Twilight's Last Gleaming: An American Political RP Special

[Madrinpoor]

DEMOCRATIC DEBATE 1 FINAL QUESTION

“Congressman Gunsley recently caused controversy when he recently suddenly purchased stocks on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange for a large sum of money. While no evidence of insider trading or any other wrongdoing has yet been produced this has nevertheless raised questions regarding the financial interests of our elected officials. As President how would you improve transparency in the federal government and work to ensure the financial interests of elected officials do not conflict with the interests of the American people?”

"First of all, I just want to say that a corrupt businessman cannot lead a transparent government. That's an oxymoron."

"As we've seen recently with Rep. Gunsley, in today's Washington, no scandal is big enough to force a change. I'll hedge my bets that Rep. Gunsley won't even lose reelection in his home district, and won't even by condemned by the GOP. No, now it's time for a change, where a candidate that has no vested interests politically lays out a plan for stopping corruption: all Congressmen, Supreme Court Justices, and Executive Branch officials must release private tax returns; no elected government official will be allowed to operate a business at the same time, under any circumstances; and by enacting whistleblower-protection laws, to keep those who sacrifice their professional careers for the sake of transparency from punishment. These are simple measures, but hated by everyone in Washington."

[Jovuistan]

DEMOCRATIC DEBATE 1 FINAL QUESTION

“Congressman Gunsley recently caused controversy when he recently suddenly purchased stocks on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange for a large sum of money. While no evidence of insider trading or any other wrongdoing has yet been produced this has nevertheless raised questions regarding the financial interests of our elected officials. As President how would you improve transparency in the federal government and work to ensure the financial interests of elected officials do not conflict with the interests of the American people?”

FIRST DEMOCRATIC DEBATE
SENATOR CAROLE MARTEL

"I've been in the Senate for nearly a decade, I've been meeting and talking to people in Congress even longer because of my position in the (not-Clinton) administration. You know, when you first get into the Senate, you're like a kid in the candy store, 'Oh my goodness, how did I get here?' then a few months later you think, 'How the hell did the rest of them get here?' I've seen some of the lobbyists in action. Washington no doubt needs a clean-up. I agree that members of Congress have no business trading stocks, and my administration would ban that as well as White House officials becoming lobbyists. My administration would institute a gift ban and end the abuse of no-bid contracts by requiring government contracts to be competitively awarded, not bought. And we will push for campaign finance reform to combat the buying of campaigns through special interests, including public financing of campaigns and free TV and radio time.

"I think we should use the great advances in American technology to take on government corruption and improve transparency. We'll use the internet to our advantage by publishing searchable public information on federal grants, contracts, earmarks, loans, and lobbyist contacts with government officials. We'll put government data online and create an online video archive of significant agency meetings. We'll put non-emergency bills passed in Congress online for five days to allow Americans to read and comment on them before they're signed into law. This goes beyond just tackling the money problems, this is about ensuring the American people can trust their government, and my administration will fight for real transparency."

[Kargintinia]

Nesbitt Tripp Baylor

”Corruption is ripe in our government. It is a culture fostered by years upon years of the establishment further and further entrenching itself thanks to career politicians like Senator Martel. Little Upton won’t clean up Washington-they’ll walk all over him. It’ll be like a little mouse yelling up at a bear “squeak, squeak”. Loser J.J. certainly can’t clean up this country, he couldn’t even clean up Baltimore. And our good friend from down south, well, his idea of “clean” is 1862 so definitely not him.

Tripp Baylor is the only outsider here. I can’t be bought, or lobbied. I will totally clean up this swamp in Washington and send the establishment packing. I mean look at what these Republicans have done the last seven years, the not-Abramoff scandal, and this Gunsley guy. Just give me a break. The Republicans love spying on Americans so much, maybe it’s time we spy on them? Just an idea, put body cameras on every Republican in Congress for a month and see how many end up indicted. It’s disgusting, really. Disgraceful truthfully.

[Mareadmonte]

DEMOCRATIC DEBATE 1 FINAL QUESTION

“Congressman Gunsley recently caused controversy when he recently suddenly purchased stocks on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange for a large sum of money. While no evidence of insider trading or any other wrongdoing has yet been produced this has nevertheless raised questions regarding the financial interests of our elected officials. As President how would you improve transparency in the federal government and work to ensure the financial interests of elected officials do not conflict with the interests of the American people?”

"My career started and has been built on fighting corruption. Nobody knows corruption and tackling shady schemes like Bob Woolworth. As mayor of Maggie Valley down in North Carolina, I exposed the so-called men of God at the Maggie Valley Tabernacle stealing from the community - that was my first step into what has made my career. I served as the head of the North Carolina Anti-Corruption Task force, ensuring that corrupt officials and organizations were punished across the state. I've worked from the inside out in Washington to spearhead measures against corruption and I've always spoken out against it. Mr. Baylor says he's the only outsider here, but think about the shady schemes of other billionaires. Do you think Mr. Airline is any different? I doubt it. Senator Martel has been in the Establishment for years, and was born another rich folk in San Francisco. Mr. Fleming receives large, might I say suspiciously large, donations from real estate, construction, and nuclear power companies. I've got nothing to hide here, and it seems like I might be the only one. To that point, I'm announcing tonight that I will be releasing full records of my tax returns, begin releasing campaign finance reports so Americans can see what I spend their donations on, and I call on the rest of you to do the same. From my limited power as "the backwards buffoon from North Carolina", I can only take these first steps. I plan and hope that I, and we, can achieve much more."

[Madrinpoor]

(Image)

Nesbitt Tripp Baylor

”Corruption is ripe in our government. It is a culture fostered by years upon years of the establishment further and further entrenching itself thanks to career politicians like Senator Martel. Little Upton won’t clean up Washington-they’ll walk all over him. It’ll be like a little mouse yelling up at a bear “squeak, squeak”. Loser J.J. certainly can’t clean up this country, he couldn’t even clean up Baltimore. And our good friend from down south, well, his idea of “clean” is 1862 so definitely not him.

Tripp Baylor is the only outsider here. I can’t be bought, or lobbied. I will totally clean up this swamp in Washington and send the establishment packing. I mean look at what these Republicans have done the last seven years, the not-Abramoff scandal, and this Gunsley guy. Just give me a break. The Republicans love spying on Americans so much, maybe it’s time we spy on them? Just an idea, put body cameras on every Republican in Congress for a month and see how many end up indicted. It’s disgusting, really. Disgraceful truthfully.

"When I think your debate performance can't get any more pathetic, you fall back on calling me a loser. America, this guy is a joke. I think we've all seen that tonight..."

[Alozia]

(Image)

Nesbitt Tripp Baylor

”Corruption is ripe in our government. It is a culture fostered by years upon years of the establishment further and further entrenching itself thanks to career politicians like Senator Martel. Little Upton won’t clean up Washington-they’ll walk all over him. It’ll be like a little mouse yelling up at a bear “squeak, squeak”. Loser J.J. certainly can’t clean up this country, he couldn’t even clean up Baltimore. And our good friend from down south, well, his idea of “clean” is 1862 so definitely not him.

Tripp Baylor is the only outsider here. I can’t be bought, or lobbied. I will totally clean up this swamp in Washington and send the establishment packing. I mean look at what these Republicans have done the last seven years, the not-Abramoff scandal, and this Gunsley guy. Just give me a break. The Republicans love spying on Americans so much, maybe it’s time we spy on them? Just an idea, put body cameras on every Republican in Congress for a month and see how many end up indicted. It’s disgusting, really. Disgraceful truthfully.

"When I think your debate performance can't get any more pathetic, you fall back on calling me a loser. America, this guy is a joke. I think we've all seen that tonight..."

COLORADO DEMOCRATIC DEBATE
SENATOR ROBERT WALLACE

Wallace was mad, it was just too much for him to stomach.

"I apologize for breaking the rules, but can we finally stop this? I am sick and tired of constant name-calling and fighting. Maybe instead of grand-standing some on this stage could try standing for something!"

[Jovuistan]

"When I think your debate performance can't get any more pathetic, you fall back on calling me a loser. America, this guy is a joke. I think we've all seen that tonight..."

COLORADO DEMOCRATIC DEBATE
SENATOR ROBERT WALLACE

Wallace was mad, it was just too much for him to stomach.

"I apologize for breaking the rules, but can we finally stop this? I am sick and tired of constant name-calling and fighting. Maybe instead of grand-standing some on this stage could try standing for something!"

"Listen, I'm sure the American people are more than disappointed in the behavior displayed by these adult politicians trying to lead the country. Let's just stop doing this and start acting like the Presidents we want to be. It'll take a lot of work to restore trust between the White House and the American public and even our allies abroad, and we can't get anywhere on that with kindergarten nicknames."

[Dentali]

MODERATOR

"We will now have a free discussion period"

[Madrinpoor]

COLORADO DEMOCRATIC DEBATE
SENATOR ROBERT WALLACE

Wallace was mad, it was just too much for him to stomach.

"I apologize for breaking the rules, but can we finally stop this? I am sick and tired of constant name-calling and fighting. Maybe instead of grand-standing some on this stage could try standing for something!"

"Listen, I'm sure the American people are more than disappointed in the behavior displayed by these adult politicians trying to lead the country. Let's just stop doing this and start acting like the Presidents we want to be. It'll take a lot of work to restore trust between the White House and the American public and even our allies abroad, and we can't get anywhere on that with kindergarten nicknames."

"Exactly right, Senator Martel. Now that it's free discussion period, I want to go to a topic not talked enough about during the debate, but nevertheless hugely important to America — the economy."

"I envision an America that is pro-worker, not pro-CEO. Where the minimum wage is $15 dollars an hour, where everybody gets healthcare, where small businesses have the government support and anti-monopoly legislation they need to thrive, where parasitic free trade agreements like NAFTA are scrapped, where the government buys American, and where the US can rely on itself to stand on our own two feet, rather than oil from the Middle East and cars from Japan and who knows what from China."

[Cybernetic Socialist Republics]

DEMOCRATIC DEBATE 1 FINAL QUESTION

“Congressman Gunsley recently caused controversy when he recently suddenly purchased stocks on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange for a large sum of money. While no evidence of insider trading or any other wrongdoing has yet been produced this has nevertheless raised questions regarding the financial interests of our elected officials. As President how would you improve transparency in the federal government and work to ensure the financial interests of elected officials do not conflict with the interests of the American people?”

FIRST DEMOCRATIC DEBATE
GOVERNOR UPTON FLEMING

This question has deeper implications than those on this stage really consider in their answers. Yes it makes sense to be worried about the potential for corruption, or even just the appearance of corruption, that comes with elected officials managing their own portfolios. Yes, PACs and other lobbyist connected organizations can leave special interests overrepresented. However there is something else to consider when it comes to politicians failing to act in the interests of the american people as a whole. The fact is, we have a two track economy. One track defined by the income earned from wages and salaries from working, another defined by income earned from profits and dividends from owning.Now it isn't a clean divide, anyone with savings, gets some amount of income from ownership and most executives take a salary alongside stock compensation.

But the lions share of the financial interests of our politicians and those they are surrounded by, is tied to owning rather than working, so, naturally, our government consistently represents that track of the economy, even at the expense of working families. I believe a way to ensure that our government represent all Americans, is by making owners of all Americans. That's why I support not only efforts to help Americans found new businesses, but also the promotion of Employee Stock Ownership plans that give the workers a direct stake in the success of their place of employment. This is something I know Republicans and Democrats can agree on, as I advanced the promotion of ESOPs through a Republican controlled legislature as Governor.

[Dentali]

MODERATOR

"This concludes the first Democratic Debate"

[Dentali]

FIRST REPUBLICAN DEBATE
LOCATION: Northfield, Minnesota
DATE: April 15th, 2007

Good Evening and Welcome to the first Republican Debate, my name is Jamie Baylor from NBC and I will be moderating this debate hosted by NBC and the St. Olaf College. Tonight our participants are all seeking the Republican nomination for President of the United States. And I will introduce them now.

(Candidates enter Left to Right crossing the stage and going to their assigned podium, the person with the highest national polling will be in the center)

Governor Ben Eriksen of Oklahoma, Congressman Amadeus Putnam of New Hampshire, Senator Deborah Freyer of Alabama, Governor Olivia Calalo of Hawaii, Senator Ruskie Helms of North Carolina, Senator Cassandra Hepburn-Smith, and Congressman Harold Gunsley


Rodriguez: Each candidate will now be given 90 seconds to introduce themselves and make an opening statement before the start of the debate.


OOC: Welcome the debate of the Twilight RP. It will function as follows. There will be 1 debate question every day ie: Do you support Roe v. Wade . For the next 12 hours OOC each participant in the Debate will have 90 seconds to answer that question.

People speak an average of 140 words per minute, a fast speaker about 170 words and a slow speaker about 110. Most politicians speak at 120 words per minute because it's easier to understand and comprehend a slow speaker so don’t try and jam words in. The MAXIMUM number of words acceptable for a 90 second debate response is 260 words. The microphone WILL BE CUT OFF after 260 words and no one will hear the candidate.

After the 12 hour mark a period of ‘free discussion’ will follow, also 12 hours long. The candidates may engage and challenge one another, provided it is limited to the topic of the question. Once that 12 hour mark is up another question will be asked by the moderator. ANY POSTS REGARDING THE PREVIOUS QUESTION AFTER THIS POINT WILL NOT BE COUNTED .

Now we understand the irl comes first you might not be able to participate every day, thats fine you will get other chances to debate. If you can’t participate on a question in the IC, in the RP your character will have answered the question, it just wasn’t interesting or memorable.

SPECIAL NOTE: The Virginia Tech shooting does not happen for several more days, and should not be referenced.

[Melovinta]

Rep. Harold Pierce Gunsley (OH-5)

Representative Gunsley adjusted the microphone to be closer to his mouth, saying "Well firstly, I want to thank you, NBC, and the great state of Minnesota for hosting this debate. Our great country is currently more divided than ever, and what we need is a uniter, not a divider. Our country has seen us send troops to Iraq for the first time since Operation Desert Storm which I am a veteran of. I am the moderate, sensible, pragmatic candidate in this race who will win over moderate voters in swing states such as Florida, and that's why I want to you to vote for me in the Republican primaries."

[The Sarangtus Lands]

Senator Ruskie Helms (R-NC)

"From the beaches of Normandy to the streets of Baghdad, this nation has come far in fighting for freedom, for as we emerged out of the cradle of blood, so to shall we reaffirm our commitment to being the arsenal of democracy, to being the brave and the free, to be that shining city on the hill that Reagan defined America as. The destiny of the American nation is not yet over, and the American dream still lives, no matter what the naysayers, the impostors and the agitators say. The American nation is alive, and its people are stronger than ever!

Together, we shall stand in our united resolve, and fight the enemies of freedom with just and swift force, to avenge those who have been slain by terrorists and by savages. Victory is at hand, my fellow Americans, and we must hold in unity against those who wish to compromise the values of this nation. A moral, free and ever-greater America stands at the helm of a new world order, and it is a world order which we must defend with all our hearts, for the bastion of freedom shall not die.

We must also keep our domestic prosperity going, as I promise a further extension of the Cush tax cuts - which I personally helped with - along with more tax cuts to the middle class so that this nation may become ever greater and prosper forever and evermore. Let us stand united, and be the guardians of the shining hill."

[Kavanis]

Governor Ben Eriksen (OK)

Thank you, Jamie, and thank you to everyone here at St. Olaf College for making this possible. My name is Ben Eriksen, and if my past visits to Minnesota are anything to go by, we probably have an Eriksen or two here in the crowd for this event.

I’m looking forward to tonight’s debate. I’m running for President, and I intend on laying out my vision for an America that is strong, free, and prosperous. I’ve served in local, city, state, and national politics for over 25 years, and the challenges America faces have never seemed greater than they do now – but nor has the resilience and spirit of the American people.

It’s that resilience and that spirit that I intend on calling on as President. From winning the global war on terror and driving back those trying to undermine the potential of a free and democratic Afghanistan and Iraq, to ensuring high quality health care for every American without a bloated bureaucracy; from defending and securing our borders, to restoring dignity and respect for human life.

[Lavan Tiri]

Governor Olivia Calalo
R-Hawai'i

Aloha, everyone. Thank you to St. Olaf's College for hosting this event, and thank you to everyone watching at home for lending us your ears.

Tonight, you'll probably be hearing a lot of empty promises on this stage. While I'd rather we leave those to the Democrats, it's unfortunately true that there are people on our side who's main goal is to be the loudest voice in the room so they can get on cable news. Washington politicians on both sides are experts on promising everything and achieving nothing--but not me.

As Governor of the single most Democratic state in America, I have worked across the aisle to cut taxes, flush out corruption, and bring down crime and homelessness. I inherited a massive budget deficit, and grew it into a seven hundred billion dollar surplus. I have put serial killers and mass shooters into prison, and fought for the rights of parents and local communities to control education. I'm no Washington insider, seeking to enrich myself by running for President--I'm an outsider, a problem-solver, a mother and a prosecutor. And if you put your trust in me, I'll do more than just promise. I'll act.

[Meretica]

Cassandra Hepburn-Smith: "I'd like to thank St. Olaf College and NBC for hosting this debate. It's an honor to be here.

My name is Cassie Hepburn-Smith. I'm running for president to bring competence back to government. We are the greatest nation on earth, and we are capable of great things. Through bipartisanship and a push for unity on both sides of the aisle, we can bring Americans together again and create an America that works for all of us. There's no need to pander to anyone-- there's room for compromise. I Kno that there are many pragmatists on this stage, but we need more than pragmatism to get things done. I'm a Republican. I don't like it when the government interferes in my personal life, but I also understand that the government can do a lot of good, when cleared of it's excesses. We can fight corruption, create new jobs, and so much more-- but only of we realize that Congress is not the problem, nor the solution, but a tool to make things better."

[Sarenium]

FIRST REPUBLICAN DEBATE
LOCATION: Northfield, Minnesota
DATE: April 15th, 2007

Good Evening and Welcome to the first Republican Debate, my name is Jamie Baylor from NBC and I will be moderating this debate hosted by NBC and the St. Olaf College. Tonight our participants are all seeking the Republican nomination for President of the United States. And I will introduce them now.

(Candidates enter Left to Right crossing the stage and going to their assigned podium, the person with the highest national polling will be in the center)

Governor Ben Eriksen of Oklahoma, Congressman Amadeus Putnam of New Hampshire, Senator Deborah Freyer of Alabama, Governor Olivia Calalo of Hawaii, Senator Ruskie Helms of North Carolina, Senator Cassandra Hepburn-Smith, and Congressman Harold Gunsley


Rodriguez: Each candidate will now be given 90 seconds to introduce themselves and make an opening statement before the start of the debate.


OOC: Welcome the debate of the Twilight RP. It will function as follows. There will be 1 debate question every day ie: Do you support Roe v. Wade . For the next 12 hours OOC each participant in the Debate will have 90 seconds to answer that question.

People speak an average of 140 words per minute, a fast speaker about 170 words and a slow speaker about 110. Most politicians speak at 120 words per minute because it's easier to understand and comprehend a slow speaker so don’t try and jam words in. The MAXIMUM number of words acceptable for a 90 second debate response is 260 words. The microphone WILL BE CUT OFF after 260 words and no one will hear the candidate.

After the 12 hour mark a period of ‘free discussion’ will follow, also 12 hours long. The candidates may engage and challenge one another, provided it is limited to the topic of the question. Once that 12 hour mark is up another question will be asked by the moderator. ANY POSTS REGARDING THE PREVIOUS QUESTION AFTER THIS POINT WILL NOT BE COUNTED .

Now we understand the irl comes first you might not be able to participate every day, thats fine you will get other chances to debate. If you can’t participate on a question in the IC, in the RP your character will have answered the question, it just wasn’t interesting or memorable.

SPECIAL NOTE: The Virginia Tech shooting does not happen for several more days, and should not be referenced.

---

Deborah Feyrer (R-AL)

---

"Thank you to Mr. Baylor and NBC for hostin' this debate," Deborah greeted Jamie, "you know if you told me three short years ago that I, Deborah Elizabeth Feyrer, the lil girl who grew up in small-town Alabama, would be standing on this stage as a candidate for President, I'd have called you crazy!"

"Yet when I look at our political landscape, I see our nation fiercely divided by a war that has sent some, into the arms of defeatism, while others have stuck by and rallied around the flag. A divide that has led some to call for bigger government and more spending, while others recognize the need for fiscal responsibility and restraint. A divide that may tear at our hearts, but does not dim our hope, that as President Reagan said, all great change in America begins at the dinner table. That's why I'm in this race, America, we need a great change. We need Washington working for us, we need a President with the right temperament and poise who can resist threats from abroad and strengthen pocketbooks at home. America, I believe I will be that President with your support."

[Dentali]

GOP DEBATE QUESTION 1

Moderator: As President what measures would you support to curb illegal immigration? Do you support a pathway to citizenship for those who entered the country illegally but are otherwise law-abiding?

[Lavan Tiri]

GOP DEBATE QUESTION 1

Moderator: As President what measures would you support to curb illegal immigration? Do you support a pathway to citizenship for those who entered the country illegally but are otherwise law-abiding?

Governor Olivia Calalo
R-Hawai'i

My grandparents immigrated to America in the early 1900's, from the Philippines. They entered the country legally, did everything right, did their best to assimilate to the culture, and raised their children to love this country. I see no reason we cannot expect the same from other people seeking to enter the country.

We have to begin with stronger law enforcement
at the border, which I would put significant funding into. I would also cooperate with governments of Central and South American nations to reduce immigration at the source, while we streamline the process for legal immigration. America is the greatest country on Earth, obviously people want to come here, but they have to respect our culture, speak our language, and follow our laws. Those who came here illegally but have otherwise followed the law get the same treatment; a vetting process to ensure they understand the culture and language and laws, and deportation should they fail to do so. I don't support the Democratic idea of simply giving citizenship to anyone who sneaks across the border, but maybe that's because I think the rule of law is important.

[Melovinta]

Rep. Harold Pierce Gunsley (OH-5)

"Well, first off we're gonna need more funding for the newly created ICE so we can combat illegal aliens who reside in our country but we should also give more funding to the border police so we can prevent illegal aliens from entering to a point where we can cut down on ICE spending.

Second, we're gonna need to be thorough when conducting our census. Many illegal aliens use stolen social security numbers, even from the dead! Due to that, we're gonna need to make a single electronic database where states can store the info of its residents which ICE can use at anytime to find illegal aliens using stolen social security numbers.

And third, we're gonna need to make sure we keep gangs such as MS-13 out of the country, especially the cartels. Our country suffers from a major drug problem and we keep focusing on the users when we should instead be trouncing the growers, dealers, and movers of these drugs.
While I am open to the idea of a pathway to citizenship, it would have to be very strict and ensure those who apply for it have a clean record.
Some have suggested working with our southern neighbors, but unfortunately they have very corrupt governments who would see any funding sent to them diverted from actual useful projects that would combat illegal immigration. So yes, I would possibly support a pathway to citizenship if it is strict and secure."

[The Sarangtus Lands]

GOP DEBATE QUESTION 1

Moderator: As President what measures would you support to curb illegal immigration? Do you support a pathway to citizenship for those who entered the country illegally but are otherwise law-abiding?

Senator Ruskie Helms (R-NC)

"As President, I will extend the Cush border fence and put more troops on our border, along with working with Central and South America governments to ramp up the War on Drugs, and defeat the cartels once and for all. There is a great deal of crime pouring through our border, and we must protect ourselves from it. But at the same time, we must not demonise good, innocent people who are themselves disproportionately the victims of this crime. I will curb illegal immigration through strengthening our border defences, which will both reduce illegal immigration and keep Americans safe. I do not support the pathway to citizenship, because I believe it will incentivise further illegal immigration, and we cannot simply afford amnesty to those who have committed a crime. Illegal immigration is a crime, and we need to be very clear on that. We cannot let these aliens go off committing crime - because illegal immigration is, I reiterate, a crime - and get away with it. The law has to be respected, and that's what I will say on that matter. If they wish to enter legally, then I'm more than happy to let them in if they're going to contribute to this country, but I will not hand out the olive branch to people who have committed crimes, absolutely not."

[Kavanis]

Governor Ben Eriksen (OK)

You cannot round up and deport ten million people at once. America has – thankfully – never known that kind of pervasive police state. But nor can we tolerate a system that has allowed ten million illegal, undocumented, unregistered aliens to continue, perpetuating cycles of criminality and exploitation.

Fencing off two thousand miles of US-Mexican border – as of now, we’ve built about seventy miles – won’t even do anything about the millions of immigrants who are illegal not because they crossed the border without a permit, but because they did so with a permit, and then overstayed their visa.

As President, I would direct federal enforcement at cutting down on employment of illegals. That’s why they stay here, you know: it’s so easy for them to find work. Once we start cutting down on abuse of fake or stolen Social Security numbers, once we start shutting out deductions that employers can claim for employing illegal aliens, once those working illegally understand they will never be allowed to claim Social Security or other benefits on the basis of wages earned illegally, then we will start to see a measurable decrease in illegal immigration.

And yes, for those who do pay back taxes, do learn English, do stay clear of crime and drugs, there should be a pathway to citizenship.

OOC: I timed it out, and I reckon everything in gray might be cut out by the microphone, though it's short of 260 words.

[Meretica]

GOP DEBATE QUESTION 1

Moderator: As President what measures would you support to curb illegal immigration? Do you support a pathway to citizenship for those who entered the country illegally but are otherwise law-abiding?

"Illegal immigration is an issue that has damaging effects. Over the past several years, we've learned a lot about how illegal immigration causes a myriad of economic and domestic issues. Crime goes up, jobs are lost because businesses can pay illegals less than Americans, and so on. I have a plan to battle illegal immigration and secure our border. First, I would ask that each border state play their part and deploy 3000 National Guard troops to the border each. We need to fully fund and support Operation Streamline. We need to increase funding for Operation Stonegarden. And we need to place more full-time magistrates in counties like Cochise in Arizona to improve how quickly immigration cases are handled. I'm not saying that we need to deport 10 million illegals all at once, but we need to be active in how we handle this. I'd cut welfare, investigate cases where illegal aliens used funds meant for American citizens, and get them out of here. I'm a former prosecutor, a former Attorney General-- I know how to get this done."

[New Luciannova]

FIRST REPUBLICAN DEBATE
LOCATION: Northfield, Minnesota
DATE: April 15th, 2007

Good Evening and Welcome to the first Republican Debate, my name is Jamie Baylor from NBC and I will be moderating this debate hosted by NBC and the St. Olaf College. Tonight our participants are all seeking the Republican nomination for President of the United States. And I will introduce them now.

(Candidates enter Left to Right crossing the stage and going to their assigned podium, the person with the highest national polling will be in the center)

Governor Ben Eriksen of Oklahoma, Congressman Amadeus Putnam of New Hampshire, Senator Deborah Freyer of Alabama, Governor Olivia Calalo of Hawaii, Senator Ruskie Helms of North Carolina, Senator Cassandra Hepburn-Smith, and Congressman Harold Gunsley


Rodriguez: Each candidate will now be given 90 seconds to introduce themselves and make an opening statement before the start of the debate.


OOC: Welcome the debate of the Twilight RP. It will function as follows. There will be 1 debate question every day ie: Do you support Roe v. Wade . For the next 12 hours OOC each participant in the Debate will have 90 seconds to answer that question.

People speak an average of 140 words per minute, a fast speaker about 170 words and a slow speaker about 110. Most politicians speak at 120 words per minute because it's easier to understand and comprehend a slow speaker so don’t try and jam words in. The MAXIMUM number of words acceptable for a 90 second debate response is 260 words. The microphone WILL BE CUT OFF after 260 words and no one will hear the candidate.

After the 12 hour mark a period of ‘free discussion’ will follow, also 12 hours long. The candidates may engage and challenge one another, provided it is limited to the topic of the question. Once that 12 hour mark is up another question will be asked by the moderator. ANY POSTS REGARDING THE PREVIOUS QUESTION AFTER THIS POINT WILL NOT BE COUNTED .

Now we understand the irl comes first you might not be able to participate every day, thats fine you will get other chances to debate. If you can’t participate on a question in the IC, in the RP your character will have answered the question, it just wasn’t interesting or memorable.

SPECIAL NOTE: The Virginia Tech shooting does not happen for several more days, and should not be referenced.

My name is Amadeus Putnam. I've been a Congressman from New Hampshire's Second District since 2003. I've published four books and have two children. I'm running for President to address serious issues that are impacting these United States and its people that have gone unaddressed for far too long. The foreign policy and economic agenda of the Cush administration has done irreparable damage to our country, its people, and our party's image. I'm one of the very few people, Republican or Democrat who stood up to these ineffective policies before they detonated in our faces. I have stood alone in protesting the subprime mortgages and actions of the Federal Reserve Bank. I have stood alone in stating that we were going into Iraq with inadequate intelligence and nebulous goals. I do not let partisanship nor blind faith direct me, and if there's one thing I learned in Congress, there is far too much of both in our government today.