Fritz is Back!

[ComradeLenin22]

June 17th, 2008 The Boston Celtics earn their 17th NBA championship by defeating the Los Angeles Lakers.

June 19th, 2008 Chairperson of the African Union announces that peace negotiations in Kenya were underway and that "the African Union had after a series of short operations demilitarized both sides of the conflict and brought peace to almost every Kenyan province".

June 27th, 2008 After three decades as the Chairman of Microsoft Corporation, Bill Gates steps down from daily duties to concentrate on the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

June 29th, 2008 Hillary Clinton joins Al Gore at a rally in Unity, New Hampshire, her first public appearance since ending her presidential campaign.

July 2nd, 2008 Mark Kennedy former Representative announces his campaign for Senate in Minnesota. Kennedy was a strong supporter of common-sense legislation like better education and healthcare expansion and protections, but Kennedy still upheld conservative positions on tax cuts and the Iraq troop surge.

July 10th - 13th, 2008 The Green Party's National Convention convenes in Chicago. The theme of the convention was no different to previous ones but it put more of an emphasis on healthcare, the environment, corruption, the recession, and several events and speeches in protest to a possible bailout from the government for bankrupt companies. In the end a familiar face was chosen to the be the Green's nominee, Ralph Nader. After staying out of politics in 2004 and 2006, Nader returned after an uptick in the environment protection movement and the recession. Nader believed that Republicans and Democrats were both to blame for Iraq and that neither would truly fix the problems in the economy or environment. Nader was all but assured the nomination after announcing earlier in the year. Nader chose Matt Gonzalez a San Franciscan Board Supervisor as his runningmate.

July 18th, 2008 The Dark Knight, directed by Christopher Nolan, is released. It was the highest-grossing film of the year, with a worldwide gross of $997,000,000. It premiered earlier on the 14th in New York City with the main actors in appearance, the highlight of the night was when Batman actor Christian Bale was chased down the red carpet by Heath Ledger wearing a green wig.

 

[Tanner151]

Glad to see Heath Ledger live here. I’m liking what’s been presented so far. Seems a more hopeful story so far.

 

[ComradeLenin22]

so far.

so far...

 

[ComradeLenin22]

August 1st, 2008 India and United States sign the historic Civil Nuclear deal.

August 7th, 2008 Georgia invades the breakaway state of South Ossetia, sparking a war with Russia as the latter intervenes in support of separatists in both South Ossetia and Abkhazia. The actions of Russia and it's actions against Georgians were denounced internationally and many called upon an immediate cease-fire before major Georgian civilian targets and areas came under attack.

August 8th - 24th, 2008 The United States compete at the Summer Olympics in Beijing, China and win 36 gold, 39 silver, and 37 bronze medals. Michael Phelps wins his eighth gold medal, breaking the record set by Mark Spitz, and sets the record for the most golds in a single Olympics.

August 8th, 2008 U.S. Senator John Edwards admits to an adulterous affair with former deputy campaign manager Sky Gallegos after months of tabloid speculation, given how Senator Edwards wife Elizabeth was battling cancer the public and media gives him no mercy. Edwards announces his immediate resignation to take place on August 12th.

August 12th, 2008 Senator John Edwards of North Carolina resigns from office after his tumultuous affair. Governor of North Carolina Mike Easley announces his choice of Attorney General Roy Cooper to finish out Edwards term until ending on January 3rd, 2011.

August 15th, 2008 The U.S. government condemns the Russian invasion of the Caucasian country of Georgia. The American public are critical of how long it took for the government and Bush to respond and foreign policy towards Russia becomes a hot topic issue for both Democrats and Republicans.

August 23rd, 2008 Al Gore the Democratic Nominee for President announces his choice of former New Hampshire Governor Jeanne Shaheen. The decision of Shaheen geographically balanced the ticket, Shaheen shared Gore's beliefs on climate and green energy. Shaheen was also seen as a popular Governor of New Hampshire and supported healthcare expansion and protection and common-sense gun control. Shaheen's biggest asset was her gender as she could draw upon and appease Clinton supporters and women voters in general.

 

[ComradeLenin22]

August 24th, 2008 The Democratic National Committee unanimously votes that the delegates to the Democratic National Convention from Florida and Michigan will be fully seated. It had previously stripped both states of their delegates as punishment for moving their primary dates before February 5.

August 25th - 28th, 2008 The Democratic National Convention convenes in Denver, Colorado splitting the venue between Pepsi Center and Invesco Field. Over the first two days of the convention there were many speakers like Barack Obama, Barbara Mikulski, Bill Clinton, Mark Warner, Dennis Kucinich, Evan Bayh, John Kerry, Tom Harkin, Joe Biden, and a surprise speech from Ted Kennedy who was sick battling cancer.

On the third night of the convention at Invesco Field, both Gore and Shaheen gave their primetime acceptance speeches. In Shaheen's speech she made Gore's position on green energy and global warming at the center guaranteeing that upon day one Gore would do the job and get what needed to be done to save the planet not just for Americans but the world entire.

At the end of the night, Al Gore came out to electric crowds of people all across the convention. A highlight of Gore's speech, "One of the greatest gifts of our democracy is the opportunity it offers us every four years to change course. It's not a guarantee; it's only an opportunity. The question facing us is, simply put, will we seize this opportunity for change? That's why I came here tonight: to ask you, will you accept the same old dysfunction and divisiveness or cast your vote this November for a brighter and cleaner future?!". Also in the speech Gore held no punches in saying that if he was elected in 2000 he wouldn't have left the country in the state he was going to step into in January of 2009.

August 28th - September 7th, 2008 Hurricane Hanna kills seven in the United States, and 529 in Haiti, mostly due to floods and mudslides.

August 29th, 2008 Mitt Romney the Republican Nominee for President of the United States announces his runningmate as being Tim Pawlenty Governor of Minnesota. Romney chose Pawlenty for a series of factors like his home state of Minnesota that if Republicans campaigned hard enough could win, Pawlenty was effective in eliminating the budget deficit in Minnesota, rebuilding infrastructure, Pawlenty also took time to make visits to Mexico, Poland, Czech Republic, and Kosovo showing some foreign relation skills. Pawlenty however held controversial positions on energy, abortion, social security, medicare, and labor unions. The Romney team behind the scenes hoped to coach Pawlenty to not express his most controversial of positions especially ahead of the RNC.

 

[ComradeLenin22]

September 1st - September 4th, 2008 The Republican National Convention convenes in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Over the first few days notable speakers included Norm Coleman, Rudy Giuliani, John McCain, Ann Romney, Meg Whitman, Bill Frist, George W. Bush, Newt Gingrich, John Boehner, and others.

On the final night both Pawlenty and Romney made their nomination acceptance speeches. A highlight of Romney's speech was "When you take a good look at Washington today, you will see a major problem. That problem is the liberals in Washington, the people who diminish the domestic oil industry and rely on the Middle East, the liberals who undermined parent's control over their child's education, the liberals who'll raise taxes and cut our military protection budget. I'll ask you America, what Washington will you accept the liberal one or the well-headed, stable, and big idea conservative one!".

During the convention there was a lot of rebuking of comments made during the DNC the previous week especially on social security, the economy, Iraq, Afghanistan, healthcare, energy, global warming, and many calling Gore a "sore loser". A notable moment came when speaker Marsha Blackburn a fellow Tennessean said during her speech "Gore Bore".

As the convention went on thousands of protesters marched around Minneapolis protesting Iraq, the economic crisis, and probably the convention itself.

September 7th, 2008 The US Government takes control of the two largest mortgage financing companies in the US, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

September 9th, 2008 The Senate primaries for the Minnesota Senate seat begin with mixed polls for the Democrats but the Republicans fairly behind candidate Mark Kennedy especially after his recent endorsement from Tim Pawlenty and a speech at the RNC.

Republican Primary results:

Democratic Primary results:

In the end the more establishment candidates won their nominations. Franken who was an underdog held no gripes and endorsed Hatch after the primary saying "we'll all come together after tonight hoping for the best for Minnesota and American in November". When asked later into the night if his political ambitions were concluded Franken responded with, "in the words of the "Governator" I'll Be Back!".

 

[theflyingmongoose]

NOOOOO AL FRANKEN

 

[NyQuil]

I’m predicting a Obama 2008 victory like OTL for Gore plus maybe adding a state or 2.

 

[ComradeLenin22]

September 15th, 2008 Stocks fall sharply after Lehman Brothers' bankruptcy filing, Merrill Lynch's acquisition by Bank of America, and AIG's unprecedented request for short-term financing from the Federal Reserve.

September 21st, 2008 The 60th Primetime Emmy Awards are presented. The telecast becomes the lowest rated and least viewed ceremony in its televised history. John Adams, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Mad Men, The Amazing Race, and The Daily Show with John Stewart, among others, are winners.

September 25th, 2008 Both Al Gore and Mitt Romney meet with President Bush and congressional leaders to discuss the ongoing and worsening financial crisis.

September 26th, 2008 Al Gore and Mitt Romney face off in the first presidential debate at the University of Mississippi moderated by Jim Lehrer of PBS. Most of the debate was centered around the financial crisis and how each candidate would tackle the issue day one. Both candidates didn't commit any major gaffes and they both held their ground on their ideas and platforms. Around 52.4 million people watched the debate and most believed Gore won as he mainly won't after Bush and Republicans mismanagement of the economy and the crisis. On foreign policy during the debate Romney was more eloquent with going after Russia's invasion of Georgia saying, "Russia still faces a significant threat to American allies in the Baltics and Eastern Europe and unchecked will take similar actions as they did in Georgia".

September 29th, 2008 The Dow Jones Industrial Average falls 777 points due to the financial panic.

October 2nd, 2008 Jeane Shaheen and Tim Pawlenty meet in the vice-presidential debate at Washington University in St. Louis, moderated by Gwen Ifill of PBS. It was the first such debate to feature a female candidate since the 1984 vice presidential debate. The debate was watched by about 70 million viewers according to Nielsen Media Research, making it the most-watched vice presidential debate in history. The debate was centered around experience, energy, foreign policy, and social security. Shaheen was able to call to attention nd shed more light on Governor Pawlenty's desire to cut social security funding, and Pawlenty was able to show foreign policy experience especially towards Afghanistan in contrast to Shaheen's lack of experience. Most viewers believed the debate ended in a tie with other believing Shaheen held a slight edge given Pawlenty's unpopular domestic views.

October 3rd, 2008 George W. Bush signs the revised Emergency Economic Stabilization Act into law, creating a 700 billion dollar Treasury fund to purchase failing bank assets.

October 7th, 2008 The second presidential debate between Gore and Romney begins at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee and moderated by Tom Brokaw of NBC. Romney faced some criticism when he suggested that Warren Buffet would be a good Secretary of the Treasury, although Gore didn't push him the media believed that Buffet the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway a conglomerate wouldn't reflect the current economic environment currently. Gore unlike Romney agreed to military spending cuts to help fund emergency programs during the financial crisis. Just like previous debates most believed Gore won.

October 10th, 2008 Connecticut legalizes gay marriage.

October 15th, 2008 The third presidential debate occurred on the campus of Hofstra University, moderated by Bob Schieffer of CBS. The debate was mainly centered around taxes. Romney's tax plan was all about low, competitive tax rates and a continuation of the Bush tax cuts to help stimulate the economy. Gore believed that the Bush tax cuts needed to be ended or replace but believed that taxes on any revenue from $250,000 on down would stay the same, but that amounts above that level would be subject to a 39 percent tax, instead of the current 36 percent rate. Once again Gore was the favorite for the debates and with that Romney was seen as "too conservative" on economic issues given the financial crisis. Romney would defend his stance by projecting his own success story in business which too many only made him more out of touch given how many small businesses were going bankrupt.

October 16th, 2008 Al Gore and Mitt Romney address the traditional Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner.

 

[ComradeLenin22]

October 26th, 2008 Constitution Party nominee Chuck Baldwin, Green Party nominee Ralph Nader and Party for Socialism and Liberation candidate Gloria La Riva appear at a debate at Columbia University, New York City. It is covered by C-SPAN. Libertarian Ron Paul refused the invite to the debate.

October 29th, 2008 The Philadelphia Phillies beat the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2008 World Series. The series score was 4–1.

November 1st, 2008 Al Gore appears on Saturday Night Live.

November 4th, 2008 The United States Presidential elections of 2008 begin. Alongside House and Senate races 2008 is expected to be a big year for American politics. With the backdrop of financial crisis, troubles abroad, and big debate over the future of healthcare, jobs, infrastructure, education, and the environment America will make it's decision of either Albert Gore Jr. or Willard Mitt Romney.

Going into 7:00 PM Kentucky is called for Romney and Vermont is called for Gore, with Georgia and Indiana still too early too call but leaning Gore early.

​

7:30 PM Mitt Romney wins West Virginia while Democratic Governor Joe Manchin and Senator Jay Rockefeller win their races.

7:50 PM Mitt Romney wins South Carolina, and states like Florida, Pennsylvania, and Missouri's polls close.

8:05 PM Polls close in New Hampshire a state too close to call as Romney was very much targeting it down the stretch of the campaign. Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Maryland, Connecticut, Maine, Delaware and D.C. are called for Gore and Oklahoma and Tennessee for Romney.

8:30 PM A big blow to Romney's path to 270 Electoral Votes as CBS News projects Pennsylvania and New Hampshire will go to Gore. And with the projected turnout the Gore camp starts relaying their belief in a landslide when all votes are counted.

8:50 PM Romney aide tells Fox News reporters "The nights not over, but we didn't expect it to be this tough".

9:00 PM Another round of poll closings, another moment of business-as-usual when it comes to expectations. Texas, North Dakota, Kansas and Wyoming go to Romney. Gore picks up New York, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Rhode Island. Minnesota too close to call.

9:20 PM Georgia goes for Romney, however long after polls closed not being the best of signs for the Romney team. Indiana, Virginia, Ohio, Florida, North Carolina, and Minnesota are still close.

9:25 PM Ohio is projected to go for Al Gore. The state that helped Bush win just 4 years prior flipped to Gore. Gore's electoral vote count goes to 185 even without the West Coast. No Republican has ever won the White House without Ohio. "I think Al Gore will be the president of the United States," said Bob Schieffer of CBS said upon hearing the projection.

​

9:30 PM Gore wins New Mexico another state won by Bush in 2004.

9:45 PM Virginia stands at a razor thin margin but Romney has a roughly 7 thousand vote lead.

9:55 PM Missouri is called for Gore as state not usually expected to be close but was another flip for Gore.

​

10:00 PM Iowa is projected for Gore. Gore 208 / Romney 100

10:40 PM In the Senate elections, Democrats are expected to win in states like Colorado, Oregon, and Alaska. Minnesota looks close in a race to replace retiring Senator Walter Mondale.

11:03 PM With states across the West Coast like California, Washington, Oregon, and Hawaii being called for Gore, he becomes President-elect of the United States.

11:10 PM President-elect Gore is projected to win Virginia and North Carolina, while Romney wins Florida.

11:23 PM Mitt Romney delivers a heartfelt and conciliatory concession speech in his home state of Massachusetts, he congratulates Gore on the victory and urges his supporters to give the incoming president their full support.

11:30 PM From Nashville, President-elect Al Gore went outside to crowds of thousands of supporters cheering him on as he and his wife Tipper came out onto the stage. In Gore's speech he thanked the millions who voted not just for him but all voters and all Americans. He thanked his family and friends for their years and months of support throughout the campaign. Gore would recognize that a lot of work was need to be done and he was fully committed to get into office the first day and help all Americans.

Final Presidential map as of November 6th, 2008:

 

[Sir William Jol]

October 26th, 2008 Constitution Party nominee Chuck Baldwin, Green Party nominee Ralph Nader and Party for Socialism and Liberation candidate Gloria La Riva appear at a debate at Columbia University, New York City. It is covered by C-SPAN. Libertarian Ron Paul refused the invite to the debate.

October 29th, 2008 The Philadelphia Phillies beat the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2008 World Series. The series score was 4–1.

November 1st, 2008 Al Gore appears on Saturday Night Live.

November 4th, 2008 The United States Presidential elections of 2008 begin. Alongside House and Senate races 2008 is expected to be a big year for American politics. With the backdrop of financial crisis, troubles abroad, and big debate over the future of healthcare, jobs, infrastructure, education, and the environment America will make it's decision of either Albert Gore Jr. or Willard Mitt Romney.

Going into 7:00 PM Kentucky is called for Romney and Vermont is called for Gore, with Georgia and Indiana still too early too call but leaning Gore early.

View attachment 770973
​

7:30 PM Mitt Romney wins West Virginia while Democratic Governor Joe Manchin and Senator Jay Rockefeller win their races.

7:50 PM Mitt Romney wins South Carolina, and states like Florida, Pennsylvania, and Missouri's polls close.

8:05 PM Polls close in New Hampshire a state too close to call as Romney was very much targeting it down the stretch of the campaign. Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Maryland, Connecticut, Maine, Delaware and D.C. are called for Gore and Oklahoma and Tennessee for Romney.

8:30 PM A big blow to Romney's path to 270 Electoral Votes as CBS News projects Pennsylvania and New Hampshire will go to Gore. And with the projected turnout the Gore camp starts relaying their belief in a landslide when all votes are counted.

8:50 PM Romney aide tells Fox News reporters "The nights not over, but we didn't expect it to be this tough".

9:00 PM Another round of poll closings, another moment of business-as-usual when it comes to expectations. Texas, North Dakota, Kansas and Wyoming go to Romney. Gore picks up New York, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Rhode Island. Minnesota too close to call.

9:20 PM Georgia goes for Romney, however long after polls closed not being the best of signs for the Romney team. Indiana, Virginia, Ohio, Florida, North Carolina, and Minnesota are still close.

9:25 PM Ohio is projected to go for Al Gore. The state that helped Bush win just 4 years prior flipped to Gore. Gore's electoral vote count goes to 185 even without the West Coast. No Republican has ever won the White House without Ohio. "I think Al Gore will be the president of the United States," said Bob Schieffer of CBS said upon hearing the projection.

View attachment 770990
​

9:30 PM Gore wins New Mexico another state won by Bush in 2004.

9:45 PM Virginia stands at a razor thin margin but Romney has a roughly 7 thousand vote lead.

9:55 PM Missouri is called for Gore as state not usually expected to be close but was another flip for Gore.

View attachment 770991
​

10:00 PM Iowa is projected for Gore. Gore 208 / Romney 100

10:40 PM In the Senate elections, Democrats are expected to win in states like Colorado, Oregon, and Alaska. Minnesota looks close in a race to replace retiring Senator Walter Mondale.

11:03 PM With states across the West Coast like California, Washington, Oregon, and Hawaii being called for Gore, he becomes President-elect of the United States.

11:10 PM President-elect Gore is projected to win Virginia and North Carolina, while Romney wins Florida.

11:23 PM Mitt Romney delivers a heartfelt and conciliatory concession speech in his home state of Massachusetts, he congratulates Gore on the victory and urges his supporters to give the incoming president their full support.

11:30 PM From Nashville, President-elect Al Gore went outside to crowds of thousands of supporters cheering him on as he and his wife Tipper came out onto the stage. In Gore's speech he thanked the millions who voted not just for him but all voters and all Americans. He thanked his family and friends for their years and months of support throughout the campaign. Gore would recognize that a lot of work was need to be done and he was fully committed to get into office the first day and help all Americans.

View attachment 771014​

Final Presidential map as of November 6th, 2008:
View attachment 770998

Was kinda hoping he'd win Montana, Arizona, and Georgia.

 

[EarthmanNoEarth]

I wonder if Gore might stick Mondale in some small role in his administration, an ambassador to somewhere or something

 

[jack_donaghy_is_the_shado]

I wonder if the Gores have been going to marriage counseling or if we are going to see a split.

 

[NyQuil]

I said that Gore would win in a margin of OTL Obama in 2008 and well I was kinda right.

 

[ComradeLenin22]

November 4th - December 2nd, 2008 Outside of the Presidential election there was also the House, Senate, and gubernatorial elections all across America. By the end of the night the Democrats retained the House with 257 seats to the Republicans 178.

Notable gubernatorial races:

In the Senate the Democrats expanded their control to 61 seats to the Republicans 38 with 1 Independent who caucuses with the Democrats effectively being a 62 seat Senate control.

Notable races:

During the night that was so good for Democrats as they secured their trifecta of the government, one seat and it's outcome sat out as a swore thumb. The Senate election just as it was in 2002 in Minnesota was close, very close. Many expected Mike Hatch an established Democrat would build on the victories of other Democrats like Gore, Klobuchar, and Mondale but Mark Kennedy and Republicans put up a stiff challenge. As night turned to day and no candidate stood as the winner eventually a recount was in order and by November 29th the recount was concluded and Kennedy was the apparent winner by 312 votes and the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled in favor of Kennedy on December 1st.

December 10th, 2008 Senator Mondale was sitting in the living room of his Minneapolis home. He just like many other congressmen and Senators were in break for the holidays and Mondale couldn't help but enjoy the quietness of his home with his wife Joan. Mondale knew these years would be special together they could finally settle after decades of public service. "Maybe the family could come over soon and help prepare for Christmas" he thought. The phone in his office than rang, he gestured to Joan who was knitting Christmas socks that he'd get the phone, "don't worry dear probably just Jimmy wishing me a happy retirement for the millionth time". Mondale closed his office door then picked up the phone. "Hello!". On the other side of the phone was a familiar voice, "Fritz!, how are you!". "President-elect!", Mondale blurted out in surprise not expecting Gore to call him for anything. The two men spent about an hour on the phone until Mondale emerged from his office and went into the kitchen as Joan was cooking their dinner. "Joan, I don't think I'm out of a job just yet!".

 

[ComradeLenin22]

December 1st, 2008 The Dow Jones Industrial Average drops 680 points, its fourth worst drop in its history, after the National Bureau of Economic Research declared on the same day that the United States economy officially entered a recession in December 2007.

December 11th, 2008 Bernie Madoff is arrested and charged with securities fraud in relation to what would later be revealed to be the largest Ponzi scheme in history.

December 29th, 2008 President-elect Gore's official website releases to the media and the public just a few of the incoming members of the Gore administration and cabinet.

~Secretary of Labor Gene Sperling
~Secretary of Energy Jay Inslee
~Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency Carol Browner
~Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Dennis Archer
~Ambassador to the United Nations Walter Mondale
~National Security Advisor Leon Fuerth
~Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy Gil Kerlikowske
~Health and Human Services Secretary Howard Dean

 

[EarthmanNoEarth]

UN Ambassador! Good for Fritz

 

[ComradeLenin22]

January 3rd, 2009 The 11th United States congress begins with incoming Senators and Congressmen being sworn in. Walter Mondale and other outgoing Senators like Ted Stevens, Pete Domenici, Elizabeth Dole, and John Warner all attend a special luncheon that day to honor all of their legacies over decades of service.

January 5th, 2009 President-elect Gore's official website releases the names of the major incoming members of Gore's cabinet.

~Secretary of State Richard Holbrooke
~Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Geithner
~Secretary of Defense Walter B. Slocombe
~Attorney General Eric H. Holder
~Secretary of the Interior John Kitzhaber
~Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack
~Secretary of Commerce Kathleen Sebelius
~Secretary of Labor Gene Sperling
~Health and Human Services Secretary Howard Dean
~Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Dennis Archer
~Secretary of Transportation Jane Garvey
~Secretary of Energy Jay Inslee
~Secretary of Education Jim Hunt
~Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki
~Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano
~Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency Carol Browner
~Director of the Office of Management and Budget Robert D. Reischauer
~United States Trade Representative Gerald Greenwald
~Ambassador to the United Nations Walter Mondale
~Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers James A. Johnson
~Administrator of the Small Business Administration Karen Mills
~Chief of Staff Bruce Reed
~Director of the Central Intelligence Agency Norm Dicks
~National Security Advisor Leon Fuerth
~Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy Gil Kerlikowske

January 9th, 2009 A Labor Department report shows that the U.S. economy lost nearly 2 million jobs in the last four months of 2008.

January 15th, 2009 US Airways Flight 1549 loses power in both engines shortly after takeoff from LaGuardia Airport, forcing the pilot to ditch the aircraft in the Hudson River. All 155 passengers and crew are rescued with no casualties, and the pilot, Chesley Sullenberger, is hailed as a hero.

January 16th, 2009 Walter Mondale arrives in New York City meeting with outgoing United Nations Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad. Mondale and Khalilzad held an extensive meeting together talking at great lengths about the future of America on the world stage and the ongoing and possible threats in the future for the nation. Mondale and Khalilzad had little exposure to each other but Khalilzad had worked under the Carter Administration and was closely with Secretary Brzezinski at the time. The two men would agree on one thing especially, America needed to be strong in diplomacy but never lose it's conciliation. During the same visit Mondale got to meet with many employees who would be working for him and he got to meet the incoming Deputy Representative to the United Nations Susan Rice.

 

[ComradeLenin22]

January 20th, 2009 Al Gore is sworn in becoming the 44th President of the United States, Jeanne Shaheen is sworn in as the 47th Vice-President of the United States and the first female one. In Gore's inaugural speech he lays out big plans for his tenure. "America needs to take the steps towards a better world domestically and abroad, we need to cut down on carbon emissions, rebuild and rejuvenate the economy, and provide a better education and healthcare for the future generations".

January 22nd, 2009 Walter Mondale's nomination for United Nations Ambassador is confirmed by the Senate by voice vote. Mondale announces his long-term goals for his tenure that being spreading human rights, anti-poverty, environmental protection, and women's rights across the world.

February 1st, 2009 The Arizona Cardinals win Super Bowl 43 over the Baltimore Ravens 23-20.

February 17th, 2009 President Al Gore signs the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to provide stimulus during the Great Recession.

February 19th, 2009 President Gore makes Japan the site of his first international visit.

February 22nd, 2009 The 81st Academy Awards, hosted by Hugh Jackman, are held at Kodak Theatre in Hollywood. Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire wins eight awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. David Fincher's The Curious Case of Benjamin Button leads the nominations with 13, while Heath Ledger wins Best Supporting Actor for his role as the Joker in Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight. The telecast garners over 36.9 million viewers.

 

[ComradeLenin22]

February 24th, 2009 President Gore addresses Congress defending financial bailouts as necessary to economic recovery, and vowing economic recovery, stricter regulation of financial institutions, and health care reform. He also warns that future bailouts may be necessary.

March 2nd, 2009 Insurance giant AIG reports nearly $62 billion in losses during the fourth quarter of 2008, and the US government gives it $30 billion more in aid in a new bailout.

March 13th, 2009 Bernie Madoff pleads guilty to the Madoff investment scandal.

March 14th, 2009 A report by the Federal Reserve says that U.S. families lost a record 18% of their wealth in 2008.

March 18th, 2009 United Nations Ambassador Walter Mondale delivers a speech at a meeting discussing peacekeeping between the UN and African Union. "I believe that our relationship as it stands can only gain from further cooperation and agreements on our modern and difficult problems. I look forward to not only broadening relations between our people's but expanding a universal calm and peace".

March 24th, 2009 The United States Senate ratifies the Kyoto Protocol. The treaty was sent to the Senate in January but the Democrats couldn't hold a 62 member majority with Senators like (D)-Mark Begich, (D)-Mark Pryor, and (D)-Joe Lieberman indicating they would either abstain or vote against the bill. From there Republicans held a weeks long filibuster with Senators like Pat Roberts giving passioned speeches against the Kyoto Protocols. In the end Senator Begich alongside Republican Olympia Snowe were swayed to vote in favor of the ratification. Final Senate vote: 61-39.

April 1st, 2009 Albania and Croatia are admitted to NATO, becoming the newest members of the organization. In the following days Secretary of State Holbrooke visits the two new member nations.