The National Weekly Atlasian

[SPC]

So which call did you retract?  Myself, Al, Lief, or BaconKing?

If you had looked at the Lief call, you would have seen that I had retracted my call for Al.

[SPC]

BREAKING NEWS: We at the National Weekly Atlasian apologize for the confusing electoral coverage, but with 99% of the vote in, we are projecting that Senator Al will win re-election, and are retracting our prior call of Senator DWTL winning re-election.

[SPC]

BREAKING NEWS: With 99.66% of the vote in, we at the National Weekly Atlasian are projecting that Senator DWTL will win re-election, and that Former Lt. Governor SPC will in a Senate seat.

[SPC]

RPP, SDP win three Senate seats, Rocky becomes Governor
by South Park Conservative

   This weekend's senate election proved unexpectedly suspenseful, as every candidate found himself close to losing at one point. Nevertheless, Senators BaconKing, Al, and DWTL were re-elected, Governor Lief was elected, and journalist SPC was elected on the seventh try. The election gives the Regional Protection Party and the Social Democratic Party three seats each in the new Senate, and gives right-of-center Atlasians the first Senate majority in a year and a half. Governor Lief's election means that Rocky Republican is now the Governor of the Northeast. Atlasians anticipate who Governor Afleitch and Governor Rocky will appoint for Lt. Governor. Additionally, Speaker Franzl's loss ensures that the Mideast will continue to have him as Speaker, and will ensure that the region doesn't become less stable than it already is.

[SPC]

Xahar fired as AG, will be prosecuted
by South Park Conservative

   Due to messages I received last night from Xahar and "Benconstine", Xahar was fired as Attorney General, and President Bgwah intends to have the next Attorney General prosecute the forum AG for hacking, "assuming Dave doesn't get to him first." After I received the messages, which can be viewed publicly in the White House thread, I immediately forwarded them to the President, RPP party leaders, and Sam Spade. The President advised me to allow Alcon to access my account so as to confirm the messages' legitimacy, which I agreed to. Alcon confirmed the messages and informed the President, and the President fired Xahar as Attorney General.
   This will have immediate repercussions on the trial of Former Governor Ben Constine, as Xahar was the prosecutor until this happened. There was a petititon to remove Xahar as prosecutor, but he did not intend on it. Thus, Ben will now have a different prosecutor as soon as a new AG is confirmed, though the recent events may make a conviction even less likely. This will also have bad effects on the Social Democratic Party, of which Xahar was a major leader, and its party membership previously denied he had ever hacked Ben's account. SDP leader GMantis recently disassociated the party from Xahar's actions, and called for him to quit the party. However, one does wonder who Xahar's accomplice(s) is/are.

EDIT: There are many people, including this author, who are suggesting that Speaker and former Senate candidate Franzl should fill the vacant Attorney General position. if President Bgwah likes the idea, Franzl should have an easy confirmation hearing.

[SPC]

Thus, Ben will now have a different prosecutor as soon as a new AG is confirmed, though the recent events may make a conviction even less likely.

Actually, this makes his conviction all the more certain, as Xahar's removal also removed the only possible excuse not to vote guilty.

Yeah, that's true too.

[SPC]

75% Support Constitutional Convention
by South Park Conservative

   A poll commisioned by the National Weekly Atlasian finds that 3 in 4 Atlasians support a Third Constitutional Convention. With this in mind, it seems a near certainty that one will occur in the near future.

[SPC]

Quote of the Month
by South Park Conservative

One day before the AG was caught red-handed hacking into Ben's account:

The Attorney General continues to retain my confidence.

[SPC]

TCash, Peter Express Disinterest in AG Position
by South Park Conservative

   Two widely discussed potential nominees for the vacant attorney general position expressed disinterest in the job. Peter, a two-time attorney general, stated that he does not want to reassume the job for a third time. This avoids a would-be situation whereby the same person is both the prosecutor and the defense attorney, in the Atlasia vs. Constine case. TCash, while not directly saying that he didn't want the job, suggested that Franzl would be the best nominee. With these people out of the running, Franzl seems to be the huge favorite to be the next attorney general, although there is an outside chance that Inks.LWC, BRTD, or someone else will be nominated. Either way, this will create a vacancy in the Mideast Assembly.

[SPC]

The National Weekly Atlasian is pleased to announced that former Mideast Governor and defendant of Atlasia vs. Constine will be joining the National Weekly Atlasian as co-editor.

[SPC]

Will he have any writing emphasis or just do breaking news?

Also, I advise him writing about his own prosecution except in editorials previously run by Peter.

He's a member of our staff, so he is free to do both. However, his opinions do not reflect those of the paper.

[SPC]

I kind of miss the thrill of campaigning. I haven't faced any real opposition at all since becoming Governor, and Xahar's sockpuppet doesn't count.

I think my failed July coup attempt was the last semi-serious opposition you faced, and that was decided in court.

[SPC]

Xahar Missing, Possibly Dead
by South Park Conservative

   Disgraced former Attorney General Xahar has been missing since yesterday afternoon. He had been exposed for hacking disgraced former Governor Ben Constine's account a couple days earlier. It is possible that the former plaintiff of Atlasia vs. Ben and would-be defendant of Atlasia vs. Xahar died yesterday afternoon, but it is still uncertain. If a mod or Dave Leip were to confirm this, it would be appreciated.

[SPC]

Attorney General News
by South Park Conservative

   In the National Weekly Atlasian's three-day poll commisioned regarding the vacant AG seat, the results showed that 95% approved of Franzl to be the next attorney general. The other candidates in the poll are inconsequential, as they have stated that they were not interested in the position. However, since Franzl has been gone for 3 days, President Bgwah has stated that he will look elsewhere for an attorney general nominee. Based on this news, I find it highly likely that Benconstine will be acquitted. 

[SPC]

OP-ED: Regions Are Active, Contrary to Popular Myth
by South Park Conservative

   One commonly repeated myth around Atlasia used to deny regional rights is that regions are inactive. However, using the midterm elections' results, this just doesn't add up. In the December Senate elections, using a system that head anti-regionalist Senator Jas set up a year ago, there were only 6 active candidates for a 5-person position, of which only 4 were on the ballot. This is hardly a sign of an active system. But, you may add, many regional elections are uncontested as well. However, if one is the look at turnout, the "inactivity" myth against regions doesn't hold up. While the national Senate elections had only 49% turnout, the Pacific's elections, which actually had two contested races, had 61% turnout. The Midwest had 47% turnout, despite the election being for a trivial position. Even the Southeast, whose elections are still going on, has 48% turnout so far, despite both the Governorship and Lt. Governoship being uncontested.  Additionally, the Southeast has several close elections on regional propositions, another sign of an active region. It is clear from these results that either the activity gap between regional elections and federal elections is nonexistant or insignificant.

[SPC]

OP-ED: Regions Are Active, Contrary to Popular Myth
by South Park Conservative

   One commonly repeated myth around Atlasia used to deny regional rights is that regions are inactive. However, using the midterm elections' results, this just doesn't add up. In the December Senate elections, using a system that head anti-regionalist Senator Jas set up a year ago, there were only 6 active candidates for a 5-person position, of which only 4 were on the ballot. This is hardly a sign of an active system.

 But, you may add, many regional elections are uncontested as well. However, if one is the look at turnout, the "inactivity" myth against regions doesn't hold up. While the national Senate elections had only 49% turnout, the Pacific's elections, which actually had two contested races, had 61% turnout. The Midwest had 47% turnout, despite the election being for a trivial position. Even the Southeast, whose elections are still going on, has 43% turnout so far, despite both the Governorship and Lt. Governoship being uncontested.  Additionally, the Southeast has several close elections on regional propositions, another sign of an active region. It is clear from these results that either the activity gap between regional elections and federal elections is nonexistant or insignificant.

The system I put forward helped maintain the election as a vigorously competitive one evidenced by the fact that your own publication wasn't prepared to call it until 17 minutes before the close of polling. Compare that with the regional elections which were they are almost entirely mere formalities. How many of those elections were in any doubt at all? How many regional candidates faced any genuine opposition?

In the Senate election candidates actively campaigned for the seats, either through their own threads, answering publicly submitted questions from voters, or through targetted PMs. Pray tell, how much similar activity did we see from the gloriously active and fruitful regional candidates?

Under ordinary circumstances, I would have called the race much earlier. However, given that I was a candidate in the election, I bent over backwards to avoid personal bias. You also forget to mention that two of the candidates' elections were called before the voting booth even opened and an additional candidate was called on the first day of voting. The Pacific region faced what started out as a close race, but became a landslide when JCPers came out to vote for CultureKing and Alcon. Additionally, the Midwest Lt. Gov. election was a close race between GMantis and TCash, with several other write-in candidates also receiving votes. In the Southeast, the outcome of three propositions is still in doubt, and won't be known until the booth closes. Mind you, any activity in the Senate elections, was due to the efforts of Franzl and I. Had we not declared our candidacies after the filing deadline, it would have been the most boring election in Atlasian history. I do not think it is a sign of active federal elections when all of the incumbents' re-elections were assured and the remaining closeness is between two last-minute candidates. Additionally, the fact that many people participated in the regional elections without being PMed shows that regional activity would be even higher if it warranted the same attention that national politics is.

[SPC]

I think the idea of 3 regions with each having a senator plus a council of governors of 7 at large seats is best.  The 7 at-large split into 4 and 3. With six month senate terms, the seats will be more in demand and harder to grab.

The point of this article was the show that, even without reform, regional politics is on average more active than national politics, even if it warrants less attention.

[SPC]

Under ordinary circumstances, I would have called the race much earlier. However, given that I was a candidate in the election, I bent over backwards to avoid personal bias. You also forget to mention that two of the candidates' elections were called before the voting booth even opened and an additional candidate was called on the first day of voting.

During the final 10 hours before close of polls, there were perfectly reasonable scenarios where anyone could have lost.

Yes, but in the end, the election's results went as expected.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

So you're defining these races as competitive?[/quote]

They were competitive, at least for the first few days of it.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Neither poster looked for the position. Nobody looked for the position.
If this is defined as competitive and interesting than your vision for the future of Atlasia then the game itself is in danger.[/quote]

You said that all of the regional elections were undoubtful, when in the Midwest Lt. Gov. election, anybody could have won. This Lt. Gov. election still got almost as much turnout as the national senate election did, so I would question your vision for the future of Atlasia when an unimportant regional election can get almost as much turnout as a national election.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Nicely skipping over the elections there...[/quote]

I admit that the other elections there were uncompetitive. Even Duke admits that he would have liked at least some competition.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

While the result placed the newcomers 5th and 6th, there was no safe seats.
And if you think the system prefers incumbents, see the result of the election of these seats 4 months ago when all incumbents were defeated.[/quote]

Turnout was down considerably from August, as well. I didn't say that this system is biased toward incumbents, I think it is biased toward disinterest.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Ridiculous. Completely ridiculous.
You have no basis on which to draw that conclusion.
How many people would have turned out without prompting for the national election?
How many people became aware of the regional elections because of the national elections?
[/quote]

Many people would have turned out without prompting for the national election, but I know from my own personal experience that turnout would have been considerably lower without prompting. When one adds in what it would have been without others prompting, turnout would have been even lower that it already was. Also, you neglect to mention that when a regional election had considerable attention paid to it, it got 12% higher turnout that the national election.

[SPC]

Franzl likely to be next AG
by South Park Conservative

   Senators Jas and PiT believe that, due to time constraints, recently defeated Senate candidate Franzl is likely to be the next Attorney General. Due to there being only three days left to present an Attorney General nominee, Jas believes that President Bgwah will settle for the simplest and most popular option by picking Franzl. Additionally, the time constraints would also force an easy Senate confirmation. At this point, I am inclined to agree, since Bgwah's main inactivity argument against Franzl is now not an issue.

EDIT: As predicted, Bgwah nominated Franzl for AG. I am almost certain that he will be confirmed. Hopefully, it won't take more than five days.

[SPC]

Under ordinary circumstances, I would have called the race much earlier. However, given that I was a candidate in the election, I bent over backwards to avoid personal bias. You also forget to mention that two of the candidates' elections were called before the voting booth even opened and an additional candidate was called on the first day of voting.

During the final 10 hours before close of polls, there were perfectly reasonable scenarios where anyone could have lost.

Yes, but in the end, the election's results went as expected.

Really? The RPP seemed to be talking up their ability to get 2 Senators elected as defying expectations.

I was referring to your saying that all of the incumbents appeared vulnerable at one point. The only true upset of the night was my victory over Franzl, and even that could have been averted if Franzl had declared early enough to vote for himself.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Neither poster looked for the position. Nobody looked for the position.
If this is defined as competitive and interesting than your vision for the future of Atlasia then the game itself is in danger.[/quote]

You said that all of the regional elections were undoubtful, when in the Midwest Lt. Gov. election, anybody could have won. This Lt. Gov. election still got almost as much turnout as the national senate election did, so I would question your vision for the future of Atlasia when an unimportant regional election can get almost as much turnout as a national election.
[/quote]

Of course it was competitive, there were no candidates. 0
Nobody knew who, if anyone, was interested in the position.
Nobody expressed any interest in the job.
Spinning this as a positive is preposterous.[/quote]

Isn't that how Midwest elections are traditionally run?

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Nicely skipping over the elections there...[/quote]

I admit that the other elections there were uncompetitive. Even Duke admits that he would have liked at least some competition.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

While the result placed the newcomers 5th and 6th, there was no safe seats.
And if you think the system prefers incumbents, see the result of the election of these seats 4 months ago when all incumbents were defeated.[/quote]

Turnout was down considerably from August, as well. I didn't say that this system is biased toward incumbents, I think it is biased toward disinterest.
[/quote]

Had we still be operating the system of single-member districts (which the now membership of the RPP wanted), then we would have had more races where there was only 1 candidate.
The new system means that for 3 straight elections, there have been no safe seats.
Find a regional position for which you can say the same.[/quote]

The official party position is supportive of the new system. Even I now admit that districts were a bad idea from the start. However, I still don't believe that national elections are the way to go. Additionally, it might be considered ironic that if I hadn't moved to the Mideast, the most pro-regional rights region would have 4 senators in the upcoming Senate. Surely having several candidates for office is indicative of activity, is it not?

[SPC]

head anti-regionalist Senator Jas

I, for one, have always found Senator Jas a good friend of the Midwest Region

Regardless of one's opinion of the Senator, one must consider one who considers regional politics to be "a joke" and wished to abolish regional senate seats an anti-regionalist.

[SPC]

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Did you count Dibble's vote for tiebreaking votes on propositions or something? I counted the votes and it was a tie in the Freedom of Currency and the Relocation. Does the Governor have a tie-breaking power? Just curiosity.

[SPC]

FTR, Ronnie is not in the Dirty South

Even so, how does Duke come to the 9 vote total. If Ronnie's and Dibble's votes are excluded, then we only have 8 votes.

[SPC]

I somehow doubt that the National Weekly Atlasian has a neoconservative bias.

Hardly. I have been staunchly opposed to any foreign intervention since I started the paper. As for a conservative bias, I have tried to be an objective reporter since I started the paper, and have been very welcome to any leftists willing to co-edit it, as my invitation to Xahar demonstrated. However, as of late, more rightists have contributed to the paper than leftists, and prior to recently, this paper was a one-man operation.

[SPC]

I somehow doubt that the National Weekly Atlasian has a neoconservative bias.

Hardly. I have been staunchly opposed to any foreign intervention since I started the paper. As for a conservative bias, I have tried to be an objective reporter since I started the paper, and have been very welcome to any leftists willing to co-edit it, as my invitation to Xahar demonstrated. However, as of late, more rightists have contributed to the paper than leftists, and prior to recently, this paper was a one-man operation.

I'm sure than some of us on the left side would like to help on that newspaper.

Be my guest. Feel free to contribute articles at your convenience.