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

[Kargintina the Third]

(Image)
Karen Brookshire
@BrookshireGal

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Mr. Mark Allen has his #freedom once again! Very harmful accusations against a GOOD FAMILY MAN!

Liked and retweeted by Tenson

[Velahor]

(Image)
Karen Brookshire
@BrookshireGal

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Mr. Mark Allen has his #freedom once again! Very harmful accusations against a GOOD FAMILY MAN!

Liked and retweeted by @DianeForLiberty

[Sanabel]

“Electability is important, Congressman. We only have one shot to beat Wolfism, and we can’t shit the bed, if you’ll pardon my language. We need someone who has proven they can re-assemble the Baharia coalition and win.”

He shifted in his seat, leaning in toward the other man.

“The field is decent this year, and it’s a field of firsts. Dayton would be the first woman president. Spellman would be the first President with no political experience. We have some really new and innovative ideas. But like I said, we have to win first and foremost. Congressman, I am the only candidate in the field who has won elections in a Wolf state, by turning out people of color and winning over suburban white folks. That is a winning playbook for not just Florida, but Arizona, North Carolina, and even Georgia, as Sally Fields showed. I worked for weeks on end with Suraj Shah and campaigned for him across Texas, and we won, proving that it’s a winning playbook there too. A Velez ticket would expand the map.”

He leaned back and crossed his arms. “We need to rebuild the blue wall and take back the Midwest, as you pointed out. President Baharia did well in the Midwest. Sure, he was from there. But he also saw record turnout of African American and Hispanic voters. Those voters did not turn out for Clifford, and fundamentally that is why she lost. She couldn’t run up the margins in places like Milwaukee, Detroit, Cleveland, and Philadelphia. The Velez ticket would not make that mistake.”

Crawford nodded in approval. "You are completely correct, Governor. I find it irritating how candidates like Murphy think they can completely ignore the Baharia Coalition and win the election. I do want to thank you as well for helping Shah win in Texas." He paused briefly. "What is your plan to deal with Police violence against African-Americans? How will you address the systemic racism in our criminal justice system and our economy? This is a big deal to me since it's how I got my career started in the first place, and I'm interested in hearing your take."

“I agree. And unlike the other candidates, I have proven I can assemble the Baharia coalition to win in a red state. I appreciate your question about the African American community. I have long advocated for social justice and a hand up for all communities facing historic oppression. Just this year I effectively decriminalized recreational marijuana in the state of Florida, created a plan to begin the release of nonviolent drug offenders who are disproportionately African American and Hispanic, and re-enfranchised millions of ex-convicts who replayed their debt to society and deserve the right to vote.”

He shuffled some papers on the desk, and pulled out a pamphlet on the Bridges Plan, and slid it over to the Representative.

“Here, take this. It’s a copy of the Bridges Plan, which seeks to rectify systemic racism in our criminal justice system and the economy. It will bring sentencing reform, de-segregation of our public school systems, explore further the best way in which to provide reparations for the legacy of slavery and Jim Crow. Most importantly, it sets aside billions of dollars of the federal budget every year for communities faced by generational poverty, which are disproportionately African American. It is the only extensive plan proposed by any candidate seeking to enact change toward social justice that has been endorsed by prominent African American lawmakers like now former Senator Little, Representative Atang who is a surrogate of mine, and Senator Moore who has endorsed my candidacy.”

[Gordano and Lysandus]

“Evangelicals it is. I know a lot of people whose voices mean a lot to our fellow Christians, if we can convince somebody to make a statement on how his beliefs contradict with Christianity, we can hurt his chances.”

"Let's see if you can lobby them then. I can come give a speech here and there, at Liberty, for the Federalists et cetera." He smiled softly. "I hope my opponent is Murphy and not Veléz."

[Velahor]

“Evangelicals it is. I know a lot of people whose voices mean a lot to our fellow Christians, if we can convince somebody to make a statement on how his beliefs contradict with Christianity, we can hurt his chances.”

"Let's see if you can lobby them then. I can come give a speech here and there, at Liberty, for the Federalists et cetera." He smiled softly. "I hope my opponent is Murphy and not Veléz."

"Why do you say that?" she asked, curiously.

[Gordano and Lysandus]

"Why do you say that?" she asked, curiously.

"I'll have to put in more legwork in Florida with Veléz than Murphy, and Murphy also comfortably hands me Arizona... Without those, my pathway to the White House is steeper."

[Velahor]

"Why do you say that?" she asked, curiously.

"I'll have to put in more legwork in Florida with Veléz than Murphy, and Murphy also comfortably hands me Arizona... Without those, my pathway to the White House is steeper."

“Then we need to get you to Florida. I know people there who can help our cause.”

She smiled.

“We should speak at Bob Jones University in South Carolina together. It would be nice, we need to take South Carolina away from Richardson.”

[Gordano and Lysandus]

“Then we need to get you to Florida. I know people there who can help our cause.”

She smiled.

“We should speak at Bob Jones University in South Carolina together. It would be nice, we need to take South Carolina away from Richardson.”

"That sounds like a good idea. Next time I swing by South Carolina, in a couple of weeks' time, we can hit that. For the rest of this week, it's Nevada and Colorado. Then next week is Arizona, California, then hitting Cascadia."

[Velahor]

“Then we need to get you to Florida. I know people there who can help our cause.”

She smiled.

“We should speak at Bob Jones University in South Carolina together. It would be nice, we need to take South Carolina away from Richardson.”

"That sounds like a good idea. Next time I swing by South Carolina, in a couple of weeks' time, we can hit that. For the rest of this week, it's Nevada and Colorado. Then next week is Arizona, California, then hitting Cascadia."

She was silent for a bit. The plane caught a bit of turbulence, and she noticed.

“This Mark Allen thing...did you have any clue that he had illegal guns when you went to visit him? He just seemed like an upstanding if over-enthusiastic veteran. But a grenade launcher...the only thing I can think is if he’s an FFL dealer and can sell to the police. Still...it’s weird.”

[Gordano and Lysandus]

She was silent for a bit. The plane caught a bit of turbulence, and she noticed.

“This Mark Allen thing...did you have any clue that he had illegal guns when you went to visit him? He just seemed like an upstanding if over-enthusiastic veteran. But a grenade launcher...the only thing I can think is if he’s an FFL dealer and can sell to the police. Still...it’s weird.”

"No. But he had secret panels to hide his office, which was surrounded with soundproofing, the man was an obvious paranoid. He's the right type." He tapped his fingers together for a moment. "In truth, I didn't know my tip to the ATF would go this far."

[Federal States of Xathuecia]

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By Aicue H. Tax

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It's hard to believe we are already halfway through summer! And that means that the 2019 election cycle is halfway done, with candidates emerging from their primary races to focus on the upcoming general elections. This year's gubernatorial elections will definitely either add another alarming sign for the Republican Party that they are suffering electorally since their devastating and surprising loss in Texas or it will show the Democrats that their victory might have just been another fluke like Alabama. And with three states in the running, the elections will also act as a bellwether for which strategies work for Republicans across different states and give the eventual victors quite a bit of strength and reputation when they eventually endorse or do not endorse a candidate in the 2020 Presidential race. So as the summer season drags on, our team here at FiveThirtyEight will be providing our hot takes on the upcoming races though we will probably not touch the polling and data again until September or October since the next couple months will likely not shake up the race in any significant way (or maybe they will!?)

First up, the Mississippi governor's race. While we, as pollsters, would love another surprising upset, it is unlikely. There is little to show that the Democratic candidate will make significant inroads in the race to pull of a victory, as the Republican successor to (Not-Phil Bryant) continues to show off their conservative credentials and ties to the state. The electoral advantage is clear, with the summer season giving the Democratic campaign a chance to cement their values and name recognition, while also trying to expand the electorate by convincing suburban independents and moderate Republicans to flip. But this is unlikely to be enough, as the Republican campaign has tied themselves to Mississippi values and pro-Wolf, a message that will probably resonate and work to keep the state comfortable red. Still, as the race continues to go on, there might be a small chance that a political upset is possible especially if Republicans take the race for granted. While the chances that the party will pull out all the stops in Mississippi, be on the look out for some Republican candidates stopping by just to voice their support and bolster their own poll numbers here.

Then there is the Kentucky gubernatorial election, a race that is shaping up to potentially become Texas 2.0 with chances increasing for a possible Democratic upset and victory. But election day is still far away and as of right now, Tara Misra, the Republican nominee, continues to solidify her support especially among 2016 Wolf voters in Appalachia. In fact, her campaigning in Floyd and Knott counties have shown rising enthusiasm among these eastern Kentucky voters, potentially providing an added edge to Ms. Misra and her ability to drive these voters to the polls. Visits by Gov. Prendergast, the first major Republican candidate for President to come to the state, also concentrated around Appalachia. Additionally, her released policies have helped endear many conservatives throughout the state. Her proposal for "sensible" gun policy has seen widespread approval by the state GOP, with her promise to veto any bill that may go against the Second Amendment particularly earning praise. But Misra has also faced some criticism by further right conservatives for wanting to raise the age of firearm ownership to 17 and up. Likewise, her support and policies for "defending the family" have also caused waves among Kentucky voters, with registered Republicans favorably viewing her promise to undermine and potentially de facto rollback legal gay marriages. Ms. Misra has also promised to prevent adoptions by gay couples and allow for businesses to refuse services to such individuals.

But as Tara Misra unites her conservative base and continues to bolster enthusiasm, she has also seen some slipping in suburban and urban areas of the state. Visits by former Vice President Vinnie Diehl in Louisville suburbs and by Sen. Jillian Dayton, a Democratic contender for President, in Cincinnati suburbs have shown good signs for Ms. Michelle Dalton's campaign. Likewise, the tough on crime approach by former Secretary Misra has shown to be deeply unpopular in Kentucky's major cities, earning a sharp rebuke by many left leaning voters. And her campaign's announced policies against the LGBT community and gun control has also seen a decline in support for Misra in the suburbs, with Dalton slightly leading in a handful of these towns and townships. Still, Dalton's recent lack of campaigning and silence on these policies raises questions whether she can use them to strengthen her support and effectively paint herself as a capable leader. In contrast, former secretary Misra has not held back, continuing to actively campaign and surprisingly mentioned actor and Democratic presidential candidate Martin Spellman repeatedly, probably an attempt to link Dalton, a former actress herself, to the far more progressive and left-wing Spellman campaign. How she capitalizes on Misra's contentious proposals and Governor Bellevue's unpopularity will show whether she will achieve victory in a close race or if she fails to give the GOP a run for their money.

And the last major race is the Louisiana governor's race, where the major candidates are incumbent Democratic governor Russell Earl Long and former state treasurer John Holland. Long has maintained a largely popular tenure as governor, earning praise from most conservatives and moderates for his contentious 15 week abortion ban while also being favorably seen by Louisiana's liberals for his Medicare expansion. And his large infrastructure overhauls have also seen widespread political support across the electorate, giving the Democrat a strong position and record to run on, hence the expectation that Mr. Long will be able to defend his seat. But former treasurer Holland, the Republican nominee, also has a moderate and bipartisan streak, working with Democrats in the state House and developing a reputation as a fiscal moderate. And as an African-American himself, Holland also has the chance to make inroads with the traditionally Democratic black community in Louisiana. The Holland campaign has focused on taking back counties and cities that voted for Wolf and Long, essentially trying to flip them back to the GOP by painting the governor as a radical leftist and largely ineffective.

But the Holland strategy has also seen a bit of a change following Texas, with a new focus on traditionally conservative and evangelical parishes in Louisiana, apparently in a bid to help prevent depressed turnout from this GOP base. Gov. Prendergast of West Virginia has also visited Louisiana, being the first major candidate to support Holland, targeting his message and campaign visits towards strongly Republican parts of the state probably to deflect and shore up the former treasurer's more moderate stances. All of these efforts show the work and money the GOP is investing in Louisiana to flip the governor's seat in a state that traditionally swings red. And for now, the Democratic Party seems to be lagging, with Gov. Long not making a single major campaign appearance or visit since the primaries wrapped up. To add insult to injury, he has also faced a lack of national attention by Democratic presidential candidates and other major party figures, leading many to ask: where in the world is Russell Long? Well, not really, but it is clear that the Democrat's campaign will likely need to ramp up efforts to win the race especially into the summer and fall months, when it is critical to solidify one's bases to then turn attention towards the swing parishes. And Long, for now, seems to be two steps behind Holland.

But of course, so much could change between now and September and October in all three states. The races are still anybody's to win...and anybody's to lose too!

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Ratings:

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Louisiana - Lean Democrat -> TO -> Tilt Democrat

Kentucky - Lean Republican (No Change)

Mississippi - Safe Republican (No Change)

Polling:

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Louisiana Gubernatorial Election:
Fmr. St. Treas. John Holland - 31% (--)
(In.) Gov. Russell Earl Long - 43% (--)
Other Candidates - 10% (--)
Undecided - 16% (--)

Kentucky Gubernatorial Election:
Sec. Tara Misra - 51% (3+)
Ms. Michelle Dalton - 39% (2+)
Undecided - 10% (5-)

Mississippi Gubernatorial Election:
Republican candidate - 47% (--)
Democratic candidate - 34% (--)
Undecided - 19% (--)

[Velahor]

She was silent for a bit. The plane caught a bit of turbulence, and she noticed.

“This Mark Allen thing...did you have any clue that he had illegal guns when you went to visit him? He just seemed like an upstanding if over-enthusiastic veteran. But a grenade launcher...the only thing I can think is if he’s an FFL dealer and can sell to the police. Still...it’s weird.”

"No. But he had secret panels to hide his office, which was surrounded with soundproofing, the man was an obvious paranoid. He's the right type." He tapped his fingers together for a moment. "In truth, I didn't know my tip to the ATF would go this far."

“Okay, now that is something I didn’t know,” a smile crept across her face. “Sometimes you really surprise me Jonah. This was quite crafty, quite crafty indeed.”

“Do you think the soundproofing was to keep the gun noises down? And from the outside, or from the inside?”

While a Second Amendment supporter, Martha found guns very scary and didn’t like them much at all. They were for the vulgar rednecks that earned the South it’s awful stereotypes, not for refined, intelligent, Godly women like herself.

[Gordano and Lysandus]

“Okay, now that is something I didn’t know,” a smile crept across her face. “Sometimes you really surprise me Jonah. This was quite crafty, quite crafty indeed.”

“Do you think the soundproofing was to keep the gun noises down? And from the outside, or from the inside?”

While a Second Amendment supporter, Martha found guns very scary and didn’t like them much at all. They were for the vulgar rednecks that earned the South it’s awful stereotypes, not for refined, intelligent, Godly women like herself.

"A stout brick wall and a thick wooden door could have soundproofed things enough. His office felt more like he was trying to hide something." He shook his head. "I have to play dirty if I'm going to win. Richardson's wife didn't hold back, and neither will he. Paulson's spoken softly but she's a journalist, she has nasty tricks up her sleeve, I'm sure. And Porter is out and out going to stop at nothing to destroy anyone in his way."

[Velahor]

“Okay, now that is something I didn’t know,” a smile crept across her face. “Sometimes you really surprise me Jonah. This was quite crafty, quite crafty indeed.”

“Do you think the soundproofing was to keep the gun noises down? And from the outside, or from the inside?”

While a Second Amendment supporter, Martha found guns very scary and didn’t like them much at all. They were for the vulgar rednecks that earned the South it’s awful stereotypes, not for refined, intelligent, Godly women like herself.

"A stout brick wall and a thick wooden door could have soundproofed things enough. His office felt more like he was trying to hide something." He shook his head. "I have to play dirty if I'm going to win. Richardson's wife didn't hold back, and neither will he. Paulson's spoken softly but she's a journalist, she has nasty tricks up her sleeve, I'm sure. And Porter is out and out going to stop at nothing to destroy anyone in his way."

If I could have a word with that nasty Paulson woman and tell her what a darn fool she is... thought Martha. She rebuked that thought, self-control is a virtue she taught herself well.

“We’re in politics. It’s a game. A game you have to play dirty to win. At the end of the day, it’s like those horrible cage fighter men...if you agree to step in the cage, you agree to take a few punches. That’s why I have no qualms with playing a little dirty. They signed up for it by saying they’d run for President, and if we throw a few punches to save the country, to put God back at the center of it all. It’s what we’re called to.”

She always referred to his campaign activities with the plural we. She felt personally invested in his success, as a marital bond like their own should require.

[Gordano and Lysandus]

If I could have a word with that nasty Paulson woman and tell her what a darn fool she is... thought Martha. She rebuked that thought, self-control is a virtue she taught herself well.

“We’re in politics. It’s a game. A game you have to play dirty to win. At the end of the day, it’s like those horrible cage fighter men...if you agree to step in the cage, you agree to take a few punches. That’s why I have no qualms with playing a little dirty. They signed up for it by saying they’d run for President, and if we throw a few punches to save the country, to put God back at the center of it all. It’s what we’re called to.”

She always referred to his campaign activities with the plural we. She felt personally invested in his success, as a marital bond like their own should require.

"You know, if I win this, I have no idea who's going to run to try to hold West Virginia. Maybe someone in the family... It'd be nice to go after Trahan's seat too." He smiled softly, shaking his head. "I also like the idea of you being able to do something of your own."

[Velahor]

If I could have a word with that nasty Paulson woman and tell her what a darn fool she is... thought Martha. She rebuked that thought, self-control is a virtue she taught herself well.

“We’re in politics. It’s a game. A game you have to play dirty to win. At the end of the day, it’s like those horrible cage fighter men...if you agree to step in the cage, you agree to take a few punches. That’s why I have no qualms with playing a little dirty. They signed up for it by saying they’d run for President, and if we throw a few punches to save the country, to put God back at the center of it all. It’s what we’re called to.”

She always referred to his campaign activities with the plural we. She felt personally invested in his success, as a marital bond like their own should require.

"You know, if I win this, I have no idea who's going to run to try to hold West Virginia. Maybe someone in the family... It'd be nice to go after Trahan's seat too." He smiled softly, shaking his head. "I also like the idea of you being able to do something of your own."

“One of the boys should run for it. They’re good kids, and the state likes us well enough.”

She smiled.

“I do like this campaigning thing...I never thought I did. But how am I going to do something of my own if I’m the First Lady? The same way I do now?”

[Dentali]

"I'm incredibly grateful to hear that. Please give him my best... Phuong we are not out of the woods yet but I want you to know I will back you both up in this. Whatever I can do please don't hesitate to ask. This is my personal number, no secretaries or screeners... you call me if you need anything. And please have your husband give me a call when he gives me a chance."

"Mark has his cellphone, the officers took it with them, if they didn't take it for evidence. Go ahead and give him a call, he's probably worried."

"I'll do that. Thank you Phuong. Are you doing alright? Can I send you anything?"

[Dentali]

Nate Richardson
July 6th, 2019
Greenville, South Carolina



Greenville was a massive city in South Carolina, the 6th largest in the state and when combined with the surrounding area it was the largest in the Carolinas.

He began his retail at Greenville Technical College as technical colleges were something he had a long history of supporting. He met with students, professors and administrators to discuss how their education could be improved and the cost of college lowered. He continually affirmed his commitment to the trades and technical colleges as well as seeking a bipartisan solution to the student loan problem.

Continuing his retail campaign, his team held a “Meet the Candidate” event at Falls Park on the Reedy. This featured snacks, drinks and some games for kids. Richardson went around for 3 hours doing his typical meet and greet, shaking hands, meeting people and being overall personable and at the end of the 3 hour event they held a raffle giving away prizes.

He gave an hour long townhall Q&A at Peace Center which sat several hundred people, once again continuing the “name out of a hat” format instead of people rushing the microphone. This allowed the somewhat quieter and perhaps less boisterous members of the crowd to join the discussion, it also helped the older and potentially the disabled to get themselves heard better. Richardson gave respectful and thoughtful answers, addressing people by their name and always trying to form personal and empathetic connections.

In his last event before the rally at Bob Jones he visited the Lockheed Martin aircraft and logistics center. He shook hands with blue and white collar workers and had a closed door meeting with the administrators where he was sure to highlight how weak Paulson was on defense.

That evening he gave a speech at Bob Jones University

“Hello!” Richardson said to the passionate crowd “It’s an absolute honor to see you all here” Richardson took his time giving a wave and a positive smile to the crowd and made sure the assembled cameras saw him. He dressed in a suit and dress shirt but opted to not wear a tie, sporting a professional but approachable look.

“Thank you all for joining me here today. We are all here because we are united in common cause, we all want to move this country forward! So who here is ready to get to work? Let me tell you about how we are going to make the American dream a bit more accessible, how we are going to build on the achievements we have made since 2016 and bring our country to new heights!”

Richardson let the cheers die down a bit before continuing

“I stand here today for the same reasons a lot of you are. Because of the sacrifices my parents made, because of the chances they took, all their kids went and got an education, we followed our own dreams, we have our own children and that is the work ethic they instilled in us. There wasn’t a single day that it was easy, there wasn’t a single day my parents didn’t put everything they had into making their business a success. All that hard work gave them a beautiful life that could only happen in America, the greatest country in the world. That’s a dream I share, to give a better life to my daughter, for all our children. Now, their son is proud to be running for the Presidency of the United States! Let’s stand up for America and push the country forward!!!”

The cheers from the crowd were spirited, with a few campaign officials and activists scattered in the crowd to lead the chants and have the crowd applaud at appropriate moments.

“That’s really humbling thank you. Before I detail my plans for the country and how we move forward, I would like to take a few moments to pay tribute to President Wolf.”

The crowd applauded, some politely and some with great enthusiasm

“I make no excuses for the times I have disagreed with him, in policy or rhetoric. But I will say this, 4 million new jobs, more people employed than ever before in the country of which 400,000 are manufacturing jobs, the ones dems told us were never coming back… Hispanic, Asian and African American unemployment at the lowest rates ever recorded. Explosive economic growth, unemployment at a 49 year low, median household income at the highest level ever recorded, 3.9 million Americans off of food stamps. 95% of US manufacturers are optimistic about the future, highest level ever.”

“Wolf ended the ACA individual mandate, eliminated regulations, lowered taxes and delivered on his promises. Enacted tax cuts and reforms that put hundreds of billions back into the economy, back in the hands of taxpayers. Small businesses have the lowest tax rate in 80 years. The VA is more accountable and effective than ever before, our military has recovered from the cuts of the Baharia years. By every metric the economy is the strongest it’s ever been, our military is the strongest its been in decades and once again we can look to the future with hope. So thank you President Wolf”

“The flow of illegal immigrants has decreased sharply, for the first time in 65 years the United States has ceased to be a net oil importer. These are two areas specifically the last few administrations had promised action but failed to deliver… the latest information has shown that workers earning growth have grown at a rate of 3.4% a rate not seen since Reagan, the poverty rate is at the best rate since the 90s and unemployment the best since the 60s… This is not a trickle down economy, its a lifting up economy! Thank you President Wolf!”

“If you are a woman today, who is a single parent your income has jumped an average of 7.% in the last year… more than any other group. Poverty rates for women of color fell dramatically, and unemployment rates for African American and Hispanic women are now under 4.5%... thats unheard of. Thank you President Wolf.”

By the third “Thank you” the crowd had been applauding with enthusiasm, Richardson allowed it to crescendo, joining in the applause and letting it die before continuing his speech.

“I’m thrilled to be traveling across the country meeting with thousands of loyal, hard working American patriots. No matter who wins the nomination I hope to see you all this November when we’re going to defeat the radical left and keep moving this country forward!!!.”

“Every single day President Wolf and his administration are achieving so much for citizens. When I was driving up here today I saw a sign in a window that said “Choose Life”, I don’t know about you but I thank God every day for having a President in office that is doubtlessly the most Pro Life President we have ever had. We are regnogiating out of date trade deals that harm farmers and workers while making new ones with countries like Japan that will open new markets and bring billions in profits to this state and so many more. Should I have the good fortune of your support for President I will do all in my power to continue the mission and the good work of President Wolf.”

“But its not just President Wolf… America is made up of great patriots, people across the country… Patriots like Jack Phillips who refused to render services that went against his moral conscience. Patriots like Dick Heller who refused to allow the Government to dictate how he should be able to best defend himself. Patriots like high schoolers Selina Soule, Chelsea Mitchell, Alanna Smith and their mothers who are fighting for the right of a level playing field in Connecticut, so that biological boys don’t compete against biological girls.”

“What do you want this country to be? I want it to be a place where faith, family, morality, and prosperity come together. We all watched from 2008 to 2016 how President Baharia tried to dismantle the Constitution piece by piece, using the IRS and Government agencies to go after Christians and Conservatives, people standing in the way of the leftist agenda. President Wolf and patriots like him have stood in the way of this.”

“We have tests coming that's for sure, taking on the radical left and the swamp. I’m asking you all to stand up to all those tests . These tests are more important than politics or tribalism, Constitutional Rights are under assault every day, the radical left seeking to destroy millions of blue collar jobs, seeking to take away your healthcare, seeking to allow countries like Iran and China to run free without consequences.”

“But there is reason for hope and encouragement. Everyday patriots fighting bloated Government, protecting our core values in the courts, defending religious liberty, the 2nd amendment, and working to get power back to the states. I’m proud of the results I’ve been able to achieve as Governor so far, demonstrating resolve, and commonsense to bring the state of North Carolina together under conservative values to make the American dream more in reach for more people.”

“This campaign has given me the good fortune to meet so many people. I was in Florida not too long ago and I had the fortune of speaking to a man who owned a restaurant. He fled Cuba as a kid when Castro took over, at age 16 he had a hot dog stand and now he owns his own restaurant, that's incredible. He told me he was proudly Republican and when I asked why he said, ‘Because in a Cuban house you are either a Republican or a Communist’”

Nate and the crowd laugh a bit

“When I listen to the Democrats nowadays it makes me think he is more right every day. We just can’t let the radical left take the White House, we need to keep the Senate! We need to take back the House! We need wins up and down the ticket in all 50 states to stop the slow march towards socialism!”

“But its not just about what we are fighting against. What are we fighting for? Commonsense healthcare reform, based on the individual and working with the free market and not FOR Big Pharma or government interests. It needs to be Portable and Affordable, and it will NOT put the Government between us and our Doctors. We are fighting FOR School Choice, our children to be educated by the best teachers, those rewarded based on merit not seniority and the whims of the teachers union. Education customized for your child, not a one size fits NONE system.”

“We are fighting for Immigration Sanity. Making sure the wall is built and up to date with the best technology, getting real merit based immigration reform passed, ending the sex trafficking and the lawlessness on the Southern Border and ENDING Sanctuary Cities.”

“We are fighting to build up a military that is the greatest in the world. That can stand up to the threats of coming decades, not just the ongoing war on terror but future conflicts in whatever form they take. And we are fighting to fulfill the commitments we make to our military, every soldier, sailor, airman, engineer, and everyone who serves in uniform. Making sure the VA is a world class service where every veteran can choose their doctor and see them as quickly as possible.”

“We are fighting for a fairer and simpler tax system, that protects families and strengthens the institution of marriage. The Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit need some reform to prevent abuse but they should be expanded. We need to pass laws protecting farmers, ranchers, and small businesses from the alphabet soup agencies and mountains of regulatory red tape. Wolf’s biggest impact might be in this realm but we can go further!”

“We are fighting for a country that leads with strength, dignity, and moral clarity. Not the weak and feckless foreign policy of every Democratic Presidential candidate since Jimmy Carter. North Korea laughed at the Clifford Administration, Russia and Iran laughed at the Baharia Administration, China would be laughing at the (not Hillary) administration if it hadn’t been for President Wolf. It is not going to be an easy fight but it's time we take on China and rebuild our nation’s industrial base and ensure dominance in every field. When our nation is challenged, we don’t run and hide, we don’t search for appeasement and we certainly don’t join their Belt and Road Initiative, we take the challenge head on and we come out on top!”

“I care about the American dream because of my Parents. When I was a baby they formed their own small business. They had triumphs and challenges, good years and bad but eventually they became wildly successful, isn’t that the American Dream? Making your own future and fortune to give a better life to the next generation? I am eternally grateful not just for the struggles and the sacrifices of my parents, but for living in a country that allows dreams like theirs to come true.”

“Thats why elections matter, and why this one especially matters. We are the greatest nation on the face of the earth but it takes a nation of patriots working hard to keep it that way. We are at a fork in the road, Wolf pointed us in the right direction but we need to keep moving forward.”

“When President Reagan was sworn into office he had his left hand on the bible and it was open to 2nd Chronicles 7:14, ‘If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.’”

“That verse is a beautiful summation of God’s promise of renewal. Our nation is in many ways the manifestation of God’s promise of a nation under him rich in prosperity not of material wealth, but of life and spirit. Of Community and the bonds of brotherhood. Let us renew our nation and the promises it was founded on.”

Nate allowed the applause to die down before continuing

“The majority of our country's growth has been in the lower and middle income groups… That is the simple truth, its right in the numbers. Economic growth policies under Wolf did more to combat income inequality and poverty that the tax and spend policies of Baharia. The ENDLESS mantra coming from limousine liberals, is that the tax cuts and reform only benefited the rich… in truth it benefited the most needy. The numbers are in, and any way you swing it… the Republicans are just better for the economy.”

“Despite these successes every day I hear Democrats continue on about tax cuts for the rich and promoting 70% tax brackets, open borders, socialized medicine, and the Green New Deal.”

“Despite all the accomplishments we have made since 2016 in this country, unprecedented economic growth, a strong military and a protection of our rights and liberties, those who call themselves ‘Progressives’ want to roll back all our accomplishments, and then take more and more money out of the private sector, give it to unelected bureaucrats who couldn’t run a lemonade stand, and somehow hope it improves the economy. We have too much government, we need to shrink it.”

“Progressives are saying, ‘it's complicated, just trust us’... well I'm here to tell you it's simple. We either go forward together as a country or back, forward towards more freedom, lower taxes, regulation and fiscal responsibility, or back towards economic downturn, escalating deficits and the death of small businesses. Do you want to go forward or back?”

“Democrats tell us to trust Iran while it supports terrorism and continues its nuclear program unabated by the terrible Iran nuclear deal, they say just trust the news media when it produces hit jobs on conservatives while ignoring the worst of the left, they say just trust the socialists as they take away your healthcare. Voters trusted them when they said ‘if you like your plan, you can keep your plan, if you like your doctor, keep your doctor’ Why should we trust them again? Do you want to go forward or back?”

“I am a Republican, a Conservative because I trust the individual American citizen more than I trust someone in Washington. I am a Conservative because I trust that I know what is better for the education of my child, because I trust that I know how to best spend my own money, because I trust myself to make the best decisions for my own future. Democrats do not trust the American people! So let me ask again, do you want to go forward or back?”

Richardson’s emphasis on the “forward or back” phrase and the plants in the crowd had them repeating the line with him with force the third time, engaging them and making it appear as if they had one voice. It was an old effective rally tactic.

“I want to detail and tell you exactly how I plan to move our country forward, to greater heights than ever before… but first let me tell you a little about myself, my story and where I come from.”

“I have done all I can to devote my life to public service. I was born right here in Wilmington, NC... I am the oldest of three siblings born to Patrice and Robert Richarson who owned and ran the small business of Richardson Realtors.”

“I went to Duke University, and found my true calling working for the working men and women of this country. I worked with Conservatives around the country, advancing the cause of liberty as part of the movement, before returning home and working to do my part in making North Carolina better.”

“In 2008 I was first elected Congressman, representing North Carolina’s 7th district. I had a strong conservative record and as a Congressman I authored many bills which I am proud of, I reformed the tax code for farmers and small businesses, but I am perhaps most proud of authoring the DC Voucher pilot program which today serves over 10,000 families.”

Some scattered applause from the audience continued

“In 2012 became Governor, eager to do my part to help my state recover from recession. Together we united behind a common cause, and delivered. We have a flourishing economy, the 10th largest in the country, unemployment has been cut in half and our labor market is the strongest in the nation. North Carolina is the fastest growing economy in the country, no state even comes close. We did this through $4.4 billion dollars in tax relief, investing in small businesses, entrepreneurs and the power of American spirit to innovate and overcome. We did this while doing more than just balancing the budget, we have the 4th largest surplus per capita in the nation. It is a brand of fiscal responsibility and tax relief I plan on bringing to the nation as a whole. We do not have a revenue problem we have a SPENDING problem, we need to take a look at all our programs, if they don’t work we fix them and if we can’t fix them we take the money we are spending on them and give it to a program that works”

“”We can not only make our tax cuts permanent, we can give the middle class even more tax relief. Regulatory relief as well is vital especially for small businesses, arguably tax and regulatory relief is the biggest achievement of the Wolf administration and it is something my administration would continue.”

“As Governor I led the charge on Education Savings Accounts, on school choice and putting parents back in charge of their children's education. We have enacted transparency on college campuses for the job market, and encouraged trade schools so that those entering the workforce are trained for the most in demand jobs available. Together we have brought North Carolina from 30th in the nation in terms of education, to 25th, a trend I have every faith will continue. As President I would push for an ambitious national school choice program, creating education savings accounts and tax relief for education that will encourage school choice and help parents tailor their child’s education. Because it is an engaged parent that knows what is best for their own child, not some bureaucrat in Washington.”

“As Governor I took historic steps to protect the unborn, the most vulnerable among us. I signed a 20 week abortion ban into law. As President I will support measures such as the ‘Born Alive’ law which protects infants born alive after babies survive abortions. I will also push to restrict second & third trimester abortion except when it threatens the life of the mother. And then one day I have every faith we will end the scourge of abortion once and for all”

“Just in the past few years the legislature and we have created Carolina’s Choice Care, which emphasizes personal choice in healthcare, using the free market principles of competition and free exchange of ideas to provide the best healthcare possible to the most people at the lowest cost. We need to repeal and replace the ACA and institute a plan that works with the free market to lower costs and provide higher quality care. A plan that works for seniors and retirees so they don’t need to pick between filling a grocery bag and filling a prescription bottle.”

“What do I stand for? I stand for results, if something is broken I fix it, if it works I double down on it. I have balanced the budget, cut taxes, brought in jobs, lowered healthcare costs and improved education. North Carolina like every state struggles, we have our own challenges… Unemployment, quality of education, poverty, I have worked every day in and out to try and improve the lives of the American people, and by every metric we have made them better. That is why I am running for President, because its the best way I can serve, how I can make the biggest impact on the most people, I am first and foremost a grateful American just looking to give back.”

The applause line landed and the crowd responded with enthusiasm, he was playing the greatest hits for them.

“Not only am I a strong conservative that knows where we need to go as a nation, but how to get there. I will be constantly unveiling plans on how to reform our nation’s finances, healthcare and education. How to balance the budget and how to keep our military strong, how to fund schools choice and keep the cost of colleges low. I have done this in North Carolina and I will bring this to the country as a whole. All of my policy isn’t just based on labels, its based on what I have lived and what I know. I know first hand how easy it is for the government to take your hard earned money, under a Richardson administration it will get a whole lot harder.”

“I also have a not so secret weapon, my wife Amanda. She is a fighter, brilliant, bold and beautiful, a true mind at work. I could not do this without her support. She is a strong woman of faith, a mother, wife, an intellect, and a true patriot, every day I am reminded how lucky I am to have her as my partner.”

“But the first person I asked if I could run for President was another brilliant woman. My daughter Jessica. Jessica is a big reason why i’m doing this. This is a personal fight for the future my daughter will inherit from us. I want every parent to give their child what I have been able to give to mine, what my parents gave to me. Strong values of patriotism, faith and a personality driven for success, the ingredients that turn American Dreams into American Realities.”

“To do that we need a President that will balance our budget, that will reform and protect our retirement programs, that will repeal and replace the ACA, that fights for American businesses, that supports our military and our global alliances, that helps raise wages, that helps create better jobs and that provides policies that help not just our generation but generations to come.”

“I hope to be that President.”

Another applause line allowed Richardson to collect his breath and shift gears

“This election is about principles, principles held by working people and everyday Americans. Principles that you don’t need to get from the New York Times. These are principles enshrined in our Constitution, principles of faith and hard work.”

“Principles that affect our economy, our foreign policy, our healthcare policy, our border and the very way government works. Principles promised by our democracy, the promise of opportunity for all which is unfilled by too many.”

“We have seen what burdensome overregulation does to our small businesses, over taxation. From the time I was young and my parents ran a small business, to today when I have traveled all over the country speaking to small business owners, their number one concern and barrier to prosperity is always regulation. As I said before the Wolf administration has made great strides in fighting overregulation but we need to work to enshire protections into law that keep the unelected bureaucracy from strangling our small businesses in the future.”

“They want to raise the minimum wage… I admit I wanted the minimum wage raised once too… I was 15 and working a minimum wage job… I didn’t know any better so give me a break.”

The crowd laughs a bit

“Mandating an increase in the minimum wage not only leads to the closing of businesses who can’t afford it like we have seen in Seattle, not only leads to the laying off of countless workers, but stunts the ability to get new people into the workforce. It’s a job killer.”

“I am a Christian, I believe strongly in charity and the importance of helping those in need. If your neighbor is going through a tough time I believe in giving them a helping hand. But sometimes we can do more harm than good. Welfare eligibility needs reform, the kind of reform already started to programs like food stamps, creating basic work requirements for those who have the ability to work. 20 hours a week, if no jobs are available they can do charity work instead. Getting people working is the best way to get them off their feet and keeping them from dependency that can last generations. That doesn’t help anyone… as President I will measure the success of programs like food stamps by how many people we can get standing on their own two feet not by how many more people get covered by it.”

“We as a nation also need to be able to stand on our own two feet when it comes to the deficit. Contrary to the belief on the other side of the aisle, the remedy for spending too much money is not spending more money or raising taxes to 70%. They said ‘trust us’ they said passing the ACA and the Medicaid expansion would magically balance the budget… didn’t happen. Now they are saying taking away your private insurance and let them increase your taxes and somehow it will cost you less and the government less. Just Trust Them”

Richardson wasn’t a particularly mean politician, but throwing red meat to the base was necessary in the 2019 Republican party. The paragraph drew appropriate hisses from the conservative audience.

“Healthcare is the issue most on the minds of American’s today and I do not blame them. But unlike Progressives I don’t believe that putting the government in charge of anything makes it more efficient or improves its quality. We need a healthcare system that utilizes and works WITH the free market, the kind that I have established in North Carolina that has consistently reduced premiums and costs year after year. States need to be given more freedom to design health care systems and exchanges for themselves, while guaranteeing protections for seniors, and those with pre-existing conditions.”

“When we talk about healthcare I would be remiss if I did not discuss abortion. I never thought I would see the day when states were enshiring abortion to the point of birth in their state constitution. We have democrats who are supposedly part of the mainstream advocating for the killing of babies that have been delivered, infanticide. It is more clear than ever that we must reaffirm our values, that life is sacred and that we have the right and obligation to protect the unborn with our laws.”

“In the first 100 days of my Presidency I will ask Congress to send to my desk a ban on all abortions after 25 weeks except in cases of rape, incest or life of the mother. It is not as far as I want to go, but it’s something I believe we can get done in the first hundred days. It will get challenged in court which is all the more reason that we need to elect conservatives not just to the Presidency but the Senate as well, so we can appoint judges who are not just social justice warriors using judicial fiat and essentially writing laws. We need judges that call balls and strikes based on the Constitution, protecting individual liberty for everyone including those unborn. Then one day we will end abortion once and for all.”

The Evangelicals in the crowd enthusiastically cheered the proposal, a major specific commitment that lined up with where the majority of Americans were. Not as far as some wanted to go but it was a big win for a candidate.

“I believe in balancing the budget, like we have done here in North Carolina, reforming welfare to ensure its sustainable and available not just for us but for our children. Its a cliche but we can’t keep kicking the can down the road. We need to get tough on our budget. It is killing our nation slowly but with increasing speed, it will take hard choices that will piss off special interests but it is the only way to save our country and preserve the nation for future generations.”

“Democrats want to solve the budget crisis by raising taxes, heck that’s the first instinct of democrats… if it moves, tax it. As President my first move will be cutting needless spending, my second will be reforming failing programs. I have signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge, no tax increases as your President.”

“As Governor I forged strong ties with Israel, and that is a friendship I want to continue as President, supporting the undeniable right of Israel to exist and defend itself. We need to strengthen relations with our allies, NATO, Israel and nations around the world united in common cause. Let me be completely clear, agreements like the Iran Nuclear Deal are a joke. The treaty, that’s what it is, was unenforceable lip service, immediately violated in letter and spirit, and sealed with secret cash bribes in the middle of the night. It did nothing to protect Israel, nothing to prevent a nuclear Iran. This is no way to conduct diplomacy, that is no way to keep our nation safe.”

“We must lead through the power of our example, negotiating from a position of strength, demanding respect and ensuring peace. We need to stand up to Russia in the Ukraine and the Baltic instead of letting Putin annex half the country like Baharia did, we need to stand up to nations like Syria that use chemical weapons on innocent people, and if we draw a red line we need make sure we enforce it with the righteous fury of the American Military.”

“Ukraine deserves our full backing, supplying them with weapons to defend themselves. In addition we need to work with NATO to expand our naval presence in the Black Sea and expand missile defenses to curb Russian aggression. I am not advocating a new Cold War, but we must act with moral clarity and show our resolute will in the face of tyranny and oppression. Whether radical Islamic terrorism in the Middle East, the rights of Israel to self defense, the nuclear threat of North Korea or an expansionist China we must show American mettle.”

“Let us never forget 9/11 or the lessons learned. Law Enforcement and Intelligence Agencies must work together to thwart terror at home and we must deny terrorists safe spaces abroad. There is no overnight solution to terrorism, Islamic or otherwise. It will require constant vigilance and a network of allies, over time we will win, we will overcome, but we must not accept a bad deal just for the sake of temporary peace. We must seek lasting peace, a true peace that secures our nation and our people, future generations.”

“China is perhaps our greatest long term threat, from the South China Sea to North Korea to the growing influence of the nation in the UN. We are challenged by them. They steal our intellectual property and are making inroads in Africa and in our own hemisphere. We need to respond, doubling our efforts to defend on the cyber front, protecting against aggression in the South China Sea strengthening regional alliances, and finally organizing an international and organized economic response to China’s economic foul play.”

“Only by getting tough on China can we stop its dishonest trade practices, stop its aggression and intellectual property theft and stop its constant human rights abuses.”

Moderate applause, the foreign policy section isn’t what most voters cared about and it was probably a bit long and detailed HOWEVER his lack of foreign policy experience required him to show he still knew his stuff.

“When I was in high school and first tried to figure out what I wanted to do with my life, my father gave me some advice that always stuck with me”
“‘To be truly fulfilled in life, you should identify a righteous task, and then pursue it.’”
“Since his passing I have been thinking more and more about how I could apply those words to policy, how we could direct the nation to a righteous task. At the same time I have been increasingly concerned about our nation's failing manufacturing sector. Not only is the sector connected to millions of lives in our country but our nation's increasing reliance on overseas manufacturing has fundamentally threatened our national security. And while President Wolf has made incredible strides in bringing back manufacturing in our country, we are not yet where we need to be.”
“Today I am calling on the nation to commit itself to a righteous task, we must end our reliance on overseas manufacturing, especially reliance on our rivals like China, and commit to building our domestic manufacturing capacity.”
“There was once a broad consensus that opening up China to trade and normalizing their economic standing would be essential to improving China’s human rights record, would be essential to improving their standing with other nations. That could not have turned out more wrong, no only has China become increasingly authoritarian but they have continually defied international law and sought to expand their corrupting influence all over the world.”
“It has only been in the past several years that we have begun to reach another consensus, that China is a threat. And despite some remarkably out of touch comments from Senator Westra and others, we are finally willing to do something about it.”
“In search of quick profits we have lost jobs, industrial capacity, and frankly a bit of our spirit. From towns all over the country that are now just memories of a proud past due to the jobs flowing out of our country, to the countless families destroyed by the fentanyl flooding into our country, it is a threat to not only our national security, not only our economic security, but the very freedoms we enjoy.”
“Simply put, China does not play by the rules the rest of the world does. In the aftermath of WW2 and the Cold War the United States helped create an international system for nations to operate in. China has no desire to join that system, and exploited our fiscal, trade, tax and patent laws that we passed to open trade with them, in order to exploit and destroy our companies.”
“The World Trade Organization has suffered similar exploitation, with Beijing enjoying all the benefits it entailed but none of the responsibility. Every attempt to call them out was stifled by companies making money off the cheap labor and goods they were now receiving. Too many stayed silent as China committed human rights abuses in Tibet, Xinjiang, Tiananmen Square, and now in Hong Kong.”
“I stand with Hong Kong today, I'm sure most everyone in the country does. But what does that mean? What are we going to do about it?”
“I for one refuse to let China keep stealing our intellectual property, refuse to let them subsidize their markets and destroy ours, refuse to let them expand their markets while they deny ours, and all the while they use these profits to become our near peer. Seeking to replace us in every field.”
“The way forward is not just about halting China’s rise, it’s about our commitment to reaching new heights. Just as we spent decades defined by our Cold War with the Soviet Union, in coming years we will be defined by our rivalry with China. It is not a conflict we asked for, not one we started. But I promise you it is a conflict we can and must rise to the challenge of meeting.”
“No longer can we ignore China’s violations of international law, their violations of their agreement with Hong Kong, the militarization of the South China Sea, the human rights violations of million of Uyghurs and Tibetians, the systematic oppression of religion, the new colonialism of the Belt and Road Initiative, and the crackdown on freedoms around the world, including here in the United States.”
“If we seek to take China on we must recognize the sources of its power, its vast resources, labor pool, its market access, its technology, and perhaps most importantly its national focus on the task at hand. It’s not some laughable 5 year plan, this is a dedicated and comprehensive strategy to become the leader in world industries and by extension the strongest nation in the world.”
“For as long as we have existed as a nation, our greatest strength is our prosperity fueled by our values. And for centuries it has been our industry that has fueled our nation, our middle class, our families and communities. Industrial jobs were what enabled parents to give their children better lives, and meet their own personal American dream.”
“What won the Civil War, WWI, and WW2, the Cold War, was our industrial capacity as much as any victory achieved through force of arms. One day we may reach an agreement with China, where they will stop breaking international law, but that will not be the end of the challenge they pose.”
“The utter despair and desperation in the Rust Belt, the destruction and death in our inner cities, is due in part to the erosion of industrial jobs, an erosion we cannot blame solely on China. It has been a long slow march, motivated by quick profits, a death by a thousand cuts and a thousand short sighted decisions. There is dignity in work, the act of creating something, in the industry that built the nation and we must restore that as part of not just our economic life, but as part of the spirit of the nation.”
“When I call on our nation and our politicians to recognize the need to focus on restoring and growing our industrial capacity, our manufacturing sector, it is not a call to socialism... our free market and American entrepreneurship is the driver of our greatness as a nation. But we also must recognize that as a nation, we have national interests beyond short term profits.”
“Without increasing strength in trade-able sectors we will not have the capability to be secure and prosperous. What I am calling for is not nationalization as the left would have, they would do well to remember that throughout American history we have relied on collaborations between the public and private sectors to reach new heights as a nation, whether through winning WW2 or by putting a man on the moon.”
“From the Internet to the Jeep, innovations have come from public-private partnerships, and that collaboration is not a rejection of capitalism, it is an encouragement and embracing of capitalism vital to our national development. To that end we must pursue them with a renewed vigor towards our common purpose.”
“Our private companies are not competing with Chinese companies or doing business with Chinese companies. They are competing with and doing business with the Chinese Communist Party. This will never be a level playing field, this is the world’s longest suicide.”
“Rare-Earth Minerals are absolutely vital to defense and technology. We import 80% of them from China. 97% of our antibiotics come from China, 80% of our pharmaceutical ingredients come from China. Imagine what would happen if any of those stopped… For a day, a week, a month, a year? If we ever want to get tough and stop their neo-imperialism we need to acknowledge them may threaten that. Even if they didn’t we need to acknowledge that any number of factors can disrupt trade and supply. Should we put all our eggs in one basket, without an alternative, and then the supply is disrupted then we are in massive trouble.”
“Reversing this trend is in our national interest. It is in our national interest to have jobs available that are productive and fulfilling, jobs for the youth entering the workforce, for veterans returning home, and for parents raising the next generation. And it is in the national interest to ensure that jobs aren’t just available in SIlicon Valley and New York City, but spread across the county.”
“Our small businesses are doing great right now but small business startups are still lagging. We should modernize and reform our Small Business Administration program to encourage investment in small businesses in key sectors like aerospace, rail, electronics, telecommunications and agriculture. We also need to expand the amount of federal money we are giving for Research and Development to Small Businesses.”
“For our big businesses, we need to acknowledge that a bunch of the bailout money from the recession was used to buy back shares, not save jobs. And we need to acknowledge that our tax code still incentivizes that. We should codify the write off for any investments in machinery, structures, land and make sure to reward the investment of profits back into the company and its workers.”
“This means a continuation of the rollback President Wolf got started, to make sure we have an appropriate and healthy balance between protections and economic strength, without exploitation or abuse. Wolf’s regulatory reform brought us as much economic growth as the tax cuts themselves, and codifying many regulatory changes to things like the clean water act and the endangered species act will be a massive boon to our nation’s businesses, that can’t be taken away at the whim of an unelected bureaucrat.”
”A stable, healthy, and wealthy workforce in turn lends itself to renewed commitments to family, to community. That is in the national interest. National Security and Job Creation go hand in hand, and a booming economy means nothing if the wealth is concentrated is New York and Silicon Valley.”
“The tradable sector, manufacturing, industrial agriculture, energy, minerals… the areas I want to focus on… every dollar of manufactured goods sold generate $1.33 in other sectors. If you build a dishwasher, someone will sell it in retail. But every dollar in retail generates only 66 cents, a similar number in professional and business services. We export far more manufactured goods than we do services.”
“We cannot continue as a Great Power, let alone a Super Power if we do not have our own innovative, dynamic and health manufacturing base. To say nothing of having a base that is utterly reliant on our biggest rival. Imagine trying to win the Cold War if we bought all our missiles from the Soviet Unions.”
“We must make the Wolf Tax cuts permanent, and continue to reform our tax code in a way that incentivizes making investments in companies and workers. With a special focus on the tradable sector. This includes a tax code that incentivizes raising wages and hiring workers rather than stock buybacks. If we don’t we will just be continuing a self destructive cycle.”
“We must also ensure our borders are secure and we focus on taking in immigrants based on in demand skills and direct them to in demand locations. An over-saturated labor poll would de-incentivize companies from raising wages for those positions. The supply of unskilled workers should not exceed the demand for workers.”
“Our energy sector is in need of similar reform and refocusing. We are a net exporter of oil, our natural gas boom is the main driving force behind our economy right now. But we are still not truly energy independent.”
“The crude oil we export is fairly useless without refineries, which we lack. While we are up over a million barrels a day compared to a decade ago, that is really not a massive jump. If our oil and petrol trade halted tomorrow we would see massive shortages of gas and other usable fuel, but we would have plenty of crude oil which doesn’t help you get to work in the morning. Drilling more holes in the ground isn’t going to cut it. We need to focus on our refining capability if we want true energy independence.”
“I heard someone say that America was waking up too late to the threat, to all we have lost. But I think we are waking up just in the nick of time. And I know we can meet the challenge ahead of us.”
“I’ve been asked what President I would model myself off of. While I like to think I would make my own way, I will admit to an immense admiration for President Eisenhower.”
“He said, ‘Spiritual force, multiplied by economic force multiplied by military force is roughly equivalent to security. If any one of those factors fell to zero, or nearly so, the resulting product does likewise.’”
“Almost as much as my father’s words I have tried to live by these. It is my sincere belief that a commitment to rebuilding our nation's industrial strength, bringing it to new heights, will strengthen our spirit, economy, and our military strength. By extension helping secure the blessings of liberty for ourselves and our posterity.”
“Between 2001, when China joined the WTO and 2018, America has lost almost 4 million jobs just to China. All across the country, many in the manufacturing and electronics sector. The trade deficit grew from $83 billion to $419.5 billion.”

“That shut down factories all over the country. 3.7 millions jobs displaced, and at a growing rate. I would like to applaud the Wolf administration for finally fighting back against a threat that has plagued us for over two decades. Today I would like to talk about my plan for the next steps, the ‘American Industrial Plan.’”

“The first plank is Repatriation of Jobs.”

“We must identify US firms maintaining facilities and jobs outside the United States, and then establish a dedicated task force to promote returning those jobs and facilities back into the United States. The task force will be under the Secretary of Commerce and will work with a new commission to study and report back to Congress on American competitiveness and technology compared to other nations both in terms of economics and national defense.”

“This task force will then propose a tax incentive program to encourage firms to repatriate jobs back to the United States. In addition the Federal Government will begin to only allow bidding on contracts with companies who employ Americans and whose facilities are located in the United States. Phasing in a requirement for all companies entering in NEW contracts with the federal government to have an increasing amount of its labor and facilities in the United States.”

“The Second Plank is research and development. We must increase the R&D tax credit to 25% with similar increases to the Alternative Simplified Credit. This provides real world enhancement to both products and production processes. It will also encourage the co-location of R&D and manufacturing operations in the United States, which evidence clearly shows that makes R&D efforts twice as productive.”

“But we cannot talk about research and technology without discussing securing American products. As part of our defense strategy we must secure our cyber infrastructure, partnering with our private businesses to insulate them from intellectual property theft. If our companies are going to be able to compete internationally they must have a fair footing to fight on.”

“The next plank of the plan is in Pharmaceuticals. As we work to make healthcare more affordable for all Americans we need to realize that only 28% of facilities that make Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients are in the United States, if our pharmaceutical imports were compromised we would be hard pressed to make up the difference. FOr example in 2016 an explosion at a factory in China resulted in the shortage of piperacillin, a vital antibiotic, because that factory was the only one in the WORLD that produced it.”

“We are the world leader in drug discovery and development but not manufacturing. China cheats in this sector by poorly regulating their industry and refusing to allow FDA inspectors. The Chinese are perpetuating a fraud that has created serious deficiencies in health and safety standards. These medications put our lives at risk.”

“We must undertake a comprehensive review of all regulation in the industry, ensuring no unnecessary barriers stall new technology and the construction of new production facilities. We must create incentives for workforce growth and training and allow the private sector to use the cost effective technologies and processes that will allow them to compete the world over. I am calling for $100 million a year for 5 years, to develop advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing across the country, and for the creation of a unit of the FDA solely dedicated to national security and drug shortages.”

“The final plank is Rare Earth Minerals. The Chinese Communist Party’s mercantilism has contributed to a total market failure in the development of Rare Earth resources. Electronics are dependent on rare earth minerals, every monitor, computer or advanced aeronautics system, weapon system, has rare earth components from China. Simply put we cannot make any materials vital to American defense without Chinese rare earth minerals, it is an immense vulnerability and beyond that, in return for access to rare earth minerals they are forcing companies to relocate to China.”

“By their very nature, rare earth minerals are… rare. We cannot supply them all domestically, however we can still take measures to diversify the supply chain of rare earth minerals so we do not rely on China. Competition lowers prices and makes us less vulnerable to shocks, intentional or unintentional.”

“We are in a geopolitical competition that will determine the prosperity of our nation. We can’t beat China by playing their game, its time to shake things up and level the playing field. America has the potential to reach a new height in prosperity and security, we just need the vision and resolve to reach it..”

Nate let the applause continue for a period and then continued
“We all want safer communities, sure but we should base our policies on factual evidence. Right now on the left we have what is frankly hysteria not based on measurable things like lethality, caliber or rate of fire. Instead we have a left trying to ban pistol grips and barrel shrouds because they look scary, not taking into consideration this makes guns harder to handle, less accurate and less safe when being used for lawful purposes.”

“Let’s talk some facts. 2/3rds of gun deaths are suicides, 90% are handgun related, Assault Rifles are only used in 3-4% of homicides a year and the average american is four times more likely to get stabbed to death than be killed by a rifle. Over half of mass public shootings have been carried out with handguns. The Department of Homeland Security designates them as personal defense weapons for law enforcement officers.”

“Law abiding Americans benefit again and again using rifles to defend themselves, often times against criminals using handguns. More law abiding citizens own rifles than criminals do, if you are being robbed at gun point, chances are its a handgun. If you are defending yourself with a firearm as Americans do 500,000 to 2 million times a year, the odds are much higher you’ll be using a rifle. Guess which one the Democrats want to ban.”

“I have a reputation for being a ‘policy guy’ or for those being a bit less charitable ‘wonk’” Richardson chuckles a bit “I embrace it, I’m proud to be that guy. But I want to take some time to tell a story…and before I begin I want to preface it with telling you I have my daughter’s permission to embarrass her.”

“My daughter is 18, she just decided to go to Penn State for college. She’s living on her own for the first time and after discussion, she decided to buy a firearm for protection. Now I own a gun, but i’ve never been a gun guy… I have it for self defense and a few times a year I take courses on handling and safety, I practice shooting at a range. So my daughter doesn’t have much experience with guns firsthand.”

“So she and I go to a range to take some safety classes and practice, she started with a handgun and I tell you at 6 yards away from the target she couldn’t even scratch the damn thing… frankly it was impressive how badly she was doing.”

“Then she tried an AR-15. It was night and day. From 20 yards out she hit the target center mass every time. That is why the AR-15 is the most popular rifle in America, why millions buy rifles every year. When the chips are down, they are simply better.”

“I support the second amendment because God forbid some day my daughter could be in a situation where police are minutes away but every second counts. And if that time ever comes I want her to have the best weapon to defend herself. And I hope it looks scary”

Richardson takes a beat before continuing

“We face another challenge on our Southern Border. To the challenge of illegal immigration I give you this simple principle… ‘keep the lawbreakers out’. Our current immigraiton system needs drastic reform and while I do support a path to citizenship for Dreamers we cannot turn a blind eye to those who have broken the law and continue to break the law.”

“Many who cross our border illegally are indeed looking for a better life, I understand that, I respect that. But a significant amount are coming over intent on committing crimes, bringing drugs and violence, the very thing so many crossing the border are fleeing. Without being able to control our border we have no way of seperate the good from the bad, real families with those smuggling children across the border to sell into sex slavery. 20,000 people are trafficked across the southern border every year to be sold into slavery, many of them are children. We need stronger border controls to stop this scourge.”

“Immigration is the foundation of our nation, I believe it is a strength and it always will be. But I also believe a nation without borders is not a nation and that we have every right to make sure people entering our country are good hardworking people and not criminals.”

“The Presidency is a sacred trust, a great honor and a greater responsibility. I want to show the country and the world the best of what America has to offer. American’s live optimistic, positive and confident in the future, a unique American optimism. A nation of immigrants, who came to this country for the same reason my parents started a small business, to create a better life for their family. Americans pursue not just material wealth but the richness of life, the freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution, religion, speech, self defense, the freedom to build a business with their own hands.”

“Our nation promises the opportunity for a better future. As President I want to help Americans put away just a little more, have a little more to save for college, a little more time to take care of sick loved ones, give a little more to charity. For small businesses, I want next year to be their best year, create an environment where they can hire more workers or give them a raise. I want to help create an environment where a college grad can get a good job and pay off their loans, build for the future instead of trying to dig themselves out of debt.”

“Americans don’t quit, when trouble hits you work harder, do more with less and try to stay optimistic. You deserve better, as President I want to make the good times better and the hard times easier. But in the end, I can’t do anything, the Government can’t do anything, not really… All we can do is set you on the right path, the right direction, THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES ARE GOING TO DO IT. The People! Are going to move us FORWARD!”

Roaring applause from the crowd, setting up an expectation and then coming back on an upswing is another classic rally tactic Richardson enjoyed employing

“Americans support each other, our communities, faiths and families unite us. And while today harsh rhetoric and anger are present on both sides of the aisle, I believe that tomorrow we can become more unified than ever before. “

“I intend to run hard, fight hard, to take a stand and to win. The campaign starts tonight. The Presidency is the most difficult job on earth, I will need all your help to get through it. I ask you all now to share my hopes and intentions, to go with me where I wish to lead. I want to lead the building of a better America, it’s a simple concept but a large one.”

“Our mission, our target.... It is a mission the Republican Party has been pursuing since the 1850s, securing the blessings of liberty, protecting freedom and ensuring economic prosperity for all people. I hear the democratic rhetoric today, they see an America in decline, an America founded on rotten principles. I say that America was founded on liberty and good principles, it acknowledged its flaws and gave future generations the tools to make a more perfect union and improve upon it. I say America was founded on idealism and principles that we as a nation have not always lived up to, but we can always do better.”

“I want an America where the only thing that can stop you is the limits you place on yourself.”

“That is my mission, to keep our country moving forward with those ideals in our heart. Thank you all, God bless you and God bless the United States of America.”

The crowd roared as Richardson left the stage. He would spend the next hour speaking with people in attendance, taking selfies and answering individual questions, shaking every hand he could.

[Velahor]

"Mark has his cellphone, the officers took it with them, if they didn't take it for evidence. Go ahead and give him a call, he's probably worried."

"I'll do that. Thank you Phuong. Are you doing alright? Can I send you anything?"

“I’m oh-kay, I think. I just called our sons, they are all in the Army,” said Phuong, the “r” in the word “Army” pronounced a little bit softly.

“They were all very, very upset. They spent all the time going on about how their Dad is sooo thorough with every, everything with his guns. Mahty is coming up from Houston right now, his commander gave him a day or two,” she said, referring to their son Martin, an Army Reserve advanced weapon specialist at the 75th Innovation Command.

“I’m okay, I just don’t like armed soldiers showing up at my house and dragging my hubby away when I’m at church. Bringing back bad, bad memories of North Vietnamese.”

[Dentali]

"I'll do that. Thank you Phuong. Are you doing alright? Can I send you anything?"

“I’m oh-kay, I think. I just called our sons, they are all in the Army,” said Phuong, the “r” in the word “Army” pronounced a little bit softly.

“They were all very, very upset. They spent all the time going on about how their Dad is sooo thorough with every, everything with his guns. Mahty is coming up from Houston right now, his commander gave him a day or two,” she said, referring to their son Martin, an Army Reserve advanced weapon specialist at the 75th Innovation Command.

“I’m okay, I just don’t like armed soldiers showing up at my house and dragging my hubby away when I’m at church. Bringing back bad, bad memories of North Vietnamese.”

That stung Richardson a bit "I've heard stories but I can't imagine... I promise you we will get justice for your husband. I'll give him a call right away. God Bless Mrs. Allen and stay strong."

[Velahor]

“I’m oh-kay, I think. I just called our sons, they are all in the Army,” said Phuong, the “r” in the word “Army” pronounced a little bit softly.

“They were all very, very upset. They spent all the time going on about how their Dad is sooo thorough with every, everything with his guns. Mahty is coming up from Houston right now, his commander gave him a day or two,” she said, referring to their son Martin, an Army Reserve advanced weapon specialist at the 75th Innovation Command.

“I’m okay, I just don’t like armed soldiers showing up at my house and dragging my hubby away when I’m at church. Bringing back bad, bad memories of North Vietnamese.”

That stung Richardson a bit "I've heard stories but I can't imagine... I promise you we will get justice for your husband. I'll give him a call right away. God Bless Mrs. Allen and stay strong."

“Thank you Governor Richardson, keep Mark in your prayers...I’m sure this is hard for him to take in. The lawyer is saying he might, maybe, have to sell the gun shop if they don’t drop the charges. You’re a good man for looking out for us...call any time!”

[Dentali]

That stung Richardson a bit "I've heard stories but I can't imagine... I promise you we will get justice for your husband. I'll give him a call right away. God Bless Mrs. Allen and stay strong."

“Thank you Governor Richardson, keep Mark in your prayers...I’m sure this is hard for him to take in. The lawyer is saying he might, maybe, have to sell the gun shop if they don’t drop the charges. You’re a good man for looking out for us...call any time!”

"We are praying for you" Richardson hangs up and immediately calls Mark Allen

[Velahor]

“Thank you Governor Richardson, keep Mark in your prayers...I’m sure this is hard for him to take in. The lawyer is saying he might, maybe, have to sell the gun shop if they don’t drop the charges. You’re a good man for looking out for us...call any time!”

"We are praying for you" Richardson hangs up and immediately calls Mark Allen

San Antonio, Texas

In a friend’s car, riding back from San Antonio, Mark Allen, unarmed for the first time in years, felt very defeated.

He saw the incoming call, and put on his Bluetooth headphones to talk to Richardson while he ate some Whataburger that they picked up along the way back to Shiner.

“Governor Richardson...so...this is embarrassing, don’t ya think?! Wait...this is Governor Richardson right?”

[Dentali]

"We are praying for you" Richardson hangs up and immediately calls Mark Allen

San Antonio, Texas

In a friend’s car, riding back from San Antonio, Mark Allen, unarmed for the first time in years, felt very defeated.

He saw the incoming call, and put on his Bluetooth headphones to talk to Richardson while he ate some Whataburger that they picked up along the way back to Shiner.

“Governor Richardson...so...this is embarrassing, don’t ya think?! Wait...this is Governor Richardson right?”

"Yes Mark its Nate... I'm so sorry Mark I called as soon as I could... How are you holding up?"

[Meelducan]

Robert F. Kennedy Building, Washington D.C

Placing down the phone back into its holder, Michael sighed. He had just got a mouthful from a couple of angry Texas Republicans of the National Committee over the arrest of Mark Allen. They had made it out as if Michael had personally conducted the raid himself, which in actual fact he knew very little about. How would he know? He didn't have time to look at every case the Department had. This had put him in a tight spot though, possibly severing ties with his RNC buddies. He couldn't let this tarnish his good name.

He decided he would write an email to the U.S Attorney in Western Texas.

---

TO: U.S Attorney for Western Texas
FROM: Michael Jones, Attorney General

---

John,

You've put me in an extremely hard place. I've had calls to my office and my personal number demanding an explanation, both from elected officials and members of the RNC. WHY IN THE HELL DID YOU MAKE THIS SO PUBLIC?

So here's what I want you to do for me, delay the case for as long as possible or drop the charges, so we can investigate this claim further. I don't know if this was at the direction of your office or if it was the ATF, but some major corners were cut. Meaning the charges could be dropped. I also want you to transfer all information you have to my office. I want to be kept in the loop. Don't make me request your letter of resignation.

Regards,
Michael.