America the Beautiful: An American Political RP (IC)

[Velahor]

"I'll think about it some more...maybe I'll write up a list of pros and cons of each Republican as an opponent. I ran a couple campaigns over the years, I've got a pretty good idea on strategy. Our party has a really good opportunity against these candidates, and I'd like if our candidates could eventually hear my ideas for how to take on each of them."

"I'll definitely let you forward your points to them once we figure out where we're heading as a caucus. How confident are you in your skills when it comes to this sort of thing?" He asked, sounding more curious than anything.

Rogers sounded confident about his skills. "Well...I helped not-Steve Bullock get elected as Attorney General in Montana. And I chaired the state Democratic Party for awhile. So I have some practice at this. When I got elected, I had as much of a hand in my campaign strategy as my campaign manager did, maybe even more so. But it's always been in the context of Montana politics...my campaign strategy ideas probably don't work for everybody, but they have helped me and other Democrats in Montana get elected. I'm sure at least some of those skills translate to running in other states, at least if you familiarize yourself with that state's politics."

[Velahor]

"Alright, well I guess that I would like to see some of that informal diplomacy go toward negotiating with our allies to kind set things a bit more equal there. There's a difference between being in Europe for our benefit and being there to provide an army for our allies while they can turn and spend the money they would have spent on the military on other programs. While I agree that there's benefit to being in NATO, we can't be basically paying our allies' military bills. And if it turns to war someday, it won't be just American dollars, but American lives that are spent defending countries who cut their military budgets because they thought NATO would keep them safe."

"It's a case of getting that balance right. We want them to be strong enough to not be totally dependent, but we don't want them to be too capable of swanning off on adventures independently. Ultimately, it's a tightrope, and no one really walks away from it totally satisfied. Never let the perfect get in the way of the good. You're right, of course, it's just a case of being able to do that alongside just about everything else that the United States has to do," She smiiled softly, hoping that William was finding this as educational as she hoped.

Rogers smiled back, happy to have learned a little more about how foreign policy worked. It wasn't like Simone would be his only resource, and he'd still need to have plenty of conversations with others about foreign policy, but these discussions were helping him figure out how he would vote in the future.

"You're right. It's about balance. Moderation. That's generally the case with domestic policy too...I've just really never thought of that in application to our alliances and war and stuff."

[Yaruqo]

Matilda headed to the kitchen to go and grab a few glasses of water and Hertzog carefully put the gift down on the table, "Well, it'd like it a lot more if it wasn't the middle of winter, but hey, I think we're all used to a little bit of snow."

"Please, let's sit," Hertzog said as he gestured towards the couches. Taking his spot on the one he had been sitting one when the two candidates walked in he fully expected the two of them to share the couch opposite his own. As Matilda walked back into the room with the waters he'd start back up again, "So, obviously we're all here to talk about the race, so first things first, I'm assuming we all want to win this race with everything we got, so regardless of who comes out on top I want to know you're both prepared to endorse and campaign for each other after the primary."

"Of course, if Congressman Boyd is nominated by our voters, then I intend to throw my endorsement, logistics, contacts, you name it, towards his campaign. I'm glad we're both on the same page with regards to that, no matter what."

[Gordano and Lysandus]

Rogers smiled back, happy to have learned a little more about how foreign policy worked. It wasn't like Simone would be his only resource, and he'd still need to have plenty of conversations with others about foreign policy, but these discussions were helping him figure out how he would vote in the future.

"You're right. It's about balance. Moderation. That's generally the case with domestic policy too...I've just really never thought of that in application to our alliances and war and stuff."

"Very few things are ideological absolutes, not least in politics - the art of the possible. We do what we can, but we have our own limits, not least because of how partisan even this supposed holy grail has become. We've been left with a fine mess by the Wolf-Tawney Administrations, no lie, and I'll be honest, President Baharia's stance on a number of issues weakened our standing in the world - and I say that having worked for him. What worries me about President Richardson is I can't tell if the responsibility of his office has set in yet. I'm very worried he'll do things which are damaging because he thinks they're popular, like following Wolf's timeline in Afghanistan. Even if you're dead set on leaving, absolutely adamant, if you're going to go, you need to get going now, and there's a high chance someone'll get left behind before the Taliban deadline. And then there's how Wolf hurt our relationships with South Korea and Europe, whilst giving legitimacy to and cuddling up to a cadre of dictators."

[Velahor]

Rogers smiled back, happy to have learned a little more about how foreign policy worked. It wasn't like Simone would be his only resource, and he'd still need to have plenty of conversations with others about foreign policy, but these discussions were helping him figure out how he would vote in the future.

"You're right. It's about balance. Moderation. That's generally the case with domestic policy too...I've just really never thought of that in application to our alliances and war and stuff."

"Very few things are ideological absolutes, not least in politics - the art of the possible. We do what we can, but we have our own limits, not least because of how partisan even this supposed holy grail has become. We've been left with a fine mess by the Wolf-Tawney Administrations, no lie, and I'll be honest, President Baharia's stance on a number of issues weakened our standing in the world - and I say that having worked for him. What worries me about President Richardson is I can't tell if the responsibility of his office has set in yet. I'm very worried he'll do things which are damaging because he thinks they're popular, like following Wolf's timeline in Afghanistan. Even if you're dead set on leaving, absolutely adamant, if you're going to go, you need to get going now, and there's a high chance someone'll get left behind before the Taliban deadline. And then there's how Wolf hurt our relationships with South Korea and Europe, whilst giving legitimacy to and cuddling up to a cadre of dictators."

"When the Republicans chose Richardson, I first breathed a sigh of relief because he was not Wolf, and was not any of the really crazy primary candidates they put up. But dang...you might be right about that about him not knowing his responsibility. Of course...I don't know the guy personally so it's impossible for me to say," said Rogers. As he always did, he wouldn't cast his assumptions on a person without meeting them first.

But this conversation with Representative Simone had Rogers more relaxed than at the beginning, as he had opened up about a number of topics, and he felt the desire to share a bit of a dilemma he was facing.

"Representative Simone...I hope it's not too much...but I was going to ask for your advice. So Montana has a few towns, actually, they're our most Democratic towns, mostly Butte, and Anaconda which is right next door to there, and Libby up north, these towns have really bad population decline because they have some of the nation's largest EPA Superfund sites and their mining and logging industries are mostly shut down. I want to get increased funding to clean them up quicker, and try to find some way to incentive tech, or manufacturing, or something like that to move there. Anyway...I was looking for your advice on how to do this through a bill...but my issue is...I don't want to look selfish or for it to look like pork barrel spending. But hear me out...if we can get these towns on the upswing, they have a strong local Democratic presence and can help us make the state permanently blue. So how on earth would someone go about fixing that problem for his state, without it looking like senseless pork barrel spending?"

[Gordano and Lysandus]

"When the Republicans chose Richardson, I first breathed a sigh of relief because he was not Wolf, and was not any of the really crazy primary candidates they put up. But dang...you might be right about that about him not knowing his responsibility. Of course...I don't know the guy personally so it's impossible for me to say," said Rogers. As he always did, he wouldn't cast his assumptions on a person without meeting them first.

But this conversation with Representative Simone had Rogers more relaxed than at the beginning, as he had opened up about a number of topics, and he felt the desire to share a bit of a dilemma he was facing.

"Representative Simone...I hope it's not too much...but I was going to ask for your advice. So Montana has a few towns, actually, they're our most Democratic towns, mostly Butte, and Anaconda which is right next door to there, and Libby up north, these towns have really bad population decline because they have some of the nation's largest EPA Superfund sites and their mining and logging industries are mostly shut down. I want to get increased funding to clean them up quicker, and try to find some way to incentive tech, or manufacturing, or something like that to move there. Anyway...I was looking for your advice on how to do this through a bill...but my issue is...I don't want to look selfish or for it to look like pork barrel spending. But hear me out...if we can get these towns on the upswing, they have a strong local Democratic presence and can help us make the state permanently blue. So how on earth would someone go about fixing that problem for his state, without it looking like senseless pork barrel spending?"

"Well, I've got a bill to try to stimulate forestation which'll hopefully support logging towns, but I'll answer your question with a question. Will it look like senseless pork barrel spending to the people of Montana to whom you are answerable?"

[Velahor]

Senator William Rogers III
@WSRIIISenate
rogers.senate.gov| Bozeman, MT

---

#TBT of the day I first announced my 2018 campaign! Thank you, Montanans, for the opportunity to make your voices heard in the Senate.

[Velahor]

"When the Republicans chose Richardson, I first breathed a sigh of relief because he was not Wolf, and was not any of the really crazy primary candidates they put up. But dang...you might be right about that about him not knowing his responsibility. Of course...I don't know the guy personally so it's impossible for me to say," said Rogers. As he always did, he wouldn't cast his assumptions on a person without meeting them first.

But this conversation with Representative Simone had Rogers more relaxed than at the beginning, as he had opened up about a number of topics, and he felt the desire to share a bit of a dilemma he was facing.

"Representative Simone...I hope it's not too much...but I was going to ask for your advice. So Montana has a few towns, actually, they're our most Democratic towns, mostly Butte, and Anaconda which is right next door to there, and Libby up north, these towns have really bad population decline because they have some of the nation's largest EPA Superfund sites and their mining and logging industries are mostly shut down. I want to get increased funding to clean them up quicker, and try to find some way to incentive tech, or manufacturing, or something like that to move there. Anyway...I was looking for your advice on how to do this through a bill...but my issue is...I don't want to look selfish or for it to look like pork barrel spending. But hear me out...if we can get these towns on the upswing, they have a strong local Democratic presence and can help us make the state permanently blue. So how on earth would someone go about fixing that problem for his state, without it looking like senseless pork barrel spending?"

"Well, I've got a bill to try to stimulate forestation which'll hopefully support logging towns, but I'll answer your question with a question. Will it look like senseless pork barrel spending to the people of Montana to whom you are answerable?"

"Heck no it won't," Rogers said emphatically.

"Butte was one time a town of almost 100,000 people. Now it's like 20,000. ARCO pulled out the copper mining operation in the '80's, and left people jobless and left a giant hole in the middle of town. I'm not talking a metaphor...it's an actual hole. There used to be a neighborhood there, and now it's a giant pit giant pit of acidic chemicals so toxic that scientists have used it as a case study of bacteria growing in extreme environments. Right in the middle of what used to be Montana's biggest city."

"And Libby was where they mined all the vermiculite that they used to make asbestos, and they also did logging there. Some of the logging is still there, but the town and surrounding area is contaminated with so much asbestos particles that people are still getting sick from it."

"So no. It won't look like pork to Montanans. It will look like a lifeline to communities that have literally been poisoned, then forgotten about. Whatever I do to solve this though, I probably oughta extend the benefit to Great Falls too...it's more Republican there and they've lost industry too, so I won't looking like I'm just helping the Democratic towns. Shoot...and Colstrip too...it's like all these towns back home got tore up by big mining companies and left to die. I've always thought that was an Appalachia and Rust Belt problem mostly...because my hometown is growing fast...but now that I'm thinking about it..."

Rogers's sentence trailed off, as he was lost in thought, and then he neglected to finish it.

[Gordano and Lysandus]

"Heck no it won't," Rogers said emphatically.

"Butte was one time a town of almost 100,000 people. Now it's like 20,000. ARCO pulled out the copper mining operation in the '80's, and left people jobless and left a giant hole in the middle of town. I'm not talking a metaphor...it's an actual hole. There used to be a neighborhood there, and now it's a giant pit giant pit of acidic chemicals so toxic that scientists have used it as a case study of bacteria growing in extreme environments. Right in the middle of what used to be Montana's biggest city."

"And Libby was where they mined all the vermiculite that they used to make asbestos, and they also did logging there. Some of the logging is still there, but the town and surrounding area is contaminated with so much asbestos particles that people are still getting sick from it."

"So no. It won't look like pork to Montanans. It will look like a lifeline to communities that have literally been poisoned, then forgotten about. Whatever I do to solve this though, I probably oughta extend the benefit to Great Falls too...it's more Republican there and they've lost industry too, so I won't looking like I'm just helping the Democratic towns. Shoot...and Colstrip too...it's like all these towns back home got tore up by big mining companies and left to die. I've always thought that was an Appalachia and Rust Belt problem mostly...because my hometown is growing fast...but now that I'm thinking about it..."

Rogers's sentence trailed off, as he was lost in thought, and then he neglected to finish it.

"If it won't look like pork barrel spending to your constituents, and rightly it doesn't, then you don't need to feel so ashamed of advocating it. Frankly, I don't think anyone on our side of the aisle would be opposed to this. We want you, and Montana, to succeed. Though that does mean you're going to have to weigh it up politically. If you want leadership to prioritize getting this into, say, an infrastructure bill, you might want to avoid a fight over another policy that'll be controversial. This'll be expensive, so it'll take leadership a little work to get it past a couple of your colleagues. but I'm confident that it's doable, so long as you don't dig yourself any holes on the way."

[Velahor]

"Heck no it won't," Rogers said emphatically.

"Butte was one time a town of almost 100,000 people. Now it's like 20,000. ARCO pulled out the copper mining operation in the '80's, and left people jobless and left a giant hole in the middle of town. I'm not talking a metaphor...it's an actual hole. There used to be a neighborhood there, and now it's a giant pit giant pit of acidic chemicals so toxic that scientists have used it as a case study of bacteria growing in extreme environments. Right in the middle of what used to be Montana's biggest city."

"And Libby was where they mined all the vermiculite that they used to make asbestos, and they also did logging there. Some of the logging is still there, but the town and surrounding area is contaminated with so much asbestos particles that people are still getting sick from it."

"So no. It won't look like pork to Montanans. It will look like a lifeline to communities that have literally been poisoned, then forgotten about. Whatever I do to solve this though, I probably oughta extend the benefit to Great Falls too...it's more Republican there and they've lost industry too, so I won't looking like I'm just helping the Democratic towns. Shoot...and Colstrip too...it's like all these towns back home got tore up by big mining companies and left to die. I've always thought that was an Appalachia and Rust Belt problem mostly...because my hometown is growing fast...but now that I'm thinking about it..."

Rogers's sentence trailed off, as he was lost in thought, and then he neglected to finish it.

"If it won't look like pork barrel spending to your constituents, and rightly it doesn't, then you don't need to feel so ashamed of advocating it. Frankly, I don't think anyone on our side of the aisle would be opposed to this. We want you, and Montana, to succeed. Though that does mean you're going to have to weigh it up politically. If you want leadership to prioritize getting this into, say, an infrastructure bill, you might want to avoid a fight over another policy that'll be controversial. This'll be expensive, so it'll take leadership a little work to get it past a couple of your colleagues. but I'm confident that it's doable, so long as you don't dig yourself any holes on the way."

"Well...I don't think MARKET will be causing any problems with Hertzog holding it off the agenda, and I don't really have any issue with anything else the party is doing right now."

Rogers sighed.

"You know how when we were first talking, you asked me what my most important issue was? And I said veterans and agriculture? Add this to the list too...this cleanup of poisoned towns...whatever you wanna call it."

"To me all three of those things are the same in a way. The mining towns, the vets, and farmers...they all carried this nation through its toughest times...and I really care about returning the favor when times get difficult for them, like they are now."

[Gordano and Lysandus]

"Well...I don't think MARKET will be causing any problems with Hertzog holding it off the agenda, and I don't really have any issue with anything else the party is doing right now."

Rogers sighed.

"You know how when we were first talking, you asked me what my most important issue was? And I said veterans and agriculture? Add this to the list too...this cleanup of poisoned towns...whatever you wanna call it."

"To me all three of those things are the same in a way. The mining towns, the vets, and farmers...they all carried this nation through its toughest times...and I really care about returning the favor when times get difficult for them, like they are now."

"Well, I definitely think you should make this your highest priority after veteran care. People will really remember this, and it'll cement you in office if you're the one going out and fighting to make sure their communities are clean and safe, and their families have a lower risk of cancer and other diseases. It's a lot of good morally, and it's a lot of good politically. Keep that in mind when it comes to negotiating with other Democrats. This is something you don't want to let get cut out of a bill in favor of another priority."

[Velahor]

"Well...I don't think MARKET will be causing any problems with Hertzog holding it off the agenda, and I don't really have any issue with anything else the party is doing right now."

Rogers sighed.

"You know how when we were first talking, you asked me what my most important issue was? And I said veterans and agriculture? Add this to the list too...this cleanup of poisoned towns...whatever you wanna call it."

"To me all three of those things are the same in a way. The mining towns, the vets, and farmers...they all carried this nation through its toughest times...and I really care about returning the favor when times get difficult for them, like they are now."

"Well, I definitely think you should make this your highest priority after veteran care. People will really remember this, and it'll cement you in office if you're the one going out and fighting to make sure their communities are clean and safe, and their families have a lower risk of cancer and other diseases. It's a lot of good morally, and it's a lot of good politically. Keep that in mind when it comes to negotiating with other Democrats. This is something you don't want to let get cut out of a bill in favor of another priority."

"I definitely will keep that in mind. Thank you for your advice on this...I've just never really done this legislating thing very well before. Campaigning I do fine, and actually writing the bills themselves isn't the problem, but I'm a little shaky about knowing what the right bills to write are, and when to put them up."

"Do you happen to know when the next Senate recess is? I suppose I could look it up easily. I think I'm going to go to those towns when I'm back home. Make it a roadtrip with the wife and twins if I can convince the school to let them off a few days. Just talk to people...be there in person...I don't really know if I'll necessarily make a big event out of it or anything. I'll need to stop by Wisconsin to help there first...but I don't know...now that we're getting talking about it...I'm getting kind of excited about going back home and doing the on-the-ground work to see this environmental-slash-infrastructure thing through."

[Gordano and Lysandus]

"I definitely will keep that in mind. Thank you for your advice on this...I've just never really done this legislating thing very well before. Campaigning I do fine, and actually writing the bills themselves isn't the problem, but I'm a little shaky about knowing what the right bills to write are, and when to put them up."

"Do you happen to know when the next Senate recess is? I suppose I could look it up easily. I think I'm going to go to those towns when I'm back home. Make it a roadtrip with the wife and twins if I can convince the school to let them off a few days. Just talk to people...be there in person...I don't really know if I'll necessarily make a big event out of it or anything. I'll need to stop by Wisconsin to help there first...but I don't know...now that we're getting talking about it...I'm getting kind of excited about going back home and doing the on-the-ground work to see this environmental-slash-infrastructure thing through."

"As I said, I was once the fresh-faced idealist getting off the bus once too. I only think it's fair someone sit down and help you get to understand the intricacies of Washington."

"As far as I know, Senator Obradovic intends on keeping the Senate in session until all the relevant aid bills are done, so it may be tricky, but I'm sure you could make a couple of weekends of it, couldn't you?"

[Velahor]

"I definitely will keep that in mind. Thank you for your advice on this...I've just never really done this legislating thing very well before. Campaigning I do fine, and actually writing the bills themselves isn't the problem, but I'm a little shaky about knowing what the right bills to write are, and when to put them up."

"Do you happen to know when the next Senate recess is? I suppose I could look it up easily. I think I'm going to go to those towns when I'm back home. Make it a roadtrip with the wife and twins if I can convince the school to let them off a few days. Just talk to people...be there in person...I don't really know if I'll necessarily make a big event out of it or anything. I'll need to stop by Wisconsin to help there first...but I don't know...now that we're getting talking about it...I'm getting kind of excited about going back home and doing the on-the-ground work to see this environmental-slash-infrastructure thing through."

"As I said, I was once the fresh-faced idealist getting off the bus once too. I only think it's fair someone sit down and help you get to understand the intricacies of Washington."

"As far as I know, Senator Obradovic intends on keeping the Senate in session until all the relevant aid bills are done, so it may be tricky, but I'm sure you could make a couple of weekends of it, couldn't you?"

"It's a very long flight, but if I book one leaving DC on a Friday evening, and take a redeye Sunday night, I technically can make it happen. Nothing a little coffee couldn't make possible," said Rogers.

[Gordano and Lysandus]

"It's a very long flight, but if I book one leaving DC on a Friday evening, and take a redeye Sunday night, I technically can make it happen. Nothing a little coffee couldn't make possible," said Rogers.

"You must be used to the all-nighters by now," She chuckled, rubbing her eyes a little. "Oh boy, even thinking about negotiating the last aid package with President Tawney's people makes me feel exhausted."

[Velahor]

"It's a very long flight, but if I book one leaving DC on a Friday evening, and take a redeye Sunday night, I technically can make it happen. Nothing a little coffee couldn't make possible," said Rogers.

"You must be used to the all-nighters by now," She chuckled, rubbing her eyes a little. "Oh boy, even thinking about negotiating the last aid package with President Tawney's people makes me feel exhausted."

"I bet...and once I get on the ground back home...most of the places I've gotta go don't have airports, so there's all the driving in between. Still...I feel like it's gotta be done."

William looked at the clock on the wall behind Simone.

"I don't want to keep you too long, I know you're probably quite busy. Since you're the one that scheduled this meeting, I figured I'd check to make sure there's nothing else you wanted to discuss. Is there anything?"

[Gordano and Lysandus]

"I bet...and once I get on the ground back home...most of the places I've gotta go don't have airports, so there's all the driving in between. Still...I feel like it's gotta be done."

William looked at the clock on the wall behind Simone.

"I don't want to keep you too long, I know you're probably quite busy. Since you're the one that scheduled this meeting, I figured I'd check to make sure there's nothing else you wanted to discuss. Is there anything?"

"No, no, that's everything. Really, I've been rambling at times, just glad to have the time to ramble sometimes." She goes to stand up, slinging her handbag over her shoulder with the requisite strap. "If there's anything else you need, please, just call my office."

[Velahor]

"I bet...and once I get on the ground back home...most of the places I've gotta go don't have airports, so there's all the driving in between. Still...I feel like it's gotta be done."

William looked at the clock on the wall behind Simone.

"I don't want to keep you too long, I know you're probably quite busy. Since you're the one that scheduled this meeting, I figured I'd check to make sure there's nothing else you wanted to discuss. Is there anything?"

"No, no, that's everything. Really, I've been rambling at times, just glad to have the time to ramble sometimes." She goes to stand up, slinging her handbag over her shoulder with the requisite strap. "If there's anything else you need, please, just call my office."

"Of course Representative. Thank you again for your guidance on these matters, I really do appreciate it," said William as he stood up to shake her hand again.

[Kargintinia]

“I agree you are certainly much more calibrated to the general electorate, however, I feel it would not only be inappropriate but also give possible ammunition to your primary challengers to attack you as an “establishment creature” if a member of leadership such as myself openly endorsed your campaign at this point. However, I do have other ways of assisting you. I have several contacts and associates who would capable of getting critical funding to your campaign.”

Gundersen nodded and replied.

“Well…maybe not your endorsement, but I do think that an endorsement from a candidate who resonates with the base would be helpful. Does anybody in the House come to mind?"

"As far as funding goes, I've brought in a lot of my own cash, and the National Restaurant Association's 'Restaurant PAC' has been putting money toward fighting my opponents. I've also got a ton of medium-sized donors out of the pool of Dairy Dan's franchisees. But more funding can always help. What were you thinking for funding?"

“I can certainly up some Representatives to endorse you, Hekyll-Jones and Ionakana both come to mind. In terms of funding… well I am close friends with Governor Jonah Prendergast who holds quite a lot of funds. I could encourage him to send that money your direction as opposed to one of your opponents.”

[New Cobastheia]

"Wisconsin, Wisconsin, Wisconsin, and I was expected you'd drive up from Chicago at some point. Once the ARA passes I'm planning to tweet out some messaging. The bill is a nice enough start, in large part thanks to us, but it's only the beginning and we're going to do everything in our power to make sure our priorities on healthcare, infrastructure, and the minimum wage get through, meanwhile, if the GOP gets the majority you can kiss things like a livable wage, roads without potholes, good insurance policies, and anything that'd bring the rust belt back to life goodbye."

"Probably thank Rogers and Vichter too for getting a few things in there before the bill got put on the docket."

"They're good kids, Rogers and Vichter, but I see there wasn't support for your amendment on the Endless Frontier Act. What was all that about?"

"Well, I spoke to Rogers about it, the amendment wasn't the biggest deal in the world, but I still wanted to speak to him about it, but anyways... turns out it was Vichter who lobbied him to vote against it," Hertzog stated as he slumped back into his chair waiting for Obradovic to react.

[Vaquas]

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Campaign Event in Green Bay, Wisconsin for Mr. Christopher Duncan Jr. (R-WI)

---

February 13, 2021

---

Christopher Duncan Jr. had been in Green Bay before. Most of the time it had been for Packers games, to which he had always gotten good tickets, but this time it was for a much more important reason: His senate candidacy. After having met with some local politicians and having had a wonderful lunch at a local restaurant, notably across from a Dairy Dan’s, Duncan had made his way on foot to the venue, which was strategically close-by, greeting passersby and engaging with them about the campaign. His wife, Diana, was by his side, trying to talk to him about something he didn’t give a shit about, her brother or something. The woman, taller than him and much more conventionally attractive by most accounts, stopped when the two reached the stage on which he was to give his speech, the crowd cheering as the local councilman who had endorsed his campaign welcomed him up. He gave Diana a half-hearted kiss on the cheek before ascending to the platform and giving a winning smile to the assembled mass of largely white faces.

He spoke confidently into the microphone.

“I cannot express how happy I am to be in the great city of Green Bay, Wisconsin. Go Packers! This city has got a lot of wonderful patriots in it and I can’t wait to see that unleashed American potential at work in March! I just know that President Wolf loved this city, and he would have loved to be right on stage beside me looking out on all of your beautiful faces.”

The Crowd agreed somberly with scattered types of reactions, most indicating agreement.

“But lets get down to business. We are under attack! Our state is seeing a rise in crime due to the willful negligence of the Democrat Party and the radicalism of its so called BLM affiliates. Just the other day an elderly woman in northern Wisconsin was attacked in broad daylight by some criminal thug intent on causing destruction. He stole her purse and left her to die in the street, and the corporate media didn’t even cover it! This type of lawless conduct has been tolerated for too long in this country. People like this are emboldened when they hear of democrat efforts to defund the police and take away guns from law abiding people. Senator Ronson understood this, and that is why he was so overwhelmingly elected by the people of this state. He knew that our men and women of law enforcement are the only ones keeping us from total anarchy, and he knew that Americans are better off when they are armed and able to deal with threats to their families. That’s why as his replacement in the United States Senate, I will fight for those same men and women, and I will fight for that same indelible right in the U.S. Constitution to keep and bear ARMS!”

The crowd begins to applaud with great enthusiasm before quieting back down.

“Do you know what I have to say to radical socialists like Caroline Simone and Ibrahim Simpson in their million dollar mansions and their New York penthouses? I say, keep your twisted far-left values out of Wisconsin, and out of our country, period! I mean my god, the Democrats are already saying that they want noted communist Everson Boyd to be their nominee for Senator. How crazy is that?

The crowd begins to boo very loudly, expressing their displeasure.

“They want to nominate a man, who by the way, helped cover up for President Clifford’s sexual perversions, and who for all intents and purposes is no different in policy then Fidel Castro, to be their candidate. It honestly just blows my mind how low democrats are willing to go.”

The crowd boos more, many of them giving thumbs down, shaking their heads, or crossing their arms in visible disgust.

“Which brings me to my next topic, which is the economic terrorism being waged by the Chinese Communist Party against hardworking American families. Democrats have really crossed the line on this one! They want to completely surrender to Beijing and allow them to dictate OUR economic policy, which, of course, would throw thousands of Wisconsinites out of their jobs and onto the Democrat welfare state. If Democrats had their way, you would be in a bread line folks! A literal bread line, like the Soviet Union! Can you imagine? I, for one, like to walk into the supermarket and see the shelves full, not empty like in Venezuela. But even worse, the Democrat Party’s most recent scheme, proposed by Everson Boyd himself with the backing of Caroline Simone, involves literally paying people not to work! That my friends, is not what the Founding Fathers intended when they built this country, that is socialism!

The crowd boos more, someone yelling something unintelligible about Simone as Duncan shakes his head as well.

And you know, this isn’t even the most sinister part of the Democrat agenda. As we all know, Democrats are the party of abortion, abortion, abortion, and, in many cases, euthanasia. Did you know that democrat party leaders support a complete elimination of any restrictions on abortion? That’s right, if Democrats continue to control the U.S. Senate, it is only a matter of time before a woman can walk into an abortion clinic 9 months pregant, the baby days away from birth, and have the baby murdered, literally dismembered, on the spot. That, my friends, is insanity, plain and simple. Beyond that, they want to institute mandatory sex education for children as young as 6 years old. I don’t know about you, but if someone tried to sexualize my child, well, let's just say they wouldn’t like what happened next.”

The largely male crowd begins cheering enthusiastically as Mr. Duncan shrugs his shoulders, grinning, and says ‘It's true’ before the crowd settles down.

“My overall point is this folks. We cannot, I repeat, CANNOT, allow a Democrat to take control of Senator Ronson’s seat. It simply cannot be allowed to happen! Which is why we must nominate a Republican candidate who is battle tested against the intolerant left and who stood with President Wolf during the toughest moments of his Presidency. I served in the White House under President Wolf, and during that time I learned what true leadership looked like. He taught me that we Republicans must be a party that keeps our promises and delivers for American workers, which is exactly what I intend to do as your next U.S. Senator."

"If you elect me Wisconsin, you’re getting someone who speaks his mind and calls out bullshit when he sees it. You’re getting someone committed to President Richardson’s agenda to build this country back from the financial brink. You’re getting someone who will never, never, never stop fighting for family values and the American dream. And most of all you are getting someone who cannot be bent by special interests, or the deep state, or anyone else. Someone who is loyal only to you, the great people of this state. When you go to the polls, vote for the candidate who supports the Keep Wisconsin Great agenda, and make sure that the late Senator Ronson is succeeded by someone who shares his values, his principles, and his belief that we live in the greatest nation in the history of the world. I humbly put myself forward as that candidate, and am excited to see what this movement can do when put to the test! God Bless our troops, God Bless Wisconsin, and God Bless America!”

Duncan descended the stage to cheering and approached the crowd, speaking to a few lucky individuals for a few minutes before leaving the venue to attend a much smaller event involving small business owners in Oshkosh.

[Gordano and Lysandus]

"Of course Representative. Thank you again for your guidance on these matters, I really do appreciate it," said William as he stood up to shake her hand again.

She shakes his hand firmly, giving a nod.

"It's nothing, really. Just passing on a favor that was granted to me. Have a good day, Senator."

Nodding once more, she went to depart from the other's office, hoping that she had made some groundwork. She wouldn't call the Senator's father back quite yet, but it was a curious situation indeed.

[Gordano and Lysandus]

"Well, I spoke to Rogers about it, the amendment wasn't the biggest deal in the world, but I still wanted to speak to him about it, but anyways... turns out it was Vichter who lobbied him to vote against it," Hertzog stated as he slumped back into his chair waiting for Obradovic to react.

There's a brief flare of the elder Senator's eyes at the mention of it. He sets his glass aside, going to mesh his fingers together and rested them against his lips, looking ponderous for a moment.

"Jack Vichter. Senate freshman. Lobbying against the Majority Leader. Oh dear, this won't do at all."

[Velahor]

Gundersen nodded and replied.

“Well…maybe not your endorsement, but I do think that an endorsement from a candidate who resonates with the base would be helpful. Does anybody in the House come to mind?"

"As far as funding goes, I've brought in a lot of my own cash, and the National Restaurant Association's 'Restaurant PAC' has been putting money toward fighting my opponents. I've also got a ton of medium-sized donors out of the pool of Dairy Dan's franchisees. But more funding can always help. What were you thinking for funding?"

“I can certainly up some Representatives to endorse you, Hekyll-Jones and Ionakana both come to mind. In terms of funding… well I am close friends with Governor Jonah Prendergast who holds quite a lot of funds. I could encourage him to send that money your direction as opposed to one of your opponents.”

"I like those choices. The three of them all come from different parts of the party base that we need to activate."

"Is there any way you could get me in touch with Governor Prendergast? I'd imagine his funding would go a long way...probably even put me over the top."

[Velahor]

"Of course Representative. Thank you again for your guidance on these matters, I really do appreciate it," said William as he stood up to shake her hand again.

She shakes his hand firmly, giving a nod.

"It's nothing, really. Just passing on a favor that was granted to me. Have a good day, Senator."

Nodding once more, she went to depart from the other's office, hoping that she had made some groundwork. She wouldn't call the Senator's father back quite yet, but it was a curious situation indeed.

William locked the door behind Simone as she left. He walked back over to his desk, and pulled out a pack of Marlboro reds and a lighter. He walked over to the outside-facing window and opened it while muttering something under his breath, then lit up a cigarette and smoked while looking out the window toward the Washington Monument in the distance.

People had began to notice William a lot more in Washington these past few weeks. He recognized this and knew that for him to make it in politics, he would need to make a name for himself. But d*mn, it's stressful doing this...he thought to himself as he exhaled the smoke.