Like a Phoenix - A 2012 Election Game (Gameplay Thread)

[Huey Long is a Republican]

Turn I

August 1st-31st, 2011

2012 Presidential Election begins!

After months of speculating, the 2012 Presidential Election has begun with six Candidates having jumped into the race already and more possibly along the way, this field looks to be an interesting one indeed.

Republican Primary Poll RCP Average : Establishment vs Upstarts?

Rob Portman : 18%
Gordon Smith : 12%
Mike Huckabee : 10%
Thomas Kean Jr. : 5%
Undecided : 55%

With the announcements of Senators Portman,Smith, Huckabee, and Kean, a lot of talk has begun with many agreeing that, while somewhat unknown, the field is indeed strong, with Ohio Senator Rob Portman leading the polls currently while New Jersey Senator Thomas Kean Jr at the very bottom of the polls. It is clear that Portman is the favorite of the Republican Establishment as of now, but could someone come in and steal his thunder or would one of his three upstart opponents, especially Senators Huckabee and Kean, take the lead from him?

Democratic Primary Average RCP : Vice President vs Senator

John Edwards : 63%
Ron Wyden : 11%
Undecided : 26%

With the Republican field hopefully expanding in size soon, Democrats Ron Wyden, A senator from Oregon, and John Edwards, the incumbent Vice President, have thrown their hat into the ring for their own nomination. Despite his longshot bid, many see Vice President Edwards as a weak incumbent that could easily lose to someone else if he isn’t careful. Will the Democratic Party choose the second in command of the unpopular Kerry Administration to be their candidate for the General or will they choose Senator Wyden of Oregon to lead them away from the failed policies of Kerry? Or, will someone else come in and win from out of nowhere?

Current General Election Poll Average RCP

Democrats : 44%
Republicans : 44%
Undecided : 16%



[An M-198 155mm Howitzer of the US Marines firing at Fallujah, Iraq, during the Second Battle of Fallujah.]

War in Iran reaches Year 3, Casualty figures reach 10,000

Despite all attempts from President Kerry and Secretary of States Holbrooke and Clinton to end the War in Iran, the war remains ongoing with the Iranian Government fighting against ICP forces as well as the forces of the Royalist Coalition of the Shah, a faction determined on the return of the Shah, and the Iranian People’s Liberation Army, A Communist rebel group. So far, there has been little progress against the rebel groups at the cost of 10,000 US Troops and 3,000 more coalition troops. The war remains highly unpopular with the American people but there are experts who know that leaving right now would leave Iran in a worse situation than ever before. What is the Kerry administration to do and how will the current field of candidates react?

[Bashar al-Assad (2018-05-17) 03.jpg] [Suheir al-Atassi, Vice-President of the National Coalition, 9 April 2013.]

Recall Presidential Election in Syria announced for September 30th, 2011

In 2010, President Bashar Al-Assad of Syria was unanimously elected by the country, with 84.3% of the vote, meaning a second round wasn’t going to happen. However, after an investigation, it was revealed the election was rigged in favor of Assad and thus Assad announced a recall election somewhat reluctantly. Currently, Assad is trailing the candidate of the Syrian Progressive Conservative Party (hizb almuhafizin alsuwrii altaqadumii/حزب المحافظين السوري التقدمي) Suheir al-Atassi, 55-37% in recent polling. Atassi was the closest candidate to Assad, getting 9.9% of the vote in 2010. If she were to win, she would become Syria’s first woman President and the first popularly elected President of the country in decades. UN officials have vowed to watch over the election results in order to ensure it’s fairness.

[Up Arrow Png Pic - Arrow Going Up Clipart]

Unemployment slowly going up, currently at 10.9%

Despite all attempts by Congress, Treasury Secretary Patty Murray and President Kerry, Unemployment has reached 10.9%. Despite this outcome, economic experts have agreed that this will be the highest it will ever get and that in the next few months, it will slowly go down. How far down the unemployment rate will go, however, is currently unknown.


Rules are per normal with most election games. Turn ends on Thursday, July 4th, unless a two-three day extension is requested. Have fun everyone. Debates will be up in a few (There will be one debate for both parties every odd turn until the final debates of both parties)

[Huey Long is a Republican]

First Democratic Debate



[The 2008 Democratic candidates at a debate. (LISA HORNAK / REUTERS)]

Location : San Francisco, California on the 16th of August, 2011

General Questions

1. Despite holding the White House for the last 8 years, the Democrats have lost more races across the country than in any other time in the party’s history, including the 1920s, thus the American voters are clearly sending a message of dissatisfaction with the Democratic Party as of late. How would you go about changing that dissatisfaction and win a third Presidential Election in a row?

2. Currently, the Republican Party has 85 Seats in the Senate, 35 Governors, and 355 House Seats, clear overwhelming majorities against the Democrats. As a Democratic President, how would you go about compromising with the Republican Party to get stuff done?

3. It’s easy to list the failures of President Kerry, but it is easy to list his successes for many Democrats. I want to see both. What do you think, personally, are the President’s biggest failures and biggest successes?

4. From the current Republican Field, who do you think is the strongest candidate and who do you think would be even stronger if they joined the race? Why do you think so and how would you go about defeating them?

Candidate Specific Questions

To Vice President Edwards : Mr. Vice President, you have been Kerry’s loyal second in command for the last 8 years. However, the Kerry Administration,as in even within his cabinet, including yourself, are unpopular with many Americans. Why do you think so and would you choose to distance yourself from President Kerry or go all in and support him?

To Senator Wyden : Senator, it is usually very rare and very difficult for the Vice President of a current administration to face a Primary challenge and usually, those primary challenges don’t succeed, such as the Primary challenge of Cecil Underwood to Vice President Nixon in 1960, the Primary Challenge of Bob Dole to Vice President H. W. Bush in 1988, and the Primary challenge of Bill Bradley to Vice President Al Gore in 2000, yet here you are, facing Vice President John Edwards for the Democratic Nomination. Why are you doing so and how would you gain the Nomination despite trailing the Vice President heavily in the polls?

Closing Statements

[Huey Long is a Republican]

First Republican Debate



[A Republican presidential debate in Myrtle Beach, S.C., in January 2012.Credit Emmanuel Dunand/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images]

Location : Kansas City, Missouri on August 25th, 2011

General Questions

1. Despite winning landslides in the last three downballot elections in 2006, 2008, and 2010, the Republican Party failed to win the Presidency in 2008. Why do you think John McCain failed to grasp the highest office in the land and, as the nominee, how would you go about campaigning to win this election?

2. With all his failures for the last few years, it’s easy to forget that Kerry was somewhat successful with Domestic and Foreign Policy 2005 and 2007-2008. What do you personally think was his biggest achievement and why?

3. What are your thoughts on the current Democratic Field and who do you think would be their strongest opponent if they entered and why?

4. It is clear the Republican Party is overextended in terms of Senate Seats, with 85 Seats and 30 of the 33 Seats up for election in November. Which seats do you think are lost,why do you think so, and which seats will you campaign for?

Candidate Specific Questions

To Senator Huckabee : Senator, Four Years ago, you defeated a popular incumbent, David Pryor. You are still in your first term as Senator yet you are running for the Presidency. Why do you think you’re experienced enough to be President?

To Senator Kean : Senator, you were one of the 13 Freshmen Senators to win a seat in 2006, in New Jersey of all places. However, many polls show this seat as Lean Democratic this year. How can the Republican Party be sure that you aren’t just running for office to deal with a difficult re-election campaign?

To Senator Smith : Senator, you’ve served your home state diligently for the last 16 years as Senator. However, over your tenure, you’ve had some more controversial votes, such as your vote on the Partial Birth Abortion Ban in 2003 and the STEM Cell Research Act of 2006. If you can, explain these votes and why you voted in favor of them, considering the lean of your state.

To Senator Portman : Senator, you are perhaps the most experienced candidate in the field currently, having served in Congress since 1993. Yet many of your opponents will likely label you as the candidate of the establishment, something Republicans seem to dislike. How do you respond to the allegations of being the establishment candidate?

Closing Statements

[Huey Long is a Republican]

President Kerry Approval Rating

Disapprove : 56%
Approve : 39%
Unsure/No Opinion : 5%

(Feel free to post announcement speeches here with any date marked)