Elektronaut
Effectively Stood Down
- Location
- The Legendarium of Gentleman Julius
- Pronouns
- He/Him
POD: Bush, rather than Dukakis gets the flu just before the second debate. Bush is at his worst, rambling, stumbling over lines, dropping the odd few good ole Bush Clan Gaffes. Dukakis somehow - some fucking how, children - manages to actually deliver his lines in response to 'that' question, the nation knows that the Dukakis family has suffered from crime and tragedy. On the whole he's on top form, he even manages to drop a few jokes. The press declares him the clear winner, Dukakis is totally energised going into the final weeks, the campaign finally gets its shit together, John Glenn gets really fucking angry about Bush pulling that shit, everybody cheers, Bush is left in a tailspin. It's not enough, but it's very respectable. Given the closeness though, Democrats are left feeling this is one that got away, and 'if only'. Like, if only Dukakis had ran a campaign before the final month.
Dukakis happily goes back to riding the T to work the day after.
(Alternatively)
All of that, plus Dukakis just makes it over the line by a few thousand in Connecticut, while Bush in a Michigan campaign stop makes a Gary Hart-in-New Jersey 1984-style++ gaffe about the state.
The morning after the election, Dukakis wants to ride the T to work while a massive national media war erupts over the Michigan and Connecticut recounts - but they won't let him. Sasso and Estrich finally convince him after an hour that because he has a realistic shot at being president now, other things are more important. Recounts begin, everyone lawyers up, it takes ages to sort out - and then everyone realises that even if the results are certified it has to go to the House anyway.
Dukakis just wants to be governor and ride the T to work. It was Kitty and Jack Corrigan and Sasso who talked him into this.
The White House is a working palace, and he won't have to take mass transit to work, and that's not good.
Dukakis happily goes back to riding the T to work the day after.
(Alternatively)
All of that, plus Dukakis just makes it over the line by a few thousand in Connecticut, while Bush in a Michigan campaign stop makes a Gary Hart-in-New Jersey 1984-style++ gaffe about the state.
The morning after the election, Dukakis wants to ride the T to work while a massive national media war erupts over the Michigan and Connecticut recounts - but they won't let him. Sasso and Estrich finally convince him after an hour that because he has a realistic shot at being president now, other things are more important. Recounts begin, everyone lawyers up, it takes ages to sort out - and then everyone realises that even if the results are certified it has to go to the House anyway.
Dukakis just wants to be governor and ride the T to work. It was Kitty and Jack Corrigan and Sasso who talked him into this.
The White House is a working palace, and he won't have to take mass transit to work, and that's not good.