United States | 2008 Presidential Election

[Odinson]

2008 Presidential Election
Edwards|Kennedy vs. LaFleur|Collins​

Both major American political parties had breathed a metaphorical sigh of relief when President Sinclair announced that he would not be seeking a second term as President of the United States, and that Vice President Blumenthal would not seek the office of the presidency. This meant that there were no serious independent contenders for the White House and that either a Republican or a Democrat was guaranteed to win the office. The Democratic Party nominated South Carolina Senator John Edwards and Massachusetts for President, and Senator John F. Kennedy Jr. for Vice President. The Republican Party nominated Louisiana Governor Avery LaFleur for President and Maine Senator Susan Collins for Vice President. All of the candidates travelled across the country from Puerto Rico to Guam, from Alaska to Florida. The Edwards and LaFleur campaigns had worked tirelessly to earn the trust of the American People, but now it was out of their hands and in the hands of the American People to choose who would be President of the United States for the next four years (as well as who would be Vice President). While President Sinclair had served as Al Gore's Vice President, he was fiercely independent and never affiliated with either party. Neither party had an advantage when it came to an incumbent. now it was up to the American People to vote.

VOTE HERE​

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DEMOCRATIC TICKET "Our Best Days are Ahead"​ Presidential Nominee | Johnny Reid Edwards (D-NC) Vice Presidential Nominee | John Fitzgerald Kennedy Jr. (D-MA) MAJOR POLICY POSITIONS​ FOREIGN AFFAIRS - Global Diplomacy, For The World. Strongly supports special relationship with the United Kingdom, Strongly supports a military relationship with Canada and Sweden, Strongly supports non-proliferation of strategic weapons, *** Supports Global Assembly & GA reform, Supports a military relationship with Australia, Supports international free trade agreements, Supports nominal expansion of the Navy and Air Force, Supports the Gore Doctrine, Supports TASA Membership, *** Somewhat supports nominal reform of the Army and Marine Corps, Somewhat supports expansion of the Coast Guard, Somewhat supports a military relationship with Turkey and Korea, Somewhat supports normalization of relations with Thailand, *** Opposes normalization of relations with India. DOMESTIC AFFAIRS - Liberal, Status-Quo. Strongly supports maintaining high taxes, Strongly supports regulating fast food industry & increasing FDA regulations, Strongly supports healthcare reform, Strongly supports environmental protections, *** Supports subsidizing higher education, Supports more legal immigration, Supports path to citizenship for some illegal immigrants, Supports government subsidization of new housing projects, Supports more "Restore America" projects, Supports unions, *** Somewhat supports more secure border. *** ***

REPUBLICAN TICKET "Onward to Greatness"​ Presidential Nominee | Avery Louis LaFleur (R-LA) Vice Presidential Nominee | Susan Margaret Collins (R-ME) MAJOR POLICY POSITIONS​ FOREIGN AFFAIRS - Restore Western Greatness. Strongly supports special relationship with the United Kingdom, Strongly supports a military relationship with Canada and Australia, Strongly supports non-proliferation of strategic weapons, Strongly supports the Gore Doctrine, *** Supports a military relationship with Sweden, Poland, Turkey, and Korea, Supports significant expansion of the Navy, Supports updating the Air Force, Supports updating the Army, Supports specializing the Coast Guard and Marine Corps, *** Somewhat supports TASA Membership, Somewhat supports the creation of a space-based military branch, Somewhat supports normalization of relations with India, *** Opposes normalization of relations with Thailand, Opposes international free trade agreements without protections. DOMESTIC AFFAIRS - Conservative, Populist. Strongly supports tax cuts, Strongly supports hardline stance on illegal immigration & border protection, Strongly supports immigration reform, Strongly supports certain trade unions, Strongly supports fishing and farming industries, *** Supports making housing more affordable, Supports physical fitness in public schools, Supports inner-city renewal, *** Somewhat supports healthcare reform, Somewhat supports environmental protections, *** Opposes foreign and corporate ownership of single-family homes, Opposes more legal immigration.

Johnny Reid Edwards Experience & Education​ U.S. Senator 1997-Present Various Law Firms 1978-1997 Clerk for Federal Judge 1976-1978 University of North Carolina Chapel Hill [Graduated with J.D. with honors] 1974-1976 North Carolina State University [Graduated with B.A. in Textile Technology] 1970-1974​ John F. Kennedy Jr. Experience & Education​ U.S. Senator 2007-Present U.S. Ambassador to The Kingdom of The Netherlands 2001-2007 Founder and Chief Editor of George Magazine 1995-2002 Assistant District Attorney in the Manhattan DA's Office 1989-1993 President of Reaching Up Nonprofit 1989 New York University School of Law 1988-1990 Named Sexiest Man Alive by People Magazine 1988 Summer Intern at Manatt, Phelps, Phillips & Rothenberg Law Firm 1988 NYC Office of Business Development [Graduated with J.D. with honors] 1984-1987 Brown University [Graduated with B.A. in American Studies] 1979-1983​ ​

Avery Louis LaFleur Experience & Education​ Governor of Louisiana 2004-Present Louisiana Attorney General 2001-2004 Louisiana State Senator 1994-2001 Orleans Parish Public Defender 1991-1994 Tulane University School of Law [Graduated with a J.D. with honors] 1989-1991 Tulane University [Graduated with B.A. in Political Science, Minor in African Studies] 1985-1989 Detective at New Orleans Police Department 1981-1985 Police Officer at New Orleans Police Department 1978-1981 Louisiana Army National Guard 1978-1983 Susan Margaret Collins Experience & Education​ U.S. Senator 1996-Present Executive Director of Richard E. Dyke Center for Family Business 1994-1996 Deputy State Treasurer of Massachusetts 1993-1994 New England Regional Director for Small Business Administration 1992 Cabinet Member of Governor John R. McKernan Jr. 1987-1992 Legislative Assistant 1975-1987 St. Lawrence University [Graduated with B.A. in Government] 1971-1975 ​

 

[Odinson]

Private

WASHINGTON D.C.
The White House
November 3, 2008
2:43 A.M. EST​

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The election was taking much longer to call than Sinclair or anyone else in the White House thought. The President had seen plenty of strange and close elections, but this one had taken the cake. The Republican candidate, Avery LaFleur, won the State of Vermont which a Republican had not won in a national election since the George H. W. Bush presidency. At the same time, however, Edwards won his home state of South Carolina and the Democrats also held onto Pennsylvania. There were states where both sides did amazing and states where both sides lost miserably - the election was unique in many ways, if not bizarre. One thing was for sure: this election would not be a blowout for anyone.

In order to watch all of this unfold, President Sinclair went to a seldom talked about room in the White House called the Game Room, or Billiards Room, that was located on the third floor. He invited his old friend Al Gore and his Chief of Staff, Harvey Baker, to play pool, drink expensive scotch, and smoke cigars while the news played in the background. All three men left their jackets on a coatrack and had their sleeves rolled up. Sinclair, who always was in a three-piece suit, still had on a black vest with a gold pocket-watch chain dangling down from it each time he took a shot at a ball. Sinclair had experience at the game, Baker had youthful strength, and Gore was somewhere between both men.

"Are you going to miss the office?" Baker asked Sinclair as he leaned back against the wall, puffing on his cigar.

"Absolutely not," Sinclair said, and then pocketed a ball with precision.

"Not even a little? You know, all of the pomp and circumstance that comes with the job?" Baker replied.

"I like formality, but pomp and circumstance is a good way to develop an ego - just ask Al," Sinclair said, unable to contain his smirk.

"I have an ego, huh?" Gore cracked back.

"Nope, you're the must humble man in Washington," Sinclair said as he stood up, pool cue in hand. All three of the men laughed.

"What about you, sir," Baker said as he looked at Gore, "do you miss the job?"

"I don't miss the stress, that's for sure. There's nothing else like it. No one can prepare you for the stress... The best part to me, though, was when we would help people and I could see those results first-hand," Gore said.

"My favorite part about having this job is that it gave the Democrats and the G-O-P a stroke when I won. 'An independent as President? Some guy from Maine? That'll never happen!' I've heard that my entire time in the Senate. That was satisfying," Sinclair noted.

It was Gore's turn to shoot. He had three balls left. "You're not some guy from Maine, you're an American hero."

"If he's such a hero, why is he losing this round?" Baker asked. Gore and Baker both laughed.

"I won the first two, I thought I'd give you guys a chance," Sinclair retorted. He poured himself another shot of scotch and watched as Gore pocketed one ball and missed the next.

"Letterman really did a good one when he read off your resume on The Late Show. He went on and on with those adjectives," Gore said, thinking back. "He said: 'Benjamin Sinclair: he's a veteran, teacher, senator, vice president - he was struck by lightning, twice, he was awarded the Medal of Honor and the Medal of Freedom, he saved the U.S. Capitol during the riots, and most importantly... a lighthouse keeper,'" Gore said, starting to laugh, "and then, for the next ten minutes, he went through interviews of people from Castine about you and your lighthouse. I think that episode won you more votes than any speech."

"I can't wait to retire from this, eat lobster in my lighthouse, write, and read books. That's about all I have left to do," Sinclair said.

Both Sinclair and Gore turned to baker when they heard the sound of his pool cue smacking on the ground.

"Had enough to drink?" Gore teased.

Baker didn't say anything. He looked back at the two presidents, seriously, and then gestured towards the TV. "Can you turn that up, sir?"

Sinclair turned up the volume - it was on PBS. Ohio and Nevada had already been called for LaFleur earlier. There was almost no doubt at all that the West Coast and Hawaii were going to go for Edwards, which meant that the only states that were still in play were Florida and Alaska.

An older female news anchor cleared her throat. "Our decision desk has two more calls to make... PBS can now confidently project that Louisiana Governor Avery LaFleur has won the State of Alaska and also the State of Florida."

"Oh my God... You've got to be kidding me," Sinclair said. He closed his eyes, turned his head down, and let out a deep sigh.

The television screen updated and showed that both candidates had 269 electoral votes - 270 votes were what was necessary to win the election.

"A tie... The tied," Gore said in disbelief. He set his drink down.

Baker stayed quiet for a few seconds. He didn't want to look stupid, but he honestly didn't know. Maybe it was the scotch, so he finally asked it.

"So... Does this mean you stay President, sir?" Baker asked.

Sinclair remained still, his head facing down with his eyes closed, almost like he was in prayer. His fist was clinched tightly around his pool cue - Gore could see the grip tightening.

"No, Baker, at least there's that. I'm out of a job no matter what by lunch on January 20th..." Sinclair said softly, almost mumbling. At least that was some good news, there's no way they could keep him in.

"What this means is that Congress gets to choose the President and Vice President," Gore said.

"Together?" Baker asked.

"No," Sinclair said. He took a seat next to the billiards table and sighed. "The House of Representatives chooses the President and the Senate chooses the Vice President."

"Well... Democrats have the House, so I guess-" Baker was cut off by Gore.

"It's more complicated than that. Each congressman in the House doesn't get one vote, each state delegation gets one vote. That'll definitely work in the Republicans favor."

"Which congress gets to vote?" Sinclair asked.

Gore and Baker both looked at Sinclair like his question didn't make any sense, so he clarified. "The elections for President and Vice President were not the only ones tonight - plenty of House and Senate seats were up for grabs. Before inauguration, the new congress is sworn in. Does this congress get to vote to break the tie, or will it be that new congress?"

All three men were confused now.

Sinclair stood back up and rolled his sleaves down. "Call Langley and Blumenthal - I want them both here for 6:00 A.M." Sinclair said, referring to the Attorney General and Vice President respectively. "Tell the networks that we need air time at noon tomorrow."

"What are you going to speak about?" Baker asked.

"Well, if you, me, and President Gore don't know exactly how this is going to work, how confused do you think the rest of the country is going to be? I want a briefing in the Situation Room at 6:00. Bring a copy of the constitution," Sinclair said. The President buttoned his sleeves and put his jacket back on. He slept for a few precious hours in the Residence before he met with the Vice President and Attorney General at 6:00.​