Atlas Forum Primaries 2016, Part 2

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

I'll have my bio/info up in a bit. Running as a Republican.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Name: Harry Auldman

Age: 66

Location: Tallahassee, Florida

Experience: Degree in history from Florida State University (1973), Leon County School District (1974-1979), Field Director for Paula Hawkins 1980 Senate campaign, Chief of Staff to Senator Paula Hawkins (1981-1984), Congressman from Florida's 2nd Congressional District (1985-1995), failed GOP candidate for Governor in 1994 Republican primary. Senator from Florida (2001-present).

Ideology: E: +5.29, S: +4.7 (AKA, garden variety Southern movement conservative)

Bio: Born in the town of "Jackass Junction" before it ceased being both Jackass Junction and a town (it is now a dusty tourist trap with a pitter-patter of gas stations, an abandoned Disney ticket sales office, and a few run-down motels) to Jackson (1907-1976) and Pearl Auldman (1914-2001), Harry Auldman was the seventh and final child. Growing up working in the fields of his families farm, the average day for the Auldman children would begin before dawn when another local farmer would pick them up to drive them to school in nearby Vero Beach on his daily morning run, returning to collect them after his afternoon pickup shortly before sundown. Auldman's Pentecostal family and poor background would ultimately shape his standard Reaganist political beliefs and his extremely socially conservative views that would define his career in later life.

Working through High School at an airplane manufacturing plant in Vero Beach, Auldman barely scraped enough money together to attend college at Florida State, where he worked the occasional odd job, smoked a lot of grass (despite his repeated denials on the campaign trail), and cavorted with the other flower-power types. Receiving student deferment and deferment, Auldman managed to escape being sent to Vietnam and graduated in 1973 with a degree in History. He worked as a High School history teacher at Leon High for six years, and married Katrina "Kat" Custer (b. 1953) in 1976, a marriage that would produce three daughters, Caroline (b. 1977), Louise "Lulu" (b. 1979), and Elizabeth "Lizbet" (b. 1992).

His first involvement in politics came when he was offered a job through a friend who had worked under Paula Hawkins when she was on the Public Service Commission; despite a lack of political experience, Auldman proved himself to be an effective organizer and went on to serve as her Chief of Staff during her term in the Senate until 1984, when he was drafted by Republican leaders to run as a sacrificial lamb against Congressman Don Fuqua. In a stunning upset, the Auldman managed to eek out the narrowest of wins, and continued to win reelection until 1994, when he made a failed bid for Governor. Despite popularity among conservatives, Jeb Bush bested Auldman, ending his political career for a period of six years.

Auldman returned to win a narrow Senate race against Bill Nelson in 2000, and was returned to office in 2006 and 2012 by increased margins. While opponents attempted to portray him as he was-as too conservative for a swing state-Auldman's seniority in the Senate, his relative strength with the establishment, and a succession of weak challengers ensured his political survival. Auldman now seeks the Presidency as a candidate of the Christian right, having already promised to not seek a fourth term in 2018.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Is it too late for my announcement or should I wait a turn?

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

I'm posting my announcement and early schedule, but I'm confused: how many tokens do I have? I don't have any big endorsements (yet) and I'm not listed on the last page since I'm sorta late to the party.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Tallahassee, Florida:

"My friends, my fellow Floridians, and my fellow Republicans: I've never been one to beat around the bush or dodge the question. I won't waste your time and I'll get straight to the point: I am a candidate for President of the United States.

For the last eight years, we have watched the world around us fall into chaos. For the last eight years, we've watched our country crumble in every conceivable way, economically, physically, and morally. For the last eight years, we've watched helplessly and powerlessly as a hapless President with a pen, a phone, and a lack of regard for our Constitution has left us divided on racial and economic lines, and weak in the eyes of rising foes both at home and abroad.

The America decline began in January, 2009. Today, that decline begins to end. Today, we begin a journey that will be long, that will be challenging, that will at times be frustrating. But we will win. We will win because our campaign will expound upon the values that we share as Americans: faith, family, freedom, and flag.

We can and we will overturn the anti-Christian decisions of the Supreme Court, who have time and time again legislated from the bench against the will of the people as they strip away the sacred right to life and redefined marriage. We will work to find a sensible solution to immigration, in which the benefits of citizenship will be reaped by the deserving and the wrath of justice will be reaped by the criminal class. We will secure our borders first, but then, we will open them up in a orderly fashion to continue taking in those who share our values, who seek a better life for themselves and their descendants, and who will help fuel the future growth of our nation. We can have immigration reform without open borders. And we can have immigration reform without embracing the nativist swan-song of those who seek to take us backwards, not forwards.

We can and will reform our tax code to promote commerce and entrepreneurship, so the great engine of American capitalism can continue to propel us forward into a rapidly changing future. We can and we will repeal and replace Obamacare to present to the American people an affordable, free market based plan that can satisfy every need and overcome every obstacle that the so-called Affordable Care Act cannot begin to address.

In the words of Ronald Reagan, government isn't the solution. Government is the problem.

So today, as we begin our campaign, I ask you to join me. I intend to be the Republican candidate for the Republican nomination. But I cannot restore our party, and then, our country to it's rightful place as the world's brightest beacon of freedom without your help. I'm asking for your blood, sweat, toil, tears, time, and prayers. And I know that together, we can accomplish everything we set our minds to and more.

Thank you, God bless you, and may God bless the United States of America!"

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Reserved for schedule. Will be up tonight.