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

[Echo Chamber Thought Police]

Simon Hawkins @Hawkins4Iowa Iowans demand STIMULUS CHECKS and a FULL BAN on evictions during this crisis! We will be watching very closely to see if the corporate Republicans support us! And if they don't we must VOTE THEM OUT.

[Alozia]

"I might ask around." Anne checked her watch. "I'm afraid it's time for us. It's been lovely to reconnect Carrie, we should talk more."

"We should, yes. Good luck with all this campaigning. I'll lean on Jillian if she wins the nomination to see about getting you a nice position. You deserve it." Standing up, Caroline goes to walk with them to the door. "And it was so good to meet you, Jimmy."

"That's very sweet of you, thank you." Anne hugged Carrie goodbye.

Jim just shook her hand. "It was nice to meet you too."

[Gordano and Lysandus]

"That's very sweet of you, thank you." Anne hugged Carrie goodbye.

Jim just shook her hand. "It was nice to meet you too."

Carrie hugged Anne in return, patting her back. "Always lovely to spend time with you." She nodded softly, before shaking Jim's hand firmly. "Safe travels, you two."

[Greater Arab State]

“It’s great to be meeting with you, Senator.” Jennifer said politely, seating herself before she replied to Kimberley’s offer.

“I think I’ll just have a water please, Senator.”

Kim poured a glass of ice water for the Governor and got a can of Pepsi for herself, before sitting down.

"Here ya go," she said, handing Jennifer her glass and slapping the desktop gently, "economic crisis. What are you thinkin'?"

“Thank you, Senator.” Jennifer said before she continued.

“Well, at the moment it isn’t anything major. However, I’d like to develop a bipartisan response between the Governor’s Mansion and the Kansas Legislature that will mitigate any impact that the economic crisis might have on our state, as well as any potential policies and legislation that could be developed at a federal level that will support us in doing so.” Jennifer said before taking a sip of water.

[Democratic Peoples republic of Kelvinsi]

James Burgun
@RoughriderGovernor
Stimulus checks now!!! Working families FIRST!!!

[Emazia]

James Burgun
@RoughriderGovernor
Stimulus checks now!!! Working families FIRST!!!

Liked and retweeted by Bernie Porter and John Berkowitz

[Sanabel]

“Well,” he said with a grin, “I don’t know how much genius it took, I’d say it was more dumb luck than anything else.”

He paused.

“With all due respect sir, I don’t want your endorsement. Frankly, that’s not why I asked for this meeting. I actually wanted to take the chance to talk to you about the current primary.”

"Don't short sell yourself, Callahan. I am not offended at all that you don't want my endorsement, you are running in Alabama after all. So what about the primary do you want to talk about?"

“I’ll start with a question- do you plan on endorsing either candidate?”

[Democratic Peoples republic of Kelvinsi]

"Don't short sell yourself, Callahan. I am not offended at all that you don't want my endorsement, you are running in Alabama after all. So what about the primary do you want to talk about?"

“I’ll start with a question- do you plan on endorsing either candidate?”

"No" Baharia said. "But I intend on doing my best to ensure high voter turnout in the Democratic primary from hereonforth particularly among the Black community. Voting in a primary is one of the best predictors for voting in the general, and we cannot afford 2016 style scenario where depressed turnout in the midwest among minority communities brought us Wolf."

[Azekopolaltion]

Senator Tim Westra (D-NJ)
Friday Crisis Meeting
Capitol Hill

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Tim arrived promptly at the conference room where the Speaker had invited him along with other Congressional leaders to hammer out their crisis prevention plan. The Senator felt it was necessary to emphasize that point to the public -- that preemptive action to contain the damage was better than late action in cleaning up the mess. In that respect, all the populist Republicans calling for stimulus checks were (purposely) overreacting; there was no recession yet, no significant contraction in aggregate demand to correct. No one wanted to see a recurring UBI more than Tim, but that didn't change the fact that the unemployed needed the targeted help right now, not the general populace; Republican leadership wasn't going to take them seriously if they didn't put forward proposals tailored to the crisis at hand.

In that respect, expanding unemployment benefits and creating a wage insurance program were absolutely crucial for workers left behind in this bankruptcy crisis to continue spending during the downturn. Those were probably non-negotiable. The relief to businesses could probably afford to be watered down somewhat if it meant getting the paycheck recovery program through. And Tim had several ideas to get Republicans to cooperate on healthcare expansion, however unwillingly.

All of these ideas were floating around in his head as he entered the room, folders, pen, and legal pad under his arm.

[Gordano and Lysandus]

Speaker Caroline Simone
Washington, District of Columbia
Friday 20th March, 2020

Caroline was already sat at the head of the table in the meeting room in the suite of rooms designated for the Speaker's use. She had stacks of papers laden around her, and to see Tim drag more in with him - well that was just stereotypical Tim. They were both a pair of incorrigible overworkers. Giving him a gentle wave, there were glasses and carafes of water on the tables. "I'll be getting Chinese food in later. No cheesesteak, I'm afraid." She winks, shaking her head with a mild chuckle. "Lot to do, lot to do..."

[Concerned American Workers]

Mac Faulhaber
@MemphisMac

---

Let's be clear: this crisis was caused by Wall Street treating the economy, and by extension American livelihoods, as their personal casino and by China's reckless character. But at the end of the day, Americans are going to feel the pain. Especially young Americans who grew up during the 2008 recession and now are about to enter the workforce during another.

Mac Faulhaber
@MemphisMac

---

My progressive allies and I will not sign off on any bailouts to Fortune 500 companies without an indefinite freeze on all federal student loan payments and interest accrual for Americans affected. We won't know how long the effects of this crisis could last and this is the bare minimum we can offer.

Mac Faulhaber
@MemphisMac

---

I will be working to ensure that whatever response Congress passes, there is a focus on more than just restoring the status quo. The time for change is now and if we must change the playing field that lets Wall Street run wild, we must. Period.

[Concerned American Workers]

John Logan Ruler
@SonOfRuler

---

People want to ban evictions but if tenants in family neighborhoods start doing drugs or committing crimes, families will have no option left to remove them! Imagine the neighborhoods we could have, very dangerous behavior could soon overrun our towns. Law and order!

[Sarenium]

Deb Feyrer
@AlabamaDeb

---

Who's paying Governor Richardson to lie tonight? Lying about taxes. Lying about healthcare. Lying about his morality.

[Gordano and Lysandus]

(Image)
Deb Feyrer
@AlabamaDeb

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Who's paying Governor Richardson to lie tonight? Lying about taxes. Lying about healthcare. Lying about his morality.

Liked and retweeted by @GeorgiaKathyE.

[Louisianan]

(Image)
Deb Feyrer
@AlabamaDeb

---

Who's paying Governor Richardson to lie tonight? Lying about taxes. Lying about healthcare. Lying about his morality.

Liked and Retweeted By @HGLouisianaFirst

[Sanabel]

“I’ll start with a question- do you plan on endorsing either candidate?”

"No" Baharia said. "But I intend on doing my best to ensure high voter turnout in the Democratic primary from hereonforth particularly among the Black community. Voting in a primary is one of the best predictors for voting in the general, and we cannot afford 2016 style scenario where depressed turnout in the midwest among minority communities brought us Wolf."

“Mr. President, I would urge you to make an endorsement. I’m sure you’ve seen the math, right now the Democratic Party is a peanut’s toss away from a contested convention. And that, well that would leave us up a creek without a paddle. It would kill us in the general election, it could very well rip the party in half. Mr. President, you can stop it from happening.”

[New Cobastheia]

Kathleen Nez
Washington, DC
March 20, 2020

Kathleen arrived soon after the Senator from New Jersey. Admittedly, she was a bit nervous about the whole Westra-Nez partnership Carrie had talked about in her email. Kathleen did want a better relationship with Westra than the lack of the one she currently had with him, but the fact that this is where that relationship would start didn't help the nerves.

Arriving at the conference room Kathleen, with a cup of Starbucks and her MetroCard in hand, took off her overcoat and opened up her bag, all while offering up a greeting, "Chilly night out there huh?" Sitting down in the seat directly across from Westra she took out her own legal pad that already had a few bullet points on it, mainly going over the topics Carrie, Karel, and herself had discussed at the emergency a few nights ago, some bullet points from Westra's own plan, and a few other points she had dotted down to reflect her own politics.

Edit: I thought this meeting was in the morning until I re-read Carrie's email and realized it's happening at 6 pm

[Gordano and Lysandus]

John Nathan Lynskey
@JNLynskeyMA

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Reducing the tax burden on working Americans is laudable, but we should be wary. We must reject any suggestion by Republicans that Social Security is insolvent when it comes to tackling the inevitable shortfall to come from the payroll tax deferral - we cannot allow them to use this as an excuse to fulfil their long-time goal of defunding Social Security. Neither Bernie Porter NOR Nate Richardson can be trusted with the Social Security Trust Fund!

[Concerned American Workers]

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Statement from the Office of Senator Francine Sullivan on March 19th, 2020

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Upon much reflection, it is becoming more obvious that there are growing ideological and political differences among the Democratic Party. And while diversity in thought and opinion is very much warranted in this country of free thinkers and free people, Senator Francine Sullivan can no longer in good faith continue in leadership of the Senate Democratic Caucus. She will continue to seek partnerships from all ideological levels but in a way that more closely reflects her independent mindset and highlights the way that all Alaskans act: decisively and resolutely.

This will become even more important as the nation faces a potential economic crisis. While Senator Sullivan will not allow reckless spenditure to occur without good reason or allow Alaskan tax dollars to go to Wall Street without direct relief to her constituents, she continues to monitor the situation. But Alaskans can remain confident that she will always seek a path that is bipartisan and entrusting of the American spirit that defines this great country. As she has repeated countless times and more so now that she is not bound to any title aside from Senator of the State of Alaska, Francine Sullivan will judge any bill based only on the needs, wants, and opinions of Alaskans.

[Concerned American Workers]

Vinnie Diehl
@TheRealDiehl

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I am proud to endorse Kathleen Nez and James Moore today! They have been some of our most active champions for the working-class and must keep on fighting. I will be visiting Arizona (again!) and Michigan soon. #KeepTheFaith #Vote2020

[Gordano and Lysandus]

(Image)
Vinnie Diehl
@TheRealDiehl

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I am proud to endorse Kathleen Nez and James Moore today! They have been some of our most active champions for the working-class and must keep on fighting. I will be visiting Arizona (again!) and Michigan soon. #KeepTheFaith #Vote2020

Liked and retweeted by @MadamSpeaker, @NavarrofromCalifornia, and @JNLynskeyMA.

[Louisianan]

(Image)
Vinnie Diehl
@TheRealDiehl

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I am proud to endorse Kathleen Nez and James Moore today! They have been some of our most active champions for the working-class and must keep on fighting. I will be visiting Arizona (again!) and Michigan soon. #KeepTheFaith #Vote2020

Liked and Retweeted By @LLazareTX

[Democratic Peoples republic of Kelvinsi]

"No" Baharia said. "But I intend on doing my best to ensure high voter turnout in the Democratic primary from hereonforth particularly among the Black community. Voting in a primary is one of the best predictors for voting in the general, and we cannot afford 2016 style scenario where depressed turnout in the midwest among minority communities brought us Wolf."

“Mr. President, I would urge you to make an endorsement. I’m sure you’ve seen the math, right now the Democratic Party is a peanut’s toss away from a contested convention. And that, well that would leave us up a creek without a paddle. It would kill us in the general election, it could very well rip the party in half. Mr. President, you can stop it from happening.”

"I am sorry Senator, I cannot endorse a candidate this cycle, you know that. I also believe that you know where my preferences lay. I have other tools in my arsenal. I can make the voting demographics more favorable to a certain candidate by driving up Black turnout in the primaries which have so far been disappointing."

[Dentali]

James Moore
@MichiganMoore

Senator Sullivan is one of the best leaders I know and while I am sorry to see her depart party leadership I know that she will still fight tirelessly for the American people.

[New Cobastheia]

(Image)
Vinnie Diehl
@TheRealDiehl

---

I am proud to endorse Kathleen Nez and James Moore today! They have been some of our most active champions for the working-class and must keep on fighting. I will be visiting Arizona (again!) and Michigan soon. #KeepTheFaith #Vote2020

Liked and Retweeted by @KathleenNez

Kathleen Nez
@KathleenNez

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Ahe'hee @TheRealDiehl and trust me when I say I intent to keep fighting the good fight! #KeepTheFaith #Vote2020