Washington 2017: The U.S. Political RP: IC [CLOSED]

[Bruke]

"Do you have any other comments? Or can you think of anything that could be added to this proposed agenda Senator?"

"I would say to add to the agenda a proposal to only trade with nations that hold free and open elections. This is because if we are seen as the cradle of democracy than why should we trade with nations who abuse and exploit their citizens for personal gain." Kramer responded before taking a sip from the water bottle.

"Hmm... While I agree with you, I fear that such a explicit proposal would invite criticism from national security hawks. They would say human rights are irrelevant to trade policy. But what if we rephrase it to read something like the following:

"Make trade policy decisions with the understanding that governments that respect rights of our own nation in regards to international trade generally respect the rights of their own citizens."

How does that sound?"

[Tumblrena]

Orono, Maine
8 Crosby Street
Prazek Home
1813
Tuesday
14 February
2017

Katherine nods at the clarification. "I'm the XO on the Port Royal. Got bumped up after the last guys ran her into the island. Did you hear at all about that?" She asks noncommittally but keeps going on.

"I'm hoping she'll be mine in a few years. It's a long wait to get up that rung." She looks off wistfully for a few moments.

"Anyway they've been shaking things up since we went to war. We had been off running around Arabia for most of the year but got back sooner than we thought we would."

[Main Nation Ministry]

Taylor Cox
Spago, Los Angeles
February 15, 2017

"Does having The Los Angeles Journal putting you at a positive bias count as somewhat of a material?" Cox asked. "Or you need someone to do posters for your campaign? That can be somewhat of a material, also."

"While I would be grateful for an endorsement from the Journal, that's not what I was talking about. I meant reports, statistics, op-eds from newspapers... anything that proposes or analyzes policy. For example, I could share with you a report from the Little Hoover Commission, which is an independent agency that analyzes state policy decisions. Or I could share statistics from the state government. That's what I mean by materials."

Taylor Cox
Spago, Los Angeles
February 15, 2017

"Ah. Well. I can always share listening tour results to see what the public is interested in. I can send that through email or what not. And there is Twitter, so we can keep in touch or what the other candidates are planning." Cox suggested.

[Bruke]

"While I would be grateful for an endorsement from the Journal, that's not what I was talking about. I meant reports, statistics, op-eds from newspapers... anything that proposes or analyzes policy. For example, I could share with you a report from the Little Hoover Commission, which is an independent agency that analyzes state policy decisions. Or I could share statistics from the state government. That's what I mean by materials."

Taylor Cox
Spago, Los Angeles
February 15, 2017

"Ah. Well. I can always share listening tour results to see what the public is interested in. I can send that through email or what not. And there is Twitter, so we can keep in touch or what the other candidates are planning." Cox suggested.

"I haven't used much social media before, but I can try to learn. You're planning to do listening tours before you formally campaign?" Cao nodded approvingly. "That's a great call on your part, Mayor, listening tours are an excellent way to find out what issues the voters care about most. Also try town halls as well, they can be a good way to learn public opinion on a specific issue."

[Main Nation Ministry]

Taylor Cox
Spago, Los Angeles
February 15, 2017


"Only listening tours! Only listening tours!", the mention of town hall meetings rallied up Cox. "Voters are hypocrites and morons when it comes to town hall meetings. That one town hall rally at that one school was a complete disaster. Because the people near there just complain, despite giving them what they need." Cox put his glass to his lips, until he realized he didn't even have anything to drink. "I hope Scotty just died. I really do."

[Vaquas]

Orono, Maine
8 Crosby Street
Prazek Home
1813
Tuesday
14 February
2017

(Image)

Katherine nods at the clarification. "I'm the XO on the Port Royal. Got bumped up after the last guys ran her into the island. Did you hear at all about that?" She asks noncommittally but keeps going on.

"I'm hoping she'll be mine in a few years. It's a long wait to get up that rung." She looks off wistfully for a few moments.

"Anyway they've been shaking things up since we went to war. We had been off running around Arabia for most of the year but got back sooner than we thought we would."

"I think I heard something about that." he returned vaguely, only having the smallest memory in his head of seeing it somewhere.

"Career advancement for a woman such as yourself should not be too difficult. You are well served by intellect and charisma." he complemented.

[Bruke]

Taylor Cox
Spago, Los Angeles
February 15, 2017


"Only listening tours! Only listening tours!", the mention of town hall meetings rallied up Cox. "Voters are hypocrites and morons when it comes to town hall meetings. That one town hall rally at that one school was a complete disaster. Because the people near there just complain, despite giving them what they need." Cox put his glass to his lips, until he realized he didn't even have anything to drink. "I hope Scotty just died. I really do."

Cao sipped more of her water nervously. By this time, the waiter had also brought the food that each person had ordered, and so she ate a little of her meal.

When she was done, she looked back at the Mayor nervously. "I..." There was a long, excruciatingly awkward pause. "I didn't realize you had such a bad experience with town halls."

[Tumblrena]

Orono, Maine
8 Crosby Street
Prazek Home
1814
Tuesday
14 February
2017

"Oh that doesn't really matter in the Navy." she waves her hand in a dismissive way.

"Well maybe for selection boards." She clarifies.

"But for getting a promotion the one thing that you can't charm past is the time in service you need to rack up. I can't make Captain until I get some gray in my hair."

[Main Nation Ministry]

Taylor Cox
Spago, Los Angeles
February 15, 2017

Cox didn't order any lunch, but he did have the waiter order some bonbons to go. Cox appeared calm and explained the situation to Cao. "Everyone has bad experiences with town halls. People can be morons sometimes, though."

[Bruke]

Taylor Cox
Spago, Los Angeles
February 15, 2017

Cox didn't order any lunch, but he did have the waiter order some bonbons to go. Cox appeared calm and explained the situation to Cao. "Everyone has bad experiences with town halls. People can be morons sometimes, though."

"That's very true. I had not one, but two terrible town halls. It was when I was campaigning for re-election to the State Senate in 1998. I had just led the effort to pass a Proposition, the I.E.A.A., that required the state to work with the Federal government to train state law enforcement to assist federal immigration agents. I was at a town hall in Santa Ana, and during that time, the city's demographics were changing. There was a growing Latino population, some illegal and some not, and those who could vote were very angry with me. There was a crowd -no, a mob, a mob of illegals- outside the auditorium, chanting the most vile things...."

She scowled. "They called me a racist and worse just because I wanted to see the laws of this country properly enforced. Inside, I could barely get a word out between the booing and hissing. One man, who I swear was on some of drugs, rushed the stage and the police had to drag him away. I had to stand there for nearly three hours dealing with this. The next town hall was more of the same, except worse."

[Main Nation Ministry]

Taylor Cox
Spago, Los Angeles
February 15, 2017


"1998 wasn't the best of years for me. The stuff before the 00's wasn't the best for me. I bet not for everyone. That is why I recommend the listening tours. We get feedback from voters. Take most of the feedback that fit with our Republican corespondents that's the most important, then we do the optional stuff that is really at the bottom of the stack." Cox suggested, before checking his phone. "Valentica is a candidate for the Democrats?" Cox asked, when he noticed a political ad on his phone.

[Bruke]

Taylor Cox
Spago, Los Angeles
February 15, 2017


"1998 wasn't the best of years for me. The stuff before the 00's wasn't the best for me. I bet not for everyone. That is why I recommend the listening tours. We get feedback from voters. Take most of the feedback that fit with our Republican corespondents that's the most important, then we do the optional stuff that is really at the bottom of the stack." Cox suggested, before checking his phone. "Valentica is a candidate for the Democrats?" Cox asked, when he noticed a political ad on his phone.

"Yes, she's running for the Senate. Not the state Senate, the federal one. Of course, if one is an astute observer, they will see that Valentina is running as a progressive Democrat, with the backing of the Democratic leader of the House, De Nieto. What this could mean is that the Democrats will run progressive candidates at the state, including in the race for governor. If that happens, then the Progressives (the party, not the faction) will draw away votes from those candidates, or force them to shift more to the left. That's where you and I can swoop in, picking up support from more moderate Democrats in areas like the Central Valley. Of course, that's just one scenario. It could be that the Democrats have a moderate candidate for governor, which would make your job much more difficult."

[Main Nation Ministry]

Taylor Cox
Spago, Los Angeles
February 15, 2017


"The Bay Area is already a head start for them. Everyone in San Francisco will vote for them. The Central Valley will clearly be tough, if a tie happens or worse. If the Democrat voters realize the Progressives have the Democrats candidates at their fingertips, then that's where we come in to shift them to the right. That way, we make sure that no one shifts away from the Republicans." Cox said.

[Imperial Esplanade]

Nashville, Tennessee
Residence of Governor Harold Jefferson Faulkner

---

Fresh off an impromptu meeting, called by members of the state legislature, to discuss the status of security of public institutions within the state of Tennessee, Harold stepped out onto his lawn to smoke a cigar. Harold was taking his time, enjoying the tranquil scene around him, following the dismissal of the handful of state reps who joined him for lunch to discuss the aforementioned issue. That was when he slid his phone out of his pocket, to check up on the handful of Republican politicians who have been making things interesting as-of-late for the Reed Administration. After spending some more time alone outside of the Governor's Mansion, Harold put out his cigar and stepped back inside, making his way back to his personal study, and sat down to write a few letters, addressing a couple of the people he had been keeping tabs on.

[Bruke]

Taylor Cox
Spago, Los Angeles
February 15, 2017


"The Bay Area is already a head start for them. Everyone in San Francisco will vote for them. The Central Valley will clearly be tough, if a tie happens or worse. If the Democrat voters realize the Progressives have the Democrats candidates at their fingertips, then that's where we come in to shift them to the right. That way, we make sure that no one shifts away from the Republicans." Cox said.

"Excellent observations, my friend." She stopped herself. "That is, if I may call you my friend. The Central Valley is tricky. Historically, it has been quite conservative, but over the last decade or so, it's become a swing area. Either side can win it. If we can win the Central Valley and Southern California, perhaps by 3 to 5 points or so, then we can win the election."

[Main Nation Ministry]

Taylor Cox
Spago, Los Angeles
February 15, 2017


"Wanna know my plan? If I campaign at Central Valley, while you hold the fort at Los Angeles, then there could be a possible victory with the Republicans. We just need to work out the campaign route, perhaps in a circle or something, and we can roll out when the Democrats start campaigning." Cox said.

[Bruke]

Taylor Cox
Spago, Los Angeles
February 15, 2017


"Wanna know my plan? If I campaign at Central Valley, while you hold the fort at Los Angeles, then there could be a possible victory with the Republicans. We just need to work out the campaign route, perhaps in a circle or something, and we can roll out when the Democrats start campaigning." Cox said.

"I like where you going with this, but it might be better if we campaign based on ideology. As a conservative, I can be useful everywhere outside Los Angeles: Orange County, San Bernadino, San Diego, Riverside.... In those places I can successfully appeal to the voters. And I can appeal to the voters in the Central Valley as well. You've managed to win as a Republican in Los Angeles, the most liberal city in California outside of San Francisco. That means you can appeal more to moderate Democrats and independents. How bout this, you go to the more liberal parts of the Central Valley, like Stockton, Sacramento, and Fresno, and I'll go to the more conservative areas, like Atwater, Bakersfield, and Modesto?"

[Main Nation Ministry]

Taylor Cox
Spago, Los Angeles
February 15, 2017

"Sounds reasonable. The mayoral election that managed to land me my job as mayor was surprisingly easy at the end. I was baffled myself, even though I didn't suspect I would win myself. And if things go sour at the liberal areas, I can get the Johnsons support if absolutely necessary. If the apocalypse would happen or if hell freezes over. That's fine?" Cox suggested.

[Bruke]

Taylor Cox
Spago, Los Angeles
February 15, 2017

"Sounds reasonable. The mayoral election that managed to land me my job as mayor was surprisingly easy at the end. I was baffled myself, even though I didn't suspect I would win myself. And if things go sour at the liberal areas, I can get the Johnsons support if absolutely necessary. If the apocalypse would happen or if hell freezes over. That's fine?" Cox suggested.

"If things are so sour, that's fine. But be sure to tell me well in advance before making a public announcement of their support, because I'll need time to keep the conservatives from calling for your head on a platter. Am I correct in assuming that the Johnsons are pro-business, moderate Democrats? If so, the best thing they could do for us is publicly promise that one of them won't run for governor."

[Main Nation Ministry]

Taylor Cox
Spago, Los Angeles
February 15, 2017

"No one would have my head on a platter. The only way for someone to have my head on my platter is if they kill and mutilate my family in front of my eyes, burn and dismember the bodies, and then torture me until they decapitate me." Cox said. "Plus, the Johnsons see Ellen Walton as Satan and one of them have their eyes on New York. So we're basically clear unless something happens where I got to intervene."

[Bruke]

Taylor Cox
Spago, Los Angeles
February 15, 2017

"No one would have my head on a platter. The only way for someone to have my head on my platter is if they kill and mutilate my family in front of my eyes, burn and dismember the bodies, and then torture me until they decapitate me." Cox said. "Plus, the Johnsons see Ellen Walton as Satan and one of them have their eyes on New York. So we're basically clear unless something happens where I got to intervene."

Cao wondered why Cox was taking what she said literally. "I didn't mean that literally, I meant that metaphorically. As in, conservatives will stay home during the election, and because most Republicans in California are conservatives, you won't be able to grab enough Democratic support to win. What do you mean when you say "intervene", anyways?"

[Main Nation Ministry]

Taylor Cox
Spago, Los Angeles
February 15, 2017


"Intervene, as in if another candidate tries to campaign by doing nothing but criticizing and humiliating us as much as possible, where we need to convince the voters to be against them to show we're better. Both of us will still be to estimate the exact number of voters in each area, so we know who to appeal to." Cox said.

[Bruke]

Taylor Cox
Spago, Los Angeles
February 15, 2017


"Intervene, as in if another candidate tries to campaign by doing nothing but criticizing and humiliating us as much as possible, where we need to convince the voters to be against them to show we're better. Both of us will still be to estimate the exact number of voters in each area, so we know who to appeal to." Cox said.

"See, that's what I'm worried about. A conservative might challenge you, and take away Republican voters from you. Then you'd be stuck appealing to Democrats, most of whom would not vote for you because of the R next your name on the ballot, and independents, who are a fickle bunch. They could support you one day, and support your rival the next. I'll do my best to keep a conservative from running, but I'm not all-powerful. If you anger conservatives too much, one of them will run against you and I won't be able to do anything to stop it. I think we should start our campaigns as early as possible so that we'll be able to pre-empt any other Republicans from running."

[Main Nation Ministry]

Taylor Cox
Spago, Los Angeles
February 15, 2017

"We appeal to the conservatives before the Democrats do, while having ourselves convince the liberals to appeal towards the Republicans. That's how we should roll." Cox said.

[Bruke]

Taylor Cox
Spago, Los Angeles
February 15, 2017

"We appeal to the conservatives before the Democrats do, while having ourselves convince the liberals to appeal towards the Republicans. That's how we should roll." Cox said.

"Conservatives won't vote Democrat. The issue is them staying home or voting third party on Election Day. We have to strike a fine balance. I'll appeal to the conservatives, you'll have to try and appeal to everyone else. You help me get the support of moderate Democrats and independents, and I'll help you get the support of conservatives."