Carter's second term

[The Mad Monk]

Let's say Carter won re-election in 1980. What changes? Whet doesn't? Where does the US stand at the end of his presidency?

For argument's sake, let's assume Reagan played it straight and didn't bribe the Iranians.

[Lorizael]

There'd be no Reagan National Airport.

[rah]

The Russians would have won the cold war when Carter conceded it.

[Jaguar]

Paul Volker would still induce a recession to get rid of inflation. Carter would be abominably unpopular in 1982, and have the worst midterm losses ever. "Morning in America" would still happen in 1983 or 1984. I'm not sure whether Carter would be able to credibly claim credit for it.

[Ben Kenobi]

HW in 92, Dubya in 2000? Looks pretty good to me.

[giblets]

We wouldn't have wasted lots of resources on unnecessary defense spending and tax cuts for rich people. Average Americans would have been slightly better off in 1984.

[Dinner]

Honestly not much would have changed though Reagan, after getting defeated, wouldn't have got to run again in 1984.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Paul Volker would still induce a recession to get rid of inflation. Carter would be abominably unpopular in 1982, and have the worst midterm losses ever. "Morning in America" would still happen in 1983 or 1984. I'm not sure whether Carter would be able to credibly claim credit for it.

This is likely the option. Though, yes, I don't think Carter would be able to claim credit. Don't know who would beat Mondale in 1984, but perhaps Bob Dole? I don't think H.W. could have won the primary without having been VP.

[DaShi]

Reagan would never have become president forcing republicans to actually assess their policies and stances. They would soon become the party known for legitimate policy, while the democrats bend to extremism to defend a disastrous presidency. Basically, everything would be the same with the names switched around.

Sometimes it's better for a party that their candidate doesn't win.

[Uncle Sparky]

There would be no homelessness in the US. (Carter still is involved with Habitat for Humanity)
There would be peace in the Middle East.
There would be no Moral Majority and their bastard children, the Tea Party would never had been born. (Free condoms would have prevented that.)
Fox would be a little station with 'The Simpsons' and not a dystopian news manufacturer.
People who are currently evil bankers and brokers never would have entered the buisiness because of consumer protection laws, and would all be telemarketing executives and child pornographers.

[Aeson]

Don't know who would beat Mondale in 1984, but perhaps Bob Dole?

Dole was our best chance so far of switching to consumption tax. (Probably still not a good chance, and I don't remember enough about it to say if it would be a good/bad example of a consumption tax.)

[Uncle Sparky]

After reelection, Carter would have personally flown to Tehran and told them to behave themselves. His folksy charm would have won them over, and 'Islamism' would have been stopped dead in its tracks. Peanuts would become Irans 3rd biggest export.

Also, Tikhonov would have guest stared with Loni Anderson on The Love Boat. The Berlin Wall would have been torn down by 1982.

The one bad thing would be too many Americans spontaneously joining hands and singing "Kumbaya".

[regexcellent]

Near the very end of Carter's term Brian Mulroney would take advantage of our moment of weakness and order an invasion, taking over Minnesota, North Dakota, Michigan, and northern Maine.

[Uncle Sparky]

There'd be no Reagan National Airport.

All planes would land in Philly and people would have to walk from there. This would mean Washington would only have lobbiests from the rollerblading and skateboard industries. By now the average 70 year old American would be in better shape than the average 25 year old Swede.