the debates.
 
She has that reputation today, or at least she does on the right. Frankly I think sticking with Bill hurt her more than helped her in 2016. A lot of religious conservative voters who ended up voting for Trump despite his history of philandering and vulgar remarks were probably able to rationalize it by reminding themselves of Bill's behavior and Hillary's alleged role in enabling all that. The Trump campaign certainly played that up by inviting Juanita Broaddrick to one of the debates.

I recall a number of people telling me, following the Access Hollywood tape, that "What Trump said was bad, but what Hillary did is worse." Conveniently ignoring that, well, Trump was saying he'd committed sexual assault a number of times...
 

Driftless

Donor
the american electorate didn't think Lewinsky was a big deal

True to an extent. More of JFK's extramarital affairs were in the public cosciousness by then, but Bill's shenanigans cost him what (very) little support he had from social conservatives. Even many swing or liberal voters viewed that activity as sophomoric frat-boy indulgence. To avoid any association with Bill's affairs, Gore would have to throw Bill under the bus repeatedly. That probably causes some loss of financially connected Democratic support.
 

RousseauX

Donor
True to an extent. More of JFK's extramarital affairs were in the public cosciousness by then, but Bill's shenanigans cost him what (very) little support he had from social conservatives. Even many swing or liberal voters viewed that activity as sophomoric frat-boy indulgence. To avoid any association with Bill's affairs, Gore would have to throw Bill under the bus repeatedly. That probably causes some loss of financially connected Democratic support.
clinton's approvals were in the 70s during impeachment hearings, the democrats gained seats (first time since 1934) in the house during midterms in 1998 with a democrat in the white house

Gore otl did distance himself from clinton and it arguably cost him the otl 2000 election because you are attached to him no matter what, might as well as tout the good stuff

social conservatives were not reliable democrat anyway, you can win without them

the public knew about it, but this was the 90s long before #metoo, the US public didn't care at the time
 

samcster94

Banned
clinton's approvals were in the 70s during impeachment hearings, the democrats gained seats (first time since 1934) in the house during midterms in 1998 with a democrat in the white house

Gore otl did distance himself from clinton and it arguably cost him the otl 2000 election because you are attached to him no matter what, might as well as tout the good stuff

social conservatives were not reliable democrat anyway, you can win without them

the public knew about it, but this was the 90s long before #metoo, the US public didn't care at the time
I noted that in the prompt. Gore winning even with that, just with NH/Tennessee flipping, would be easily doable.
 

Driftless

Donor
Riiiight, because political considerations are the only thing she things about, the harridan </snark>

Why is it so many attribute such crash, shrewish, mustache-twirling villainy to Hillary Clinton?
She was a tough and forward woman who got things done in that fading era when old boy politicos resented that persona from women. That reputation made her an easy mark for political spin doctors to grind on. That image has remained with her
 
WI the impeachement were hurried and Clinton resigned before folk realised that the public did not like him being driven from office
 
the us economy wasn't in recession until 2002 otl, average people don't care about stock market bubbles until it hits them through the job market. the economy was doing well in nov 2000

In fact, in September-December 2000, the unemployment rate was 3.9 percent. With the single exception of April 2000 (when it was 3.8 percent) that's the lowest it had been since January 1970--and the lowest it would get until--the most recent report (for July 2018)! https://fred.stlouisfed.org/data/UNRATE.txt

Stock prices were a bit off their early-2000 highs, but the Dow was still near 11,000 https://money.cnn.com/2000/11/07/markets/markets_newyork/ --and remember, it hadn't even reached 10,000 until March 29, 1999... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Closi...erage#The_1990s_Bull_Acceleration_(1989–2000)
 
Riiiight, because political considerations are the only thing she things about, the harridan </snark>

Why is it so many attribute such crash, shrewish, mustache-twirling villainy to Hillary Clinton?

Crash? the only time i have heard 'crash' when it comes to Hillary, is her car crash of an election strategy.
 
If President Gore wins a full term in 2000 and leave office in 2005, the Republicans would have a good shot at winning the White House after 12 years of Democrats. If Dubya runs and loses in 2000, I don't think he'd be back for '04. So McCain would be the likely nominee. Who would he face in the general?

41. George Bush (1989-1993)
42. Bill Clinton (1993-1998)
43. Al Gore (1998-2005)
44. ?
 
The thing to remember is that the public considered the impeachment over Lewinsky to be a politically-motivated temper tantrum by the Republican Party. ...

Pretty much my view, and several friends who were still Republican voters. A colossal waste of time, run by people who likely had worse buried in their back field.

Now if Clinton had cover up or other connection to the Mena Murders firmly pinned to him the public would definitely shift away from him.
 
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