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Lists of Heads of Government and Heads of State

Okay so we have a group of one termers in a row.

What happened with Reagan?
In the 70s the Republicans and Democrats are given a dodgy hand in the form of raising corruption, voter apathy and ideological squabblings inherited from the Johnson-Nixon years. JFK rides in on a wave of Anti-Nixon sentiment and a perception he’s unified the Democratic Party since it’s Southern splintering. Really he hasn’t and accusations of bribery and corruption follow Kennedy alongside his health beginning to dramatically decrease in office. This alongside Muskie hearing he’s been replaced by a Conservative Democrat leads to the split that allows Reagan to get in 72.

The combination of trying to push through Monetarist policies to deal with a recession that has occurred to due to an oil crisis, Rumsfeld’s increasing influence and the polls showing that Reagan’s Hollywood style ain’t working means he’s turfed in 1976 by a worried cabal of Rockerfellar Republicans who push Bush forward and are supported by a large grumpy section of Republicans at the Conventions. Pissed off Reagan creates his own party to compete with the Republicans and the only real reason why Bush doesn’t lose is because the Democratic primary was just as messy and voter apathy reaches its peak with many not even bothering to vote.

Of course Bush’s shaky grasp on power means he’s ousted in the next election by Carter who has a finally united Democratic Party begins him. The Republicans spend the next nearly 15 years trying to heal old wounds before finally uniting under Trump (who’s dealing with a lethargic Democrats).
 
In the 70s the Republicans and Democrats are given a dodgy hand in the form of raising corruption, voter apathy and ideological squabblings inherited from the Johnson-Nixon years. JFK rides in on a wave of Anti-Nixon sentiment and a perception he’s unified the Democratic Party since it’s Southern splintering. Really he hasn’t and accusations of bribery and corruption follow Kennedy alongside his health beginning to dramatically decrease in office. This alongside Muskie hearing he’s been replaced by a Conservative Democrat leads to the split that allows Reagan to get in 72.

The combination of trying to push through Monetarist policies to deal with a recession that has occurred to due to an oil crisis, Rumsfeld’s increasing influence and the polls showing that Reagan’s Hollywood style ain’t working means he’s turfed in 1976 by a worried cabal of Rockerfellar Republicans who push Bush forward and are supported by a large grumpy section of Republicans at the Conventions. Pissed off Reagan creates his own party to compete with the Republicans and the only real reason why Bush doesn’t lose is because the Democratic primary was just as messy and voter apathy reaches its peak with many not even bothering to vote.

Of course Bush’s shaky grasp on power means he’s ousted in the next election by Carter who has a finally united Democratic Party begins him. The Republicans spend the next nearly 15 years trying to heal old wounds before finally uniting under Trump (who’s dealing with a lethargic Democrats).
Not to be a dick about it but maybe post lists slower but with these details included?
 
Rando list because I haven't done one for a while. Vaguely inspired by a scenario someone outlined on the other place once about the Granita blowing up during Brown and Blair's fateful meeting, though that needn't be the same POD here. Basically the point is some rather unlikely leadership election outcomes as judged based on the preconceptions of OTL, but caused by different trends (for example, a smaller pool of Labour leadership hopefuls and Scottish Labour being a larger portion of the whole).

List of Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom
1990-1995: John Major (Conservative, then Conservative minority)
1992: John Major (Conservative) def. Neil Kinnock (Labour), Paddy Ashdown (Lib Dem)
1992 Labour leadership election: John Smith def. Bryan Gould
1994 Labour leadership election: Robin Cook def. John Prescott, Margaret Beckett

1995 Conservative leadership election: Michael Heseltine def. John Major, John Redwood
1995-1996: Michael Heseltine (Conservative minority)
1996-2000: Robin Cook (Labour)
1996: Robin Cook (Labour) def. Michael Heseltine (Conservative), Paddy Ashdown (Lib Dem)
1996 Conservative leadership election: Brian Mawhinney def. Michael Portillo, Michael Howard, Kenneth Clarke
1998 Lib Dem leadership election: Simon Hughes def. Charles Kennedy, Don Foster
2000 Labour leadership election: Jack Cunningham def. Charles Clarke, David Clark
2000-2001: Jack Cunningham (Labour)
2001-2009: Brian Mawhinney (Conservative, then Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition)
2001: Brian Mawhinney (Conservative) def. Jack Cunningham (Labour), Simon Hughes (Lib Dem)
2001 Labour leadership election: Patricia Hewitt def. Alan Milburn, Peter Hain
2005: Brian Mawhinney (Conservative) def. Patricia Hewitt (Labour), Simon Hughes (Lib Dem)

2005 Labour leadership election: Alun Michael def. Andrew Smith, Harriet Harman
2009-2014: Alun Michael (Labour)
2009: Alun Michael (Labour) def. Brian Mawhinney (Conservative), Simon Hughes (Lib Dem)
2009 Conservative leadership election: Liam Fox def. Theresa May, Oliver Letwin
2009 Lib Dem leadership election: Steve Webb def. Mark Oaten, Tessa Munt
2014-2015: Liam Fox (Conservative minority)
2014 Labour leadership election: Hilary Benn def. Jim Marshall, Sarah Boyack
2015-????: Hilary Benn (Labour-Lib Dem coalition)
2015: Hilary Benn (Labour) def. Liam Fox (Conservative), Steve Webb (Lib Dem)
 
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ASB. Welsh leaders never win elections. :p

But overall, nice selection of people, some familiar, others nicely out there. Great job!
There's probably a fair bit too much 'rando' in there, but I try to simulate the more unpredictable turns of political history (scandals etc.) and sometimes go overboard.
 
There's probably a fair bit too much 'rando' in there, but I try to simulate the more unpredictable discourse of political history (scandals etc.) and sometimes go overboard.
Oh, you nicely highlight some unfamiliar names, so I think it's pretty good.

Butterfly effect and all.
 
This point has hopefully been made before, but it is a bit fascinating how “rando” UK political leaders require you to significantly change the composition of Parliament for a few decades in advance, whereas in the US you can genuinely just go “local tractor repairman B. Dugnutt gets 2% more of the vote in the Absarokan gubernatorial primary after field-dressing a deer on stage, four years later he beats Tim Kaine“.
 
This point has hopefully been made before, but it is a bit fascinating how “rando” UK political leaders require you to significantly change the composition of Parliament for a few decades in advance, whereas in the US you can genuinely just go “local tractor repairman B. Dugnutt gets 2% more of the vote in the Absarokan gubernatorial primary after field-dressing a deer on stage, four years later he beats Tim Kaine“.

The parties in more recent times have shown they're totally willing to elect leaders in opposition who have pretty much only just got there, relatively speaking. Starmer has only been there five years and Cameron had only been in parliament four. There's still a clear distinction between a party making a leader in government where the parties have always gone for someone who's been in one of the big jobs and almost always a known quantity for years, bar Major.
 
Playing Haggis: First Ministers of the Scottish Executive

1999–2001: Jack McConnell (Labour)

1999 (Coalition with Liberal Democrats) Def. Alex Salmond (Scottish National), David McLetchie (Conservative), Jim Wallace (Liberal Democrats)
2001: Jim Wallace (Liberal Democrats) [Interim]
2001–2007: Donald Dewar (Labour)

2003 (Coalition with Liberal Democrats) Def. Alex Salmond (Scottish National), Alex Fergusson (Conservative), Jim Wallace (Liberal Democrats), Robin Harper (Scottish Green), Tommy Sheridan (Scottish Socialist), Billy McNeill (Pensioners and Senior Citizens)
2007–2010: Alex Salmond (Scottish National) [Resigned]
2007 (Minority) Def. Donald Dewar (Labour), Jim Wallace (Liberal Democrats), Alex Johnstone (Conservative), Robin Harper/Rosie Kane (Red-Green Alliance), Tommy Sheridan (Scottish Socialist), Stuart Hill (Shetland and Orkney Sovereignty) [Abstentionist]
2010–2011: Nicola Sturgeon (Scottish National)
2011–20??: Henry McLeish (Labour)

2011 (Coalition with Liberal Democrats) Def. Nicola Sturgeon (Scottish National), Murdo Fraser (Reform), Tavish Scott (Liberal Democrats), Rosie Kane/Patrick Harvie (Red-Green Alliance), Jackson Carlaw (‘Continuity’ Conservative)
2015 (Majority) Def. Murdo Fraser (Reform), Roseanna Cunningham (Scottish National), Tavish Scott (Liberal Democrats), Patrick Harvie/Jean Urquhart (Red-Green Alliance)
2019 (Minority) Def. Rachel Hamilton (Reform), Derek MacKay (Scottish National), Jo Swinson (Liberal Democrats), Maggie Chapman/Ross Greer (Red-Green Alliance), Brian Monteith (BritEx Alliance)


Donald Dewar was a key figure in Labour’s devolution plans, but was struck by heart problems in the run-up to the Scottish Parliament’s creation. He would step aside from his leadership roles and clear the way for Jack McConnell to become the inaugural first minister. While McConnell’s term was important for setting precedents, it would be cut short when he died with his family in a car accident. These tragic circumstances would guarantee McConnell’s legacy as a champion – and effective martyr – of Scottish devolution.

Dewar, now recovered, would take over and immediately run into a host of problems. He had to deal with a squabbling cabinet, an exam results fiasco, defending Blair’s Iraq war, and a national expenses scandal which implicated many Scottish Labour grandees. Throughout all of this Dewar himself was less energetic and more guarded following his health scare and contrasted poorly with his (relatively) youthful predecessor. It was easy for the opposition to portray him as a careerist elitist emblematic of Labour’s malaise, and when he eventually lost office he went unloved by the public and his contributions to devolution forgotten.

It was now the SNP’s turn, and while they did fine at first rumours began to circulate that female staffers were to not work alone with the convivial first minister. This culminated in Salmond stepping down before he was charged with several counts of sexual assault. As Salmond’s trial filled headlines the SNP tried to distance itself but to little avail following 20 years under his leadership. Even after the inevitable defeat in 2011 problems continued, as Salmond was cleared of the most serious charges and returned furious at those he believed hung him out to dry. This kicked-off a civil war in the previously tight-knit SNP and led to their continued decline. Perhaps those most angry with Salmond are the die-hard Scottish nationalists who blame him for setting back the cause of Scottish independence by decades.

Nicola Sturgeon would inherit Bute House under difficult circumstances. She led the charge in disowning Salmond and swore she knew nothing of his personal activities, but after several years as his deputy found it impossible to escape his shadow. The SNP’s campaign in 2011 was a valiant effort that saw them retain most of their seats, but it still marked the end of Sturgeon’s political career. With only a handful of months in office and no time to implement any of her own designs for government she is mostly known today for being Scotland’s shortest serving first minister.

When Labour took back power at Calton Hill their leader was familiar yet unexpected. Henry McLeish largely succeeded in on a feeling of it being ‘his turn’ after he was runner-up to both McConnell and Dewar. He managed to hold until he was rewarded with the enormous gift of the Salmond allegations. His first term was marked by dull competence and railing against tory austerity at Westminster, but this turned out to be exactly what the voters wanted after political scandal and economic downturn. With the Lib Dems plummeting nationally and SNP and Conservative infighting still ongoing, McLeish won a majority in 2015 that ought to have been impossible under proportional representation. As Labour had just suffered a second defeat at Westminster, this made McLeish the most successful and admired Labour politician in the country, and he used this position to call for more devolved powers and promised to ‘stand up for Scotland’ in a way Dewar never could.

Following the BritEx referendum, McLeish has led the way in campaigning against Scotland “being dragged out of the EU against its wishes”. He won the support of most Scots (and many more down south) in doing everything he could to block or delay BritEx, even mooting Scottish independence. Now into his seventies, it was planned for McLeish to step down this year until the pandemic hit. His serious leadership, early warnings, and more stringent steps compared to the cavalier UK government have again led his approval ratings to soar. For leading the Scottish Parliament though the period when it came into its own, and becoming something of a national icon in the process, Henry McLeish is likely to go down as the most popular and consequential first minister Scotland may ever see.
 
The Ballad of Nguyễn Cao Kỳ; A Republic of Vietnam List:

Presidents of the Second Republic of Vietnam [1]:
1967-1983: Nguyễn Văn Thiệu (National Social Democratic Front)

1967 (With Nguyễn Cao Kỳ) def: Trương Đình Dzu (Independent), Phan Khắc Sửu (Independent)
1971 (With Nguyễn Văn Huyền) def: Nguyễn Cao Kỳ (National Front), Trần Văn Hương (Renaissance Party)
1975 (With Nguyễn Văn Huyền) def: Nguyễn Cao Kỳ (National Front), Trần Văn Hương (Democratic Party)
1979 (With Nguyễn Cao Kỳ) def: Trần Văn Lắm (National Front), Trần Văn Hương (Democratic Party)

1983-1991:Nguyễn Cao Kỳ (National Social Democratic Front)
1983 (With Nguyễn Văn Huyền) def: Trương Đình Dzu (Democratic Party), Trương Như Tảng (Workers Party),Thadeus Nguyễn Văn Lý (Progressive People's Party), Nguyễn Phúc Bửu Chánh (Monarchist League)
1987 (With Nguyễn Xuân Ngãi) def: Nguyễn Quốc Quân (Progressive Democratic Party), Trương Như Tảng (Workers Party), Nguyễn Phúc Bửu Chánh (Monarchist League)


Presidents of the Third Republic of Vietnam [2]:
1991-1995: Nguyễn Cao Kỳ (Reform Party)

1991 (With Nguyễn Xuân Ngãi) def: Nguyễn Quốc Quân (Progressive Party), Đoàn Văn Toại (Democratic Socialist), Trương Như Tảng (Workers Party), Nguyễn Phúc Bửu Chánh (Monarchist League)
1995-1999: Nguyễn Quốc Quân (Progressive Party)
1995 (With Ngô Đình Lệ Quyên) def: Nguyễn Cao Kỳ (Reform Party), Đoàn Văn Toại (Democratic Socialist), Nguyễn Phúc Bửu Chánh (Monarchist League)
1999-2007: Đoàn Văn Toại (Democratic Socialist)
1999 (With Nguyễn Minh Triết) def: Nguyễn Xuân Ngãi (Reform Party), Nguyễn Quốc Quân (Progressive Party), Nguyễn Phúc Bửu Chánh (Monarchist League)
2003 (With Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân) def: Ly Thai Hung (Reform Party), Nguyễn Quốc Quân (Progressive Party), Nguyễn Phúc Bửu Chánh (Monarchist League)

2007-2008: Nguyễn Cao Kỳ (Reform Party)
2007 (With Ly Thai Hung) def: Ngô Đình Lệ Quyên (Progressive Party), Đoàn Văn Toại (Democratic Socialist), Nguyễn Phúc Bửu Chánh (Monarchist League)
2008-2011: Ly Thai Hung (Reform Party)
2011-2019: Ngô Đình Lệ Quyên (Progressive Party)
2011 (With Kiều Tiến Dũng) def: Ly Thai Hung (Reform Party), Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân (Democratic Socialist), Ánh Quang Cao (New Party), Nguyễn Phúc Bảo Ân (Monarchist League)
2015 (With Liêm Hoang-Ngoc) def: Trần Tuấn Anh (Reform Party), Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân (Democratic Socialist), Ánh Quang Cao (People’s Action Party), Kiều Tiến Dũng (Ecological-Labour Party)

2019-: Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân (Democratic Socialist Party)
2019 (With Trần Thị Hoa Ry) def: Trần Tuấn Anh (Reform Party), Liêm Hoang-Ngoc (Progressive Party), Ánh Quang Cao (People’s Action Party), Thi Viet Huong Truong (Ecological-Labour Party)

Ideologies Political Parties of the Second Republic of Vietnam:
National Social Democratic Front: 'Survival Nationalism', Democratic Socialism, Social Democracy, Anti-Communism
National Front: Social Democracy, Liberal-Conservatism, Economic Liberalism, Populism, Anti-Communism
Democratic Party: Classical Liberalism, Liberal Democracy, Vietnamese Nationalism, Economic Liberalism
Progressive People's Party/Progressive Democratic Party: Social Liberalism, Social Democracy, Christian Democracy, Distributism
Worker's Party: Communism, Marxism-Leninism, Ho-Chi Minh Thought, Left-Wing Nationalism
Monarchist League: Monarchism, Liberal-Conservatism, Anti-Communism

Political Parties of the Third Republic of Vietnam:
Reform Party:
Liberal Democracy, Reformism, Neo-liberalism, Liberal-Conservatism, Anti-Communism (Factions; Welfare Capitalism, Social Conservatism,Ultra-nationalism, Right Wing Populism)
Progressive Party: Social Liberalism, Progressivism, Social Democracy, Third Way, Anti-Communism (Factions; Christian Democracy, Guild-Socialism, Buddhist Socialism)
Democratic Socialist Party: Democratic Socialism, Secularism, Left-Wing Nationalism, Market-Socialism, (Factions; Marxism-Leninism, Ho Chi Minh Thought, EcoSocialism, Buddhist Socialism)
People's Action Party: Social Conservatism, Economic Liberalism, Vietnamese Nationalism, National Conservatism, Right Wing Populism, Anti-Communism (Factions; Monarchism, Anti-Liberalism, State-Capitalism, Ultra-Nationalism, Neoconservatism)
Ecological-Labour Party: Eco-Socialism, Green Politics, Social Democracy, Left Wing Populism, Direct Democracy (Factions; Democratic Socialism, Anarcho-Syndicalism, Libertarian socialism)
Monarchist League: Monarchism, Liberal Conservatism, Royalism, Anti-Communism

1). An largely authoritarian nation lead by representatives of a military junta, the Second Republic of Vietnam was kept afloat with American money and arms. The Presidential elections between 1967 and 1983 were really showcases of political jockeying by members of the military junta who often espoused similar if different political opinions, with some showcasing an open disdain for democracy like Nguyễn Cao Kỳ. When Nguyễn Văn Thiệu stepped down, Nguyễn Cao Kỳ assumed it would be another military junta jockeying however an investigation by the U.N. and increased pressure to seem democratic as the likelihood of a War between the Vietnam's and Cambodia became likely (the West wanting to show off how an Asian Democracy could beat back the hellish forces of the Khmer Rouge) lead to an opening being made for non-military parties to be formed with three parties being formed, the Workers Party; which was essentially a poorly disguised front for the Vietnamese Communist Party, the Progressive People's Party; a coalition of Democracy Activists, Social Democrats, Christians and Liberals and finally the Monarchist League; a Conservative Monarchist party who wanted to create a Constitutional Monarchy. Nguyễn Cao Kỳ would win power again but the grand NSDF coalition was becoming increasingly stagnant and as calls for true Democracy grew louder and louder, Nguyễn Cao Kỳ decided to jump before he was pushed (influenced by South Korea) and decided to agree to reforming and truly democratising Vietnam with the aim being the 1991 election.

The Third Republic was formed.

2). Nguyễn Cao Kỳ would win the first proper election of 1991 by a whisker, less because of Nguyễn Cao Kỳ innate charisma and more because the other parties he was up against were still settling and dealing with there new found freedoms. By 95’ things were different and with the help of political advisors from American and Britain, the Progressive Party under Nguyễn Quốc Quân would pursue a Third Way style election campaign leading to his victory. And upon his ascension to his new office Nguyễn Quốc Quân would be dealt with several killer blows.

The Republic of Vietnam’s banks were heavily tied with other Asian markets and when the Japanese Bubble aggressively burst in 1995, the rest of Asia would feel the aftershock. Vietnam which has been heavily invested in by Japanese companies would lurching into a recession overnight in early 1996. Nguyễn Quốc Quân would be forced to go to the IMF who told him to cut away any remnants of Vietnam's Welfare state that had been set up during 80s. This proved to be incredibly unpopular move and riots would break out in several cities causing the most aggressive crackdowns not seen since the quashing of the Democracy movements in the early 80s. Finally corruption that had been rampant during the NDSF years would rear its ugly head as a number of civil servants would be arrested for corruption charges. Nguyễn Quốc Quân would lose the next election decisively, but the people having tried Conservatism & Liberalism decides to try Socialism, much to the horror of many.

Đoàn Văn Toại had originally been a member of the National Liberation Front but following the organisations purge in the late 70s in the aftermath of the North Vietnam’s invasion by China (and subsequent paranoia and purging) he would distance himself from his NLF, whilst still being an active member of various Democratic Socialist organisations. His government in 1999 would set about imposing a Market-Socialist system whilst also trying rid any elements of corruption remaining in the Government. How well he managed to achieve these aims is up to the experts but enough people supported it to re-elect him in 2003, with Văn Toại announcing he would continue to reform Vietnam. However his second term was rocky with relations between his government and the Socialists Republic of Vietnam’s politburo reaching new lows, especially in the aftermath of a number shooting incidents in Cambodia. Still Đoàn Văn Toại left office genuinely rather popular but that wasn’t enough to stop forces of Reform under the resurgent leadership of Nguyễn Cao Kỳ ‘The father of Vietnamese Democracy’ from winning the 2007 election through the use of an incredibly Popualist campaign.

But Nguyễn Cao Kỳ second term as a truly Democratic elected President wouldn’t last long as a series of health crisis would lead to him stepping down. Ly Thai Hung would replace him but his blandness combined with poor attempts to revitalise the Neoliberal experiment and dealing with a party split lead by Ánh Quang Cao would lead to him being in charge of an increasingly unpopular government. In 2011 he would defeated quite massively by the revitalised Progressive Party lead by Ngô Đình Lệ Quyên. Niece to Ngô Đình Diệm, she’d been living in Italy and had gained a job as a Human Rights Lawyer before the Quân Government offered her a job as the Minister for Human Rights and Welfare in his new Government. Ngô Đình Lệ Quyên would become popular for her ability to step up for the Vietnamese people and whilst her infamous resignation in 1998 in reaction to Welfare cuts would briefly set her back it made seem like a lady of principle and courage.

Ngô Đình Lệ Quyên government would pursue a reform of the Vietnamese Welfare State, stamping down on corruption and increasing ties between South and North Vietnam. The famous series of Hanoi-Saigon conferences would strength ties between North and South and finally help deal with lingering tensions the two countries had and her Welfare policies would make her popular across all of South Vietnam. However Green issues would increasingly become a popular topic for younger generations and Ngô Đình Lệ Quyên Government’s more Conservative elements (like rolling back the small gains made for South Vietnam’s LGBT+ communities under Đoàn Văn Toại) would lead to the rise of Ecological-Labour party. Although not affecting her that much in the 2015 election when 2019 came around, the Ecological-Labour Party under the popular Thi Viet Huong Truong hoovered up much of the Youth and Middle Class support for the Progressive Party whilst others would defect to the Democratic Socialists. Some assumed that Reform would take the mantle but they had there Right Wing votes hoovered up by the (‘we’re not funded by Singapore, promise’) People’s Action Party leaving the solid bloc that was the Democratic Socialist Party to takeover.

The Democratic Socialist Party at the moment is about taking the wind out of the sails of the Ecological-Labour Party and smashing the Progressive Party. Underneath the leadership of Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân there aim is to try and bring about ecological change to Vietnam’s industries, secure and improve the countries Welfare state and to continue the countries famous system of Market Socialism. Will Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân be successful, or will her rule be short and swift?

Who know’s but it can be said that the Republic of Vietnam has come a long way since it’s Halycon days of the 60s.
 
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Joker

1966-1970: Abraham Beame (Democratic)
1965 def. John Lindsay (Republican), William F. Buckley (Conservative)
1970-1974: John J. Marchi (Republican)
1969 def. Abraham Beame (Democratic), Norman Mailer (Liberal)
1974-1982: Mario Biaggi (Democratic)
1973 def. John J. Marchi (Republican), Bella Abzug (Liberal)
1977 def. Barry Farber (Republican),
Michael Rockefeller (Independent)
1982-1990: Ed Koch (Democratic)
1981 def. Mario Biaggi (Conservative), Roy M. Goodman (Republican)
1985 def. Ronald Lauder (Republican)

1990-2003: Rudy Giuliani (Republican)
1989 def. Andrew Stein (Democratic)
1993 def. Harrison J. Goldin (Democratic)
1997 def. Al Sharpton (Democratic)
2001 def. Alan Hevesi (Democratic)

2003-2010: Rudy Giuliani (Independent)
2005 def. Anthony Weiner (Democratic), Christopher X. Broduer (Green), Tom Ognibene (Conservative)
2010-2018: Bill De Blasio (Democratic)
2009 def. Rudy Giuliani (Independent)
2013 def. Rudy Giuliani (Republican), Jimmy McMillan (The Rent Is Too Damn High)

2018-0000: Bruce Rockefeller (Independent)
2017 def. Adolfo Carrion Jr. (Democratic), Kelsey Grammer (Conservative), Randy Credico (Green)

Following 1977's general unrest over income inequality and the city's budget crisis, it was largely assumed that Mayor Mario Biaggi was finished, especially with the recent entrance of Independent candidate Michael Rockefeller. At least that was until the assassination of Johnny Carson on live television by failed singer-songwriter John Hinkley Jr., which was followed by a night of rioting that ended with the shooting death of Michael Rockefeller.

NYC's urban unease would continue into the 80s, even as the reigns of power were handed over to Ed Koch. In 1985, college-age billionaire heir Bruce Rockefeller would strike an open alliance with the city's new DA, Rudy "Two-Face" Giuliani in an effort to support public-private partnerships that would benefit the city and lower skyrocketing crime rates. 1985 would also see the appearance of the vigilante Batman who, following the 1985 Subway Murders, patrolled the NYC subway at night beating up alleged criminals and suspicious individuals. Giuliani saw a sky-rocketing conviction rate, partially assisted by evidence provided by the Batman.

After Giuliani's election to Mayor in 1989, the NYPD would openly associate and work with the Batman, a tactic partially inspired by both the ties Batman formed with Giuliani in previous years and its ability to act as a scare tactic. While the New York Police Department and the Batman engaged in controversial tactics to lower crime in NYC, Mayor Giuliani and Bruce Rockefeller worked above-the-board to re-establish the Mayor's office over a still very chaotic city. In the 90s, New York City was dominated by Mayor Giuliani, Police Commissioner Bratton, Bruce Rockefeller, and the Batman.

Giuliani and Rockefeller would very publicly break in 2004, shortly after a failed assassination attempt on Giuliani that left him partially disfigured. In 2005, the Batman would return to ostracization from law enforcement efforts as he publicly sided with fired police whistleblower detective James Gordon. Although both Rockefeller and Batman would find themselves once again on the inside in 2010 after their public backing of new Mayor Bill De Blasio and the NYPD, respectively, amidst the city's coping with the Great Recession. Despite promises of reforms, the NYPD would continue to abuse and brutalize New Yorkers under De Blasio's watch. This could not be more apparent than during the 2012 "Bane" Riots, which ended in thousands injured and scores killed by an out-of-control and fully militarized New York City police force. De Blasio would limp into a second term regardless of the police controversy, however.

Now in 2020, Mayor Bruce Rockefeller struggles to set New York City on the right track. Since the disappearance of the Batman in 2013, many feel that the city has lost a unifying symbol. Additionally, as calls for police reform and defunding grow citywide, the Mayor struggles with the idea of profoundly changing an institution that he largely ran on defending. Time will tell if Mayor Rockefeller will move with the tide or fight against it.
 
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"For God, King and Labour!"
Ramsay MacDonald (Labour -- Aberavon) 1923-1929 [Status: Labour minority with Liberal supply and confidence]
Leo Amery (Conservative -- Birmingham Sparkbrook) 1929-1934 [Status: Conservative majority]
Philip Snowden (Labour -- Colne Valley) 1934-1937 [Status: Labour majority, then minority with Liberal support]
Harold Nicolson (King's Man (Labour) -- Leicester West) 1937-1947 [Status: Labour minority with Liberal support, then 'Royal Government']
Malcolm MacDonald (King's Man (Labour) -- Bassetlaw) 1947-1956 [Status: 'Royal Government']
Harold Macmillan (King's Man (Conservative) -- Stockton-on-Tees) 1956-1962 [Status: 'Royal Government']
Herbrand Sackville, 9th Earl De La Warr (King's Man (Labour) -- House of Lords) 1962-1966 [Status: 'Royal Government']
Alfred Robens (King's Man (Labour) -- Blyth) 1966-1974 [Status: 'Royal Government']
Roy Jenkins (Social Alliance (Liberal) -- Solihull) 1974-? [Status: Liberal-Reform 'Social Alliance' majority]

'Labour Party disbands', The Guardian (1979)
The paternalist-dominated 'socialist' Labour Party, the main hub of Edward VIII's so-called 'Royal Government' that held a death's grasp on democracy and free speech in Britain for decades, has finally disbanded due to bankruptcy. Its seventy MPs are expected to merge into the recent rebranding of the Conservative Party [the other half of the 'Royal Government'], the National Progressive Union.

Some might wonder, where did the Labour Party go wrong? Perhaps the rot was there from the start, with many Labour politicians being too willing to defer to tradition. And the corrosive influence of Oswald Mosley and his protege Alf Robens cannot be dismissed either. While the former was Chancellor for a decade and a half, he never acquired enough clout to be Prime Minister while the least said about the later's time in leadership, the better, they had an outsized pull on the party as a whole and managed to win the internal fight. There was just too much people willing to side with Mosley and his radical proposals to combat the arguments that he was against core Labour values of workers' power.

Perhaps if the King had a less favourable situation, perhaps if he tried to marry that divorcee there was rumours about, perhaps, perhaps. But all we know is that it took great effort on the part of Queen Elizabeth to get Britain to vote 54-46 to maintain the monarchy last year. There will never be an unquestioning deference to a monarch ever again. The era of Labour Absolutism is over.

[Decided to do this thing going off the mention of a pay-walled article suggesting that there were Labour elements that were pro-King in the Abdication Crisis, as a nice twist on 'King Edward VIII is still king' that avoids the cliche fash bit. He does marry, but has no kids, so it still goes to Elizabeth].
 
Slow Motion Civil War

2017-2021: Donald Trump (Republican)
2016 (with Mike Pence) def. Hillary Clinton (Democratic)
2020; disputed

2021-2023: Joe Biden (Democratic)
2020 (with Susan Rice) def. Donald Trump (Republican), Howie Hawkins (Green)
2023-2029: Susan Rice (Democratic)
2024 (with Mitt Romney) def. Donald Trump Jr. (Republican), Rod Dreher (Christian Union)
2029-0000: Pete Buttigieg (Democratic)
2028 (with George T. Conway III) def. Elon Musk (Independent), Jesus Christ (Christian Union), various Leftist candidacies, Stephen Miller (Republican)
2032 (with George T. Conway III) def. Peter Thiel (The Republicans)
2034; Declaration of State of Emergency


Simple idea here. After Trump loses (not without a fight, the electoral college is exceedingly close and Trump alleges that his defeat was rigged to very end), the Republican Party effectively breaks. Rod Dreher's 'Benedict Option' gets teeth after 2020 - a combination of the Supreme Court going 'yes, you have to treat trans people like humans' and the election being 'stolen' from Trump. The Christian Union Party is essentially just a front organisation for a web of autonomous Christian communities that emerge over the course of the 2020s. This is joined by an increasing proliferation of Autonomous Zone a la the CHAZ in cities. Slowly, it becomes clear that between the Autonomous Zones and the Benedictine Communities the main demographic still actually participating in electoral politics are the suburbs - which since the collapse of the Republicans, have been almost entirely consolidated under the Democrats.

The main opposition to the Democrats become personality driven corporatist vehicles - reaching its apotheosis in Peter Thiel, who essentially purchases a moribund GOP and makes it his creature in 2032. He comes the closest since Trump The First to ending Democratic domination, as the children who have known virtually no other life than that of the Zones and Communities mature and have no interest in irrelevant electoralism. By 2033 it is clear the authority of Federal and certain State governments has virtually collapsed. Swathes of legislators don't take their seats in Congress, instead simply winning election to stand as spokespeople for their communities. An attempt at a Constitutional Convention is astoundingly poorly attended.

also features; the state of Greater Idaho (coastline included), the states of New York City, Chicago and Philadelphia, and the break up of California.
 
7/10 no Boateng

Nice job.
Did seriously consider him as an option, but felt it had been done before.

The parties in more recent times have shown they're totally willing to elect leaders in opposition who have pretty much only just got there, relatively speaking. Starmer has only been there five years and Cameron had only been in parliament four. There's still a clear distinction between a party making a leader in government where the parties have always gone for someone who's been in one of the big jobs and almost always a known quantity for years, bar Major.
One easy trick (which I overuse no end in these lists) is just 'the 1990s-2010s, but without the cult of youth and that kind of thing' just because it produces such strange-looking alternate Britains if our political leaders are in more the equivalent age group that they were in the 70s and 80s.
 
First Ministers of the Scottish Parliament:

1916-1920: Eugene Wason (Liberal)
1916 (Majority) def: Sir John Gilmour (Unionist), William Adamson (Labour Party), Cunninghame Graham (Scottish Party)
1920-1926: Donald Maclean (Liberal)
1920 (Majority) def: John Baird (Unionist), William Adamson (Pàrtaidh Làbarach), John Maclean (Scottish Socialist Party), Cunninghame Graham (Scottish Party)
1924 (Coalition with Pàrtaidh Làbarach) def: John Baird (Unionist), William Adamson (Pàrtaidh Làbarach), John Maclean (SSP),Cunninghame Graham (Scottish Party)

1926-1930: John Baird (Unionist)
1926 (Majority) def: William Adamson (Pàrtaidh Làbarach), Donald Maclean (Liberal), John Maclean (SSP)
1930-1938: Tom Johnston (Pàrtaidh Làbarach)
1930 (Majority) def: John Baird (Unionist), James Henderson-Stewart (Liberal), J. T. Murphy (SSP), William Weir Gilmour (Scottish Democratic Futurist Party)
1934 (Majority) def: James Stuart (Unionist), James Henderson-Stewart (Liberal), J. T. Murphy (SSP), William Weir Gilmour (SDFP)

1938-1946: John MacCormick (National, then War Goverment)
1938 ('National' Coupon) def: Tom Johnston (Pàrtaidh Làbarach), James Stuart (Ind. Unionist), J. T. Murphy (SSP), William Weir Gilmour (SDFP)
1942 ('War' Goverment) def: Tom Johnston (Pàrtaidh Làbarach), James Stuart (Ind. Unionist), J. T. Murphy (SSP), Catherine Williamson (CommonWealth)

1946-1950: Tom Johnston (Pàrtaidh Làbarach)
1946 (Coalition with SSP) def: John MacCormick (National), James Stuart (Ind. Unionist), Annie Maxton (SSP), Roland Muirhead (CommonWealth)
1950-1958: Peggy Herbison (Pàrtaidh Làbarach)
1950 (Majority) def: John MacCormick (National), James Stuart (New Unionist), Annie Maxton (SSP), Roland Muirhead (CommonWealth), William Weir Gilmour (Scottish Social Credit)
1954 (Majority) def: John Bannerman (National), James Stuart (New Unionist), Annie Maxton (SSP), George McLeod (CommonWealth), William Weir Gilmour (SSC)

1958-1962: John Bannerman (National)
1958 (Majority) def: Peggy Herbison (Pàrtaidh Làbarach), James Stuart (New Unionist), Margaret Hunter (SSP), William Weir Gilmour (SSC)
1962-:Myer Galpern (Pàrtaidh Làbarach)
1962 (Coalition with SSP) def: John Bannerman (National), Alec Douglas-Home (New Unionist), Margaret Hunter (SSP), William Weir Gilmour (SSC)
1966 (Majority) def: Laura Grimond (National), Alec Douglas-Home (Unionist), Margaret Hunter (SSP), William Weir Gilmour (SSC)


So World War 1 doesn't really occur (mainly an Eastern Europe conflict occurs, again) and after a number of back and forth moments, Irish and then Scottish Home Rule is organised. For the first ten years, the Parliament is dominated by the Liberals who slowly slid into irrelevance as Scottish workers and trade unions become more angry and progressive the Labour Party (now going by it's Scottish Gaelic name) gains on the Liberal vote, which causes the first Unionist Government to occur. But when the the depression hits there quickly voted out and replaced by the Labour Party, lead by Tom Johnston. He does his best to implement Kenyesian and Co-Operative style with the the limited resources he has. He manages to do well, but he can't compete against the force that is the National Party, a collection of Scottish Nationalists, former Liberals, Social Conservatives and even some Conservative Labour MPs. John MacCormick's Government is one of Paternalistic Conservatism alongside Free Trade policies, however when Britain enters into War with the German Empire in 1941 it gets changed to a War Government of all the major parties (this helps the establishment of the Chritisian Socialist CommonWealth Party and helps the Marxist-'Deleonist' Scottish Socialist Party gain seats).

This last until 1946, when Labour manages to win the election with minority control. Johnston enters into a coalition with the SSP and attempts to bring about things like Industrial Democracy and Syndicalist policies. But Johnston is now older and tireder than his halcyon days of the 30s so just before the next election he agress to be replaced by a bright new leader. Peggy Herbison, Chancellor of the Exchequer for the 1946 Government wins the leadership contest against the more conservative Willie Ross and implements a more radical vision of Scottish Social Democracy to knock the SSP out. She manages to do this and the next 8 years are about implementing 'Scottish Social Democracy' which she partially achieves; a welfare state, strong trade unions, nationalised companies and a variety of Co-Operative societies and business appear. Still eventually things come to an end, John Bannerman manages to get in on a rather Populist campaign of Radical Centrism of sorts and upon getting into office, doesn't do much apart from awkward denationalisation here and there. This turns out poorly when a recession hits and Bannerman is the one holding the bag, he loses to Myer Galpern, a radical member of the Scottish Labour Party and it's first Jewish MSP who promises to achieve worker owned business and a national health care system over the Scottish Health Corporation established by Johnston. By 1966 he's secured a second term and things are looking decent for Scotland and it's next fifty years.
 
List of Presidents of the United States since 1900
1897-1901: William McKinley† (Republican)
1896 def: William Jennings Bryan (Democratic)
1900 def: William Jennings Bryan (Democratic)

1901-1909: Theodore Roosevelt (Republican)
1904 def: Alton B. Parker (Democratic)
1909-1913: William Howard Taft (Republican)
1908 def: William Jennings Bryan (Democratic)
1913-1917: Theodore Roosevelt (Progressive)
1912 def: Champ Clark (Democratic), William Howard Taft (Republican), Eugene V. Debs (Socialist)
1913: Constitutional Amendment XVI: Federal income tax reform
1916: Constitutional Amendment XVII: Direct election of U.S. Senators

1917-1921: Hiram Johnson (Progressive)
1916 def: Lewis S. Chanler (Democratic), Charles W. Fairbanks (Republican), James H. Maurer (Socialist)
1919: Constitutional Amendment XVIII: Female suffrage
1921-1925: Frank O. Lowden (Republican)
1920 def: Hiram Johnson (Progressive), Atlee Pomerene (Northern Democratic), M. Hoke Smith (Southern Democratic), Emil Seidel (Socialist)
1921: Constitutional Amendment XIX: Prohibition of hard liquor/strong alcoholic drinks
1925-1928: Robert M. La Follette Sr.† (Progressive)
1924 def: Frank O. Lowden (Republican), Eugene V. Debs (Socialist), Ellison D. Smith (Southern Democratic), Royal S. Copeland (Northern Democratic)
1928-1929: Burton K. Wheeler (Progressive)
1929-1944: Huey Long† (National Action)
1928 def: William H. Thompson (Republican), Burton K. Wheeler (Progressive), Vito Marcantonio (Socialist)
1930: Constitutional Amendment XX: Centralisation of presidential power; repeal of XVII Amendment; reform of Supreme Court
1932 def: John J. Pershing (Republican), Robert M. La Follette Jr. (Progressive), various write-in votes for banned parties
1936 def: Herbert Hoover (United for Freedom, campaigned in absentia from exile)
1940 def: (officially unopposed)

1944-1945: Adm. Ernest King (independent, military caretaker)
1945-1953: Herbert Hoover (Progressive)
1944 def: Norman Thomas (Socialist), Arthur B. Langlie (Republican), various minor candidates
1945: Constitutional Amendment XXI: Repeal of XX Amendment; President limited to a single six-year term without re-election
1948 def: Upton Sinclair (Socialist), Roscoe H. Patterson (Republican), Ernest "Fritz" Hollings (States' Rights)
1953-1959: Daniel Hoan (Socialist)
1952 def: Earl Warren (Progressive), Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. (Republican), Ernest "Fritz" Hollings (States' Rights)
1957: Constitutional Amendment XXII: Voting rights guarantee and enforcement; permits statehood for DC
1959-1965: Earl Warren (Progressive)
1958 def: J. Sherwood Dixon (Republican), Stephen Emery (Socialist) following contingent vote in House of Representatives
1965-1971: Walter Judd (Republican)
1964 def: Hugh Scott (Progressive), Georgia Cozzini (Socialist) following contingent vote in House of Representatives
1971-1972: Mark Hatfield (Progressive); resigned following exposure of the Turno Pacifico scandal
1970 def: Georgia Cozzini (Socialist), Paul Laxalt (Republican)
1972-1973: Richard Schweiker (Progressive, caretaker)
1972: Constitutional Amendment XXIII: Allows for an early presidential election to be called on three-quarter majority vote of Congress
1973-1979: Georgia Cozzini (Socialist)
1972 def: Richard Nixon (Republican), Pete McCloskey (Progressive)
1974: Constitutional Amendment XXIV: Abolishes electoral college in favour of a two-round runoff system

1979-1985: Eugene McCarthy (Socialist)
1978 def: John B. Anderson (New Conservative), Richard B. Ogilvie (Continuity Progressive), Max Rafferty (Continuity Republican)
1985-1991: Lowell Weicker (New Conservative)
1984 def: Jarvis Tyner (Socialist)
1991-1997: Bernard Sanders (Socialist)
1990 def: Pete Wilson (New Conservative)
1997-2003: George Pataki (New Conservative)
1996 def: David McReynolds (Socialist)
2003-2009: Joshua Javits (Socialist)
2002 def: Jim Jeffords (New Conservative)
2009-2017: Barack Obama (Democratic)
2008 def: John McCain (Republican)
2012 def: W. Mitt Romney (Republican)




I'm not sorry.
 
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Slow Motion Civil War

2017-2021: Donald Trump (Republican)
2016 (with Mike Pence) def. Hillary Clinton (Democratic)
2020; disputed

2021-2023: Joe Biden (Democratic)
2020 (with Susan Rice) def. Donald Trump (Republican), Howie Hawkins (Green)
2023-2029: Susan Rice (Democratic)
2024 (with Mitt Romney) def. Donald Trump Jr. (Republican), Rod Dreher (Christian Union)
2029-0000: Pete Buttigieg (Democratic)
2028 (with George T. Conway III) def. Elon Musk (Independent), Jesus Christ (Christian Union), various Leftist candidacies, Stephen Miller (Republican)
2032 (with George T. Conway III) def. Peter Thiel (The Republicans)
2034; Declaration of State of Emergency


Simple idea here. After Trump loses (not without a fight, the electoral college is exceedingly close and Trump alleges that his defeat was rigged to very end), the Republican Party effectively breaks. Rod Dreher's 'Benedict Option' gets teeth after 2020 - a combination of the Supreme Court going 'yes, you have to treat trans people like humans' and the election being 'stolen' from Trump. The Christian Union Party is essentially just a front organisation for a web of autonomous Christian communities that emerge over the course of the 2020s. This is joined by an increasing proliferation of Autonomous Zone a la the CHAZ in cities. Slowly, it becomes clear that between the Autonomous Zones and the Benedictine Communities the main demographic still actually participating in electoral politics are the suburbs - which since the collapse of the Republicans, have been almost entirely consolidated under the Democrats.

The main opposition to the Democrats become personality driven corporatist vehicles - reaching its apotheosis in Peter Thiel, who essentially purchases a moribund GOP and makes it his creature in 2032. He comes the closest since Trump The First to ending Democratic domination, as the children who have known virtually no other life than that of the Zones and Communities mature and have no interest in irrelevant electoralism. By 2033 it is clear the authority of Federal and certain State governments has virtually collapsed. Swathes of legislators don't take their seats in Congress, instead simply winning election to stand as spokespeople for their communities. An attempt at a Constitutional Convention is astoundingly poorly attended.

also features; the state of Greater Idaho (coastline included), the states of New York City, Chicago and Philadelphia, and the break up of California.

I didn't know about the Benedictine option until now.

I really like this idea Bob... As fiction
 
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