Hope changed: a timeline of U.S. politics, American football and more.

At long last, my inner political junky and my inner alternate historian have agreed to do something dangerous:

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A timeline dealing with recent politics.

A few ground rules:
-While a certain amount of modern political commentary is inevitable, please refrain from breaking Godwin's Law.
-This includes football homers freaking out about your team doing better or worse.
-The success or failure of politicians in this TL is neither an endorsement nor a condemnation of said politicians.
-The success or failure of football teams in this TL is not an endorsement or condemnation of said teams.
-Collaboration is strongly encouraged; just PM me first.

And a teezer:
"It's been a crazy year; between the Trump/Palin feud in the primary, the Rams/Jaguars Superbowl, my beloved Browns starting the season 8-0 and the Cubs winning the World Series, not to mention the recent election results, I don't even know where to start."--Hugh Hewitt. November 22, 2016.
 
Here's the first update:

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Hope Changed: A Timeline of Elections, Football and Other Shenanigans.


1. The 2008 election.


(Excerpt From: Palin, a Political Biography by Jacquelin Stanton, Routledge, 2022):


As the issue of domestic energy production gained relevance due to a spike in gas prices in August 2008, Sarah Palin was considered as a possible VP option by the McCain campaign. The appeal was obvious: Palin represented a doubling down on McCain's "maverick" image; presented an opportunity to woo disaffected Hillary voters; and could help McCain shore up his right flank all in one fell swoop. The candidate himself was enamored with the idea, and had several very cordial phone conversations with Palin. Ultimately, however, it would be a trio of moderate campaign consultants: Mike Murphy, John Weaver and Steve Schmidt, who convinced McCain not to take the gamble. They viewed Palin as both too charismatic—and hence, too likely to overshadow the man at the top of the ticket—and feared she was unprepared for the national spotlight. The short timeline involved would, they believed, make it difficult to adequately prep Governor Palin in time for the convention and subsequent role-out. Finally, Schmidt argued convincingly that the true opening was not suburban women who voted for Hillary, but the lunch-pale Democrats who gave her primary victories in places like West Virginia and Pennsylvania. To win these voters, the campaign chose Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty as McCain's running-mate...


(Excerpt From: Country Club to Sam's Club: the 2010s and the Transformation of Republican Politics by Reihan Salam. Westview Press, 2024):


Though we did not know it at the time, the selection of Pawlenty represented an opening for the kind of reform conservatism many intellectuals of the center-right, including Euval Levin, Ross Douthat and myself, had been advocating. Like most, I was less than enthused about the selection when it occurred, but Pawlenty's acceptance speech, which focused so heavily on the white working poor and down-scale middle class, gave me hope that was to be at least partially realized as his career developed. Pawlenty was not a flashy pick, but he would do yeoman's work to broaden the Republican Party's appeal to down-scale voters in the early part of the decade...


(Excerpt From: Game Change by Mark Halprin and John Hillaman, 2012):

After the extravaganza fraught with history that was the Democratic convention, the Republican convention proved a much more low-key affair. Speeches by luminaries such as Rudy Giuliani were well-received, and a few promising young stars would have the opportunity to make their mark. One such was Sarah Palin, governor of Alaska, who gave a rousing populist introduction to the nominee, John McCain. Next to Palin's speech, the best of the convention was the folksy, down to earth populist address of Vice-Presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty. Though not gifted with stirring oratory, focus groups indicated that, more than most other speakers at either convention, Pawlenty connected with the issues that were most on their minds, in particular economic uncertainty. Pawlenty's focus on this issue would prove prescient, as the full force of the 2008 economic crisis hit...


(Excerpt From: Country Club to Sam's Club):


In hindsight, McCain's response to the financial crisis was disastrous, seeming scatter-shot and inconsistent. By contrast, Pawlenty's calm, measured tone combined with a real anger at the way "the middle class is getting screwed in all this", as he so memorably put it, connected well with voters. Still, Obama, who seemed cool, calm and collected, ultimately gained considerable momentum from the crisis, and the first presidential debate...


(Excerpt From: Game Change):


The first presidential debate was a clear win for Obama, who came across as much calmer and more prepared. By contrast, it was difficult to say who won the Vice-Presidential debate, which commentator Chris Matthews described as "the biggest blue collar fest I've ever seen". Indeed, Saturday Night Live had a field day with the debate, riffing off the old Monty Python sketch about four Yorkshiremen as Biden and Pawlenty each sought to outdo the other's stories of their humble roots...


(Excerpt From: Sam's Club Republicanism):


Ultimately, the historic wind at Obama's back was simply too strong, and he sailed to a comfortable election win. Democrats would also make gains in both the house and senate, with Republicans such as Gordon Smith, Elizabeth Dole and Ted Stephens losing re-election. If Pawlenty had any effect at all, it was in Minnesota. Traditionally a light blue state, the Vice-Presidential candidate's home state swung to Republicans by a few points. While this was not enough to put the state's electoral votes in McCain's pile, it was sufficient to carry Norm Coleman to a narrow win over his Democratic challenger, Al Franken. Very slight movement toward the Republican ticket in down-scale white areas of Appalachia and the midwest were, however, a harbinger of things to come...


(Excerpt From: Palin, A Political Biography):


The future seemed bright for Governor Palin, even in the aftermath of a crushing national defeat. National party insiders already regarded her as a natural opponent to newly elected senator Mark Begich in 2014, and in a GOP with very few stars remaining, hers seemed to be on the ascendant. However, Palin's inner circle of Alaskan advisors urged caution. For all the desire of some party leaders to make her the early face of opposition to the Obama Administration, Alaska was considered a parochial enough state that picking her battles carefully, and ensuring she tended to her knitting in the governor's mansion, were still considered essential. Thus, Palin would keep a low profile until the 2009 state of the union response, which would become the second encore of her national debut...


(Excerpt From: Democrats Confident as GOP MULLS FUTURE. Washington Post, December 16, 2008):


Though President Obama's rhetoric remains focused on national unity, senate Majority Leader Reid and Speaker Pelosi have already let staffers and allies in both chambers know what their priorities will be in the new congress. Notably, progressive priorities like the freedom of choice act, Employee Free Choice Act or "card check", and nationwide cap and trade have been placed on the table. The Obama administration has indicated that their top priority is a massive economic stimulus package designed to alleviate the damage caused by the financial crisis... But Republicans aren't out of the fight yet. With Norm Coleman's win over his Democratic challenger, Democrats will need at least 4 Republican cross-over votes to prevent a Republican filibuster of their legislation. Democrats plan to target moderates George Voinovich of Ohio, Olympia Snow and Susan Collins of Maine, Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska as possible swing votes, and are confident that at least some of their priorities will pass through the senate...
 
So changes so far:
-Palin was not chosen as VP, and so has not undergone the media circus that was 2008.
-Norm Coleman wins re-election, making the senate 56-44 D-R.
-Tim Pawlenty is a more prominent figure in the party.

Next update will cover the SOTU, the first hundred days, and maybe the execrable 2009 NFL draft.
 
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