Prologue
This timeline will go from 2005-2013 in After 1900 followed by part II, which shall be posted in chat in accordance to the rules about current politics.
(The map used in this infobox was created by TrueGrit - credit goes to him!)
The 2004 Presidential Election was close, but fortunately, not too close. Election Day began as the sun rose over the east coast to find long lines at the poll. This was an early sign of the voter turnout, which had skyrocketed five points higher than in 2000. The day continued to see extensive waits in precincts across the country while both President Bush and Senator Kerry made last minute appeals to the few remaining undecided voters. By the time the polls closed, there was still great uncertainty among the public. It was directed not so much against who'd win, but rather, by how big of a margin they’d win by. But the anxiety over another possible scenario in which neither candidate emerged outright as victor was not the only fear of the electorate.
Just three years since the 9/11 attacks and the War on Terror that was subsequently declared, America was still stuck in the horrid throes of war. Though the NATO coalition’s invasion of Afghanistan was quick, the elusive Bin Laden escaped into the mountains while the Taliban regime that had fallen quickly regrouped and launched a guerilla insurgency against the western occupiers. Just over a year later, the long simmering crisis over Iraq’s use, possession, and construction of weapons of mass destruction came to a head. NATO forces, led by the United States, launched an invasion to disarm Iraq and bring about Saddam Hussein’s downfall once and all. Though their superior air power (displayed in a massive bombing campaign against Iraqi military installations in Baghdad called “shock ‘n ‘awe) and better equipped and trained ground forces were quickly able to route the Baathist regime of President Hussein, the subsequent occupation of Iraq and the dissolution of their military only contributed more to the chaos.
At home, the situation was only just a little bit brighter. The President had passed a major Education reform package commonly known as No Child Left Behind, had shepherded controversial tax cuts through Congress, and presided over a still booming economy. Though
there was increased chatter about the possibility that the housing bubble’s burst could throw the economy into a tailspin, the stock market was still soaring and the good times never seemed so good. Throughout the 2004 campaign, the President had used the economy’s growth as a distraction from the administration's controversial foreign policy. His opponent, Senator Kerry, continued to warn against the unilateral neoconservative foreign policy throughout the campaign. The chasm between these two candidates was wide, as was the divide between their supporters. If the Republicans were drunk on post-9/11 jingoism, the Democrats were wired with increasing anxiety over the Bush administration opening up a third war in Iran or North Korea. Republican voices, particularly on conservative talk radio, called those Democrats who spoke out against the war as “traitors.” Democrats, particularly those in Hollywood, bemoaned Bush supporters as “rednecks.”
When election day finally neared, every American voter was given the chance to privately vent their frustration or to place their hope in a candidate. Polling showed the race was a dead heat, though strong polling out of Florida - the state known for the 2000 recount debacle - showed Bush holding a near seven point lead. This early lead was an optimistic start to election night for Bush’s team, who were expecting the race to be wrapped up by midnight, even if the popular vote totals were tight. Kerry, however, was not deterred. His own internal polling showed him gaining more ground in the rust belt than expected in the waning days of the election, and it was believed at Kerry’s campaign headquarters that Ohio would be the tipping state of 2004 rather than Florida. This would prove to be true.
By 1:00 AM on election night, the optimism at Bush headquarters evaporated slowly as the returns came in. While Bush had won an overwhelming victory over Kerry in Florida due to traditionally conservative Democrats from the northern portion of the state crossing over to support the war-time Commander-in-Chief. Bush’s efforts to portray Kerry as a tax-and-spend liberal also contributed to the surprisingly high support for the President. But Ohio was still too close to call. This was not expected by Bush’s campaign staff. There was also the possibility that Kerry could win the popular vote (the Senator had held a steady lead all night among the raw vote totals), which would result in Bush earning the distinction to be the first president ever to be elected without winning the popular vote in either of his campaigns. As Ohio’s final precincts began trickling in, the Kerry lead expanded, and it was not long after that the Associated Press would call the election for the Senator from Massachusetts. In his concession speech, President Bush gracefully called for his supporters to unite around President-elect Kerry, while President Kerry likewise hailed the man he’d soon succeed for his work in Africa fighting HIV/AIDS as well as for his response to the 9/11 attacks. The 2004 campaign would ultimately be defined as a public rebuke of the neoconservative ideology that permeated throughout the Bush White House. The approach offered by Kerry (a more pragmatic and less unilateral policy) was seen as more feasible in a world that was only increasingly unstable, offered the chance to “reset” the global situation. Bush would later write in his memoirs Decision Points that he had placed too much confidence in the public’s post-9/11 perception of him, wrongfully believing that his reelection prospects were stronger due to him being a wartime President when in fact many were questioning the direction of the country and America's role abroad.
As George W. Bush prepared to ride off into the political sunset, John Kerry tied on his necktie and put his suit jacket on as he prepared to report for duty.
(The map used in this infobox was created by TrueGrit - credit goes to him!)
Just three years since the 9/11 attacks and the War on Terror that was subsequently declared, America was still stuck in the horrid throes of war. Though the NATO coalition’s invasion of Afghanistan was quick, the elusive Bin Laden escaped into the mountains while the Taliban regime that had fallen quickly regrouped and launched a guerilla insurgency against the western occupiers. Just over a year later, the long simmering crisis over Iraq’s use, possession, and construction of weapons of mass destruction came to a head. NATO forces, led by the United States, launched an invasion to disarm Iraq and bring about Saddam Hussein’s downfall once and all. Though their superior air power (displayed in a massive bombing campaign against Iraqi military installations in Baghdad called “shock ‘n ‘awe) and better equipped and trained ground forces were quickly able to route the Baathist regime of President Hussein, the subsequent occupation of Iraq and the dissolution of their military only contributed more to the chaos.
At home, the situation was only just a little bit brighter. The President had passed a major Education reform package commonly known as No Child Left Behind, had shepherded controversial tax cuts through Congress, and presided over a still booming economy. Though
there was increased chatter about the possibility that the housing bubble’s burst could throw the economy into a tailspin, the stock market was still soaring and the good times never seemed so good. Throughout the 2004 campaign, the President had used the economy’s growth as a distraction from the administration's controversial foreign policy. His opponent, Senator Kerry, continued to warn against the unilateral neoconservative foreign policy throughout the campaign. The chasm between these two candidates was wide, as was the divide between their supporters. If the Republicans were drunk on post-9/11 jingoism, the Democrats were wired with increasing anxiety over the Bush administration opening up a third war in Iran or North Korea. Republican voices, particularly on conservative talk radio, called those Democrats who spoke out against the war as “traitors.” Democrats, particularly those in Hollywood, bemoaned Bush supporters as “rednecks.”
When election day finally neared, every American voter was given the chance to privately vent their frustration or to place their hope in a candidate. Polling showed the race was a dead heat, though strong polling out of Florida - the state known for the 2000 recount debacle - showed Bush holding a near seven point lead. This early lead was an optimistic start to election night for Bush’s team, who were expecting the race to be wrapped up by midnight, even if the popular vote totals were tight. Kerry, however, was not deterred. His own internal polling showed him gaining more ground in the rust belt than expected in the waning days of the election, and it was believed at Kerry’s campaign headquarters that Ohio would be the tipping state of 2004 rather than Florida. This would prove to be true.
By 1:00 AM on election night, the optimism at Bush headquarters evaporated slowly as the returns came in. While Bush had won an overwhelming victory over Kerry in Florida due to traditionally conservative Democrats from the northern portion of the state crossing over to support the war-time Commander-in-Chief. Bush’s efforts to portray Kerry as a tax-and-spend liberal also contributed to the surprisingly high support for the President. But Ohio was still too close to call. This was not expected by Bush’s campaign staff. There was also the possibility that Kerry could win the popular vote (the Senator had held a steady lead all night among the raw vote totals), which would result in Bush earning the distinction to be the first president ever to be elected without winning the popular vote in either of his campaigns. As Ohio’s final precincts began trickling in, the Kerry lead expanded, and it was not long after that the Associated Press would call the election for the Senator from Massachusetts. In his concession speech, President Bush gracefully called for his supporters to unite around President-elect Kerry, while President Kerry likewise hailed the man he’d soon succeed for his work in Africa fighting HIV/AIDS as well as for his response to the 9/11 attacks. The 2004 campaign would ultimately be defined as a public rebuke of the neoconservative ideology that permeated throughout the Bush White House. The approach offered by Kerry (a more pragmatic and less unilateral policy) was seen as more feasible in a world that was only increasingly unstable, offered the chance to “reset” the global situation. Bush would later write in his memoirs Decision Points that he had placed too much confidence in the public’s post-9/11 perception of him, wrongfully believing that his reelection prospects were stronger due to him being a wartime President when in fact many were questioning the direction of the country and America's role abroad.
As George W. Bush prepared to ride off into the political sunset, John Kerry tied on his necktie and put his suit jacket on as he prepared to report for duty.
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