What If? Interesting ASB Elections

[Zyobot]

Oh, Yeah, Bill Clinton is likely going to get #MeToo'd as well! But I suspect that he'd still win. He might get some GOP immigration hawks to vote for him, especially considering that Ford admitted Vietnamese refugees into the US in huge numbers. Though Vietnamese refugees are relatively conservatives to my knowledge, so maybe they'll cut Ford some lack for this.

Sounds reasonable to me, though I have my reservations on Clinton doing as well as you'd think. Deregulation, strict border control, and tough-on-crime legislation would probably make him sound more like a Republican to modern Democrats. (Not to mention how his rhetoric would sound way "too Trumpian" to their ears.)

As a caveat to your previous post, though, I'm not sure when Ford developed his supportive views on gay marriage? Sure, it could've been via him changing his mind years after his presidency, but maybe he always thought that and is only able to break his silence now, when support for gay marriage is socially acceptable?

 

[WolfBear]

Sounds reasonable to me, though I have my reservations on Clinton doing as well as you'd think. Deregulation, strict border control, and tough-on-crime legislation would probably make him sound more like a Republican to modern Democrats. (Not to mention how his rhetoric would sound way "too Trumpian" to their ears.)

As a caveat to your previous post, though, I'm not sure when Ford developed his supportive views on gay marriage? Sure, it could've been via him changing his mind years after his presidency, but maybe he always thought that and is only able to break his silence now, when support for gay marriage is socially acceptable?

Where exactly did I say that Ford was pro-gay marriage? I was talking about Carter here, no? Ford died before gay marriage became too popular.

And Yeah, 1996 Clinton does sound like a Republican. In this regard, perhaps even 1976 Ford could sound more appealing to Democrats on things like the social safety net. But it would be hard for 1996 Clinton to win over a lot of Republicans who deeply care about the abortion issue. But those who care much more about things such as immigration could be persuaded to vote for 1996 Clinton in huge numbers, perhaps. He certainly did much better in both the Midwest and the Upper South than present-day Democratic presidential candidates have, no doubt.

 

[Zyobot]

Where exactly did I say that Ford was pro-gay marriage? I was talking about Carter here, no? Ford died before gay marriage became too popular.

I must've had a brain fart, then.

Again, though, I recall him stating support for gay equality and advocating a federal amendment to prohibit anti-gay discrimination. In which case, it doesn't really matter that he died before federalizing it took off... because he was saying those things years before!

But yes, I certainly had it in mind that there'd be lots of "cross-over" voters this time, given how Clinton and Ford break with Democratic and Republican orthodoxy on all of these key issues. Party loyalty may be hardened, but I think even the most ardent partisan's jaw would drop when they hear the opposite of what they want to hear regularly coming out of "their guy's" mouth.

 

[WolfBear]

I must've had a brain fart, then.

Again, though, I recall him stating support for gay equality and advocating a federal amendment to prohibit anti-gay discrimination. In which case, it doesn't really matter that he died before federalizing it took off... because he was saying those things years before!

But yes, I certainly had it in mind that there'd be lots of "cross-over" voters this time, given how Clinton and Ford break with Democratic and Republican orthodoxy on all of these key issues. Party loyalty may be hardened, but I think even the most ardent partisan's jaw would drop when they hear the opposite of what they want to hear regularly coming out of "their guy's" mouth.

Huh, you're right:

In October 2001, Ford broke with conservative members of the Republican Party by stating that gay and lesbian couples "ought to be treated equally. Period." He became the highest-ranking Republican to embrace full equality for gays and lesbians, stating his belief that there should be a federal amendment outlawing anti-gay job discrimination and expressing his hope that the Republican Party would reach out to gay and lesbian voters.[198] He also was a member of the Republican Unity Coalition, which The New York Times described as "a group of prominent Republicans, including former President Gerald R. Ford, dedicated to making sexual orientation a non-issue in the Republican Party".[199]

And Yep, completely agreed about a lot of crossover voting here.

 

[Zyobot]

I know I listed in the OP, but since it'd be funny to watch two clowns go at it: 'Jeb Bush (2016) Vs. Michael Dukakis (1988)'.

In which case, I believe The Goofy Governors would make a fitting TL name?

 

[WolfBear]

I know I listed in the OP, but since it'd be funny to watch two clowns go at it: 'Jeb Bush (2016) Vs. Michael Dukakis (1988)'.

In which case, I believe The Goofy Governors would make a fitting TL name?

I suspect that Dukakis should win here due to the changed composition of the US electorate in 2016 relative to 1988 and also because the GOP base was fed up with Bushist cuckservatism by 2016.

 

[WolfBear]

'Samuel Tilden (1876) vs. Zachary Taylor (1848)'

Thoughts on this one, @Zyobot?