Recent content by True Grit

Not entirely sure that Martin would be the front runner in a Chretien-less scenario, as I think this is a scenario where a bigger name - like David Peterson - is more likely to run. But Martin winning is hardly implausible. My gut reaction is that he does a little bit worse overall than...

It's tough because there's a lot of ways it could play out. From a political standpoint, the PCs are obviously in much better shape. No Bloc Québécois, which means there's a solid chance they remain Quebec's party of choice, and without being preoccupied with the constitution its possible the...

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...

Just caught up on the timeline (and not a moment too soon!) - fantastic work all around. There’s so many great details that it feels impossible to pick just a single one out, but I just love how lived-in this timeline feels. Great job all around.

Another great update! Was wondering how Bill was faring in this TL! It’s a logical landing spot for him after his 1980 defeat, but man does this put his political career on a different trajectory than OTL, especially since this means he wouldn’t return to the Governor’s Mansion in 1982 and...

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...

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...

Fulton's problem, depending on when the leadership race is held, is that he had left federal politics in 1963 to become BC PC leader. Obviously that didn't last too long IOTL, and he returned to federal politics in 1965, but he's going to be in a tricky spot if Dief's pushed out quickly and/or...

Hellyer’s possible, though just based on his personality there’s a solid chance he screws himself while in government or walks out to try and form a party of his own. Lots of ways his career could implode. Turner seems too young I think - IOTL there was an assumption that he was running mostly...

It's funny, Pearson seems so synonymous with minority parliaments that you rarely see these types of PODs. Seems like there's a lot of potential, though. My gut feeling is that Diefenbaker's tossed out, probably replaced by George Hees (if only because it seems too early for folks like Robert...

I'm not taking one side or another here, but it's worth remembering that Carter wasn't exactly a great candidate - this is a dude that nearly blew a 33-point lead in the polls. Sure, it's possible any other Democrat loses to Ford or Reagan, but given the overall environment it's just as likely...

Katherine Kowalchuk, briefly nominated as a federal Liberal candidate in Calgary ahead of the 2015 election before withdrawing to focus on her legal practice, has unexpectedly become a player in the Alberta far-right, having emerged as an anti-COVID restrictions activist and (currently) the only...

Another fantastic update! As an aside, saw this on Twitter - feels relevant to include it here:

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...

Relatedly, Ed Brown - father of Patrick, the current Conservative leadership candidate and Mayor of Brampton - also ran for the NDP, losing in 1979 and 1980 in the then-safe Liberal seat of Davenport. Say Ed runs in a neighboring riding instead, or the larger political landscape of the 1980s is...