Yup, for sure! Sorry been a bit quiet. Busy week at work and I was out of it yesterday. Yeah, pretty short for Specter and wasn't even sure on what his cabinet could be as we're diverging further from OTL
America's Funniest President: Mo Udall Presidency & Beyond
- Thread starter CountDVB
- Start date
Curious to see what this version of Clinton's cabinet will be like, if any ideas come tomind for posts.
Probably similar to OTL more or less if with a couple different choices for those in the left.
Presidental Reflection: The Specter Administration (1997 - 2001) [Pt. 2]
Presidental Reflection: The Specter Administration (1997 - 2001) [Pt. 2]
Arlen Specter presidential election bumper sticker
Arlen Specter presidential election bumper sticker
Foreign Affairs
The period of global peace and cordial relationships with the United States continued under the Specter Administration though they would also oversee the end of a few global conflicts and making a few moves over on international affairs and geopolitics as part of the US being a superpower.
North America
President Specter would maintain the standard attitude over with America's neighbors as his predecessor's had, going for a "buisness as usual" sort of mentality. It helped that there was not much in terms of events going on. Specter maintained the growing cordial relations between the US in Cuba while also increasing ties to Mexico and Canada. One note in particular was while Specter was apprehensive on gun reform, he was flexible enough to work arrangements with Mexico out of concerns that certain lax gun laws in the US could lead to firearms ending up in criminal hands over in Latin America, and thus were working together with local and regional governments to limit firearm trafficking. Specter would go and congratulate Mexico's new president with Porfirio Muñoz Ledo having won the Mexican presidency over in 2000, following up on the legacy of Cardenas. Specter would also be working with Canada's leadership on public transporation as plans were growing to have growing connections with them. Overall, it was a pretty quiet time through it all, mainly working in continued cooperation and leadership in the usual issues.
South America
South America also enjoyed the usual warm relations under President Specter, with the maintained projects of international security in dealing with drug cartels, smuggling, and so on. Colombia was seeing the drug conflicts go down as the cartels were being take down. The Specter administration's decision regarding Microsoft would benefit certain nations indirectly as it would give their competitors, NeXT and Apple, better opportunties to go and expand into various of the region, such as over in Venezuela. Brazil continued its ecological developments and deals with the US over there along with wrapping up for various other projects and the like. Not much else was going on though Specter would certainly provide quite a stunning move when in the last months of his presidency, he would formally apologize over to various South American nations for the actions of the CIA of the like, along with apologizing to the US public for what some of their tax dollars have gone to. Further developments have been pretty modest and undisruptive, but all parties were happy to be enjoying the peace and quiet.
Europe
It would be the Specter Administration that would see the end of the Yugoslavian Wars over in Europe as the Kosovo War would end in yet another defeat for Yugoslavia and Kosovo uniting over with Albania as a nation. They would also help with growing ties with the European Union and the security-based mentality would see the continued presence of NATO for the time being. While NATO would grow under the Specter Administration with Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary joining, with Slovakia also ina couple years, the four would also help find a sister organization over with CETO, serving as a defensive pact for the eastern nations of Europe. It would help serve as their own version of NATO, while enjoying all the benefits on a practical sense regarding defense, especially since CETO has clauses allowing them to call other organizations fo help and nothing would forbid CETO members from joining NATO. Beyond this, the Specter Administration would keep working with their counterparts with the SUSR to ensure a peaceful Europe and other joint ventures, with a massive celeberation being over the the first crew over into the ISS. The Specter Administration enjoyed the usual close ties with Europe, even as reflecting what awaits beyond the millenium.
Middle East
By the time of the Specter Administraton, the Middle East would start calming down. It ws the last months of the Iranian-Turkish War as after the Susurluk scandal, more trouble would come death of Turkey's leader. When Turkey would finally surrender due to the low morale and the pain of the economic sanctions, the Specter Administration would see Iran solidify itself as the major power of the Middle East and strengthing ties with the Americans. Kurdistan would more than double in size, reuniting most of the Kurds along with Armenia getting most of what they were promised back from nearly a century prior. Yet while the guns of war were quieting down and people trying to find some sense of normalcy, not everything was still. Now thoroughly humbled, Turkey's future remains unsure; they continued to remain suspended from NATO, but are no longer in major danger of being kicked out. Saudi Arabia is seeing further conflict as more and more angry citizens rise against the House of Sauds. The torch and the pitchforks are being provided by the Neo-Baathists, who would gain a new ally in Syria after a death in leadership let them back up a new believer to go and bring in the region into a new tomorrow, if by force of fire and fighting if need be. Specter's Administration would also be uniquely impactful due to being viewed as the modern American conservative and helped establish a sort of firmer benchline of what to expect along with inspiring more than a few thinkers in the area.
Asia
The Specter Administration's focuses over on Asia was mainly centered on dealing with the end of the Cold War and what that entailed with some of their more prominent neighbors. China's grdually growing democratization was met with approval with Specter and Ziyang had been communicating more frequently with him, a noting of how the time of these old men would soon come to an end and they would need to finish laying the groundwork of a better tomorow for the next generation, trusting it in the hands of their successors. There was still plenty of work to be done in the meanwhile though. Specter and Ziyang along with then SUSR Chief Director Arbatov would oversee a plan that would lead to the end of the unofficial Kim dynasty over in North Korea, facilitating serious talks to move toward reunification along with de-Kimification over in North Korea. This would lead to growing relations with the hermit nation more with the rest of outside world and all the while, the Specter Administration reinforced ties over with the other nations in the area, noting the prosperity and promise over in the region. The same was said further west as it would nearly be 10 years since the formation over of Khalistan and the promise growing there with the Sikhs along with the Specter Administration also focusing over with India.
Africa
Over in Africa, it was relatively quiet for the most part, with the Specter Administration continuing on in the previous work regarding the growth of the Ethiopian monarchy, the gradual quieting down of tensions and the like. He would joke over with Nelson Mandela that he would not be joining him in the new millenium regarding the discussions for the future with Sout Africa, resulting in a few chuckles. The Specter Administration would however end up in a bit of tension with Morocco over increasing pressures regarding the potential Sahrawi Arab Republic. That said though, with the passing of the old king, the new one in Mohammed VI was showing more promise as a cautious reformer, especially as he has been noting how others that refused to reform would be formed to change radically and while quite close to the US, internal pressures were alot more of a trouble to deal with. Zaire was finally starting to shake the dust off itself and moving forward and over all, it was a quiet yet peaceful business as usual over with the Specter administration.
Last edited:
Amazing as always! I'm free this weekend so I'll have a lengthy review, keep up the great work.
Retrospection: The Specter Administration
Retrospection: The Specter Administration
President Specter giving a speech in 1999
"I think a public official ought to follow his conscience as to what is in the public interest, not what will protect his job." - Arlen Specter
"There's nothing more important than our good health - that's our principal capital asset." - Arlen Specter
"I knew people were going to see me see deteriorate before their eyes." - Arlen Specter
President Specter giving a speech in 1999
"I think a public official ought to follow his conscience as to what is in the public interest, not what will protect his job." - Arlen Specter
"There's nothing more important than our good health - that's our principal capital asset." - Arlen Specter
"I knew people were going to see me see deteriorate before their eyes." - Arlen Specter
For many people, the late 1990s didn't seem like much of a change. In fact, it was more of the same of what had been happening prior, but slower and more at ease. It seemed to fit well with the newer brand of conservatism that Arlen Specter was helping to give shape and form over to when he became president. His election symbolized that America was ready for a change over after 16 years after Democrat rule in the White House, but at the same time, they were not looking for anything radical or major. Indeed, it seemed more over on a test on how well if the other party could continue on the good work despite the political differences and Specter for the most part was able to validate those hopes and ease concerns. A prominent Senator, he would start his career at the same time as Mo Udall began his presidency and would rise in the decade as the Republican Party was trying to rebuild itself and adjust to the changes brought about by the Udall and Askew Administrations. As such, he was suited for the running perfectly when the time came, especially as the party needed a new icon to try and represent them.
Specter's policies were largely maintanance of what his predecessors built upon, but it also served to reinforce that such foundations were to become a bedrock across the political spectrum and thus render them above partisan attempts of gamesmanship. He would focus further on security across the board, including with internal affairs and help ensure that subsersive elements and radicals could not infiltrate and corrupt police forces or the military. However, one big one that would be continued on would be on the growing importance of balancing freedom and security over with the Internet. On the one hand, with a brand new frontier, then it meant a brand new area of national security that it needed to be taken seriously, especially as hacking and viruses were becoming more prominent and known among uses. At the same time, personal freedoms needed to be protected over online, especially as it was becoming more important to understand what was it that some of this online content could do, the rammifications it had down the line and recontextualize alot of prior assumptions with the growing widespread usage and capabilities of the Internet. The Specter Administration would help lay the foundation for the growing importance of governments to understand and work with the Internet without stifling it or putting it in a chokehold, especially as its rapid evolution meant that subsequent administrations would have to adapt quickly.
The larger infrastructure projects in development since the 1980s were coming online or nearing completion. President Specter would oversee the openings of many new nuclear power stations to replace coal along with the near-completion of the total electrification of the American rail system, which combined with the expanded Amtrak now being updated with computer tech, was making a grander public transporation network for the United States. Computers continued to grow in prominence and usage though consequences were being seen with such matters. Microsoft would be found guilty of monopolistic practices and would be facing likely division and similar matters were being discussed and being figured out, such as on the concern of cable companies potentially getting into broadband internet and potentially leading to an oligopoly of sorts. However, it wasn't just busting down structures; taking a page out of his predecessors' pages, Specter would go also toward infrastructure expansion. Outlining a plan for a public ISP to be implemented to ensure people wouldn't have to rely on companies along with potentials for security measures to be taken in place as more of the world's aspects are tied to cyberspace.
Peace and quiet reigned in this time. The Iranian-Turkish War would end along with the final war of the Yugoslavic Wars, the one in Kosovo. The Middle East was for the time now at peace as a larger Kurdistan and Armenia were cemented in the Iranian sphere of influence and in fact, the US began to reinforce positive relations over with Iran, reinforcing their status as the premier power of the Middle East. Additionally, Specter's reputation of being of the "modern America conservative" would help provide a sort of frame of reference of what to expect from the United States along with a better sense of what is coming. While the Specter Administration focused on friendships with Iran and reinforcing their commitment to Khalistan's growth and develpment, they also looked into other parts of the world. Given the 2000 Beijing Olympics, relationships with China was becoming more important along with their bond with Russia and the rest of the Sovereign Union given the works with the ISS mission so far.
Pop culturally, Specter would have a bit of a subtle impact though not as much as his predecessors. That said, his plannings for the Internet would bring a fair bit of long term consideration down the line. Furthermore, the end of his administration seem to coincide with the upcoming end of various other trends and phenomenon over in pop culture, or at least signalling the transition that would be coming. The Brass Age of Comic Books would be considered in its final years at this time, as the various changes caused by Disney's entrance with their magazine model, inspired by Japan's Shonen Jump, along with the growing widespread impact of Akaschia Inc's inclusion of comics and graphic novels in not just their market, but also their promotional materials. Even as they were expanding into different media, Akaschia Inc's impact on the industry of writing and literature was growing due to their changes in buying habits of audiences. Films were becoming a bit more experimental over in their works along with television, but both seemed to have settled into a comfortable pattern for the most part. That said, video games were growing to become a fierce competitor in them for the free time of the people and the sparks of videos on the Internet was becoming an intriguing possibility very recently.
Usuprisingly, Arlen Specter would announce his retirement from politics, with many noting how exhausted he seemed to look and causing some reflection over in the age of politicians and perhaps on what was needed in the future. With Bill Clinton and Albert Gore taking the reigns, many were wondering what future surprises would await everyone.
I still got a couple of big surprises for the year coming along with trying to keep track of everything so far
.I have a very hard time believing that any significant amount of democrats would join a third party let alone one’s with big positionsYeah, wrapping up Specter before going to Clinton. It’s gonna be interesting with all the changes. I wonder how @peeter feels given how Clinton did become president, but under the new centralist party
Winter 2001- A Cyberspace Odyssey
Winter 2001- A Cyberspace Odyssey
The Seattle Monolith
The Seattle Monolith
January would see Bill Clinton go and be sworn in as the 43rd President of the United States of America. Coming in, it would be a relatively peaceful time for Bill Clinton to come in yet he brought with him a form of energy and excitement. After all, he was the first president who was neither Democrat or Republican since President Fillmore and more of one who wasn't of the two major parties since arguably Washington. A breaker of trends, perfect for this new era of the new millenium. Clinton would not rush with dynamism, going over to look over everything on what his predecessor had done. Plans were underway to take the outline for the public ISP created under the Specter Administration and expand upon them with the hopes of finalizing drafts for the plan and beginning its implementation within the first term. At the same time, Al Gore would also take the lead with the initiative of discussing important matters with many prominent tech companies. From the concerns of AOL and Prodigy over the future of their buisnesses and concerns of cable to the questions over Microsoft and its competitors and the like, it's been quite a busy first weeks. And this would not be the only interesting bit of news regarding computer technology to come out. NeXT Inc would announce the release of NeXTunes. NeXTunes was the result of NeXT Inc purchasing SoundJam Inc as they wanted to implement MP3 player software for computers running on NeXT OS and would acquire SoundJam Inc, renaming it. [1] This continued NeXT Inc's focus on software over hardware and expanding their selection to stay in business. Meanwhile, former SoundJam rival in Audion would also be looking over to maintaining in business, with some speculating that Apple would be looking into purchasing Audion in the future. Outside of music, the winter of 2001 would see the release of what many will consider one of the most important websites of all time: Wikipedia. [2]
Despite all of the rush of the news, it was still quite a slow and peaceful first few months. There was not that much going on in terms of anything majorly concerning, at least for the time being. While there was some concerning reports, such as from the Middle East on the growing conflicts in Saudi Arabia, it was not exactly much of the US's problem right now. It helped that their neighbors were monitoring matters and helping with reports. One humorous bit of news was the installation of a certain piece over in Kite Hill in Magnuson Park of Seattle: a replica of the Monolith from 2001: A Space Odyssey. [3]While quite fitting for the coming of the New Year, it also helped spark the imagination given the growing increase in space exploration by the international community. Another matter regarding the installation of various projects would be the completion of the Oklahoma City National Memorial. The creation of the memorial was authorized by former President Specter to honor the victims, survivors, rescuers, and all who were affected by the Oklahoma City bombing back in 1995 during the administration of President Askew. [4] It would drawn in plenty of visitors and would also be noted for its informal connection to another memorial, that of the Tulsa massacre from decades prior and who had their own rememberance in 1996 and it being nearly 5 years since then. Beyond the shared history of violence, it also served as a reminder of the dangers of extremism and reactionary thought.
Of course, not everything was necessarily being hunky-dory. Over in England, a concerning epidemic would begin breaking out. [5] That of what was known as "foot-and-mouth disease." An infectious disease that can be fatal, the virus that transmits the disease affects cloven-hoofed animals, including domestic and wild bovids. Symptoms include a high fever lasting two to six days, followed by blisters inside the mouth and on the feet (hence the name)that may rupture and cause lameness. Given that FMD is highly infectious and can be spread by infected animals comparatively easily through contact with contaminated farming equipment, vehicles, clothing, and feed or even with wild or domesticated predators, the disease is a potent hazard for animal farming and thus containment is vital and demanding.[6] The last outbreak was over back in 1967 and alot has changed since then to say the least. Detected over in late Febuary, the growing spread of the viral disease across various parts of England would have some large scale rammifications due to a domino effect regarding tourism and the like as a result. [5] Additionally, given how this occurred back in the past, this would be seen as an important test for the Labour-LibDem government to do their best to manage and try to deal with the virus and avoid the mistakes of the past and something that Prime Minister John Smith would hopefully be able to capitalize on, especially with upcoming elections.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[1]- Informaton and phrasing from here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SoundJam_MP
[2]- Informaton and phrasing from here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2001
[3]- Informaton and phrasing from here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2001_in_the_United_States
[4]- Informaton and phrasing from here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oklahoma_City_National_Memorial
[5]- Informaton and phrasing from here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2001_United_Kingdom_foot-and-mouth_outbreak
[6]- Informaton and phrasing from here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foot-and-mouth_disease
Big positions? What do you mean there?
And well, part of it is that for a good chunk of Democrats of a certain kind, they don't see themselves as having much potential success. After all, while the old guard is now gone, they left such an impact that there's the pressure to do that rather than their own thing that the more social liberal/neoliberal may want to do. At the same time, after 16 years of Dem influence, there's the large sentiment that they likely won't be in power for a while and with the brand new restrictions on term limits and the like, they can't remain in Congress forever, especially now with a sentiment of bringing in fresh blood.
As such, some of them are taking a chance to go and seek out greener pastures, especially as with this new turning of the tide inspiring people to do new things. With the restictions enforcing the two party system now gone, there's a burst of liberation and trying something new, which Clinton exploited along with his triangulation strategy here. And over time, more and more people are gonna be looking into different parties, especially with what's coming.
Spring 2001- Elephant's Endgame
As 2001 entered Spring, the economy was slowing down, unsurprisingly given the boom that had been occurring a few years prior and such, the patterns of capitalism would see a slowdown. That said, it would be debatable if such a period could be considered a recession remained unknown to various economists and it would depend on what would be coming. Some have wondered if this slowdown was associated with what was going on in the tech industry, such as with Microsoft's appeal looking more unlikely known to succeed. Though at the same time there was alot to be happy about as NeXT Inc would release their brand new operating system in NeXOS, the successor to NeXTSTEP, now with a heavy redesign to appeal to the new modern aesthetic. With the progress being made with NeXT Inc, it was definitely doing better over than Apple as their merger with Be Inc with BeOS was not yielding as much success as they were desiring, though many were noting that much of this was due to the leadership issues going on. Indeed, the sluggish sales was making it increasingly clear that Apple would be in need of some dire changes to their business strategies, especially given the lack of future plans on moving forward with innovation in future products and the like. As such, the rumors of NeXT Inc possibly buying Apple began to swirl.
Meanwhile, two major events would be happening in the world, both of them leaving the ground and raising stakes to the stars, but both for very different reasons. The first one was definitely a literal example; the first tourist in space. Dennis Tito. An engineer turned entrepeneur, he would fund his own trip to space, going in the Soyuz TM-32 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. He would spend around a week over in the ISS before returning in the Soyuz TM-31, leaving Soyuz TM-32 over as a lifeboat over on the ISS. [1]The idea of space travel and space tourism helped sparked private interest over in space, which was part of a growing trend of interest in the cosmos' economic prospects. The other major event was metaphorical in terms of the astronomical heights reached, but it was no less vital. Over in the Netherlands, the Act on the Opening up of Marriage goes into effect. In doing so, the Dutch have become the first country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage. This milestone was celeberated by SATMIN folk and their allies across the world and it opened Pandora's box on such questions over in various parts of the world, primarily in Europe and North America. Of course, for the more reserved nations, they knew it was a matter of time before the inertia may come over to them. [1] This would be especially the case in the United States though the questions would start over on the state levels at first. Given the release of last year's Story of Seadogs, it seemed quite appropriate and in fact, rumors began circulating that the film may lead to the Netherlands getting a spot on the EPCOT World Pavilion, the first to be added in a long time.
Of course, there was various other bits of news as well. The deorbiting of the Russian space station Mir due to it reaching its technological limitations. [1] Mississippi holding a referendum to decide their new flag and after a close race, 55% of people would choose the new flag over the old one, finally replacing the old one, which maintained an aspect of the Confederate flag. [2] Sentiments guiding this decision included what was called "New Millenium Fever", a phenomenon in which people became more open to change and taking changes out of a sense of euphroia influenced by entering the year 2000, though this trend would last for a couple of years past 2000 itself. Moreover, this trend would cause a domino effect regarding long-term choice on the larger scale, influncing economics and politics. A major example would be the creation of a new party, consisting primarily of younger Republicans with support of some retired Republicans and moreover, various independents that had right-wing leanings. This shocking development was initially seen as a breakaway of the party, but it would become clear that it was something far more impactful. It was the beginning of the end for the Republican Party. And yet, the seeds sown for this phenomenon could be traced back years further. Some said this begin with the death of Russel Kirk, a prolific modern figure in American conservatism, defining it after WW2. Others would go even further and said it started with the election of Reagan, what many called the New Right's "Final Folly". Regardless of when, the seeming dying of the Republican Party and the rise of a new party coincided with a new philosophy that was in many ways the old. One touched up for the modern era and forced to confront not just mistakes of the past, but the bigger picture of existence.
This would be the rise of what the Anglosphere would call neoclassical or neotraditional conservatism. And its first torchbearer, who would already be a distinct example of it... the second Federalist Party.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
[1]- Informaton and phrasing from here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2001
[2]- Informaton and phrasing from here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2001_in_the_United_States
Last edited:
This has been a long time coming. I have done my best to sow the seeds and show how long this was meant to happen and indeed, alot of it was planned since the early days of the timeline. It's a new century, and with that, comes new philosophies and new examinations of old ones.
Will be talking about neoclassical conservatism and the second Federalist Party soon. Should also plan to make an official covering of the United Central Party.
Will be talking about neoclassical conservatism and the second Federalist Party soon. Should also plan to make an official covering of the United Central Party.
Still figuring that out, though I am happy to take ideas. Am thinking like darkish gray (in lieu of the black and white of the original) and symbol could be like a bear.
Will probably be talking about neoclassical conservatism first soon.
maybe they could use an owl like OTL's Modern WhigsStill figuring that out, though I am happy to take ideas. Am thinking like darkish gray (in lieu of the black and white of the original) and symbol could be like a bear.
Will probably be talking about neoclassical conservatism first soon.
Maybe, but I don't know why they would've used owls.
I appreciate everyone's supports.