Washington 2017: The U.S. Political RP IC-Volume II (OPEN)

[Meelducan]

Donald Johnson
@TheLoveDoctor

---

I know LA very well! I support the Clean New Deal!

[Tallahassee News Station]

"It's really more generic than specific. You've dome this before a few times, what are the keys to running the actual campaign well outside the speeches and debates?"

"You need to define yourself, right now youve been attack heavy. Attacks on opponent have their place but you risk turning voters off with a negative message. You need to show yourself as FOR something not just AGAINST something or someone."

"That being said at some point you need to stand up the President Reed, show you are not just a typical republican. In a state as blue as yours... you cant just tow the party line."

"Finally you need to actually be there, go into the communities listen to their concerns not just about the big stuff but the small stuff the nickel and dime stuff. If they complain about a pothole needing to be fixed tell them youll talk to the mayor or another local politician, have the mayor call them the next day promising to fix it. Things like that."

"I was asking more about nuts and bolts than the messaging part. If you had any advice on how to run a good ground game, making good hires, budgeting well, that kind of thing"

[Meelducan]

Constitution Gardens

“What would be the purpose of this meal?” Donald questioned. He was planning on calling one of his German cousins.

[Dentali]

"You need to define yourself, right now youve been attack heavy. Attacks on opponent have their place but you risk turning voters off with a negative message. You need to show yourself as FOR something not just AGAINST something or someone."

"That being said at some point you need to stand up the President Reed, show you are not just a typical republican. In a state as blue as yours... you cant just tow the party line."

"Finally you need to actually be there, go into the communities listen to their concerns not just about the big stuff but the small stuff the nickel and dime stuff. If they complain about a pothole needing to be fixed tell them youll talk to the mayor or another local politician, have the mayor call them the next day promising to fix it. Things like that."

"I was asking more about nuts and bolts than the messaging part. If you had any advice on how to run a good ground game, making good hires, budgeting well, that kind of thing"

“Your campaign staff can make or break you, especially since you are here for quite a bit longer. Basically you can’t commit to the campaign full time. Hire a good staff, start with 2-3 people experienced in your state, ask each of them to bring a young up and comer with them for another position. The rest of the roles fill with people you trust. Also spreadsheets, lots of spreadsheets.”

“Get the RNC to back you while you’re here, that goes a long way towards staffing. With budgeting... you should be spending roughly a quarter of your revenue on fundraising, using that money to make more money. 20% on administration 40% on media. Keeps strategic reserve of a half million until the last week. Use that to deal with anything unexpected that might come up.”

[Greater Arab State]

Constitution Gardens

“What would be the purpose of this meal?” Donald questioned. He was planning on calling one of his German cousins.

Constitution Gardens

"Well, I haven't had anyone from Congress round in some time and as I have been talking to you, Representative, I feel that it would be a good way to find common ground, both between our legislative chambers and our parties."

[Tallahassee News Station]

"I was asking more about nuts and bolts than the messaging part. If you had any advice on how to run a good ground game, making good hires, budgeting well, that kind of thing"

“Your campaign staff can make or break you, especially since you are here for quite a bit longer. Basically you can’t commit to the campaign full time. Hire a good staff, start with 2-3 people experienced in your state, ask each of them to bring a young up and comer with them for another position. The rest of the roles fill with people you trust. Also spreadsheets, lots of spreadsheets.”

“Get the RNC to back you while you’re here, that goes a long way towards staffing. With budgeting... you should be spending roughly a quarter of your revenue on fundraising, using that money to make more money. 20% on administration 40% on media. Keeps strategic reserve of a half million until the last week. Use that to deal with anything unexpected that might come up.”

Kristen worked through the math in her head. "That doesn't leave much for the ground game and outreach. I've been putting a lot of what I have in there so far to help connect with some of the moderates and see if they can come out and vote. I think I overspent on advertising when I ran for Representative and ended up in debt, I've tried to be more strategic there this time"

[Dentali]

“Your campaign staff can make or break you, especially since you are here for quite a bit longer. Basically you can’t commit to the campaign full time. Hire a good staff, start with 2-3 people experienced in your state, ask each of them to bring a young up and comer with them for another position. The rest of the roles fill with people you trust. Also spreadsheets, lots of spreadsheets.”

“Get the RNC to back you while you’re here, that goes a long way towards staffing. With budgeting... you should be spending roughly a quarter of your revenue on fundraising, using that money to make more money. 20% on administration 40% on media. Keeps strategic reserve of a half million until the last week. Use that to deal with anything unexpected that might come up.”

Kristen worked through the math in her head. "That doesn't leave much for the ground game and outreach. I've been putting a lot of what I have in there so far to help connect with some of the moderates and see if they can come out and vote. I think I overspent on advertising when I ran for Representative and ended up in debt, I've tried to be more strategic there this time"

Glen cracks a smile “can’t call yourself a fiscal conservative if your campaign runs in the red.” Glen shift a bit and pulls out a spending chart from his drawer. “I’m blowing through about half a million a month. Your state compared to mine... it’s smaller sure but the media market is very expensive. I think focusing on ground game is a good idea.”

[Tallahassee News Station]

Kristen worked through the math in her head. "That doesn't leave much for the ground game and outreach. I've been putting a lot of what I have in there so far to help connect with some of the moderates and see if they can come out and vote. I think I overspent on advertising when I ran for Representative and ended up in debt, I've tried to be more strategic there this time"

Glen cracks a smile “can’t call yourself a fiscal conservative if your campaign runs in the red.” Glen shift a bit and pulls out a spending chart from his drawer. “I’m blowing through about half a million a month. Your state compared to mine... it’s smaller sure but the media market is very expensive. I think focusing on ground game is a good idea.”

"Geography has been something I've been really focused on there. I haven't been avoiding places like Boston with events but I've been focused on building on where I'm strongest on the ground and then expanding out from there. Do you think that's a good plan?"

[Dentali]

Glen cracks a smile “can’t call yourself a fiscal conservative if your campaign runs in the red.” Glen shift a bit and pulls out a spending chart from his drawer. “I’m blowing through about half a million a month. Your state compared to mine... it’s smaller sure but the media market is very expensive. I think focusing on ground game is a good idea.”

"Geography has been something I've been really focused on there. I haven't been avoiding places like Boston with events but I've been focused on building on where I'm strongest on the ground and then expanding out from there. Do you think that's a good plan?"

"I honestly don't know Massachusetts well enough to give specific advice. Generally I would say at this point you're in the right. I would however do a policy speech or two in Boston or a progressive stronghold, do it on a position you are more to the left on. Youre trying to win a primary now so you will be trending to the right, then you swing left in the general.... thats what people expect. If you present a consistent message throughout, especially with positions that could be unpopular in the primary it will go a long way towards proving your authenticity which is a big part of any win."

"I for example have been clear on my position in favor of LGBTQ+ rights, i'm firmly against DOMA and it has hurt me with evangelicals. But come time for the general it is going to help me with moderate voters more than it hurt."

[Tallahassee News Station]

"Geography has been something I've been really focused on there. I haven't been avoiding places like Boston with events but I've been focused on building on where I'm strongest on the ground and then expanding out from there. Do you think that's a good plan?"

"I honestly don't know Massachusetts well enough to give specific advice. Generally I would say at this point you're in the right. I would however do a policy speech or two in Boston or a progressive stronghold, do it on a position you are more to the left on. Youre trying to win a primary now so you will be trending to the right, then you swing left in the general.... thats what people expect. If you present a consistent message throughout, especially with positions that could be unpopular in the primary it will go a long way towards proving your authenticity which is a big part of any win."

"I for example have been clear on my position in favor of LGBTQ+ rights, i'm firmly against DOMA and it has hurt me with evangelicals. But come time for the general it is going to help me with moderate voters more than it hurt."

Kristen started to consider a mild objection but then smiled as Anderson finished his first line. "That's exactly what I'm aiming to do. I don't want to slide back and forth on issues for the different elections, I'm working hard on consistency. I think Samara is trying to go radical for his primary and to discourage the Progressives, but I plan to keep going straight the same way I have been. I'm already a step ahead with that suggestion. I held my immigration speech in Boston for that kind of reason. I wouldn't really call that left, I think it's more nonpartisan that can get support from liberals but the idea is the same."

[Dentali]

"I honestly don't know Massachusetts well enough to give specific advice. Generally I would say at this point you're in the right. I would however do a policy speech or two in Boston or a progressive stronghold, do it on a position you are more to the left on. Youre trying to win a primary now so you will be trending to the right, then you swing left in the general.... thats what people expect. If you present a consistent message throughout, especially with positions that could be unpopular in the primary it will go a long way towards proving your authenticity which is a big part of any win."

"I for example have been clear on my position in favor of LGBTQ+ rights, i'm firmly against DOMA and it has hurt me with evangelicals. But come time for the general it is going to help me with moderate voters more than it hurt."

Kristen started to consider a mild objection but then smiled as Anderson finished his first line. "That's exactly what I'm aiming to do. I don't want to slide back and forth on issues for the different elections, I'm working hard on consistency. I think Samara is trying to go radical for his primary and to discourage the Progressives, but I plan to keep going straight the same way I have been. I'm already a step ahead with that suggestion. I held my immigration speech in Boston for that kind of reason. I wouldn't really call that left, I think it's more nonpartisan that can get support from liberals but the idea is the same."

"Do you mind if I ask where you are on fundraising? Especially small donations? That indicates a lot in terms of enthusiasm."

[Tallahassee News Station]

Kristen started to consider a mild objection but then smiled as Anderson finished his first line. "That's exactly what I'm aiming to do. I don't want to slide back and forth on issues for the different elections, I'm working hard on consistency. I think Samara is trying to go radical for his primary and to discourage the Progressives, but I plan to keep going straight the same way I have been. I'm already a step ahead with that suggestion. I held my immigration speech in Boston for that kind of reason. I wouldn't really call that left, I think it's more nonpartisan that can get support from liberals but the idea is the same."

"Do you mind if I ask where you are on fundraising? Especially small donations? That indicates a lot in terms of enthusiasm."

"Not as much as I'd like for small donations. We were doing great there when I first announced against Breckenridge, we got a wave of donations from people who wanted a challenger, but it's been a lot drier since then. We're taking advantage of Samara locking himself out from PAC money but of course that's not as useful as campaign funds when you can't coordinate. It's been more larger donors and bundling lately than small. What you said about the amount of you budget to put into fundraising surprised me actually. We're not spending even close to that. That might be why we haven't picked up as much from the smaller donors"

[Prolieum]

Amaras Residence, Keokuk, Iowa

Peter scoffed, almost losing a bit of food before swallowing. "Vegan cookbook, there's an oxymoron. People sound like they'd want to just graze like cows on grass and dirt so it's more "natural". If they want to be all natural, what do they think our all-natural sharp teeth are for?"

[Prolieum]

National Air and Space Museum, Washington D.C.

Appleby stood still for a few moments. "All right. It'll happen if it does. Bye."

[Prolieum]

Drumthwacket, Princeton, New Jersey

"Representative." The Governor lightly verbally prodded her guest, seemingly lost in thought.

[Bruke]

Amaras Residence, Keokuk, Iowa

“Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy a nice steak or burger as much as anyone else- but I really enjoy trying new foods. And if it turns out that the vegan life is the healthier one- well, I’m that much closer.”

Liliana gave a slight smile.

[Dentali]

Drumthwacket, Princeton, New Jersey

"Enthusiastic enough to turn this into a cooperative project, I wonder?" The Governor speculated aloud in a leading tone.

"Yes the governor very much wishes to turn it into a joint project"

[Dentali]

"Do you mind if I ask where you are on fundraising? Especially small donations? That indicates a lot in terms of enthusiasm."

"Not as much as I'd like for small donations. We were doing great there when I first announced against Breckenridge, we got a wave of donations from people who wanted a challenger, but it's been a lot drier since then. We're taking advantage of Samara locking himself out from PAC money but of course that's not as useful as campaign funds when you can't coordinate. It's been more larger donors and bundling lately than small. What you said about the amount of you budget to put into fundraising surprised me actually. We're not spending even close to that. That might be why we haven't picked up as much from the smaller donors"

"'Ground Game'" Anderson said clarifying "is spread across media buys and fundraising. Unfortunately money usually comes from the hardcore right and left, you playing the middle is difficult without backers, enthusiasm will be an issue."

"Samara has a big advantage in small donor fundraising, his history of working with activist groups and organizing has given him a massive activist network in the state. People who make small donations to one cause are far more likely to donate to other causes like your campaign. You need to find a good organization to ally with that has donor rolls throughout the state, use them to make calls and knock on doors. Also go to Republican governors of nearby states, get them to back you and organizations based in New England will be more inclined to give you donor info."

[Dentali]

Jason Samara Campaign Stop #31
Randolph, Norfolk County



“La ducha.” Samara was in the back seat of a car being driven to his next rally, repeating out loud what he studied his rosetta stone app on his ipad. If he was going to encourage people to be bilingual and include it in the curriculum of public schools he should try and learn himself, besides he was from puerto rico even if he couldn’t remember it, and he should try and connect with his heritage.

While Massachusetts was not a heavily diverse state or have large spanish speaking communities, many states did and the hispanic community would play an increasingly large roll in the electoral and the democratic party in future years. If Samara wanted to be an asset to the party, being able to better connect with hispanic communities would go a long way. He would be able to spread his influence outside the state, becoming a go to speaker for democrats across the nation, this would increase his name recognition and make him important friends.

He looked at a picture of his wife and three children on his phone, “One day” he thought to himself “Samara will be as well known as Kennedy, my girls will follow in my footsteps.” He stepped out of the car and waved to the roaring crowd in Randolph, Norfolk County, they chanted “SA-MAR-A!, SA-MAR-A!” as if they had heard his thoughts just moments before.

Stevenson had been wrong when she said Jason would be running for President in 2020, his plans extended much further than that. Should he win a statewide office, Jason planned to run in 2024, reasoning by then the Left would have reunited in one form or another. Until then, he would be a good soldier for the democrats and push his family to do the same.

“Good Morning! What a crowd, it’s really an honor to be here thank you all for coming and for the warm welcome.”

“I’m Congressman Jason Samara, I am a man raised in Boston, Massachusetts. I grew up walking the Freedom trail, I grew up watching the South End of Boston go from dangerous and remote in the 80s flourish, I grew up jogging along the Charles river and rooting for the Red Sox. But I was born to two loving parents in Puerto Rico, my father was an immigrant and a psychiatrist, my mother was a social worker who devoted her life to helping people get back on their feet. When I was 2 my father passed away in an car accident and my mother took me to Boston to live with her mother. Times were hard, money was short, we relied on family, community and at times the government to get by. I am a product of public school, I grew up hearing stories of my family that fought for civil rights, of my uncles that marched next to Doctor King, who stood on the bridge at Selma, who marched on Washington and I took that to heart.”

“I dedicated my life and schooling to community outreach and service, I married my high school sweetheart and we have beautiful daughters. I was elected to Congress in 2010 becoming the first African American to represent the state, I have fought for welfare reform, consumer protections, providing affordable college and healthcare, LBGTQ rights, a woman’s right to choose and housing reform. I proudly stand by the work I have done for this state. As a Congressman I proudly voted against the RLSA, WAC and BBA. My parents and my grandmother are no longer with us today, but I know they look down on our work with pride.”

“My last name is Samara, a name that comes from half a world away. In America though your name should be no barrier to success, no matter your name or circumstances of birth, the color of your skin, no matter who you love or how you choose to worship... America should be a place where none of that matters. I stand here now proud of my heritage, knowing that I am just a part of the greater American story. I have a vision for America where there are no barriers to success - no matter what color you are, no matter where you're from, no matter how much money you have.”

“Thats where I come from, now let me tell you what I stand for. I stand for no PACs just people, I have pledged to no longer accept donations from corporate PACs, this is just the first step in Comprehensive Campaign Finance Reform that is necessary for our growing Democracy. I stand for the scientific consensus that Climate Change is real, and that we must take steps to build a clean energy economy to make fuel and energy cheaper, better for the environment and free of our dependency on foreign countries.”

“I stand for those who serve are nation in uniform, and making sure that when they return to civilian life we are there to support them in the challenges they face. I stand for Expanding medical care and support services for our service members is a moral duty.”

“I stand for Universal Healthcare, Health Care is a Human Right, a moral responsibility. I will fight to make sure that insurance companies no longer turn people away for pre-existing conditions or discriminate against women. I will work hand in hand with our governor to craft and support a healthcare plan that covers all of Massachusetts so it can continue to be the national leader in coverage and innovation.”

“I stand for Equal Pay for Equal Work. An economy that works for everyone, a $15 minimum wage, affordable childcare, parental leave. No one who works full time should live in poverty and its time big business and the 1% paid its fair share.”

“I stand for LGBTQ equality, I go to Boston’s Pride Parade every year, I marched in DC and spoke on LGBTQ rights and progress. I will stand against any attempt to take away our progress, LGTBQ rights are human rights and we need an equality act to ban discrimination against LGBTQ individuals in employment, housing and other areas.”

“I stand for A God Given Right to Safety, the Minutemen Act showed that Congress cares more about handouts to Gun Manufacturers than safety for our people, and across the country children are paying the price. Gun Violence plagues our communities every day and as your Senator I will fight back against the epidemic, thoughts and prayers are not enough we need action to take dangerous weapons off our streets and out of the hands of dangerous individuals.”

“For most folks, one income isn't enough to raise a family and send your kids to college. Sometimes, two incomes aren't enough. It's harder to save. It's harder to retire. You're doing your part, you're meeting your responsibilities, but it always seems like you're treading water or falling behind.”

“I’m tired of waiting, waiting a decade for a pay raise while CEO pay is soaring, i’m tired of waiting for Republican Senators to act while more Americans fall into poverty, i’m tired of waiting for them to realize that their are kids with the knowledge and the drive to go to college and change the world but can’t because its not affordable. I’m tired of waiting and that’s why I am seeking the Democratic nomination for Senator of the great state of Massachusetts.”

“I am pro-immigrant, but I recognize not everyone trying to come into this nation has the best intentions, not everyone should be allowed into our nation. But a zero tolerance policy does not reflect our morality, turning away families looking for a better life, those fleeing poverty, violence and starvation… turning them away is not American.”

“America has always and should always be a haven for the oppressed, the vulnerable and the downtrodden. We cannot shirk that responsibility now. Our immigration policy must stop the criminalization of entire communities, the tearing apart of families, and the exploitation of new Americans. My immigration policy is grounded in putting the sanctity of families first, and will enforce civil, human and labor rights, continuing our tradition of embracing diversity letting it push our nation to new heights.”

“Those who enter the country illegally who do not have a criminal record should be given temporary amnesty and a simple path to citizenship. If an immigrant pays taxes they should receive the same benefits as citizens. We must dismantle our inhumane deportation programs and detention centers that tear families apart, replacing them with a system targeted on criminal activity besides crossing the border and make sure DHS agencies have oversight. We need a swift and fair legislative roadmap to citizenship for all undocumented immigrants. We must respect local communities, ensuring their positive interactions with law enforcement instead of forcing them to live in hiding out of fear. We must modernize the visa system, especially regarding family visas which has a massive backlog. We must reverse the criminalization of immigrants, no person is illegal and in most cases the act of an illegal border crossing is one of desperation not malice, we must recognize that.”

“We need to save our democracy, we need to systematically reform our nation, our politics. I pledged to take to corporate PAC money because I believe PACs come before people. Washington works great for the rich, for those with connections… companies and the ultra wealthy can spend billions to influence Congress and federal agencies… we need lobbying reform and we need it today.”

“Lobbying as we know it must end, everyone who lobbies MUST register, we must take Washington lobbyists out of the shadow, ban foreign governments from hiring lobbyists and shut down the ability of lobbyists to move freely in and out of government jobs. When running for federal office candidates should be required to put their tax returns online, while in office we need to keep Senators and Congressman from trading stocks and when they retire we need to ban them from becoming lobbyists.”

“We don’t just need to limit the power of corporations in politics we need to empower the people in our Republic. Politicians are supposed to compete for votes, not try and disqualify voters who don’t support them. Many laws and rules make it more difficult to vote, and practices like partisan gerrymandering keep your vote from counting as much as it should. We must eliminate rules that make voting more difficult, laws and rules that suppress votes especially in minority communities.”

“Democracy shouldn’t be for sale, so that is why we must fight the Citizens United decision, so that you do not need to suck up to rich donors and the washington elite in order to run for office. No more billionaire Super PACs.”

“Years ago I was proud to protest against the Iraq War, at a time when it wasn’t popular to do so. I believe that time has vindicated those who stood against it then, and going forward it is a lesson we must hold close. A strong military is important, it should be a deterrent so that we won’t have to use it, we must be vigilant against terrorists like ISIS and Hamas, but we cannot be the world’s policeman, we need to bring our troops home and strengthen our support for them as they transition into civilian life.”

“When we pursue foreign policy in the future, we should not solve problems with military might and intimidation first… we need to cut our bloated defense budget, take a stand against the military industrial complex that has a grip on our military policy. We need to reinvest our money and resources into diplomacy, standing by our global allies to advance our shared interests and advance the cause of global justice.”

“That fight for justice must continue at home too, our justice system promises equality under the law and America has one of the best justice systems in the world but we need to acknowledge its faults. We live in a nation where for the exact same crime minority americans are more likely than white americans to be arrested, charged and convicted. We live in a nation where teen with and small amount of pot and no intent to distribute can get thrown in jail.”

“We must keep a constant vigil on our justice system, to find what policies disproportionately affect our minority communities and end them. We must embrace community policing and the demilitarization of police, comprehensive reform to our sentencing laws and the complete decriminalization and legalization marijuana.”

“We must however crack down on those who profit off the destruction of our planet. Climate change ravages our planet, our people. It threatens to displace millions, droughts, floods, extreme storms and a changing environment that will wreak havoc on civilization. We need to double down our commitment to alternative and renewable energies, to end our dependence on fossil fuels, to make renewable clean energy affordable and practical.”

“We, the people of Massachusetts, the birthplace of the American Revolution, Birthplace to presidents and patriots, heroes of war and peace, a place of science and philosophy, a state that has ALWAYS pushed America forward. And we know the way forward don’t we? We know how to make our economy stronger and fairer, how to make our communities safer and education more affordable, how to make our retirement security and our healthcare the gold standard.”

“We know that we should not abandon our public education to benefit private and religious schools, but we must strengthen our public education. We know that inclusion and diversity make us stronger, that we must encourage new Americans to come here to build better lives. We know that we must protect members of the LGBTQ+ community, we know that ALL are created equal and must be protected as such under the law!”

“We start right here, right now by talking about the economy. An economy that works for too few at the expense of the many. A rigged game where wall street wins and main street loses, when bankers rig interest rates so you pay more for a house or a car thats a rigged game. When companies use tricks and loopholes to avoid taxes and don’t pay their fair share? Thats a rigged game, and when the top 1% has more than the bottom 99% IT’S A RIGGED GAME!”

“Close the Loopholes, lets tell American companies that if they want to benefit from our laws and our protection they need to bring those profits home. We need a fairer economy because the market the republicans claim is ‘free’ is just a game with loaded dice. We have seen wall street billionaires declare bankruptcy a half dozen times and get bailed out, but someone who can’t afford to pay a speeding ticket goes to jail. IT’S A RIGGED GAME. “

“Since 1978 CEOs have gotten paid over 900% more, workers are 65% more productive and they get 9% more. When America’s workers play a rigged game we all lose, when unions get busted and workers can’t organize? We lose... and when you don’t give people a livable wage we all lose. Basic decency and sound economics both bring you to the same conclusion: IT’S A RIGGED GAME thats why it’s time to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour.”

“But if we are really going to create permanent lasting change we MUST support education. Now i’m not supporting teaching our kids how to better answer a multiple choice question on a test. I want to build real strong communities around schools, have teachers who are well-trained motivated and LOVE what they do. I want schools and teachers that really prepare our children not just for college but for life. We need to treat teachers with the respect they deserve and like the professionals they are!”

“The average student graduates with over $35,000 in debt, I want to make sure that every student gets the opportunity to go to college and that they can go to community college for free and when a student borrows money to go to college they get low rates.”

“The ACA was not perfect, it could have been improved BUT I would take the ACA over having tens of millions without healthcare, without a net, where the only time they see a doctor is in the emergency room. We must continue to improve healthcare, making sure coverage is truly universal and held to the highest standards. I will work hand in hand with our governor to get the best possible healthcare after the RLSA until we can finally repeal it.”

“Everybody deserves affordable healthcare, nobody should have to choose between filling a grocery cart or a prescription jar. The Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and other programs that allow people to retire with dignity, that gives survivor benefits to their partners and families…. These are programs I will fight tooth and nail to defend, to make sure Social Security is there for you. It’s the least we can do.”

“One of the best tools we can use to reduce healthcare costs is a way to empower patients to make informed decisions about their healthcare. We need a tool that is comprehensive, that provides location specific price and quality information, not just a national average of the cost of services.”

“Hospitals should and must be MANDATED to publicly post their price lists in a machine readable format on their websites. In addition hospitals should be required to report directly to state and federal agencies so they can provide a comprehensive data set for consumers.”

“We must address that our current medical education system is not producing enough primary care physicians, and as we work towards healthcare reforms like patient centered medical homes and Accountable Care Organizations. One reason for that is that the Medicare physician payment policy greatly favors specialists and Primary Care Physicians have a massive gap in income. We must support loan forgiveness policies for medical students who pursue careers in primary care, and generally incentivizing med students who focus on primary care.”

“As we make peoples healthcare secure let us also secure our communities…. Mass Shootings capture headlines, but daily tragedies we see in towns and cities across the nation are just as tragic. Thirty Thousand Americans are killed by gun violence every year, the madness must end. I have given my thoughts and prayers to victims too many times but as great man once said ‘when you pray move your feet’. We need to move, we need to realize that we have options and ways to bring down gun violence without dismantling the second amendment which I respect. Ways to ensure criminals, terrorists and other dangerous individuals don’t get firearms. This is not about hunters, this is not about responsible gun owners looking to protect their family… This is about realizing that there is no good reason to own an assault rifle. If you buy a gun, no matter where or when, you should get a background check. The gun lobby owns many in Congress but they do not own the conscience of the American people.”

“As your Senator I will fight to ensure that no one who works full time will live in poverty, I will fight to raise the minimum wage, get better work scheduling, get paid family and medical leave, I will work towards giving every kid in America an opportunity to go to college without being buried under a mountain of debt, and for the debt that is owed now I will fight to make that burden easier.”

“As your Senator I will fight for retirement with dignity, an expansion of Social Security, Strengthening of Medicare and Retirement accounts, and to reform the ACA.”

“As your Senator I will fight against attempts to strip control of a woman’s body away from her. Defending a woman’s right to choose, supporting education and easier access to contraception is vital to promoting sexual health.”

“I grew up in a home full of strong women, I was raised by a single mom with the help of her mother. I have an incredible wife, I have 3 daughters I count myself blessed for every single day and I stand by my record fighting to give my girls a better life, a better country to call theirs. To make my mother proud and know that in heaven she is looking down and smiling on the work we do together.”

“I have supported a woman’s right to choose and have reproductive rights, I have fought for programs that empower women and young girls in this country and around the world, I have fought to help keep those who commit acts of violence against women accountable, I have fought against domestic abuse and for equal pay for equal work.”

“But I can do better… we can do better… we can always do better we can always go further and fight harder.”

“As long as women are thought of something less than, overworked and underpaid, just on their appearance and not their character, as long as they are subjected to violence and not to school… we cannot truly move forward.”

“There is no simple reform, no one magic pill, it is a revolution of the mind, heart and spirit. Of Policy and attitudes, of people willing to stand up to bigotry and discrimination. We must stand up to double standards and glass ceilings.”

“I am a religious man, and Christ said ‘he that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone’, teaching us that only the faultless have the right to pass judgement on others. With this as in all things no one is faultless, this is a Democratic problem, this is a Republican problem, this is a Progressive problem and this is an American Problem. The question is do you stand fight for something better.”

“I want my daughters to be free from prejudice, to be treated with respect. In the coming days we will have battles to fight, battles for better healthcare, for equal pay, for a women’s control over her own reproductive health. When we see evil, when we see injustice it is our duty to speak out, it is my duty to speak out.”

“We need stronger laws to govern Wall Street, we need to keep the 1% accountable and when banks get too big they need to be broken up, the people of this country and this state deserve someone who will hold their feet to the fire and make sure they are accountable. We deserve someone who will support trade deals that don’t just favor the big corporations, trade deals that don’t leave you in the dirt and left behind as the gap between rich and poor widens and the middle class disappears.”

“In too many places the poor are getting poorer, families who need help will find essential services cut, they will find healthcare cut and they need to ‘pull themselves up by their bootstraps’ while the boot of the 1% is on their back. Americans trapped in poverty, no hope of a job or education, many turning to drugs and gangs. We as a nation cannot abandon them, and as your Senator I swear I will fight for them.”

“Call it ‘trickle down’, call it ‘supply side economics’ but its the same story, the shining city is for the privileged few not America as a whole. But democrats have always fought for a different vision, a vision of a nation where we pursue new frontiers in education, healthcare, and prosperity, a nation where we all move forward to that new frontier together, where no-one is left behind.”

"To this end I want to reform and improve the Earned Income Tax Credit, and the Child Tax Credit. My goal is to make work pay, the EITC and Child Tax Credit is great for increasing employment and labor force participation, but they can be improved. I want to make the Child Tax Credit fully refundable for families with children under 17, increase the phase in rate to 50 for families with children under the age of 6. This could lift over a million people out of poverty."

“President Roosevelt said that our right to liberty as Americans included the ‘the right of every family to a decent home.’ If we are going to fulfill that right for all American’s we must pursue housing that is safe, secure and affordable. Without a good home no one can thrive, participate fully in our economy, our society. Housing is a basic human need and we have a moral responsibility as a society to ensure it is met.”

“We need to protect families from being displaced, preserve rental housing using incentives that keep rents low paired with renovation and credits for energy efficiency. We need to facilitate permitting for adding rental units to larger existing homes, especially for elderly homeowners. We must expand community ownership models like co-housing and housing trust while encouraging the construction, financing and preservation of owner occupied multifamily houses, creating ways of financing for working individuals and families. We need 21st century regulatory reform that understands home-sharing, protecting the income generating function of homeowners and protecting rental opportunities. Home rule petitions must be expedited allowing communities to experiment and lower costs.”

“To my republican friends out there I want them to come to the table with us on this. Affordable housing is not charity, its not government welfare, this is one of the bottom rungs on the ladder to security and prosperity for our families and our communities. Good housing improves child and maternal health, leads to better school performance, better jobs, the ability to accumulate savings and contribute to the nation.”

“Our nation, our republic will not work if we do not get out there and fight for what we believe in. Politicians from the President to the local dog catcher need to hear from you, they hear plenty from the 1% and Wall Street, from Super-Pacs and giant corporations and those who can fill their pockets and campaign chests. If we don’t speak now, make our voices heard, our politicians will ONLY work for the wealthy few.”

“So while I am asking for your vote, but more importantly asking for your engagement. I hope that when election day comes you put a check mark next to my name on a ballot, but should you decide that you disagree I hope that you still get involved. Raise the level of debate and discourse, demand the highest standards not just from your elected officials but from those who elect them. Do not take your vote for granted, your country needs you, your nation needs you, and those who do not have the chance to vote need you.”

“Our state has a strong Irish tradition, and the Irish tell the story of a man reaching the gates of heaven asking to be let in, St. Peter says ‘of course just show us your scars’ to which the man replies ‘Scars? I have no scars’ St. Peter says ‘what a pity, was there nothing worth fighting for?”

“In the days to come we will accomplish much, we will push our state and our nation continually forward, but no progress worth making has ever been made with self sacrifice, personal suffering and sometimes even death. Find your truth, fight for it, pray and move your feet, show others the path forward by blazing the trail.”

“We are STRONGER TOGETHER, that means everyone who works hard has an equal shot at America’s promise, at joining the middle class and having a better life. We are STRONGER TOGETHER yet so many of our corporate and political leaders seem content to pursue their own self interest, leaving so many hard working Americans struggling and without a fair shot. So lets not give up now, abandon our dreams to dark apathy we are STRONGER TOGETHER and we can achieve the American Dream.”

“Together we can accomplish great things, I pray you join me, I pray you stand and march forward with me, and one day we will have built a country worthy of the principles we were founded on. Thank you, God bless America and God bless the Great State of Massachusetts.”

[Prolieum]

u/AubreyMaeReed

That's all the time I have for now, but this has been a pretty good experience, and I hope you enjoyed it too. Thank you to everyone who asked questions, sorry if I missed you, and God bless!

[Prolieum]

Amaras Residence, Keokuk, Iowa

"I doubt that," Amaras scoffed.

"Still, there is not anything wrong with giving a new food a try, even if you go back to the staples," Linda Sue offered politely.

[Prolieum]

Drumthwacket, Princeton, New Jersey

"Excellent. Governor Di Pietro will be a great help. From my dealings with him, I believe that he can be a very open, generous man, especially when cooperating with friends, and understanding how much New York stands to gain from where it stands at the end of the line." Hotchkiss's tone shifted slightly through the sentences, hinting at the meaning, as she tailed off near the end to recover her breath.

[Dentali]

Drumthwacket, Princeton, New Jersey

"Excellent. Governor Di Pietro will be a great help. From my dealings with him, I believe that he can be a very open, generous man, especially when cooperating with friends, and understanding how much New York stands to gain from where it stands at the end of the line." Hotchkiss's tone shifted slightly through the sentences, hinting at the meaning, as she tailed off near the end to recover her breath.

"I think we can get Di Pietro to help fund the track more in proportion to the benefit to his state rather than actual amount of track."

[The Orion Islands]

Wilson Town Hall, Half-Acre Gym, Laramie, Wyoming.
"Hello Laramie! Today I will answer all of your questions about what I stand for, what I intend to do in Congress, and my new idea for a regulatory review commission. Now I would like to announce this idea for the first time. As you know, coal, oil, and cattle are suffering under regulations that have killed hundreds of jobs and cost you and your families billions of dollars in lost raises to lost sales to lost profits. Here is how I intend to fix this. My idea is that the President shall appoint with the advice and consent of the Senate 12 commissioners to the new Federal Commission on Regulatory Review. These 12 commissioners will be experts in economics, health, and ethics. Their job will be to review all federal regulations. Their duty will be to determine if a regulation protects human health or property, is related to requiring good business practices, or reasonable environmental protection. If it does not, the Commision will be empowered to amend the regulation to fit within the criteria or repeal it where such regulation is not mandated by Congress. Agriculture alone loses $1 trillion to regulations, with at least hundreds of millions from that coming from Wyoming. That money belongs to you. I intend to give it to you."

[Dentali]

Wilson Town Hall, Half-Acre Gym, Laramie, Wyoming.
"Hello Laramie! Today I will answer all of your questions about what I stand for, what I intend to do in Congress, and my new idea for a regulatory review commission. Now I would like to announce this idea for the first time. As you know, coal, oil, and cattle are suffering under regulations that have killed hundreds of jobs and cost you and your families billions of dollars in lost raises to lost sales to lost profits. Here is how I intend to fix this. My idea is that the President shall appoint with the advice and consent of the Senate 12 commissioners to the new Federal Commission on Regulatory Review. These 12 commissioners will be experts in economics, health, and ethics. Their job will be to review all federal regulations. Their duty will be to determine if a regulation protects human health or property, is related to requiring good business practices, or reasonable environmental protection. If it does not, the Commision will be empowered to amend the regulation to fit within the criteria or repeal it where such regulation is not mandated by Congress. Agriculture alone loses $1 trillion to regulations, with at least hundreds of millions from that coming from Wyoming. That money belongs to you. I intend to give it to you."

"You opposed the Dudley tax, but now the strike has been broken by it. Are you ready to admit you were wrong?"