DBWI: Dukakis loses in 1988

Is this even possible? Could the GOP have won if it hadn’t nominated Pat Buchanan instead of the accomplished George HW Bush? Dukakis famously decided not to intervene in the Kuwait crisis of 1991, which led to the Arab wars of 1992-1994, another oil crisis, and the election of President Jack Kemp. How different would the world be the GOP had nominated Bush?
 
Is this even possible? Could the GOP have won if it hadn’t nominated Pat Buchanan instead of the accomplished George HW Bush? Dukakis famously decided not to intervene in the Kuwait crisis of 1991, which led to the Arab wars of 1992-1994, another oil crisis, and the election of President Jack Kemp. How different would the world be the GOP had nominated Bush?

Historically speaking, Republicans were destined to lose the election in 1988. I think Bush would've fared much better than Buchanan, but I doubt it would've been enough.

I doubt Bush or Buchanan would've had the commitment to the country over politics necessary to reverse the Reagan tax cuts when the deficit grew wildly out of control. Of course, Republicans will argue that without Dukakis' healthcare bill, the deficit would've been in better shape. I'll beg to differ.

While Kemp cruised to victory in 1996 and had a hell of a time making a conservative agenda, I am unconvinced that Bush or Buchanan wouldn't have done the same thing, simply 8 years earlier.
 
And Kemp would go on to get crushed by Bill Clinton in 2000. The republicans have been in the same bind ever since, anyone who could get the nomination is too radical for the General Election and with every loss they grow more insane. The entire country has seen what they have done in Kansas and no one wants to see that go National.
 
And Kemp would go on to get crushed by Bill Clinton in 2000. The republicans have been in the same bind ever since, anyone who could get the nomination is too radical for the General Election and with every loss they grow more insane. The entire country has seen what they have done in Kansas and no one wants to see that go National.

I still can’t believe they nominated Ron Paul in 2008 against Hillary Clinton
 
And Kemp would go on to get crushed by Bill Clinton in 2000. The republicans have been in the same bind ever since, anyone who could get the nomination is too radical for the General Election and with every loss they grow more insane. The entire country has seen what they have done in Kansas and no one wants to see that go National.

And well, this thread is asking what if HW had been nominated and won somehow. How do you think he would’ve responded to the Kuwait crisis, and how different would contemporary American politics be?
 
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