Gingrich

Actually Newt had a pretty decent favorability rating in 1998

From Gallup
Gallup said:
Gingrich Fared Somewhat Better in 1998
Despite his ultimate downfall this month, Gingrich's image had actually become somewhat more positive in several polls conducted earlier this year. In February, for example, the percentage of Americans with an unfavorable image of Gingrich dropped below 50% for the first time since August of 1995. (This was generally consistent with a more positive mood that Americans had about many aspects of government following Bill Clinton's January State of the Union address.)
Although Gingrich's image dipped in a June Gallup poll, by October – the last measure before the elections – he had a partially rehabilitated image, with 42% of the public giving him a favorable image rating, and 49% unfavorable. Thus, there was some evidence that Gingrich was on the way back up in the minds of the public
 
Gingrich's approval at this time (IIRC) was around 12 percent; maybe less

Gingrich's approval rating IOTL will dramatically increase like Bush's did after 9/11. Americans have strong tendency to rally around the President in times of crisis. Bush's approval rating was at 55% before Sept. 11th. Less than a month later his approval rating was at 92%. Having Newt's approval rating at 90% upon taking office after an assassination on both the President and the Vice President is very much realistic.
 
Also if you are POD'ng to have Clinton and Gore dead it's not too hard to butterfly the shutdown away. If you do that then Clinton doesn't meet Monica and then you can get rid of impeachment.
 
Subscribed.

Will the War on Terror start early? I don't see Congress saying no, not after AQ assassinated a sitting President...

So far, everything has been startling realistic. Will all updates be in the "headline" format? Not that there's anything wrong with it, but maybe throw in some book quotes from 2010, or just something to change it up a bit.

I'd like to see Colin Powell take a more active stance in politics. I don't know how well he and old Newt got on, but their relationship was probably better than Powell and Cheney's.

Looking forward to more.
 
Those shutdowns took place in '95 and '96. The PoD is in '98.

I know.

But there was some question of the fact that in OTL the impeachment was going on in November 98 so how would that cloud things.

I simply suggested that in addition to the 98 POD that you could easily eliminate the 98 impeachment by eliminating the 95/96 shutdowns and thus Clinton doesn't hook up with Monica.

That's all :)
 
This looks really interesting. We're in for a very different 2000's decade, so I'll go grab some popcorn for this, and subscribe.
 
Senator Bob Kerrey announced his candidacy for President today.

-Associated Press, January 20th, 1999, 9:20 a.m. EST



US intelligence issued a press release today confirming that Bin Laden is living within territory controlled by the Taliban. President Gingrich issued a message to the organization demanding that they turn over the terrorist. A spokesman for the Taliban responded by claiming that if Bin Laden is living within their borders, they have not been able to locate him, and thus cannot be held responsible for anything that he has done.

-Associated Press, January 23rd, 1999, 1:11 p.m. EST



Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Saudi Arabian King Fahd both issued messages along with the President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, withdrawing recognition of the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan. It is widely believed that all three nations are attempting to cut ties with the Islamic radical group in anticipation of some future event.

-BBC World Service, January 27th, 1999, 1:42 p.m. EST



President Gingrich issued an ultimatum to the Taliban today. In his ultimatum, the President gave the group 72 hours to surrender Osama Bin Laden to the United States. If the Taliban failed to comply with this demand, then President Gingrich warned that there would be dire consequences.

-Associated Press, February 4th, 1999, 3:58 p.m. EST



Senator Bob Graham launched his bid for the Democratic nomination today.

-Associated Press, February 4th, 1999, 4:15 p.m. EST
 
Geez, what is the big issue with Newt? I mean just because he is a republican doesn't mean he would be a poor president. He has good ideas and has the will to implement them. I do grant that he is in some cases much too arrogant and that does get on some peoples nerves, including mine.
 
Senator Paul Wellstone announced his candidacy for President today, adding yet another challenger to the Democratic field.

-Associated Press, February 5th, 1999, 1:01 p.m. EST



Former Ambassador Alan Keyes officially announced his intention to challenge President Gingrich for the Republican nomination for President of the United States in 2000. Ambassador Keyes said that the United States must strike swiftly against those who have wronged it, and that he is the best qualified to, in his own words, “lead the charge.”

-Associated Press, February 6th, 1999, 10:45 a.m. EST



The deadline that President Gingrich has set for the Taliban to turn over the wanted terrorist Osama Bin Laden has officially passed. When questioned on what his next move would be, President Gingrich said, “I told them what would happen. We gave them our demands, and they remained defiant. So now, they’re going to face the consequences of their actions.” The President refused to comment what specific consequences he had in mind.

-Associated Press, February 7th, 1999, 12:00 p.m. EST



Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy has stunned the political world today by officially announcing his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States. The Senator said in his speech that America was entering into a new age of uncertainty, and would require strong leadership to see it into the future. He placed an emphasis on making sure that America was kept safe from its enemies, both foreign and domestic, and advocated improvements on social programs to provide better services to regular citizens. Senator Kennedy made a previous bid for the Democratic Party’s nomination in 1980, unsuccessfully challenging then-President Jimmy Carter in his battle for re-election. President Carter went on to lose the general election to his Republican challenger, Ronald Reagan.

-Associated Press, February 10th, 1999, 5:12 p.m. EST
 
This timeline looks awesome.

I'm really hoping for at least one of Newt's wacky scifi schemes succeed. Lunar bases here we come!
 
Wellstone/Kennedy could be an Obama/Clinton situation with Wellstone mobilizing young voters through intense grassroots organization and Kennedy relying on traditional party structures and organization.
 
This is getting very interesting I assuming that Gingrich brought in his cabinet.Can we spend some time on them? Newt's extra marital affair is going to become public. That will complicate an already exciting 2000 election. I am assuming that Gingerich has the same neo con advisors as George W Bush did does this mean an invasion of Iraq?
 
This is getting very interesting I assuming that Gingrich brought in his cabinet.Can we spend some time on them? Newt's extra marital affair is going to become public. That will complicate an already exciting 2000 election. I am assuming that Gingerich has the same neo con advisors as George W Bush did does this mean an invasion of Iraq?

Sure, I can spend time on the cabinet, but like I said before, Gingrich is holding on to Clinton's cabinet for stability. He'll get replacements a little later.

Also, why the thumbs down?
 
The Gingrich Administration made an announcement today, condemning the Taliban as sponsors of terror, and accused them of conspiring with Osama Bin Laden against the United States. In his announcement, Gingrich called for an end to the Taliban in Afghanistan, and said that the organization’s continued existence posed a serious threat to the National Security of the United States.

-Associated Press, February 11th, 1999, 1:12 p.m. EST



Acting UN Ambassador Peter Burleigh from the United States addressed a meeting of the United Nations Security Council this afternoon, where he made a case for international intervention in Afghanistan. Ambassador Burleigh, who has been acting Ambassador to the United Nations since the resignation of Bill Richardson in 1998, made a number of arguments in favor of intervention. He described the Taliban as a “force of evil” and gave a lengthy speech condemning them for being sponsors of terrorists and “enemies of democracy in Afghanistan.” The Security Council said that, while they would not support any immediate action favoring intervention in Afghanistan, they would investigate America’s accusations against the Taliban. The Gingrich Administration has yet to comment on the Security Council’s decision.

-Associated Press, February 14th, 1999, 3:13 p.m. EST



Democratic Presidential candidate John Kerry made a stop in Iowa today, marking the Senator’s first visit to the state since launching his campaign in January. The Senator’s plane landed at Des Moines International Airport, where he was greeted by a crowd of supporters. The Senator then had lunch with wealthy Democratic donors, making his case for why he should be the next President of the United States. Senator Kerry will have to contend with his fellow Massachusetts Senator, Ted Kennedy, who is also conducting a Presidential campaign this year. Kerry, who had been pulling a strong second place showing in New Hampshire behind the early frontrunner, Senator Bob Kerrey, has now been moved to third place in the state, as Kennedy gains momentum.

-Associated Press, February 14th, 1999, 3:14 p.m. EST
 
Sure, I can spend time on the cabinet, but like I said before, Gingrich is holding on to Clinton's cabinet for stability. He'll get replacements a little later.

Also, why the thumbs down?

Thumbs down? I gave this TL well deserved complements. I can't go too thumbs down on Newt for cheating on his wife or Jesus will remind me not to throw stones.
 
Geez, what is the big issue with Newt? I mean just because he is a republican doesn't mean he would be a poor president. He has good ideas and has the will to implement them. I do grant that he is in some cases much too arrogant and that does get on some peoples nerves, including mine.

Because for some anyone who is a member of "the party I don't like" has to be bad and evil and so on.. It goes both ways but I agree is sort of sad.

I'm not a Newt fan either but look forward to the timeline developing.
 
Sunday Star-News said:
Senator Dole adds wryly: "You hear Gingrich's staff has these five file cabinets, four big ones and this tiny little one. No. 1 is 'Newt's ideas'. No 2, 'Newt's ideas'. No 3, No 4 'Newt's ideas'. The little one is 'Newt's Good Ideas'.

[Source]

Finally found what I hope is the original version of that tale.

Setting aside Republican vs. Democrat (and I'm Canadian, anyway), I like Newt in many ways and indeed I made him President in a timeline I did. Newt writes alternate history, believes in science, loves space travel, thinks computers are a huge deal, etc…. It's just that, like Dole said, all the good ideas are locked up with the other (usually crazy) ones and I really don't think Newt knows the difference.

Wired has a lovely article by now-NYMag's John Heilemann on the futurist show-down between Gore & Gingrich.
 
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