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Presidents of the United States 44. Barack Obama, D (2009-2017) 45. Joe Biden, D (2017-2023) 46. Kirsten Gillibrand, D (2023-2025) 47. Paul Ryan, R (2025-2033) 48. Ayanna Pressley, D (2033-2037) 49. Karin Agness, R (2037-2045) 50.
Vice Presidents of the United States 47. Joe Biden, D (2009-2017) 48. Kirsten Gillibrand, D (2017-2023) 49. 50. 51. Peter Buttigieg, D (2033-2037) 52. Sean Reyes, R (2037-2042) 53. Scott G. Erickson, R (2042-2045)
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[CENTER][SIZE=5][B]A Return to Normalcy [/B][/SIZE] [B][SIZE=4]A 2016 Where Cooler Heads Prevailed [/SIZE][/B][/CENTER] [SIZE=3]If the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election has done anything, it's united the nation in asking, "Where the hell is our country going?" The two least popular candidates for the White House in the history of polling have found themselves locked in an election no one could have predicted. As a result, the distrust in government and the American political process has only increased.
Of course, it did not have to be this way. What if cooler heads had prevailed? What if a less chaotic 2016 election launched America on a path towards a return to normalcy instead of accelerating its seeming decline in reason? It remains to be seen whether the 2016 election we are familiar with will truly alter the course of American politics as so many predict, but this timeline seeks to explore a surer way of returning America to a less volatile political future.[/SIZE] [CENTER][B][SIZE=4] ~ 2015 ~ [/SIZE][/B][/CENTER] [SIZE=3]"I really don't think I have a choice, Mr. President. I have to run."
Barack Obama had privately feared this was why his vice president had asked to meet with him. "Joe, you know I think you're a fantastic vice president, and you'd do a great job as president. You're my brother. I just don't know if you can take down the organization Hillary's built up.
"These emails are going to ruin her, and we're going to end up losing to Jeb or Marco or, God forbid, Donald - whoever the Republicans finally decide on."
"I don't think it's going to get that bad. Of course, I'm not going to pick Hillary over you, Joe, but I don't know that I can go out there and endorse you and be on the stump for you."
"I understand, Mr. President, but really, I think we're making a mistake by clearing the field for Hillary. Really, I think we need to wake up and see she just can't win."
"Joe, people are going to say you're preventing our first female president."
"My fear is that it's going to be Jeb Bus who prevents our first female president. We cannot afford to let our progress - all of the work we've done for the last eight years - get washed away by the last guy's brother."
"Alright, Joe. I wish you the best of luck, brother."
"Thank you, Mr. President."
That day, Joe Biden left the Oval Office and took Air Force Two to Saint Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire, where he announced he was running for President of the United States. It was September 14, 2015. Biden's campaign was beginning significantly later than his other opponents, but Biden felt compelled to enter the race, sure that Hillary Clinton could not survive a general election against Jeb Bush, the likely Republican nominee.
In his announcement speech, Biden spoke highly of his opponents, Clinton, Bernie Sanders, and Martin O'Malley, and talked about the need to make America work for the middle class again. He hailed the progress of President Barack Obama, ran on his record, and promised the American people that he would continue a path of rebuilding the economy: fighting for paid family leave, equal pay for equal work, tax relief for the middle class, and investments in small businesses. Biden's message was one of optimism: that America was already great, unlike what Donald Trump claimed, and that it was getting even greater every single day. Biden wanted to be the president to continue that.
After his event in New Hampshire, Biden traveled to Iowa, Nevada, and South Carolina to explain his campaign message: It was time to invest in rebuilding American infrastructure and aid the middle class. His earliest campaign dollars were not spent on campaign ads, they were spent on a robust internship and field program in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, South Carolina, and some of the biggest Super Tuesday states. Within days of his campaign beginning, there were field organizers in key states with a clear organization in place. Campaign literature was printed and volunteers began knocking on doors and placing phone calls in all of the early states. Meanwhile, the candidate bought a campaign bus and drove around the country. He was in Iowa for over a week straight. He toured farms, held town hall meeting events, and even held a large rally in Des Moines.
Clinton's campaign chose not to acknowledge Biden beyond welcoming him into the race. Privately, however, the former Secretary of State was furious that the vice president was challenging her for the nomination. The Clinton Campaign believed Biden would pull votes from Clinton and allow Senator Bernie Sanders to win the nomination with a divided Democratic establishment. Soon, however, it was clear that Biden was a threat in his own right.
In the first debate among the candidates, on October 13th, Biden dominated the stage with his quick threat, defense of the Obama Administration, and impressive display of policy understanding. Moving out of the Las Vegas stage, Biden capitalized on his debate success by broadening his message - explaining how investing in infrastructure development would mean dollars for renewable energy and fighting climate change, how helping the middle class would also raise the working class up, and promising to defend the progress on social issues, particularly same-sex marriage, an issue Biden championed as vice president.
It became clear that Biden was taking votes from Sanders, as well. Middle-class citizens fed up with the system but unsure that free college was the answer found refuge in the Biden campaign. Traditional Democrats who distrusted Clinton also believed that Biden felt closer to Biden than the socialist Sanders. At the beginning of November, a poll of likely voters in South Carolina showed Biden leading the field. In late November, Biden topped a poll of likely caucus-goers in Iowa. In mid-December, he was tied with Bernie Sanders in December.
Hillary Clinton's campaign remained a well-oiled machine. It was well-funded and kept the support of establishment Democrats who were sure Biden's balloon would quickly lose air. They liked Joe, but it was Clinton's turn. Just after Christmas, the Human Rights Campaign announced it was endorsing Joe Biden's candidacy - it was a major victory for the Biden campaign. Suddenly, Biden had legitimized his campaign and hundreds of volunteers from HRC joined the Biden effort in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, and South Carolina. [/SIZE] [CENTER][B]~ 2016 ~[/B][/CENTER] [SIZE=3] [B]The Democratic Primaries[/B]
The Clinton Campaign continued to believe Biden was a short-term threat, but on February 1st, Joe Biden won the Iowa Caucuses. Hillary Clinton finished a close second. Bernie Sanders was right behind her. Martin O'Malley ended his campaign and endorsed Biden. Out of nowhere, Biden was the front runner. In the week between Iowa and New Hampshire, Clinton released her first attack ad on Biden: questioning Biden's leadership in the Anita Hill hearings. The upcoming release of HBO's Confirmation and subsequent promotion had brought the case back into the American dialogue, and the Clinton ad suggested that Biden allowed the verbal assault on Anita Hill and ultimately caused Clarence Thomas' confirmation to the Supreme Court. Biden called the attacks unfair, reminding Clinton he championed passage of the Violence Against Women Act. Clinton responded with more attacks, this time questioning Biden's leadership by invoking his hesitancy to support the operation that killed Osama bin Laden. While the establishment fought, Bernie Sanders won the New Hampshire primary, but the biggest story was Hillary Clinton's third place finish.
In Nevada, 11 days later, Hillary Clinton again finished in third place. Her campaign was 0-3 and it seemed apparent that she was not delivering as promised. The Clinton Campaign did not sweat, at least not publicly. Internally, there were deliberations about mass firings, but the former Secretary of State held firm in her decision to keep the staff as it was. Her calmness reflected an internal belief that her decline was temporary. Surely, she could not lose the 2016 election in the same manner she lost 2008. On February 27th, South Carolina delivered the news the Clinton Campaign needed: She won handily and Bernie Sanders placed a disappointing third.
Only days later, Super Tuesday complicated the Democratic race. Hillary Clinton took Alabama, American Samoa, Arkansas, Georgia, and Tennessee. Bernie Sanders won Colorado, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Vermont. The vice president won Oklahoma, Texas, and Virginia. Hillary's advantage in getting into the race early with establishment dollars propelled her to a come-from-behind performance on March 1st. Biden's narrow victories in Texas and Virginia did keep him alive, though. Meanwhile, Bernie Sanders continued to be a draw on the establishment. Some even called on Biden to drop out of the race for fear he was giving Sanders a clear path to the nomination.
As the race continued, continued questions about Hillary Clinton's emails during her tenure as Secretary of State allowed Biden to raise questions about her electability and the rise of Donald Trump raised the stakes of electability in the Democratic primaries. Polls showed Biden as the most effective Democratic candidate as he prevented Trump from out-performing in Ohio and Pennsylvania - two important general election battlegrounds where Trump edged out Clinton in some polling.
The race dramatically shifted in March, when Biden took Michigan on the 8th and Missouri, North Carolina, and Ohio on the 15th. He finished just a few thousand votes shy of Clinton in Florida. Bernie Sanders took second in Michigan but placed third in every contest on the 15th. An April 5th victory in Wisconsin and a near-victory in Clinton's home state of New York propelled Biden to the front of the delegate count and, for the first time, the clear front-runner in nationwide polls. When, on April 26th, Biden swept all five contests, it became clear that Clinton's only path to victory was through a divided convention.
On the 28th, a story on POLITICO reported that the Clinton Campaign had privately acknowledged there was no legitimate path to the nomination and that while she'd remain in the race until the final contest, she did not plan to fight in a divided convention unless she was the popular vote victor. The story deflated any momentum remaining for the Secretary; she won only New Jersey on June 7th and conceded the nomination to Joe Biden days later in an emotional speech in New York. For the second time, presumed nominee Hillary Clinton had witnessed a campaign collapse from underneath her. With Hillary Clinton's endorsement of Biden, the vice president secured enough delegates to win the nomination.
[B]The Republican National Convention[/B] [B][/B] The Trump-Pence ticket led a haphazard National Convention in Cleveland. Melania Trump faced accusations of plagiarism while other speakers, like Chris Christie and Rudy Giuliani, painted a pessimistic view of America's place in the world. Mike Pence's speech provided a strong introduction to the national stage but was upended by Ted Cruz's failure to wholeheartedly endorse Donald Trump during his address the same evening. On the final night of the convention, Donald Trump delivered a lengthy acceptance address, from a teleprompter, in which he declared himself the Law and Order candidate and the only voice for the middle class. He attacked Joe Biden at length for his support of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, calling Biden "Traitor Joe" for failing to live up to his name of "Middle-Class Joe."
After the convention, some polls saw a 3-5 point bump for Trump while others reflected little movement at all. In fact, much of Trump's speech was overshadowed by Joe Biden's surprise announcement of Kirsten Gillibrand as his vice presidential candidate the morning after Trump's convention speech. Gillibrand delivered a strong speech at the rally in Detroit ahead of the convention.
[B]The Democratic National Convention[/B] [B][/B] While the Republicans painted a pessimistic picture of the state of the country, the Democrats painted an overly optimistic portrait of the nation. Biden's convention emphasized the Obama record, generously granted Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders prominent speaking roles. Despite some protest from the Bernie delegates, Debbie Wasserman Schultz was able to preside over the convention with minimal interruption. [1]
Barack Obama gave a tearful address in which he thanked the Democratic Party for their support, thanked the nation for trusting him to lead for eight years, and enthusiastically endorsed Biden as he gave a thoughtful and emotional testament to Biden's character. Earlier that same night, Kirsten Gillibrand became the second woman in the history of the Democratic Party to accept a nomination for vice president. Biden joined the president on stage as they waved goodbye to the Party for the final time. Shortly thereafter, Gillibrand, too, joined them on stage as a symbol of the passing of the torch.
On the final night, Jill Biden delivered a remarkable introduction of her husband before the vice president accepted the Democratic nomination for president. In his speech, Biden spoke of the need to protect the middle class, explained in detail his jobs package that included infrastructure development, and highlighted the success of the previous eight years. While the speech was largely positive, he did attack Donald Trump as an imposter of middle-class values, calling the idea that there was such a thing as a "blue collar billionaire," which Trump branded himself as, "a bunch of malarkey!" After his remarks, an enormous balloon drop ushered in the new Biden/Gillibrand era as the two stood on stage before being joined by Biden's children and grandchildren as well as Gillibrand's family.
[B]The General Election Campaign[/B] [B][/B] Joe Biden left his convention with a significant bump. Electoral map projections based on state-by-state polling showed the vice president with 374 electoral votes - nine more than the Obama ticket won in 2008. Biden's campaign invested heavily in trying to expand the map as much as possible. A coordinated effort in several states, most notably Arizona and North Carolina, was launched in order to help Biden as well as down-ballot Democrats. Suddenly, the Arizona and North Carolina senate races seemed within reach for the Democrats.
During the first general election debate, Trump surprised the public with his performance. He was comparatively subdued but did repeatedly hit Biden on the Obama record, specifically the TPP. Biden took it all in stride, laughing at some of Trump's more outlandish comments (prompting Trump to say, "Look at this guy, he can't even keep a straight face and he wants to be Commander-in-Chief!"). Biden attacked Trump, saying he had never done anything for the middle class while emphasizing his long record of fighting for blue collar workers. His personal story of growing up in Scranton, Pennsylvania was a tone that Trump couldn't quite hit.
When the candidates debated foreign policy, Biden demonstrated a clear mastery of the issues whereas Trump fell flat in his understanding of the geopolitical situation. Following his abysmal showing in the final debate, Trump's campaign imploded further. The Republican National Committee pulled resources from Trump in an effort to help endangered Senate incumbents: Kelly Ayotte, Ron Johnson, Mark Kirk, and John McCain.
[B]2016 Presidential Election Results[/B][/SIZE]
[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/tCobfTj.png[/IMG] [COLOR=#0000ff][B]Joe Biden/Kirsten Gillibrand (Democratic), 70,941,429 votes (53.5%), 405 electoral votes[/B][/COLOR] [COLOR=#ff0000][B]Donald Trump/Mike Pence (Republican), 53,037,322 votes (40.0%), 133 electoral votes[/B][/COLOR] [B][COLOR=#ffa64d]Gary Johnson/William Weld, (Libertarian), [B]6,762,641 votes [/B](5.1%)[/COLOR] [COLOR=#00b300]Jill Stein/Ajamu Baraka (Green), 1,326,008 votes (1.0%)[/COLOR][/B]
[B]2016 U.S. Senate Elections [/B] Alabama: Sen. Richard Shelby, R. Alaska: Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R. Arizona: Sen. John McCain, R. Arkansas: Sen. John Boozman, R. California: Kamala Harris, D. Colorado: Sen. Michael Bennett, D. Connecticut: Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D. Florida: Sen. Marco Rubio, R. Georgia: Sen. Johnny Isakson, R. Hawaii: Sen. Brian Schatz, D. Illinois: Tammy Duckworth, D. [COLOR=#0000ff][B](D+1)[/B][/COLOR] Indiana: Evan Bayh, D. [B][COLOR=#0000ff](D+1)[/COLOR][/B] Iowa: Sen. Chuck Grassley, R. Kansas: Sen. Jerry Moran, R. Kentucky: Sen. Rand Paul, R. Louisiana: John Neely Kennedy, R. Maryland: Chris van Hollen, D. Missouri: Sen. Roy Blunt, R. Nevada: Catherine Cortez Masto, D. New Hampshire: Maggie Hassan, D. [COLOR=#0000ff][B](D+1)[/B][/COLOR] New York: Sen. Chuck Schumer, D. North Carolina: Deborah Ross, D. [B][COLOR=#0000ff](D+1)[/COLOR][/B] North Dakota: Sen. John Hoeven, R. Ohio: Sen. Rob Portman, R. Oklahoma: Sen. James Lankford, R. Oregon: Sen. Ron Wyden, D. Pennsylvania: Kathleen McGinty, D. [B][COLOR=#0000ff](D+1)[/COLOR][/B] South Carolina: Sen. Tim Scott, R. South Dakota: Sen. John Thune, R. Utah: Sen. Mike Lee, R. Vermont: Sen. Patrick Leahy, D. Washington: Sen. Patty Murray, D. Wisconsin: Russ Feingold, D. [B][COLOR=#0000ff](D+1)[/COLOR][/B]
Previous Senate Composition: 54 R, 46 D+I New Senate Composition: 52 D+I, 48 R
[B]2016 U.S. House of Representatives Elections [/B] Previous House Composition: 247 R, 188 D. New House Composition: 230 R, 205 D. (D+17)
[SIZE=3]---------------------
[1] The DNC email scandal is butterflied away with Biden's strong performance[/SIZE]
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Administrator
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[CENTER][B][SIZE=4]~ 2017 ~[/SIZE][/B][/CENTER]
[B]The Biden Administration[/B]
President: Joe Biden Vice President: Kirsten Gillibrand Secretary of State: John Kerry Secretary of Treasury: Lael Brainard Secretary of Defense: Michele Flournoy Attorney General: Tom Perez Secretary of the Interior: Frances Beinecke Secretary of Agriculture: Kathleen Merrigan Secretary of Commerce: Ursula Burns Secretary of Labor: Jennifer Granholm Secretary of Health and Human Services: Sylvia Matthews Burwell Secretary of Education: Jack Markell Secretary of Housing and Urban Development: Sola Olatoye Secretary of Transportation: Michael Nutter Secretary of Energy: Cathy Zoi Secretary of Veterans Affairs: Sloan Gibson Secretary of Homeland Security: Matt Angelo
[B]Inauguration 2017[/B]
On January 20, 2017, Joseph Robinette Biden, Jr., became the 45th president of the United States. Kirsten Gillibrand became the nation's first female vice president. In his inaugural address, Biden called on the nation to heal the partisan woes of yesterday and focus on building a better tomorrow. He indirectly pointed to his massive electoral victory and suggested that the will of the American people was clear: hate and fear had no place in American politics. It was time to build a future all Americans could be part of. His speech was no "Ask Not," but it was a strong address that gave hope to the American public.
[B]Supreme Court Nomination[/B]
Biden's first decision as president was whether or not to keep Merrick Garland as the nominee for Associate Justice to the Supreme Court of the United States. Biden was under immense pressure by liberals to change the nominee and submit his own name. Ultimately, Biden chose to keep Garland as the nominee for Associate Justice. Garland was confirmed in March by a vote of 74-26.
[B]American Infrastructure Development Act of 2017[/B]
Immediately after winning the election, Biden and his team began work on the infrastructure packet Biden was sure was needed to rejuvenate the American economy and rebuild the nation. In his first address to a joint-session of Congress in February, President Biden narrated a list of terrifying facts about the state of American infrastructure. "We are the greatest nation in the world, but our status as the world's leader is crumbling out from beneath us. We need to fix it before we collapse." He also pointed to the extensive number of jobs that would be created as a result of the bill. After his remarks, Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer met in the White House with the president to review the bill that had been put together. Ryan and the Republicans insisted on strict accountability to make sure that any project receiving federal funds be put out to an extensive competitive bid to ensure taxpayer dollars were not wasted. The accountability measure was an easy fix for Biden and the Democrats to agree to.
The package was a $12-billion dollar investment in American infrastructure and the American economy. Republicans were astonished at the idea of spending so much money. Despite the accountability measure, which brought Speaker Ryan on board, there was no guarantee that the bill would receive enough Republican votes in the House to pass or enough Republican votes in the Senate to avoid a filibuster. Biden feared that his proposal would die a partisan death - an indicator of how the remaining four or eight years of his presidency would go.
White House Chief of Staff Steve Ricchetti suggested that the president appeal to governors and big-city mayors to try and attract support for the package. Quickly, Democratic mayors like Bill de Blasio, Marty Walsh, Sylvester Turner, and Stephanie Rawlings-Blake began lobbying members of Congress. They were soon joined by every New England governor as well as Governor Jerry Brown of California. Still, the partisanship prevented the bill from passing. Republican Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey announced he was supporting the measure - that his State of New Jersey would face danger if it did not pass. Christie was soon joined by Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin and Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker. As the barrier of partisanship came down, hesitant senators began to attach specific measures to the bill to guarantee funds for their district or state. When the bill reached $15-billion, the president stressed it was time to go to a vote.
On October 2, 2017, the House of Representatives passed their version of the bill 222-213. It was close, but enough for passage. The same day, the Senate passed their version 63-37. A conference committee met days later and the final version was adopted 221-214 and 60-40. On October 23rd, President Biden signed the American Infrastructure Development Act of 2017 into law. It was a sign of cooperation to come.
[B]Death of Reece Godfrey[/B]
At 1:03 am on February 19, 2017, police in Richmond, Virginia pulled over Reece Godfrey, 19, a sophomore at the University of Richmond. Godfrey had been speeding. When the officer who pulled him over approached the vehicle, he asked for license and registration. Godfrey explained that he was going to reach for the registration in the glove compartment. He then started rummaging through the compartment. After a few seconds, he looked back at the officer before quickly returning his glance to the compartment. The officer fired three bullets into Godfrey's chest, killing him. He later explained he thought Godfrey had grabbed a weapon in the glove compartment. No gun was found. The entire altercation was captured on the officer's body camera.
The nation was outraged and the Black Lives Matter movement took Godfrey as an example of unwarranted police brutality. The officer was later indicted for murder but found not guilty of murder. The night after the verdict was handed down, cities across the nation erupted into violence. That night, President Biden appeared on national television to deliver an address from the Oval Office in which he urged the country to remain calm. Two weeks after the ruling, the officer was shot dead by a Black Lives Matter activist. The officer's murderer was found guilty and was executed under Virginia law.
[B]Closing of Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility[/B]
In December of 2016, President Obama announced a plan to close the Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility. The plan, as written, would take three months to complete. Then president-elect Joe Biden said he would continue as planned with the facility's closure. On February 27, 2017, the final detainee left Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
[B]Marijuana Legalization[/B]
In April, Rhode Island's state legislature voted to legalize the sale and use of recreational marijuana. Rhode Island became the eighth state to do so, after California, Colorado, Maine, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. In November 2018, Massachusetts passed a ballot referendum to approve marijuana's recreational use, and it became the ninth state to legalize it.
[B]Anti-Poverty Legislation[/B]
In an effort of goodwill towards Speaker Paul Ryan, President Biden began working with the speaker to pass anti-poverty legislation. While the two began at opposite ends of the spectrum, they began to work together on a proposal that could please both sides of the aisle and still get at the core problem of poverty and homelessness in the United States.
Deliberations between Speaker Ryan and the president began in early-August before the rest of Congress returned after the summer recess. Ryan's initial proposal was heavy on targeting welfare fraud while also loosening government control of these programs and shifting towards private entities, investing in technical education, and making some bureaucratic reforms within departments handling welfare programs. Biden's ideas consisted most notably of modernizing the government to handle welfare demand and student debt relief.
Liberals demanded that Biden stop working with Ryan, arguing that nothing would come of the president's work except partisan gain for the Republicans. Biden saw the anti-poverty legislation as a chance to further breakthrough barriers in Washington. The president knew that Speaker Ryan was determined to pass some kind of anti-poverty legislation, that the speaker wanted it to be his legacy. Biden reasoned that if he could help Ryan pass the legislation, it would make the speaker more willing to work with him in the future. By October, little headway had been made, but when the infrastructure bill was passed, Biden and Ryan were able to return to the effort in earnest.
In November, they announced a package that they both could support. The legislation increased work requirements for government programs, increased school choice options for parents, invested in technical schools across the country, shifted some support to charities that worked with underprivileged youth in cities, and made some necessary bureaucratic reforms to ensure government efficiency. These more conservative ideas were joined with a tax cut for small businesses, an increase in the federal minimum wage from $7.25/hour to $10.10/hour by 2020, and community colleges were made free.
At first, the legislation was greeted with universal applause, but it quickly became endangered. Republicans felt the concessions to the left were too substantial to merit passage and Democrats were angered by the more conservative parts of the bill, particularly provisions that increased funding for high-performing charter schools. In a heavily mixed vote, the bill passed the House in mid-December 242-193. In the Senate, the vote was substantially closer. Senate Minority Leader John Cornyn made a deal to get several Republicans to vote for cloture but still vote against the bill. It passed 58-42. President Biden signed the legislation on December 22, 2017 - just before everyone left for Christmas break.
[b]War on Terrorism[/b]
The United States fell victim from three terrorist attacks at the hands of someone acting in the name of ISIS. The first occurred on the 4th of July when a gunman opened fire on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Eleven people were killed and more sustained injuries. President Biden spoke about the perils of gun violence and the simultaneous need to combat ISIS at home and abroad. Only two weeks later, an ISIS-affiliated man strapped a bomb to his chest and detonated it outside of Trump Tower in New York. The incident gained notoriety as the media soon discovered and reported that the man, who was only 19 years old, had grown hostile to the United States just the year before. Tweets and Facebook posts revealed he felt discriminated against for being Muslim and "un-American" despite being born and raised in New York. Along with bomber, another 15 people were killed. Donald Trump released a statement in response, saying the incident was "proof" he should have won the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
The third attack was perpetrated by a white male who, though raised Christian, converted to jihadism later in life. He shot and killed eight in the Mall of America before he was wrestled to the ground by shoppers. He was later found guilty and sentenced to life in prison. The attack occurred during Labor Day Weekend and ended a particularly violent summer in the United States. In response, President Biden announced a more coordinated aerial bombing campaign with the help of allies, targeting ISIS throughout the Middle East. The campaign was initially labeled weak by some Republican members of Congress, but when Abu Fatima al-Jaheisi, the Deputy Leader of ISIS for Iraq, was killed in one of the attacks, the president received strong praise.
[B]American Troop Presence in Afghanistan[/B]
In November, President Biden announced a plan to bring American troop presence in Afghanistan from 8,400 to 6,200 by December of 2018. Troop levels would then be reduced from 6,200 to 2,800 by the end of the president's first term in office.
[B]Syrian Civil War[/B]
Throughout 2017, the Syrian Civil War raged on. President Biden kept a watchful eye on the situation and Secretary of State John Kerry participated in several negotiations with the Russians. Over the course of the year, Kerry was able to negotiate several different ceasefires, each lasting for a month or two before collapsing. In December, Bashar al-Assad committed suicide before being killed by encroaching rebel forces. al-Assad's death created a chaotic situation in the Middle Eastern country. President Biden phoned his predecessor and dear friend Barack Obama for his take on the situation. The 44th president suggested that Biden consider sending in peacekeeper troops to the region. Biden hesitated. Instead, he instructed Kerry to continue negotiating with the Russians to ensure an orderly transition of government.
[B]2017 Elections[/B]
New Jersey gubernatorial: Steven Fulop, D def. Kim Guadagno, R Virginia gubernatorial: Ed Gillespie, R def. Ralph Northam, D New York City mayoral: Bill DeBlaso, D def. Michel Faulkner, R
[B]President Biden Approval Rating, 2017[/B] (Approve / Disapprove / No Opinion)
January (70/11/19), February (67/15/18), March (65/20/15) April (64/26/10), May (62/33/5), June (61/32/7) July (58/35/7), August (58/38/4), September (50/40/10) October (54/42/4), November (51/44/5), December (51/46/3)
[B]2017 Notable Deaths[/B]
01/15: Doris Day, natural causes, 92. 03/11: George H.W. Bush, natural causes, 92. 04/08: Bill Graham, natural causes, 98. 07/04: Tony Blair, stroke, 64. 08/22: John Paul Stevens, natural causes, 97. 09/16: Patrick Leahy, stroke, 77.* 12/18: Kirk Douglas, natural causes, 101. *replaced by Matt Dunne, who won the special election
[CENTER][B][SIZE=4]~ 2018 ~[/SIZE][/B][/CENTER]
[B]Community Policing Act[/B]
In his January State of the Union Address, Biden announced two initiatives: the Community Policing Act and gun safety reform. The Community Policing Act invested money into the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice to aid in efforts to investigate crimes within their jurisdiction, outfitted federal law enforcement officials with body cameras, and created a grant program for tribal, local, and state police departments to receive funds for body cameras for their own officers.
The legislation received a mostly positive response but did face opposition from some saying it was an "overreaction" and that it would hinder officers' ability to do their job in the most effective manner possible. Others questioned why the "Community Policing Act" provided funds for the DOJ's civil rights office. The legislation ultimately passed the Senate by a vote of 70-30 and the House 306-129. President Biden signed the legislation into law.
[B]Gun Safety Reform Effort[/B]
In his State of the Union Address, President Biden again announced an effort to pass comprehensive gun safety legislation. Most assumed that the efforts would again fail, but just days after the president's State of the Union Address, a shooter entered an elementary school in a small Ohio town. Fourteen kindergarten and first-grade students were killed along with three teachers. With 17 dead, 14 of whom were young children, it seemed that maybe there would be significant movement on the issue.
Biden's efforts contained three distinct proposals: the first would prevent suspected terrorists on the FBI no-fly list from purchasing guns; the second closed the so-called "Charleston Loophole," and the third one attempted to close the so-called "Gun Show Loophole." Despite significant lobbying efforts, the Biden Administration and Congressional Democrats were unsuccessful in achieving gun safety reform. Their efforts did, however, make gun safety a prominent issue in the 2018 Midterm Elections.
[B]Kerry Resignation[/B]
In August, Secretary John Kerry announced his resignation as Secretary of State, thanking President Biden for allowing him the opportunity to serve another year-and-a-half in the job. A few days later, the president announced that Wendy Sherman would be his nominee to replace Kerry. Sherman was confirmed 92-8.
[B]2018 Hurricane Season[/B]
Hurricane Gordon, a Category 5 storm, slammed into Florida's west coast in late-August. The storm caused $15 billion in damages. Just as recovery efforts for Gordon began, Miami and other parts of Southern Florida were slammed by another Category 5 storm, Hurricane Helene. Between both storms, Florida suffered $32 billion in damages and 472 deaths. FEMA was overwhelmed by Hurricanes Gordon and Helene as well as Hurricane Leslie, a Category 4 storm that crashed into Texas' east coast. That storm caused $10 billion in damages for Texas and killed 97 people. President Biden called on Congress to act immediately in sending aid to the ravaged areas, but FEMA was overwhelmed. The 2018 Hurricane Season was the worst since 2005. President Biden recognized that the federal government had underperformed, and admitted it was simply overwhelmed by the magnitude of the hurricane season. He attributed the particularly damaging hurricane season to climate change and called for recognition of the deadly consequences of human activity.
[B]Ruth Bader Ginsburg Retirement[/B]
In September, Ruth Bader Ginsburg announced that her cancer had returned and that she would be stepping down from the Supreme Court. After vetting several candidates, President Biden announced he would be replacing Ginsburg with Ketanji Brown Jackson. The U.S. Senate confirmed Jackson's nomination to become an Associate Justice on the Supreme Court by a vote of 71-29. She became the nation's first African-American female Supreme Court justice.
[B]2018 U.S. Senate Elections[/B]
Arizona: Kyrsten Sinema, D def. Laura Ingraham, R. [COLOR=#0000ff][B](D+1)[/B][/COLOR] California: Eric Garcetti, D def. Judy Chu, D. Connecticut: Sen. Chris Murphy, D def. Mark Lauretti, R. Delaware: Sen. Tom Carper, D def. Florida: Sen. Bill Nelson, D def. Adam Putnam, R. Hawaii: Sen. Mazie Hirono, D def. Indiana: Susan Brooks, R def. Sen. Joe Donnelly, D. [B][COLOR=#ff0000](R+1)[/COLOR][/B] Maine: Angus King, I def. Paul LePage, R. Maryland: Donna Edwards, D def. Massachusetts: Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D def. Michigan: Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D def. Ruth Johnson, R. Minnesota: Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D def. Erik Paulsen, R. Mississippi: Sen. Roger Wicker, R def. Missouri: Sen. Claire McCaskill, D def. Ann Wagner, R. Montana: Marc Racicot, R def. Sen. Jon Tester, D. [B][COLOR=#ff0000](R+1)[/COLOR][/B] Nebraska: Sen. Deb Fischer, R def. Nevada: Dina Titus, D def. Sen. Dean Heller, R. [B][COLOR=#0000ff](D+1)[/COLOR][/B] New Jersey: Kim Guadagno, R def. Sen. Bob Menendez, D. [COLOR=#ff0000][B](R+1)[/B][/COLOR] New Mexico: Sen. Martin Heinrich, D def. New York: Sen. Caroline Kennedy, D def. North Dakota: Jack Dalrymple, R def. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D. [B][COLOR=#ff0000](R+1)[/COLOR][/B] Ohio: John Kasich, R def. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D. [B][COLOR=#ff0000](R+1)[/COLOR][/B] Pennsylvania: Sen. Bob Casey, D def. Jim Cawley, R. Rhode Island: Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D def. Tennessee: Diane Black, R def. Texas: Sen. Ted Cruz, R def. Utah: Jon Huntsman, Jr., R def. Vermont: Sen. Bernie Sanders, I def. Virginia: Sen. Tim Kaine, D def. Scott Rigell, R. Washington: Sen. Maria Cantwell, D def. West Virginia: Sen. Joe Manchin, D def. Evan Jenkins, R. Wisconsin: Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D def. Wyoming: Sen. John Barrasso, R def.
Previous Senate Composition: 52 D+I, 48 R New Senate Composition: 51 R, 49 D
[B]2018 U.S. House of Representatives Elections[/B]
Previous House Composition: 230 R, 205 D New House Composition: 234 R, 201 D (R+4)
[B]2018 Gubernatorial Elections[/B]
Alabama: Luther Strange, R def. Sue Bell Cobb, D. Alaska: Gov. Bill Walker, I def. Dan Sullivan, R. Arizona: Ann Kirkpatrick, D def. Gov. Doug Ducey, R. [B][COLOR=#0000ff](D+1)[/COLOR][/B] Arkansas: Gov. Asa Hutchinson, R def. California: Gavin Newsom, D def. John Chiang, D. Colorado: Ken Salazar, D def. Walker Stapleton, R. Connecticut: Themis Klarides, R def. Nancy Wyman, D. [B][COLOR=#ff0000](R+1)[/COLOR][/B] Florida: Pam Bondi, R def. Buddy Dyer, D. Georgia: Jason Carter, D def. Casey Cagle, R. [B][COLOR=#0000ff](D+1)[/COLOR][/B] Hawaii: Gov. David Ige, D. def. Idaho: Brad Little, R def. Illinois: Gov. Bruce Rauner, R def. Arne Duncan, D. Iowa: Gov. Terry Branstad, R def. Tyler Olson, D. Kansas: Barry Grissom, D def. Kris Kobach, R. [B][COLOR=#0000ff](D+1)[/COLOR][/B] Maine: Janet Mills, D def. Mary Mayhew, R. [B][COLOR=#0000ff](D+1)[/COLOR][/B] Maryland: Gov. Larry Hogan, R def. John Delaney, D. Massachusetts: Gov. Charlie Baker, R def. Joe Avellone, D. Michigan: Debbie Dingell, D def. Arlan Meekhof, R. [B][COLOR=#0000ff](D+1)[/COLOR][/B] Minnesota: Karin Housley, R def. Tina Smith, D. [B][COLOR=#ff0000](R+1)[/COLOR][/B] Nebraska: Gov. Pete Ricketts, R def. Nevada: Mark Amodei, R def. Steve Sisolak, D. New Hampshire: Kelly Ayotte, R def. Gov. Colin van Ostern, D. [B][COLOR=#ff0000](R+1)[/COLOR][/B] New Mexico: Michelle Lujan Grisham, D def. John Sanchez, R. [B][COLOR=#0000ff](D+1)[/COLOR][/B] New York: Gov. Andrew Cuomo, D def. John Cahill, R. Ohio: Mike DeWine, R def. Betty Sutton, D. Oklahoma: Todd Lamb, R def. Dan Boren, D. Oregon: Gov. Kate Brown, D def. Bud Pierce, R. Pennsylvania: Pat Meehan, R def. Gov. Tom Wolf, D. [B][COLOR=#ff0000](R+1)[/COLOR][/B] Rhode Island: Gov. Gina Raimondo, D def. Edward O'Neill, R. South Carolina: Curtis Loftis, R def. Brad Hutto, D. South Dakota: Kristi Noem, R def. Brendan Johnson, D. Tennessee: Bob Corker, R def. Karl Dean, D. Texas: Gov. Greg Abbott, R def. Vermont: Gov. Sue Minter, D def. Wisconsin: Gov. Scott Walker, R def. Dana Wachs, D. Wyoming: Ed Murray, R def. Ryan Greene, D.
[B]2018 Notable Deaths[/B]
02/08: Zsa Zsa Gabor, natural causes, 101. 04/15: Bob Dole, natural causes, 94. 06/09: Queen Elizabeth II, natural causes, 91. 08/15: Sidney Poitier, natural causes, 90. 11/12: Eric Cantor, car accident, 54. 11/15: Joseph Jackson, natural causes, 90. 12/28: Regis Philbin, natural causes, 86.
[CENTER][B][SIZE=4]~ 2019 ~[/SIZE][/B][/CENTER]
[b]Self-Driving Cars Revolution[/b]
The year 2019 marked the climax of the self-driving cars debate that had been bubbling since 2016. The development of several different options for largely reliable self-driving cars led Washington, D.C. to become the first municipality in the country that allowed their widespread use. They were soon followed by Washington state. By mid-2019, nine additional states permitted their use (California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Mexico, Oregon, and Vermont) for services like uber and for personal drivers. Afer one self-driving car hit a pedestrian after legalization in California, a dozen states moved to ban the cars from use. The debate became hotly-contested and political candidates largely avoided the issue, but in races for governor and senator that became harder and harder to do.
[b]Nancy Pelosi Retirement[/b]
House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi announces her retirement from the U.S. House of Representatives. Not only did she announce her intention to leave her leadership position but also her intention to leave the Congress altogether. The decision came after pressure from some within the Party who believed that new leadership was needed in order for Democrats to be successful in future congressional elections. Pelosi's retirement sparked a leadership scramble within the Democratic Party with Xavier Becerra (D-CA), Steny Hoyer (D-MD), and Steve Israel (D-NY) announced intentions to replace Pelosi. In an upset, Israel defeated Hoyer and Becerra thanks to his large fundraising network that aided Democrats across the country. The Whip election went to Elijah Cummings (D-MD). Cummings' election was widely seen as a short-term solution to prevent party in-fighting. The Maryland Congressman turned 70 in 2021, the first year of his term.
[b]2019 Election Results[b]
Kentucky gubernatorial: Allison Lundergan Grimes, D def. Gov. Matt Bevin, R. [B][COLOR=#0000ff](D+1)[/COLOR][/B] Louisiana gubernatorial: Gov. John Bel Edwards, D def. Charles Boustany, R. Mississippi gubernatorial: Tate Reeves, R def. Travis Childers, D.
[B]2019 Notable Deaths[/B]
01/22: Pope Benedict XVI, natural causes, 91. 02/02: Bill Cosby, stroke, 81. 03/04: Betty White, natural causes, 97. 04/30: Hugh Hefner, stroke, 93. 05/01: Fidel Castro, natural causes, 92. 07/19: John Edwards, heart attack, 66. 10/04: Olivia de Havilland, natural causes, 103. 10/08: Henry Kissinger, natural causes, 95. 11/24: John Boehner, lung cancer, 70. 12/13: Chris Christie, heart attack, 56.
[CENTER][B][SIZE=4]~ 2020 ~[/SIZE][/B][/CENTER]
[B]Justice Anthony Kennedy Death[/B]
At the age of 83, Justice Anthony Kennedy of the U.S. Supreme Court died in his Washington home on January 2, 2020. For the second presidential election in a row, a Supreme Court Justice had died. Republicans in the Senate agreed to hold hearings on a presidential nominee so long as the appointment was named by January 20th. On January 16th, President Biden nominated Sri Srinivasan, 52, to the Supreme Court. Srinivasan's 82-18 confirmation was the largest vote in favor of confirmation in 26 years. Srinivasan's nomination, despite its historical nature for its diversity, established the Srinivasan Precedent - that so long as a nominee to the Supreme Court was named more than a year before the end of a president's term, the Supreme Court would hold hearings and a vote.
[b]Marijuana Legalization[/b]
In February 2020, Governor Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire vetoed legislation to legalize marijuana for recreational use. Her veto sparked a movement across multiple states to legalize cannabis. An attempt to legalize marijuana in Connecticut fell short when Republican Governor Themis Klarides vetoed the bill. Some states, however, did join the previous nine in legalizing recreational marijuana in 2020: Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, and New York. The federal prohibition of recreational marijuana became a defining issue in the presidential campaign, both presidential nominees, including President Biden, announced they would not end the federal ban on recreational use of marijuana.
[b]Fields v. United States[/b]
The case of Edward Fields, Jr. of Oklahoma, who was prosecuted and convicted of murdering a Texas couple in 2008, made its way to the United States Supreme Court. The ruling was announced in June 2020. Fields Jr., who may or may not have been mentally incompetent, argued that the death penalty was a violation of his Eighth Amendment right against cruel and unusual punishment. In a 5-3 ruling, the Court defined capital punishment as a violation of the Eighth Amendment, ending the death penalty nationwide.
[b]2020 Republican Primaries[/b]
The race for the Republican nomination did not begin until May 2019, when Speaker of the House Paul Ryan announced he would not seek the Republican nomination for president. Paul's decision to stay out of the race was a major blow to Republicans around the country who viewed Ryan as their only chance to take out the popular Biden. Days after Ryan's announcement, Texas Senator Ted Cruz announced his decision to enter the presidential campaign. He was joined by Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, former Indiana Governor Mike Pence, and Florida Senator Marco Rubio. The primary campaign was particularly nasty involving a spirited debate over policy and the direction of the Republican primary. Pence won the Iowa Caucuses, prompting Cruz to end his campaign and drop out of the race. Haley narrowly defeated Walker for victory in New Hampshire, Rubio finished third. After New Hampshire, Rubio dropped out of the race. Haley won South Carolina, as predicted. Ahead of Super Tuesday, Pence took out a major ad buy in every state and managed to build on the Trump Coalition and attract more traditionally conservative voters to his side. With big victories on Super Tuesday, Pence became the dominant front runner and the field narrowed to Pence and Haley. The 2016 vice presidential nominee wrapped up the nomination in April, and Haley withdrew from the race and endorsed his candidacy.
[b]U.K. General Election[/b]
[b]2020 Republican National Convention[/b]
In a return to the traditional convention route, the 2020 Republican National Convention, held in Phoenix, Arizona, featured many prominent political speakers. Just before the convention, Mike Pence announced Marsha Blackburn as his nominee for vice president. Blackburn's speech blasted the Biden Administration as "tired" as the Republicans promised change and a new direction for the country. Its message coincided with the one espoused by Keynote Speaker Mia Love, who, after losing her 2016 race for Congress, was reelected in 2018. Speaker Paul Ryan also echoed his theme. Pence spoke with his awkward charm and soft laughter while taking a mostly positive tone, arguing it was time to return to small government.
[b]2020 Democratic National Convention[/b]
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kirsten Gillibrand were reelected by acclamation at the 2020 Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles, California. The Convention highlighted the amazing progressive successes of California in terms of equality, climate-related issues, and raising the minimum wage. California Senator Eric Garcetti gave a keynote address that some said rivaled that of then-Senator Barack Obama's 2004 remarks. Garcetti highlighted his personal story, which he connected to the success of California as an example of progressive ideas working. Other speakers emphasized the Biden/Gillibrand record while slamming the Republicans as "extreme." President Biden gave a strong speech that again emphasized his middle-class roots, which was key to his electoral strategy once more, while also maintaining a largely positive tone.
[b]2020 U.S. Presidential Election[/b]
The Biden/Gillibrand and Pence/Blackburn tickets were joined by the Libertarians, John McAfee and [name], who qualified for federal matching funds of about $10 million - granting them enough money to acquire ballot access in all 50 states.
[B]2020 Notable Deaths[/B]
04/14: Walter Mondale, natural causes, 92. 08/15: Orrin Hatch, natural causes, 86. 11/30: Jimmy Carter, natural causes, 96. 12/20: Rosalynn Carter, natural causes, 92. 12/31: Chuck Grassley, stroke, 87*. *Governor Terry Branstad appointed Bill Dix to fill the vacancy.
[CENTER][B][SIZE=4]~ 2021 ~[/SIZE][/B][/CENTER]
[b]Lael Brainard Retirement[/b]
With the beginning of President Biden's second term, Treasury Secretary Lael Brainard declared his intention to leave the Department. After weeks of discussion, President Biden announced that Sheryl Sandberg would replace Brainard as the Secretary of Treasury. Sandberg's 92-8 Senate confirmation made her the first female Treasury Secretary in United States history.
[b]Wendy Sherman Retirement[/b]
At the start of President Biden's second term, Secretary of State Wendy Sherman announced her retirement from the State Department in order to accept the position of President of George Washington University. Sherman's retirement closed a largely lackluster performance at the State Department. While Sherman's wisdom and foresight were instrumental in developing a State Department response to cyber warfare, her time at State ended without any major diplomatic achievements. To replace Sherman, President Biden announced his appointment of Senator Caroline Kennedy, Kirsten Gillibrand's replacement in the U.S. Senate. Kennedy, a former Ambassador to Japan, became the first First Daughter to become a cabinet member when the Senate voted to confirm her by a vote of 88-12. Governor Andrew Cuomo announced Congresswoman Kathleen Rice as Kennedy's replacement in the Senate.
[b]Cunnie v. Mississippi[/b]
Kelsey Cunnie, a 19 year-old student at Ole Miss sued the State of Mississippi when she was barred from using her school-issued photo id as a valid form of identification to vote. Cunnie, a resident of Rhode Island, did not possess photo identification that showed a Mississippi address (such as a passport or a Mississippi-issued identification). The Cunnie v. Mississippi ruling was the most significant affirmation of certain voting rights in a generation. The Court reaffirmed a college student's right to cast a ballot in the precinct of their college or university. A 6-3 ruling also mandated states requiring photo identification also accept school-issued identification as a valid form of photo id. The Court then went further, ruling that any cost associated with voting was unconstitutional - requiring the State of Mississippi to provide photo identification free-of-charge for those who requested it; the Court also dictated that the state could not mandate that their applications for a photo id require materials that may cost a potential voter money to produce (for example, requiring a birth certificate without it being provided free of charge). The ruling was a major setback to conservative efforts around the nation to increase requirements to vote. The Court's decision forced nearly every single state with a photo id law to rewrite or abandon their photo id requirement.
[b]2021 Elections[/b]
Boston mayoral: Ayanna Pressley elected.
[b]2021 Notable Deaths[/b]
04/26: Jean Kennedy Smith, natural causes, 93. 06/06: Donald J. Trump, brain hemorrhage, 74. 07/18: Barbara Bush, natural causes, 96. 09/12: Sean Connery, natural causes, 91. 11/17: King Charles, natural causes, 73.
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