DBWI George Takai doesn't become President

1980, four years previously the democratic challanger won the primary vote but barely lost the electoral college. The next four years were a disaster for the country and the democrats thought they had the presidential election of 1980 in the bag.

People ignored George when he put himself forward as a canadate in the overly crowded democratic primaries. Then one by one his competitors self destructed as scandals, health issues and gaffs left him the last man standing.

The democrats would be sending an Asian man, an openly gay man, captain freaking sulu against president ford. It says some thing about the latter part of the 70s that George squeeked out a win. With the economy's recovery during the 80s George was able to barely win a second term against Reagan. Over the 8 years of his priesidency George Takai grew to represent the 80s and its culture.

But what if he hadn't won the 1980 election what would the world look like with out a Takai presidency?
 
Well, you would NOT see legal same sex marriage in the 1990s, that's for certain. Reagan's response to the AIDS crisis wouldn't have been anywhere near as divisive as Takei's was. You also wouldn't see the Democrat dominance of the White House and Congress from 1996 to 2008. Pop Culture would be affected too. WIthout American's newfound love for all things Japanese, you might not see Nintendo and Sony dominating the console market together or the anime boom that continues to this day.
 
OOC: I doubt Ford could run in 1980, since he served more than half of Nixon's 2nd Term, and thus could only serve one Full Term of his own.

IC: Given what happened during the late-70's, I don't think anyone could've fixed the mess that existed then. Inflation barely kept below 20% (if measured on the RPI-X Index), Zero Growth, some serious social unrest at Home, the Vietnam Fiasco, the overthrow of the (Western-Propped) Shah and resultant Iranian Hostage Crisis.

Frankly, 1976 was an excellent time to Lose in hindsight.

Without a Takai Presidency (perhaps best served by Carter winning in 1976), the most likely US President during the 1980-1984 Period would have been either George H W Bush, or Ronald Reagan.

If the former, being something of a Steady-As-She-Goes Type, I would expect some loosening of certain Regulations, perhaps some increase in Military Expenditure, and maybe some small reductions in some taxes. I'd think it would be a relatively unspectacular eight years at least on the Domestic Front.

Reagan on the other hand was quite the Radical. Based on his pledges during the campaign trail, as well as some drastic tax cuts and ramping up of Military Spending, relations with the Former USSR could well have become far frostier, or perhaps worse.

One other thing I also suspect, is that the Republicans wouldn't have held the House and Senate for most of the 1980's and some of the 1990's.
 
would the Soviet union still collapse with out him? a lot of people credit the star wars project for driving them into collapse
 
Reagan on the other hand was quite the Radical. Based on his pledges during the campaign trail, as well as some drastic tax cuts and ramping up of Military Spending, relations with the Former USSR could well have become far frostier, or perhaps worse.
He was also heavily religious and let that influence his politics quite a bit. Can you imagine him tackling the AIDS crisis? Ugh. I'm glad that us Evangelicals stay out of politics these days. HEck, there are some pretty major churches who espouse the idea that a good Christian shouldn't even VOTE as "earthly matters are below God's concern."
 
Yeah, you didn't hear? He got elected as one of California's Congressional Representatives in 1974.
When George ran for the office, The person who ran against him demanded airtime on one of Los Angelus TV networks since they were showing Star Trek.
The Network respond was that they would film him doing the Sulu dialog and edit him in the episodes.
The first script they sent him was 'The Naked Time" in which Sulu went crazy and chased people with a sword.
Takai opponent refused.
 
When George ran for the office, The person who ran against him demanded airtime on one of Los Angelus TV networks since they were showing Star Trek.
The Network respond was that they would film him doing the Sulu dialog and edit him in the episodes.
The first script they sent him was 'The Naked Time" in which Sulu went crazy and chased people with a sword.
Takai opponent refused.
The 70s were fucking wrid. Just ask Takei's longtime friend and ally, Mayor of San Francisco, Governor of California, and eventual victim of AIDS in 1986, Harvey Milk. May he rest in peace.
 
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