1955-1965: Richard Nixon (Republican)
1956 (with Walter Judd): Adlai Stevenson (Democratic)
1960 (with Walter Judd): Lyndon B. Johnson (Democratic), various unpledged southern electors
1965-1972: Jimmy Hoffa (Democratic)
1964 (with Henry M. Jackson): Jim Rhodes (Republican)
1968 (with Henry M. Jackson): Nelson Rockefeller (Republican), Walter Reuther (Peace and Freedom), John G. Crommelin (National States' Rights)
1972-1982: Jimmy Hoffa (American)
1972 (with Herman Talmadge): Gerald Ford (Republican), Robert F. Kennedy (Democratic), J. B. Stoner (National States' Rights)
1976 (with Herman Talmadge): Howard Baker (Republican), Mo Udall (Democratic), J. B. Stoner (National States' Rights)
1980 (with Joe Biden): Richard Nixon (National Union), Bob Richards (National States' Rights), Eugene McCarthy (Independent)
1982-0000: Joe Biden (American)
DECISION 1984
by John Daniels - North American Reporter, The Guardian
JANUARY 3 - Although the United Kingdom is missing the authoritarian aesthetic of George Orwell's classic novel 1984 the reality is unfortunately different for its ally across the Atlantic. The United States is currently in the grips what may very well be the death spasms of its democracy. Although damaged by the paternalistic presidency of Richard Nixon, it would be the long authoritarian rule of former union boss Jimmy Hoffa that would bring Lady Liberty to her knees. Although Hoffa expected a much longer rule, he would be unexpectedly found dead in the Lincoln Bedroom in July, 1982.
Now the presidency is occupied by the inexperienced and controversial Joe Biden. Conventional wisdom would dictate that with former President and opposition leader Richard Nixon in exile in London, the presidency is Biden's to lose. But that conventional wisdom does not hold water when faced with the peculiarities of the American political system. This article will examine President Biden and his various political opponents and try to cast a better light on who will truly occupy 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue next year.
The Potential Candidates
President Joe Biden (A-DE): President Biden would be a much clearer frontrunner were it not for the circumstances that brought him to his office. Considered by many to be a last minute replacement for the scandal-ridden Herman Talmadge during the 1980 presidential elections, Biden was never seriously expected to occupy the Presidency. His relationship with President Hoffa was characterized as distant, particularly when Biden made one of his many public gaffes. But now Joe Biden is President and he has faced significant resistance from members of the American political establishment. Many see him as a bit of a break from the more hardline policies of President Hoffa. Additionally, Biden has not been able to effectively manage Hoffa's political machine. In the last few months there have been leaked rumors that the Hoffa administration collaborated with elements of organized crime. President Biden's response? He awkwardly declared that "Joe Biden is no mafia whore" at a donor fundraiser last year.
Senator Frank Sheeran (A-PA): President Hoffa's longtime Chief of Staff has recently taken aim at President Biden, going so far to call him "no friend of labor" last year. Sheeran is seen by many as the continuity candidate of Hoffa's core loyalist faction of the American Party. Sheeran has the support of much of the American Party's political establishment and would be the most likely candidate to take over in the case of a palace coup at the party's convention this summer. Sheeran's biggest strength as a candidate is also his biggest liability. Now that many of the figures of Hoffa's administration find themselves looking down the barrel of a criminal investigation many wonder whether Senator Sheeran might be next.
Secretary of Housing Buddy Cianci (A-RI): The former Governor of Rhode Island was brought in by President Hoffa as an olive branch to the defeated and arguably purged National Unionists. Although Cianci would change his party affiliation in 1981 he would become the administration's most sympathetic ear to the concerns of America's political opposition. Cianci has been kept on under Joe Biden and has arguably seen his role expanded as the nation struggles with a new public housing crisis. But Cianci and Biden's relationship has been on the rocks recently. Secretary Cianci recently told a Washington Post reporter that President Biden was "soft on corruption" and "not the anti-corruption candidate" for the upcoming presidential election. It's unlikely that President Biden will stand by his rebellious cabinet secretary after those remarks and Cianci could very well use his firing to wage a primary battle against the incumbent president.
Governor George Wallace (A-AL): The longtime Alabama Governor had maintained a 'quid pro quo' with President Hoffa. In the 1970s the conservative Wallace agreed that he would ensure stability during America's Southern Troubles, which was a period of racial and political violence in which Alabama was one of the worst afflicted states. In exchange Hoffa promised to look the other way on Governor Wallace's more controversial actions. But now Hoffa is dead and Biden has not kept his bargain. Biden's support of Independent black congressional candidate John Lewis has infuriated many southern whites who still remember a time when Lewis gave tacit support to black radicals. Wallace, now in control of a regional political machine that could rival Hoffa's cratering national machine, could give Biden a run for his money in a primary battle or even take his supporters and run on a third party ticket.
House Minority Leader George Bush (NU-TX): Having played the leader of the National Unionists' "loyal opposition" since 1981's corruption investigations crippled their party, Bush is probably the only National Unionist with the name recognition and political connections necessary to mount a credible presidential campaign. Bush has recently taken to attacking President Biden signalling to many that the National Unionists, despite devastating 1982 midterm elections, might be seriously contesting this year's presidential contest. Rumors have only continued to swirl around Rep. Bush's candidacy as former Biden White House staffer Lee Atwater has been seen frequently around Bush's office.
Senator Eugene McCarthy (I-MN): Credited by many National Unionists as the spoiler candidate for the 1980 election, it seems likely that McCarthy will once again throw his hat into the mix. Although initially a left-wing Democrat and a one-time Peace and Freedom supporter, McCarthy has, like the United States itself, become more conservative in recent years. That being said, many still see him as the only left-wing candidate with wide appeal left on the national stage. Many accuse McCarthy of having been propped up by the Hoffa administration in order to dilute opposition votes during the 1980 election. It will be interesting to see what becomes of the long-time Senator and his youth followers now that the dead President Hoffa's political order might be collapsing.
Party Chairman Willis Carto (NSR-VA): The National States' Rights Party's presumptive nominee for this cycle is largely seen as a seatwarmer for the party's most well-known figure, Representative David Duke of Louisiana. Carto's NSRP has long been seen as the legal political wing of white supremacist militias in the South during the Southern Troubles. With the Southern Troubles having been brought to something of an end with the Richmond Accords in 1979, the party has struggled to maintain its relevancy and prior levels of support. Congressman David Duke has brought the party a degree of new notoriety for his constant racially tinged attacks of President Biden and his administration. Its widely presumed that Duke will be the party's 1988 candidate if elections will still be held then. The NSRP has come under fire in the past couple years for backing Dominican warlord Don Black and his Caribbean white supremacist filibuster regime.
Regardless of who ultimately comes out of the American elections victorious, it is likely that the instability of their political system will reach a boiling point. Many analysts expect waves of student protests and labor strikes not seen in the United States since the 1960s. The presidential election will be held in November and more coverage will be provided until then.
1956 (with Walter Judd): Adlai Stevenson (Democratic)
1960 (with Walter Judd): Lyndon B. Johnson (Democratic), various unpledged southern electors
1965-1972: Jimmy Hoffa (Democratic)
1964 (with Henry M. Jackson): Jim Rhodes (Republican)
1968 (with Henry M. Jackson): Nelson Rockefeller (Republican), Walter Reuther (Peace and Freedom), John G. Crommelin (National States' Rights)
1972-1982: Jimmy Hoffa (American)
1972 (with Herman Talmadge): Gerald Ford (Republican), Robert F. Kennedy (Democratic), J. B. Stoner (National States' Rights)
1976 (with Herman Talmadge): Howard Baker (Republican), Mo Udall (Democratic), J. B. Stoner (National States' Rights)
1980 (with Joe Biden): Richard Nixon (National Union), Bob Richards (National States' Rights), Eugene McCarthy (Independent)
1982-0000: Joe Biden (American)
DECISION 1984
by John Daniels - North American Reporter, The Guardian
JANUARY 3 - Although the United Kingdom is missing the authoritarian aesthetic of George Orwell's classic novel 1984 the reality is unfortunately different for its ally across the Atlantic. The United States is currently in the grips what may very well be the death spasms of its democracy. Although damaged by the paternalistic presidency of Richard Nixon, it would be the long authoritarian rule of former union boss Jimmy Hoffa that would bring Lady Liberty to her knees. Although Hoffa expected a much longer rule, he would be unexpectedly found dead in the Lincoln Bedroom in July, 1982.
Now the presidency is occupied by the inexperienced and controversial Joe Biden. Conventional wisdom would dictate that with former President and opposition leader Richard Nixon in exile in London, the presidency is Biden's to lose. But that conventional wisdom does not hold water when faced with the peculiarities of the American political system. This article will examine President Biden and his various political opponents and try to cast a better light on who will truly occupy 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue next year.
The Potential Candidates
President Joe Biden (A-DE): President Biden would be a much clearer frontrunner were it not for the circumstances that brought him to his office. Considered by many to be a last minute replacement for the scandal-ridden Herman Talmadge during the 1980 presidential elections, Biden was never seriously expected to occupy the Presidency. His relationship with President Hoffa was characterized as distant, particularly when Biden made one of his many public gaffes. But now Joe Biden is President and he has faced significant resistance from members of the American political establishment. Many see him as a bit of a break from the more hardline policies of President Hoffa. Additionally, Biden has not been able to effectively manage Hoffa's political machine. In the last few months there have been leaked rumors that the Hoffa administration collaborated with elements of organized crime. President Biden's response? He awkwardly declared that "Joe Biden is no mafia whore" at a donor fundraiser last year.
Senator Frank Sheeran (A-PA): President Hoffa's longtime Chief of Staff has recently taken aim at President Biden, going so far to call him "no friend of labor" last year. Sheeran is seen by many as the continuity candidate of Hoffa's core loyalist faction of the American Party. Sheeran has the support of much of the American Party's political establishment and would be the most likely candidate to take over in the case of a palace coup at the party's convention this summer. Sheeran's biggest strength as a candidate is also his biggest liability. Now that many of the figures of Hoffa's administration find themselves looking down the barrel of a criminal investigation many wonder whether Senator Sheeran might be next.
Secretary of Housing Buddy Cianci (A-RI): The former Governor of Rhode Island was brought in by President Hoffa as an olive branch to the defeated and arguably purged National Unionists. Although Cianci would change his party affiliation in 1981 he would become the administration's most sympathetic ear to the concerns of America's political opposition. Cianci has been kept on under Joe Biden and has arguably seen his role expanded as the nation struggles with a new public housing crisis. But Cianci and Biden's relationship has been on the rocks recently. Secretary Cianci recently told a Washington Post reporter that President Biden was "soft on corruption" and "not the anti-corruption candidate" for the upcoming presidential election. It's unlikely that President Biden will stand by his rebellious cabinet secretary after those remarks and Cianci could very well use his firing to wage a primary battle against the incumbent president.
Governor George Wallace (A-AL): The longtime Alabama Governor had maintained a 'quid pro quo' with President Hoffa. In the 1970s the conservative Wallace agreed that he would ensure stability during America's Southern Troubles, which was a period of racial and political violence in which Alabama was one of the worst afflicted states. In exchange Hoffa promised to look the other way on Governor Wallace's more controversial actions. But now Hoffa is dead and Biden has not kept his bargain. Biden's support of Independent black congressional candidate John Lewis has infuriated many southern whites who still remember a time when Lewis gave tacit support to black radicals. Wallace, now in control of a regional political machine that could rival Hoffa's cratering national machine, could give Biden a run for his money in a primary battle or even take his supporters and run on a third party ticket.
House Minority Leader George Bush (NU-TX): Having played the leader of the National Unionists' "loyal opposition" since 1981's corruption investigations crippled their party, Bush is probably the only National Unionist with the name recognition and political connections necessary to mount a credible presidential campaign. Bush has recently taken to attacking President Biden signalling to many that the National Unionists, despite devastating 1982 midterm elections, might be seriously contesting this year's presidential contest. Rumors have only continued to swirl around Rep. Bush's candidacy as former Biden White House staffer Lee Atwater has been seen frequently around Bush's office.
Senator Eugene McCarthy (I-MN): Credited by many National Unionists as the spoiler candidate for the 1980 election, it seems likely that McCarthy will once again throw his hat into the mix. Although initially a left-wing Democrat and a one-time Peace and Freedom supporter, McCarthy has, like the United States itself, become more conservative in recent years. That being said, many still see him as the only left-wing candidate with wide appeal left on the national stage. Many accuse McCarthy of having been propped up by the Hoffa administration in order to dilute opposition votes during the 1980 election. It will be interesting to see what becomes of the long-time Senator and his youth followers now that the dead President Hoffa's political order might be collapsing.
Party Chairman Willis Carto (NSR-VA): The National States' Rights Party's presumptive nominee for this cycle is largely seen as a seatwarmer for the party's most well-known figure, Representative David Duke of Louisiana. Carto's NSRP has long been seen as the legal political wing of white supremacist militias in the South during the Southern Troubles. With the Southern Troubles having been brought to something of an end with the Richmond Accords in 1979, the party has struggled to maintain its relevancy and prior levels of support. Congressman David Duke has brought the party a degree of new notoriety for his constant racially tinged attacks of President Biden and his administration. Its widely presumed that Duke will be the party's 1988 candidate if elections will still be held then. The NSRP has come under fire in the past couple years for backing Dominican warlord Don Black and his Caribbean white supremacist filibuster regime.
Regardless of who ultimately comes out of the American elections victorious, it is likely that the instability of their political system will reach a boiling point. Many analysts expect waves of student protests and labor strikes not seen in the United States since the 1960s. The presidential election will be held in November and more coverage will be provided until then.
