Pick your poison:


  • Total voters
    329
  • Poll closed .
THE AMERICAN POPULIST PARTY: THE KINGFISH AND HIS' POD
THE AMERICAN POPULIST PARTY
THE KINGFISH AND HIS' POD



The most powerful and influential political force in the United States following the Decline of the Democratic Party and the defection of several figures from the Republicans. Dominating the Midwest, the Great Plains, the Mississippi Basin, the Mexico Gulf, Appalachians, the rocky mountains and with a strong presence in the West Coast. The Party claims to be, above all, a Longist Party. The meaning of that? It is like asking a Marxist on what's the way to reach communism. There are a hundred and one opinions between a hundred Longists. But they all zeal to support the President and his Populist crusade for the American people for the public welfare and the safety of it's people against greedy Oligarchs and foreign enemies alike.

Here are some internal factions of the Party:


THE KINGFISH


1684817728890.png


Of course the Populists would not even exist, or at least not as a united Political Force, without Huey Long, the Kingfish himself. Born in a relatively humble household of North Louisiana in 1893, Long is still in his late 60s by the time the decade begins, but his age is beginning to show, one can only age so well after so long living in politics, and almost not living as he has been target of at least two close assassination attempts (1935 and 1956), not even including the non-close ones. That is owed to his inherently controversial figure for much of American Society, considered by many as the "Father of the Poor", he has done more to fight poverty and allow for a more equitable system in America than any other President has ever done, he has also governed for longer than any POTUS with an unprecedented Third Term that could very well become a Fourth.

It is a demonstration of his political skills and the dominance of his oratory and political force that one can safely say he would win a fourth term if he runs again. Not only did he break the Term precedent, he broke almost any other which has existed behind him. First incumbent President to break with his party and win as a third party, reduced the Democrats and Republicans into regional forces, expanded the powers of the Presidency to unprecedented levels, more than Lincoln, cracked down on monopolies and oligopolies, in a level even greater than Theodore Roosevelt, won more terms than Washington and his successors, and practically created the American Welfare system, lifting millions out of poverty and overseeing the greatest period of prosperity for the average American in US history through his wealth redistribution policies and support for small companies. He greatly invested in infrastructure in both roads and railroads, began to restructure the US military following Operation Sunset, and led the intervention which stopped a full conquest of Russia by the German War Machine during the Ural War and prevented the Communists from fully taking the Korean Peninsula.

Of course there are many cons, he is considered an authoritarian and opportunistic leader, refusing to make consistent commitments to America's traditional allies and being considered unreliable by the British. He expanded the powers of the FBI and created the CIA, using the American Protection Act and the Grey/Red Scare to go after many of his critics and crack down on companies which lobbyed in favor of his opponents. He created a network of corruption all across America, funding political campaigns through his "War Chest" and suppressing any attempts of investigating such funds, using manipulation and blackmail to intervene in the Legislative and Judiciary powers, packing the Supreme Court with loyalists to approve of his measures and intervene in favor of his party in gerrymandering districts during elections. Love him or hate him, Long is still the most powerful force in American Politics by far, and although he is aging, he still has the health to seek another term, certainly is a possibility after receiving the popularity boost in his leadership during the Ural War. There is little that can take Huey Long from the White House other than himself and his movement is certainly going to support it's namesake, but if he does not run, then there are certainly those who could receive him as Kingmaker should he wish to interfere in the Primaries, or he could just retire and spend his days in his Home State of Louisiana, but to a man like Long, it is difficult for him to not play his hand in shaping the future of his nation.





THE LEFT

The Left part of the Populists, mainly made up of defectors from the Progressive wings of the Democratic and Republican parties, is accused by many of being Communists, Maoists and Anarchists. The majority of them, however, lean towards Long's Populism and old progressives, while others have gathered strength from the Unionist movement and bet on winning over large cities, becoming a dominant force around the Great Lakes where Industrial workers have begun to support Long in "giving them their share". Others are rural groups, hailing from the old days of William Jennings Bryan, they are not united under the left as many do oppose the more social agendas of progressives, rather they merely want to ensure the State will continue to grant them the benefits and investments that the Long Administration gave, including agrarian subsidies.


1684808347010.png

(Greeting backers of his Candidacy, he later dismissed the women when trying to avoid looking combative as Long did not yet announce his plans for the Election)

Representing the powerful interests of the left-wing workers, not just the almighty Teamsters Union, but he had grown to represent the entire Unionist sector in the Populist Party, if not of America. The repression of Labor Rights by the Thurmond Administration which passed the "Right-to-Work" laws generated a reaction that was allowed to grow stronger under Long's Presidency as he instead attacked the large companies and rallied the crowds against corporate business and "monopolies" in favor of the Blue Collar workers and the Small business. Hoffa grew in this environment and became the Head of the IBT, being invited by the President to become his new Secretary of Labour during Long's Third Administration in an attempt to reach out to the big cities. In this position, Hoffa gained more influence as the "man with the president's ear" or so he said, truth is that Long does not have a particular attention to Hoffa's calls and "Jimmy the Trucker" is living under his shadow much like the Party as a whole.

Huey cannot be President forever, if he still runs in 1960, then Hoffa plans to run in 1964, but if he does not run for a fourth term, then Hoffa shall have his own campaign, rallying the support of his base for the bloodbath that the primaries will be, but like many others he will cling on to Long's legacy and seek his blessing as successor. An election by Hoffa shows that the Party will be taking a more leftward turn and solidify it's direction as the first major left-wing political party in the United States, with an anti-capitalist and pro-union agenda which will for sure increase the attrition against corporate sectors and the Republican and Democratic parties. Hoffa plans to end the "right-to-work" laws and return the compulsory contributions to union funding by workers, as well as intensify the combat against unfair business practicess and increase the welfare and security of workers in the workplace. He also supports an intensification in the combat against Nazism and Imperialism worldwide, focusing less on China and more on Germania.

However, something which can bring Hoffa down is the rumor that he is in contact with the powerful Midwest mobster families, which gathered more and more power around the Great Lakes and the Canadian border during the long Prohibition which only ended fairly recently. He is rumored to seek counsel with William Bufalino, cousin of the almighty boss of the Bufalino crime Family, Russell Bufalino. Hoffa has contacts with both the criminal world and the Unions, although he does not have the same appeal to the countryside, he might be the party's bet to make a greater leeway into the cities after the urbanization trend continued in the 1950s. He is a great public speaker with the same, if not more intense, style of Huey Long in inflaming the crowds, which might give him an edge on other candidates despite his radicalism.


1684810481936.png

(Sid's Gubernatorial Portrait)

Sidney "The Farmer" McMath is one of the strongest forces in favor of what many call "Traditional Longism", based around his grassroots in Northern Louisiana, neighbor to his Home State and base in Arkansas. McMath is the former Governor of Arkansas and now the Senator of this State, also serving as Secretary of the Interior during Long's first government and being one of the first to back the President's creation of the Populist Party, being considered one of the founders of the Populists. Sid is a man of humble origins, having to survive in poverty with his siblings and widowed mother, graduating in Law after hard work. He rose up in positions after being discharged from the army due to an illness in 1944, although he received a commendation for bravery by Admiral Halsey. Getting Long's attention as a young rising star during the campaign in Little Rock, he was picked by the new President to be Secretary of the Interior as many of the more experienced voices were in opposition to Long's candidacy and the President wanted to have a new "poster boy" for the "new" reforms he wanted to push.

Sid, now an experienced politician himself, has gained the support of much of the Great Plains and the countryside from the Mississippi river to the Rocky Mountains. By sheer numbers they are not on the scale as Hoffa, but in territory he certainly has support, including the backing of much of the old Farmer-Labour movement descended from veterans such as Henry Wallace, who himself served as a mentor to Sid in the cabinet and taught him much about Washington's politics, and of men such as Floyd Olson, former Minessota Governor who served as an inspiration for Sid's own term in Arkansas. More controversially, he is a strong supporter of desegregation policies, enforcing the desegregation of the schools in Arkansas following the decision of the Supreme Court. That makes him an undesirable figure amongst right-wing Longists, however, Sid is betting on getting the support of the farmers in the primaries and receive Long's blessing. However, if the Kingfish runs again, he will remain a loyal follower by his side.

Sid's policies are much more in tune to the older populist movement from the days of Bryan than with Hoffa's Urban unionist movements, which is why many consider him as outdated within the left, as such he has attempted to win over the supporters of the Civil Rights movement, but at the cost that his nomination could very well cause a ressurgence in the ranks of the Democrats. Not even Hoffa is as outspoken in his support for desegregation in his speeches and instead opts for Long's line of diverting the attention to the class war.


THE CENTER

Representing a general majority of the electors, with moderates opting to keep the Longist Status Quo, the center of the party is known for backing the "Long Doctrine" within the Populists, focusing the electors on the less divisive issues of income inequality, backing the social programs of the Long administration with few changes, as well as keeping the more paternalistic role of the State over the economy. Controversially, while backing a strong executive and decisive action, they omit themselves on the matter of Civil Rights, watching it from the sidelines and trying to divert public attention and making the movement lose momentum, sometimes favouring gradual change at a "reasonable" pace or little change at all. They prefer to play it safe with the true and tested tactics of Huey's Populism.


1684814607730.png

(In a Standoff with Governor Kennedy of Massachusetts)

Lyndon "The Shark" Johnson is the most Politician of the Politicians, the Shark in a tank already filled of barracudas, perhaps one of the few men who could challenge Hoffa's temper or Long's Political Savyness. A traditional Politician from Texas who grew up admiring his father who was already deeply involved in the political scene, LBJ, as he is called, is a man with the ambition and the acumen to fulfill it. Although he did grow as an Admirer of Long, he was mentored by Richard Russel during the start of his career in the 1940s. He later drifted towards supporting Long once his candidacy was launched and later betrayed Russell to join the Populists during the rift in 1952. Ever since them, he has been one of the most crucial members of the party and is responsible for the approval of many controversial acts such as the expansion of the judiciary and the American Protection Act. How can he do that? It is said he goes on meetings with Senators and congressmen alone and intimidates them like a Texan Bully, others speak of some sort of Jumbo plane for some reason.

Now, LBJ always desired to set himself as Long's successor, his hope was first frustrated in 1956, but he accepted to remain in his very comfortable position in the Senate as the Party's dominance only grew, both in 1956 and 1958 as Long's shooting and the Ural War created a "rally around the flag" effect around the nation. There are doubts if the Kingfish will run this year, and if he does not then the hunting season will begin and Lyndon will do what he does best to pull the electors to his side. He is a powerful ally to have and a deathly enemy as well to any candidate, although it is likely he would run himself. Lyndon's weakness is perhaps his image as an "establishment" politician in a time where the people grew used to Long's style of opposing the establishment. He is not exceddingly charismatic like most other candidates and does not have a firm electoral base other than the State of Texas, but no doubt with Long's blessing he could reach the White House.

As for his Policies, he is equally ambitious to push the "Every Man a King" Policies to combat poverty and expand upon the programs of the Long Administration, although that is not saying much as he is mainly seen as a "Status Quo" within the Longist movement. Lyndon is a shy supporter of the Civil Rights movement, nowhere as far as Sid and neither is he opposing the movement like Wallace. He supports a gradual move towards desegregation full of ambiguity and hesitation, seeking to instead direct efforts towards poverty programs as per Longist doctrine. Again, he is not a strong man for the very exposed and charismatic post of POTUS, instead he is seen as many as a "Grey Eminence" of the Party, the "Wegener of the American NSDAP" as his enemies call him.


1684813917343.png

(Senatorial Picture taken of him in 1960)

Russell Billiu Long, known as "Kingfish Junior", is the son of Huey Pierce Long Jr. and that is how he made his career, despite his attempts of escaping his father's shadow. Long's personal distaste for Nepotism had left his son to fend for himself in Louisiana after he came back from the war, with him being instead brought up by his uncle Earl, Governor of Louisiana despite the repeated attempts of his opposition to point out his clinical insanity. Earl taught Russell much about politics while his father was in Senate and, despite Huey's initial wishes, managed to convince his brother to subtly back his son's candidacy to the Senate. As a Senator, Russell revealed himself a smart man, memorizing the American tax code and serving as Chairman of the Finance Committee, helping to fund his father's ambitious policies through a scheme of progressive taxation and balancing the budget despite the growth of the military spending.

Now Russell's biggest weapon and weakness alike is his name, many call it Nepotism that he rose to power so greatly and might hesitate to back his candidacy, but nobody can ever claim to follow Huey's popular policies more than his own son, if he throws his hat on the wing then there is little that can be argued against him in a debate. Russell is a moderate and a pure-blooded Longist even in his own genetics, although he does back a general tax reform in the United States to properly balance the budget following the enormous spending in the Ural War, seeking to keep the social programs afloat while allowing the government the freedom to invest in other areas. He also wishes to use the office of Attorney General to crack down on Tax evasion. He is less combative than Hoffa and Johnson while remaining a friendly face to the people that remind the Americans of his father. Russell generally follows his father's line in avoiding the Civil Rights matter to back Social programs instead.

His greatest challenge is his own father, Russell certainly has a good charisma and experience to run for office, however Huey is very aware that openly endorsing his son might be seen as "Political Dynasty-Making", he does not need even more comparisons of him being the King of America, having his eldest son succeed him would only cement that reputation to his legacy. On the other hand, Russell is a sure way that Huey can keep influence in American politics should he retire. And besides, Russell has shown himself to be a capable politician, he should be able to steer the ship of State. Despite that, Huey is still reluctant to commit the extra step and openly back his son should he not run another term.


THE RIGHT


The Right-Populist faction of the Longists would be considered more economically moderate a decade earlier, as while they still support the social programs, they do back a greater autonomy of companies, especially to small and medium business. They do not play as much on the anti-elitist rhetoric, believing it to be outdated as much of the old establishment had been shattered over the last 12 years. They do have a strong support in the South, as well as among more conservative sectors and war hawks in American society, even coming to terms with General Patton during his short Presidency. They support a stronger American policy around the world to firmly oppose both Marxism and Nazi-Fascism, backing America's allies while still distrusting supranational organizations such as the United Nations. They also oppose the Civil Rights movement on the belief that much of it is agitation has been caused by an excessive tolerance of radical leftist groups within America, others believe that they are formented by the Linz Pakt, similarly to Pan-Arabism and Irish Nationalism, in an attempt to internally weaken the country, there is also the belief China is involved instead as part of their revolutionary efforts. They back a powerful state with a strong executive which pushes for Law and Order internally and fights America's enemies abroad.


1684815282107.png

(In a speech to a Veteran's organization in California during the 15th anniversary of the San Francisco bombing)
George Wallace, nicknamed as "The Alabama Huey", is perhaps the strongest figure in the Right-Wing of the Longist movement. Former Governor aof Alabama, although he still controls the state through his wife Lurleen, who is governor, Wallace rose up first as a Congressman in the State during Long's first government after coming back from the war, riding in the momentum of the Populists to become Governor of Alabama in 1954 after the fracture of the Democratic Party gave an opening for his populist policies to rise up. As Governor, Wallace ignored the Civil Rights movement at first and instead focused on implementing Long's agenda in the state to benefit the farmers, although he also made several visits further north to attract business from the Midwest to move to Alabama after the rise of Hoffa and the Unions after 1956. Since he left office in 1959, Wallace has toured the nation, trying to toe the line of opposing the Civil Rights movement while also staying in Long's good graces, doing so by instead appealing to "The Rule of Law" against the "Lawlessness of the Negro Movement", citing isolated incidents of Black Nationalists as examples of the movement as a whole.

Not only of Racial issues is his campaign made of, Wallace hopes that Long will not run, although he naturally will back a fourth term of the Kingfish, but he believes the momentum is in his favour. The Ural War provoked the rise of nationalist sentiment in the country in a way unseen since the Second World War. Wallace is a backer of a stronger military force and greater American intervention in world affairs to oppose the "Brown and the Red", Germany and China. He proposes to mend relations with the United Kingdom, oppose Marxist influence in Africa, German influence in the Middle East, and to support Russia as a bulwark against Nazism. Furthermore, the nigh-apocalyptic collapse of Law and Order which happened in America, and around the world at varying levels, during the tense days of "The Ultimatum", when Germany very publicly came close to destroying the world, did serve to both galvanize anti-german sentiment in America, and increase the desire for greater stability, something Wallace promises to give.

Of course, his opposition to Civil Rights is a detriment to him, but did serve to gain him the support of much of the South, as well as the possibility of amending relations with the Democratic Party, which was largely reduced to Georgia, the Carolinas and Virginia. He does not have as much support in the North like Hoffa, neither is he the favorite of the farmers like Sid, but he believes that if he is granted Long's blessing and forms a coalition with the Longist Center and maybe the Democratic Party, he can get to the White House and have a good level of governability. Perhaps if the Civil Rights issue becomes more intense or if his speech becomes more moderate as it was while he was governor, Wallace can carry the day in an election.


1684816464672.png

(Looking at a picture of President Long which was taken during his Senate days)

If anyone asked if Gerald Lyman Kenneth Smith, known as "The Priest", would rise to become an influential figure within the Longist movement within two years, they would be laughed at in Public. Smith was a humble man, who graduated in Biblical Studies at Valparaiso University, who was attracted to the Longist movement in it's early days. He was a companion to Long in the early years of "Share the Wealth", together with the Catholic Father Charles Coughlin, backing it during the Great Depression as a matter of Christian Morality. During the War, he fell down in his politics due to old controversial statements about Hitler, which had been condemned by Long in private. Smith, who greatly admired Long, had to rethink his convictions and condemned his past as an admirer of Hitler. Now reconciled, he still commanded the "Share the Wealth" society and gained great fame in the 50s as a televangelist, supporting Long's policies in National Television while condemning the elitist groups in America, pushing instead for what he called "Christian Nationalism".

1956 changed everything when images showed around the world hundreds of churches being burned by the Hitler Youth and the SA, a reaction rose up in America as television now brought image and voice to tens of millions of houses. That was where Smith found his means, rising up with his preaching to become more and more popular, condemning Hess as the Antichrist, which only gained more support as the Ural War started and news of slaughter came to the Public. In August of 1959, he refused to evacuate to a bunker during the Ultimatum, when people feared the end more than any, he instead gave fierce preaching on Television and radio for 24 hours, convinced faithfully that God would not let the world end, when news came that Hess had died, he was seen as a prophet and his voice could not be denied.

He was not a politician, but in this time where religious awakening was growing more and more amongst Protestants and even Catholics called for a more Godly man to lead the fight against the Pagan Nazism, many inspired in the rise of Brazilian Integralism, Smith had started to gain prominence among the big players. From former Klansmen to Catholics and even progressives who support his social causes and backing for Long's program, Smith does have a strong support base, one that is powerful in the Bible Belt in the South and even competes with Wallace and LBJ in the area at times. Men such as him and Billy Graham are seen as the foremost members of this new "Great Awakening", coming as a reaction to Nazism in America. Smith would need a miracle to actually win the election, but his influence cannot be ignored.


As the elections approach, many things can change, but one thing is certain: Every man can be a King, but only one can have the crown.
 
Yeah I know this isn't the Indian chapter (at this point you could make a meme about when this one will come out) but I had the sudden masculine urge to write about American politics at midnight and spent the last 2 and a half hours writing this.
 
They chose Prime Misters every year cuz you never chose and this is in-universe justification or is it the reverse?
No, I mean they literally kept changing the Greek leadership all the time during the occupation so I can't really pick one to be Prime Minister as of 1959 because the Greek Government in our world kept being replaced by the Axis occupiers. It is not really relevant for now unless there is a Greek uprising later anyways.
 
I'd still go with Lyndon B. Johnson/Jimmy Hoffa. It's time for Huey to retire.
You just want the US to shout and bully around everyone including their own citizens.

I would say LBJ might be a better VP, he is not as well suited at being a loudmouth speaker like Hoffa to get all attention and charisma for the ticket.
 
Huey: The Kingfish (enough said).

Hoffa: Loudmouth corrupt union boss.

Sid: Hillbilly farmer guy who likes Blacks just to stay relevant.

LBJ: Rude bully cowboy who can't win a crowd to save his life.

Russell: Huey Junior, the Taxman.

Wallace: Racist Hillbilly who likes guns.

Smith: The priest whose sermon is only either Matthew 10:34, Matthew 21:12-13, Joshua or Apocalypse.
 
Last edited:
I see Hoff and Sid uniting the Midwest and South together since they represent Labor Unions, Moderates, Farmers, Civil Rights and ahem 'Small Businessmen'. You need this kind of coalition to reach out across the country.
 
Top