Election Day Redux

November 3rd, 2004

in 4375, the close approach of a comet towards earth gives the Emperor’s astronomers a chance to try out their new telescopes; with the new seeing glasses, astronomers are able to see the comet clearly as a large ball of dirty ice. This revolutionizes the field, and astronomers begin forming new theories as to the composition of other heavenly bodies.

in 1789, founding father George Clinton was elected the first President of the United States by the Congress. The general from New York narrowly defeated fellow general George Washington by virtue of his experience as a governor. Clinton led the nation to a rocky start, but was able to erase the war debt and establish relations with most of Europe by the end of his 3rd term in 1800. Clinton’s 3 terms established that as the traditional limit for presidential administrations.

in 1812, Dewitt Clinton follows in his father’s footsteps, although not in his party. Elected to the presidency as a Federalist, Clinton consolidates his hold on power by appointing friends and associates throughout the government. By the time he dies in office in 1821, the presidency has powers rivaling any king of Europe.

in 1850, Second Chancellor William Dayton of the North American Confederation is elevated to the First Chancellory when his predecessor, Juan Diego De La Hoya, dies in an air-car accident. Dayton wins his own term in the high office in 1855.

in 1933, President Michael Dukakis is born in Brookline, Massachusetts, the son of poor Greek immigrants. Dukakis rose through the Democratic party ranks to the governship of Massachusetts before running against Vice-President George Bush for the presidency in 1988. America had become very disenchanted with the Reagan administration because of the Iran-Contra scandal, and Bush paid the price for it. Dukakis served 2 successful terms, and oversaw the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the elimination of the federal budget deficit.

in 1941, German Underground operatives, with inside help from American Bundists, bomb the American naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. G.U. Fuehrer Adolf Hitler lets it be known that he believes America should refrain from entering the war in Eurasia, should it wish to prevent a repeat of Pearl Harbor.

in 1964, Comrade President Gus Hall was elected to his first full term as president after succeeding slain Comrade President Rosenberg. He defeated Socialist Senator Barry Goldwater of the Arizona Soviet. The two tickets were a repeat, of sorts; Comrades Hall and Goldwater had been the vice-presidential candidates in the 1960 election.

in 1992, in the most stunning upset in election history, H. Ross Perot is elected President of the United States, defeating both the Republican and Democratic candidates. His folksy charm and colorful language soon wore thin, though; people saw that, instead of a competent technocrat, they had elected a paranoid megalomaniac. He was impeached in 1995, and his Vice-President, James Stockdale, proved little better in the Oval Office. The Democrats regained the White House with Senator Al Gore leading them in 1996.