Confirmation Hearing: Keystone Phil (Vice President)

[Keystone Phil]

My first question for the nominee is, do you intend on being a polarizing figure in your capacity as Vice President?

Honorable Senator, I intend on being myself. Some see me as polarizing but that's just the way it goes. Some see you as polarizing, too, Senator and I doubt that that will change yet you believe that you deserve your seat, correct?

I'll do my best to work with everyone. Unfortunately, some of set opinions of me that aren't the best and they'll refuse to cooperate with me. I'll try my best not to do that to anyone else.

[Keystone Phil]

How would you vote on the tied Immigration Bill?

I'd cast the tie breaking vote in favor of the bill.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

I expect to be pretty involved, commenting on legislation when I find it appropriate and, of course, being available to fulfill my duties of casting tie breaking votes on bills.

I'll be honest and say that I have no idea how I'll apply the OSPR because I don't know what it is.

[Keystone Phil]

You served as Vice President for four months from November 2004 to February 2005.  Do you believe that when serving in this capacity, you demonstrated an active form of leadership which culminated in a competent and cautious understanding of Senate rules?

Yes.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

I wish to make my opinions known on the matters before the Senate.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

The Immigration Bill would be the best example that I can think of.

I urge the senate to not play games and confirm this well qualified nominee quickly.

I thank the Chief Justice for her kind words.

Keystone Phil,

As president of the senate would exercise that power and take over the duties of running of the senate from Porce?

While I have obvious objections to how the PPT has run the Senate, I will not take over the duties unless he was removed.

[Keystone Phil]

You must be logged in to read this quote.

The Immigration Bill would be the best example that I can think of.

I'm sorry, I don't see how the powers jointly authorized to the President Pro Tempore and President of the Senate in Article 7 of the OSPR applies to the Immigration Bill at this point in time.

I'm sorry, I clearly misnderstood the question. I cannot think of a specific piece of legislation before the Senate at this time where we would have to act together to override.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

No, I do not support such amendments. Automatic removal of a Senator is wrong in any situation.

Well just a question then concerning what Gabu stated.

Keystone Phil, do you have knowledge of the Official Senate Procedural Resolution, the afforementioned OSPR and what it entails for your office and your actions within the bounds of the rules of the Senate?

I believe that I know enough for me to be a competent, active Vice President. I am brushing up on any parts that would involve me directly.

[Keystone Phil]

Atlasia seems to be returning slowly to some of its former glory, what, if any, plans do you have to improve the number of citizens and keep healthy levels?

I don't want to overlook the importance of personal appeal. I think prominent officials should appeal directly to specific members of the forum. Personal appeal might be what brings old Atlasian back. That same outreach can let new forum members know that we exist. The forum is flooded with relatively new members that weren't here during our glory days. Letting these people know that we are here should bring in a healthy amount of new Atlasians.

We may be slowly returning to that "former glory" but I am confident that it will speed up. Some very prominent members from the past are back and dedicated to bringing this country back. I see a very bright future for us. This is the time to be involved.

[Keystone Phil]

Would you assume a role in the Atlasian Council, and if so, would this clash with your duties as President of the Senate?

I would assume a role in this Advisory Council if asked to do so by the President. Seeing as this body was created by Executive Order, I would assume that the President would want me to be an active member.

I don't see how this would clash with my duties as President of the Senate.

[Keystone Phil]

I will add that I would serve...if such Council even exists. After reading through debate on the proposal, there seemed to be much conflict over whether or not such a body could exist since it seemingly conflicted with the "No two offices" rule.

[Keystone Phil]

If you were a member of the Senate, would you seek the position of President Pro Tempore?  If not, who of the current Senate do you think would best perform in the role?

I would not seek the position of PPT. I think PBrunsel would make an excellent PPT as would Jas.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

A perfect example of why someone should be removed - holding up a vote on a Presidential nomination when it is clearly against Senate procedure.

When MasterJedi became PPT, he hadn't even read the OSPR.  He went on to serve admirably in that position for nine months.

Good point.

Listen, we should all know why the PPT is acting this way. There is no use arguing about whether or not I should be well versed in the OSPR because, in the opinion of the PPT, I should be required to know it word for word, repeat it backwards, etc. He wants to give me a hard time and frankly, I don't care one bit.

[Keystone Phil]

A perfect example of why someone should be removed - holding up a vote on a Presidential nomination when it is clearly against Senate procedure.

Under what circumstances would such a removal be appropriate (i.e., a few scenarios would be, holding up the vote because the PPT did not know the rules, holding up the vote because the PPT wanted to demonstrate something, holding up the vote because the PPT was bored, etc.)?

I think that purposely holding up the vote for personal reasons is an appropriate reason to remove the PPT.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Opening a vote quickly isn't necessarily a problem if members don't object. Members objected to your dragging out the confirmation hearings when enough time had passed and voting was in order.

[Keystone Phil]

Opening a vote quickly isn't necessarily a problem if members don't object.

Even when in clear and direct violation of the rules?

Sometimes the Senate may find itself in a serious situation in which a confirmation must be approved as soon as possible or legislation must be enacted quicker than usual. If just one member objects then I'd refuse to open a vote early but some desperate times call for quick action. Your situation doesn't compare.

[Keystone Phil]

If I may ask, does the PPT have any idea when voting will begin on my confirmation?

[Keystone Phil]

Sometimes the Senate may find itself in a serious situation

Well, that fall-back excuse can be used to justify anything.

If you insist on being stubborn and calling your personal distaste for a previous nominee "serious" then I guess so.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

You do bring personal politics into this, Senator, so don't try to fool anyone. I'm not wishing to become Vice President just so I can see you removed as PPT. Whether I become Vice President or someone else does, the effort will be made. As Vice President, I'd have no more power of the situation than I do now.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Thank you.

[Keystone Phil]

I'm not wishing to become Vice President just so I can see you removed as PPT.

What else would you like to do as Vice President, then?  You previously only answered that you would like to make your opinions on matters known before the Senate.  Can't you do that now?

Well, I'd obviously break ties and assume the Presidency if need be, Senator. You know there is not much else that a Vice President can do.

[Keystone Phil]

Well, if your main selling point is that you will break ties, perhaps you could explain some more about your ideology.  Are there any issues on which you consider yourself socially leftist or economically liberal?  If you and the President strongly disagreed on an issue, how would you vote on such a tie?

There aren't any issues that I can think of which I am socially or economically leftist. If the President and I disagreed on an issue, I'd discuss the situation with him especially if the vote would put me in a serious moral dilemma. In the end, though, I am serving at the pleasure of this President and would vote accordingly.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Well, I would certainly hold back on trying anything too radical seeing that I'd be in office for less than a month and feel that the people of Atlasia should decide where to take the country in the upcoming elections. If a pressing matter came up, however, I'd do whatever I felt was necessary to solve the problem but I can't really compare it to what this President has done. I can't say whether it would be different from what he'd do or not since he hasn't done all that much.

As for engaging our friends on the global stage, again, I wouldn't press for any major foreign policy stance in my time left in office.

[Keystone Phil]

Aye, for the record

Forza Atlasia!

Great, just when you thought it couldn't get any sleazier here comes Burlusconi.

Whoa, whoa...Berlusconi, Jr.