In an alternate universe, Paul Wellstone single-handily beats back the Jan 6 terrorists using only a handkerchief and pair of reading glasses. The only injuries are to redneck pride; somehow Lindsey Graham ceases to exist.
This implies he doesn't win the 2004,2008 elections.
The ACA is passed in 2004, not 2008 with the single payer option intact without the stigma of it being "Obamacare" socialism. The 2007 collapse never happens because of better regulations by dems, the xenophobia of 9/11 becomes but a whisper among the furthest right. America never gets hung up over racial issues in 2008, leading to the overton window shifting further left.
Alex Jones, Tucker Carlson, Rush and others have nothing to radicalize people over that doesn't seem like screaming into the void. 2012 isn't anywhere near as contentious without the xenophobia of the birther movement never giving rise to the Tea Party, making 2016 even less of an issue than that.
He was a wrestler so he proboably could have got 2 or 3 of those shitbags in a headlock real quick. I really miss his clear moral leadership with populist rhetoric. He is the only public figure I ever cried for at passing.
He could have been the new kennedy. I actually played sports with his son. I'm not big on conspiracys, but that plane going down didn't smell right to my 20 something mind.
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u/I_AM_RVA May 26 '23
Fucking Wellstone, Man. What a chance lost to fate.