RomeW
23-06-2006, 07:35
The Roman Free Press
Incredible. Unfathomable. Unimaginable. Bad luck for the Empire or a fresh start? Roman voters overwhelmingly elected today Roman Consul Gn. Valerius Maderia to the office of Roman Emperor, defeating his rivals G.R. Rodin Hartian (the previous Emperor) and D.A. Ali Al-Tabin with a stunning 56% of the vote to Al-Tabin’s 30% and Hartian’s 14%.
“Elated? Of course, why shouldn’t I be?” beamed a joy Maderia upon learning the results. “I didn’t think I would win by this much, and this easily.”
Maderia’s victory is unprecedented for two reasons- one, for the first time in Roman history the reigning Emperor was not re-elected, as Hartian was on his first term as Emperor; and two, it marks the first time a new Emperor was voted in without needing a runoff.
The race, long seen as an uphill battle for both Maderia and Al-Tabin, started to change course in the final month. Earlier in May, a “study of nations” by multi-national corporation Visara gave the Empire poor marks for its economy, a blow to a Hartian campaign that told voters he had “revitalized the Roman economy”, which allowed both Maderia and Al-Tabin to better their own campaigns promising economic reform. Later in May, the Carthaginian Empire fell after a multi-national force obliterated the country, with the Roman Confederacy- Hartian’s brainchild- doing nothing to assist its ally. Hartian’s support plummeted following that episode, allowing the more assertive Maderia to gain momentum heading into today’s vote.
“I can’t say I’m shocked,” said a despondent Hartian. “I did this to myself.” Hartian told reporters he’ll have to “re-evaluate his options” before determining if he will run again in 2011.
“Well, I can’t say that I’m happy with losing,” said Al-Tabin. “However, I put in a good effort and I’m happy about that. The best I can do is think about next time and focus on my constituents.”
Who is Valerius Maderia?
This brings us to the question of who Maderia is. He’s not an unknown by any means on the Roman scene, but for a man who’s spent most of his political life on the periphery, there is a lot that isn’t known about Rome’s new Emperor.
He was born on December 12, 1966 in Rome itself to parents whose lineage dates back to the 10th century. Always involved in politics, he was both his high school’s and his university’s student council consul in his final two years of both careers, with a post on council previous to the consulship. He would later obtain his PhD from the University of Rome in Political Science, and later become a renowned lobbyist for various issues around Rome, mostly involving the working class. He met his future wife- actress Margret Miller- at a rally protesting new taxation laws in 1991, and his marriage has been influential in his later political leanings. He had studied the United States of America intensely at the University of Rome, but the political Miller- a native of Orange County, California- brought out the American in him. Several of his detractors labelled him “an American in Roman clothing”, but he has since shown that he is as much Roman as he is American, stating that several ideals that made the United States what it is are congruent to Roman ideals. “ ‘American’ has become such a loaded term,” said Maderia in 2004, “but it shouldn’t be. When the Founding Fathers created the United States of America they created a system nearly as perfect as Augustus’ and Keylusus’, but later generations destroyed what they did. America has a lot of good in it, and it is that good that I wish to bring to the Empire.”
He gained the Consulship of Rome by an overwhelming 76% in 1996, retaining the office by a 67% clip in 2001. He quickly made a name for himself mainly through his direct, “to-the-point” attitude to accomplishing tasks, never shying away from doing what he felt was in Rome’s best interest. “ ‘Indecisive’ is not a word that’s in my vocabulary,” said Maderia shortly after his 2001 re-election. “I do not promise- I deliver.” On that aspect, he’s been correct. Shortly after campaigning on a pledge to improve the infrastructure of the Imperial Republic, Maderia immediately announced plans to expand Rome’s subway and its communications network, plans that were fulfilled when, in 2004, Rome’s third subway line opened and by 2005 Internet usage rose tenfold from its 2001 status. He also made a name for himself defending the Roman middle and working classes by favouring policies such as baby bonuses and tax breaks, as well as raising the income tax exemption bracket, subsidising several housing projects and raising the minimum wage. He became “the everyman”, and “every man” in Rome soon became endeared to his policies.
It was not all smooth sailing for the Consul. Many political opponents call him “combative”, “difficult” and “obnoxious”, believing his headstrong attitude has prevented him from seeing other beneficial possibilities. “Hogwash,” he would reply to his detractors. “Nobody elects me to do nothing. If I cannot stand firm on anything than what good am I as a leader? Besides, I am a listener and I do think everything through thoroughly- I just expect results.” His track record proves that.
So, will Valerius Maderia- or, as he will be officially known as in the Imperial Record, Valerius IV- be what the Empire needs or another bold leader whose ambition sinks the Empire? Only time will tell- but you can sure bet that Maderia will still at least try.
Incredible. Unfathomable. Unimaginable. Bad luck for the Empire or a fresh start? Roman voters overwhelmingly elected today Roman Consul Gn. Valerius Maderia to the office of Roman Emperor, defeating his rivals G.R. Rodin Hartian (the previous Emperor) and D.A. Ali Al-Tabin with a stunning 56% of the vote to Al-Tabin’s 30% and Hartian’s 14%.
“Elated? Of course, why shouldn’t I be?” beamed a joy Maderia upon learning the results. “I didn’t think I would win by this much, and this easily.”
Maderia’s victory is unprecedented for two reasons- one, for the first time in Roman history the reigning Emperor was not re-elected, as Hartian was on his first term as Emperor; and two, it marks the first time a new Emperor was voted in without needing a runoff.
The race, long seen as an uphill battle for both Maderia and Al-Tabin, started to change course in the final month. Earlier in May, a “study of nations” by multi-national corporation Visara gave the Empire poor marks for its economy, a blow to a Hartian campaign that told voters he had “revitalized the Roman economy”, which allowed both Maderia and Al-Tabin to better their own campaigns promising economic reform. Later in May, the Carthaginian Empire fell after a multi-national force obliterated the country, with the Roman Confederacy- Hartian’s brainchild- doing nothing to assist its ally. Hartian’s support plummeted following that episode, allowing the more assertive Maderia to gain momentum heading into today’s vote.
“I can’t say I’m shocked,” said a despondent Hartian. “I did this to myself.” Hartian told reporters he’ll have to “re-evaluate his options” before determining if he will run again in 2011.
“Well, I can’t say that I’m happy with losing,” said Al-Tabin. “However, I put in a good effort and I’m happy about that. The best I can do is think about next time and focus on my constituents.”
Who is Valerius Maderia?
This brings us to the question of who Maderia is. He’s not an unknown by any means on the Roman scene, but for a man who’s spent most of his political life on the periphery, there is a lot that isn’t known about Rome’s new Emperor.
He was born on December 12, 1966 in Rome itself to parents whose lineage dates back to the 10th century. Always involved in politics, he was both his high school’s and his university’s student council consul in his final two years of both careers, with a post on council previous to the consulship. He would later obtain his PhD from the University of Rome in Political Science, and later become a renowned lobbyist for various issues around Rome, mostly involving the working class. He met his future wife- actress Margret Miller- at a rally protesting new taxation laws in 1991, and his marriage has been influential in his later political leanings. He had studied the United States of America intensely at the University of Rome, but the political Miller- a native of Orange County, California- brought out the American in him. Several of his detractors labelled him “an American in Roman clothing”, but he has since shown that he is as much Roman as he is American, stating that several ideals that made the United States what it is are congruent to Roman ideals. “ ‘American’ has become such a loaded term,” said Maderia in 2004, “but it shouldn’t be. When the Founding Fathers created the United States of America they created a system nearly as perfect as Augustus’ and Keylusus’, but later generations destroyed what they did. America has a lot of good in it, and it is that good that I wish to bring to the Empire.”
He gained the Consulship of Rome by an overwhelming 76% in 1996, retaining the office by a 67% clip in 2001. He quickly made a name for himself mainly through his direct, “to-the-point” attitude to accomplishing tasks, never shying away from doing what he felt was in Rome’s best interest. “ ‘Indecisive’ is not a word that’s in my vocabulary,” said Maderia shortly after his 2001 re-election. “I do not promise- I deliver.” On that aspect, he’s been correct. Shortly after campaigning on a pledge to improve the infrastructure of the Imperial Republic, Maderia immediately announced plans to expand Rome’s subway and its communications network, plans that were fulfilled when, in 2004, Rome’s third subway line opened and by 2005 Internet usage rose tenfold from its 2001 status. He also made a name for himself defending the Roman middle and working classes by favouring policies such as baby bonuses and tax breaks, as well as raising the income tax exemption bracket, subsidising several housing projects and raising the minimum wage. He became “the everyman”, and “every man” in Rome soon became endeared to his policies.
It was not all smooth sailing for the Consul. Many political opponents call him “combative”, “difficult” and “obnoxious”, believing his headstrong attitude has prevented him from seeing other beneficial possibilities. “Hogwash,” he would reply to his detractors. “Nobody elects me to do nothing. If I cannot stand firm on anything than what good am I as a leader? Besides, I am a listener and I do think everything through thoroughly- I just expect results.” His track record proves that.
So, will Valerius Maderia- or, as he will be officially known as in the Imperial Record, Valerius IV- be what the Empire needs or another bold leader whose ambition sinks the Empire? Only time will tell- but you can sure bet that Maderia will still at least try.