Atlas Forum Primaries 2016, Part 2

[Mike Thick]

Name: Laura Rummel

Age: 45

Party: Republican

Location: Ashland, Wisconsin

Positions: U.S. Representative from Wisconsin's Seventh District (1995-1999), President and CEO of the Cato Institute (1999-2003), U.S. Senator from Wisconsin (2005-)

Bio: Laura Rummel grew up in suburban Ashland, in a lower-middle-class family with four siblings. She became involved in local politics while still enrolled in Northland College, becoming Chairwoman of the Ashland County Republican Party at age 22. She ran for Congress against longtime incumbent and supposedly "unbeatable" Dave Obey in 1994, and after running an incredible retail campaign defeated the powerful Obey by only 200 votes to become the youngest person in Congress, and one of the youngest federal legislators ever. She won reelection in 1996 in a fifteen-point blowout despite President Clinton carrying the Seventh District comfortably, but did not seek a third term, and left office to head the libertarian Cato Institute at the tender age of 29. After four years at the helm of the think tank, she resigned to run against Senator Russ Feingold in 2004, and closed a double-digit deficit by crisscrossing the state to beat the progressive rock star 51-47. She defeated Feingold again in a 2010 rematch, by a much larger 54-43 margin.

Ideology: Senator Rummel is a libertarian Republican. She has been a consistent skeptic of U.S. intervention abroad, and has gained a national following as a proponent of decriminalization of marijuana. She has also worked closely with her fellow Badger Stater, Paul Ryan, on entitlement reforms, and has been the leading advocate for his fiscal proposals in the Senate since he began them in the mid-2000s. However, through her career she has been willing to compromise in order to get things done, and was a strong and public backer of the "Gang of Eight" immigration bill. Rummel is running on a platform of tax cuts and reform, foreign pragmatism, and reform of the criminal justice system.

PM Score: E: +3.61, S: -4.70

[Mike Thick]

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[Mike Thick]

BREAKING NEWS: LAURA RUMMEL DEAD, COMMITTED SUICIDE AFTER ATTACKS BY O'HOULIHAN

jk but Laura is out

[Mike Thick]

Hi. After talking to Mike, I've decided to stay in the game. I feel that I should explain myself a bit -- I realized that I didn't really want to participate in a game where 90% of the activity was just angry Twitter wars between the candidates, but Mike has assured me that this won't be the case once turns start, and that he'll clarify how that's going to work in the formal rules. I apologize for any inconvenience I may have caused you guys, and thanks for being accommodating of my poor decision-making.

[Mike Thick]

Hi. After talking to Mike, I've decided to stay in the game. I feel that I should explain myself a bit -- I realized that I didn't really want to participate in a game where 90% of the activity was just angry Twitter wars between the candidates, but Mike has assured me that this won't be the case once turns start, and that he'll clarify how that's going to work in the formal rules. I apologize for any inconvenience I may have caused you guys, and thanks for being accommodating of my poor decision-making.

Oh, I sincerely apologize, I was just doing it in all good fun. I am really glad you're back in, though!

It's all good, and I was having fun too -- just wouldn't want to do that every day for the duration of the game.

[Mike Thick]

Balance before turn - 30 Tokens
5 Tokens - Fundraising in Wisconsin
3 Tokens - Campaigning in Iowa
1 Tokens - Campaigning in New Hampshire
2 Tokens - Campaigning in Nevada
10 Tokens - Barnstorming in Iowa
Total - 21 Tokens
Balance going into Turn 2 - 9 Tokens

Debate Responses:

Opening Statement - "My friends, America is not on the right track. The economic recovery has been sluggish, the national debt is skyrocketing, and liberty is under attack from all sides. Tonight, I will explain to you my plan to restore America by shrinking government and expanding freedom, just as I have done during my time in public life. Thank you, and it's good to be here."

"This is the kind of thing that's good at a low level, but starts causing economic trouble when it's raised too high. By forcing companies to pay employees more than they may be able to afford, we in turn force them to eliminate jobs -- creating a situation where we have a smaller number of jobs with slightly better pay instead of more jobs with the same pay we have now. This will hurt the little guy in the business world -- not the Walmarts and McDonalds of our economy, but the mom-and-pop shops on main street. For this reason, if I am elected President I will not attempt to raise the minimum wage.

"The liberal media has been out in full force against the Republican Party this cycle. It's the same as it's always been -- glowing coverage of the liberals on the other side of the aisle, incessant attacks on conservatives over things as insignificant as spats on Twitter. I hope that this is something all of us can agree on."

"In the Senate, I have worked hard to find a conservative solution to America's immigration problems, and I would continue to do so in the White House. The first priority of any reform plan has to be to secure the border, and that is what I would do -- expand San Diego model efficient fencing, which would simultaneously keep would-be border-crossers out and allow for increased, more efficient patrols of the border. However, we must consider what is causing the problem -- a broken system that works so slowly that people feel they must cut in line in order to get ahead, I would streamline our visa system to prevent this need. I would support legal status for nonviolent illegal immigrants in the form of visas, but I think they should have to get in line for citizenship like everyone else."

"The National Debt is the single biggest threat to America's economic well-being. As President, a natural consequence of reducing the size and intrusiveness of Government would be a reduction in spending, which on top of economic growth would contribute to a reduction in the deficit and, ideally, a balanced budget."

"Governor Peebleton is, by any standard, radical. Her policies would dramatically change America for the worse, expanding the government's reach into the lives of you and I and hurting the American economy. It's a very good thing that she will never be President."

"I support decriminalization of marijuana because I don't think it's the federal government's job to tell people what they can and cannot do. We have enough on our plate with a huge budget deficit, a sluggish economy, and a broken immigration system -- we don't need to further our troubles by wasting money and time stepping out of place and enforcing unenforceable laws telling Americans what they can and can't smoke."

Closing Statement - "It's really been a pleasure to join all my friends here tonight, and hopefully the American people got to learn a little more about how Republicans think, and how I think. I hope I earned your vote, and I look forward to doing this again! God bless, and goodnight."

[Mike Thick]

Total: 112 tokens

Barnstorming in Iowa: 20 tokens

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Barnstorming in Nevada: 20 tokens

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Visit New Hampshire: 2 tokens

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Nationwide ad on Taxes: 2 tokens

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Nevada ad on Land Use: 2 tokens

Iowa ad on Taxes: 2 tokens

Fundraiser in Wisconsin: 5 tokens

Total spent: 53 tokens

Balance: 59 tokens

[Mike Thick]

Barnstorm Iowa (with Speech) (x 3) 31 tokens

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Barnstorm New Hampshire (with Speech) 11 tokens

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Positive ads in Iowa on Taxes: 4 tokens

Positive ads in New Hampshire on Taxes: 2 tokens

Positive ads in Nevada on Public Land Issues: 2 tokens

Fundraiser in Iowa: 10 tokens

Total Expenditures: 70 tokens

Total Remaining: 32 tokens

[Mike Thick]

Opening Statement: My friends, America has been betrayed. The Leip Administration and their cronies in Congress have relentlessly opposed the cause of liberty at home and around the globe, taking every step to crush our economic liberty, invade our privacy, and shred the Constitution for their own selfish purposes. However, the people have other ideas, and that’s why instead of a radical liberal Democrat we are going to elect someone on this stage tonight the next President of the United States! It’s a privilege to even be considered by you guys, and I’m having fun already.

1. There is a difference between compromising in order to have something instead of nothing and compromising away your principles. I will not allow our conservative values to be lost in the face of pressure to put forth some kind of "moderate hero" image for the sake of getting votes, I haven't during my time in Congress, and I will not as President.

However, bipartisanship is essential in Washington if you want to get anything done. The Founding Fathers intentionally made it hard to get legislation, political appointments, and all kinds of other things done -- just so politicians would be forced to work across the aisle to get their agenda through. As President, I'll work with Democrats and Republicans alike to pass a conservative agenda. For example, Senators Rand Paul and Cory Booker teamed up recently to try and reform our country's criminal justice system. That's an area where I would hope to work with Democrats to find a solution.

2. Back when I did work for the Cato Institute, I went with a team of our guys to take a look at Walter Reed for study, for a week. We walked in during this nasty rainstorm, and it was the most horrific thing I'd ever seen. There were rats just scurrying around without a care, patients in horrible pain everywhere… it was unconscionable. And the employees were just smiling at us, talking like everything was fine, as we’re strolling past dozens of these veterans just moaning in pain. As President, I will eliminate the bureaucracy, red tape, and just the sheer dumbassery that leads to this systemic neglect, and I will ensure that no veteran ever has to experience anything so horrific again.

3. When we talk about things like this, I think about the police department of Camden, New Jersey. Camden is a city that has had severe issues with poverty and crime. However, they recently started doing things a bit differently than most police departments. Police officers are on the streets, talking to people, getting to know the locals, and building relationships with the community instead of being a nameless, faceless, unfeeling entity hidden behind the window of a police car. I want to see more PDs around the country follow this model, and I think it would help solve the problem.

4. The idea that there is a 99% scientific consensus that climate change is man-made is a myth. The actual number is functionally impossible to gauge accurately, and anyone who says otherwise has a serious agenda. I believe that any environmental legislation must have the utmost respect for property rights and take into account that many economies are heavily dependent on fossil fuels, and I believe that what the liberals have proposed lately completely ignores both.

However, in order to make America a cleaner and more pleasant place by reducing pollution, I would support limited tax breaks for clean energy companies in order to incentivize further innovation.

5. I oppose the deal with Iran, along with a majority of members of the United States Congress, including many Democrats. It delays Iran's nuclear capabilities, essentially ensuring that Iran will have nuclear capabilities in the near future -- and the economic benefits they will receive are incredibly disproportionate to what they have promised to do. Perhaps most importantly, it is a threat to the very existence of our allies in the Middle East -- if Iran is allowed this pathway to a nuclear weapon, Israel, and really anyone who stands in Iran’s way, may soon be no more than radioactive dust drifting over the desert. As President, I will shred the deal on day one, and use all channels possible to ensure that Iran never gets their hands on nuclear arms.

6. I consider Ron Paul a personal friend, and he has been very helpful throughout my career. Like him, I support removing the United States from unnecessary and harmful foreign entanglements. Like him, I support expanding civil liberties to all Americans and freeing them from the spectre of Orwellian government surveillance. And like him, I support removing the stranglehold of regulation and taxation that the Government has placed on the economy. So yeah, while I think I place a higher value on compromise with my colleagues than he did, I guess I'm like Ron Paul in some ways.

I will also note that Ron Paul was a shining example of how one can spend time in Washington without being co-opted by its establishment, as some folks here have charged me with.

Closing Statement: It really is great to be up here with everyone, and I hope all you at home have learned a little more about what I'm going to do as President to make your lives better. When you cast your votes in the caucuses, remember that I am the candidate of economic liberty, individual liberty, and civil liberty, and that I have the record to prove it. Thank you, God bless, and goodnight.

[Mike Thick]

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[Mike Thick]

Barnstorm New Hampshire: 40 tokens (4x)

Barnstorm Nevada: 20 tokens (2x)

Barnstorm South Carolina: 10 tokens

Positive ads in New Hampshire: 6 tokens

Positive ads in South Carolina: 4 tokens

Positive ads in Nevada: 4 tokens

Total expenditures: 74 tokens

Total remaining: 50 tokens

[Mike Thick]

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[Mike Thick]

I'll have my turn done by 10:30 Pacific, sorry for the delay

[Mike Thick]

Due to low polling numbers, Laura Rummel is suspending her Presidential campaign and wholeheartedly endorsing the people's candidate and the next President of the United States, Governor Sam O'Houlihan.

(I have some stuff coming up in the next few weeks that's going to make keeping this up and doing it well difficult.)

[Mike Thick]

Permission to re-enter as a different candidate, considering the substantial amount of time that has passed since I left/the game died?

[Mike Thick]

Name: Frank Zappa

State: California

Age: 75 (on Election Day)

Party: Libertarian

PM: E: +7.84 S: -8.70

Background: A legendary musician, Zappa has made a fortune due to early investments in the online business network Linkedin as well as other tech companies. He has been very politically outspoken on issues such as U.S. involvement abroad and the legalization of marijuana, and is ubiquitous for his libertarian political stances and frank, "straight-shooter" manner. He considered seeking the Presidency in 1988 and 1992 as a Democrat, and in 2012 as a Republican, but ultimately decided against it all three times.

(We're going to imagine that he never got cancer and is still alive today, along with his wife, Gail.)

[Mike Thick]

Hello, America!

My name is Frank Zappa, and I am proud to announce my candidacy for President of the United States!

Our country is in some deep, deep doo-doo. There's really no ignoring that. Our education system is broken, our economy has left behind millions of American workers, and our government is tied up in broad obligations thousands of miles away.

If elected, I will implement meaningful education reform to expand technical training and school choice. I will cut taxes, to unleash the power of the free market. I will ensure that we put our country first by removing ourselves from foreign wars and pushing other nations towards military self-sufficiency. I will also legalize recreational marijuana.

Now, some of you may be wondering: why are you running as a Libertarian? Isn't it basically impossible for them to win. To these folks, I say: yes, I can win. I have the resources, the infrastructure, and above all, I have the people on my side. *crowd cheers*

I am running as a Libertarian because, to be Frank *rimshot from backstage* both political parties are hopelessly corrupt. They will not allow candidates to advance without pledging their souls to moneyed donors, or adhering to stupid ideological boxes. I think this is a load of horsesh**t, and I can promise you that I will never keep silent because it might not be "politically correct." The Libertarian party is the largest political structure in the country untouched by this stupidity, and I am proud to call it my political and ideological home.

Goodnight, peace out, and Free America!

[Mike Thick]

Zappa's turn will be posted tomorrow.

[Mike Thick]

Zappa's turn will be posted tomorrow.

I pretty abruptly came down with the flu after posting that.

Turn One:

Barnstorming in California (2x) - 20 tokens

Barnstorming in Nevada (2x) - 20 tokens

Barnstorming in Michigan (1x) - 10 tokens

Fundraising (4x) - 40 tokens

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[Mike Thick]

I'm out, sorry.