America's Funniest President: Mo Udall Presidency & Beyond
- Thread starter CountDVB
- Start date
Yeah and it won't be the last mention here. With Islamism heavily discredited among all but the most zealous/desperate, a new form of Baathism is rising up, one now basing itself more in the modern world and looking at the examples of the non-Arab Middle Eastern secular states as an example of where to go.
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Spring 1992- Bosnian Conflict
Spring 1992- Bosnian Conflict
Flag of European Union
Flag of European Union
By Spring 1992, the stage was set over for the American political battleground. For the Democrats, most of the support was thrown behind the incumbent President Askew and Vice President Chisholm regarding their reelection. However, perhaps out of a sense of competition or for spreading the name, a serious challenger went up against Askew, that of Bill Clinton, Governor of Arkansas. Being over on the rightwing side of the Democrats and a member of the small faction of neoliberals, he ran over and relied on being a fresh face along with something new. It was a remark over on the relative quiet of the Askew administration regarding the domestic front and that it was time for a change of pace with the end of the Cold War. While he did go and give a somewhat serious shot at the debate, many speculated that he was more focused on guaging public attention and direction for a potential presidential run afterwards. While he did win his home state of Arkansas and a few others, President Askew was able to easily win over reelection to become the candidate of the Democratic Party. Interestingly enough, one final question asked was thoughts on the Unizens and Bill Clinton spoke positively on them and noted the importance of growing options in the American democracy. Meanwhile, the Republicans were also quite the keen eye to watch over with what is coming with them. Namely with them finally being treated as a potentially serious contender. North Dakotan Senator Mark Andrews would become the Republican Party candidate for the presidential race of 1992. After standing out among his contemporaries for his experience(and as some joked, for not being a New Englander), he would choose his running mate in none other than Arlen Specter, Senator of Pennsylvania. Arlen initally considered a run, but declined due to thinking it was a bit of a crowded field. However, he would still become rather popular and thus increase the prestige. Lastly, there was the Unizens, would be announcing a run though the focus would likely be more over on the legislative side. Nonetheless, there would still be the appearance of founder of the United Citizens Party with Ross Perot and his running mate over with Pat Choate. While they were still trying to find their political footing, they were still accepting various facets and ideas from other parties, including a few from the Libretarians, who were undergoing their own hemorrhaging as a result of polticial in-fighting, namely over lack of popularity of economic issues and accusations of corruption.
Meanwhile, the Bosnian War was starting, causing some of the various UN members to consider further reinforcing their peacekeeping forces there in the area. It all started when the Bosnian independence referendum would be held at the beginning of the month. Most of the Bosniak peoples along with the Bosnian Croat communities, would vote for for Bosnia-Herzegovina's independence. However, the whole referendum would be boycotted by the Bosnian Serbs. A month later, as the Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina proclaims independence from Yugoslavia, it would be done without the presence of Serb political delegates. Following this, Serb troops would be part of a mass rebellion of Bosnian Serbs, being against the declaraton of independence and they would begin by sieging the city of Sarajevo. This quickly prompted a meeting needed over what should be done, especially with the peacekeeping. The ethnic maps were showing there would be more than some difficulty in dividing up the region into potential sections. And well, while the two remaining constituent republics of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia – Serbia and Montenegro – would form the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, it was not much of comfort. It was pretty much the end of Tito's Yugoslavia, torn apart by the ethno-nationalist sentiments that have been flared up over the past several years or so. While the US and Europe would go to acknowledge the independence of the nations, the SUSR has remained absent for the most part over with Yugoslavia, being more focused on domestic affairs though would send be open to discussions from the Security Council regarding further peacekeeping. Meanwhile, while NATO and the SUSR have been focusing on potential issues regarding the new Yugoslavia, including plans for economic sanctions to try and weaken them and stop the issues, other conflicts continue to rage on. [1] The war between Azerbaijan and Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh continues on and with an Azerbaijani election coming up, the hope was new leadership could bring in a chance for peace. However, it did not seem likely and Iran would be especially cautious. Namely since the popular candidate, Abulfaz Elchibey, have expressed irredentist ideals toward Iran along with a pan-Turkist ideology, which could lead to further Turkish support in the war. With Iran and Turkey's relations already near rock-bottom due to the latter's treatment of the Kurds along with general power struggle, it could escalate into greater hostilities.
Yet despite all of these tensions and problems, there was still some positives left to be enjoyed over in the world. The People's Republic of China would ratifiy the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty while also continuing their plans for not just economic reforms, but political reforms as well, especially with the increased sight of young people and activists focusing more efforts on the local level. White South Africans would vote in favour of political reforms to go and end the apartheid regime, all with the upcoming elections over with the African National Congress now permitted to run and many expecting to win. In a large celeberation, especially for SATMIN+ folk, the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert, would be held at Wembley Stadium, London. Being televised live to over one billion people in the world, it would help in raising millions of dollars for AIDS research along with support for SATMIN+ folk across the world. Additionally, the biggest news would come out of Europe. After delays regarding the economic policies, including extensive changes to the so-called "Maastricht criteria" due to its original monetarist policies, disagreements coming from there and the rewrites for a more Keynesian approach along with more safeguards and protections for people, the paperwork would be finished and thus would be the signing of the Maastricht Treaty. With this done by the various twelve nations, the founding of the European Union would be announced to the world. [1] A political and economic union of twelve European nations starting out, it would be done to further bring peace and prosperity to the continent. While some were concerned about the sovereignty and the like with the nations, the extra time did allow for some reforms to be able to adjust these rules as needed, especially as more members come in and they continue to develop this. Unsurprisingly, this would have some pretty fascinating developments politically. Such as in the British, the discussions over the European Union would let Geoffrey Howe win reelection with his coalition with the LibDems though the changing of the zeitgeist meat they may lose that. Meanwhile, the Labour Party was also undergoing their own chances. Roy Hattersley maintained a hold along Kinnock, especially as Peter Shore found himself sidelined by the EU developments and his autarkic stances clashing against it while the Bennites were seemingly rising once more.
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[1]- Information and phrasing from here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1992
@Count DVB Looks like the 1992 presidential primaries will be in full swing soon, I can't wait to see what you have in store.
Surprise! Yeah, I figure that VP position would be a bit easier here for him. But Arlen Specter would arguably the best example of your standard average American conservative of this new era in terms of views as a politician and so on.
Main issue is trying to find people like him since not really many "Rockefellar Republicans" left and I do not know how many "Blue Dog" Democrats would fit.
Meanwhile, British politics are definitely gonna get further interesting. Though as you can tell, deciding politicians and so on is gonna become harder now :/
WanderingProfessor
Banned
The SUSR is mostly lucky aside from the loss of certain republics and they will take note of what's happening in the former Yugoslavia as a cautionary tale to avoid collapse through ethnic tribalism and sectarianism.
Pretty much though some will note the fault being because of Milosevic making matters worse. Meanwhile, I’m trying to find out stuff about Yugoslavia and how it could go, but it’s tricky and I would really appreciate help here.
That is the question, isn't it? If nothing else, Central/Eastern Europe may have their own version of NATO that would have the option to easily call upon NATO for assistance if need be and the structure itself likely based on it.
SUSR certainly has more trust to it, but I imagine the purge of the oligarchs and so on are ongoing as well as hammering out the details and so on.
1992- Kingslain
1992- Kingslain
Despite being free of the Derg, troubles continued on with Ethiopia and their transitional government. The Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front, despite having won against the Derg, were losing the support of the people. Being a coalition of various ethnically-based political movements, they would try and impose onto the people a form of ethnic federalism and dividing the nation among such lines. Mainly, that in the "National Conference on Peace and Reconciliation", any political organizations that wanted to attend was required to be centered around ethnic identity. Unsurprisingly, this led to several organizations were quickly created for that purpose, resulting in the rapid development of urban elite-led ethnicity-based movements. [1] However, many saw it as a potential power-play in dividing the people up and ensure the coalition could maintain their power. Before long, the comparisons to Yugoslavia were presented and used to show why this was a terrible idea. Tensions were flaring up and even some of the members of the coalition were considering leaving.
This did not stop some groups from continuing to push in spite of it and the EPRDF did not have support from any of the major powers, including the US or the SUSR. This lack of any real outside recognition made it easier for opposing forces to be taken more seriously, especially as it provided them with the opportunity to court the major powers for support and recognition. And one of those would be none other than Moa Anbessa. Formed by the Ethiopian Emperor in exile, Amha Selassie, this monarchist party would be vying for the restoration of the crown and the creation of a consitutional monarchy, with the intent on gathering supporters. While still vying for federalism, Moa Anbessa was not going for ethnic divisions and in fact embraced the ethnic diversity, cooperation and harmony. They touted the long lasting history of the nation and the success they all had with one another. Public and foreign pressure would let Amha Selassie go and tour the naton. While rumors speculated it may be postponed due to issues regardng the disinterment of the remains of Emperor Haile Selassie, Amha decided to let the issue drop for now in favor of visiting the nation. Going over to as many major cities as possible along with some rural areas, the return of the king was becoming pretty popular around the region. He was also growing his political support by having sympathizes and political agents meet up over with some of the disaffected parties of the coalition. Perhaps even most surprising was the Emperor's meeting with the Eritrean People's Liberation Front. This was done over and apologizing in regards to when fomer Emperor Haile Selassie unilaterally dissolved the Eritrean parliament and annexed the area decades prior. Despite still some of the bad blood, the EPLF was still cordial with the Emperor and were caught off-guard by the apology along with the promises of reparation of bonds and unity. If nothing else, it was still an appreciated sentiment.
However, such positivity would not last.
One of the largest danger over in the visit of Amha Selassie was the potential for assassination. After all, the Derg had only been in power since 1974 and many still had memories of the monarchies. Additionally, the changing of the times and promises of consitutional monarchy was growing appealing to alot of people, especially combined with the sense of unity unlike what the EPRDF was giving. While he lacked backing from any political power aside from some support from European states, it would still be viewed as a threat. However, Amha Selassie did not care. He was an old man by now and sickness would be catching up to him. Being 76, he knew that even if he was crowned, his reign would not be a long one. Nonetheless, he would carry on as best he could... and face what may come with all the dignity and gravitas he can muster.
During a speech over in Addis Ababa regarding the need to be unified and stand together for peace and prosperity ... loud shots would be heard. A shocked yet also perhaps resigned look appeared on the kings' face as he fell on the podium, the sounds of panic filled the area and security swarming all over the place, both of the nation and the private security of Amha Selassie...
His Imperial Majesty Emperor Amha Selassie I, Elect of God, Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah and King of Kings of Ethiopia... was now dead at 76, the target of an assassination.
However, this would not kill his movement... indeed, he would become martyred and Moa Anbessa would become charged with a new fervor. Conspiracy theories began flying about as to how security could be lax and fingers would be pointed. Before long, a growing great deal of suspicion among the populace would begin viewing the EPRDF as the main party behind the assassination. Large sympathy and support would fall into the hands of the Crown Prince, now the new Emperor-in-Exile, Zera Yacob Amha Selassie. Spurred by his father's death, he would become the new leader of the Moa Anbessa movement, now reinforced and with growing public supporting, standing off against an increasingly cracking EPRDF and their plans, especially along with that of some similar groups. The Eritrean People's Liberation Front would begin cracking on whether to maintain support behind the EPRDF, the damage this would have to their potential independence efforts and other personal conflicts.
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[1]- Information and phrasing from here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transitional_Government_of_Ethiopia
Perhaps you could use Mitt Romney in your timeline since he was a "Rockefeller Republican" when he ran for Senate in Massachusetts in 1994 against Ted Kennedy (it was Kennedy's closest re-election bid in our timeline but it was still a large Democratic victory). Perhaps Romney becomes Governor of Massachusetts instead of Bill Weld in the '90s and later runs for one of Massachusetts' Senate seats.
Ehhh... he wasn't as much as one as his father was. Additionally, some of the stuff he did in his past OTL he still would've done ITTL, which would likely affect his chances of winning. He may just remain in business legal, especially given what may come.
WanderingProfessor
Banned
Mr. DVB, Mo Udall died much earlier than his OTL counterpart and there will be a movie that portrays him as the savior of America and not go the warts-and-all approach like Raging Bull. Its name would probably be Udall (like many biopics) and have an ensemble cast of A-list actors. Of the roles in this hypothetical movie, what actor do you think would be the ideal choice for Udall?
Ooof, that one would be hard.
We have a bit of description on him here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mo_Udall#Personality_and_philosophy
I am not that well-versed in actors and Udall had such a pronounced character, would take alot. Not to mention give how he was 6'4", the height would need to be taken into consideration, especially how Mo himself said it influenced him. Also, the when is clearly part of it. Like if a biopic was being done in the 2020s, I may have to say Will Ferrell as a dark horse candidate.
Besides that, actors and so on aren't my strong suit on how well they can do.
WanderingProfessor
Banned
A biopic of the man would have started production in say the late 90s and early 2000s long enough to make a movie about him.
Depends. Reagan got a made for TV biopic thing on CBS in 2003, but that's not the same. In fact, a biopic on the man, called Reagan, is just coming out in 2022.
Ehh, the CBS thing was called The Reagans and was a mini-series. Don't know if Udall would get it like that. They may just wait further down the line kinda like with OTL Reagan thing,