The Land of the Free: American Political Roleplay (IC II)

[Gordano and Lysandus]

She was a little more reassured. This was something she agreed with him on. But as an attorney, it would always be her job to play devil’s advocate, even if she loathed that term.

“What if it causes the Republican Party to lose for 20 years and we lose that many more years of unborn babies to abortion? Is it worth it then?”

She didn’t ask it critically, but like she was seeing what his response would be, if he was asked by any other politician.

"We can continue to fight abortion, at the state level and in the courts. I have faith in the conservative justices, especially those nominated by President Wolf, to fight the surge in judicial acti-..." He chuckled, shaking his head. "You've got me doing debate prep, Martha. I'm not bringing up my crusade to end voter suppression until I'm in office."

[Gordano and Lysandus]

“Believe me. I’m not. But it’s just easier to not deal with them. They’re so set in their ways that they won’t change. They’ll keep being jackasses, and I’ll keep my head down and get my work done.”

"You'd be surprised what good exposing them to a homosexual colleague can do." She sighed. "This Iran business has totally derailed the gun bill."

[Titanne]

“Believe me. I’m not. But it’s just easier to not deal with them. They’re so set in their ways that they won’t change. They’ll keep being jackasses, and I’ll keep my head down and get my work done.”

"You'd be surprised what good exposing them to a homosexual colleague can do." She sighed. "This Iran business has totally derailed the gun bill."

“You’re right. With Sullivan in charge, it won’t pass. And the Mark Allen incident won’t help it either.

[Gordano and Lysandus]

“You’re right. With Sullivan in charge, it won’t pass. And the Mark Allen incident won’t help it either.

"Sullivan's supporting the gun bill. The question is whether we can sufficiently pressure either (not-Collins) or Guerrera."

[Velahor]

She was a little more reassured. This was something she agreed with him on. But as an attorney, it would always be her job to play devil’s advocate, even if she loathed that term.

“What if it causes the Republican Party to lose for 20 years and we lose that many more years of unborn babies to abortion? Is it worth it then?”

She didn’t ask it critically, but like she was seeing what his response would be, if he was asked by any other politician.

"We can continue to fight abortion, at the state level and in the courts. I have faith in the conservative justices, especially those nominated by President Wolf, to fight the surge in judicial acti-..." He chuckled, shaking his head. "You've got me doing debate prep, Martha. I'm not bringing up my crusade to end voter suppression until I'm in office."

She chuckled and smiled.

“You’re a natural Jonah, you’re going to do great. So...what are you thinking about?”

[Titanne]

“You’re right. With Sullivan in charge, it won’t pass. And the Mark Allen incident won’t help it either.

"Sullivan's supporting the gun bill. The question is whether we can sufficiently pressure either (not-Collins) or Guerrera."

“Oh, she is? I wouldn’t have expected that. But not-Collins won’t flip. She’s not really a moderate, in my opinion. It’s all just an act to get her re-elected.”

[Gordano and Lysandus]

She chuckled and smiled.

“You’re a natural Jonah, you’re going to do great. So...what are you thinking about?”

"You weren't with me when I went to Puerto Rico, Martha. It's..." He shook his head, looking very cerebral in the moment. "It's a US territory and yet it's like a South American slum. These people are dying. They've been abandoned. We've abandoned. I can't see how the way our party and our President has treated them is consistent with a Christian life."

[Gordano and Lysandus]

“Oh, she is? I wouldn’t have expected that. But not-Collins won’t flip. She’s not really a moderate, in my opinion. It’s all just an act to get her re-elected.”

"It sucks. But still, if we can just about smudge a 50-50 split, it drags the Vice President into the mess, makes news and gets lots of egg on the GOP's face. We can line up to win the next election, shove through the gun package and then we've achieved something at last."

[Titanne]

“Oh, she is? I wouldn’t have expected that. But not-Collins won’t flip. She’s not really a moderate, in my opinion. It’s all just an act to get her re-elected.”

"It sucks. But still, if we can just about smudge a 50-50 split, it drags the Vice President into the mess, makes news and gets lots of egg on the GOP's face. We can line up to win the next election, shove through the gun package and then we've achieved something at last."

“I hope so. It feels like we’re stuck fighting the same battles that other progressives across the modern world won years ago. Abortion, gun control...

[Velahor]

She chuckled and smiled.

“You’re a natural Jonah, you’re going to do great. So...what are you thinking about?”

"You weren't with me when I went to Puerto Rico, Martha. It's..." He shook his head, looking very cerebral in the moment. "It's a US territory and yet it's like a South American slum. These people are dying. They've been abandoned. We've abandoned. I can't see how the way our party and our President has treated them is consistent with a Christian life."

“I agree on that. Actually, my one of my paralegals went on a mission trip there, it sounds like it’s terrible. I’ve usually thought private charity was enough for this kind of thing. But I don’t think it is...the pictures she showed us...it’s a nightmare.”

She looked a bit upset about it, like it was a reality she was unprepared to face.

“Can he who hates justice govern? Will you condemn the just and mighty One? Is he not the One who says to kings, ‘You are worthless,’ and to nobles, ‘You are wicked,’ who shows no partiality to princes and does not favor the rich over the poor, for they are all the work of his hands?”

She cited verse, as was common for her when things got philosophical. She had an encyclopedic mind full of the Bible and the laws of the United States.

She then paused before asking him, “you will lead in that fashion. I know it.”

[Gordano and Lysandus]

“I hope so. It feels like we’re stuck fighting the same battles that other progressives across the modern world won years ago. Abortion, gun control...

"Our country is backwards, and it sucks. It really sucks. But we're going to win that battle eventually. It might not be in my lifetime but I know you'll see it. I'm damn sure of it."

[Titanne]

“I hope so. It feels like we’re stuck fighting the same battles that other progressives across the modern world won years ago. Abortion, gun control...

"Our country is backwards, and it sucks. It really sucks. But we're going to win that battle eventually. It might not be in my lifetime but I know you'll see it. I'm damn sure of it."

“If things go our way, you’ll live to see it as well. All it takes is a good election, and we can make positive change. And if the Republicans nominate Porter or Paulson? That change could be soon.”

[Gordano and Lysandus]

“I agree on that. Actually, my one of my paralegals went on a mission trip there, it sounds like it’s terrible. I’ve usually thought private charity was enough for this kind of thing. But I don’t think it is...the pictures she showed us...it’s a nightmare.”

She looked a bit upset about it, like it was a reality she was unprepared to face.

“Can he who hates justice govern? Will you condemn the just and mighty One? Is he not the One who says to kings, ‘You are worthless,’ and to nobles, ‘You are wicked,’ who shows no partiality to princes and does not favor the rich over the poor, for they are all the work of his hands?”

She cited verse, as was common for her when things got philosophical. She had an encyclopedic mind full of the Bible and the laws of the United States.

She then paused before asking him, “you will lead in that fashion. I know it.”

"I worry that the Party has fallen too far into the hands of donors and sheer, naked corporatism and has forgotten what it means to be compassionate. To be a healer. It is not incompatible to believe that the day-to-day operation of the United States should be on conservative principles, but that an emergency should be responded to... as an emergency." He smiled softly at Martha, warmed by her Biblical spiel. "I know this all sounds profoundly ironic coming from me, as a sheer corporatist and donor but... there's a difference between wanting to keep coal mines open and profitable, and wanting to leave Puerto Ricans to die because it is not convenient for us to give them the help they need."

[Gordano and Lysandus]

“If things go our way, you’ll live to see it as well. All it takes is a good election, and we can make positive change. And if the Republicans nominate Porter or Paulson? That change could be soon.”

"Oh, if the Republicans nominate Porter and we pick Veléz, it'll be glorious."

[Sarenium]

"I won Virginia statewide, twice, by flipping the longtime Republican suburbs and running up the margins among inner-city voters," she replied, "we win back Florida, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin by bringing back a desire to turnout from among Miami, Milwaukee, Detroit and Philadelphia. We also make North Carolina, Arizona, Ohio and Georgia competitive by running up the inner cities while we bring out the suburbs. Whoever is the nominee, has embraced the ideology of Wolfism, my record as Governor survived to a Senate term because Virginia's Republicans recognized real substantive action that benefits them, we can do that nationally."

"I see. How would you appeal to those voters to make them turn out?"

"We stand more than simply holding the Presidency, of all my competitors, Murphy and Westra would scare the moderates and Republicans into voting against us, while Mike stands on a record bought by donations, our biggest drawcard in the midwest is relatability, we don't win when we are as out of touch appearing as Republicans. Baharia beat not-Romney by painting him as a man with a silver spoon up his rear, humility, policy and vision will take us to the White House. Without sounding too arrogant to meet the first criteria, I'm the only serious candidate who can tick all three boxes, retaining suburban voters and bringing out inner-city voters. I didn't win Virginia's Third by neglecting the voters Clifford did, I didn't win Richmond or now a ticket to D.C. by neglecting those voters, I intend to win just as I have before by reassembling a broad coalition of voters that propelled us to victories in the midterms," she declared in a prematurely triumphant way.

[Titanne]

“If things go our way, you’ll live to see it as well. All it takes is a good election, and we can make positive change. And if the Republicans nominate Porter or Paulson? That change could be soon.”

"Oh, if the Republicans nominate Porter and we pick Veléz, it'll be glorious."

Felix chuckled.

"As much as I like Jillian, Velez is stronger electorally."

[Gordano and Lysandus]

Felix chuckled.

"As much as I like Jillian, Velez is stronger electorally."

"Oh no, I like Jillian too, but Veléz is stronger in Florida and a Republican straight out won't win without Florida. I don't think Florida is totally secure if it's Veléz though."

[Titanne]

Felix chuckled.

"As much as I like Jillian, Velez is stronger electorally."

"Oh no, I like Jillian too, but Veléz is stronger in Florida and a Republican straight out won't win without Florida. I don't think Florida is totally secure if it's Veléz though."

"If we learned anything from Clifford, it's that you can't take anything for granted. But as Florida and Texas and the likes swing blue, it'll become impossible for Republicans to win anything anymore.

[Gordano and Lysandus]

"If we learned anything from Clifford, it's that you can't take anything for granted. But as Florida and Texas and the likes swing blue, it'll become impossible for Republicans to win anything anymore.

"They'll be forced to pivot on something... I wonder what'll break first. The racism, the homophobia, the misogyny..." She shook her head. "I fought hard for Diane. She deserved better." Lest one forgot Caroline's fondness for the former Secretary of State.

[Velahor]

“I agree on that. Actually, my one of my paralegals went on a mission trip there, it sounds like it’s terrible. I’ve usually thought private charity was enough for this kind of thing. But I don’t think it is...the pictures she showed us...it’s a nightmare.”

She looked a bit upset about it, like it was a reality she was unprepared to face.

“Can he who hates justice govern? Will you condemn the just and mighty One? Is he not the One who says to kings, ‘You are worthless,’ and to nobles, ‘You are wicked,’ who shows no partiality to princes and does not favor the rich over the poor, for they are all the work of his hands?”

She cited verse, as was common for her when things got philosophical. She had an encyclopedic mind full of the Bible and the laws of the United States.

She then paused before asking him, “you will lead in that fashion. I know it.”

"I worry that the Party has fallen too far into the hands of donors and sheer, naked corporatism and has forgotten what it means to be compassionate. To be a healer. It is not incompatible to believe that the day-to-day operation of the United States should be on conservative principles, but that an emergency should be responded to... as an emergency." He smiled softly at Martha, warmed by her Biblical spiel. "I know this all sounds profoundly ironic coming from me, as a sheer corporatist and donor but... there's a difference between wanting to keep coal mines open and profitable, and wanting to leave Puerto Ricans to die because it is not convenient for us to give them the help they need."

“In my mind, it’s the same thing,” she said with a subtle smile.

“You provided jobs and livelihoods to men who if they didn’t have those jobs, could be joining the ranks of those unemployed and pill-addicted. Don’t be too hard on yourself for that, you’ve done what you had to do to keep creating jobs. We are in the image of our Creator, and to follow in his image is to create things on this Earth, that’s why God admires the entrepreneur, but not the greedy man. You’ve given generously throughout your life, you tithe, you are not greedy and I can see it in your spirit now.”

“But I agree with you. It’s time to create something for the people of Puerto Rico. I don’t know if it’s statehood, but it’s definitely aid, jobs, livelihoods, homes, and a stable economy. We can save them, and save this country together, and steer America straight again. It’s our purpose, and our duty in this life.”

[Titanne]

"If we learned anything from Clifford, it's that you can't take anything for granted. But as Florida and Texas and the likes swing blue, it'll become impossible for Republicans to win anything anymore.

"They'll be forced to pivot on something... I wonder what'll break first. The racism, the homophobia, the misogyny..." She shook her head. "I fought hard for Diane. She deserved better." Lest one forgot Caroline's fondness for the former Secretary of State.

"Indeed she did. As for what the Republicans will change, depending on what happens in the future, I think the misogyny or homophobia. Maybe the latter, but I don't know."

[Gordano and Lysandus]

“In my mind, it’s the same thing,” she said with a subtle smile.

“You provided jobs and livelihoods to men who if they didn’t have those jobs, could be joining the ranks of those unemployed and pill-addicted. Don’t be too hard on yourself for that, you’ve done what you had to do to keep creating jobs. We are in the image of our Creator, and to follow in his image is to create things on this Earth, that’s why God admires the entrepreneur, but not the greedy man. You’ve given generously throughout your life, you tithe, you are not greedy and I can see it in your spirit now.”

“But I agree with you. It’s time to create something for the people of Puerto Rico. I don’t know if it’s statehood, but it’s definitely aid, jobs, livelihoods, homes, and a stable economy. We can save them, and save this country together, and steer America straight again. It’s our purpose, and our duty in this life.”

"Martha, you've always filled me with righteous determination. You uplift my soul, truly, you do." He went to give her a soft kiss. "Truly, no man has been so blessed in marriage as I."

[Gordano and Lysandus]

"Indeed she did. As for what the Republicans will change, depending on what happens in the future, I think the misogyny or homophobia. Maybe the latter, but I don't know."

"Well, I've not met any gay Republicans lately."

[Titanne]

"Indeed she did. As for what the Republicans will change, depending on what happens in the future, I think the misogyny or homophobia. Maybe the latter, but I don't know."

"Well, I've not met any gay Republicans lately."

"Fair point, although I'm sure a few are in the closet."

Obviously, Felix knew of one who was, so there was an awkward pause in between his words.

[Gordano and Lysandus]

"Fair point, although I'm sure a few are in the closet."

Obviously, Felix knew of one who was, so there was an awkward pause in between his words.

"I don't get how someone could sit in the midst of all that intolerance and choose to be a part of it. It's why I find Senator (not-Tim Scott) so baffling..."