Twilight's Last Gleaming: An American Political RP Special

[Meretica]

FIRST REPUBLICAN DEBATE
SENATOR CASSANDRA HEPBURN-SMITH

Cassie took in a deep breath and then released it after a moment, deciding that maybe it hadn't been such a good idea to go after Calalo in the first question (though the abortion line a few minutes prior had been pretty good, in her opinion, even if it was ignored).

"I think that we can all agree that there are parts of the War on Drugs that have failed and parts that have worked. That's why we stop spending where it doesn't work and either give the people a tax cut or put it to better use. There's a balance to things like this, a way of moving forward. The way to end drug abuse isn't by making these drugs illegal, it's getting the information out early and funding programs so that people will understand the why early on. That's why groups like the Caring School Community Program, DARE, and Project Star focus specifically on youth. I think that we need to take it a step further, though: I would support a short-term class that parents could choose to opt-out their students from that would do more than just explain the effects, but show them the consequences of constant drug use. Hearing about something and seeing how bad it is are two very different things, and if people can see the horrible effects of drug abuse early on, they will have a light go off in their heads so that they will understand why we have these rules in place. Congressman Putnam, you would undo the years of work that have gone toward saving Americans lives. For all we know, next you'll argue the marijuania is just a plant, so anyone that deals with it's a florist."

[New Luciannova]

Well first, clearly education should exist, but DARE has been ineffective at reducing drug use. DARE’s own studies have reported that. The “progress” you talk of is the same argument proponents used for prohibition. The reality is that throwing non-violent drug addicts into prison does nothing to help them. It puts them in an even worse position then they were before being incarcerated and traps them in poverty making it so much harder to better themselves. Keeping people in positions of poverty because of a mistake they made, and one they in part made because of how vulnerable they are to begin with is morally bankrupt and is a blight on society. My wife’s a clinical psychologist and we’ve found that counseling, therapy, and CBT-based approaches are far more effective than prison, and is cheaper. Addiction is an illness and should be an issue of public health, not crime.
School age children are vastly more likely to try marijuana in high school because it’s illegal but easily available. Most will try it either before or during college. I want to stop that and we’ve found that first decriminalizing and ultimately legalizing cannabis for the adult population will make it easier to combat drug abuse as a whole by replacing criminals with law-abiding, responsible, licensed vendors and a surgeon general’s warning. That may not stop everyone from smoking cigarettes or drinking alcohol but it sure ensures that fewer children do and those who are struggling with addiction get quality care.
Cush and his predecessor used marijuana, that doesn’t make then miscreants. I haven’t, but Kenzie has, I’m not saying marijuana is good, just that our system of handling it is even worse.

[Sarenium]

---

Deborah Feyrer (R-AL)

---

"Y'all could strut sittin' down!" Deborah declared, looking more disappointed in the collapse of decorum, but she retained a slight look of amusement, enough to convey the folksy nature of the line, "if it were appropriate for a President to follow the shiny light from a debate on a question about the state of taxation to talkin' about how you're too cheap to keep drugs off the street," she looked at Cassie, "then we better be bowin' out!"

She paused, "thankfully, I think a President should do everything we can to keep the lines of crack 'n needles of heroin off the street, and if we're gonna send our hard earned cash to Washington, I'd back it for a good cause like enforcing our drug laws and getting criminals off the street!"

[Kavanis]

Ben was staying well out of this now, and sipped his water.

[Meretica]

---

Deborah Feyrer (R-AL)

---

"Y'all could strut sittin' down!" Deborah declared, looking more disappointed in the collapse of decorum, but she retained a slight look of amusement, enough to convey the folksy nature of the line, "if it were appropriate for a President to follow the shiny light from a debate on a question about the state of taxation to talkin' about how you're too cheap to keep drugs off the street," she looked at Cassie, "then we better be bowin' out!"

She paused, "thankfully, I think a President should do everything we can to keep the lines of crack 'n needles of heroin off the street, and if we're gonna send our hard-earned cash to Washington, I'd back it for a good cause like enforcing our drug laws and getting criminals off the street!"

(Image)

"I didn't say that we shouldn't be working to do that. I said that we have ways to do it more effectively, and I specifically said that funding more effective programs is better than funding programs that fail.." Cassie wheeled her head back to Putnam. "If your answer for everything drug-related is going to be legalize it, where does it end? It's a small step from THC to worse things, like meth. Will that be your answer, too? To have rampant drug use increase all across the country? Legalization will only encourage usage, not end it. Cush expressed his moral change on the issue and opposes it. Meanwhile, (Clinton) is walking around, high as a kite, claiming he didn't inhale."

[New Luciannova]

Madam Senator Smith, my policy involves baby steps. But let me ask you, if any of these substances were to become illegal would you use them? Kenzie has told me, as a clinical psychologist and published author that no law will deter an addict only treatment, CBT, therapy, and counseling.
This idea that we need the government to take care of us because we lack self discipline can allow nearly anything else to become an issue for government intrusion. Maybe the giver should put me on a diet because I’m overweight. Trust me, Kenzie regulates my food aggressively enough at no cost to the taxpayer.
I’m looking at this from a cost-benefit analysis and feel that the mass incarcerations don’t work, and you know in Portugal they stopped throwing people away for non-violent drug offenses and the crime rate and drug abuse rate went down. Facts don’t care about your feelings and addicts don’t care about your laws, and neither do dealers. But law-abiding businessmen, excise taxes, surgeon general’s warnings will care about your laws and we will stop selling drugs to minors and that’s where we need to rein it in.
If a person doesn’t use drugs until they’re of age they’re much less likely to use hard drugs or abuse those they have access to. Study after study has shown that.
I’m not advocating drug use, I’m advocating trusting the people to do the right thing and not punishing them for an illness called addiction when other remedies can be more effective.

[The Sarangtus Lands]

"Let me simplify this, just for the benefit of the American people. You want to give out free crack pipes and think that'll somehow reduce the use of crack. What nonsense. And you talk about us not having plans to cut spending, well, we've all talked about that. I've said that I'll focus on welfare reform and on cutting red tape. It is not me who is lying, it is not me who is perpetuating chicanery, it is not me who is deceiving the American people, it is you who is doing all of these things, and your accusations of lying are nothing but dust in the wind, wiped out by the arms of truth. I will not be slandered, and I will not be degraded, for you may spit your lies towards me but I shall still not move a step back, because I know that I am in the right. You may think that you are Moses upon the mountain, Lincoln at Gettysburg, thinking that you are eminent and brilliant in saying what you have to say, but despite your hubris you are simply the Platonic form of a pot calling the kettle a pot, a soapbox demagogue and a crank only afforded an opportunity to speak here through sheer bluster. I ask you a question: how many more? How many more times do you have to be humiliated here? How many more times do you have to be told that you are wrong to finally accept common decency, to finally accept what is merely common sense, if you were to actually listen, rather than continue making up these lies and feigning some victimhood like a common medieval beggar putting soap in his mouth to attract sympathy and attention?"

I missed where I advocated handing out crack pipes. If anyone is smoking crack, it’s you, Senator. I recommend switching to decaf lest you blow a fuse. I’m not intimidated by you or your petulant ranting. I am afraid, however of having someone with your hot-headed rage with his finger on the button. My wife’s a clinical psychologist, if you don’t like talking to me, I strongly encourage you to talk to her. She can help you.

"I asked you a question, Congressman, and responding with an accusation that I'm on drugs is neither helpful nor even witty. I am simply standing my ground, and I'm not ashamed of it." He began to talk more softly now, "I think that there is no need for these uncouth, disgusting and frankly random accusations that have been put forward towards me today, first these nonsense attacks on my character about 'fragility' and then now accusations of smoking crack and being mentally ill? Seriously? Is this what we have reduced the American political debate to? Sure, perhaps, I might've been a bit heated there, but these are not proportionate responses to anything I said and dismiss genuine responses in favour of grandstanding in the Governor's case and accusing me of smoking crack and telling me to see a psychologist in the Representative's case.

We must understand that over the past 8 years, as a result of the high emotions that we have faced due to the great national tragedy that we faced, we have seen the degradation of political discourse in this country. No doubt we saw it in the Democratic debate, and we must strive to be better than that. We must strive to maintain the civility of politics, even if sometimes we may have these little slips. We must preserve the legacy of Abraham Lincoln, of Dwight Eisenhower, of Ronald Reagan - whom I had the honour of meeting personally - and move towards a more hopeful future for America, united under one vision of a free, prosperous and secure nation, standing together underneath that red, white and blue. I'll admit, I'm not perfect, but I'd like to stand together here with my fellow candidates, and avoid these random, spurious personal attacks about smoking crack and being fragile. Can we at least agree to do that for the rest of the debate?"

[Meretica]

Madam Senator Smith, my policy involves baby steps. But let me ask you, if any of these substances were to become illegal would you use them? Kenzie has told me, as a clinical psychologist and published author that no law will deter an addict only treatment, CBT, therapy, and counseling.
This idea that we need the government to take care of us because we lack self discipline can allow nearly anything else to become an issue for government intrusion. Maybe the giver should put me on a diet because I’m overweight. Trust me, Kenzie regulates my food aggressively enough at no cost to the taxpayer.
I’m looking at this from a cost-benefit analysis and feel that the mass incarcerations don’t work, and you know in Portugal they stopped throwing people away for non-violent drug offenses and the crime rate and drug abuse rate went down. Facts don’t care about your feelings and addicts don’t care about your laws, and neither do dealers. But law-abiding businessmen, excise taxes, surgeon general’s warnings will care about your laws and we will stop selling drugs to minors and that’s where we need to rein it in.
If a person doesn’t use drugs until they’re of age they’re much less likely to use hard drugs or abuse those they have access to. Study after study has shown that.
I’m not advocating drug use, I’m advocating trusting the people to do the right thing and not punishing them for an illness called addiction when other remedies can be more effective.

"Hepburn-Smith," Cassie corrected him. "How can we trust that you have all the details that you claim to have-- that you understand the full effects of your plans-- when you can't get a simple name right? Or is it normal for you to forget the names of your opponents during an election cycle?"

[The Sarangtus Lands]

Madam Senator Smith, my policy involves baby steps. But let me ask you, if any of these substances were to become illegal would you use them? Kenzie has told me, as a clinical psychologist and published author that no law will deter an addict only treatment, CBT, therapy, and counseling.
This idea that we need the government to take care of us because we lack self discipline can allow nearly anything else to become an issue for government intrusion. Maybe the giver should put me on a diet because I’m overweight. Trust me, Kenzie regulates my food aggressively enough at no cost to the taxpayer.
I’m looking at this from a cost-benefit analysis and feel that the mass incarcerations don’t work, and you know in Portugal they stopped throwing people away for non-violent drug offenses and the crime rate and drug abuse rate went down. Facts don’t care about your feelings and addicts don’t care about your laws, and neither do dealers. But law-abiding businessmen, excise taxes, surgeon general’s warnings will care about your laws and we will stop selling drugs to minors and that’s where we need to rein it in.
If a person doesn’t use drugs until they’re of age they’re much less likely to use hard drugs or abuse those they have access to. Study after study has shown that.
I’m not advocating drug use, I’m advocating trusting the people to do the right thing and not punishing them for an illness called addiction when other remedies can be more effective.

"Hepburn-Smith," Cassie corrected him. "How can we trust that you have all the details that you claim to have-- that you understand the full effects of your plans-- when you can't get a simple name right? Or is it normal for you to forget the names of your opponents during an election cycle?"

"See, this is what I'm talking about. May we please avoid the random attacks? Representative Putnam simply slipped, that was all. There is no need to go after him for a simple verbal gaffe. We all make them from time to time, after all. I absolutely disagree with Putnam's plan - in fact, I think it'd be a disaster - but I don't support these random witticisms either."

[Meretica]

"Hepburn-Smith," Cassie corrected him. "How can we trust that you have all the details that you claim to have-- that you understand the full effects of your plans-- when you can't get a simple name right? Or is it normal for you to forget the names of your opponents during an election cycle?"

"See, this is what I'm talking about. May we please avoid the random attacks? Representative Putnam simply slipped, that was all. There is no need to go after him for a simple verbal gaffe. We all make them from time to time, after all. I absolutely disagree with Putnam's plan - in fact, I think it'd be a disaster - but I don't support these random witticisms either."

"Hardly random, especially when you've just spent the last few minutes attacking Putnam as well."

[The Sarangtus Lands]

"See, this is what I'm talking about. May we please avoid the random attacks? Representative Putnam simply slipped, that was all. There is no need to go after him for a simple verbal gaffe. We all make them from time to time, after all. I absolutely disagree with Putnam's plan - in fact, I think it'd be a disaster - but I don't support these random witticisms either."

"Hardly random, especially when you've just spent the last few minutes attacking Putnam as well."

"Well, I wasn't pretending to be witty. I was asking him genuine, serious questions about his plan. And I'd like to ask him again: how will he deal with the increase in cannabis usage, and the associated health problems, after its legalisation?"

[Dentali]

GOP DEBATE 1 QUESTION 3

Do you believe the economy is on the right track? As President what would you do to improve the economy?[/size]

[The Sarangtus Lands]

Senator Ruskie Helms (R-NC)

"We are certainly starting to see a few hiccups, but I think that we can keep this course on track if we do what we have to...Ultimately, though, I fear that we are in the bear market side of the business cycle, and may be facing the unavoidable slosh of economic trends in a way which harms the American people. I will endeavour to do all that I can to ensure that the prosperity that we have seen since the Reagan years continues. I will fight for further tax cuts for the middle and working class, while cutting red tape and ensuring that America's businesses are able to function effectively. Together, we can move ahead for a greater America, one in which all are able to live in peace and prosperity, and to ensure a future in which that white picket fence city shining on a hill remains strong, as does our healthy and envied middle class, who are able to enjoy more luxuries than ever. We must keep moving into the future, with hope and with strength, and rise above like an eagle, from sea to shining sea."

[Melovinta]

Rep. Harold Pierce Gunsley (OH-5)

"We've certainly stumbled a couple steps but overall the economy has been doing mighty fine, and if I'm elected the tax cuts will continue, regulation will be slashed, and more jobs will be created than ever before. If we continue on the current path then we can continue riding this economic growth onwards, and trust me, if I am elected we will continue to see unprecedented economic growth until 2012 AND 2016 if I am re-elected."

[Kavanis]

Governor Ben Eriksen (OK)

Yes. The last quarter data we have showed slightly disappointing growth and new housing starts are down, but the job market remains fundamentally strong and I think most economic indicators are still positive. I remain concerned about the deficit and the mounting debt we’re passing on to future generations, but I think there is a way to extend the Cush tax cuts while bringing down the deficit through fiscal discipline. I’m not in office, but we have Senators and Congressmen here, and I’m hopeful they’ll be leading efforts in Congress to secure extensions on the tax cuts, to permanently repeal the estate tax, and to effect real, substantial non-defense cuts.

I do acknowledge, though, that tax cuts alone will not help the millions of workers who don’t pay income tax. Low pay is a problem that will not be solved by tax cuts. And to that end, and knowing full well that given the tenor of the debate so far, I will be criticized for this, I’m not ashamed to say I support an increase in the minimum wage. The federal minimum wage is at its lowest purchasing power for decades; over 80% of Americans support raising it. This is an issue with broad bipartisan support and we risk being left behind as a party, out of touch with the interests of low income workers in honest blue collar jobs, if we don’t support a balanced, measured, reasonable increase, scheduled across several years and complimented by tax credits for small businesses such as the WOTC and manufacturing tax credit to offset any burden on them.

[Meretica]

FIRST REPUBLICAN DEBATE
SENATOR CASSANDRA HEPBURN-SMITH

"While the economy is currently doing fine, there are a few changes that I think need to be made. Inflation is currently 2.85%, and we need to work toward making sure it doesn't go up much more than that. I have worked out a bipartisan economic plan called the MEAD Act, which would cut back on regulations on small businesses, reduce start-up costs, and ultimately help the economy grow. It would also bring back jobs to states like Pennsylvania, Ohio, and others in the Rust Belt by placing a preference on goods from home rather than abroad. We've lost jobs to nations like China in the manufacturing industry, and that needs to change. We need to keep jobs here and prioritize our own products whenever sensible and feasible. The MEAD Act would accomplish these goals and make it easier for small businesses to grow. MEAD provides more funds for infrastructure projects along with some increases for the SBA. Infrastructure would be a major concern for my administration. We have places like the Interstate 35W bridge over the Mississippi River in downtown Minneapolis in dire need of repair because our congressional predecessors did not pass laws to set aside funds for continuous repairs. The last thing we need is a major bridge collapse that takes lives, injures dozens, and costs millions more than repairs would cost hundreds of millions per disaster site."

[New Luciannova]

I am aware that in some ways the economy appears healthier than it is. It's like a New Hampshire pine; the bark on it looks fine, but when you peel it back you get to see the real health of the tree. In this case, the wood is rotten. The subprime mortgage crisis continues to get worse and worse, and more Americans are losing their homes. Already some subprime mortgage lenders have gone under and more will very soon. If we don't see a change in policy and curb this lending practice homeowners are going to suffer and more banks are going to begin a collapse. This can result in a recession, and we do not want that.
The other major source of economic woe is the growing budget deficit and the fact that despite a lot of tough talk there is a lack of seriousness in handling it. Inflation is going to hit if we don’t manage that.
The logical way to handle this is to stop what we're doing IMMEDIATELY. We cannot float the economy with stimulus and deficits. Stimulus is not real growth and can only delay problems for a short time and make the collapse worse when it hits. We need to let the market work and let it redirect resources, that's the key to prosperity.

[Dentali]

MODERATOR


“Candidates may now begin a free discussion period on the topic of the economy”

[Kavanis]

"While the economy is currently doing fine, there are a few changes that I think need to be made. Inflation is currently 2.85%, and we need to work toward making sure it doesn't go up much more than that. I have worked out a bipartisan economic plan called the MEAD Act, which would cut back on regulations on small businesses, reduce start-up costs, and ultimately help the economy grow. It would also bring back jobs to states like Pennsylvania, Ohio, and others in the Rust Belt by placing a preference on goods from home rather than abroad. We've lost jobs to nations like China in the manufacturing industry, and that needs to change. We need to keep jobs here and prioritize our own products whenever sensible and feasible. The MEAD Act would accomplish these goals and make it easier for small businesses to grow. MEAD provides more funds for infrastructure projects along with some increases for the SBA. Infrastructure would be a major concern for my administration. We have places like the Interstate 35W bridge over the Mississippi River in downtown Minneapolis in dire need of repair because our congressional predecessors did not pass laws to set aside funds for continuous repairs. The last thing we need is a major bridge collapse that takes lives, injures dozens, and costs millions more than repairs would cost hundreds of millions per disaster site."

Governor Ben Eriksen (OK)

Senator, in light of the discussion we've just had on the importance of balancing the budget, what offsets does this bill -- the result of a quite remarkable agreement between yourself and the Speaker, apparently -- make in order to off-set the billions of dollars its spending would add to the deficit?

[New Luciannova]

It's rather worrying to me how none of my colleagues seem to think the economic has some serious problems, particularly in terms of the housing bubble and subprime mortgages. The fact that we are on an unsustainable trajectory. The Federal Reserve has been encouraging bad lending policies. Nobody here seems worried about the subprime mortgages and sees the risks. We should be talking about ways to avoid the recession bad policy has continued to plant the seeds for. How many lenders and homeowners need to go under until we realize that we are in grave economic danger. We need to look into our monetary policy and the lending policies being pushed by the Federal Reserve and resolve them.
Here is what I do know. There was an expansion of credit that has been ongoing since the late 1990's. There was a housing boom that peaked in 2005, after which it began seeing strain.
Expanding credit and keeping interest rates artificially low with a smaller resource pool to fund the size and quantity of investments will mean many of them cannot be completed and the economy begins taking losses as the boom it generated has turned to bust. The banking policy we have encouraged and continues to encourage banks and investors to direct resources into projects that are unsustainable or will not be profitable.
These are not projections; this is what is already happening. To continue to inject money into the economy is fight back against a hangover by getting drunk again. We need to re-evaluate what we are doing before it's too late and change what we're doing, allow interest rates, prices, and investments to work based on market activity not artificial manipulation by the Federal Reserve. If we don't, the situation is going to get worse and will accelerate, hurting more people it is simply unsustainable. It might be uncomfortable in the immediate run but will save us a lot of misery in the future. Allowing this bubble to continue to grow is only going to cause more harm when it inevitably bursts.
Now there are those who say I'm wrong, I've been reading too much Mises or that guy not-Peter Schiff on the business shows and maybe we'll see a little dip, but no recession. but then again, what if I am right? The risks would be dire. I might be wrong, but I sincerely fear I may very well be correct.

[Meretica]

FIRST REPUBLICAN DEBATE
SENATOR CASSANDRA HEPBURN-SMITH

"If you'd been listening to me, Congressman, you'd've heard me say that there are some concerns to be had about the economy," Cassie slipped in before turning to Erik Eriksen. "Governor, in the long-term, MEAD pays for itself. Yes, it will add to the deficit, but the money produced from the economy in combination with the economic loopholes that I would close as president will pay for MEAD within fifty years so long as someone doesn't come along, pull an FDR, create a million more programs... and the war ends by 2020, which I'd say it likely will. Between now and then, we can also cut spending in other areas, tighten the purse strings, and focus on paying down debt instead of spending $7 billion a decade on programs like the Natural Resource Conservation Service. The NRSC was set up to help farmers minimize soil erosion. Today, this 12,000-person agency has 2,500 field offices and costs taxpayers a cool $800 million per year. Yet the U.S. General Accounting Office has found zero difference in soil erosion between areas that participate in the program and those that don't. More useless spending. Either put the money to good use or return it to the people."

[Dentali]

GOP DEBATE 1 QUESTION 4

The cost of Healthcare and overall access are major concerns to a large segment of the American people. As President what would you do to improve healthcare in the United States?

[Meretica]

FIRST REPUBLICAN DEBATE
SENATOR CASSANDRA HEPBURN-SMITH

"The first thing to do is cut red tape," Cassie said. "We should be focusing on malpractice reform and on cutting red tape for private insurers. By letting healthcare companies compete with one another, prices will fall. We should also introduce a few standards to make sure that certain items are covered by healthcare plans, such as insulin-- which currently costs $100 per vial. That's barbaric. A life-saving drug shouldn't be costing $100 per vial-- not when it costs a few bucks to produce it. On life-saving medications, we need to make sure that people aren't being bled dry and forced to choose between paying for groceries and paying for their medication. In America, a first-world country, this should not be the case, and we need to balance the positives of businesses with the human costs that economics has."

[Lavan Tiri]

GOP DEBATE 1 QUESTION 4

The cost of Healthcare and overall access are major concerns to a large segment of the American people. As President what would you do to improve healthcare in the United States?

Governor Olivia Calalo
R-Hawai'i

My healthcare plan, the American Healthcare Empowerment Plan, will cover every person in America, and will do it using the awesome power of the free market. Firstly, we will pass sweeping tort and malpractice reform, so doctors and hospitals can charge lower prices. Then, we will pass targeted tax cuts to health insurance companies, based on the lowering of premiums and copays without a loss of quality in their service. Consumers will be able to choose and select a variety of plans across state lines, and employers who offer voluntary insurance to their employees will also receive a tax cut. My goal is to cut through the red tape surrounding healthcare, and empower consumers and the market to get every person in America covered.

[Kavanis]

Governor Ben Eriksen (OK)

Too many Americans lack quality health care insurance. We live in the greatest economy in the world. Our grocery stores offer choice and variety to the consumer, but when it comes to health care, far too many Americans – working, middle-class consumers – are stifled for choice. Many working Americans face the unenviable dilemma of earning too much to be eligible for Medicaid, but not enough to afford increasingly expensive private plans.

Any health care reform should have three priorities: reducing the number of uninsured, who are just one catastrophic injury or accident away from a lifetime of medical debt; embracing the market agenda and freeing up consumer choice; and reducing the cost of health care.

I think Governor Calalo has the right idea, although I’d prefer a slightly different approach in terms of tax credits. A federal tax credit, rather than one delivered through employers, would work better. Job mobility is higher than ever before, and the days of the majority of Americans spending their entire working life with a single employer are far past. As they move from one employer to another, they shouldn’t be forced to continue changing plans. A tax credit – deducted against payroll taxes – would help workers buy and keep health insurance even if they change employer.