NationStates Jolt Archive

(OOC: This thread takes the form of a presidential debate, the format is similar to the General's Press Conference thread, you can RP a news rep or official of your government asking questions of one or more candidates, or making a comment. Also, there is a poll.)

Once again, it is time for Kahanistan to decide who will be its President for the next six years. Kahanistan has been at war for a long time, and its leadership is due for a change to see how Kahanistan will survive the next term.

There are seven major political parties, each with different candidates, some of whom are militant, some conservative, and some just plain crazy.

Communist Party

Candidate: Marcellus Q. Valens
Age: 70
Ethnicity: European / White
Occupation: Military officer, current Minister of Defense
Education: B.S. in aviation, Kahanistan Military Academy, 1955
M.S. in communication, University of Kahanistan - Najaster, 1963
Current support: 23%
Platform: Believes that the current Kahanistan military of 10 million is unmanageable, and advocates a smaller, better trained military of 6 to 8 million, with 30 million reserves. The Communist Party supports Shooban (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Shooban) rights, wishing to go further than the current policy of protecting Shoobans under animal-cruelty laws to grant them full rights under Kahanistan law. Advocates stricter restrictions on corporations' ability to make profit through means judged exploitative, such as outsourcing to Third World nations (already severely discouraged by the Socialist government by high taxes) for cheap labor. General Valens himself is not known to be Communist, and has historically been politically apathetic. It is believed that he is merely supported because his background might enable him to protect the nation.

Socialist Party

Candidate: Mohammed bin Yusuf al-Za'if
Age: 44
Ethnicity: Arab
Occupation: Former military officer, incumbent President
Education: B.A. in political science, Kahanistan Military Academy, 1982
M.S. in mass communication, University of Kahanistan - Al-Bahr, 1990
Current support: 27%
Platform: Favors a strong pro-Amestrian foreign policy, less military conflict, opposes granting Shoobans greater rights than the few they already have under Kahanistan law. Believes in diplomatically expanding democracy, and expanding the role of the military in the lives of the people. Favors keeping the military at its current strength. His opponents consider him an Amestrian puppet.

Green Party

Candidate: Margaret Delray
Age: 42
Ethnicity: European / White
Occupation: Former political science professor, current Minister of Foreign Affairs
Education: B.A. in political science, University of Kahanistan - Najaster, 1985
M.S. in environmental science, University of Kahanistan - Najaster, 1989
Ph.D. in mass communication, Kahanistan National University, 1995
Curent support: 13%
Platform: Strongly supports environmental issues, even going as far as to oppose the use of nuclear weapons. Favors the development of heavy conventional weaponry for the military, and some restrictions on civilian ownership of assault rifles.

Democratic Party

Candidate: Maribel A. Crowley
Age: 36
Ethnicity: 50% Latina, 50% Central European
Occupation: Former military officer, current Senator
Education: B.S. in psychology, Kahanistan Military Academy, 1991
Current support: 12%
Platform: Favors isolationism from the conflicts of the world, greater emphasis on a powerful military, geared for defense rather than offense. Perhaps the most centrist party in Kahanistan. Advocates slightly greater largesse for corporations than most opposing candidates.

Conservative Party

Candidate: Raghad Nazmareh
Age: 57
Ethnicity: Persian
Occupation: Military officer, current commander of the Kahanistan Fleet, presently in battle
Education: B.A. in philosophy, Kahanistan Military Academy, 1970
M.A. in comparative religions, Kahanistan National University, 1977
Ph.D. in mass communication, Kahanistan National University, 1987
Current support: 7%
Platform: Favors regression to traditional Middle Eastern values, so far as they do not interfere with women's rights, hardly surprising as Admiral Nazmareh is one of the Conservative Party's first female candidates. Advocates a Consortium-style corporate economy, and the removal of Socialism from the Kahanistan Constitution. Supports government-funded spiritual advisors, unusual in the Democratic Soviet Republic.

Fascist Party

Candidate: Abdullah Hassan al-Ghazi
Age: 48
Ethnicity: Arab
Occupation: Former military officer, former Deputy Defense Minister.
Education: B.S. in psychology, Kahanistan Military Academy, 1979
M.A. in political science, Kahanistan National University, 1986
Current support: 10%
Platform: General al-Ghazi favors expansion, the abolition of Socialism, and the destruction of Automagfreek. He is staunchly anti-Amestrian, and to a lesser extent, opposed to the UN and the Adamantine Alliance. Supports the enlargement of the government and strengthened police powers, including warrantless searches. Advocates the development of an extremely large military and military technology, including a powerful nuclear first or second strike capability which would consist of hundreds of thousands, if not millions of nuclear weapons. Widely considered insane outside the Fascist Party for his support for Roach-Busters and Parthia. Wants to end the ban on hunting Shoobans in Kahanistan, and use them as slaves. Has advocated importing billions of Shoobans to begin Kahanistan's own breeding program based on Kraven technology.

Nazi Party

Candidate: Ahmed Ali bin Faisal
Age: 27
Ethnicity: Arab
Occupation: Career politician and racist muckraker
Education: B.S. in communication, Kahanistan National University, 1999
Current support: 1%
Platform: Your typical Nazi. Favors the expulsion of all Jews (30% of Kahanistan's population) and nuclear development. Senator Bin Faisal has a habit of referring to hostile nations as "racial swamps" and frequently advocates first-strike nuclear deployments. He is viewed as a less serious candidate than General al-Ghazi because he is considered a "chicken-hawk" for advocating destruction when he did not himself serve in the military. Unlike the original Nazis, the Kahanistan Nazi Party accepts blacks, Arabs, Orientals, and Hispanics as members, as long as they are vocally anti-Jewish. Advocates alliances with right-wing nations, and is a throwback in that he opposes homosexuals' right to be members of society, or even to exist.

"Hey man, you seen these Kahanistan elections?"
"Yeah"
"Who you gonna vote for?"
"I guess I'm gonna go for the 70 year old commie."
"Power to the people"
"Haha, I heard that. Pass the pipe."

A woman, obviously of Western European descent, stood up. "Catherine Breillat, Le Monde diplomatique. As you are all doubtlessly aware, numerous Amestrian citizens and Kahanistanians of Amestrian descent were killed or injured in the recent riots. What are your positions on compensation from the Kahanistanian government to the victims of the riots and their families?"

Senator Bin Faisal shouted into the microphone, "The Amestrians should be the ones paying us! They have polluted us with their racially inferior genetic pollution and promoted miscegenation with the intention of destroying our people!"

He continued to rant against the "race-traitors" in Kahanistan until General Valens tired of hearing his racist diatripe and the seven-foot man smashed his head into the podium, drawing blood and knocking him out cold.

"I must apologize for this act of violence on national television," said the Minister of Defense to the journalist. "But this young rogue needs to learn that he is behind the times. The Government of Kahanistan is paying for the hospital bills of the wounded, as all critical medical care is subsidized by our government. We are also paying for the disposal of the bodies of those killed tragically in the civil disorder."

The President spoke via a computer screen from the base he was still in with his security chief, now aware of the attack on Kahanistan by the Doomies. "The damage was caused by anti-Amestrian extremists, not the government. We have gone far enough by treating the wounded in our hospitals, which, as the good Defense Minister stated, provide free care funded by our government."

Minister Delray spoke from another computer screen. She was deep in the Andes. "The Amestrian government's policies are responsible for the wave of anti-Amestrian sentiment in Kahanistan. Perhaps our nations should split the bill?"

Admiral Nazmareh was in a lifeboat heading for the Kahanistan shore under Pwnage fire. She would have to wait to make landfall before she could speak, as her lifeboat did not have a computer.

Senator Crowley stood up, after making sure that her fallen fellow Senator was still breathing. "The damage was done by anti-Amestrian extremists. The ringleaders of the riots should pay for the damage."

General al-Ghazi, who had resigned his commission under pressure from the President, shook his head. "I agree with the Nazi here, the Amestrians should foot the bill." He clearly did not agree with the Nazi's views about racial purity, a concept he found laughable given the racial diversity of Kahanistan. "The Senator is an idiot and a racist lowlife, but even a broken clock is right twice a day."

A man stood up. “Bernard Blier, Quest-Amestria. I have a follow up question for General Valens. General Valens, do you expect any legal or civil consequences for your actions towards Senator Faisal?”

'Michael Stirmeg, XBC News,' announced a Xirniumite reporter. 'My question is addressed to Minister Delray. Could you please outline your foreign policy objectives should you be elected to the Presidency of Kahanistan?'

‘I’ve another question, this time for Minister Valens,' explained Stirmeg. ‘Minister, given that your political career to date has largely been confined to your recent appointment as Defence Minister, and that prior to this you have been a professional soldier of the Kahanistan Armed Forces (indeed, an apolitical one at that) what experience do you have that you believe qualifies you for the position of Head of State of your nation, that allows you to run a nation?’

General Valens allowed himself a rare smile. "I don't expect he'll know what hit him. If he does, I expect he'll sue me for pain and suffering, like his kind always do when someone's had enough and smacks them one."

He continued. "The decision to run for office was not mine. The Communist Party nominated me because I will not oppose their goals, and they believe that a powerful general, especially one who has spent fifty of his seventy years in the military, might make a firm leader, in times of crisis. This nation is at war with two large empires we have tried and failed to turn against each other. Prior to that we have lost three major wars. The Party found a general who will not oppose their social programs, and who will defend the nation if need be, without regard for the political consequences."

Minister Delray smiled, her face appearing over the computer screen. She was much younger than the general, and had light red hair and a freckled face. "Kahanistan will remain friendly toward those with good human rights records, as we are now, I don't see any radical changes in our policy in the near future. We stay friendly to our neighbors unless people are suffering, like it's always been."

A middle Aged Reporter stood up "Will Thorton,Kanami Timesi Mr. Yusuf al-Za'if, you mention you are pro democracy, and belive in it's spreading, how would you go about doing that, and would you be willing to have outside help and influence in it? Second, what do you intend to do with Military into peoles lives, militze the entire nation? "

‘My next question is to Ms Nazmareh,’ continued the Xirniumite reporter. ‘Do you agree with the opinions of some of your opponents that your plan to spend government funding on “spiritual advisors” is merely the first step in the dismantlement of the separation of church and state and the end of secular government in Kahanistan?’

Catherine Breillat of Le Monde diplomatique once again stood up. "I have two questions this time, directed at everyone except Senator Faisal. First, what are your positions on gun control, crowd control policy, martial law, and have your views on those issues changed because of the riots? Second, what are your positions on the present and future of Kahanistan/Amestrian relations?"

President al-Za'if nodded. "I believe in spreading democracy and freedom to the world. I cannot militarize the entire nation, as you put it, I merely believe that the military needs to achieve a higher social status... I am looking to the Amestrian model. As for spreading democracy, we should use diplomacy rather than force. Force has only gotten us into messes we cannot extricate from. Our current war in ViZion is an example."

A Kahanistan officer stood up. "Captain Jean Lapierre. Admiral Nazmareh is in battle, I have been asked to disseminate her views if she couldn't make it to the debate. The Admiral is a Zoroastrian, a member of a small religious minority. She has no chance of making it the state religion. She merely believes we have lost touch with our spiritual side."

‘Minister Delray,’ began another Xirniumite reporter, Elizabeth Amalia. ‘One can’t help but notice the fact that, with the exception of Mr bin Faisal, you are the only Presidential candidate that has not had a career in the military. Indeed, at least two (and at one stage in the Presidential race, even three) of the candidates are currently members of the army. One of them is even is fighting a war while simultaneously running for President!

Many foreign observers have commented on the unusually strong political power that the Kahanistan Armed Forces possess.

Do you believe that the apparent dominance of the military in Kahanistanian politics is a worrying phenomenon? Do you think that your non-military background gives you a unique perspective that makes you more suitable for the position of Head of State of Kahanistan?’

He continued. "The decision to run for office was not mine. The Communist Party nominated me because I will not oppose their goals, and they believe that a powerful general, especially one who has spent fifty of his seventy years in the military, might make a firm leader, in times of crisis. This nation is at war with two large empires we have tried and failed to turn against each other. Prior to that we have lost three major wars. The Party found a general who will not oppose their social programs, and who will defend the nation if need be, without regard for the political consequences."

'A follow-on question for Mr Valens,' continued Amalia. 'Given your response to the other journalist, do you feel that there is some merit to the criticisms made by your detractors, that you have little understanding of the subtlties of politics and have been chosen by the Communist Party merely for your popularity as a war hero, not for your ability to make a good President? Does your apolitical nature make you little more then a mouthpiece for the Party you represent?

If your goal is only to defend Kahanistan (indeed, you have just admited to not even making the decision to run for the Presidency, but having had it made for you) do you not believe that it would be better to do so from your current position as a general in the Kahanistan Armed Forces, and leave those more clearly qualified (some might argue more interested) to take care of politics?'

Minister Delray shook her head. "I don't think the military is a threat... but I do feel that as a civilian I have a certain perspective the military members don't. The military is politically powerful because, in case you haven't noticed, this country has been at war with nations much larger and more powerful than we are, in fact one of our enemies recently called us weak and pathetic. While that is not the reason we are enemies, we did after that statement place a very large order for advanced war materials."

"As for my views on gun control, the Green Party has never historically taken a strong position on gun control, but people running around with OICW's is a bit much. Crowd control was not the problem, the problem was that Kahanistan's people were angry that their military had been used to commit crimes against humanity, and quite frankly, without disrespect to the innocent people who were killed or injured, we as a nation deserved it for our criminal actions in Torontia."

General Valens spoke. "The Communist Party believes that defense is the province of the people. 'From each according to their ability, to each according to their need.' If we come onder attack and occupation, our military is totally collapsed, it is the civilian resistance that will free us. They have the ability, and the people at large have the need. Most of the damage to the nation during the riots was done before the rioters had gotten their weapons, they only armed themselves in large numbers after they were fired on by Amestrian Embassy guards, after a tank was captured by the mob and fired at the Embassy. When a thousand angry people step in front of your tank, and you're alone, you can be easily dragged out and beaten, just like the people being dragged from their cars."

President al-Za'if nodded. "I pretty much agree with General Valens, except that I think the military needs more troops to deal with civil disturbances, the good General here believes that the military is too large, I feel it is the right size and it's always all over the place rather than here."

The General nodded. Senator Crowley smiled, then gave her position. "I feel that the riot's not a military matter, it's a matter of our Law and Order budget being fuck all. But seriously, this business of people running around with M-16's slung over their shoulders when they go to the Coffee Mart needs to stop, it's disturbing to think that out of 1,000 people you pass in the street with an assault rifle, 50 or 60 of them are crazy. That said, we should at least have background checks."

General al-Ghazi shook his head. "Gun control, bah! Keeping guns, or assault rifles, or for that matter, anti-tank missile launchers and bazookas with nuclear warheads, out of anybody's hands never prevented a crime. When owning guns is a crime, guess who's going to have guns? Criminals! Of course, they have guns anyway, but so do law-abiding Kahanistanians. Law-abiding Amestrians don't have guns, and so far we've had at least a thousand cases of Kahanistanian criminals going to Amestria to commit crimes because they don't want to get their dick shot off by a Kahanistanian. Of course, we arrest them and send them back to Amestria to be tried, provided of course that the death penalty is not used, which I don't think it's used against robbers, anyway."

General Valens nodded to the Xirniumite. "I wouldn't know... I haven't even read a political book in years. I'm here to lead the people, to protect them. Wartime is not the time to push social agendas like Admiral Nazmareh's conservative religious leanings, or Senator Bin Faisal's virulent racial ideologies..."

The Senator slowly awoke, right where the general had knocked him out. General Valens continued, looking at the bloody man.

"... or Minister Delray's environmentalism, let alone a radical shuffling of the economy. So yes, I was probably nominated to keep us alive for the next six years."

A short Caucasian man with black hair stood up. "Guillaume Canet, Aujourd'hui dans Amestria, several hundred Amestrian citizens have filed civil suits in Amestrian Courts, seeking compensation for wrongful death, pain and suffering, EST. The majority of these suits allege that the Kahanistan government is directly responsible for the violence as candidate al-Ghazi was an employee of the government when he encouraged the rioters. Your response to these lawsuits?"

General al-Ghazi sneered at the man. To the other candidates, he appeared to be just another ordinary Amestrian. But to al-Ghazi, this was an uppity little worm that needed taken down a few pegs.

"That is the most baseless accusation to ever come out of that corrupt cesspit of a country. I am a politician, I spoke to the angry crowds to get them on my side politically, people are so easy to manipulate when they are this angry... but I never ordered them to go on a rampage and destroy everything Amestrian they could find... they did that on their own. I am not responsible for them running wild, mobs do this all the time when they are angry."

After about fifteen minutes, the general ran out of energy to maintain his rant. The President spoke next.

"Even if the charges are not as baseless as our ex-General states, he was not acting in an official capacity as a member of the Kahanistan Military at the time. He was, as he said, acting as a politician, using his skills as a politician to manipulate the crowd, hoping to get them on his side. If anyone is responsible, the General is, not the government."

Al-Ghazi looked at the President, but did not speak. He was clearly insulted by the whole question as to his culpability.

New Berlin, Ameraka --- President Leeroy J. Enkins comments on Kahanistani elections.

It was a cold, wet morning today when President Leeroy J. Enkins announced his support for one of the Kahanistani presidental nominees. It seems as if the president is now showing his true colours. Surprising everyone today with his support for Ahmed Ali bin Faisal, the 27 year old Nazi party politician.

"We have remained neutral when it comes to politics, but I feel as if I need to finally butt into international affairs, so to speak. I finally want to make Ameraka known once more, and I feel as if, us, as a nation, coming out and supporting fellow nations elections, and such will give a more positive attitude towards our country," Enkins said at the podium.

"I'm not speaking for our nation as a whole, but I'm speaking as an individual. I am all for supporting Mr. Ahmed Ali bin Faisal. I feel as if the Jews are taking up too much space, and are VERY greedy. I think they should be eliminated from this Earth! Perhaps voting for this fine young man ( Mr. Faisal), will get us one step closer to "The Final Solution". I'm all for this man," President Enkins said in an interview after his speech.

We asked many citizen's about their views on this. Most were very outraged that our president could make such bigot statements.

"Who the f--k does this man think he is?! The Jews might as well just say they want Amerakans taken off this planet. It's people like [Enkins], that give everyone in the country a bad name. One bad apple totally f--ks up the barrel. That's for f--king sure."

We'll have more news in tomorrow's issue as more comments become available.

--ABN--
Amerakan Broadcasting Network

A Kahanistan officer stood up. "Captain Jean Lapierre. Admiral Nazmareh is in battle, I have been asked to disseminate her views if she couldn't make it to the debate. The Admiral is a Zoroastrian, a member of a small religious minority. She has no chance of making it the state religion. She merely believes we have lost touch with our spiritual side."
‘With respect, Captain, but you have not answered my question,’ interjected Mr Stirmeg. ‘There was never an issue of the establishment of a state religion for Kahanistan, but rather the fact that Ms Nazmareh advocates the government promotion of religion in general – “spirituality” if that is what you prefer. By saying that Kahanistanian’s have “lost touch with their spiritual side” the Admiral explicitly makes clear her views that to not be “spiritual” is something quite undesirable.

Why does the Admiral feel that the government should attempt to influence peoples’ religious opinions, to get them to regain “touch with their spiritual side” as you put it? Why does she plan to end Kahanistan’s long history of secularity and tolerance of all opinions regarding religion, even those which regard it as preposterous?’

General Valens nodded to the Xirniumite. "I wouldn't know... I haven't even read a political book in years. I'm here to lead the people, to protect them. Wartime is not the time to push social agendas like Admiral Nazmareh's conservative religious leanings, or Senator Bin Faisal's virulent racial ideologies or Minister Delray's environmentalism, let alone a radical shuffling of the economy. So yes, I was probably nominated to keep us alive for the next six years."
‘Herbert Exton, The Skeptic newspaper,’ began a thin, balding man in his late forties.

‘My question is directed to Mr Valens. Sir, what is your opinion of the following statement, made by a prominent political analyst only yesterday, about your candidacy – "The possibility of removing one of Kahanistan’s most gifted military strategists away from the battlefield where his skills are urgently needed and can benefit the nation directly, to a political appointment where he has neither the basic knowledge nor experience to handle himself with any competence is perhaps the most disastrous move that the Kahanistanian electorate could make in the upcoming Presidential elections?"’

[OOC, Sorry about the multiple posts]

‘I have a question for Minister Delray,’ began Elizabeth Amalia. ‘Could you please outline the economic policies that you will attempt to implement should you be successful in your bid for the Kahanistanian Presidency?’

A man in a Black suite with black shades and a black tie, who was at the earlier conference that the Facist leader had held a few days before, raised his hand and asked the General a question...

"If you do get into power, and began using technology based of Kraven designs, would you fear an Attack against these facilities if Kraven gets wind of you using them?"

The man waited for a response....

Captain Lapierre took a drink. "Admiral Nazmareh has no intentions of abolishing freedom of religion, but this nation is a moral sewer. The average 19-year-old college student has had seven sexual partners, the average 30-year-old, over twenty. And it's not just about the sex, we have no drinking age, no limits on recreational drug use, we're going to look like MassPwnage in a few years. Five-year-olds are snorting cocaine in the streets, for God's sake. True, our coke is pure, none of the crap that people in other countries cut it with, but that only makes it more alluring. And once we've lost our morals it's only a matter of time before we start hypocritically allying with despotic regimes and nuking civilians for giggles."

General Valens frowned, then answered the Xirniumite's question. "I would not be removed, in fact it is time that the commander in chief be someone who actually knows what the military needs, what it wants, and can formulate policies accordingly. As Minister of Defense, I can make decisions about the overall structure of the military, and even personally take command of military forces in a serious situation as my predecessor did in the AMF war, but I have little to no say in whether or not we go to war. If it were up to me, we would have diplomatically solved most of our conflicts and been only the stronger when we faced AMF. Hopefully, it will be up to me."

Minister Delray smiled. "The environment is truly dreadful. We built a nation in a desert, we only have water because we have large desalination plants that are great big targets for enemy attack, and our people live in high-rise apartments, which, while good for the environment because they don't require as much land being taken, only contribute to over-population. We need a massive program to irrigate more of the nation, grow more food, and find a cheap, environmentally sound method of disposing of waste. We already use mostly underground nuclear power plants, and biodiesel in our vehicles and warplanes, so we don't burn a lot of pollutants. But corporations need to pay to clean up their pollution."

General al-Ghazi shook his head. "No, why would Kraven attack them? These would be Kahanistanian facilities, constructed using Kraven technology. We would breed Shooban slaves in these facilities for use as laborers and possibly front-line shock troops, from Shoobans that I plan to import from Parthia, not far from here. I think Kraven has more important things than what technology we use to breed Shoobans to worry about, like defeating AMF."

A reporter from The Straits Times, a newspaper based in the capitol of Southeast Asia, Singapore, rose to ask the candidates a question.

"Do any of you have plans to upgrade the armed forces' weapons with more advanced technology? If so, are you going to make domestic designs or rely on foreign arms contractors such as Kriegzimmer Conglomerates?"

General Valens nodded. "We are currently in the process of designing an indigenous missile (http://s13.invisionfree.com/The_NS_Draftroom/index.php?showtopic=865), hopefully in time to affect the outcome of our current war with CAD, but in the meantime we have placed an order with Pale Rider Arms Corporation of Otagia. We have not heard back from them, we do not know if it is because they consider it too dangerous to risk shipping through a blockade and no-fly zone, or because there is something wrong with their communications system, or if Otagia is merely reluctant to trade with a former enemy."

"So, you will be using both domestic and foreign designs? And should you make it into the office of the Presidency, do you, Mr. Valens, plan to make the DSRK use less armed force and more diplomacy? Because many in Southeast Asia agree with our leader's "diplomacy over force" policy and feel that the DSRK has not done enough in the usage of politics to pressure human rights violators into submission."

"I plan to downsize the military, so yes, we will likely be using more diplomatic means to deal with human rights abusers. But that does not mean we will never go to war, for example, we made several attempts at diplomacy with Kraven to protect the 'thought criminals' in Kravonika before going to war."

"Do any of you candidates plan on making any constitutional amendments during your administration...should you succeed getting into office? And on foreign arms contractors, which ones do you favor and would buy from for your arms programs?"

General Valens spoke again. "A constitutional amendment requires a 90% vote of the Supreme Soviet. None of us will promise an action that requires such unflagging support."

"As for weapons production, we import heavily from Roman Republic."

"You do realize that the Roman Republic is a totalitarian dictatorship? And what over defense companies do you look to, as you have plenty of other choices out there. For example, many arms experts around the world agree, with all pilots possessing equal training level (moderate), there is no way half a squadron of Cold War-era MiG-35s can take on Kriegzimmer's Lu-45 Hawk. Do you plan on scrapping your old units in favor of more up to standard units?"