"Hipster" Politicians Thread

[Time Enough]

Malcolm McDonald
If there is no National Government and no National Labour split then you have Ramsay's son Malcolm - a much more capable man than his father in my opinion and likely to be a first rate Foreign or Colonial Secretary and active from late 1930s to early1960s OTL. If foreign or colonial affairs are important, he might even make Labour Party leader.

Malcom MacDonald I could see as someone who could be firmly connected to a Labour Post War Government and probably be friendly with the G.D.H Cole students who adopted Market Socialist/Social Democrat ideologues like Evan Durbin. Amusingly, you could see Malcom being used by them to make there policies more palatable to the Left given his father would probably be seen with rose tinted glasses without the split.

Succession to Clynes or Snowden as Labour Party leader (Ernie Bevin was ruled out for plot reasons but would also be a contender, so would A V Alexander but the American TL author knew little about him)-
Probably Atlee who was at least tough minded if not very charismatic. Morrison was talented but seen as too clever for his own good and Ernie Bevin hated his guts. Someone said "Herbert Morrison is his own worst enemy" and Bevin retorted "Not while I'm alive he isn't". Greenwood was charismatic and had ideas but also fond of the bottle and didn't cope well with pressure.

I do think the boring answer is A.V.Alexander as the Centre candidate if they wanted someone who appeals to Left and Right and would likely have the backing of Henderson and the Unions/Cooperatives behind him. Another answer if someone more radical is needed, is Tom Johnston, Left Wing but able to appease the Right of the party as well as having a solid track record and firmly supporting Keynesian economics, Johnston is a firm choice for Left Wing leader for Britain in the thirties.

 

[ShortsBelfast]

Successor to Rab Butler-
Butler does work as a ten year PM but I don't see Eden as his likely successor. By 1956 Eden was a sick man (which probably didn't help his handling of Suez OTL). If no WW2 maybe Ronald Cartland? Or David Eccles or Ralph Assheton? Oliver Lyttleton's economic ideas would have been more mainstream under Butler as would Peter Thorneycroft's
Eden was a curious choice OTL in that he was a foreign policy expert and almost completely disengaged on domestic issues. That he succeeded Churchill as Conservative leader was largely down to his distinguished record of opposition to appeasement. In a TL where someone sane was running Germany and there wasn't a Cold War to the same extent, Eden would be seen as a useful man at the FO but not a natural heir and successor to Butler. Plus as I said not a well man at the time. Margesson possibly if he transitioned better into one of the great offices of state from the Whips Office than in wartime. Halifax will be an extremely influential elder statesman TTL and Butler a protege. In a TL where the state doesn't control the economy to the same extent Oliver Lyttleton and Peter Thorneycroft won't be seen as too far right but as successful economic managers. Walter Elliott might be an option but he died in 1958. Possibly Elliott as PM 1946-56 with Butler replacing him? Butler would be a relatively young leader in 1946 unless you see him as the Viceroy of Halifax in the House of Commons only gradually growing into his own man?

 

[ShortsBelfast]

First "Rab Butler masterminds the Conservative surprise victory with his strategy in the campaign to accept the welfare state and instead turn to the attention to the rising power of Germany post 1943 (the end of the Great European War)."- Plausible, Butler was a progressive Conservative and along with people like Gerald Nabarro one of the Conservative Research Department types who designed the Conservative policies of the 1950s and early 60s.
Second "Attlee's administration is seen as a smashing success on the domestic front, but foreign policy is seen as his great weakness, especially in failing to deal with the newfound reality of German dominance on the continent (as well as Soviet expansion, but that's a smaller part of the campaign)." Make it clear that this is as much about perception as reality, Attlee historically was the best Labour PM ever in terms of foreign and defence policy and TTL he will have had Mosley at the War Office, Air Ministry or Admiralty (and while Mosley was a shit, he was a highly intelligent and dynamic shit with an excellent grasp of defence policy). And Soviet expansion not necessarily a smaller part of the campaign unless Germany is dominating France, Belgium and the Netherlands. Britain will be more worried about Far Eastern trade and Iranian oil than anything Germany gets up to west of the Rhine. Not that they won't be worried at what Germany gets up to, but in terms of British interests and priorities Iran will be higher up the scale

Third, "Thus, with accepting the welfare state finally (much to the chagrin of Churchill and his ilk)"
Not plausible, Churchill was (very) bad at economics and a bit unrealistic about Britain's ability for strategic power projection (and downright wrong about Britain's ability to hold onto India) but he wasn't a reactionary. Indeed pit head shower baths for coal miners was Churchill's idea. He once said that there was no point to the Empire if his constituents couldn't have flush toilets and remember he served as a Minister throughout the reforming Liberal Ministry of Asquith with no issues whatsoever about any of the domestic reforms (not even Irish Home Rule). He didn't oppose the Welfare State on principle OTL, just wanted to introduce it more slowly. Think of him more in terms of Theodore Roosevelt or Scoop Jackson than as an Ultra Tory like Salisbury. That he has been appropriated as a symbol by the ultra right after his death doesn't mean that he was one of them in life.
Fourth, "Thus, with accepting the welfare state finally (much to the chagrin of Churchill and his ilk) as well as campaigning on fighting for "British valor and interests overseas", the Conservative Party under its leader Lord Halifax win the UK General election of 1946. Wood serves as a patron to Butler, who is seen as the real reason for the Tories return to power after fifteen years in opposition. Thus, in 1951, Butler, well known for his ventures in education as the Education Minister, becomes party leader in 1951 and wins the general election and is Prime Minister till 1961 when he is defeated by (ITTL) former War Minister under the MacDonald and Attlee ministries Sir Oswald Mosley." Also plausible (less Churchill being anti the Welfare State as discussed above, more likely to be angry about the TTL Indian independence settlement).
Neville Chamberlain would have gone a long way towards accepting Attlee's health reforms. In some ways OTL he is the real founder of Britain's national health service. Would have been a trenchant critic of nationalisation as he had a very sound understanding of economics. Though Austen as likely as Neville in 1936 (still politically active up to his stroke and death in 1937).

Churchill not plausible, TTL he is a discredited political failure after Gallipoli and his Chancellorship. Wrong about India, alarmist about Germany and, as I said, only likely to oppose Attlee on nationalisation, going to be a qualified pro on the healthcare and welfare reforms. More likely Kingsley Wood or Samuel Hoare (Walter Elliott isn't going to oppose health and welfare reform either). Germany under Adenauer isn't going to be insanely aggressive so any war is likely to be largely France's fault and British electorate firmly anti-war up to 1938 OTL. It took Adolf Hitler to change their mind OTL not Winston Churchill.
Attlee will have shot his bolt after 15 years in power and the electorate will be looking a change.
Greenwood and Morrison (Morrison hasn't a chance until Ernie Bevin dies in 51, Bevin hated him and did everything he could to sabotage him) plausible enough though remember that Malcolm McDonald will still be Labour TTL with no National Government and was an extremely competent Minister OTL. And Greenwood may have hit the bottle earlier with a longer period of the responsibilities of office. And what about Gaitskell and (assuming his death is butterflied away) Durbin?
By 1961 electorate may well feel like a change from Butler so plausible.
Eden unlikely by 1966 he has no interest in domestic policy and has probably after more than fifteen years as Foreign Secretary gone off to be a peer (Butler's dissolution honours) and Governor-General someplace. Gerald Nabarro, Richard Law, Ronald Cartland or Robert Carr more likely candidates.
By 1976 Harold Wilson a man in decline and experiencing early stages of dementia. Not likely to be Labour's candidate. Bob Mellish wouldn't go for the counter culture nor would he criticise Powell for racist excesses (more likely for not being racist enough). Michael Stewart or Jim Callaghan possibly. Roy Mason moved to NI in 1976 and effectively relinquished a further leadership challenge OTL but didn't enjoy serving under Wilson, TTL might hang in a bit longer particularly if he got to succeed Mosley as party leader. Roy Jenkins might alienate the working class by being too liberal.
By 1981 Powell too would be facing voter fatigue so plausible.

 

[ShortsBelfast]

I do think the boring answer is A.V.Alexander as the Centre candidate if they wanted someone who appeals to Left and Right and would likely have the backing of Henderson and the Unions/Cooperatives behind him. Another answer if someone more radical is needed, is Tom Johnston, Left Wing but able to appease the Right of the party as well as having a solid track record and firmly supporting Keynesian economics, Johnston is a firm choice for Left Wing leader for Britain in the thirties.

I would personally have been very interested in A.V. as Labour leader but remember that all this is help and advice to an American (I think -or possibly Canadian) author who was wanting help with the British and German aspects of a US timeline. He wanted Ernie Bevin as Foreign Secretary at roughly the same time for plot reasons and had very little knowledge of A.V. and wanted a Mosley premiership for reasons of historical irony. Read my views of what might have or wouldn't have worked within those constraints!

 

[True Grit]

Quebec Premier Jean Lesage, who led the province during the Quiet Revolution of the 1960s, doesn't get enough attention, especially since he was Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson's preferred successor before unexpectedly losing re-election in 1966.

But this post isn't about him - it's about another Jean Lesage, his grandson, who ran for the PCs in 1993. Though he ultimately lost by a pretty huge margin, winning only 7% of the vote compared to 56% for incumbent PC-turned-Bloc MP Pierrette Venne, earlier in the campaign he was treated as a bit of a star and Venne seemed a bit more uncertain about her chances. Not sure how high he could rise if elected (say the Bloc is never formed, the PCs avoid their meltdown, etc.), especially since the only information I could find about him is the fact that he's the elder Lesage's grandson, but his family ties alone make him a fun hipster pick.

 

[Qaz_plm]

apologies in advance for necroing

-Jerry Lawler: Famous wrestler who ran in the 1999 and 2009 mayoral Memphis elections. Could work as a congressman or governor although his alleged statutory rape and racism could be problematic.

-Mark Millar: This controversial comic writer describes himself as "traditionally left of centre and progressive, a Eurosceptic in the Bennite mould". Wrote alotta Anti-Blair/Bush shit,flip flopped on Scottish independence. Would be a neat little MP for a more successful RESPECT party or some other weird left party

 

[Walpurgisnacht]

Rick McIntyre was tipped by some as a rising star before he arrived in the House--but, as this article tells, ended up embroiled into multiple recounts and losing his incredibly close race by a margin of 4 votes before he could take his seat. Given that absolutely anything could swing this (the 64 improperly certified ballots that were counted by mistake being chucked out, Edwin Simcox having a less itchy trigger finger and letting the a preliminary recount go through, some heavy rain in a Democratic-leaning precinct), we may as well move onto his potential Congressional career.

The obvious answer is "he's just a generic Republican congressman for a bit before he loses his seat", which is fair enough--IN-8 was notoriously swingy in that era. McIntyre OTL also withdrew from national politics after he lost his rematch in IN-8, becoming a county judge, which doesn't suggest a strong drive.

The more interesting answer is, we've got a young, charismatic conservative here. One no doubt radicalised by nearly having his seat stolen. One with an inspiring story of beating Demonrat fraud. Even if he loses his seat, four years can be a long time in politics. Who knows how high he can get? The right-wing of the Republicans could benefit from a sane figurehead...

 

[Milo]

Few random ones I noticed on Wikipedia

Luis A. Miranda Jr.

Lin Manuel's dad, appears to be quite connected figure, big in the Puerto Rican community. Seems to have several important roles within those sorts of community bodies. From his wiki

Miranda has served as a political consultant on several high-profile political campaigns, including those for Hillary Rodham Clinton and Charles Schumer.[2] Both in 2001 and 2005, Miranda led Fernando Ferrer's mayoral campaigns. Miranda was also a political consultant for Letitia James, the Attorney General of New York.[2]

Seems like someone with a few tweaks could have run for NYC Mayor or Congress, maybe a potential first Puerto Rican President.

Daniel Kagan

Was a member of Colorado House and Senate. He was the son of Joseph Kagan, Baron Kagan, the man who invented Gannex and friend of Harold Wilson. Seems to have moved to the states bummed about abit then gone to Yale and then the Bar. English Educated so could be a random New Labour MP, interesting link with Wilson. Not much of a political career but his career was linked to someone that has been mentioned on this site before.

He gave a speech demanding for debate on a resolution seeking to expel Senator Randy Baumgardner for the sexual allegations against him

 

[frittering]

Someone with actual althist acumen should write a timeline around Maggie McIntosh, longtime Maryland Democratic Party and State House powerbroker and lesbian icon. She stood down last year having never sought higher office than State Delegate*–unless one counts her failed bid for Speaker of the State House in 2019, which was a wild ride of an election–but clearly had it in her (though I respect her for staying a legislative insider rather than seeking celebrity politician status).

*yes, our state house is the HOUSE OF DELEGATES because we're fancy. the two virginias call theirs that too

 

[True Grit]

Though she never ran for office, former Secretary of Labor Alexis Herman was a prominent figure within the 90s/00s Democratic Party, seen as a lock for a White House gig had Gore or Kerry won (most often rumoured as a possible Chief of Staff or Secretary of Commerce) and initially viewed as a strong candidate for DNC Chair in 2005. It doesn't seem like too much of a stretch to imagine a scenario where her career goes slightly differently and she makes it onto a Democratic ticket - she'd make a hipster choice for an alt-first Black/female President.

 

[Thande]

*yes, our state house is the HOUSE OF DELEGATES because we're fancy. the two virginias call theirs that too

My favourite thing about Maryland politics is that due to the mostly-consistent three-member seats and the generally pretty good record on contesting them, from a distance the House of Delegates map looks like it should be for a particularly oddly-shaped London borough.

 

[True Grit]

I feel like people forget that Van Jones, before becoming a CNN mainstay, was a member of the Obama administration. With the right butterflies, it's not hard to see him making the jump into electoral politics, either as a left-wing Democrat or as a Green - there was brief speculation, after all, that he might run for the Green presidential nomination in 2012.

 

[Halton]

Jagmeet Singh attended middle and high school in Michigan, crossing the border to attend a private school. Perhaps he goes to college in America and immigrates and eventually starts his political career in America, although it would be different because America is obviously less Punjabi and less inclined towards ethnic politics, and unless he became a citizen before he took the bar exam, he couldn't become a lawyer in Michigan.

Perhaps in an alternate timeline, Singh gets inspired to run for office in 2016 because of Bernie Sanders's campaign or another progressive candidate, similar to how Jack Layton inspired Singh to enter public life.

 

[True Grit]

Carol Browner, EPA Director throughout the Clinton administration, was in 2000 believed to be considering a political career in Florida, and throughout the 90s was seen as having solid political skills. Say she's elected to the Senate in 2000 or 2004, or, depending on the POD (Jeb gets elected in 1994?) Governor in 2002, it's easy to see her as a presidential/vice presidential candidate.

That same article also mentioned Transportation Secretary Rodney E. Slater as having political ambitions, though as a Black Democrat from Arkansas I'm unsure about whether or not he could be elected statewide. I wouldn't rule it out, though, and there's scenarios where he's elected Governor or, more likely, elected to the Senate in 2002. He'd be the first Black Senator/Governor from the South since Reconstruction if successful, which, again, makes it easy to see him being talked about as a presidential/vice presidential candidate.

 

[Wendell]

Carol Browner, EPA Director throughout the Clinton administration, was in 2000 believed to be considering a political career in Florida, and throughout the 90s was seen as having solid political skills. Say she's elected to the Senate in 2000 or 2004, or, depending on the POD (Jeb gets elected in 1994?) Governor in 2002, it's easy to see her as a presidential/vice presidential candidate.

That same article also mentioned Transportation Secretary Rodney E. Slater as having political ambitions, though as a Black Democrat from Arkansas I'm unsure about whether or not he could be elected statewide. I wouldn't rule it out, though, and there's scenarios where he's elected Governor or, more likely, elected to the Senate in 2002. He'd be the first Black Senator/Governor from the South since Reconstruction if successful, which, again, makes it easy to see him being talked about as a presidential/vice presidential candidate.

Maybe he ends up as governor instead of Mike Beebe?