WI: Bush Dies in 2002

On January 13, 2002, Bush lost consciousness while sitting on a couch in the White House, watching a football game. His head hit the floor, resulting in an abrasion on his left cheekbone and a small bruise on his lower lip. The incident was blamed on a combination of Bush not feeling well in previous days, and an improperly eaten pretzel. Their combined effect was to slow the President's heart. The period of unconsciousness was brief.

What if this accident was fatal. Let's say that he hit his head on the corner of a coffee table(if there was one there). And let's say that it cracked his head opened and started bleeding. So basically he dies of blood loss and head trauma.

What effect does this have on American politics and international affairs? Does the Iraq war still happen? How does Cheney handle the remainder of Bush's term? Who runs in 2004?
 
Bush is seen as a martyr due to his death. He had just enough time to start up the War on Terror, but not enough to screw up everything.

He would be seen as a man who tried to save America, and died trying.

Or, Cheney says that the Pretzel company is in cahoots with the terrorists, and becomes the Emperor of the Pretzels.
 
The Wat on Terror would still go forward,but I'm not too sure that Cheney would have the ability to sell congress on Iraq. Bush did have the force of personality and warmth of character to do it,I cannot see old Dick doing it.

He may of had the reqired knowledge and exprience to be a President,but
I can't really think that the rest of the cabinet would go to his side.If I remember rightly Powel and Rice weren't exactly on first name terms with the man,were they?
 
Cheney was a former Minority Whip in the House- one of the reasons Bush picked him for VP was because of his legislative expertise. I don't see the problem with selling them on Iraq. Remember, there was a large bipartisan majority that included three Democratic presidential candidates: John Kerry, Hillary Clinton and John Edwards.
 
The Wat on Terror would still go forward,but I'm not too sure that Cheney would have the ability to sell congress on Iraq. Bush did have the force of personality and warmth of character to do it,I cannot see old Dick doing it.

He may of had the reqired knowledge and exprience to be a President,but
I can't really think that the rest of the cabinet would go to his side.If I remember rightly Powel and Rice weren't exactly on first name terms with the man,were they?

Considering how little trouble Bush had in selling the war I don't see why Cheney would have had any problems at all.

I think the war happens and everything is pretty much the same(other than Cheney being President) but 2004 would be really interesting.

I think Cheney would probably lose to whoever winds up running against him(probably Kerry but not necessarily). I don't think he would be able to energize his base the way Bush could, and the people who hated Bush also hated him. He also had a thinner skin than Bush and I can see a few press conferences going really badly for him.

The question becomes, who would win the Democratic nomination, would they beat Cheney, and if so, what would their presidency be like.
 
I'm not sure if Cheney would get us into Iraq. Was he really in favor of it back in 2002? I'm also not sure if he would run in 2004. I thought it would be cool if Colin Powel ran for the Republicans in 2004.
 
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