Donnellism

Donnellism is the ideology of Ed Donnell (born 1978), a fictional US politician who served as President between 2017 and 2021, and as United States Senator for Virginia between 2009 and 2017. Donnell is a member of the Republican Party.

Background of Ed Donnell
Edward Rourke Donnell was born in Blacksburg, Virginia in July 8th, 1978 to Martin Donnell, a firefighter and Natalie Rourke, a nurse. Donnell became interested in politics at age eight. Coming from a right-wing family Donnell became a Paleoconservative at age 12, voting for Pat Buchanan, then Ross Perot in 1996 and Alan Keyes during the 2000 Republican primaries (later voting for George W. Bush). On September 17th, 2001, Donnell joined the US Army.

Donnell participated in the frontline during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. He had a kill count of 58, and participated in several battles, including Baghdad. He remained in Iraq for years afterward, trying to help stabilize the country. Donnell was injured several times, and came to oppose the war. However, he voted for Bush in 2004.

In 2006, Donnell retired from the Army in order to fulfill his political ambitions. At the same time, he abandoned Buchananism for his current views.

Political Rise
Donnell's war record made him a pretty well-known figure in parts of Virginia. Given this, he decided to run for Senate as a Republican. He was nominated at the state convention. Donnell faced Democrat Mark Warner, campaigning on a moderate conservative platform adderesing the concerns of local inhabitants, while distancing himself from the national GOP (even not campaigning with John McCain), defeating Warner by two thousand votes. He was sworn in as a Senator in January 3, 2009

As Senator, Donnell focused on economic policy. He was one of the main proponents of cap and trade, a free-market solution to climate change. His main legislative accomplishment was the implementation of cap and trade by the Obama Administration. However, his proposals for a Balanced Budget Amendment, tax reform and ending late-term abortions failed. He was a supporter of the Tea Party movement.

In the 2012 Republican primaries, Donnell endorsed Ron Paul.

Two years lawyer, Donnell was successfully re-elected to the Senate, defeating Terry McAuliffe by a decisive margin.

In March 2015, Donnell tossed his hat in the ring for the Republican presidential nomination.

2016 Presidential Election
Donnell's presidential campaign focused on a Balanced Budget Amendment to the US Constitution, tax cuts, renegotiating NAFTA and TPP, ending late-term abortions and defunding Planned Parenthood, school choice and trade schools, scaling back military interventionism, protecting the First, Second and Fourth Amendments, malpractice reform, a $15,000 tax credit for families to buy healthcare, cutting red tape for private insurers and healthcare vouchers for the uninsured, fighting climate change through developing advanced technology, and a Small Business Tax Credit. Candidates Jeb Bush, Rand Paul and John Kasich dropped out before the Iowa Caucus and endorsed Donnell. He then defeated Donald Trump, Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio to win the Republican nomination.

Donnell campaigned on the same issues during the general election, while emphasising his stances on fair trade and healthcare reform more. He attacked Hillary Clinton for the Benghazi attack, flip-flopping and email scandal. In spite of sexual abuse accusations, Donnell won the popular and electoral vote.

Presidency
Ed Donnell's Administration was marked by tax cuts and most importantly, the ratification of a balanced budget amendment. He also repealed Obamacare and replaced it by a free-market solution, while creating a Small Business Tax Credit. Donnell believes in climate change and his Administration ended part of federal subsidies for fossil fuels, made progress in cutting emissions and working with America's global partners, and remained in the Paris Agreement, aside from expanding the cap and trade program started under Obama. The Donnell Administration renegotiated NAFTA and TPP, and was tougher on China. Diplomacy was successfully used with Iran, and in February 2020 US troops began to withdraw from Afghanistan. His education policy focused on school choice, abstinence-based sex ed and trade schools.

2020 Election
In 2020, the world was struck by the COVID-19 pandemic. The President opposes lockdowns due to their impact on the economy and violation of Americans' freedoms. However, Donnell always wore a mask when outside, physically distanced and regularly washed his hands. After a tough primary battle, former Vice President Joe Biden became the Democratic nominee, picking Senator for Wisconsin Tammy Baldwin as his running mate as an olive branch to progressives. Donnell highlighted the successes of his Administration, however the COVID issue always lingered in the background, and Donnell still lost.

Austrian School Economics
Ed Donnell's views on economics are conservative, with his Administration lowering taxes across the board and implementing a Balanced Budget Amendment. He opposes a public option or universal healthcare, instead favoring a free-market approach to it. Despite believing in free trade and low tariffs, Donnell renegotiated the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). A Small Business Tax Credit, giving tax credits and deductions for these starting new businesses, was also implemented.

Moderate Social Conservatism
Donnell supports traditional morality for the most part. He is opposed to abortion, thinking it must be illegal except in cases of rape, severe birth defects or danger to the mother's life. His Administration banned abortion after 20 weeks nationwide, while expanding abstinence-based sex ed programs

Civil Freedoms
Donnell supports individual liberty and states' rights, viewing the State as a necessary evil. His Administration unsuccessfully tried to decriminalize soft drugs, and ended mass surveillance programs. He's also opposed to big tech censorship, and attempts to suppress voting rights.

Enviromentalism
Ed Donnell believes protecting the environment and traditional values go hand-in-hand, while emphasising the market and technology as a better solution than enviromental regulations. The Donnell Administration remained in the Paris Agreement, expanded cap and trade and the renewable energy tax credit, started to build 9 nuclear power plants, and gave tax breaks for companies producing EVs.

Foreign Policy
The foreign policy of the Donnell Administration focused on overturning foreign entanglements, however drone strikes (especially against the Taliban and ISIS) and opposition to Russia and China continued. By November 15th, 2020, all US troops had left Afghanistan.

Personality
Donnelism has a charismatic personality, and deeply loves his country and its values. Despite his friendship with most conservative balls, he's frenemies with Right-wing populism and Trumpism due to their extremist stances. He has an awkward sense of humor.