Washington 2017: The U.S. Political RP IC-Volume II (OPEN)

by **Prolieum** » Wed Jan 02, 2019 5:45 am

Washington

The U.S. Political Roleplay

"What the people want is very simple-they want an America as good as its promise."

Barbara Jordan

I Previous IC I 115th Congress I
I White House I
I Special Events I Character Archive I
I OOC I
I Washington RP Wiki I

If it were not Washington, it would simply be somewhere else. Is that not the way of things? Every nation has its capital. For America to alight its three branches on a corner of riverine swampland was an accident of history, no more.

Or perhaps it was not. Washington is not a town made by farmers bringing goods to market, colonists laying a settlement, a warrior's walled city. It's very birth was a matter of politics-a compromise fairly made in the eyes of the idealists, a deal cut and brokered in the cynic's gaze.

For good or ill, national benefit or personal gain, a city bred from politics breaths it. Enclosed within the beltway, a construct of an infant government and revered Fathers of the nation has become a mirror with many facets, reflections of the nation which it heads.

Even as the history of a young Republic is shown in grandeur by alabaster monument, the inhabitants of the present seek to carry on a legacy, or to change one, pressing forward in the pomp and display of colorful rallies, the careful darkness of smoke-filled rooms, or the menial bustle of a busy office.

The veterans of decades, fading now from sight, the firebrands of a freshman class just rising into it. A suited man on K Street hosting a meal, a woman in worn jeans leading a protest. A student of laws, a titan of business, a celebrity alighted into governance, a professional carrying out their task.

The city of American politics, Washington has a place for everyone-but only if you make a place for yourself.

Each day is a new one. It is up to you to seize it.

by **Prolieum** » Wed Jan 02, 2019 5:53 am

USS Owen B.K. Shrub

Persian Gulf

Standing on the deck of a Nimitz-Class supercarrier was a thrill for the President. As an experience, it was a new one for him, and having hundred thousand tons of steel beneath his fleet, a city on the sea, sent a charge of excitement through him, a kid's awed feeling. That charge was grounded, however, in the more sobering reflection on the similarities between where he was standing and what he was doing today, and where a predecessor of his had stood, and what he had done, almost exactly fourteen years ago.

Reflecting on Shrub as a predecessor of his was another heavily sobering dose, a reminder of just what position he was in. What had transpired from the point of that speech was something Reed was determined to avoid. He was making a similar speech, but in looking at the failures of the past, what he would propose would not be the same here on the B.K. Shrub as it was on the Lincoln.

He was looking to assure himself of the future, as much, more so, even, than he was looking to reassure the public. This time around, they had spent longer in preparation, spent longer in operation, and it was his fervent hope that those commitments would be enough to bypass wholly the years of aftermath that had before occurred, that had never truly even ended.

The collection of media and servicemen were assembling for the official address, and Cal sought to calm himself, taking several deep, steadying breaths before the cameras were on, before he headed out to the podium. His body unwound slightly-his hand did not. Twitching fingers at the end of his long arm had launched into a staccato dance, and they would not be willed to stop, until he finally used his other hand to grab them, hold them still, as the clock ticked down.

A few more minutes of setup for the moment, and he was walking the deck, and on the air, a long, swift, confident stride, and hands kept balled tightly into fists at his side.

"Good morning, everyone."

"And a good morning it is, too!"

The enthusiastically delivered line got some applause and cheers among those packed on the flight deck.

"Today is, and today should be, a day of celebration, a day of victory. I stand before you now to announce a triumph for all who love freedom to enjoy. Today, we draw to a close major combat operations against Daesh, the so-called Islamic State, a "state" that no longer controls enough territory to piece together a county!"

A second round of raucous cheering broke out on deck.

"Today is, and should be, a day of celebration, but even more, it should be a day in which we can celebrate without qualification, without any feelings of shame or second thoughts. War is rarely cause for joy. War is brutal. War is painful. War is gruesome. I have not experienced it myself, and I pray earnestly, a prayer that all parents share, that my daughters will never have to live through such an experience, that it may be something all of our sons and daughters can be free of. A world truly at peace is a world that long for."

"Yet we understand that that is a dream that will always be just out of reach. We recognize, with regret, that our race, the race of man, is a fallen one. There will always be those who wish to seize power for the sake of power, and sacrifice anyone but themselves to keep it. These are dictators and tyrants, and all those who seek power and authority only to use it in cruelty and destruction, in rape and murder. These people, the worst of humanity, will always be with us, until the final victory at Armageddon. In one form, or another, evil is not a fairy tale, but a grim reality that we must face."

"That is why we understand that, though we hope so fervently for peace, we must prepare zealously for war. Though we hope they must never be fired, we keep our weapons loaded and ready, our fighting men and women in their uniforms, and our eyes watchful, ready to stand and fight."

"It is that preparation that has brought us where we are today-to a day of celebration, a day of victory against evil. That is why our celebration does not carry any shame. This war was not one fought over territory, fought over resources, or nationalistic ambition, it was a fight of free people against those who would make them slaves. Radicals and extremists, who would murder Christian, Jew, and Muslim alike, all who did not ascribe to their own violent and oppressive sect, ISIS was an organization of hate, and organization of terror, and organization of evil. Their defeat and their destruction is not a victory for the United States, or for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, but for the entire planet, a healthier world, now rid of this cancer."

"All can celebrate the victory that has been won, and all should celebrate those who brought that triumph about. These are the men and women who chose, knowing full well the brutality of war, to take the burden of fighting it upon themselves, to be made to face those trials so that others would not have to. The actions of our soldiers, our airmen, sailors, marines were actions of heroism and of sacrifice, but they did not do it alone. Our allies, other nations lending the strength of their own heroes to ours, and those who do not wear a uniform or hold a rank, the bold and the brave who fought here because they live here, because it was their home. Fighters, translators, guides, we do a disservice to them if they are forgotten when we remember this day."

The President looked out over the vessel as modest applause followed, looking to both the crowd and the waves beyond it, letting the words run their course as the tone shifted.

"Even as we celebrate, we know, both from the hard experience of the past, and an unshielded understanding of human nature, that we may never truly be rid of ISIS. Their territory is gone, their armies broken, but even in that crushing defeat, some will still see their cause and their crimes, and look favorably on them, despite their evil. Some will look to revive their failed attempt at empire, try to push life into a corpse. We regret that we have seen this before. Even seven decades later, some few still hold to the genocidal tenets of Adolf Hitler, long after his Reich was ended, long after Germany moved on. Long after America rejected them, some still pull on the ridiculous bedsheets of the Ku Klux Klan, preaching their racial hate. Here, while we hope to see otherwise, it will likely be no different."

"Yet as discouraging as it may be to see the swastika armband or the pointed hood and burning cross, we can take a slim, grim satisfaction in seeing where they have been relegated to. The Neo-Nazis and Ku Klux Klanners of today are now little more than pathetic cosplayers trying to pay homage to a history of power that is long gone. Their numbers are in the dozens or hundreds against the hundreds of millions, the billions who reject them. They are the tiniest of minorities even among the hateful, racists and anti-semites, and as loud as they try to make themselves, they're raging and shouting against a world that has left them behind. They rage, not out of power, but from importance, and from their own fear, because in their hearts they know it to be true-there is nothing that they can do to reverse that rejection. They are alone."

"For a time, here, that was not the case with ISIS. Across multiple counties, thousands of square miles of territory, their terror was real. They held power, they held control, and they used both in brutal fashion. Murder was an afterthought. Rape was a common occurrence. Slavery returned. For those living under their heel, it was a nightmare."

"But we have woken up. We have woken from such nightmares before, and seen the light of day. While those dreams may not leave us behind, while we may remember them, they have no power over us, no power beyond what we give them. When standing strong, standing with courage, they are empty, formless, and worthless. The black-clad man who inspired fear can look as much of a fool as the bedsheet warriors of the Klan, once their power is broken, and once their base of power, a hatred of fellow man, is shattered to nothingness."

"When we reject that hatred, we salt the earth against these poisonous weeds. That is the only way that these forces can ever be truly defeated. By force of arms, they can be crushed when they rise-but for victory, they must be stopped from ever rising high enough to beat back down into the dust."

"It is a difficult task. We know this, we have experienced this, and while we have found success in burying some evils for good, we have seen failure as well. ISIS itself shows this. It's rise was only possible because of the failure to wither the roots from which it drew sustenance."

"It is because of this that our day of celebration must be tempered with sobriety as we look to the future, and look to what must be done. Yet as I say this, I speak, here and now, not only to you, the men and women in uniform who made this victory possible, and not only to the United States, but to the world, and to those in Iraq, those in Syria, those across the Middle East who have experienced all of this firsthand. We cannot allow what happened before to happen again-let our solutions of the past became failures in themselves. There must be another way."

"There must be. America cannot be the world's policeman again. A force, no matter how strong, from halfway across the globe may be able to destroy the military force of an enemy, as ISIS has been so thoroughly demolished, but to pull up the roots is the task for, and the responsibility of, the independent citizens of their own nations. While we can provide opportunity, opportunity means nothing if it is not taken. We cannot make the choices of others for them. Individuals, societies, must make the right decisions to forge their own paths, away from extremism and hatred, and towards a sustainable peace. Such a peace cannot be one that is sustained by threat of force, even if with good intent. It can only be held strong by the people who live it. It is held strong by those who not only wish for it, desire that peace, the extinguishing of hate, but are willing to make the effort, make the sacrifices to keep peace alive, and to make it thrive."

"This is the understanding for a new age. Not one of imperialism of the distant past, colonialism of the nearer, or the global policing of the most recent, but of an understanding of independence, and self-determination. We in the West cannot forget how we ourselves sowed seeds that flowered into the sectarian violence we have seen. When powers, even our allies, that now today have aided in the eradication of this evil, made colonial efforts here, in the Middle East, and elsewhere, when the maps were redrawn, too often they were drawn to the best outcomes of those powers seeking their own gain, rather than for the greater benefit of the people who lived within those lines."

"This is not to undermine the efforts of our allies here today. The past has been settled. We cannot change it, only make amends for it-and work to change the future."

"And for that purpose, for a brighter future, we must make another change. The United States must respect the choices of the nations of the Middle East-and the choice of her people. As the slow steps of recovery are made, we must not decide the course that they take, but those who are there, in the lands rocked by war, the survivors of the tumult, they must maintain that right. If society is to be changed, by the will of the people, not of dictators or strongmen, but the freely expressed will of the citizenry, then we will respect it. If the maps are to be redrawn, not by international powers or conquest of war, but by the independent and sovereign choices of the people who make those lands their home, then it is our responsibility not to interfere, but to support, as a global community, the right of self-determination that all possess. When aid is requested, we will look to provide it within our means, seeking to advance, not our interests, but the democratic process-yet the choice is not to be made in Washington, nor in New York, nor Brussels, but here, by those who are affected by it."

"We will soon be departing, not with haste, but neither with delay. This ship, among others, will remain in the waters offshore for some time, ready to provide aid when it is needed, and security when necessary. The United States Navy has long been the protectors of the free traffic of the seas, and as in the past, we will continue to work towards the security and safety of our own nation, and others, in the patrols and port calls of her ships. But the soldiery, the men and women who took bullets and delivered them, bravely-their boots belong again on American soil, returned to our great country by the Fourth of July. They will not be occupiers, not be policemen, but they will be, and deserve to be, back home again. The no-fly zone which NATO has established over Syria will be brought to an end as we move through the disengagement process, as all of us turn to the work that comes after, recovery from the wounds that ISIS has inflicted, the task of healing."

"This was a just war. This was a triumphant war. Yet though we have won the war, the second task, the harder task, of winning the peace, it is not our battle to fight. The decision must be made by those who have emerged from the darkness of ISIS to turn towards the light, of governments of the people, and by the people, governments securing the inalienable rights owed to all, believing in tolerance, believing in liberty, believing in justice, for all."

"God bless you, God bless the United States of America....and God bless the Middle East and her people. May He bless with the blessings of peace and brotherhood for all."

"Thank you."

by **Sanabel** » Wed Jan 02, 2019 6:46 am

Clearwater Campaign NOVA Office, Fairfax, Virginia

Clearwater laughed yet again, especially at the dinosaur comment. "Congressman, y'aint gonna break your nose. You'll clear the field. You've been involved with the Democratic Party of this state for years.

Ok Congressman, launch your campaign. We can even do a launch rally together. Then, we will cross endorse, and campaign across this state as a ticket, even though you're gonna be elected separately."

by **Democratic Peoples republic of Kelvinsi** » Wed Jan 02, 2019 7:13 am

Jamie Johnson
@RIRep
Remember when Wicked President WInston proposed "universal healthcare" without any real policy? Sadan Singh taking a page out of his master's old playbook!

by **Sanabel** » Wed Jan 02, 2019 8:17 am

Alphonsey's Twitter

Reginaldo Alphonsey
@RACalifornia

"I applaud the President on his decision to withdraw the United States from the war in Syria. I hope to see this trend continue."

by **Democratic Peoples republic of Kelvinsi** » Wed Jan 02, 2019 8:19 am

William B. Brennan
@CTBrennan
Dismantling the no fly zone over Syria was a mistake, it is an implicit endorsement of Syrian Dictator Bashar Al Assad, and his war crimes against civilians. I disagree with President Reed's decision

by **Latvijas Otra Republika** » Wed Jan 02, 2019 8:22 am

Fransworth Residence

"Sounds good Moses, I predict land slide numbers." He took a bite of his cold lasagna.

by **Sanabel** » Wed Jan 02, 2019 8:28 am

Clearwater Campaign NOVA Office, Fairfax, Virginia

"I hope so. I'll let you go now, Congressman. If I were you, I'd announce you're runnin' in the next couple of days. The election's comin up real soon."

by **Latvijas Otra Republika** » Wed Jan 02, 2019 8:32 am

Fransworth Residence

"Alright now, going to get some of my old Democrat volunteer crew and it'll bet set up in the nick of time. Take care now, wish you the best." He finished the call.

by **Vaquas** » Wed Jan 02, 2019 8:35 am

Bill Denver
@ColoradoGov
”Mission Accomplished”

by **Vaquas** » Wed Jan 02, 2019 8:49 am

Sadan Chaudhari Singh
@SinghForConnecticut
The President’s decision to bring our men and women in Syria home is commendable. It is long past due that we abandon the concept of endless war, and engage only where it is necessary. #BringOurTroopsHome

by **Democratic Peoples republic of Kelvinsi** » Wed Jan 02, 2019 9:35 am

Message from the Secretary of Defense

In the spirit of international peace. The United States shall commit to the immediate withdrawal of any and all military assets from any territory under the jurisdiction of the Republic of Turkey. The United States will like to clarify that this move has been done in the wake of the growing stability of the Middle East.

Thank you and may God bless the world,
Secretary of Defence Bill Rodham

by **Sanabel** » Wed Jan 02, 2019 10:00 am

Clearwater's Twitter

Moses Clearwater
@ClearwaterForVirginia

"I salute the soldiers, sailors, and airmen who fought this war and won. I salute the President for recognizing this war is over, and that now is the time for peace. While evil remains, the United States can not use sheer force to unilaterally defeat it."

by **Tallahassee News Station** » Wed Jan 02, 2019 10:20 am

Kristen Stevenson
@BayStateGirl

Everyone doubted him, but President Reed has beaten ISIS and is bringing our brave men and women home. Great job Mr. President!
#ReedToLead

by **Latvijas Otra Republika** » Wed Jan 02, 2019 10:20 am

Congressman Fransworth's Public Meeting

Albert Fransworth had quickly gathered some of his working associates, who helped him win as representative in 2016, put up flyers a day before all throughout Franklin and some surrounding farms. Already cheap plastic chairs had been propped up in the Franklin City Hall while low hanging American flags had been set up to cover notice boards, he booked the largest room in the building thanks to a few nifty working connections with Democrats working there. Half an hour before he rehearsed and remembered his lines for his announcement in the stale and empty room, that echoed his every breath. His wife knocked on the door and slid in. They sat in silence as Fransworth's face turned to a grin, Claire only gave out a smirk. Fransworth buttoned the the top of his blue shirt while Claire came up to the front, already the first couple of people came inside with Albert quickly shacking their hands. Before long the seats became moderately full with locals and a few from outer Franklin. A local newspaper reporter had come with a notepad to view the fuss.

Albert finally came up front smiling, he spoke into an old school type of microphone which gave his voice a bit of static buzz.

"Now, I don't know about y'all but I love this district dearly. And to imagine I have the honour of serving you in the house is truly a heartwarming gift, I can't thank you enough for coming here. And ey, if you ever get uninterested in my old speaking we got a few drinks outside." Some from the room gave out a laugh.

"Now I've been working day and night to keep your jobs, bi partisan lines being crossed all the time without regret. Just now my stop outsourcing act is reaching the Senate, and I guarantee even that young Pres is gonna have a looka at it. Being a Congressmen has taught me a lot, just like the people of Franklin have taught me a lot, representing your interests has given me things like: respect, courage and honour. The people of Virginia made me into the man I'm here today, and me thanking you by always being diligent in working for you is the least I could ever do."

"Just yesterday" he lowered his hand "I was out staplin' with my fellow colleagues until a kid this size, on one of em' little scooters asked me what I'm doing. And I could say the borin' ol' political thing like all the other politicians in my place would, but I didn't. Instead I thought what am I doing, I thought what could I do to improve your lives and better represent you. The people of my great hometown and the people of the Great Virginia Commonwealth. I didn't answer him because I knew, at that point, I weren't doing enough and I weren't thinkin' big enough."

"I told my team, I'm gettin those posters off. We've done all of St.Main street and it was mid-day, they look at me all confused so I told them you could go home and be with your families. They went except for a young and great Democrat who is sitting here in this room, he's gonna take off I tell ya." Albert chuckled.

"He insisted to stay, so great was his determination I let him help me. So we spent the rest of the day's sun putting off the old posters. He finally asked me, after we had finished taking them posters off, why. Why I was doing this. These posters were for voting Democrat in the general, so you could imagine why he thought I went cookoo." Some of the audience laughed and other gave out a grin.

"I told him wait along. I called a very good friend of mine, one of my oldest known friends while he waited. I spoke to him, and I was off. We printed new posters, and put those posters to lead to this very room."

"I want to keep on doin' great things for you people here and all around Virginia, I want to fight for my fellow farmers and workers all across this brilliant state of ours. So that's why I am here to announce something special, something which would let me work for you even harder than ever before. I am announcing" he smiled and took a plain white card "my bid" he slowly turned it around to show a faint blue "to be your Lieutenant Governor of Virginia!"

"I have to thank my dear wife, Claire, right here" she came up smiling "for pushing me to do the right thing and to dig my feet deep into the ground for what's right. I also want to thank my friend Moses Clearwater, who pushed me to run with him, thank you. And most of all, I want to thank the people of Virginia that let me represent them on the national stage."

Albert fully showed the design on the board "By the way folks, you can get your early yard signs right now outside. We set up a fantastic stand for this type of stuff. Also, if anyone has any policy questions or anything to do with my manifesto. Feel free to ask."

by **Dentali** » Wed Jan 02, 2019 10:27 am

Congressman Jason Samara
@JSam8

More analysis of the Presidents announcement to follow but my initial though is "Was Secretary Rodham consulted on this?"

by **Dentali** » Wed Jan 02, 2019 10:34 am

Congressman Jason Samara
@JSam8

Were our allies consulted on this?

by **Sanabel** » Wed Jan 02, 2019 10:39 am

Clearwater's Twitter

Moses Clearwater
@ClearwaterForVirginia

"Im proud to endorse my friend Albert Fransworth for the office of Lieutenant Governor of the great state of Virginia! As an activist with decades of experience under his belt, a fresh-faced Representative, and a man in tune with the grassroots of this state, I believe he'll be an asset to any administration."

Moses Clearwater
@ClearwaterForVirginia

"I look forward to running with him as a single ticket. It may be a separately elected office, but it makes sense for the two of us to be partners when we take office."

by **Dentali** » Wed Jan 02, 2019 10:42 am

Sanabel wrote:Clearwater's Twitter

Moses Clearwater
@ClearwaterForVirginia

"Im proud to endorse my friend Albert Fransworth for the office of Lieutenant Governor of the great state of Virginia! As an activist with decades of experience under his belt, a fresh-faced Representative, and a man in tune with the grassroots of this state, I believe he'll be an asset to any administration."

Moses Clearwater
@ClearwaterForVirginia

"I look forward to running with him as a single ticket. It may be a separately elected office, but it makes sense for the two of us to be partners when we take office."

Congressman Jason Samara
@JSam8

@ClearwaterForVirginia Congressman Fransworth is an excellent congressman and a friend, I will be sorry to see him go but I am sure he will serve the state of Virginia well as Lt. Governor.

by **Granluras** » Wed Jan 02, 2019 10:48 am

Jared Brantley
@jbrantPAGOV

I applaud @PresidentReed‘s decision to withdraw our troops from Syria. It’s about time the influence of neocons in foreign policy ends and the people of Syria can reconstruct on their own terms.

RETWEETSFAVORITE
3,7265,243

by **Vaquas** » Wed Jan 02, 2019 10:51 am

Claudia E. Patton
@ThePineTreeGov
When making decisions of tremendous magnitude, it is always important to consult those who will be effected directly, on all sides of the equation. It is my sincere hope that the decision made by President Reed today will fully fullfill its intended purpose, and not result in further instability in the region.

by **Tallahassee News Station** » Wed Jan 02, 2019 10:53 am

Vaquas wrote:
(Image)
Claudia E. Patton
@ThePineTreeGov
When making decisions of tremendous magnitude, it is always important to consult those who will be effected directly, on all sides of the equation. It is my sincere hope that the decision made by President Reed today will fully fullfill its intended purpose, and not result in further instability in the region.

Anita Flores
@TruthRevolution

@JSam8 act quickly Jason, strike before it's too late!

by **Vaquas** » Wed Jan 02, 2019 10:57 am

Samantha Soberman
@SamanthaSoberman
President Reed does something good for the second time in his Presidency. Its a nice start, but until we have brought all our people in uniform home from the Middle East, its not going to be enough for me to celebrate.

by **Dentali** » Wed Jan 02, 2019 11:14 am

Vaquas wrote:
(Image)
Claudia E. Patton
@ThePineTreeGov
When making decisions of tremendous magnitude, it is always important to consult those who will be effected directly, on all sides of the equation. It is my sincere hope that the decision made by President Reed today will fully fullfill its intended purpose, and not result in further instability in the region.

Liked and Retweeted by Congressman Jason Samara and Senator Zachary Fowler

by **Tallahassee News Station** » Wed Jan 02, 2019 12:01 pm

Dentali wrote:
Vaquas wrote:
(Image)
Claudia E. Patton
@ThePineTreeGov
When making decisions of tremendous magnitude, it is always important to consult those who will be effected directly, on all sides of the equation. It is my sincere hope that the decision made by President Reed today will fully fullfill its intended purpose, and not result in further instability in the region.

Liked and Retweeted by Congressman Jason Samara and Senator Zachary Fowler

Anita Flores
@TruthRevolution

It's just so depressing to see yet another member of Congress go back on their ideals

Washington 2017: The U.S. Political RP IC-Volume II (OPEN)

Washington 2017: The U.S. Political RP IC-Volume II (OPEN)

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