The South will rise again.

[Wisconsin+17]

Heartily endorsing Yankee/DFW for the presidency. Can't think of a more qualified ticket.

[Wisconsin+17]

I suppose you all are wondering why I've brought you here today, to this graveyard here in Vicksburg. I also suppose many of you will want to make the joke about being in a literal political graveyard.

But I've called you here for a very specific reason.

There was an incident, about a year ago now that concerned me greatly. There was an attempt to tear down the statue of St. Joan in Louisiana. Apparently the mob believed that she was a Confederate general, and that, as black people, that gave them the justification of tearing this statue down. Presumably they made that connection because the image was of white marble.

This concerned me for two reasons. One, that they had so little understanding of their own history. Two, that they believed they were justified in tearing this statue down.

Have we really declined so much as a society that not only can we not understand why we are here, but we must destroy anything that we don't understand? This isn't an isolated incident either. It has been prompted with the removal of other statues, and even disinterring graveyards like the one we stand before here.

Some would say that it is good that they are tearing down the racist monuments to the past and that the sooner the better. What they don't understand is that the mob does not make those fine distinctions. They aren't going to stop there. They are going to tear down Lincoln just as quickly as St. Joan because in their eyes all that matters is that the statue is of someone *white*. They don't care if they are dressed in the blues or greys.

It also represents a greater movement than just statues. They represent a broad movement to remove all the history, not just the parts that someone doesn't much like. The problem is that there's always the difficult bits of history that someone would vastly prefer did not exist. The core is that we must preserve what we have, regardless of how it makes us feel.

These men here fought and died for their country, for their families, for their land. They chose to accept these burdens and to do their duty. As Lee himself stated, we cannot do more.

Why return? I could think of no better reason than this. Southern culture is still under attack as much as always by those who do not and do not care to understand. I have been blessed to have many opportunties to serve the people of the South and I would be honored to do so again.

I look forward to seeing all of you on the campaign trail. It is good to see so many old friends, though there are many I miss.

Godspeed!

[Wisconsin+17]

I considered it.

[Wisconsin+17]

Simmer down, one at a time, boys and girls. Thank you.

Thank you all for coming out here on this fine day.

There seems to be *just* a little bit of confusion here. I've been getting a couple of letters. I'll start with Edna from Lubbock Texas. Lovely town I must say.

"Are you really running again? We haven't seen much of you this past while."

Yes, Edna. I'm running and yes, I'm back. And yes, you're going to get the full experience just as you had last year from me.

I've served over a year in the Chamber of Delegates. Never missed a vote and I've had a very long record of both writing and passing legislation. I have a lot of things that I want to get done while I'm there and I'd like to get started as soon as possible.

First off I want to see what we can do about lowering some of our business taxes. The South should be the best place to do business in Atlasia, and we're losing some of our advantages. We spent many years catching up and we're not there yet. It's not the time to slack off. Do you really want people to go to Lincoln? or Fremont? *shudders*. Yes, I thought so.

Anyways, you have my word that I will serve as you are quite used to me serving. I'm back and I intend to stay.

Godspeed all of you!

[Wisconsin+17]

Thanks everybody! Glad to be back!

Drama? What drama?

[Wisconsin+17]

I am declaring victory. I want to thank everyone who voted for me over the weekend. I'm stunned by the support.

I am looking forward to serving the people of the South once again. This will be my fourth term in the Chamber of Delegates.

[Wisconsin+17]

Thank you Tim and thumb on a clean campaign. Look forward to serving with you in the CoD.

[Wisconsin+17]

Thanks Haslam!

[Wisconsin+17]

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Quoted for posterity.

Anyways, I am going to be on a semi-Leave of absence for the next two weeks, back around the 15th to full activity.

I will still check in everyday and vote on legislation. Constituents and fellow delegates are encouraged to PM my PM box but replies will be delayed.

[Wisconsin+17]

You must be logged in to read this quote.

FTFY



Anyways, I'm back now. No, I'm not dead, nor have I lost interest. Just had a wonderful trip.

[Wisconsin+17]

Not trying to target you. Wanted to bump this thread to let folks know I was back, and was amused that I'd specifically left instructions to PM me.

Anyways, looking forward to serving the rest of the term with you!

[Wisconsin+17]

I have had several inquiries as to the current fiscal regime of the South. The Fairbol budget was passed in June of 2018.

https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=292329.0

This is the thread. This concerns FY 2019. Budget proposals for FY 2020 will have to wait until next summer in 2019 to be taken up for consideration.

[Wisconsin+17]

Howdy folks! Good to see so many of you out here on such a fine southern afternoon! I'm sure you've all seen the news today. Apparently yours truly is being recalled! My gosh. Whatever shall we do. As you can see I'm just quaking in my boots here at the thought of having to go home and spend more time with all these fine folks!

However, we have some work left to do. The Left never sleeps, and neither should we. This has been timed to coincide, like magic, with all four bills of mine that have been introduced into the Delegates. Now I don't know about me, but I know many of you asked for me to do just that, to introduce your legislation into the Delegates.

Now why might these fine fellows be so inclined to try to recall me at this precise moment? Gosh. I can't imagine why. It couldn't be because they lost in the ballot box fair and square. It couldn't be that I was the second highest vote getter of all the electorate when I ran. Nosirree. It couldn't be because they want to silence your voice?

Now they want to recall me. Well, let's examine the long list of charges. Apparently they believe I've been responsible for conduct unbecoming the delegates. And what for? Well, apparently I've been debating too strenuously with our beloved Governor TM and then at the start of the term with Young Texan's failed censure motion.

What's next, my parking tickets? They should lock me away and throw the key for these things. However, I'm going to tell you what this is really about. Power, pure and simple. These folks, they don't think much of you and me. They call us deplorables. They bemoan that we cling to our guns and our bibles. And what for? It's not like we believe we ought to force them into Church on Sunday. No, it's not about tolerance, it's about conformity. They want you to conform to them and that's the be all and end all.

Now I have this to say to the recallers. You might not like the answer you get here. If you want to defeat me, there's the ballot box next month. You've got a long list of grievances you can rally the people and ensure my defeat. That's the right and honorable way to go about and do so.

Far as I see, that goes for any of us in the Delegates. I earned my seat fair and square and I intend to fulfill the duty y'all have entrusted in me. I will say one last thing.

You don't catch flak unless you're over the target. And apparently I'm right in the thick of things.

Godspeed all of you!

[Wisconsin+17]

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I stand by my assessment. The justifications given in the recall are a censure motion which already failed and my discussion over the last few days with TM.

I do not see either as anywhere close to being sufficient to overturn the elected will of the people of the South. Now, if there were some substantive allegations included I might think differently about this, but my question is "where's the beef?"

If there are reasons other than the ones that have been cited, I suggest providing them so that the people can understand the true agenda here.

The purpose of recall isn't to refight already lost elections. That is why we have a ballot box.

[Wisconsin+17]

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I want to thank YoungTexan for finally coming to his senses about this recall. Better late than never.

[Wisconsin+17]

Two things, I want to thank everyone, those who have commented here and those who have written me over the past few days.

First off, I want to respond to several people requesting that I run again. It was never my intent to run more than full term. I intended to serve for two months and then retire. This time for good. RL concerns have already intruded significantly on my ability and my willingness to put time into the atlas. TM has publicly commented on my significant absence during this term, but he hasn't said anything I haven't said privately. October and onwards are going to become much busier for me than the past month or so. 

Everything I wanted to accomplish on the Atlas, I accomplished last year. Given the circumstances of my departure I felt that I had some unfinished business and I wanted to leave the Atlas on a high note. I won't lie and say that this is how I envisioned things.

The other problem is that recall is a blunt instrument. As is often the case, we no longer remain the master of a process that we have started. Had this been discussed beforehand, many of these issues could have been resolved before resorting to the recall vote, but alas, at this point, it looks like recall will succeed.

I can see several options. One, that I make my retirement speech here. I had a long and quiet day today to reflect, and it became clear to me that the Atlas is not really something positive in my life, nor is it something that is returning very much for the time that it takes to be properly involved in the discussions. I have more family responsibilities (thanks to two rather frail grandparents), Work that is coming up to be fulltime and responsibilities to a very special someone who deserves better than chats inbetween PMing people here.

If the people want me to stay on for another month, petition TM to reinstate me to Young Texan's vacated seat, and I will obey the will of the people express here and retire at the end of my term. Those wishing to be rid of my presence will be satisfied and I will get to serve out the time that I have earned.

What say you all? Is this an acceptable compromise?

[Wisconsin+17]

Good evening my fellow southerners.

This will be the last time that I stand up here on this podium. Some, I'm sure will expect me to name names but that is not what I am here for. We get a short time in this life and I intend to make the most of mine. Some of us get an election or two. I've had much longer, and for that I am thankful.

I am thankful for the friends that I've made, and kept. Some who are still here tonight and some who have already left for the bigger and brighter world beyond. I'm thankful for the long nights talking to Yankee about the heredity of the Queen, and to PiT about the merits of the elusive INFJ. Both of you have been fine friends to me.

I would like to thank the current delegation within the Chamber. I have enjoyed working with Spark and the Saint, who are excellent delegates. And unfortunately, I won't get much time to finally work with you, JBrase, but you've been a good friend too. I look forward to seeing the laws that the group of you put in place. The South will be well served.

I want to thank my constituency, people like Classic Conservative and Mr. Reactionary, you all know who you are. Without you I would never have had the opportunities to serve, and I am grateful for your enduring support through all my trials.

I also want to thank fhtagn for stumping for me on the campaign trail and for asking me to return. That was very kind of you.

Some asked why I came back, some of you have asked me to return. I came back because I felt I had unfinished business, and I'm not coming back because that business is done. I had desired to leave on good terms, and that I have accomplished.

Some I'm sure will find tonight is a night to celebrate, and I'm not going to deny their triumph. They have succeeded where all others failed. And they deserve kudos for how hard they had to work in order to do so. 35 votes is pretty much a coalition across Atlasia. I had, up until now, never been defeated, either by recall or the electorate. Today that record now has a one beside it.

But I want to talk just a little bit more. About ideas. You see, ideas are strange things. Ones like love, and hate. We are told that love trumps hate, but I'm not so sure about that. Fewer than 30 people voted in our last election. Recalling me had over 40.

Is it really that love is the motivation if more could find the time to make someone leave than to have them stay?

I'm also reminded of a quote from very long ago, but it could be worded today.

When the Cambrian measures were forming, They promised perpetual peace.
They swore, if we gave them our weapons, that the wars of the tribes would cease.
But when we disarmed They sold us and delivered us bound to our foe,
And the Gods of the Copybook Headings said: "Stick to the Devil you know."

Godspeed all of you.

[Wisconsin+17]

Hello Everyone!

This isn't a speech that I expected to make, but given my recent correspondence I'd like to make a few things known to the people who have written me and Atlasia as a whole.

First off, some of you have asked me to run again. I appreciate the sentiments, but It's been almost half a year since I posted last, and the world (as well as my life), has had significant changes in that time. A game which hasn't really had a lot to offer me, still really doesn't have much to offer me. If I'm going to spend some of the time that I have off playing this game, I have to be able to justify doing so over other things which I would rather do. Things that actually have a substantial payoff...

Part of that has to do with larger issues within the game, and part of that has to do with having other things that I enjoy doing more. I don't see that changing in the foreseeable future, hence my non participation beyond tossing in an odd vote or two.

Secondly, some of you have requested my vote and support for your policies. I've already spoken directly to a few explaining my situation and that has been respected. However, others have sought my support and I felt the need to explain a bit more.

Any casual observer would probably notice that I am unhappy with my current federalist representation, particularly in the South. You have a slate of people who deliberately chose to remove me from the game. Why would I bother to spend a minute of my time helping these people get elected when they went out of their way to evict me?

Secondly, I have no desire to vote for 'independents' who are simply slightly washed out communists. This game has not been fun for me for a long time and I would like to ask that both parties do not contact me further.

If those slightly washed out communists do not respect my wishes I might be aggravated enough to vote against them. Negative votes ARE a thing, so roust me at your peril.

Anyways, thank you all, and Godspeed.

[Wisconsin+17]

Friends, Atlasians, Southerners!

The Ranch is open for business once again! I look forward to having many old friends, new friends, and not-friends stop by for some Southern Hospitality!

Howdy y'all!

[Wisconsin+17]

You're a bit of a stickybeak, eh?

[Wisconsin+17]

And as an MP I am greatly moved by matters concerning my constituents.

You are a credit to your occupation.

[Wisconsin+17]

As your Federalist member of Parliament I'll fight both with and for you whether you like it or not.

Then I suggest you lobby peebs to correct the registration in good faith.

[Wisconsin+17]

you are stuck in Fremont. I wish you the best of luck in adapting to it.

My intent was obvious, and corrected within the hour.

[Wisconsin+17]

why would we Fremonters want to lose you? (I wonder......)

Because that is what I want.

I've always been in Texas since the beginning of the game.

[Wisconsin+17]

It would be nice if the honorable sirs were to actually assist me.