NationStates Jolt Archive

Excerpted from Askland Point Post, 14 August 2005. Article by Kevin Liang. Reprinted by permission.

As elections approach, MacFarlane holds solid poll lead
Kevin Liang, The Askland Point Post

DAIEL, CO - With only three weeks remaining before polls open across Copiosa Scotia, Speaker Michael MacFarlane is getting every indication that his Liberal party will breeze to its eighth resounding victory in as many elections. Sunday's polls show MacFarlane's 86% approval rating translating into a predicted vote tally of nearly 58%, which if it stands will gain the Liberals as many as five seats in the Senate...

With the National Party's gains in late March having all but evaporated over the last month, bringing them back under 10%, the Reform Party has solidified its position as the Liberals' main challenger, polling at about 21%...

Rounding out the poll were the Conservative and Socialist parties, projected to receive 4% and 2% respectively. Should these results stand, the Conservative party may expect to gain one or two seats while the Socialists will likely continue a decade-long decline...

---

Excerpted from The Daiel Times, 15 August 2005. Article by Sarah Tilden. Reprinted by permission.

Candidates at a glance
Sizing up the competition for Speaker
Sarah Tilden, Daiel Times

Michael MacFarlane, Liberal Party
Speaker Michael MacFarlane, age 43, is completing his first term as Speaker of the Assembly, a term marked by numerous national and international crises. He has favored largely unregulated capitalism and free trade in his economic policy, positions his supporters credit with the unprecedented growth of the Copiosa Scotian economy. MacFarlane is liberal on social issues and has continued his party's tradition of aggressive pro-democratic interventionism.

Emilia Romberg, Reform Party
Representative Emilia Romberg, age 36, is completing her first two-year term as a representative to the Assembly. She favors some restructuring of Copiosa Scotian economic policy, including an increased national sales tax with additional rebates for low-income taxpayers and what she calls a "common-sense approach" to free trade.

Jared Greznikov, National Party
Jared Greznikov, age 52, has served for 13 years as National Party Chairman. He is running on a platform of non-interference that many of his opponents have labelled as "isolationism." He has been an outspoken critic of MacFarlane's interventionism and his decision to join the ill-fated UnAPS. Internally, he favors a more restrictive social policy and restructuring the economy to make it less "vulnerable" to foreign businesses and governments.

Chris Slade, Conservative Party
Governor Chris Slade, age 50, heads a party hoping to return to the prominent place it held in the early 1900s. He is calling for a return of "public decency" to Copiosa Scotian social policy and favors granting sales tax rebates to big businesses in order to stimulate the economy. His party is not expected to have a significant effect on the outcome of the election, but the Conservatives appear likely to gain a few seats at the expense of the Reform and Socialist Parties.

Samantha Whiting, Socialist Party
Senator Samantha Whiting, age 47, has been a Socialist Party senator for 15 years. She favors a major restructuring of the Copiosa Scotian economy, including the institution of a graduated income tax and a massive expansion of government-funded healthcare services. Her party is not expected to have a significant effect on the outcome of the election, and could see its representation in the Assembly cut down to one or two seats.

(OOC: Pretty much anyone can feel free to jump in. Contribute to one or more of the candidates, scheme against one or more, try to influence, fix or disrupt the election... just have fun with it. The more, the merrier. All I ask is that you put some thought into whatever it is you're doing.)

As we view Representative Emilia Romberg as the best candidate for the position of Speaker, we wish to make a campaign contribution of fifty million dollars. We are in no way trying to buy special consideration should Mrs Romberg be elected, we simply view her as the candidate most likely to serve the best intrests for both Copiosa Scotia as well as the international community.

I support the free trade capitalism policies of Michael MacFarlane. Because of that, I am wiring $15 million American to his campaign, from my personal funds so that he has a better chance of winning. I'm sure that I could be of assistance in other ways, should he require them.

Sincerely,
John Carter
P3X1299 CEO Premier

(OOC: Almost forgot these!)

Latest Poll Results (8/15/05)
Michael MacFarlane (L) - 57.9%
Emilia Romberg (R) - 21.3%
Jared Greznikov (N) - 9.6%
Chris Slade (C) - 4.1%
Samantha Whiting (S) - 2.2%
No Candidate - 0.4%
Undecided - 4.5%

Margin of error: +/- 3%

(OOC: Bump, to be followed with another plot post later this evening.)

National Party Headquarters (Televised)
508 South H Street
Cincinnati, Vanden
5:52 p.m. local time

Jared Greznikov was not a striking figure, in any sense of the word. Small, slight, dark-haired and dark-eyed, he somehow managed to maintain the impression of authority in spite of his compact build and gaunt features. The trick was mostly in his manner of speaking -- earnest, forceful, and punctuated with sharp motions of his hands that seemed natural, but were really the product of hours of practice. It was likely only because of this that he was taken seriously at all; for years, his party's platform, isolationist at best and xenophobic at worst, had been a running joke among Copiosa Scotian political commentators of all stripes. But for the moment, the crowd of reporters assembled in the conference room was taking him very seriously indeed.

"The very fact that these foreigners think they have the right to meddle in our election is an insult to our nation and to every citizen who believes that we have the right to choose our own leaders, free of outside influence. The notion that the governments of Theao and P3X1299 have the right to effectively vote in our election by contributing to the Liberal and Reform parties is as absurd as it is offensive, and I for one will put a stop to such abuses as Speaker. Should the people of Copiosa Scotia elect me, I will ban campaign contributions by foreign governments, and break ties with Theao, P3X1299 and any other nation that believes its influence here is needed or wanted."

One reporter, a blond-haired man wearing holding an SBN microphone, spoke up. "What, if anything, do you want or expect the current Speaker to do about the funds he has received from P3X... from John Carter?"

Greznikov cleared his throat. "Well, I shouldn't be surprised if what I expect from Speaker MacFarlane and what I want from him are two very different things. I want him to reject the money and stop letting foreign funding pollute our elections. I fully expect him to keep the money."

Greznikov stepped back from the lectern, leaving his challenge hanging in the air and brushing off further questions as he headed for the exit.

(OOC: Bump because I've been on a rather long vacation, and I want to give some other nations a chance to read/vote/participate before I continue with the story.)

MacFarlane's economic policies are conservative, which we like -- so long as he keeps taxes low on businesses (since hurting businesses hurts the working man).

MacFarlane's economic policies are conservative, which we like -- so long as he keeps taxes low on businesses (since hurting businesses hurts the working man).

Speaker Michael MacFarlane has been a strong supporter of national goods and services tax plan instituted by the Liberal Party in 1990, and has consistently lowered tax rates across the board through his entire term. You can rest assured that businesses and their workers have not borne a disproportionate share of the tax burden.

Lorrie Precourt
Liberal Party International Spokesperson

---

Latest Poll Results (8/17/05)
Michael MacFarlane (L) - 56.8%
Emilia Romberg (R) - 20.1%
Jared Greznikov (N) - 10.5%
Chris Slade (C) - 4.3%
Samantha Whiting (S) - 1.8%
No Candidate - 0.8%
Undecided - 5.7%

(OOC: Wow. The international support for Greznikov is... surprising.)

The Commandante of course support his Socialist sister.

High Chairman Hillary wishes all the candidates the best of luck in the upcoming election, and hopes that whoever wins the strong ties between our two nations will continue.

The Imperium of Serapindal will favor Chris Slade.

The united socialist states of Thekalu will support the socialist candidate and we hope all candidates the best of luck

Reform Party Headquarters
4990 Pinero Street
Doering, New Cali
12:50 p.m. local time

To the officials of nations that had conducted business with Copiosa Scotia over the last four years, Emilia Romberg could perhaps best have been described as the previous decade's Sara Davidson. Like the young SpecRep, she was an Aberden College graduate with a seemingly innate understanding of diplomacy who had arrived on the national political scene at a remarkably early age. Even in Copiosa Scotia, where politics was widely considered to be a game for the young, it was practically unheard of for anyone to have a seat in the Senate at twenty-six. Possessing a rare combination of charisma, energy, and intelligence, she was a political celebrity with the credentials to justify her both her fame and her position.

She'd seen Greznikov's statement on SBN yesterday, and while she was less than pleased with his reaction -- more or less an outright appeal to xenophobia, she thought -- she also agreed with her campaign advisor's assessment: it was unlikely to hurt her seriously. Her voters were voting for her because she was willing to take the world's interests into account, and the kind of people who would be upset by her acceptance of foreign funding were unlikely to vote for her in the first place. So she turned off the TV and keyed the intercom. "Julie, I'm ready to start prepping for the debate." The debate between Romberg and Chris Slade was scheduled for tonight at Aberden College, one of a pre-election flurry of twenty debates in which each possible pair of candidates would face off. If the schedule held, the last of these would feature Romberg and Speaker MacFarlane at Mason University in Coburn, three weeks from today. "Have my car ready in five, and we'll head over to the college."

---

Excerpted from Aberden Herald-Sun, 18 August 2005. Reprinted by permission.

Issue Scorecard - Maintaining Relations with Shildonia (8/18/05)
MacFarlane - Favors
Romberg - Favors
Greznikov - Opposes
Slade - Favors
Whiting - Opposes

Issue Scorecard is a daily feature of the Aberden Herald-Sun. Candidate positions are determined based on analysis of candidates' statements, voting records, party platforms, and similar indicators.

(OOC: Dates have been changed so I'm not RPing in a three-months-ago timeline and can work in other things that are happening in the current NS world.)

Ketterman Concert Hall
Askland Point University
Askland Point, West Scotia
10:24 local time

Speaker Michael MacFarlane was not a man of particularly distinctive appearance. In a study conducted two years earlier by the Center for Foreign Policy Analysis, citizens from a variety of countries across the world had been shown photographs of twenty-five different heads of state, and asked to identify them. When the study concluded, MacFarlane was ranked as the least-recognized of the twenty-five, despite having sent Copiosa Scotian servicemen into more conflicts than any other Speaker in recent memory. It was rumored in some circles that he'd been a deep-cover for the CSID years ago, but as with all such stories about the secretive Directorate's history, truth was indistinguishable from legend.

The debate between MacFarlane and Jared Greznikov had thus far been an eventful one, the two men finding plenty to disagree on. Greznikov was his usual spirited self, while the Speaker seemed far more relaxed, his demeanor fitting for a man who often took advantage of his non-descript appearance to don a hat or a pair of sunglasses and stroll down to the local bar and grill. The questions, unscripted, had come directly from the audience, but both candidates had been quick on their feet and and had managed to avoid being caught off guard. The evening was drawing to a close, and Greznikov was giving his closing statement.

"We should be taking advantage of this economic growth to become self-sufficient for fuel and food. Thanks to his party's legalization of drugs, Copiosa Scotia's number one agricultural product is marijuana." Greznikov paused, letting this sink in. "Entire fields that could be used to produce grains to meet Copiosa Scotia's rising demand are instead filled with this worthless plant, and meanwhile our trade deficit increases as we are forced to buy food from abroad. This Speaker's economic policies have brought us the appearances of prosperity with none of the benefits! The GDP rises while thousands are laid off because their employers can't compete with subsidized foreign corporations. Free trade and open borders sound great in speeches, but I think it's time for us to realize that we can't afford that kind of idealism."

The moderator nodded. "Speaker MacFarlane, your response, two minutes."

MacFarlane allowed himself a small grin. "Well, where to start? Perhaps with the claim that focusing on cash crops rather than food crops increases our trade deficit? As Mr. Greznikov may or may not be aware, we make roughly twice as many plats on our agricultural exports as we spend importing grain. We are running a trade deficit, and it's being addressed, but if he proposes to reduce it by making one of our biggest exports illegal, I'm afraid he's barking up the wrong tree. His claims of massive layoffs due to foreign competition are also unfounded. Unemployment has not risen above 3% in the last ten years, and has decreased steadily during my time in office. Mr. Greznikov dismisses my belief in the free trade as impractical and idealistic, but my economic policy works because the people of Copiosa Scotia get out there and make it work every day. That's a testament to the nation's work ethic, and to the fact that sometimes a government can best serve its people by simply letting them live and work without interference." He gave a slight nod to the moderator, who moderator rose from his seat and spoke.

"Speaker MacFarlane, Chairman Greznikov, thank you for being with us tonight, and good luck with your campaigns."

The audience applauded as the two candidates walked to the center of the stage and shook hands, Greznikov leaning over quietly to growl, "A good debate, Mr. Speaker. Watch out for Ms. Romberg on Friday, she's definitely on top of her game."

"Thanks for the tip," MacFarlane said, smiling. "I'll put in some extra prep time."

---

Latest Poll Results (9/5/05)
Michael MacFarlane (L) - 58.8%
Emilia Romberg (R) - 20.6%
Jared Greznikov (N) - 11.1%
Chris Slade (C) - 4.1%
Samantha Whiting (S) - 1.5%
No Candidate - 0.9%
Undecided - 3.0%

Streicher Auditorium
Mason University
Daiel, Coburn
8:16 local time

Unlike MacFarlane's previous debate, this one had been tense right from the start. Representative Emilia Romberg had been unexpectedly -- and uncharacteristically -- aggressive from the first question, in what MacFarlane could only assume was a strategy to keep him off-balance. It hadn't worked so far, but he could tell that the audience was impressed with her intensity.

She was finishing up her arguments against MacFarlane's trade policy. "I, like Speaker MacFarlane, believe in free trade, but we differ in one important: I favor free trade as a means to securing prosperity for all our citizens, and therefore believe in reasonable restrictions to ensure that it serves this purpose; Mr. MacFarlane, on the other hand, believes that free trade is an end in itself and is willing to sacrifice your welfare in pursuit of that end. I think the people of Copiosa Scotia would be well served to remember that when they vote on Monday."

MacFarlane suppressed a smile. Romberg had just led into the one topic he liked to talk about in debates more than any other. He waited, expecting the moderator to say, "Speaker MacFarlane, your response," but instead was surprised to hear Romberg say "Good night." He looked over to see her step back from the podium and turn to walk off the stage.

Well, thought MacFarlane, a little disappointed at being robbed of a chance to respond, that's one way to make a statement.

---

In a white van parked outside the auditorium, Romberg's actions had touched off a frantic response from a compact man watching the auditorium's camera feed on one of the van's interior monitors. "Are you seeing this?" he shouted into a handset. "Romberg's walking out early!"

"I see it." No trace of tension or emotion could be detected in the computer-altered voice on the other end. "This is our best chance, Schiff, and we're out of time. Detonate the package now. I repeat, detonate the package now."

Mikhail Schiff thumbed the button on the detonator clutched in his hand before the voice could even finish repeating the order. He saw a flash of light in the auditorium's windows, then a second, brighter flash, accompanied by the faint, muffled sounds of explosions inside the building.

---

The auditorium's stage erupted, wood cracking and charred debris flying in all directions, flames spouting from a blackened hole at center stage. The flames from the second explosion vented through the hole left by the first, and soon the entire stage area was engulfed in flames from ceiling to floor. The automatic sprinklers activated, preventing the fire from spreading but doing little for the visibility of the security personnel trying to locate Speaker MacFarlane and Representative Romberg.

As the panicked crowd streamed out into the warm summer night, the first wailing sirens could be heard in the distance.

---

"Listen carefully," the altered voice said, "because I'm only going to give these instructions once, and after that, you're on your own. If you screw this up, my men will have to shoot you to ensure you don't get captured alive, but I imagine you'd rather live to see your paycheck. Now, open the glove box and remove the object inside." The driver, a larger, balding man, obliged him, finding another detonator in his hand, then handing it to Schiff. "When I stop talking, both of you will leave the van with the handset inside it, walk one block south on Olden, and into the alley on your right. There's a taxi waiting for you there. As soon as you're in the taxi, but not before, you will set off the explosives in the van. Go."

The two men found the taxi exactly where they'd been told it would be, and were surprised to find it empty except for the taxi driver. Schiff opened his mouth to give the driver their destination, but he interrupted, speaking with a strong Eastern European accent. "I already know where we are going. Do not worry about paying me either. The money will be taken out of your own payment."

He nodded, understanding. The driver pulled the cab out of the alley, and Schiff depressed the button on the second detonator. In the rear-view mirror, he saw a flash, a jet of flame, and then the taxi turned the corner and sped off into night.

(OOC: Bumped for easier reference as I work on the long-overdue next act. Also a bit of copy-editing... mistakes are so much easier to see when you're reading something you wrote six months ago!)

We shall support Michael MacFarlane (Liberal)!
Our government is currently haveing the annual elections however the elections lack variety! However you do not!

We shall support Michael MacFarlane (Liberal)!
Our government is currently haveing the annual elections however the elections lack variety! However you do not!

(OOC: Sorry if I've created any confusion, but the election is no longer going on here. Another thread will be posted sometime tonight or tomorrow, revealing the results of the election as well as the general direction I'm taking this story in. The only reason I bumped this thread was so that I'd be able to find it again without a time-consuming search. Thanks for your interest, and feel free to continue reading!)