This day in Trinity Universe history

[aberrantangels]

Warning: I'm going to blend TDiTUH with commentary on real-world politics, because the event of the day allows for it. People who believe that George W. Bush is the good guy and/or that John Kerry is worse (you know who you are) may want to skip today's entry.

2002
[Aberrant] CNN breaks a sordid scandal involving a six-year homosexual affair on the part of US President Schroer. The President gives a televised address that night and admits to the affair. Even with his immediate response, his approval ratings plummet; the scandal marks the final break between social conservatives and the Republican Party.

Despite which, Hugh feels no regret about having voted for Bob Schroer in 2000 and plans to vote for him again this November. After all, it's the most convenient way to thank him for saving the Republican Party from itself.

When I look at the Guy Davis illustrations of Schroer in the Aberrant core rules, it's obvious to me that he's supposed to be John McCain. So I feel entitled to take elements of McCain's actual OTL campaign and incorporate them into my vision of the Schroer campaign. For instance, David Foster Wallace wrote an article for Rolling Stone about McCain supporters "finally cheering their ability to really fucking cheer." In the TU, that was probably in a Dave Eggers piece for Flare or something of the kind.

The Wallace article in our time line, "The Weasel, Twelve Monkeys and the Shrub", chronicled the moment when the media turned against McCain. The Bush campaign had been lying its alleged ass off about McCain, and he did an ad saying "George W. Bush twists the truth like Clinton. We're all tired of that." The next day, the Bush campaign spun that as McCain starting the negative campaigning, and that was that. The Beard Copilot's prediction was fulfilled, that McCain wouldn't have a whelk's chance in a supernova of getting the nomination if he continued in his refusal to kiss Ralph Reed's ring.

I imagine Schroer going out to issue an apology for his words — an apology to William Jefferson Clinton for the comparison. After all, Clinton's lies could be reasonably interpreted as an attempt to protect not only himself but Monica. He was doing the wrong thing for the right reasons, or at least good ones. The Bush campaign's lies about Schroer himself, on the other hand, were lies for the sake of lying, hurtful lies.

I imagine that as the moment when the great mass of Republicans took a long hard look at what their party was becoming and said "It's time to take it back." I imagine Schroer saying "The era of big government is over. Let's go back to the era of responsible government."

I imagine Hugh writing "A lesser man than Schroer would have taken his clear victory over Gore as a clear mandate to run roughshod over America. An even lesser man would have taken himself as having such a mandate, even if his victory hadn't been as obvious." (He couldn't imagine the Floridebacle per se, but he can infer results from elections thrown into the Electoral College.)

I imagine all these things, because they're so much better than what we got.

Comments

[lostfactor.livejournal.com]

So, in essence, you're imaging that in the TU the American people chose reasonable politics and austere statesmanship over immature bickering? That the election was handled maturely and campaigned for on relevant issues, rather than squabbled over like seven-year-olds fighting over the bouncing red ball in the back lot of a school? They do say that science fiction caters to the grandest parts of human nature, the epitome of what we could be rather than what we are, but I believe this summarizes that impulse quite well.

You've thanked me before for setting off thoughts in your head; this has touched off a number of political thoughts that had been slumbering in my head before, and now I might be spurred into putting a few of them down in words. So thank you. ;>

[unkyrich.livejournal.com]

"The era of big government is over. Let's go back to the era of responsible government."

Thank you.

You've summed up a lot of my beliefs in one sentence.

I don't care about big vs. small government, really. I just want one that is responsible for its actions.

[aberrantangels]

So, in essence, you're imaging that in the TU the American people chose reasonable politics and austere statesmanship over immature bickering? That the election was handled maturely and campaigned for on relevant issues, rather than squabbled over like seven-year-olds fighting over the bouncing red ball in the back lot of a school? They do say that science fiction caters to the grandest parts of human nature, the epitome of what we could be rather than what we are, but I believe this summarizes that impulse quite well.

Thanks. Seriously. 8-) On sober reflection, it might make more sense, in real world terms, simply to say that something prevented the TU media from turning on Schroer the way their OTL counterparts turned on McCain (whom they'd been promoting, until South Carolina, as the "anti-Clinton" who was going to restore honor and dignity to the White House and would always. Tell us. The truth). It might even make more sense in terms of the way the media works in the TU. But I think my version works better in terms of explaining why, by 2008 (per Aberrant: Worldwide Phase I), the Jesus-freaks and America-first-last-and-always-ers have left the Republican Party in favor of the American Eagle Party.

(And may I quote you on the description of the impulses to which SF caters? It'd look good in my part of the Trinity Storytellers Handbook when I submit it to etherlad.)

You've thanked me before for setting off thoughts in your head; this has touched off a number of political thoughts that had been slumbering in my head before, and now I might be spurred into putting a few of them down in words. So thank you. ;>

You're quite welcome. Glad I could return the favor. I look forward to seeing the results.