Wow, no clarity at all! I like it!
Well obviously I'm going to let this run for a while, but the biggest problem with some of these ideas follows:
1-Recent TLs are very short and thus have minimum butterflies.
2-Some PODs are really neat, but once you get past a certain point the TL looses it's point almot. Very few writers can pull this off (Historico, Kaljwet), and I probably can't.
The combo of these is why I went for a future history of sorts for my TL. Means I don't have to worry as much about being called out for missing the mark on some historical figure.
I kind of like this idea. A good time line need not spell out every step of evolution. As long as the changes between time A and B are plausible the mind can fill in the details later and the author need not write it up entirely. And for the more unbelievable details needed to get to B, a brief run down can help sort those out. That said, I don't recall seeing this put to good use for a long timeline for anything other than a future time line (mine included), so it might be a good way to keep your timeline fresh and original.
Always be careful about using conservative/progressive in a pre-1960s era, but other than that, has potential. But other than a stronger socialist party, what sort of details might make this one more interesting?
This might work. I don't read many Kennedy lives timelines but if you focus on a plausible second term that might be a good read.
I guess in short I see some strengths in the first and third. And am a little uncertain about the second option.
