Confirmation Hearing: Mr. Moderate (Secretary of Forum Affairs)

[Keystone Phil]

No, I agree that the Senate should not be a rubber stamp.  I have voted against more Presidential nominations than probably any other Senator has had the opportunity to.

But I can't see any justification for the reasons that people are disappointed with this particular nominee- it has all to do with the fact that he is not someone else, and his merits are being glossed over because of it.

As I said, I will not vote against Mr. Moderate. However, I wish to express my displeasure with the President. I will not roll over for the President because he says so.

I never asked anyone to "roll over." I'm asking people to stop acting childish because they didn't get who they wanted. That's not how this works. You don't roll over me and I sure as hell won't roll over for you.

[Keystone Phil]

No, I agree that the Senate should not be a rubber stamp.  I have voted against more Presidential nominations than probably any other Senator has had the opportunity to.

But I can't see any justification for the reasons that people are disappointed with this particular nominee- it has all to do with the fact that he is not someone else, and his merits are being glossed over because of it.

As I said, I will not vote against Mr. Moderate. However, I wish to express my displeasure with the President. I will not roll over for the President because he says so.

I never asked anyone to "roll over." I'm asking people to stop acting childish because they didn't get who they wanted. That's not how this works. You don't roll over me and I sure as hell won't roll over for you.

You are talking down to the Senate. I believe we are as capable, perhaps more capable as a chamber of many voices, to make this decision. If the Senate, or any individual Senator, or any Atlasian at all, believes the President is making an incorrect decision, it is our right and our duty to point out that error and call for its correction. In the case of Senators, we have greater authority than the citizenry in calling out such errors and thus have the greatest duty to express our own opinions, in speeches and in votes.

If you, as President, feel that our votes, or my own vote individually, force you to roll over, then you fundamentally misunderstand the balance of power.


I have no question for Mr. Moderate, and I would like him to know that this bears nothing against him.

I'm not talking down to anyone. I'm stating my reasonable objection to some member's opinions of what I'm trying to do. I have the duty not just as President but as an Atlasian to correct your ill conceived notions. There is no error in my nomination at all. The Senate doesn't force me to nominate the person they want. Maybe you ought to understand the balance of power.

[Keystone Phil]

In case you haven't noticed, I am not forcing you to do anything. You words, not mine.

Then what are you simply expressing disapproval of? You're disappointed because I nominated an extremely qualified citizen to the position of SoFA instead of your personal choice?

When others were President, I support different people for Cabinet positions and may have voiced that opinion but when the President made his decision, it is time to put that aside and debate the qualifications of the nominee. Instead, we had an angry uproar. Instead I was being told I was dividing Atlasia, I was being told I was a hypocrite, etc. because I didn't go with the popular pick. Shameful.

[Keystone Phil]

In case you haven't noticed, I am not forcing you to do anything. You words, not mine.

Then what are you simply expressing disapproval of? You're disappointed because I nominated an extremely qualified citizen to the position of SoFA instead of your personal choice?

When others were President, I support different people for Cabinet positions and may have voiced that opinion but when the President made his decision, it is time to put that aside and debate the qualifications of the nominee. Instead, we had an angry uproar. Instead I was being told I was dividing Atlasia, I was being told I was a hypocrite, etc. because I didn't go with the popular pick. Shameful.

I am disappointed because you made the wrong choice for Atlasia, not in nominating Moderate, but in turning this into a big fight. The President is not above scrutiny in his decisions, and we are free to criticize them. You have stated that "when the President made his decision, it is time to put that aside and debate the qualifications of the nominee." I have no concerns about the nominee, but the decision was still the wrong one. It would be wrong to abandon my criticism simply because you are the President. And that is the only message I am getting from you.

I am done with this debate.

I turned this into a fight? You are free to criticize (even if the nominee is extremely qualified) but I'm responsible for the fighting?

You personally wanted to see Lewis as SoFA. That's great. I have no problem with people feeling that way. However, don't go crazy when I want someone else because I want that other individual to have a chance to prove himself. You are the ones making the wrong decision.