No Monica Lewinsky

Pretty standard question, don’t know if it’s been asked before. Basically how does Clinton’s second term conclude without the scandal of the affair? What does he accomplish? Where does he fail? Can he work with Gingrich or does the culture war ramp up to full blast? Let’s assume no scandal means Republicans win a landslide election in 98’. How does this perceived mandate lead into the 2000 election? You would imagine ITTL Gore would latch onto Clinton like a parasite. Is not having moral character as a campaign issue enough to lift Gore, especially with Bush’s drinking issues?
 
Clinton and Gingrich had planned to privatize Social Security in 1998, however the scandal derailed this. If the affair is never uncovered then Clinton and Gingrich finalize their plan and submit it to Congress. Needless to say, this would be extremely unpopular and liberal Democrats in particular would revolt. Bush not only wins in 2000, but he wins the popular vote as well.
 
Wouldn’t Bush support such a reform?
Sounds more like a leftist Democrat would win the National Convention, and went on to win the Presidential Election.

What leftish Democrat? Maybe Bill Bradley would have a shot, but otherwise the Democrats at the time were generally centrist and supported Clinton.

As for Bush, sure he would support such a a reform in private but not while on the campaign trail in 2000 after the policy has proved unpopular. Nader could get at least 5% of the vote in 2000, which is enough to deliver both the popular and electoral votes to Bush by decisive margins.
 
What leftish Democrat? Maybe Bill Bradley would have a shot, but otherwise the Democrats at the time were generally centrist and supported Clinton.

As for Bush, sure he would support such a a reform in private but not while on the campaign trail in 2000 after the policy has proved unpopular. Nader could get at least 5% of the vote in 2000, which is enough to deliver both the popular and electoral votes to Bush by decisive margins.

I'd say Wellstone but his MS can't be butterflied away.
 
I'd say Wellstone but his MS can't be butterflied away.

But as 1912 and 1968 show, it's really difficult to unseat an incumbent President or VP. Even in 1980 Kennedy couldn't unseat Carter, if only because the Hostage Crisis gave him a temporary boost and EMK bombed his Roger Mudd interview. Maybe a formidable challenger could upset Gore, but Clinton and the established party would cut is throat in the general campaign. In fact they might even prefer Bush to win over Wellstone or Bradley.
 
Even in 2000 the Republican Party was too reactionary for McCain. And Gore is a virtual shoe in but the power of the VP is overstated. Humphrey only got the nomination because RFK died. Doubt Cheney or Biden win their party nomination if they had ran.
 
The scandal tainted Democrats, so without it, Gore could have a better chance of taking Florida. I don't think the match-up would have been different.
 
A failed attempt at privatizing social security sometime in 1999 or 2000 with Gore losing bigtime. The down-ballot damage in the 2000 election would make DNC/corporate dems look worse. Less dem efforts to aim for moralistic suburbanites without a Lewinsky scandal to cover for.
 
Even in 2000 the Republican Party was too reactionary for McCain. And Gore is a virtual shoe in but the power of the VP is overstated. Humphrey only got the nomination because RFK died. Doubt Cheney or Biden win their party nomination if they had ran.
Nice to see someone using the term "reactionary" rather than "radical" in this context...thanx for that!
 
Clinton and Gingrich had planned to privatize Social Security in 1998, however the scandal derailed this. If the affair is never uncovered then Clinton and Gingrich finalize their plan and submit it to Congress. Needless to say, this would be extremely unpopular and liberal Democrats in particular would revolt. Bush not only wins in 2000, but he wins the popular vote as well.
Are you sure that privatizing SS would actually go through? After all, Bush failed to do this in 2005 in our TL.
 
I'd say Wellstone but his MS can't be butterflied away.
MS?

What leftish Democrat? Maybe Bill Bradley would have a shot, but otherwise the Democrats at the time were generally centrist and supported Clinton.

As for Bush, sure he would support such a a reform in private but not while on the campaign trail in 2000 after the policy has proved unpopular. Nader could get at least 5% of the vote in 2000, which is enough to deliver both the popular and electoral votes to Bush by decisive margins.
What would Gore's stance on this reform be? Support it coz he's Clinton's VP?
 
Are you sure that privatizing SS would actually go through? After all, Bush failed to do this in 2005 in our TL.

Actually I didn't say the plan would go through. I said they would submit the plan to Congress and this would result in a fierce backlash. It would be like the 1994 healthcare plan but on a bigger scale.
 
Actually I didn't say the plan would go through. I said they would submit the plan to Congress and this would result in a fierce backlash. It would be like the 1994 healthcare plan but on a bigger scale.
Would the backlash be against the Dems or against the GOP more?
 
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