The Towers Still Stand: An Alternate take on early 21st Century America.

Who Do You Think will win the 2004 Presidential Election at This Point in the TL?

  • President George W. Bush (R-TX)

    Votes: 60 28.7%
  • Former Vice President Al Gore (D-TN)

    Votes: 96 45.9%
  • Speaker of the House Dick Gephardt (D-MO)

    Votes: 18 8.6%
  • Senator Paul Wellstone (D-MN)

    Votes: 13 6.2%
  • Senator John Edwards (D-NC)

    Votes: 5 2.4%
  • Former Governor Howard Dean (D-VT)

    Votes: 11 5.3%
  • Other

    Votes: 6 2.9%

  • Total voters
    209
  • Poll closed .
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End of the Year Review: 2004.
December 28th, 2004. Gephardt Announces he won't seek election to Speaker of the House. Says this will be his last term in Congress:
On December 28th, at a Press Conference in his home state of Missouri, the 2004 Democratic Nominee for President and Former Speaker of the House Dick Gephardt, after weeks of speculation that he would run to retake the Speakership of the House, announced that he would not challenge Speaker Pelosi and endorsed her for the position. He also announced that this would be his last term in Congress. He said it was a honor of a lifetime to serve in Congress, but after much thought he concluded it was time to retire.


End of the Year Review for 2004:
2004 was a year that was largely dominated by the Presidential Election cycle. The Democratic Party that narrowly lost in 2000, but came back strong in 2002, hoped it could land another victory in 2004 and had five candidates running for their party's nomination. Then Speaker of the House Dick Gephardt emerged as the nominee however, over runner up Former Vice President and 2000 Democratic nominee Al Gore, Minnesota Senator Paul Wellstone, Former Vermont Governor Howard Dean, and then North Carolina Senator John Edwards. President Bush, who had a mixed term in office, had a primary challenge in Libertarian leaning Republican Congressman Ron Paul, who challenged the President on the grounds that he wasn't a true conservative. Despite some strong support in the Iowa Caucus and New Hampshire primary, Bush was able to fight off Paul rather early in the process.

The economy, which began to show signs of improvement in 2003, was continuing to grow, and Iraq, after a year of increased sanctions, finally allowed Weapons Inspections to take place, and the Inspectors revealed that there were no Weapons of mass Destruction in the Country. Sanctions would remain in place until the International Community could be assured that Iraq could not obtain these Weapons. Despite this, and despite legislative success throughout 2003, thanks to a strong campaign by an emboldened Democratic Party, the economic recovery not being felt in parts of the country, mainly the midwest, and poor debate performances, President Bush struggled in his bid for re election. In the end, the President was able to narrowly win a second term. His Republican Party also made slight gains in Congress. Despite this, the Democrats still maintained control of the House and Senate. After the election, two key cabinet members, Secretary of State Colin Powell and Defense Secretary James Baker announced their retirement. Bush would appoint Indiana Senator Richard Lugar to replace Powell, and Senator Chuck Hagel of Nebraska to replace Baker.
 
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December 28th, 2004. Gephardt Announces he won't seek election to Speaker of the House. Says this will be his last term in Congress:
On December 28th, at a Press Conference in his home state of Missouri, the 2004 Democratic Nominee for President and Former Speaker of the House Dick Gephardt, after weeks of speculation that he would run to retake the Speakership of the House, announced that he would not challenge Speaker Pelosi and endorsed her for the position. He also announced that this would be his last term in Congress. He said it was a honor of a lifetime to serve in Congress, but after much thought he concluded it was time to retire.
St. Louis salutes you Mr. Gephardt!
 
January 6th, 2005. Senator Chuck Hagel appointed to Replace James Baker as Secretary of Defense:

The White House announced on January 6th that the President was appointing Senator Chuck Hagel of Nebraska to replace James Baker as Secretary of Defense. In an interview with CNN, Hagel said he was honored to be selected for the position.
 
Inauguration Day 2005.
January 20th, 2005. Bush and Kasich Sworn in for a Second Term. Lugar confirmed as Secretary of State:
On January 20th, 2005, the 43rd President of the United States was sworn in for a Second term as President, with the Oath of Office being administered by Chief Justice Emilio Garza, who would administer his first Presidential Oath of Office. Vice President Kasich was sworn in as Vice President shortly before the President, with Associate Justice Antonin Scalia administering the Oath to him. After taking the oath, and after a 21 gun salute, President Bush gave his Inaugural Address. In his speech, the President said that half way through the first decade of the new Century, he felt confident that the 21st Century could be the next American Century, and called on all Americans of all backgrounds to come together and make this century the next American Century.

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The President's Speech was well received and his Approval rating going into his Second term stood at 58%. That same day, the Senate confirmed Richard Lugar as Secretary of State. He would take the oath the following day.
 
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So the end of history continues.

I wonder if anything major will hit the international scene during Bush's second term to really shake things up (perhaps something to do with Iraq); especially if/when the economy starts going haywire as it did IOTL.
 
December 28th, 2004. Gephardt Announces he won't seek election to Speaker of the House. Says this will be his last term in Congress:
On December 28th, at a Press Conference in his home state of Missouri, the 2004 Democratic Nominee for President and Former Speaker of the House Dick Gephardt, after weeks of speculation that he would run to retake the Speakership of the House, announced that he would not challenge Speaker Pelosi and endorsed her for the position. He also announced that this would be his last term in Congress. He said it was a honor of a lifetime to serve in Congress, but after much thought he concluded it was time to retire.


End of the Year Review for 2004:
2004 was a year that was largely dominated by the Presidential Election cycle. The Democratic Party that narrowly lost in 2000, but came back strong in 2002, hoped it could land another victory in 2004 and had five candidates running for their party's nomination. Then Speaker of the House Dick Gephardt emerged as the nominee however, over runner up Former Vice President and 2000 Democratic nominee Al Gore, Minnesota Senator Paul Wellstone, Former Vermont Governor Howard Dean, and then North Carolina Senator John Edwards. President Bush, who had a mixed term in office, had a primary challenge in Libertarian leaning Republican Congressman Ron Paul, who challenged the President on the grounds that he wasn't a true conservative. Despite some strong support in the Iowa Caucus and New Hampshire primary, Bush was able to fight off Paul rather early in the process.

The economy, which began to show signs of improvement in 2003, was continuing to grow, and Iraq, after a year of increased sanctions, finally allowed Weapons Inspections to take place, and the Inspectors revealed that there were no Weapons of mass Destruction in the Country. Sanctions would remain in place until the International Community could be assured that Iraq could not obtain these Weapons. Despite this, and despite legislative success throughout 2003, thanks to a strong campaign by an emboldened Democratic Party, the economic recovery not being felt in parts of the country, mainly the midwest, and poor debate performances, President Bush struggled in his bid for re election. In the end, the President was able to narrowly win a second term. His Republican Party also made slight gains in Congress. Despite this, the Democrats still maintained control of the House and Senate. After the election, two key cabinet members, Secretary of State Colin Powell and Defense Secretary James Baker announced their retirement. Bush would appoint Indiana Senator Richard Lugar to replace Powell, and Senator Chuck Hagel of Nebraska to replace Baker.

I also ended a End of the Year Review for 2004 at the end of one of my previous posts.
 
So the end of history continues.

I wonder if anything major will hit the international scene during Bush's second term to really shake things up (perhaps something to do with Iraq); especially if/when the economy starts going haywire as it did IOTL.
I imagine things will shift to Foreign Policy in a Second term, at least that's my intent anyway. Whether that happens or not depends on a variety of factors.
 
well the Republicans are screwed,the democrats may as well sit back and eat popcorn until 2008. The recisson will still discredit any party who is in the oval office at the time and they still get to bear the brunt of that.
 
well the Republicans are screwed,the democrats may as well sit back and eat popcorn until 2008. The recisson will still discredit any party who is in the oval office at the time and they still get to bear the brunt of that.
Like I said earlier, there's no guarantee that the financial crisis will start before the 2008 election.
 
January 21st, 2005. Lugar Sworn in as Secretary of State. Hagel Confirmed by the Senate:
Richard G. "Dick" Lugar was sworn in as the 66th Secretary of State at the White House on January 21st, 2005. In attendance were President Bush, Vice President Kasich, outgoing Secretary of State Colin Powell, and members of the Lugar Family. After taking the oath, Lugar pledged to ensure a successful implementation of the Administration's Foreign Policy. Later that day, Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels announced that he would announce who he was appointing to replace Senator Lugar the following Monday.

Also, that day the Senate confirmed Senator Chuck Hagel as Secretary of Defense by a vote of 61-39. He would be sworn in the next day.
 
And this timeline continues going on a paradox in being so fascinating precisely because it is so... boring. :openedeyewink:

Also, I agree with the earlier suggestion that the alt-GFC could be delayed until after the 2008 election. Of course, it could also start a few months earlier than OTL. One never knows.
 
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