History Literature / WhyNotMe

* ThatCameOutWrong: Franken's inauguration speech. In the middle of trying to apologize for slavery, Franken makes a highly stereotypical impression of a black character from the movie ''Mandingo''. The speech results in a backlash.

* ThatCameOutWrong: Franken's inauguration speech. In the middle of trying to apologize for the historical repression of American minorities, Franken makes a highly stereotypical impression of a black character from the movie ''Mandingo'' and other non-white film characters. The nation interprets the speech as misguided as best and racist at worst.

* LandslideElection: Franken's defeat of Gore in the primaries, and his defeat of NewtGingrich in the national election.

* HistoryMarchesOn: Everybody knows [[GeorgeWBush who really won]] the 2000 election and the hijinks the country had to go through to declare him the winner. Whether said victor was worse than the fictional Franken depends on one's political inclination, [[CautiousRuleOfEditingJudgement and that is all that will be said on the matter]].

* HistoryMarchesOn: Everybody knows [[GeorgeWBush who really won]] the 2000 election and the hijinks the country had to go through to declare him the winner. Whether said victor was worse than the fictional Franken depends on one's political inclination, [[CautiousRuleOfEditingJudgment and that is all that will be said on the matter]].

* KarmaHoudini: [[spoiler:Franken pardons himself while the rest of the administration takes the fall.]]

* HeroAntagonist: Poor Al Gore.

* ItWillNeverCatchOn: Averted. Although most people in RealLife would see ATM useage fees as a frivilous non-issue, pundit chatter in-universe turns it into a sleeper issue that bolsters Franken's popularity. When the MillenniumBug only affects [=ATMs=], the momentum helps Franken beat Al Gore to the Democratic nomination.* JerkAss: Pretty much everyone in the Franken campaign. Probably the only likeable character is Franken's wife.

In the story, former comedian Franken decides to run for president on a single-issue platform (ATM fees) and challenge the frontrunner and likely shoo-in, then-Vice President AlGore, in the Democratic primary. Despite daunting odds, and disastrous P.R. stunts by Franken and his campaign staff, a combination of avarice and circumstance allows Franken to win in a LandslideElection. However, it soon becomes apparent after his inauguration that Franken is not up to the being leader of the free world...

In the story, Franken decides to run for president on a single-issue platform (ATM fees) and challenge the frontrunner and likely shoo-in, then-Vice President AlGore, in the Democratic primary. Despite daunting odds, and disastrous P.R. stunts by Franken and his campaign staff, a combination of avarice and circumstance allows Franken to win in a LandslideElection. However, it soon becomes apparent after his inauguration that Franken is not up to the being leader of the free world...

'''''Why Not Me? The Inside Story of the Making and Unmaking of the Franken Presidency''''' is a 1998 satirical novel by Creator/AlFranken about his fictional run for President of the United States in the 2000 election.

'''''Why Not Me? The Making and Unmaking of the Franken Presidency''''' is a 1998 satirical novel by Creator/AlFranken about his fictional run for President of the United States in the 2000 election.

'''Why Not Me? The Making and Unmaking of the Franken Presidency''' is a 1998 satirical novel by Creator/AlFranken about his fictional run for President of the United States in the 2000 election.

* ItWillNeverCatchOn: Averted. Although most people in RealLife would see ATM useage fees as a frivilous non-issue, pundit chatter in-universe turns it into a sleeper issue that bolsters Franken's popularity. When the MillenniumBug only affects [=ATMs=], the momentum helps Franken beat Al Gore to the Democratic nomination.
* JerkAss: Pretty much everyone in the Franken campaign. Probably the only likeable character is Franken's wife.

* NiceCharacterMeanActor: Plenty of examples on Franken's part, especially his campaign diary that is loaded with insults against the inhabitants of both New Hampshire and Iowa. [[spoiler:It bites him in the ass when he has to hand over the diary to a congressional committee.]]

* NiceCharacterMeanActor: Plenty of examples on Franken's part, especially his campaign diary that is loaded with insults against the inhabitants of both New Hampshire and UsefulNotes/{{Iowa}}. [[spoiler:It bites him in the ass when he has to hand over the diary to a congressional committee.]]

* NiceCharacterMeanActor: Plenty of examples on Franken's part, especially his campaign diary that is loaded with insults against the inhabitants of both New Hampshire and UsefulNotes/Iowa. [[spoiler:It bites him in the ass when he has to hand over the diary to a congressional committee.]]

* JerkAss: Pretty much everyone in the Franken campaign.

* ItWillNeverCatchOn: Averted. Although most people in RealLife would see ATM useage fees as a frivilous non-issue, pundit chatter in-universe turns it into a sleeper issue that bolsters Franken's popularity. When the MillenniumBug only affects ATMs, the momentum helps Franken beat Al Gore to the Democratic nomination.

* NiceCharacterMeanActor: Franken's diary is loaded with insults against the inhabitants of both UsefulNotes/NewHampshire and UsefulNotes/Iowa. [[spoiler:It bites him in the ass when he has to hand over the diary to a congressional committee.]]

* LandslideElection: Franken's defeat of Gore in the primaries, and his defeat of NewtGingrich in the national election.