The White House

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

Welcome to the White House for President Moderate's first term, lasting from noon on July 4, 2008 to November 7, 2008.

Official announcements will be made here.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

Official Presidential Executive Orders

Executive Order Restoring Capital Punishment Within the Atlasian Military
1. The Executive Order Abolishing Capital Punishment Within the Atlasian Military, signed by President Ebowed on June 30, 2008, is hereby recinded.




Executive Order Restoring the Peoples' Right to Eat Crap That's Bad for Them
1. The Executive Order to Regulate Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (Trans Fat), signed by President Ebowed on July 1, 2008, is hereby repealed.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

Official White House Agenda
As of July 13, 2008:

Appointment to Secretary of Forum Affairs: Gov. Inks.LWC Sen. EarlAW
Appointment to Secretary of External Affairs: SoEA MasterJedi
Appointment to Attorney General: Former Sen. BrandonH
Appointment to the Supreme Court:  Sen. Sam Spade

President Pro Tempore: No endorsement.

Amendment to End the Budget Requirement
Purpose: Removes language from the constitution which requires the presence of a GM to draft a budget, shuts down Senate business in its entirity without a budget, and otherwise makes the budgetary process an impossibility.

Second Amendment to the Consolidated Electoral System Reform Act
Purpose: Replaces instances of Midnight with 0001; removes references to "standard time"; defines midnight as it applies to election as the earliest moment in the day.

Amendment [to be determined] to the Atlasian Constitution
Purpose: Replaces instances of Midnight with 0001; removes references to "standard time".  Effectively replaces the 11th Amendment.

Amendment  [to be determined] to the Atlasian Constitution
Purpose: Gives the SoFA the power, in times of emergency or regional inactivity (at the President's discretion), to open and close regional voting booths.

Carbon Import Tax
Purpose: Extends the Atlasian Carbon Tax to goods manufactured abroad for sale domestically. Also subjects carbon created during import to tax.

Mass Transit Infrastructure Investment Act
Purpose: Allocate $15 billion (25% of the FY2009 Carbon Tax receipts) to new mass transit projects and upgrades throughout the regions.

Constitutional Amendment Extending Proportional Representation to Class A seats
Purpose: Change the method of electing "regional" Senators.

Green Energy Infrastructure Investment Act of 2008
Purpose: Allocate $15 billion (25% of the FY2009 Carbon Tax receipts) to the construction of new hydroelectric, geothermal, wind, and solar power plants throughout the regions. It is estimated that the plants will generate over 301 million MWh of electricity, or slightly more than 1% of current Atlasian demand.


Other Legislation Under Consideration
Fully Supported by the President
- Return to September 10th Bill (as rewritten 7 July 2008)

White House Neutral
- Miners' Widows Bill

Opposed by the President
- Gas Price Stabilization Bill
- Ratification of the Kyoto Treaty  (VETOED, 7 July 2008)

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

Official White House Scorecard

PR-STV Senators (For Election August 2008)

Senator	With	Against	Abstain	No Vote	Score
Colin Wixted (NLC-PA)	1	0	0	0	100%
Rocky Republican (NLC-ME)	1	0	0	0	100%
Afleitch (NLC-WI)	1	0	0	0	100%
Culture King (JCP-WA)	1	0	0	0	100%
EarlAW (AUB-NY)	0	1	0	0	0%

Regional Senators (For Election October 2008)

Senator	With	Against	Abstain	No Vote	Score
Verily (NLC-NH)	1	0	0	0	100%
MeekerMariner (AUB-VA)	1	0	0	0	100%
DownWithTheLeft (AUB-AL)	1	0	0	0	100%
Lewis Trondheim (Misc-ND)	1	0	0	0	100%
Torie (i-CA)	1	0	0	0	100%

Votes Counted
Appointment to the Supreme Court: Sen. Sam Spade.
Aye: 9 (Wixted, Flynn, Afleitch, CultureKing, Verily, MeekerMariner, DWTL, Trondheim, Torie)
Nay: 1 (EarlAW)

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

Will you also take into the activity levels of a given senator when giving a score? This seems important (at least to me), especially given recent activity levels in the senate.

Absolutely, 100%.  That's actually one of the main reasons why I came up with it.

Once votes actually start happening, I'll be keeping track of (1) votes in favor of my agenda, (2) votes against my agenda, and (3) votes missed.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

Will you also take into the activity levels of a given senator when giving a score? This seems important (at least to me), especially given recent activity levels in the senate.

Absolutely, 100%.  That's actually one of the main reasons why I came up with it.

Once votes actually start happening, I'll be keeping track of (1) votes in favor of my agenda, (2) votes against my agenda, and (3) votes missed.

Will a vote missed be counted as a vote against your agenda?

It should be clear in the tally which vote was against the agenda and which vote was missed, but in the final "score," the two will be counted the same.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

The White House recognizes both Sen. Conor (RockyRepublican) and Sen. Wixted to be fine individuals, capable legislators, and feels that either would make a fine choice as PPT of the Senate.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

The White House will be opposing the recently introduced Gasoline Consumer Protection Act as a matter for the states to decide.

The White House will also oppose efforts to legalize heroin, an incredibly dangerous, life-ruining drug that has significant connections to organized crime.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

White House Names Attorney General; Secretary of External Affairs
For Immediate Release

Attorney General
After conducting an exhaustive search for an Attorney General (which was thrown into turbulence by a Supreme Court vacancy), the White House has settled on a candidate who has served Atlasia in distinction in the past, proved himself to be capable in the courtroom, and otherwise maintained an enviable record during his previous term as Attorney General.

It is with great pleasure that I nominate former AG and Senator BrandonH to the position of Attorney General, and send his name to the full Senate for consideration.


Secretary of External Affairs
On the campaign stump, the President affirmed a commitment to returning matters of foreign affairs to Atlasia.  With this, the President has set out two key goals for the next Secretary of External Affairs.

Firstly, Atlasia must reconcile its place in the world before it can start to decide how best to participate in its politics.  As such, the SoEA will be charged with leading a nationwide debate on the place of Atlasia in the world, culminating in a nationwide referendum to finally settle the issue.  The previous attempt to do this failed, primarily because it was approached as a heavy-handed edict from an out-of-touch Senate that forced the people into an up-or-down vote on a relatively undesirable solution.  This new nationwide debate will avoid the mistakes of the past, and seek to create a consensus.

Secondly, Atlasia must make an effort to make its voice known on world affairs.  In the past, SoEAs have only been as good as the Presidents who nominated them.  The current SoEA made a good start with his China Panel, but eventually got dragged down by an administration that placed no emphasis on foreign policy and a Senate that showed little willingness to act on said policy.  The Moderate administration will be different in this respect: The goal of the SoEA is to draft actionable policy items for consideration by the Senate.  By the conclusion of this administration in November, it is the goal that we will have a coherent policy not just toward China, but toward Zimbabwe, and indeed, the Middle East as well.

The administration took pains to choose a nominee who has outlined a clear plan for accomplishing these goals.

A number of eminently qualified individuals offered their service to the administration, and it is with regret that only one can be chosen to serve as SoEA.  After questioning the applicants, one stood out as the most compatible with the foreign policy goals of the administration, the most knowledgeable and realistic about the state of current affairs, and the most willing and eager to serve in the position for the next four months.

With this in mind, the President renominates sitting SoEA MasterJedi to the position of Secretary of Forum Affairs.

###

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

I could not be harder with the choices Moderate made of Jedi and BrandonH, two great Atlasians.

Too much information, thanks.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

Excellen choices Mr. President

Oh, and I also nominate AndrewCT as Secretary of Awesome.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

One more formal announcement: As the Constitution requires one to be given "from time to time," I will be giving a State of the Forum Address next Friday, July 18th, assuming the cabinet is all selected, confirmed, and sworn in by that time.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

The White House thanks the Deputy SoFA for his service, and accepts his wishes to be withdrawn for consideration.

A new candidate for SoFA will be nominated "forthwith."

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

White House Nominates EarlAW as Secretary of Forum Affairs

President Moderate, at one time, nominated EarlAW to Secretary of Forum Affairs.  He later accidentally overwrote the press release that was initially in this space.  Whoops.

But hey, no, seriously, EarlAW has turned out great.  And so has President Moderate.  Even though he has a penchant for accidentally overwriting stuff like this.

###

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

When would Earl take office and by extension how will his senate seat be replaced?

He'd take office immediately after confirmation.  Unless the court rules differently, Inks.LWC will continue to run elections until this time.

And yes, we now fill PR-STV vacancies by Special Election.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

Just to keep people up to date about an earlier pledge of mine, I have begun "scoring" votes on the Senate floor.  Here is how the "scoring" will work.

There will be two separate scores issued to each Senator.  The first is an "activity" score, which will simply be a measure of each Senator's voting attendance.  (Official "abstain" votes will be scored the same as yea/nay votes.)  All votes on all issues in all stages will be taken into account for this score.

The second measure will be ideological, and based on how often each Senator votes with the White House on votes either deemed important to the President's agenda, or votes on which the President has a strong opinion.  An effort will be made to announce which votes will be scored before they take place.

An "abstain" vote here will be generally counted as a "half-vote" for the President's agenda, though exceptions will be made on a case-by-case basis.  (For example, EarlAW will not be penalized for his "abstain" vote on his own nomination.)


UPCOMING VOTES TO BE SCORED: Partisan Requirement Amendment, "Super-SoFA" Amendment, Gasoline Price Stabilization Bill, Amendment to End the Budget Requirement, Confirmation of Brandon H, Confirmation of MasterJedi, Confirmation of EarlAW.

UPCOMING VOTES TO NOT BE SCORED: OSPR Amendment, Return to Sept 10 Redraft, Repeal of the Deregistration Act

COMPLETED, SCORED: Confirmation of Sam Spade

COMPLETED, NOT SCORED: Miners' Widows Bill (signed); Vote on President Pro Tempore, Confirmation of Inks.LWC (withdrawn)


The White House will be taking a highly active role in the August 2008 midterm elections to elect incumbents and challengers who back the President's agenda.  (Candidates for the August '08 election and any intermediate special election can expect to receive questionaires.)

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

And not to omit the obvious, but a thanks to Meeker and Conor for their kind words about my Presidency thusfar. 

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

Official Presidential Executive Order

Executive Order Eliminating the Use of Torture Within the Atlasian Military

1. The Atlasian Military is hereby ordered to classify the practice of "waterboarding" as "torture."

2. Atlasian Military is hereby restricted from utilizing torture techniques for the purposes of interrogation.

3. The Atlasian Military is further restricted from "torture by proxy," the act of handing detainees over to foreign authorities for the purposes of evading Atlasian code prohibiting torturous acts.

4. This Executive Order shall not be interpreted to abolish capital punishment within the Atlasian Military.



William F Moderate
The White House
July 16, 2008

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

I am somewhat unclear on one thing. What is the Administration's policy on a GM?

Supportive of bringing back a GM, but it's not a top priority.  More of a second-half-of-term thing.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

The White House sent all 6 candidates for Atlasian Senate a questionaire on the issues currently facing the country.  Results, in the form of a voters' guide, will be published shortly.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

JULY 2008 SPECIAL SENATE ELECTION QUESTIONAIRE RESULTS

Legislation	SPC	AndrewCT	Al	Xahar	HappyW.
1. Amend: SoFA	N	Y	Y	Y	Y
2. Amend: Midnight	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
3. Amend: Extend PR-STV	N	N	Y	N	N
4. Amend: Partisan Req.	N	N	N	Y	N
5. Amend: End Budget	N	?	Y	Y	Y
6. Carbon Import Tax	N	Y	Y	Y	Y
7. Mass Transit 25%	N	Y	N	Y	Y
8. Green Energy 25%	N	Y	Y	Y	Y
9. Gas Price Stabilization	N	Y	?	N	N
10. Remove Ethanol Req.	Y	?	Y	Y	Y
11. Gas Consumer Prot.	N	Y	Y	Y	Y
12. Repeal Deregistration Act	N	N	Y	Y	N
13. Legalize Heroin	Y	N	N	Y	N
14. Abolish Death Penalty (Milit.)	Y	N	Y	Y	N
15. Amend: No Gov. for Life	N	N	N	Y	Y

Key:
1. Allow SoFA to open/close/certify regional ballots in emergencies.
2. Replace "Midnight" with 0001 (12:01 A.M.) for election purposes.
3. Replace "regional" senators with nationwide PR-STV senators.
4. Require registration in political parties.
5. Repeal Article 1, Section 8 of Constitution.
6. Apply Carbon Tax to goods manufactured overseas for sale in Atlasia.
7. Dedicate 25% of FY2009 Carbon Tax receipts to new "green energy" power plants.
8. Dedicate 25% of FY2009 Carbon Tax receipts to new mass transit projects.
9. Create gasoline price floor at $4.00/gal via a new federal tax.
10. Remove federal ethanol gasoline requirements.
11. Require pricing of gasoline in whole cents.
12. Disallow voter deregistration.
13. Legalize the sale of heroin.
14. Abolish the death penalty in the Atlasian military.
15. Amend constitution to require the direct election of Governors by majority vote.

*Ben Constine did not reply to the White House questionaire.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

What about the rankings?

Weighted rankings are as follows (SoFA, Extend PR-STV, End Budget, Carbon Import, 25% Green, 25% Mass Trans., Ethanol, Gov. for Life weighted double):

83%  HappyWarrior
74%  Xahar
72%  Al
61%  AndrewCT
22%  SPC

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

The White House strongly condemns the attacks of 23 July 2008 on Atlasian soil by Turkish cyberterrorists.  We will be working closely with the government of Turkey to bring the responsible parties to justice.

Our prayers go out to those who were inconvenienced by the attacks and their families.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

Will we get to flex the military might of Atlasia?

Please?

We are in receipt of reports that Greece has Weapons of Mass Inconvenience.  Should these reports show a conclusive link between the attacks of 7/23 and the Greek government, I will ask the Senate for approval to exercise military action.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

Official Presidential Executive Order

Executive Order on Coastal Oil Drilling

1. The restrictions on coastal oil drilling, as put into place by a grandfathered 1990 U.S. Executive Order, are hereby lifted.




William F Moderate
The White House
August 5, 2008