WI: Tom Ridge is made George W. Bush's vice president?
- Thread starter ben0628
- Start date
Not only that, but Ridge would have been entirely acceptable as the 2008 GOP nominee. Team him up with someone like, say, Olympia Snowe as a running mate and you're talking President Ridge's inauguration in January 2009.
That's assuming the late 2000s economic crash is butterflied away or is significantly less worse. If the crash still happens shortly before the 2008 election, then a Democrat is favored to win simply due to popular anger at the incumbent party.
Also, a Tom Ridge/Olympia Snowe ticket would be problematic because both of them are pro-choice on abortion. The GOP's social conservatives would never accept such a ticket.
Part of the reason why George W. Bush did not select the other candidates on his shortlist was because they were either too old/irrelevant (John Danforth) or had political ambitions for the future (John McCain and George Pataki). Politically ambitious vice presidents would mean a potential rival for Jeb Bush, which the Bushs did not want. In the scenario he does select Tom Ridge, the Bush-Ridge Ticket may be able to win Pennsylvania in 2000 (Gore's margin of victory was 4.17%) and in 2004 (Kerry's margin of victory was 2.50%). Dick Cheney is given a different cabinet position, either as Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense, Secretary of Homeland Security (when it is created). I think Secretary of State is most likely, because Cheney will be vital for selling the Invasion of Iraq to the public and to Congress. (I believe regardless of who is Bush's vice president, the United States would still invade Iraq because both Bushs viewed Iraq as 'unfinished business' and have a bone to pick with Saddam Hussein.) Cheney probably steps down from Secretary of State after serving 4-6 years. Ridge might be better for advising Bush on defense because, although Cheney served as Secretary of Defense, Ridge actually served in the military. Ridge also won't have a bad reputation for advocating torture behind him, as Cheney had.
Assuming the economic crash is not butterflied away, and Tom Ridge runs for president in 2008, his best option would probably be a conservative Senator, such as Sam Brownback, or conservative Governor, such as Mark Sanford or Mike Huckabee (moderate on economic issues). John Thune and Matt Blunt are good conservative choices, however, they are probably not experienced enough and/or lack name recognition. A good selection for a female vice presidential nominee would either be Carly Fiorina or Meg Whitman, but their lack of experience and status as former CEOs are liabilities.
Assuming the economic crash is not butterflied away, and Tom Ridge runs for president in 2008, his best option would probably be a conservative Senator, such as Sam Brownback, or conservative Governor, such as Mark Sanford or Mike Huckabee (moderate on economic issues). John Thune and Matt Blunt are good conservative choices, however, they are probably not experienced enough and/or lack name recognition. A good selection for a female vice presidential nominee would either be Carly Fiorina or Meg Whitman, but their lack of experience and status as former CEOs are liabilities.
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Ak-84
Banned
There is zero way that an incumbent was going to win in 2008. Zero, Zip, Nada. The financial crises would have fucked them over but good. In OTL, Bush moved with surprising and efficient alacrity to organise the first bailout after 15th September 2008 and only just managed to get it. If his VP is actually running for election, he is not getting it. Full stop. There is an actual full and sudden collapse, not the drawn out one we saw in OTL. The US is redcued to pawning its ICBM's to make sure ATM's are running. Well maybe not that bad but pretty bad. Bernanke's goal line heroics which saved the economy from absolute crushing don't happen.
And the financial crises is going to happen regardless of who is in charge, the cause was bi-partisan, if Kerry wins in 2004, he faces it and loses the election over it. Hello President Bush III.
And the financial crises is going to happen regardless of who is in charge, the cause was bi-partisan, if Kerry wins in 2004, he faces it and loses the election over it. Hello President Bush III.
Dick Cheney was the brains in the Administration he had a lot of say in the day-to-day running of the country.
We're talking serious changes in policies here from day one.
We're talking serious changes in policies here from day one.