The Land Of The Free: An American Political Roleplay (IC)

[The World Capitalist Confederation]

Goldman saw a ping on her phone, noted the headline, and typed a reminder to contact Volek and the other Democratic moderates soon.

"So you're talking about Iran being a terrorist state? This seems very concerning. There has been little Shi'ite terrorist activity - bar the usual suspects of Hezbollah and whatnot, so I don't think we're going to get an Iranian Islamic State any time soon..."

“No Senator you misheard me, I’m was saying this is not just another Middle Eastern state. I’m talking about our good friend Nicolas Maduro.”

"A war in Venezuela would be very hard to win, Congressman. The country is half jungle, the government is still decently popular - although we wouldn't normally let that slip - and quite frankly the American people are far too focused on Iran to care about the Monroe Doctrine."

[Gordano and Lysandus]

Rep. Carrie Simone
@SimoneNY12

---

The President has the prerogative to make a proportionate response to the Iranian attack on a US military asset in the Persian Gulf, and Congress will soon consider sanctions measures to address the Iranian aggression, but the President does not have the right to initiate a full-scale conflict with Iran, and I would counsel him heavily against doing so.

[Azekopolaltion]

Tim Westra
@WestraNJ
timwestra.com

---

The President's recent tweets are rash, unrestrained, and they make me feel highly concerned about whether advisors in the DoD and State have appropriate control over this highly sensitive situation. We must not take any steps that endanger American national security and put more soldiers at risk of getting involved in another never-ending war. #NoWarWithIran

[Titanne]

Felix returned the smile, nodding. He continued to eat the venison, taking a sip of his drink.

Theo continued eating too, smiling.

"So, what did you want to come over for?"

"We need to talk about what happened. I... just feel more comfortable talking to people in person."

[Velahor]

Interstate 15, somewhere near the California/Nevada line

“F*CK!!!” screamed Congresswoman Paulson from the back room of the campaign tour bus.

Her staffers came running back to the room, where she sat alone as she was supposed to be writing her speech for the upcoming rally in Garden Grove, California based on the points her Asian affairs consultant had written up.

“Diane, what seems to be the matter?” one of her assistants asked.

“I think we’re going to war against Iran...f*ck...f*ck...no...God it can’t be...no...” she said, nearly hyperventilating.

Diane had a comfortable House seat in the early 2000’s. Then 9/11 happened, and her anti-war brand of Republicanism led her to take a number of stands that eventually led to a primary challenge and her first retirement. Paulson liked her job, she liked it a lot, but if America went to war again, she might anger a lot of Republicans with her pro-peace platform. This wasn’t good for the campaign, nor was it good for her relationships with her colleagues, and not good for the country either.

She quickly texted Congressman Vohoffsky:

Theo...I think we’re going to war. Call me.

Then she texted Eliza Wolf, whose number she’d obtained in their last meeting:

Eliza...sorry to bother you...but did your husband just tweet that we’re going to bomb Iran? That’s what it sounds like.

Meanwhile, Diane’s assistant was hard at work, as they had prepared for another one of Diane’s episodes. As an organic farmer, Diane was quite privy to “natural remedies” for these little episodes of anxiety she experienced. Quickly, someone got her CBD chocolates and a lavender essential oil spray. They also got out the unopened bottle of Clonazepam, which the doctor said Diane should take if she had another one of these anxiety attacks. Paulson was guided over to the bedroom area of the bus, where she laid down on the bed and was soon brought a cold glass of ice water, and a pair of headphones to listen to music.

Diane breathed heavily. She put in the headphones, but skipped right over the “Calming Rain Noises” playlist...and instead put on “Late 60’s Protest Rock”. She calmed down, as her anxiety turned to anger and annoyance. She closed her eyes, and in her mind, was brought back to 1969 all over again. It was a memory she visited rarely, but a memory that was as vivid as ever when she was forced to confront it.

If there was going to be a war abroad, there would be a war at home first...

Vohoffsky heard a ping, and quickly texted off a message to Paulson.

Just calm down. Very few Americans support military action against Iran. The President will have to back down soon. After all, his paleocon base hate war just as much as we do.

Felix returned the smile, nodding. He continued to eat the venison, taking a sip of his drink.

Theo continued eating too, smiling.

"So, what did you want to come over for?"

A long Jimi Hendrix guitar solo played on the headphones as Diane laid there on the tour bus single bed, phone on her chest, when she felt it buzz. She texted Vohoffsky back.

You saw the tweet right?

[The World Capitalist Confederation]

Vohoffsky heard a ping, and quickly texted off a message to Paulson.

Just calm down. Very few Americans support military action against Iran. The President will have to back down soon. After all, his paleocon base hate war just as much as we do.

Theo continued eating too, smiling.

"So, what did you want to come over for?"

A long Jimi Hendrix guitar solo played on the headphones as Diane laid there on the tour bus single bed, phone on her chest, when she felt it buzz. She texted Vohoffsky back.

You saw the tweet right?

No, but look - the President's base are paleoconservatives. Just imagine Woodrow Wilson- Actually, don't imagine Woodrow Wilson. Imagine Eisenhower. Hang on, you might actually have a point. But yes, war in Iran is still relatively unpopular, so just stand against it and enjoy your life.

[Meelducan]

Senator Michelle Brown
@MichelleBrownWY

---

Iran knows very clearly where we stand. For too long they have bullied our Allies in the Middle East, AMERICA SAYS NO MORE!

[The World Capitalist Confederation]

Theo continued eating too, smiling.

"So, what did you want to come over for?"

"We need to talk about what happened. I... just feel more comfortable talking to people in person."

"Alright, go ahead, what do you want to talk about."

[Gordano and Lysandus]

Senator Augusta Merriam
@NHSenatorMerriam

---

It is my sincere hope that Iran comes to understand the gravity of its actions in the Persian Gulf, and why America cannot sit by as an idle spectator in those events. An escalation is not desirable from either side, and a return to diplomatic discourse much preferred. But America must not fail to uphold its duty to sustain the international legal order, and Iran's Gulf piracy is a violation of that order.

[Gordano and Lysandus]

John Nathan Lynskey
@JNLynskeyMA

---

Lashing out at Iran is going to be the precursor to ten more years of Middle Eastern war. Wars that the American people have made clear time and again they are tired of and angry about. Congress should restrain the President's military powers before something stupid happens that will cost American lives.

[The World Capitalist Confederation]

Bernard J. Porter
@BerniePorter

We must work to ensure that American interests are defended in the region and that we do not embroil ourselves in a conflict that we cannot win. This is not to say that we ought to roll over - but rather that we are to look at sanctions, a possible blockade, or, if the situation is escalated further by the Iranians, a possible air campaign. My current stance is on the first of those, but the situation is a very precarious one.

[Titanne]

"We need to talk about what happened. I... just feel more comfortable talking to people in person."

"Alright, go ahead, what do you want to talk about."

"Well, I can't tell anyone else this stuff, because it would mean outing you, which is just against my personal values."

Felix was thinking out loud, running his ideas and thoughts by Vohoffsky.

"But at the same time, I feel like I need to come clean to my husband, and can't."

[The World Capitalist Confederation]

"Alright, go ahead, what do you want to talk about."

"Well, I can't tell anyone else this stuff, because it would mean outing you, which is just against my personal values."

Felix was thinking out loud, running his ideas and thoughts by Vohoffsky.

"But at the same time, I feel like I need to come clean to my husband, and can't."

"Tell him once I'm out, if that time ever happens. That's the rational option, but probably not the moral option in your view."

[Titanne]

"Well, I can't tell anyone else this stuff, because it would mean outing you, which is just against my personal values."

Felix was thinking out loud, running his ideas and thoughts by Vohoffsky.

"But at the same time, I feel like I need to come clean to my husband, and can't."

"Tell him once I'm out, if that time ever happens. That's the rational option, but probably not the moral option in your view."

"No..." Felix mused.

"There's no way for me to tell him without revealing your sexuality, which I'm just not comfortable doing. Either I out you and live with the guilt of doing that, or don't, and live with the guilt of cheating on my husband."

He frowned a bit, trying to think.

[Velahor]

A long Jimi Hendrix guitar solo played on the headphones as Diane laid there on the tour bus single bed, phone on her chest, when she felt it buzz. She texted Vohoffsky back.

You saw the tweet right?

No, but look - the President's base are paleoconservatives. Just imagine Woodrow Wilson- Actually, don't imagine Woodrow Wilson. Imagine Eisenhower. Hang on, you might actually have a point. But yes, war in Iran is still relatively unpopular, so just stand against it and enjoy your life.

Midway through her mouthing along the lyrics to “Gimme Shelter” by The Rolling Stones, she felt the phone buzz again and texted Theo back.

His base is Republican, and Republicans voted for Iraq. Be prepared for a battle on this one...there’s a time to take a stand for human life, and that time is now.

An advisor peeked their head in the room.

“Diane...how are you holding up? Please stay off of Twitter for a bit, until you’re calmed down.”

“I’m fine,” said Diane passively.

[Kargintina the Third]

“No Senator you misheard me, I’m was saying this is not just another Middle Eastern state. I’m talking about our good friend Nicolas Maduro.”

"A war in Venezuela would be very hard to win, Congressman. The country is half jungle, the government is still decently popular - although we wouldn't normally let that slip - and quite frankly the American people are far too focused on Iran to care about the Monroe Doctrine."

“A war with Iran would be exponentially more disastrous than Venezuela, with Iran having one of the world’s top fifteen strongest military. Venezuela is less than 2000 miles from Florida. Putin has already shown he has no regards for our sanctions against the country, how long until we have a Second Cuban Missile Crisis in our hands?”

[The World Capitalist Confederation]

"A war in Venezuela would be very hard to win, Congressman. The country is half jungle, the government is still decently popular - although we wouldn't normally let that slip - and quite frankly the American people are far too focused on Iran to care about the Monroe Doctrine."

“A war with Iran would be exponentially more disastrous than Venezuela, with Iran having one of the world’s top fifteen strongest military. Venezuela is less than 2000 miles from Florida. Putin has already shown he has no regards for our sanctions against the country, how long until we have a Second Cuban Missile Crisis in our hands?”

"Well, this time, let's try not to attack Soviet nuclear ships. Kennedy got off good with that one...We need someone good with foreign policy to get something passed to our UN ambassador. Although I'd certainly say that Venezuela will be much harder. Iran will be a second Iraq but larger. Venezuela will be a second Vietnam. Iran is responding much better to sanctions though...I think what's happening is that we sanction Venezuela, the Venezuelan government spreads propaganda, blames the suffering on us, and therefore can whitewash all their political and economic failures. We need to look into supporting rebel groups rather than sanctions, I think. They are a threat to the Monroe Doctrine and we need to take care of that."

[Alozia]

"Bye-bye," the President said, not looking up from his phone, much like a teenager.

And with that, Secretary Berentsen left the Oval Office and - with a slightly brisker marching pace than usual - went to leave the West Wing. Feeling distinctly unnerved, he went to call from his cell through to the DoD switchboard and started the call as soon as he left the building and got into his car to take him back to the Pentagon. "Put me through to the Vice President, please."

"This is the Vice President speaking, how can I help you Secretary?" Tawney replied upon picking up the phone.

[Gordano and Lysandus]

"This is the Vice President speaking, how can I help you Secretary?" Tawney replied upon picking up the phone.

"Mr. Vice President, have you seen the plan the President's signed off on implementing as our response to the drone incident in the Gulf?"

[The World Capitalist Confederation]

"Tell him once I'm out, if that time ever happens. That's the rational option, but probably not the moral option in your view."

"No..." Felix mused.

"There's no way for me to tell him without revealing your sexuality, which I'm just not comfortable doing. Either I out you and live with the guilt of doing that, or don't, and live with the guilt of cheating on my husband."

He frowned a bit, trying to think.

"I said do it when I am out, of course. When I do it on my own terms, then you can tell him."

[Titanne]

"No..." Felix mused.

"There's no way for me to tell him without revealing your sexuality, which I'm just not comfortable doing. Either I out you and live with the guilt of doing that, or don't, and live with the guilt of cheating on my husband."

He frowned a bit, trying to think.

"I said do it when I am out, of course. When I do it on my own terms, then you can tell him."

Felix nodded.

"Have you told anyone yet?"

[The World Capitalist Confederation]

"I said do it when I am out, of course. When I do it on my own terms, then you can tell him."

Felix nodded.

"Have you told anyone yet?"

"Not yet. I don't see any reason to."

[Agarntrop]

Barry Anderson @MissouriPeoplesSenator Dirty Dem SHIFTY SHARANSKY turns out to be as CORRUPT as we all thought! No Suprise!

Barry Anderson @MissouriPeoplesSenator We must send Iran a message to NOT ATTACK OUR ASSETS.

[Titanne]

Felix nodded.

"Have you told anyone yet?"

"Not yet. I don't see any reason to."

“Do things at your own pace, but... trust me, it’ll feel good to get it off your chest.”

[Agarntrop]

John Atang @JohnAtangNY3 #NoWarWithIran