Path to Power, a US Poltical RP- OOC

[New Luciannova]

All eyes are on 2024 the Democratic and Republican nominations are dominated by unpopular candidates that if faced with serious opposition will see their candidacies collapse. (In a nutshell both candidates will collapse, opening up the eection),
Further, governors, Senators, and Congressmen, who may not be running for President still have their own futures to think of both for their state and country and your actions will have repercussions, both positive and negative.
This RP will launch an IC on Nationstates upon having sufficient interest. We are open to trying other mediums if they're easier for players, but an IC thread will exist upon formal launch.
The day is November 9, 2022. Despite predictions of a wave year, last night Republicans have only many minor gains, will 2024 be their year or will something change? What laws will be passed or defeated to direct the country? Your move.

This is an RP game based on US-based political events in the present day. Some events may occur as they will or already have, clearly, some will not.

Rules
1. The mods decision is final. You can plead your case and mods will be as candid, empathetic, transparent, and engaging as possible.
2. We respect each other here. No cyberbullying. Complaints will be taken seriously and properly investigated and prosecuted as needed.
3. No god-modding. Your character is required to live in the real world. Your actions will have consequences and are limited by reason.
4. Plot points will be at the mods discretion. Mods will allow players broad latitude, but there are reasonable limits.
5. Please create characters that aren’t overly wooden. We don’t want perfect Mary Sues or people with no redeemable traits. People are complex and while your character may be generally amoral and corrupt or heroic and courageous, they should still have virtues and vices whatever they may be.
6. Please keep your posts sane and decent, keep the rating mostly PG-13.
7. Players need permission (or at least appropriate discretion) to delete posts made. Gaffes happen, it adds to the realism. If your post is grammatically bad, clean it up.
8. Characters should replace already active political figures. If you want to be the Governor of New York, you must be a Democrat. If you want to be a Senator from Wyoming, welcome to the GOP. There is no Bernie Sanders, Donald Trump, Mitt Romney, Kamala Harris, Ron Paul, or Ben Shapiro in this world. You can reflect these characters in some ways, but we want some originality.
9. American politicians only. Other characters (i.e. journalists) can be citizens of other countries.
10. Players are NOT limited to one character. Players, however, cannot (without prior approval) have characters acting as immediate support to each other or run concurrently for one office.
11. We would prefer discussion of real-world politics be kept to a minimum here. Obviously some will slip in, but Moderators have NO INTEREST in breaking up fights on abortion, Israel, gun control, or Trump’s legal woes.
12. Random events may occur. We want some action on behalf of governors and Congress as well as the election.
13. Additional rules may be added as needed; however, this should generally have covered everything!
14. The cutoff year is 2000. So any famous person who emerged after 2000 who must be referenced will have a new name (e.g. Dudley Reuben= Donald Trump, Brandon Jacobs = Joe Biden, some biographical details will change, but otherwise they're effectively interchangable).

[New Luciannova]

Name as You Wish for it to Appear]
Full Name:
Party:
Current Office: Please list dates
Past Offices: Please list dates here as well.
Faceclain: [Choose someone with politician-y pictures, ideally many, this will be the candidate's physical description, do not choose anyone too iconic, so no Donald Trump or Joe Biden or Kamala Harris, etc.]
Date of Birth:
Birthplace:
Residence:
Spouse(s); [Please list dates of all marriages and names, you may faceclaim a spouse as well if you'd like]
Alma Mater:
Occupation:
Committee Assignments: [If applicable]
Military Experience: [If applicable]
Military Awards:
Other Organizational Memberships:
Children: [How many? Ages?]
Strengths/Weaknesses: [What makes this candidate effective/popular? What makes them ineffective/unpopular? Pleae list at least three of each.]
Biography: [We don't need too much detail, just how your candidate fits].
Trivia: [Anything else you want us to know?]

[Alvosa]

WIP

Full Name:
Party: Democrats
Current Office: Please list dates Governor of Massachusetts (Since 2016)
Past Offices: Please list dates here as well. Mayor of Boston (2008-2016)
Faceclain: [Choose someone with politician-y pictures, ideally many, this will be the candidate's physical description, do not choose anyone too iconic, so no Donald Trump or Joe Biden or Kamala Harris, etc.]
Date of Birth:
Birthplace: Southie, Boston.
Residence: Boston.
Spouse(s); [Please list dates of all marriages and names, you may faceclaim a spouse as well if you'd like]
Alma Mater:
Occupation:
Committee Assignments: [If applicable]
Military Experience: [If applicable] None
Military Awards: None
Other Organizational Memberships:
Children: [How many? Ages?]
Strengths/Weaknesses: [What makes this candidate effective/popular? What makes them ineffective/unpopular? Pleae list at least three of each.]
Biography: [We don't need too much detail, just how your candidate fits].

[Tinhampton]

This RP will not stay on NationStates, but please join this threat for interest.

Speaking as someone with a sincere interest in this sort of roleplay... Why should I join an RP that might not even have an IC thread? (Particularly since Discord limits you to 2,000 characters if you're a free user and 4,000 if you're on Nitro, which is not exactly ideal for long-form RP; I have no idea if that's the platform you're using, though.)

Also, what is the point of divergence? Is there a point before which all RL politicians exist? (I believe that the long-standing Washington roleplay series had 1980 as its cutoff, so no post-Reagan figures.)

[Alvosa]

This RP will not stay on NationStates, but please join this threat for interest.

Speaking as someone with a sincere interest in this sort of roleplay... Why should I join an RP that might not even have an IC thread? (Particularly since Discord limits you to 2,000 characters if you're a free user and 4,000 if you're on Nitro, which is not exactly ideal for long-form RP; I have no idea if that's the platform you're using, though.)

Also, what is the point of divergence? Is there a point before which all RL politicians exist? (I believe that the long-standing Washington roleplay series had 1980 as its cutoff, so no post-Reagan figures.)

Never mind, I’m pulling out.

[Kostane]

I would join this if it were on NationStates, but I’m not sure where it is going to be and I do not want to have to alternate to a different site for RP. There’s no reason for it not to be held on NationStates.

For discussion of real-world politics, are there going to be political events that happen IC? Otherwise, what exactly are we campaigning on, vibes? If all players have the understanding that we are in a RP, then IC fights over real-world political situations (since this is starting in 2022, I assume that would include abortion, Ukraine, and gun control, but not Israel at this point), would be no issue. Politicians need something to campaign on.

[New Luciannova]

I can keep it on Nationstates. I just though Discord would be easier for most, I'm not sure how innundated our IC will get and if it will become hard to find things on it.
As for Discord, I did find cutting it up and posting it bit by bit was pretty feasible--or using Googledocs.
As for the cutoff dates....I would actually want to make it more recent, like year 2000.

[Greater Arab State]

Full Name: Thomas Rudolph Volker
Party: Republican (1976-Present)
Current Office: Governor of Missouri (2017-Present)
Past Offices:

Later Career

Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee (2015-2017)

Chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (2013-2015)

Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee (2013-2015)

Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution (2009-2013)

Senator for Missouri (2005-2017)

Middle Career

Chair of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice (2003-2005)

Chair of the House Administration Committee (1999-2003)

Chair of the Republican Study Committee (1997-1999)

Representative from Missouri’s 8th Congressional District (1995-2005)

Early Career

Vice-Chair of the Missouri House Judiciary Committee (1993-1995)

Representative for the 145th District of the Missouri House (1989-1995)

Attorney (1988-1995)

President of the University of Missouri College Republicans (1983-1985)
Faceclaim: Mark Meadows
Date of Birth: 12/22/1962
Birthplace: Leopold, Missouri
Residence: Leopold, Missouri
Spouse(s); Torrie Volker (née Braithwaite) (m. 1985) (Faceclaim: Madeleine Dean)
Alma Mater: University of Missouri BA (Honours) in Political Science with emphasis on Pre-Law (1985), Joint JD/LLM in Dispute Resolution (1988)
Occupation: Political Officeholder/Attorney
Committee Assignments: NA
Military Experience: NA
Military Awards: NA
Other Organizational Memberships: Federalist Society, Pi Sigma Alpha
Children:

Thomas Jr (Born August 1989): Currently serving in the US Army’s 82nd Airborne Division, where he has recently been promoted to the rank of Major. He is married and has two children.

Sarah (Born April 1991): Is currently an outgoing Representative in the Missouri House and was elected to her father’s old district in 2022. Married with three children. Generally speaking, Thomas’ contemporaries have viewed Sarah as his favourite child owing to their closeness over the years, though he has been at pains to avoid publicly commenting on this question.

William (Born December 1992): Currently works as a Professor of Political Science at Hillsdale College. Married with no children.

John (Born December 1992): Lives in NYC and has been working in investment banking since his graduation from college. Of all his children, the relationship between Thomas and John is the most strained, largely because of Thomas’ distance during John’s early childhood years owing to his preparations for and election to federal office. Despite this, John retains a more positive relationship with Torrie. Rumours have been spread that the youngest Volker son has a tendency to overindulge with numerous substances because of his turbulent personality and the strain of his career, though this has thus far received no coverage from reputable outlets nor been recognised by Thomas. John is unmarried and has no children.

Madeleine (Born November 1999) Has recently graduated from Princeton University after majoring in Politics with a focus on International Relations. Currently pursuing a PhD in Government with a focus on International Relations at George Washington University. Aspires to a career in the State Department. Single with no children.

Ethan (Born May 2006): Born in St Louis as the product of a teenage pregnancy, Ethan was adopted by the Volkers in June 2007, in part influenced by the departure of William and John leaving something of an empty nest for Torrie, alongside the perceived need to live according to their pro-life principles. Though the initial adjustment was difficult for the couple and their new child, especially owing to the delays in the process meaning that Ethan was adopted at a time when was of a sufficient age to understand his new unfamiliar environment and broad sense of lose, he has developed by all accounts into a fine and relatively well-adjusted young man. Having predominantly spent his time in Washington D.C. owing to Torrie’s work in the Holt Administration, Ethan is now sharing an apartment with his sister Madeleine during his final year of high school, a decision taken by Thomas and Torrie to avoid disrupting his education.

Strengths: Lengthy record of experience at both the state and federal levels of government, seen as a loyal and early supporter of the 45th President, ties on the Hill allow him to act as a bridge between the establishment and populist tendencies within the GOP, strong political network within Missouri and the wider Midwest, proven capability to win statewide elections, firm Christian Right credentials.
Weaknesses: Skeletons in the closet from his early political career and present ideological positions, seen as having great personal ambition, perceptions of being personally milquetoast compared to the 45th President, lacks the outsider appeal of Holt, relatively weak on economic policy.
Biography: [We don't need too much detail, just how your candidate fits].
Trivia: Throughout his career in public office, Thomas has been noted by both colleagues and media sources as an avid dog lover, something which he’d had since his boyhood years. Currently, he and Torrie have Cooper, a Labrador Retriever the couple adopted from a Jefferson City shelter shortly after Thomas had been sworn-in as Governor.

[New Luciannova]

I am going to quickly reserve the Governor of New Hampshire under the name Amadeus Putnam. You don't need this kind of details, biography to follow!
I'll have a bio up, but some quick stuff:
Amadeus Putnam
Full Name: Amadeus Quincy Thomas Putnam
Date of Birth: 12-13-1962
Birthplace: Quincy, Massachusetts
Residence: Newbury, New Hampshire
Faceclaim: George Will
Spouse: Dr. Mackenzie Jennifer Tafford Putnam, PhD (b. 1973, m. 1997-Present)
Alma Mater: Boston College, BA, Economics (1984), Minor in Divinity and Philosophy; JD (1987), Honorary Doctorate in Philosophy (University of New Hampshire)
Religion: Roman Catholic
Occupation: Attorney (1989-2003; 2016-2019), Radio Host (1989-2002), Podcaster (2002-Present), Author (1991-Present), State Senator (1999-2003), Congressman, NH-02 (2003-2011), Senator, NH (2011-2017), Governor of New Hampshire (2019-Present), Presidential Candidate (2008, 2012, 2016), Adjunct Professor or Philosophy, University of New Hampshire (2017-2019)
Party: Republican Party (1980-Present), Reform (1998-2002—also ran on Reform Party line), Has been endorsed by state Constitutional and Libertarian Parties (2008, 2012)
Other Organizational Memberships: Free State Project, New Hampshire Bar Association, Massachusetts Bar Association, Republican Liberty Caucus, Knights of Columbus, Knights of St. John, Opus Dei (Formerly), House Freedom Caucus (Formerly), National Rifle Association (Formerly), United States Chess Federation, ASPCA
Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths:
Veteran Politician: Amadeus Putnam served in the House, the Senate, and now as Governor of New Hampshire. He has served both in the majority and minority. He has run for President in 2008, 2012, and 2016 and is well-known nationally.
Devoted Followers: Amadeus Putnam’s libertarian positions have made him something of a unique brand of politician that has given him a devoted fan base.
Ethical and Principled: Amadeus Putnam has never been someone to shy away from who he is or what he believes in. He is his own man and accepts it entirely. He doesn’t lend himself strongly to scandals of real meaning.
Religious: Amadeus Putnam is a devout Roman Catholic. He minored in divinity at Boston College, hoping to become a priest. He, however quit the program after his freshman year, and became an attorney and statesman instead.
Ahead of his Time: Putnam’s views on issues like criminal justice reform, same-sex marriage, and the war on drugs were seen as out of the mainstream now. However they are far more widely accepted now, at least to a degree.
Prophetic: Putnam’s economic predictions have mostly been reliable, he expressed concerns about the housing bubble and inflation and despite being dismissed has mostly been proven to be correct.
The Ferret: Putnam’s previous pet ferret, Outlaw (dubbed “the most famous ferret in the world by a number of publications) and current ferret, Rebel, have earned media attention and are treated as local celebrities in his district.
Stoic: Amadeus Putnam is respected for his stoic philosophy and being one of its primary promoters. He lives these virtues and shows incredible self-control.
Good Governor: New Hampshire has seen healthy and stable growth under Putnam, while he has passed some legislation to combat animal cruelty, abortion, and educational choice, while keeping his budget balanced and economy healthy.
Circle of Friends: Putnam’s unique views, and idiosyncratic views have helped him earn some unique friends including people on the left like Cornell West, and apolitical activists like Jane Goodall. Putnam is seen generally tolerant of people who disagree with him.
Have you met my daughter?: Amadeus Putnam's eldest daughter, Dagny Margaret Putnam is a Congressional candidate appearing on 2024 ballots in ______, provided she can pass the bar in ___________
Weaknesses
Socially Awkward: While Putnam’s intellect is not subject to controversy, his social skills are limited and oftentimes he risks being misunderstood or seen as aloof, eccentric, or rude.
Better Philosopher than Politician: Putnam takes interest in ideas from an intellectual or theoretical perspective alone, often enjoying a Socratic dialogue he’s having out loud rather than simply answering a question directly.
Outlier: Despite building something of a following, Putnam never really achieved a position as a leader in his party outside of some core followers. His movement is his goal and despite some successes has not truly grasped the American political zeitgeist.
The Ferret: Amadeus Putnam’s pet ferrets have earned some attention, and while popular among some segments of the population to those unfamiliar it makes him seem more as an eccentric than anything else.
New Ideas: Putnam’s ideas as Governor, while usually reliably libertarian have left some voters confused. His attempts to penalize fur farming in New Hampshire have been seen as contrary to what he is known for.
Circle of Friends: Putnam’s circle of friends has attracted unusual people including drug addicts, erotic film stars, and the occasional white supremacist. Putnam has accidentally even attended an event run by Richard Spencer, not knowing the reality of the event.
Hardline Catholic: Putnam has been critical of Protestantism at times. He has stated most Protestant theology is “lacking.” He has put down Protestants for being more interested in “unscientific nonsense” and “moral panics about the harmless” than “real issues of theology.” He has been critical of people like Pat Robertson for being too extreme and people like Joel Osteen who he called “not just a joke, but a sick joke who reaps souls for Satan behind his vapid toothy grin and bogus theology.”
Stassen-Effect: Putnam has run for President before, three times before. Rumors he may wish to run again have gained some support, but also some feel he is well past his prime to run. However, he is only 60 and will have opportunities going forward.

Children: Thomas Aquinas (b. 1998), Dagny Margaret (b. 2000) (Faceclaim: Morgan Zegers), Artemis Madeline (b. 2004), Cato (b. 2008), Isadora (b. 2010), Seneca (b. 2014), Julia (b. 2016).
Books Published:
1. Stoicism Defined (1991) -Philosophy
2. Stoicism: The User’s Guide (1994)-Philosophy, Self-Help
3. Catholicism: A Bold Defense (1996)-Religion, History (Forward by Pat Buchanan)
4. Living Free (2004)-Politics
5. A New Hampshire Yankee in King W.’s Court (2006)-Satire, Politics
6. If We Can Keep It (2007)- Politics
7. Ferreting for Freedom (2008)- (Accredited to Outlaw) Children’s Book, Politics
8. Stoicism Now: Observations (2009)- Philosophy
9. The Aspie Next Door (2009)- With Kenzie Putnam- Neurodiversity, Psychology, Memoir, Forward by Dr. Temple Grandin
10. Philosophy for Dummies (2010)- With Others, Wrote Chapter on Stoicism –Philosophy, Non-Fiction
11. Ferrets for Dummies (2010)- With Others, Principal Author on “Travel” Chapter- Pet Care, Non-Fiction
12. Crashing the Party: The Tea Party Goes to Washington (2011)- Forward by Sen. Thomas Volker (R-MO)- Politics
13. Iconoclast (2011)- Politics
14. Sophie the Owl (2013)- Philosophy, Children’s Book
15. Hail Holy Queen: An Immaculate Defense of Mary.- Religion (2014)
16. Liberty: The Unknown Ideal (2015)- Politics
17. Old Ideas, Eternal Importance (2016)- Philosophy
18. What We Built (2017)- Politics
19. Proud to be Catholic (2018)- Religion
20. A Day in the Life of the Governor (2020)- Children’s Book-Written by Rebel
21. The Path from Power (2023)- Poltics
Amadeus Putnam has been a regular contributor to Reason, National Review, Catholic Digest, and Ferret Fancy.
Awards
Philosopher’s Annual, 1997, 2002
Caldecott Honor, 2008, Ferreting for Freedom
Honorary Doctorate of Philosophy, University of New Hampshire, 2009
Phyllis Franklin Award, 2013
Caldecott Honor, 2013, Sophie the Owl
Bergruen Prize, 2017
Honorary Doctorate of Theology, Catholic University of America, 2019
James Cardinal Gibbons Medal, 2019
Liberty Medal, 2021
PETA’s Person of the Year Award, 2023
Putnam was included in Time’s “100 Most Powerful People” in 2008, 2010, 2012, and 2016, as well as again in 2022.
University of New Hampshire has named a Dorm Building After him, as well as a classroom in the school of Government.
A Terminal at Manchester-Boston Regional Airport is named “Amadeus Putnam Terminal.”

[The Arenian Republic]

Full Name: Jacob Manuel Alvarez
Party: Republican
Current Office: Senator for the State of Florida(2020-current)
Past Offices: None
Faceclain: [Choose someone with politician-y pictures, ideally many, this will be the candidate's physical description, do not choose anyone too iconic, so no Donald Trump or Joe Biden or Kamala Harris, etc.] Any cool looking Chris Pratt photo
Date of Birth: February 12, 1980
Birthplace: Miami, Florida
Residence: Penthouse, Panorama Tower Miami
Spouse(s); [Please list dates of all marriages and names, you may faceclaim a spouse as well if you'd like] Lucia Carlos: Born September 21, 1986, Married June 21st, 2011
Alma Mater: Florida University
Occupation: Soldier, Lawyer, Investment Banker/Venture Capitalist, Amateur Astronomer
Committee Assignments: United States Senate Committee on Science, Commerce, and Transport
Military Experience: Rank of Captain (Tours in Iraq, Afghanistan 2001-2011)
Military Awards: Purple Heart, Medal of Honor, Silver Star, Distinguished Service Award
Other Organizational Memberships: The American Astronomical Society, Tunnel2Towers
Children: [How many? Ages?] Alexis, Born April 18, 2012. Gabriella, Born April 18 2012(Twins). Nathan, Born December 17, 2013.
Isabella, Born October 19, 2014. Micheal, Born February 17, 2015. Connor, Born February 17, 2015. Ethan, Born February 17, 2015(Triplets). Eliza, Born 2016, August 25. Kaylie, Born September 14, 2017. Bobby, Born January 1st, 2021.
Strengths/Weaknesses: [What makes this candidate effective/popular? What makes them ineffective/unpopular? Please list at least three of each.] Strengths: Debating, Energy, Relatability, Patriotism, Intelligence. Weaknesses: Inexperience, Talks A LOT, Likes to insult
Unfinished trivia and bio, will try to finish later