Alternate History Ideas and Discussion

[TheRomanSlayer]

Would Long still run as a Democrat in this case, or would he build his own political party that could attract disgruntled Democrats and Republicans?

Although I'm not sure if a 30-hour workweek would have been beneficial for the US in the long run. At the very least, 35 hour-workweek would have been realistic. In terms of foreign policy, would Long be committed to Philippine independence, or would he try to court some of the Federalists within the Insular Government? Keep in mind that there was a faction of the Philippine Insular Government that wanted the Philippines to join the US as another state.

 

[History Learner]

Would Long still run as a Democrat in this case, or would he build his own political party that could attract disgruntled Democrats and Republicans?

Although I'm not sure if a 30-hour workweek would have been beneficial for the US in the long run. At the very least, 35 hour-workweek would have been realistic. In terms of foreign policy, would Long be committed to Philippine independence, or would he try to court some of the Federalists within the Insular Government? Keep in mind that there was a faction of the Philippine Insular Government that wanted the Philippines to join the US as another state.

In 1936, the plan IOTL seems to have been challenge Roosevelt as a Democrat or, failing that, run as a Farm and Labor candidate, playing spoiler. Here, running as a Democrat makes sense because the lack of a Wagner Act brings Labor on his side; party bosses could, in theory, still block him in which case he defaults to Farm and Labor. Given the likelihood of a 1935 or 1936 Recession and the popularity of Long's ideas, he probably wins unless the Republicans and Democrats act in unity. In which case, expect a Long return on Farm and Labor in 1940 which does win.

As far as the Philippines, no idea, although he seems very serious on being Anti-Imperialist which would indicate a preference for Philippine independence.

 

[TheRomanSlayer]

I could technically see the Philippines gaining its independence a lot sooner in this case, although given Japan's invasion of China at that time, a Long administration would be split on what to do with Japan.

I also wonder if this means the US political system might see the breaking of the traditional two party dominance in favor of Long's third party in this case.

 

[bullethead]

Although I'm not sure if a 30-hour workweek would have been beneficial for the US in the long run.

I've heard that productivity dramatically falls off past 30 hours per week, but I haven't seen any data to back that up.

I imagine it also depends heavily on the industry concerned and the time you start working. If you're starting a shift at 6AM, the first two or so hours probably aren't going to be the most productive.

 

[ATP]

I'm assuming you're referring to that UCLA study about the National Recovery Act? However, I'm not even passing a judgement on that; I was saying Garner wouldn't do the Second New Deal and as a result Long could unseat him.

Thanks for info about Long.Since he would be another Salazar,it means USA ruled by normal people,probable with South America,and World with cold war between Japan and soviets.England probably become soviet/Japan vassal.
Good for USA and South America,but nobody else.

 

[Bassoe]

Alternate WW1. One side is a desperation-fueled alliance of all the european colonial Great Powers and america. The other, an expansionist, Master Race-believing empire spanning the entirety of south america, the Sons of Frankenstein, the consequences of Victor having created a bride for his initial monster leading to an exponentially expanding population of biologically immortal-aside-from-violence superhumans with baseline human rates of reproduction.

"If you consent, neither you nor any other human being shall ever see us again: I will go to the vast wilds of South America. My food is not that of man; I do not destroy the lamb and the kid to glut my appetite; acorns and berries afford me sufficient nourishment. My companion will be of the same nature as myself, and will be content with the same fare. We shall make our bed of dried leaves; the sun will shine on us as on man, and will ripen our food."

Even if they were to leave Europe and inhabit the deserts of the new world, yet one of the first results of those sympathies for which the daemon thirsted would be children, and a race of devils would be propagated upon the earth who might make the very existence of the species of man a condition precarious and full of terror. Had I right, for my own benefit, to inflict this curse upon everlasting generations? I had before been moved by the sophisms of the being I had created; I had been struck senseless by his fiendish threats; but now, for the first time, the wickedness of my promise burst upon me; I shuddered to think that future ages might curse me as their pest, whose selfishness had not hesitated to buy its own peace at the price, perhaps, of the existence of the whole human race.

 

[Zyobot]

‘Watergate Scandal Becomes The 1972 October Surprise’.

I’m aware that there was some coverage of it during the election itself, though obviously, not enough to stop Nixon from winning in an FDR-sized landslide. Here, that’s substantially less likely, even with McGovern being too out-there for the average voter.

 

[Zyobot]

'Hubert Humphrey Runs In 1976'.

 

[Zyobot]

'Bill Clinton Implicated In Watergate-Level Scandal'.

I'm well aware of Monica Lewinsky, and have heard a few words about other scandals attributable to Clinton that he never got caught for. What I'm looking for, though, is for the news and federal investigators to go all-in on Clinton's Watergate equivalent and leave him about as discredited as Nixon, if not more so. Depending on when it happens, it'll have serious ramifications for either 1996 or 2000 (the results for both of which I'm also interested in discussing).

 

[ATP]

'Bill Clinton Implicated In Watergate-Level Scandal'.

I'm well aware of Monica Lewinsky, and have heard a few words about other scandals attributable to Clinton that he never got caught for. What I'm looking for, though, is for the news and federal investigators to go all-in on Clinton's Watergate equivalent and leave him about as discredited as Nixon, if not more so. Depending on when it happens, it'll have serious ramifications for either 1996 or 2000 (the results for both of which I'm also interested in discussing).

Arkansides.Just let him be catched on one of many murders he committed in Arkansas.

 

[Zyobot]

Arkansides.Just let him be catched on one of many murders he committed in Arkansas.

Yes, I’m aware of the Clinton body count and how it’s bandied about in more “skeptical” circles (bunch of very weird coincidences, I’ll admit). If they could nail him on that, especially as an October Surprise, then he’d doubtlessly get crushed in the general election (or in 2000, if it happens sometime during his second term). Never mind how Congress would have no choice but to impeach and convict him.

However, I was thinking something more along the lines of the 1996 campaign financing linked back to China, which we never really got any closure on IOTL. If this were proven true and received maximum coverage, then you’d have your Democratic Watergate.

 

[TheRomanSlayer]

A while ago, I was toying with the idea of the Byzantine Empire giving some land to the members of the Varangian Guard in order to reward them for their service on a long term basis, along the lines of how Rollo and his Vikings were given land to settle, and to help defend Francia from other Viking raids. A kind of a Byzantine equivalent to what became the Duchy of Normandy, only more exposed to potential raids from the Fatimids and other Muslim powers in the region. Trouble is, I can’t find any Varangian Guard member who would become the equivalent to Rollo.

 

[History Learner]

A while ago, I was toying with the idea of the Byzantine Empire giving some land to the members of the Varangian Guard in order to reward them for their service on a long term basis, along the lines of how Rollo and his Vikings were given land to settle, and to help defend Francia from other Viking raids. A kind of a Byzantine equivalent to what became the Duchy of Normandy, only more exposed to potential raids from the Fatimids and other Muslim powers in the region. Trouble is, I can’t find any Varangian Guard member who would become the equivalent to Rollo.

Harald Hdrada?

 

[TheRomanSlayer]

Most likely, although he is still a claimant on the Norwegian throne. Unless he gives up his claim, then it would be Sweyn II who attempts to rebuild the North Sea Empire.

 

[History Learner]

Most likely, although he is still a claimant on the Norwegian throne. Unless he gives up his claim, then it would be Sweyn II who attempts to rebuild the North Sea Empire.

I mean he did seek a claim on the throne of England too, so it's out of character.

 

[TheRomanSlayer]

It is. Perhaps if Harald did eventually settle down in the Byzantine Empire, acting as the Varangian Rollo, we may even get to see his alt-descendants pull a William the Conqueror on either a re-established Bulgarian state, a Serbian Kingdom, or even attempt to conquer Fatimid Egypt.

 

[History Learner]

It is. Perhaps if Harald did eventually settle down in the Byzantine Empire, acting as the Varangian Rollo, we may even get to see his alt-descendants pull a William the Conqueror on either a re-established Bulgarian state, a Serbian Kingdom, or even attempt to conquer Fatimid Egypt.

Or the Levant in general. Certainly the Byzantines earlier in the century had shown strength in this capacity, in that they had raided as far as Jerusalem and (re)-conquered large portions of the region.

 

[TheRomanSlayer]

A Varangian Orthodox Kingdom of Jerusalem? That would be interesting, although they're pretty much reconquering what is essentially lost Byzantine territories.

 

[History Learner]

A Varangian Orthodox Kingdom of Jerusalem? That would be interesting, although they're pretty much reconquering what is essentially lost Byzantine territories.

A "Strike North" faction, then? Most of Southern Russia and the like is still either Pagan or has an Islamic or Jewish presence. Maybe them as a replacement for the Khazars?

 

[TheRomanSlayer]

I was referring to the Byzantine Levant territories. Originally, I was going for the Crimea and the Pontic Steppe as the first site of a Byzantine "Normandy" before realizing its vulnerability to Pecheneg and Cuman raiders. It's also why Nova Anglia (basically medieval New England) didn't last that long.

Although come to think of it, is it possible to have an Anglo-Saxon entity created inside the Byzantine Empire that would serve for Anglo-Saxon opponents of the Norman dynasty of England?

There was one TL that I did start, shortly before my ban, called "Thunder from the Danube", which is my first attempt to create a TL around the First Bulgarian Empire. I was going to expand on this, except that I wanted to experiment with a different Christianization of Bulgaria that went the Paulician route.