It's August 2012

[wtmusic]

and President Dean is finishing his second term as one of the best-loved presidents of all time. Vice President Clark (now a Democrat) leads in the polls, and all signs point to an enduring Democratic dynasty.

The biggest challenge of Dean's presidency was North Korea. A showdown over disarmament and oil (what else?) ended with Kim Jong II flinging a missile at Seattle, which fortunately missed its mark and exploded over the Pacific. After a massive, immediate non-nuclear response UN forces occupied the country and unification talks are now underway. China and Russia are re-emerging as top-level power players and the spectre of a renewed arms race has reappeared.

Dean's second biggest challenge was terrorism. Two US airliners were hijacked and were apparently intended to be flown into buildings. Both crashed in remote areas. A 'dirty bomb' of unknown origin was exploded in a major US metropolis and though casualties were minimal, radiation levels and widespread panic has caused many to flee urban areas.

Fledgling democracies govern Iraq and Afghanistan, but UN forces still occupy both and attacks continue. Osama Bin Laden and Saddam Hussein remain at large.

And George W. Bush? After a landslide defeat in 2004 he retired from politics. While golfing at Pebble Beach a tee shot bounced off a coastal redwood and struck him in the head, causing a fractured skull and cerebral hemorraging. Paralyzed, he switched parties and became a leading advocate for rights for the disabled.

Did I miss something?

[cherryperry]

1. Yes: and then you woke up - LOL n/t

[Sagan]

2. how would anyone notice Chimpy's brain damage?

I think your story lacks credibility on this point..

:)

[ronnykmarshall]

3. In California ...

Former Congressman Issa who led the unsucessful recall election in 2003 against then Governor Grey Davis was arrested for drug dealing. Davis (husband of Congresswoman Sharon Davis D-West Hollywood), in statement expressed his sorrow about the fate of his former rival. During his statement Gov. Davis broke into a laugh and said "even I can't keep a straight face over THAT one!"

On the entertainment side, actor and one time politcal candidate Arnold Schwarzenegger settled his multi-million dollar divorce settlement with his former wife Maria Shriver. Shriver, the neice of President John Kennedy filed for divorce in 2010 following her former husband's decade long affair with former conservative collumnist Ann Coulter became public. Coulter, a one time regular on cable news programs in the early 2000's has not been seen in the public eye since the Fox News Network shut down in 2005 following the defeat of George W. Bush and the death of Karl Rove in Iraq. Coulter's attempt at rebuilding her shattered carrer has failed over the years. She has been living a life as a kept woman, moving from New York to Los Angeles living in a home provided by Schwarzenegger. She briefly made headlines in 2007 when she crashed the Academy Awards presentation in an attempt to attack Senator Barbra Striesand-Brolin (D-California) who was being honored that evening.

[goobergunch]

4. Sen. Barbara Streisand was elected...

following her successful primary challenge to Senator Dianne Feinstein in 2006.

---

In 2004, the Democrats swept into power, reclaiming both houses of Congress and the White House. Dean/Clark's coattails provided a ninety-seat pickup in the House. Long-term incumbents such as Ralph Regula (R-OH) and Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) were ousted. Democrats also picked up 9 seats in the Senate.

[ronnykmarshall]

5. Singing the national anthem ...

... at the 2005 swearing in of President Dean and Vice-President Clark was grammy award winning artist Cindy Alexander.

[ComerPerro]

10. No, i was there

It was Phish. They sang a beautiful version of the Star Spangled Banner, and then grabbed their instruments and played a 25 minute rendition of You Enjoy Myself. It was fucking great.

[redeye]

6. And let's not forget the economy...

...the fiscal year is about to end with a surplus of 650 billion dollars. The last fiscal year of deficit was 2005, and now the national debt is down to 2.7 trillion, expected to disappear by 2016. The 2000s were thus the first decade since the 1920s in which the deficit shrunk.

President Dean's policy on international trade has helped create a middle-class in India, whose GDP per capita has skyrocketed to 4,000 dollars (14,000 after adjustment for the cost of living). It ispartly responsible to the steady eradication of sweatshops in China and the rise of safe, modern factories and a service economy. Mexico's standard of living is almost on a par with the USA's, and the AFL-CIO is reporting that rising wages in Mexico make some labor return from Mexico to the USA. The world's GDP per capita, adjusted for the cost of living, is now at 11,000 dollars, up from 7,500 when Dean became president.

[theboss]

7. I'll play

The ever-volatile Middle East remained on the front pages during the Dean presidency. State Department officials were jolted by an Islamic Revolution in Saudi Arabia in 2006, which forced the House of Saud into exile in France and caused a spike in world oil prices.

However, oil prices stabilized to pre-revolt levels in 2007, following the the establishment of the first democratically-elected president in Iran and increased production in Iraq under strongman General Um Something Arabic.

Israel finished construction of its security wall in the West Bank in 2007 as tensions continued to flare in that hotspot. Hope for a peaceful resolution briefly flared following Yassir Arafat's death in 2008, but Hamas quickly established itself as the dominant force in Palestinian politics. Labor party leaders in Israel continue to debate unilaterally declaring a Palestinian state.

[wtmusic]

11. Good call on Israel vs. Palestine

Road map or no that one will probably never go away

[Dissenting_Prole]

8. Yeah, you missed the biggest story of the decade

- World oil production peaked in 2007, North American gas production peaked and fell off the cliff in 2005.

- Gasoline is selling for $6 a gallon on a good day

- For the past 5 years, several major American cities' natural gas supplies had to be taken offline due to lack of supply. Over 3000 people died from exposure. When the gas was turned back on, 657 buildings exploded because the automatic shutoff on the gasline was faulty.

- Suburban populations are desperately trying to sell their homes and move closer to the inner city or to small towns. There are no buyers. The banks refuse to refinance their homes for what the owners paid for them.

- Wal-Marts and Home Depots are dropping like flies since they can't get product.

- Due to a crumbling infrastructure and lack of natural gas, and temporary inability to deliver coal by rail due to diesel shortages, 17 regional blackouts have occured since 2003. Sweaty people in Phoenix demand their right to air-conditioning.

- Industrial farming is experiencing problems getting fertilizers (made from natural gas) and food production is declining 3% per year in North America. Small independently-owned farms are experiencing a boom servicing local economies.

- Consumers are wondering whatever happened to the hydrogen-powered vehicles they were promised.

- Oregon, Washington and Maine had enough foresight to start building wind farms in 2006. Good for them.

- Americans are voting for maniacs who promise to bring back the old days.

[peterh]

13. Actually…we are now a theocracy…

And writing about bad karma is akin to devil worshiping and punishable by death. You have escaped to Canada, joined the resistance and enjoy wide readership.

[wtmusic]

16. yikes

and Canada hasn't been 'annexed' yet?

[HFishbine]

9. My, my, my

You've got it all wrong ;)

The biggest challenge of Dean's presidency was North Korea. With the country seemingly on the brink of war in the final days of the Bush administration, Dean quickly moved to diffuse the situation by holding bilateral talks. The peace talks were so successful that they lead to the successful reunification of the Koreas in 2010 under a democratic government.

One of Dean's most successful acheivements was preventing any foreign-borne terrorist attacks on U.S. soil. The dirty bomb that exploded in Saint Louis on Sept. 11, 2005 was discovered to have been the work of right-wing operatives, financed and equiped by the Carlyle Group.

Fledgling democracies govern Iraq and Afghanistan. They reamin peaceful even after the withdrawal of UN forces in 2009. Osama Bin Laden was found dead just before the election of 2004, which proved no help to the Bush campaign. Saddam Hussein was convicted of crimes against humanity in 2006 and is serving a life sentence.

And George W. Bush? After a landslide defeat in 2004 he retired from politics. While golfing at Pebble Beach a tee shot bounced off a coastal redwood and struck him in the head, causing a fractured skull and cerebral hemorraging. Paralyzed, he switched parties and became a leading advocate for rights for the disabled. He is now running for secretary of state in Florida.

[wtmusic]

12. Nothing wrong with optimism

and I like your ending!

[RobertFrancisK]

14. And within the next year . . .

The United States will be COMPLETELY independent of foriegn oil. Gas emission standards went very very high in the US, forcing all American car companies to compete for the most fuel efficient engine. Currently, all new Ford and Chrysler cars get atleast 30 mpg, including trucks, vans and SUVs.
Also, 75% of college tuition is tax deductable.
98% of America's children have healthcare.

[wtmusic]

15. One thing I missed...

DemocraticUnderground has replaced the DLC as the chief policy-making wing of the Democratic Party (Al From and Bruce Reed continue in clerical jobs) and cats now have the right to vote.