An Independent in 2000

!!Under Development!!

Point of Divergence:1975: A Seattle couple discover an infant lost on a hiking trail in Mt. Rainier National Park. His family is no where to be found and their is no evidence of where the child came from. The couple decide to adopt the child on their way back to their small Yakima home. Adoption proceedings name the child Charles Malcolm Edwards.

1988: While only thirteen, young Charles displays a aptitude for Math and Science that grants him early entrance at UC Berkley where he pursues a degree in Propulsion Engineering. However, disaster strikes at the beginning of Edward's Sophomore year. He receives word that his mother has died of untreated ovarian cancer. When inquire as to why she was never treated, his father responds that their medical insurance would not cover the treatment. Edwards immediately changes his major to Political Science, but pursues a minor in Propulsion Engineering.

1992: Edwards founds Seattle Dynamics, a jet engine manufacturer that specializes in Supersonic Ramjets, or Scramjets. The sign their first contract to the US military to design a new cruise missile. Edwards wealth surges with the announcement of his IPO.

1995: Edwards develops the Pulse Detonation Jet Engine and begins marketing it to major aircraft manufacturers. Boeing makes the first major purchase for their early proposed Sonic Cruiser. The engine sells to every major manufacturer, including the Air Force for their new F-22 and F-35 fighters. Edwards becomes a household name overnight.

1996: Edwards becomes Mayor of Seattle, he reduces the city's financial waste by over two billion dollars by certain outsourcing government jobs to private contractors. By the end of the year he is one of the ten richest men in America.

2000: After being increasingly disappointed in the candidates for the 2000 election, and rising calls from many people in his own state, Edwards announced his candidacy for President shortly after Texas Gov. George W. Bush. Running as an independent he pledged to be a bridge between party lines by looking beyond partisan policies and focusing more on logical conclusions to complicated problems. Utilizing his ties to California and the Pacific North West, along with his limitless budget, and exploitation of the internet, Edwards quickly amassed support along the West Coast with his socially liberal, while fiscally conservative rhetoric. By June when the party's were still planning their respective conventions, Edwards was drawing support from popular Illinois State Senator Barack Obama, and taking the lead in the polls along the Rust Belt, and even in the Midwest. By August the first debate of the election quickly went in Edwards' favor when he stopped the debate to scold then Vice President Al Gore Jr. for disrespecting Gov. Bush during his oratory. Edwards' established himself as calm under pressure, and well mannered to even his opponents. What defined his campaign was his personal understanding of the failures of the health care system, and his record with fiscal responsibility in and out of government. He promises to provide Universal Healthcare by the end of his first term, provide a massive overhaul of the education system, and decrease military spending by increasing fiscal accountability. In September he announces popular Senator John McCain as his running mate, and begins to cement his lead in certain red states. On election night Edwards wins the following states: Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, North Dakota, Iowa, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Virginia, Delaware, Washington DC, Maryland, New Jersey, and Hawaii. While no clear majority is established, Edwards wins a 40% plurality, and is sworn in on January 2001.

2001: Edwards immediately sets off to work on his "Right Track" education reform Bill, and his Universal Healthcare Bill. After he finishes off the first draft, he meets with his newly appointed Cabinet to begin drafting the new budget. He waves the secret service to lock the doors and to not let anyone out until the budget is finished. Edwards immediately sets off to trim as much waste from the budget as possible, and in the course fourteen hours some thirty billion dollars are removed as government waste. In his first State of the Union Address, Edwards states that the State of the Union is mediocre. He is the only president to say as such. He goes on to say that, "in the richest, most powerful country in human history, a country founded on the dream that everyone is entitled to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, the government which is established to insure the protection of those rights has done only a marginally good job in recent history." He immediately puts forth his Universal Healthcare, Education Reform, and the budget for FY 2001. He closes with, "With these proposals our government can make the two crucial steps to ensure the pursuit of happiness for every American." He leaves with applause on both sides of the isle. By March "Right Track" has passed. Utilizing the surplus from the Clinton years, edwards pumps billions into the education system to increase tracking to give students early opportunity to develop their skills and pursue the subjects that most interest them at thousands of new charter schools. The plan also provides for higher pay for teachers in exchange for more accountability. The only controversial section of the plan is the provision for year round school, with staggered three week vacations during major holidays and the height of summer. The Universal Healthcare Act, however, has only just gotten out of committee by August facing scrutiny from paranoid conservatives fearing a welfare state. The act is nearly identical to Barack Obama's plan in OTL.

9/11: While sitting in at a Kindergarden Photo Op, President Edwards was informed by one of his aides that a plane had just hit one of the Twin Towers. Edwards immediately stood up and excused himself from the Photo Op stating that if the children have parents who work in New York, they should call them immediately. He rushes out of the room and orders the FAA to ground all flights, scramble all fighters to shoot down any aircraft that fail to comply, and that the Joint Chiefs to meet with him immediately. Once Marine 1 arrives in Washington, Edwards runs past security into the War Room. The Chiefs inform him that they have very little evidence since the attack is still going on, and all they have is a list of possible agencies that had the capabilities to launch an attack on this scale. The President exits the room and orders that every shift be called in at the CIA, NSA, and FBI to find which agency caused the attack. Edwards leaves for Marine 1 and orders that he be taken to Ground Zero. Upon his arrival he gives a speech stating that every agency is trying to find the guilty party, and that he urges anyone who can to come and help with finding those still trapped in the rubble. Edwards takes off his jacket and walks to help find survivors. By the time it is confirmed that Al Qaeda conducted the attack, the President is found puling a slab of concrete up to help a woman trapped under the rubble get free. When informed of the attackers he leaves the sight and asks for a meeting with Defense Secretary Clark. After the secret meeting the President is not heard from for days, and many begin to question his leadership. One week after the attack the President holds a press conference and states that the attackers have been dealt with, upon which he informs the world of the secret plan conducted by US Delta Force operatives over the week. The operatives parachuted over Afghanistan airspace and