Land of The Free: American Political Roleplay (OOC IV)

[Emazia]

Oh hey it's the guy with the bisexual flag! Hello, good to see you! This is the guy behind Porter btw, just switched nations. DIdn't get CTE'd or anything, just decided to switch.

I have told you before, this is not the bisexual flag, this a flag I made that I thought looked cool. Apparently there is a rather unfortunate coincidence.

I know...I know. Also, it was pride month back then, I thought you were just celebrating your sexuality. /shrug

ANNOUNCEMENT/SURVEY

So you may or may not know I work for a radio station that will remain nameless. We are currently discussing the most important issues of the election for an upcoming project... So to all of you I ask What are the top 5 issues of the 2020 election?

This is purely subjective to you all, say it briefly in your own words and it can be as short or long as you want. This is kinda just the brainstorming phase of this project.

Thank you for your help.

I mean, I think we all would have wanted the next man not to be an imbecile, but that is clearly too much to expect from the candidates for the President of the United States of America.

Everyone felt that

[Agarntrop]

Oh hey it's the guy with the bisexual flag! Hello, good to see you! This is the guy behind Porter btw, just switched nations. DIdn't get CTE'd or anything, just decided to switch.

I have told you before, this is not the bisexual flag, this a flag I made that I thought looked cool. Apparently there is a rather unfortunate coincidence.

Whats wrong with bisexuals?

[Agarntrop]

I am doing terribly at this debate

[Emazia]

I am doing terribly at this debate

Just be so boring you can't be criticised. You don't need to impress people, you just need to not fuck it up.

[Federal States of Xathuecia]

ANNOUNCEMENT/SURVEY

So you may or may not know I work for a radio station that will remain nameless. We are currently discussing the most important issues of the election for an upcoming project... So to all of you I ask What are the top 5 issues of the 2020 election?

This is purely subjective to you all, say it briefly in your own words and it can be as short or long as you want. This is kinda just the brainstorming phase of this project.

Thank you for your help.

Healthcare, healthcare, and....healthcare!

Not just like ACA, pre-existing conditions, or M4A but drug prices, hospital costs, testing costs & availability. Easily the biggest issue given the pandemic.

4 and 5 would be economic inequality and racial justice issues respectively.

[Meelducan]

ANNOUNCEMENT/SURVEY

So you may or may not know I work for a radio station that will remain nameless. We are currently discussing the most important issues of the election for an upcoming project... So to all of you I ask What are the top 5 issues of the 2020 election?

This is purely subjective to you all, say it briefly in your own words and it can be as short or long as you want. This is kinda just the brainstorming phase of this project.

Thank you for your help.

Dentali how many times, we don’t want to be on your prisons radio station

[Meelducan]

I have told you before, this is not the bisexual flag, this a flag I made that I thought looked cool. Apparently there is a rather unfortunate coincidence.

Whats wrong with bisexuals?

Bisexuals are pretty epic.

[Bruke]

ANNOUNCEMENT/SURVEY

So you may or may not know I work for a radio station that will remain nameless. We are currently discussing the most important issues of the election for an upcoming project... So to all of you I ask What are the top 5 issues of the 2020 election?

This is purely subjective to you all, say it briefly in your own words and it can be as short or long as you want. This is kinda just the brainstorming phase of this project.

Thank you for your help.

1. Religious liberty (The Dems Policy on religious liberty is.... not as comprehensive as it needs to be)
2. Race relations (Trump’s not suited to handle that at all, and the issue really ought to be handled with care and with bipartisanship).
3. Human rights in foreign policy (Uighurs, Hong Kong, authoritarianism on multiple continents, the whole shebang)
4. Climate change (a carbon tax paired with general tax reform and a regulatory pause would be a nice bipartisan deal to make, and a tech neutral cleaner energy tax credit would be even nicer).
5. The COVID virus and its fallout (the pandemic itself, the resulting economic downturn, issues with healthcare, etc.)

[Solomons Land]

I have told you before, this is not the bisexual flag, this a flag I made that I thought looked cool. Apparently there is a rather unfortunate coincidence.

I know...I know. Also, it was pride month back then, I thought you were just celebrating your sexuality. /shrug

I mean, I think we all would have wanted the next man not to be an imbecile, but that is clearly too much to expect from the candidates for the President of the United States of America.

Everyone felt that

Why would I have anything to do with black gay pride? I am white and proud to be straight.

[Federal States of Xathuecia]

Isn't giving a campaign speech in a Church against election rules?

Yes, it is against the law

The real key words are "support me", "help me win this election", or "vote for me." Which I think Dayton successful evaded.

[Emazia]

I know...I know. Also, it was pride month back then, I thought you were just celebrating your sexuality. /shrug


Everyone felt that

Why would I have anything to do with black gay pride? I am white and proud to be straight.

"Proud to be straight"

Bruh

Also, nobody mentioned your race, buddy.

[Alozia]

A social democrat? Him calling himself a socialist is wrong, and utterly braindead. Also, the DNC rejected legal cannabis and rejected Medicare-for-All, along with having Harris as a prospective VP pick. Even the "capitalism with a human face" social democrats didn't get their policies, let alone actual socialists.

Emazia aka WCC... you need to keep in mind your definitely much further left than anyone else here and your perception of what is left and right is quite skewed especially when compared to Americans

tbh doesn't change the fact that Bernie Sanders is not a socialist. The DNC did reject reformist policies like cannabis legalization (a very tame and moderate reformist policy with incredibly high popular suport) and Medicare-For-All (a much less moderate, albeit still popular policy position). This is most likely due to their ties to big pharma and the fact that the DNC is literally broke, so they really need the money.

And to put this into context of the conversation about Dems being socialists - no, the Democratic Party is not a socialist party by any chance. Name me a policy position.

I’m gonna say this. I’m voting for Trump, but I think he has screwed up the pandemic response. I think he should of issued better shutdown guidance, used the Defense Production Act earlier, reigned in some of the governors, set a better mask example.
But I can’t vote for Joe Biden for the following reasons.
1) I cannot in good conscience vote for a man who will expand abortion like he would.
2) The Democratic Party has drifted so far left that it is really socialist. I oppose all forms of communist and socialist regimes.
3) I don’t think Biden is strong enough against China.
4) I oppose reparations on the principle that we should not pay for the sins of our fathers. Education reform is the answer, not wealth redistribution.
5) Biden would reverse the tax cuts, witch would lead to a recession and hurt small business.

Donald Trump did not mismanage the pandemic response, he outright chose to let millions of Americans get infected while supporting conspiracy theories and anti-mask wearing ideas (like the notion that somehow a medical mask makes you unable to breathe - as if medical staff has not been wearing them hours on end for decades during eg. surgeries). Some suggest this had something to do with the fact that the states hit the most by the pandemic - at least initially - like Washington, California or New York - were blue states that wouldn't vote for him in the first place. I am not making a definite judgement, but his approach to mail-in voting seems to be indicative of his unwillingness to make sure everyone is safe and able to cast a ballot (and yes, this is a safe voting method - some states have used this voting method as their primary one for years now).

1) Biden is not going to expand abortion. If anything better funding for organizations like Planned Parenthood would bring down abortion rates with the organizations providing much needed yet very lacking information about reproductive health to all of those who seek it. This is of course a result of a failed educational policy that ignores sex ed, but Biden seeks to minimize it's effect more than anything.

2) The Dem. Party is simply choosing to deviate from the right-leaning consensus on very specific policy proposals. They can't get behind legal weed, which makes me think that a left-wing Democratic Party is still years in the making.

3) In an election when you choose between Biden and Trump I think it's important to compare the two candidates. Will Biden crush China and bring back the American hegemony? No. Will he fight a pointless trade war that does nothing but ruins the agricultural sector? Unlike Trump - no. Biden may not be a political mastermind but as far as any policy issue, including China, goes - he'll actually consider what he's doing before jumping head first into action just to seem like a tough guy.

4) The Democratic Party is not going to get behind reparations. Ever. Which is not necessarily a bad thing - estimating how much someone lost due to slavery is impossible. I have my opinions on wealth redistribution, but Biden doesn't share them. He's not going to break up the big banks or even end tuition fees at universities - a measure that would do a lot of good in terms of ensuring greater equality.

5) We are in a depression - caused in no small part by Trump's inability to lead, especially in the middle of a global pandemic - and the small business tax cuts have either ended or about to end. This was a temporary measure, not a long lasting one. The only businesses that got permanent tax cuts were major businesses, most of whom already dodge taxes.

[Solomons Land]

Why would I have anything to do with black gay pride? I am white and proud to be straight.

"Proud to be straight"

Bruh

Also, nobody mentioned your race, buddy.

Sorry, I thought he wrote Black History month.

[Kallidrus]

---

Character Information Sheet

NS Nation Name: Kallidrus
Character Name: Jamal Patrick
Character Gender: M
Character Age: 39
Character Height: 6'1
Character Weight: 185 lbz
Character Position/Role/Job: U.S. Representative (SC-7)
Appearance: (Photo preferred, not required)

(Image)

Character State of Origin: Charleston, West Ashley, South Carolina
Character State of Residence: Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Character Party Affiliation: Republican
Main Strengths: Popular with younger voters, energetic, a "fresh face" in terms of mainstream Republicans, excellent speaker, significant minority appeal
Main Weaknesses: Lack of experience, "Too moderate", seen as 'too loud' and criticized for his pro-choice stance (Only issue he breaks with orthodoxy on, actually), not very strong with Tea Party-ers, no significant congressional achievements, widely known as a failure due to presidential campaign
Biography: (Minimum 2-3 paragraphs)

Jamal Christopher Patrick was born on July 3, 1980 in Charleston, South Carolina. His mother, 19-year old Thelma Greene, and his father had separated when they found out that Thelma was pregnant. His father, who's name he does not know, moved elsewhere soon after Jamal was born. His mother's family owned a small barber shop in West Ashley, where Thelma soon moved her and her infant son to be with family after rent went up at her condo downtown. Soon after this move, Thelma began working at the family business, which would later come to have a significant impact on young Jamal. It was here that Thelma met and later started dating a young, 23-year old bartender named Devon Patrick. A little over a year later, Thelma and Devon married. This was when Thelma decided to have her now 2-year old son Jamal adopt the last name 'Patrick'.

By the time Jamal was seven, he had lost his grandparents in a car accident after a speeding drunk driver mowed them down as they were crossing the street to go to Jamal's seventh birthday party. This had a severe effect on the young boy, and he was afraid for years to walk across the street. His grandparent's barber shop was then handed down to his mother, Thelma, who moved her family into the upstairs apartment to save money. Every day for his teenage years, Jamal would come home from school and work at the shop. He would sweep the floors, learn to cut hair, or wash the windows on the storefront. He loved being around people, and hearing the stories they told. One man, for example, was visiting from Africa. He told Jamal that he had once took on an elephant and won. Of course, Jamal believed it. He was 10. Another thing that caught Jamal's attention in the shop was a giant world map plastered on the back wall. He loved to point out locations of countries and cities, and he soon began trying to memorize every country. Of course, it didn't help that the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia collapsed. He was a bit disappointed that he had to learn seventeen more countries, but he was up to it. He got average grades through high school, and attended several classes at Charleston Community College on history and geography. Jamal then got a job as janitor at a local elementary school. He took up night jobs at bars, and worked weekends at local bars and clubs. Finally, in 2006 he applied for university at the University of South Carolina. He was accepted, and chose to major in Political Science.

Two years later, in 2008, he got his Bachelor's degree in Political Science. He went to work as an aide to Senator Not-Lindsey Graham. But tragedy struck when in late 2008 during the financial crisis, the family barber shop was forced to shut down because his mother couldn't afford to pay rent. Jamal was enraged. How could this happen? Why now? Why him? Patrick decided he was going to do something about it. He began organizing several meetings and protests within Charleston, focusing heavily on North Charleston, where nearly 46% of residents are black. He led protests over discrimination against minority-owned small businesses. He was a key player in the December 2008 march in front of Democrat mayor Joseph P. Riley's house, demanding that he enact legislation proposed by the City Council that would bring about greater benefits and protections for minority businesses, such as tax relief, advertising, and equal wages for employees. Patrick quickly rose to regional stardom when he gave a speech at Hampton Park talking about how President Obama had "failed the black community" and how he was using "us" as "political props". Jamal spoke about how, despite Obama being African-American, he did about as much for black folk as any white President. Soon, he was speaking on local news stations and advocating for all types of small businesses. In early 2009, Patrick along with several other protesters organized Buy Black, a nonprofit that donated money to minority businesses by accepted all kinds of donations; bikes, cars, clothes, tv's, anything they could get and sell. Between the years of 2009 and 2013, Patrick had raised close to $2.5 million dollars for small businesses, and the money was actively being given to struggling small businesses in the area. In late 2012, he and his pregnant wife moved north to Myrtle Beach, because he thought it would be better if his children didn't grow up in the "ghetto" inner city of Charleston.

It was in 2014 that 33-year old Patrick announced he was running for SC-7. In the Republican primary, Patrick was up against former Governor Not-Mark Sanford. Knowing Sanford was popular, Jamal began going door-to-door along with surrogates to black neighborhoods across the district to spread his message. Emphasizing his activist/nonprofit career, specifically how he raised money as President of Buy Black, and running on lower taxes, sensible police reform (Yes, not very moderate of a stance), LGBTQIA+ Rights (Again, not moderate. Pro-choice republican), and decreased regulation on small businesses. Several high-profile African-Americans endorsed Patrick, such as Not-Tim Scott and Not-Ben Carson. In a tight primary race, Patrick defeated Governor Sanford by just .2 percentage points (49.8 - 49.6). Now, Patrick faced Democrat Elizabeth Busch. With a relatively uneventful few months in the General Election, in mid-October it was revealed that Busch had been arrested for contempt of court during divorce proceedings with her first husband. At the breaking of this news, Patrick's support skyrocketed. He won the election 53.4% to 46.6%.

Now elected to congress, Patrick began drafting legislation that would provide tax relief for small businesses, but he never finished. He then went on to announce he would not run for re-election in 2016, but seek the Republican nomination for President. In December 2015, he announced his Presidential run. For months, his poll numbers hovered around 1-2%, and just before the Iowa Caucuses, he dropped out and endorsed Not-Ted Cruz. When Not-Cruz dropped out in May, he was reluctant to endorse the fiery, unorthodox Wolf. However, he endorsed Wolf after the convention. In November, Republican Not-Mark Sanford (Fmr. Governor, 2014 primary opponent) won the election. Avidly opposed to Sanford, Patrick began campaigning as early as January 2017 for his 2018 campaign to retake his seat. He considered running on the Libertarian line, but decided against it. In the Republican primaries, he again was endorsed by Not-Scott and Not-Carson, but President Wolf refused to endorse Patrick, due to his support for LGBTQ rights. Campaigning on his past activism, and his two (albeit uneventful) terms in congress, he won the primary. In November, he won 56% of the vote, and was sworn in on January 3, 2019. He is seen as a moderate, somewhat "unorthodox" establishment Republican.

Other Info:

Spouse(s): Trisha Patrick (m. 2011)
Children: Jayden Patrick (b. 2014), LaSondra Patrick (b. 2014), Jason Patrick (b. 2017)
Religion: Southern Baptist
Net Worth: $950,000

2008 - Not-John McCain (R)

2012 - Not-Mitt Romney (R)

2016 - Not-Ted Cruz (R), Arnold Wolf (R)

2020 - TBD

I have read and accept the rules of the roleplay: K a l l i d r u s

Do Not Remove: 84721

[Federal States of Xathuecia]

"Proud to be straight"

Bruh

Also, nobody mentioned your race, buddy.

Sorry, I thought he wrote Black History month.

HAHAHHAHAHHA

[Alozia]

I know...I know. Also, it was pride month back then, I thought you were just celebrating your sexuality. /shrug


Everyone felt that

Why would I have anything to do with black gay pride? I am white and proud to be straight.

Not sure if this is a joke or serious, but there is a reason why black & gay pride have a very different contextual meaning than white & straight pride.

Also, yeah. No one asked about your race, it's kinda out of place here.

[Jovuistan]

ANNOUNCEMENT/SURVEY

So you may or may not know I work for a radio station that will remain nameless. We are currently discussing the most important issues of the election for an upcoming project... So to all of you I ask What are the top 5 issues of the 2020 election?

This is purely subjective to you all, say it briefly in your own words and it can be as short or long as you want. This is kinda just the brainstorming phase of this project.

Thank you for your help.

For me:

1. Coronavirus
2. Climate Change
3. The Economy (especially automation)
4. Education (College costs especially)
5. China

[Solomons Land]

Why would I have anything to do with black gay pride? I am white and proud to be straight.

Not sure if this is a joke or serious, but there is a reason why black & gay pride have a very different contextual meaning than white & straight pride.

Also, yeah. No one asked about your race, it's kinda out of place here.

I got confused, I am sorry. I thought WCC wrote: I know...I know. Also, it was Black History month back then, I thought you were just celebrating your sexuality.

[Federal States of Xathuecia]

ANNOUNCEMENT/SURVEY

So you may or may not know I work for a radio station that will remain nameless. We are currently discussing the most important issues of the election for an upcoming project... So to all of you I ask What are the top 5 issues of the 2020 election?

This is purely subjective to you all, say it briefly in your own words and it can be as short or long as you want. This is kinda just the brainstorming phase of this project.

Thank you for your help.

remain nameless?

Is it NPR? Gosh I love NPR, I'm obsessed.

[Bruke]

I see the co-sponsorship requirement continued to be pilloried.... y’all really don’t like having your guys and gals choose ideological sides do you?

[Federal States of Xathuecia]

I see the co-sponsorship requirement continued to be pilloried.... y’all really don’t like having your guys and gals choose ideological sides do you?

Sullivan is a progressive.

[Bruke]

ANNOUNCEMENT/SURVEY

So you may or may not know I work for a radio station that will remain nameless. We are currently discussing the most important issues of the election for an upcoming project... So to all of you I ask What are the top 5 issues of the 2020 election?

This is purely subjective to you all, say it briefly in your own words and it can be as short or long as you want. This is kinda just the brainstorming phase of this project.

Thank you for your help.

remain nameless?

Is it NPR? Gosh I love NPR, I'm obsessed.

NPR has a name silly

[Alozia]

Not sure if this is a joke or serious, but there is a reason why black & gay pride have a very different contextual meaning than white & straight pride.

Also, yeah. No one asked about your race, it's kinda out of place here.

I got confused, I am sorry. I thought WCC wrote: I know...I know. Also, it was Black History month back then, I thought you were just celebrating your sexuality.

literally what.

I think I can smell burnt toast.

[Alozia]

ANNOUNCEMENT/SURVEY

So you may or may not know I work for a radio station that will remain nameless. We are currently discussing the most important issues of the election for an upcoming project... So to all of you I ask What are the top 5 issues of the 2020 election?

This is purely subjective to you all, say it briefly in your own words and it can be as short or long as you want. This is kinda just the brainstorming phase of this project.

Thank you for your help.

remain nameless?

Is it NPR? Gosh I love NPR, I'm obsessed.

you got a t-shirt or something? some other merch?

[Bruke]

I see the co-sponsorship requirement continued to be pilloried.... y’all really don’t like having your guys and gals choose ideological sides do you?

Sullivan is a progressive.

Not how it counts... Winthrop and co would laugh at that statement... I’m pretty sure Murphy considers her to be conservative.