Black Monday: The End of "The West"

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Meta: this is a side project to Castro '68, which means posts will not be as common. I recommend watching this thread. But you do you. Also Im not an Economist, I dont know really how economics works too much. I have basic understanding of it.


It was a cold Monday in October, 1987, The boom of the 80s was in full swing. At least everyone thought. The Market Opened up to a terrifying sight for Investors, The Dow J had fallen 1016 points, Panic engulfed wall street over the next few hours. Investors sold stocks as quick as they could, only perpetuating the crisis.Ronald Reagan Awoke from a nap that morning, an Aid rushed to him, handing him a newspaper...Reagan's eyes widened.
"Jesus Christ, I fear for the worst"
As Market Conditions began to worsen, People began rapidly withdrawing money from banks, Reagan now had to deal with an Economic collapse on par with the great depression. Reagan to the day he died said that "If another mild inconvenience had occurred that day, I would have had a heart attack and died right then and there"
Despite his opposition to federal power, he used an executive order to close the banks, after 2 weeks of deliberation. Then the firings came. It is estimated that the unemployment rate shot up at a terrifying pace. With the collapse, across the western world economic conditions collapsed, Reagan tried to Rally the Nation with one of his speeches:
"My Fellow Americans, This Week, the American Economy suffered the greatest crisis since the Great Depression, the Dow J falling 1016 points, I have done my best to contain the damage, All we must do now is weather the storm."
Excerpt from Reagan's address
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Following the Economic Crisis of 1987, Calls for Reagan's resignation grew strong within both parties, the republicans had approached Reagan saying that they will not back a single candidate of The Reagan circle in 1988, The RNC said they plan to back other Candidates such as Harold Stassen, Pierre S Dupont, and Jack Kemp. Reagan feared the worst and resigned soon after. George Bush took office on January 20th, 1988.
"My fellow Americans, I did Not support Reagan's economic policy, it was Voodoo economics, Instead I favored a much more moderate Approach, I can work towards repairing our nation as best I can. and Maintain American strength abroad as best I can, I do not promise the Moon, but I do promise to bring us closer to the Moon. I have consulted with the democrats and the republicans, I announce the Revival of the WPA"
Bushes first address as President
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In 1988, In a crowded room in Virginia, The National Populist Party was formed from a Merger of Right wing populist parties such as The Independent Party, Freedom Party, and Populist Parties. Made of former "Dixiecrats" and Ultra Conservative Republicans as well as the evangelical religious community. Debate on who would lead this party was heated, The Moderates Led by Donald Rumsfeld vs The Radicals lead by David Duke. The Middle Man John Rarick had introduced himself, the Old Southerner had served as a Louisiana Senator during the Seventies before running for President under the Independent Party Ticket , he and Rumsfield became the leaders of the Party, and would seek governmental power on the Party's Platform of Nationalism, PaleoConservatism, State Employment Programs, and Low taxes... They spread the myth the democrats had conspired to cause the recession, It spread far in uneducated circles. They Would Run for Congress in 1988 as Republicans. Rarick was not the only one seeking a third party to challenge the establishment.
Communists, Socialists, and Social Democrats met in Washington State to discuss forming a "Left Unity ticket". It was decided George McGovern again would run for Senate as a democrat before breaking off in 1992 and forming a ticket known as The American Labor Party, on Which McGovern would run for President. The Plot's members would court American Labor Unions both Radical and Moderate. Destroying a pillar of Democratic support. McGovern would announce his candidacy for Senate In South Dakota for the Democratic Party.
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Party Divisions Broken
In 1988 with the formation of the National Populist Party, Longstanding Southern Senators and Conservatives such as Strom Thurmond and George Wallace joined the Natpops. The Christian Right became entranced with the Party. Many pundits decried the racism of the Party, they defended by saying there was no racism involved. John Rarick would declare his candidacy for Senate in New Orleans. Donald Rumsfield also would declare his Candidacy for Senate that same year. President Bush was also at work trying to protect the center against the Far Right and Later Far left.
 
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The Trials of Bush's 365 Day 1st Term
Bush Competed fiercely in the Republican Primaries attempting to win the Presidency. The Year of 1988 saw a victory for the Bush Administration in Afghanistan, as the Soviet Union under Gorbachev withdrew from the Mountain Nation. The Eastern Bloc's collapse had begun, but economic woes back home were ever growing. Bush ended support for the contras that year, saying it was not needed as Communism was dying. Bush alienated a lot of the Right by signing Bipartisan Acts with democrats and raising taxes to help solve the crisis with high spending on Stimulus Packages for Business. Bush arrived in Iowa to win the Important Nomination, Despite all that he'd done he lost it to Pat Robertson, a rising figure in conservative Politics, In new Hampshire he lost to Dole. The Republican Party Seemed more divided than ever. Rioting was common in cities such as New York, where racial and class tension had led to rioting. Bush Controversially sent in the National Guard, wounding 20 people. Bush's Approval rating sat at only 39% by May. Bush had his hands tied. He debated whether or not to suspend his campaign and drop out of the race. He would nearly be killed at a campaign rally in July, where 26 year old Jordan Belfort would fire two shots into his chest and Leg. Belfort was sentenced to Life in Prison afterwards. Bush's approval rating sat at 41%.
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Bush Campaign Suspended, Robertson Rises
Bush Announced after leaving the Hospital that he would no longer seek reelection, but he would not endorse a single candidate, stating the party must sort this out themselves. Bush made Theodore Stevens Vice President, his nomination was narrowly confirmed in a 51-49 vote. Pat Robertson began rising in the polls against Bob Dole as an Alternative Candidate for those unimpressed by Dole's Campaign. Robertson would win almost all of the Southern States. Eventually winning and accepting the Nomination in August.

The Democratic Nomination

The Two Leading Democratic Candidates were Jesse Jackson and Michael Dukakis, Jackson was trailing in the polls in the North but had a strong appeal to the South, Dukakis met with Jackson to offer him a deal, If he drops out of the Race, Dukakis will adopt His New Deal Liberal Policies and His condemnation of South Africa. Dukakis also offered Jackson the Vice Presidency...Jackson after 5 hours of negotiation Accepted the Position. Dropping out of the Race to endorse Dukakis in a week. Dukakis would receive the Nomination in August

The Country Roads Act
Bush would work on his magnum opus to increase employment, The American Highway Funding and Construction Act, Nicknamed the Country Roads Act by the Press after the John Denver song. It was to begin a major overhaul of Infrastructure in America, creating up to 100,000 jobs for Americans. Bush fought to get the bill passed and it did by a landslide vote in September, It increased republican support for the election but the election was still a tossup.
 
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Soviet Woes
With the Collapse of the Economy in the West, Investment in The Soviet Union Halted, Gorbachev's Perestroika became ineffective and the Party began plotting a coup against The Premier. Coordinating with the KGB to place a hardliner in the office. Gorbachev would shot 5 times by his own bodyguards, dying on September 15th, 1988. Anatoly Lukyanov would temporarily serve as Premier of The Union before on the Eve of the New Year a coup led by Dmitry Yazov would depose Lukyanov. Yazov's rule would begin with a New American President taking office...
 
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The Election of 1988
"Welcome to Election Night 1988, Im Tom Brokow and tonight well be giving you the latest on the Clash between Pat Robertson and Michael Dukakis. Big factors include the economic crash of 1987 and the Current Situation with a New Soviet Leader. lets begin shall we?"

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"Dukakis has secured the Presidency Against Robertson but Congress is divided, The Republicans have gained a majority in the House but the Democrats have received one in the Senate, It will be hard for Dukakis to Pass legislation, Hopefully both sides can Come together in this Crisis."
 
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The Rise of Populism
The National Populist Party had begun recruiting Senators for their plot as did the Labor. Newly elected Senators Donald Rumsfield and John Rarick began working to gain supporteras in Congress. They managed to woo many who had supported segregation and less federal intervention such as Strom Thurmond and George Wallace as previously mentioned, and by 1990, the Revolt was in full swing as the Right wing of Congress broke in two, The National Populists versus the Republicans, now under control of the Bush/Dole Country Club Wing. John Rarick announced his candidacy for President at this time, hoping to dethrone President Dukakis, George McGovern was also planning his own run for President as a democratic senator. Rarick began attacking the McGovernist Democrats as communists. McGovern called him a Klansman in return. Eventually, NatPop Groups and "Anti Fascist" Groups of Socialists, Social Democrats, and Libertarians began fighting on the streets...10 people died in DC during "Red Friday" in which these groups clashed. Dukakis had to watch it all happen...
Dukakis' First 100 Days
Dukakis after taking office in 1989 began by by signing a new budget for 18 into Law, Increasing Social Spending and Education Spending at the Criticism of John Rarick's group. Dukakis also began a US Sanctioning of South Africa, calling it a Segregationist Abomination. Rarick criticized him for "Interfering in Other Countries' Business." Though many viewed it as him defending segregation. Dukakis also Met With Dmitry Yazov in February to discuss a possible German Unification.
 
Bush Announced after leaving the Hospital that he would no longer seek reelection, but he would not endorse a single candidate, stating the party must sort this out themselves. Bush made Theodore Stevens Vice President, his nomination was narrowly confirmed in a 51-49 vote. Pat Robertson began rising in the polls against Bob Dole as an Alternative Candidate for those unimpressed by Dole's Campaign. Robertson would win almost all of the Southern States. Eventually winning and accepting the Nomination in August.
A 2/3s vote is needed in both houses for a VP.
 
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