The revelations of an affair between President Clinton and Monica Lewinsky turned an easy re-election campaign into an era-defining political battle. Given that Democrats had adopted Republican policies on welfare reform and deficit reduction, Dole was left to condemn gangster rap and Tarantino movies while lauding the accomplishments of the Greatest Generation. While these strategies failed at first, the Lewinsky scandal allowed these issues to strike a chord. In addition, Dole promised to run for only one term, addressing the age issues associated with him. The biggest sign that Dole had a chance was Colin Powell's last-minute decision to accept the vice-presidential slot, with the private offer of the post of Secretary of State. In addition, Ross Perot's inclusion in the presidential debates gave Democrats a chance to voice their protest to Clinton without voting Republican.
While Dole enjoyed positive approval ratings, the Republicans were still dragged down by Speaker Gingrich's divisive rhetoric. In the 1998 midterms, the Democrats retook the House. Dick Gephardt was poised to take the position, but the outgoing Minority Leader chose instead to run for president. As a result, Minority Whip David Bonior (a member of DSA) took the speaker's gavel.
Despite his status as the frontrunner, Gephardt lost to the upstart campaign of Warren Beatty. Running off of the success of his hip-hop musical political satire
Bulworth, Beatty's willingness to campaign on "Canadian Way" health insurance and other left-wing issues propelled him to victory. On the Republican side, Vice President Powell prevailed in a divisive primary against Texas Governor George W. Bush. Powell's hero status gave him a huge initial lead, but Beatty's strong debate showing and Buchanan's exploitation of the abortion issue brought the election down to the wire. With New Hampshire up for a recount, Beatty walked into the crowd while rapping to supporters, only to be assassinated by disgruntled insurance worker Graham Crockett.
Powell's presidency did not go well, with the economy entering a recession due to the Enron scandal and the Dot-com bubble bursting.
However, Powell's long-term legacy was secured through a bargain with Speaker Bonior to pass Canadian Way health insurance. The backlash from Republicans was strong, drawing many to Gov. Foster's Reform Party candidacy. In the end, Minnesota's populist Paul Wellstone was propelled to victory by pledging to continue Warren Beatty's legacy.
With strong majorities, Wellstone established a strong social democratic consensus that brought the country out of the recession. This agenda triggered a right-wing backlash, with a united right under Ralph Reed winning the 2012 presidential election.
Reed's presidency was marred by corruption, necessitating the need for an outsider candidate. After Death Row Records had been targeted by Dole's attorney general Bill Weld, Tupac was forced to start his own label. Quickly the rapper abandoned the violent messaging of his Death Row discography in favor of a politically radical message. At the same time, Shakur became a family entertainment icon with his role as Jedi Master Mace Windu in the
Star Wars prequels.
While the backlash to his presidency was enormous, Shakur finally brought together the country to implement his 21st century socialism.
1993 - 1997:
Bill Clinton / Al Gore (Democratic)
1992 def. George Bush / Dan Quayle (Republican), Ross Perot / James Stockdale (Independent)
1997 - 2001:
Bob Dole / Colin Powell (Republican)
1996 def. Bill Clinton / Al Gore (Democratic), Ross Perot / David Boren (Reform), Ralph Nader / Winona LaDuke (Green)
2001 - 2005:
Colin Powell / John McCain (Republican)
2000 def. Warren Beatty † / Paul Wellstone (Democratic), Pat Buchanan / Alan Keyes (Reform)
2005 - 2012:
Paul Wellstone / Jesse Jackson Jr. (Democratic)
2004 def. Colin Powell / John McCain (Republican), Mike Foster / Bob Smith (Reform)
2008 def. Elizabeth Dole / Matt Blunt (Republican), Ron Paul / Barry Goldwater Jr. (Reform)
2012 - 2012:
Paul Wellstone / Vacant (Democratic)
2012 - 2013:
Paul Wellstone / James P. Hoffa (Democratic)
2013 - 2017:
Ralph Reed / Charlie Baker (Republican)
2012 def. Tom Daschle / Jeanne Shaheen (Democratic), Michael Bloomberg / Sam Nunn (Independent)
2017 - 2021:
Tupac Shakur / David Bonior (Democratic)
2016 def. Ralph Reed / Charlie Baker (Republican)
2020 def. Steve Scalise / Jon Ritzheimer (Republican)
2021 - 2021:
Tupac Shakur / Vacant (Democratic)
2021 - 0000:
Tupac Shakur / Sara Nelson (American Regeneration Movement)
2021 - Scalise coup attempt defeated after general strike, President Shakur calls for worker’s councils to replace the insurrectionist 117th Congress