I've been pondering a TL idea and would appreciate some feedback before I decide if I want to dive in,
The basic POD is that in 1944 FDR decides to go with his idea of reshaping the US political system with a liberal party.
He picks Willkie as his VP (we wave away Willkie's health issues) on the idea that it is a unity wartime government similar to what the UK was doing.
FDR dies, Willkie becomes POTUS
Over the next couple years he works more with Democrats than Republicans in Congress, though he works with people in both parties.
In 1946 the elections are kind of a mess because voters are upset at the WH but not sure which party to blame it on, so the Congress is organized by a coalition of moderate/liberal GOP and Dems
In 1948 we still have the 4 way race, Willkie vs GOP vs. Thurmond vs Wallace.
Initially we have 3-4 parties (Liberal, GOP, Southern Dem, Progressive) but in time the GOP/Southern Dems move together
We end up with a system where the liberal party straddles the spectrum, covering about 25% of the right wing (largely moderate GOP) and 50-60% of the left wing.
The Conservative party covers most of the rest of right wing (say 60-65%) with a hard line segregationist type party on far right
Progressives cover the bulk of the remaining left wing
Liberal party tends to control WH and Congress but other parties have influence and there is much more cooperative action due to multiple parties
Thoughts ?
Comments ?
The basic POD is that in 1944 FDR decides to go with his idea of reshaping the US political system with a liberal party.
He picks Willkie as his VP (we wave away Willkie's health issues) on the idea that it is a unity wartime government similar to what the UK was doing.
FDR dies, Willkie becomes POTUS
Over the next couple years he works more with Democrats than Republicans in Congress, though he works with people in both parties.
In 1946 the elections are kind of a mess because voters are upset at the WH but not sure which party to blame it on, so the Congress is organized by a coalition of moderate/liberal GOP and Dems
In 1948 we still have the 4 way race, Willkie vs GOP vs. Thurmond vs Wallace.
Initially we have 3-4 parties (Liberal, GOP, Southern Dem, Progressive) but in time the GOP/Southern Dems move together
We end up with a system where the liberal party straddles the spectrum, covering about 25% of the right wing (largely moderate GOP) and 50-60% of the left wing.
The Conservative party covers most of the rest of right wing (say 60-65%) with a hard line segregationist type party on far right
Progressives cover the bulk of the remaining left wing
Liberal party tends to control WH and Congress but other parties have influence and there is much more cooperative action due to multiple parties
Thoughts ?
Comments ?