JCP Convention Summer 2010: 8/19 Endorsements posted

[Oakvale]

Huzzah.

[Oakvale]

This probably isn't a good place to ask, but what the hell:

Could anyone explain to me the timing of the various elections we have here? I'd imagine it's organised so that we have something to do ever couple of months, but I'm not sure about the length of the terms since I'm fairly new to the whole Atlasia thing.

My vague understanding is that the Presidential elections are held every three/four months with Senate and state elections on a rotating basis every couple of months, but I dunno.

[/thinly disguised Senatorial ambitions ]

[Oakvale]

This probably isn't a good place to ask, but what the hell:

Could anyone explain to me the timing of the various elections we have here? I'd imagine it's organised so that we have something to do ever couple of months, but I'm not sure about the length of the terms since I'm fairly new to the whole Atlasia thing.

My vague understanding is that the Presidential elections are held every three/four months with Senate and state elections on a rotating basis every couple of months, but I dunno.

[/thinly disguised Senatorial ambitions ]

You're not alone in your confusion. I've been doing this for about a year, run in 4 regional and national elections, and so far the best I can figure is to watch the Voting Booth thread to know when to vote.

IMHO, Atlasia could really use a stickied thread listing the upcoming regional and national election dates for the coming year, plus a list of declared candidates for each office.

Exactly. I think there's possibly regional Senate elections this month, and the Presidential, but I'm going largely by the campaign threads.

[Oakvale]

[/thinly disguised Senatorial ambitions ]

That's not fair. I'm here for almost a year and I'm just some Lt. Governor

I wouldn't worry, I'm sure you'd be a favourite candidate for the party's endorsment, as opposed to me.

[Oakvale]

(sigh) No one has bothered to answer Oakvale's question.

Federal elections are held every two months, Oakvale.  The President and regional Senators are elected in February, June, and October.  The at-large Senators are elected in April, August, and December.

Thanks.

[Oakvale]

President
[  ] RosettaStoned/usefil idiot (POP/POP)
[ 2 ] afleitch/? (DA)
[ 1 ] Purple State/Marokai Blue (DA/JCP)
[  ] No endorsement

Northeast Senator
[1] Eraserhead (JCP)
[  ] Dallasfan65 (POP)
[  ] No endorsement

Mideast Senator
[1-2] Boris (JCP)
[1-2] hawkeye59 (JCP)
[ 1 ] Franzl (DA)
[  ] Inks.LWC (RPP)
[  ] Al (C)
[  ] Yougo (POP)
[  ] No endorsement

Southeast Senator
[1] GPORTER (JCP)
[ 2 ] North Carolina Yankee (RPP)
[ 1 ] No endorsement

Midwest Senator
[1] Franken (JCP)
[2  ] SvenssonRS (POP)
[  ] No endorsement

Pacific Senator
[1] Bgwah (JCP)
[  ] Xahar (C)
[  ] Ogis
[  ] No endorsement

[Oakvale]

I'll also run for Vice Chair if we decide to hold an election, if only because I'm already a Lieutenant Governor and there's a nice similarity between the two jobs.

[Oakvale]

I endorse ArchangelZero for Pacific Regional Chair, and, again - for those of you who missed the exciting news the last time *cough* - I'll run for Vice Chair.

Failing that, I'd like give being whip a try, although whether I'd be any, y'know, good is up to you guys.

[Oakvale]

FWIW, I've done some (i.e. not very much) thinking and come to the conclusion that there's no point in putting the party through a tedious and quixotic bid for Vice Chair when Kalwejt probably - and perhaps rightfully - has it locked up.

Lt. Governor Kalwejt is one of our most active members, and I'm confident he'll do a great job as Vice Chair. Hell, I think he would have made a great choice for SoIA, too.

So, yeah. Since I'd be happy to give some kind of party establishment role a try, I'll publicly and hopefully not too obnoxiously declare my interest in party whip, although I promised I wouldn't cry if I didn't get it.

TL;DR version:

*withdraws from Vice Chair contention*

Again, .

[Oakvale]

Thank you very much, Oakvale, for your kind words. You're active and enthusiastic so, I'm sure, there's a place for you in the team

One day, one day. Before you know it I'll be the JCP's Karl Rove...

Anyway, I doubt you'll have any significant challengers for the position, so, uh, congratulations on your election as Vice Chair.

[Oakvale]

Aye
Aye
Aye

[Oakvale]

Hi all, just popping in from my leave of absence to confirm that, yes, I'm still running for Whip, so, um, please vote for me, thanks.

*recedes into mist*

[Oakvale]

Before I disappear for another few days, I should do a couple of things.

a) Like vote on the bylaws, if we're not finished with that yet:

So, aye on both.


b) I endorse ArchangelZero/The Doctor for the position of Pacific Chair.

And I endorse Bacon King for Secretary, assuming he wants the job.


*resumes leave of absence*

[Oakvale]

Chairman

[1] Bgwah


Vice-Chair

[1] Kalwejt

Whip

[1]  Oakvale
[2]  Marokai Blue

Secretary

[1]  Bacon King
[2] RG Fritz

Northeast Chair

[1]  Lief

Mideast Chair

[1] Badger

Midwest Chair

[1]  Sewer Socialist

Southeast Chair

[1] Bacon King

Pacific Chair

[1]  ArchangelZero

[Oakvale]

Oh, because I haven't really said anything much about my campaign for whip, I think my answer in the interview with Voice of Kalwejt sums up what I think I could bring to the position fairly well:

VK: As a candidate for the JCP Whip, what is your vision for this post?

Oakvale: I see the job of Whip as probably one of the most important there is within the party. As Whip, aside from the obvious task of trying to keep our elected officials toeing the party line, I've got two main ambitions:

1) Keep the JCP fresh and active by recruiting new members

2) Expand the party into regions where we're currently not competitive. The Northeast springs to mind, for example.

I think the first is easy - as the "go to" party for liberals, we remain one of the largest parties in Atlasia, and the internal problems of the Democratic Alliance may mean we get a handful of centrist members, broadening our coalition and, therefore, our appeal.

The second will have to be acheived over a long term basis, whether by a method as crude as some kind of transplantation of JCP voters from the Pacific to other regions, or by recruiting disaffected members of other parties to our cause. Ideally, of course, I'd like a strong JCP in every region of Atlasia

*is dragged away by convention security*

[Oakvale]

I don't want to clog the thread, so this'll be last my word on the whip position, but all I'll say is that I don't think we have to compromise our principles to expand into other regions, just be more accepting of more diverse view points. To that end, I hope we can welcome some ex-Democratic Alliance members into the party soon.

That said, I wish I didn't have to run against Marokai, who's someone of enormous political stature within Atlasia and a poster that I genuinely respect, but that's (fake) politics for you I guess.

[Oakvale]

Why I want to be whip should be fairly clear. The JCP is the only solidly left-wing party of the four major parties, one of which is collapsing as we speak. Of the DA, RPP, Populares, and ourselves, we represent the only left-wing force among them. I want to keep it that way.

Which one is collapsing?

The Democratic Alliance, probably possibly.

[Oakvale]

I see.  Well there's a chance they'll probably dissolve into us, so yes, while we are the solid left-wing party of Atlasia, there will be a centrist wing.  As long as we can find our balance between the two, we will continue to succeed.

Not all of them that's for sure. The DA justifiably treasures its independence and non-adherence to strict party ideology. I firmly believe the big tent party approach is the way to go. We can do that and still maintain our identity as the force of progressivism in Atlasia.

I agree. There's no reason we can't expand the party's appeal while remaining true to our convictions. I do think that the JCP is the natural home for many, if not all, soon-to-be-former DA members. A centrist wing can't hurt if we agree on the fundamentals.

In other words, big tent, guys, big tent.

[Oakvale]

Haha, that's not actually going to happen.

It depends what you mean. There's something of a crisis in the DA at the moment, and I think we stand to gain a few members from it.

A merger, per se, is unlikely, but I think we can offer former DAers a home here.

Just my opinion.

[Oakvale]

Above all, we should let the DA make that decision whether to disband or not. Still, I'm sure it'd be okay to at least let DA members they'll be welcome in the JCP if they decide to close up shop. IMHO, it should be done on a purely individual, voter-by-voter basis. Any DAers reading this feel free to correct me here. It tenetively looks like some may be considering staying independent or forming something new out of the DA ashes.

Nevertheless, I think there's a lot we can offer many DA members as long as they know they'll have a full influence in the JCP as their numbers dictate, and not just an appendage to the party counted on for dutiful votes without input. I'm okay in compromising on some issues a bit to make this a big tent. Bigger tents hold bigger parties.

Gee, having a Whip and Secretary elected sure would help the outreach process....

This. I want to make it clear that, if elected Whip, I certainly won't take any DA members we're lucky enough to attract for granted. You'll be a strong, independent voice within the party.

[Oakvale]

There is some other business we need to attend to soon though.  We need to figure out our endorsements for the August election.

But yes, I think joining on an individual basis is the best course of action unless we have an official request or something similar to create a merger.  We'll just have to wait and see...but things are looking grim for the DA....

Yep. The Democratic Alliance is, of course, centrist so I'd say the most reasonable course of action  is to create a welcoming environment for ex DAers as opposed to some kind of over-aggressive recrutiment strategy...


Anyway, let's stop yapping about other parties and get on with our elections, endorsements and so on.

[Oakvale]

I'd just like to thank everyone who supported me, and, um, I'll do my best as Whip.

[Oakvale]

Mideast Assembly
[2] Inks.LWC
[1] Hashemite

Midwest Governor
[1] Sewer Socialist
[ 2 ] Vepres

Midwest Lt. Governor
[1] Kalwejt
[2] SvenssesonRS

Southeast Legislature
[1] Deldem
[2] PiT
[ 3 ] Yelnoc
[  ] feeblepizza

Pacific Governor
[1] Oakvale
[  ] Xahar

Pacific Lt. Governor
[1] ArchangelZero

At-large Senate elections
[1-3] Bacon King
[1-3] Badger
[1-3] Kalwejt
[ 5 ] AHDuke99
[   ]  A-Bob
[4] Rep. Andrew CT
[  ] Libertas