The Crusader (An Interview with Scott)

[Lumine]

A interview with Simfan: (II)

Lumine: And how would you imagine a full term with either of them on the White House?

Simfan: Well, the interesting  thing is that the Labor standard-bearer in this election is Harry Truman, who I think it can be agreed, regardless of political affiliation, is a statesman of the first rank and eminently qualified for the office-- having already previously served as Acting President. Without clarification on the President’s part, we cannot know if the Federalists would be sending a sort of crypto-leftist, or even some left-leaning libertarian, to the White House, and at that level, it is almost preferable to have the genuine article. I cannot say what shape another term for the incumbent President would take. Only she can make that clear.

Given the extraordinarily tumultuous situation on the global stage right now, our need for clarity should be immediately apparent to anyone. The fact that I cannot say what I would expect from this President if she were to be re-elected does not particularly inspire confidence.

Lumine: Moving onto local affairs, Simfan, any thoughts on the present situation of Fremont? Are we moving on the right direction?

Simfan: Well, I think the West could use a breath of fresh air, a more competitive political environment, and a strengthening of the leadership ladder that attracts new talent and spurs activity. From my experience I can say that the greatest threat to political health is ossification, complacency, a sense that there are no stakes involved in regional politics and as such no reason to remain engaged.

I think there is good leadership in the West, the potential is already there-- it just needs to be activated, so to speak.

Lumine: And of course, I simply have to ask this. What is the future for Simfan in Atlasia? Do you see a run for office in the future?

Simfan: When you and I first started talking about this interview, I had no such plans. But since then, as you can see, there’s been a groundswell of support for my election to the regional legislature. I put my name forward not really thinking it would go anywhere, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. While, as of when we held this interview, I don’t know which way the election will go, I can say I have a newfound interest in delving into the political life of my region, doing my part to address its most pressing issues. Regardless of the election’s outcome, I can say I am interested in holding regional office in future.

Lumine: Mr. Simfan, thank you very much for this interview.

Simfan: Thanks for having me, Lumine.

[Lumine]

And that's all for The Crusader until at least a month, until I either return to be a normal citizen or return in triumph to the White House (one can dream).

[Lumine]

With the election over, The Crusader is making a full return! We're also looking to make our first post-election interview, so anyone interested please feel free to send me a PM.

[Lumine]

We have our first interviews on the works! First we'll be interviewing Lincoln Lt. Governor Kyc, to be followed by Lincoln Senator R2D2. Stay tuned!

[Lumine]

A interview with Lt. Gov. Kyc:

Thoughts on Lincoln and Party Politics

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Lumine: Lt. Governor, I’m glad to be able to speak to you today. What are your thoughts on falling short of reelection this election cycle? Was this development expected?

Kyc: Honestly, I believed I would win. I believed that the people of Lincoln would return me for another two months—perhaps, partially, out of hubris, but also because I felt that I had been performing as well as I had ever been before. Yet as the results came in, and my placement on the ballot was increasingly downward—second, third, and fourth preferences, with very few firsts—I took the time to reflect, and realized that I could have been more transparent and involved.

Lumine: Clearly one of the most contentious issues right now is that of the Lincoln Senate Election, which you certified as a formal tie. How has it felt for you personally to be in charge of this complex decision?

Kyc: It’s a stressful concept, to be sure. But all I can do, in my capacity as lieutenant governor, is follow the rules as I interpret them, and work with my staff to ensure that every valid vote was counted. Senator 20RP12 is within his right to stage a legal challenge, but now, it’s up to the courts. I will do my part to make sure that everything is resolved peacefully and legally, but this has been transferred out of my hands now.

Lumine: And in a more general sense, what does this say for Lincoln and for Atlasia?

Kyc: None of the pundits expected Cinyc to get anywhere close to tying the election. It says that Lincoln is not a one-party state, and we, as an Atlasian people, have a desire to remain politically conscious and challenge incumbents at every turn. We want to have a discussion on the future, both at local and federal levels. Furthermore, I also think the resolution of this election will show that we’re a people of law and order: either the senator will be re-elected, or there will be a peaceful transfer of power.

Lumine: The Presidential Election is just over, and it was quite a ride. Would you mind giving us your thoughts on it, Lt. Governor?

Kyc: It’s no secret that Prime Minister Truman and I have our disagreements, as anyone who followed Blair’s rather contentious confirmation debate saw. Ultimately, my priority is to vote for a presidential candidate who will lead Atlasia with skill, humility, and grace. It doesn’t matter to me which party they’re registered with, or if they’re registered with any party at all: as long as I agree with their platform, and approve of their conduct, I will support them. I ended up voting for you, and even though we also have disagreements of a different, more policy-based nature, I respect your status as a senior statesman.

Lumine: As we know, you are a registered independent. What motivates you not to form part of the Federalist Party or the Labor Party?

Kyc: I look at the state of partisan politics in this country, and I see discontent. There’s bitterness, polarization, and infighting within each of these groups. And whenever a legitimate third party is formed, with the intention of breaking up the status quo, they inevitably get swallowed up into the Federalists or Labor.

Now, considering the last election results, it’s clear that Labor has some serious soul-searching to do, but even then, that leaves the Federalists in a startlingly powerful position. Ours is not a dominant-party state, nor should it be. I do my part against the squabbling and rancor by choosing not to buy into such a corrupted party system.

Lumine: Finally, what do you think the future has in store for you? Could this defeat be just the beginning of a comeback?

Kyc: I’m not ruling anything out. As I said in my post-election statement, I’m not moving back to New Jersey and retiring for good. I’ve just paid another month’s rent for my apartment here in the Lincoln capital, New York City, and I’ve already been offered opportunities to lecture at some of the city’s most respected universities. And who knows what else will come down the pipeline?

Additionally, I’ll be following both local and national politics closely, and I’ll keep in touch with the many colleagues I’ve come to know. If I see an opportunity to run for office, and I feel my skills and abilities are needed, I will not hesitate. But in any case, you’ll see me around. Maybe this loss is even a disguised partial blessing. There are some great movie theaters, restaurants, and other hotspots in my neighborhood, and until now, I’ve been too busy to really check a lot of them out

Lumine: Lt. Gov. thanks for speaking with me.

[Lumine]

A interview with Senator R2D2:

Discussing the Senate and being Independent

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Lumine: Senator, it is good to see you. Thanks for this interview.

R2D2: Thank you for having me! I appreciate this opportunity.

Lumine: Given that the unexpectedly close Lincoln Senate Election was certified into a tie, I might say we’re in for some interesting times. What are your thoughts on this process so far?

R2D2: I'm very overwhelmed by the events that transpired this weekend, but I am encouraged to see competitive elections in Lincoln, and I feel that our region will end up with a great Senator no matter the outcome of this election.

Lumine: Now, Senator, could you give us an idea of how you expect the next weeks or days to come? What’s in store in case of either defeat or victory?

R2D2: My moves in the coming days will be determined after I have consulted further with my legal counsel. At this point, I believe we are in for a winding road. A court case will likely be involved, but I believe that I will ultimately do what is best for the people of Lincoln. That is my first priority. In the event of my defeat, I will return to Lincoln to re-enter regional politics and help my home region in any way possible.

Lumine: I want to take a step back for a moment and go towards your service in the Senate. What’s the thing you’re most proud of during your time as a Senator?

R2D2: I am very proud to have achieved bipartisan success on legislation involving firearms, disaster relief, protection of minorities, and economic equality. My priorities have always been grounded in protecting citizens, and reaching solutions that make sense for all Atlasians. I have been truly grateful to serve with some fine folks across all political ideologies. My horizons have been broadened and I will always strive to work with my colleagues to do what is best for Atlasia.

Lumine: And, in the opposite, what have you regretted the most?

R2D2: I regret not participating more in debates in the past session. I have taken on some heavy responsibilities in my personal life, so I simply do not have the time of day sometimes to balance my personal life and my legislative career. It is a rewarding challenge to be a Senator, though I often feel that my schedule inhibits my ability to serve my constituents, and for that, I apologize.

Lumine: Senator, the Presidential Election finished and its consequences are still being felt. What does this result represent for you personally?

R2D2: I believe President fhtagn has been a fine leader and I have been proud to work with her to achieve some mutual goals. I believe in her ability to lead Atlasia, and I feel that she has been unfairly targeted by a small group of folks. I was also very impressed with the campaign you ran, Mr. President. It was fascinating to see such a strong centrist challenge that ultimately proved there is a bedrock for Independents to succeed. It makes me proud to be an Independent. I would also like to congratulate two very good friends of mine, Truman and Scott, on running a fine campaign. Though the results did not turn out in their favor, I believe they are both marvelous legislators who have served this country with great dignity.

Lumine: Still, Senator, there have been some complaints about the current state of the Labor Party and some interesting defections either towards the Peace Party or becoming independents. With three consecutive electoral victories for the Federalists, that do you think the future of the center-left in Atlasia is?

R2D2: I think the Labor Party is struggling with its identity right now. I believe there is an inherent clique attitude that goes on that all parties are bound to fall victim to. I don't necessarily believe that the left must splinter in order to figure out its identity, but it would be interesting to see how the Labor Party would do if it stuck more to issues, recruiting new players, and bridging the gap between their more extreme leftist members and some potential members who might be more centrist. I have never been good at advising parties, so I would take my opinion on this with a grain of salt, but I believe that trying anything other than the status quo right now might be beneficial.

Lumine: Finally, I think there’s an interesting question to be asked, because this election has featured a number of independent candidates that have made an interesting impact. What is it that makes you be an independent?

R2D2: Being an Independent means that I can serve my constituents before I serve a party. I have seen the ugly side of party politics far too many times to get myself tangled up in it any longer. Make no mistake, I believe that there are members of both parties who are wonderful folks and I don't mean to disparage anyone in any way, but I feel that, if I am not beholden to any party's interests, I can truly act as a public servant wherever I may be serving. I take inspiration from you and other prominent Independents in Atlasian history--folks who have been phenomenal leaders without mucking themselves up in the mess of party politics.

Lumine: Senator, thank you very much.

R2D2:Thank you again, Mr. President. I truly appreciate your time.

[Lumine]

A New Party System?

Peace Party, Citizens on the rise as their membership grows

Several new parties emerge

In the aftermath of the October Presidential Election and with the rise of the Federalist Party as the leading political force in the nation, several new parties have either been created or seen a considerable surge in membership, including the Peace Party, Citizens and the Atlasian Revolutionary Workers’ Party to name a few. Citing frustration with the current political system in Atlasia from different angles (a communitarian, pacifist view for the Peace Party, a centrist reform one for Citizens and an anti-electoral one for the ARWP) these parties have been successful in brining old and new Atlasians to change their support to these new forces, in the hopes that the current two-party system (or as some say, one and a half party system) will be forced to change.

The impact in electoral and governing politics is expected to be felt soon, as Citizens has its first Senator (Spiral) and the Peace Party can boast a Senator (Siren), a Representative (Peebs) and regional officeholders. With these new developments the balance of power in the Senate will now depend both on the new parties and independent officeholders, creating an interesting dynamic compared to an incoming Federalist majority in the House of Representatives. As to whether these new parties can gain strength and capitalize on current discontent only time can tell, but The Crusader hopes that the political landslide will indeed shift in a considerable manner and wishes the best of luck and success to groups like the Peace Party and Citizens.

[Lumine]

In journalism, that's called a COI, or conflict of interest.

Well, there's a reason why The Crusader's slogan is "In Bias we Trust", lol

[Lumine]

I miss journalism in this game that is both serious and unbiased. Historically whenever we have had press, we have always had at least once such operation.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, no better compliment than to hear we're not seen as unbiased (and thus probably boring). Interesting to note there didn't seem to be a problem when our criticisms were directed elsewhere.

[Lumine]

The Crusader is pleased to inform that our next interviews will be with Oakvale and then with Kingpoleon, coming within the next days. A source has also approached us with interesting information, and thus an article is coming tomorrow.

Stay tuned!

[Lumine]

A Kingfish in the Shadows:

Sources critical of Dfw approached The Crusader

Just how true are these claims?

It was with some surprise that The Crusader was approached at some point this week with news that “our democracy is in peril”, with insider sources exposing serious concerns about the behavior and actions of former President Dfw inside the White House, the Federalist Party and his so-called electoral machine.

These sources (who agreed to be identified as sources close to the White House) have stepped forward to confirm that, as claimed before, the ascension of President Fhtagn to the White House was “planned very early” by former President Dfw, who pulled the strings to ensure the sitting President reached the Presidency in the first place. These same sources have expressed their belief the democratic process was in essence “usurped” by the former President using his electoral machine to place and then elect his “significant other”. They’ve expressed their feeling that Atlasia is undergoing a “co-presidency” given the large influence of Dfw over the current White House, although they could not agree on whether President Fhtagn was complicit and turned a blind eye or whether she criticized Dfw’s behavior in private but was ignored.

Equally interesting was the emphasis placed on the former President’s electoral machine and convincing methods, with sources variously claiming to have been manipulated to vote for a particular candidate (such as in the Federalist Primary) or intimidated out of running for office by the former President and his machine. One source can be quoted as angrily saying “it’s like the feels he owns the damn party, which he doesn’t”, arguing that the former President was power-hungry and determined to stay relevant in politics at any price, noting that by controlling the Governor’s Mansion in the South and with his “significant other” in the White House he held considerable power these days. 

Another point of view raised was that of indecision, with a source strongly condemning separate actions such as resigning the Presidency, opening and closing a campaign firm, running for office and deregistering, re-registering and running for Governor. This same source was keen to argue that behind closed doors the former President was acting possessive and had “harassed people” inside the Federalist Party “a few times”. The consensus behind the sources was very positive towards the current position of the Federalist Party, with sources stating President Fhtagn was “doing good as President” and that Party Chair Yankee was “a tremendous chair”, but that the former President had turned into a “plague” that in their view could ruin the Federalist Party in the future.

The Crusader will not be offering further comment at this moment, beyond noting that what has been expressed on this article is solely the view of the sources who approached us and not our formal editorial line.

[Lumine]

"Kingfish" Follow-Up:

Insiders continue to leak against the Former President

Other Atlasians approach The Crusader

A significant public and private reaction has emerged regarding our past article, and since its publication at least three different Atlasians have stepped forward anonymously to speak to The Crusader regarding allegations against former President DFW. While we continue to protect the identity of our sources as an unbreakable rule and we have chosen not to publish some of the more sensational details presented to us, here is a follow up with some of the comments which we have received, the majority of which came from self-described “senior sources inside the Federalist Party.”

Our first source addressed some of the allegations we printed on our last edition, noting that having worked with the former President in the past it could be confirmed there had been attempts to force candidates out of elections in preference for candidates with closer links to himself, even expressing frustration when there wasn’t a chance to exert influence on them. This particular source also expressed as his opinion that the former President was “trying to consolidate the Federalist Party/half of Atlasian politics into his control”, exerting direct control over the Federalist Party in a concrete direction.

Far more controversial (and fascinating) were the comments made by later sources who also approached The Crusader on their own.

The second of them justified his decision not to go public stating “he has such an effect on party higher ups, people like us are afraid to go public”, describing Dfw as “the swamp”, arguing a cult of personality was being built inside the party with the party establishment being manipulated. A particularly poignant point made by this source was the claim that the Federalist Party as a whole was a victim of manipulation as fellow party members were “abused and intimidated” so former President Dfw could retain what was described as a “stranglehold in power”, and even went as far as describing him in harsh terms (many of which we cannot print) such as “dangerous.”

Finally, our third source went as far as describing himself as a victim in the whole affair. Starting by launching the accusation that the former President had “moved to the South in order to prevent any new members from gaining influence in the region with the biggest Federalist Party”, the source argued puppets were thus installed in multiple branches and levels of government. When press by The Crusader as to why exactly this source was a victim, the source claimed to have been intimidated to run for a certain office and sacrificed in another run for office, being “emotionally manipulated”. By far the harshest comments came when the source described Dfw as a “butcher”, “owner of an industrial pig farm” which allegedly “treats party members like pigs.”

This final and most eloquent source also expressed sympathies at President Fhtagn, describing her as a talented politician who "desires to rule as her own person”, but which faces a severe dilemma on account of “owing her victory largely due to Dfw’s machine” and the former President’s attempts (alleged directly by the source) at turning the President into a puppet.

There are more details which we have kept out both to protect identities and to their explosive nature, but as more and more Atlasians voluntarily approach The Crusader with further claims and details we wonder just how much of a story is there.

[Lumine]

I was hoping to work with you on your new project as you and I had agreed to in private after your Presidential run, but if you keep printing these tabloid stories, then shame on you. I mean even Wells paper has more legitimacy than yours and at least bothers to get the other side of the story before printing lol.

Mr. President,

If multiple and respected officeholders and citizens approach me of their own accord with a story such as this, then I feel it is my duty to print it. Personally I don't lose sleep on whether people see The Crusader as having "legitimacy" or not, and if someone is not interested on what we have to say or disapproves of it I would suggest they simply stop reading The Crusader.

If you feel your honor has been slighted (which seems likely as you took the time to insult me), feel perfectly free to invoke the Atlasian Duels Act and challenge me to a duel. I won't shy away from defending my newspaper.

Sincerely,

The Editor.

[Lumine]

National News:

October 29th:

Is Atlasian credit about to be downgraded?

Budget Woes: With a deadline of October 31st almost upon us and despite having existed for over a month, it appears the Budget Process Committee is not yet ready to present a final report despite having already missed its original deadline of 30 days as stated by the Budget Process & Control Act. Even more concerning, only two days remain until S&P downgrades Atlasian credit from "AAA" to "AA" in an act that could cause significant economic damage to our Republic. Only two days remain for that deadline, and despite the brave efforts of Speaker Yankee to put together a more complete version it seems clear the October 31st version won't be met as their final report requires majority support in the Committee.

The Crusader, while understanding of the fact officeholders may be busy or facing other dilemmas, feels forced to condemn the lack of a stronger effort to get the budget done before further economic chaos is inflicted on Atlasia. Having said that, we also recognize the work placed on the issue by Speaker Yankee, and we express our hope a budget can at least be completed before our credit is downgraded yet again to "A" on December 31st.

[Lumine]

I would rather permanently deregister than invoke an adam griffin law.

An actual newspaper, one that has any form of legitimacy, would consider the facts before publishing such literal trash.

I mean really, what actual newspaper publishes "anonymous sources" when they are probably being trolled (no seriously, I know who is doing this and you are actually being trolled right now)

Well, Mr. President, if you won't go to duel then I am left to assume no unbearable offense to your honor has been made.

As I've said before, if you believe what The Crusader prints is "literal trash", then feel free to cease reading it, no Atlasian is forced to read it. If I publish a story, it is because I trust my sources and research and because I do not believe I am being trolled.

[Lumine]

Just chiming in to say that Yankee and dfw's accounts of the party's inner-workings are correct.

Lumine is clearly using sketchy sources, and it's kind of infuriating (but sensationalist to the point that it is kind of funny).

Well, you can't say this is a boring newspaper.

I do believe my sources would dispute being "sketchy", but I can't say more if they are to remain anonymous as they wish to.

[Lumine]

A Farewell Surprise:

The Crusader hasn't published news for a few weeks now, although I don't consider it truly closed. That is about to change as I'm taking some time off from Atlasia (which includes my resignation as the Party Chairman of Citizens) and as a result The Crusader will be officially suspended until I return to active public life. Alas, I've been approached by sources regarding a fascinating story of betrayal, backstabbing and intrigue, which I feel is worth publishing given its current relevance. It will be up within the next few minutes.

[Lumine]

The man who would be King:

Sources leak the story behind Young Texan's statement

How far did the Senator go in sabotaging the President?

One of the more surprising developments in the past few hours (in the surface) is the sudden resignation of Senator Young Texan from the Federalist Party, even though the Senator (and former cabinet member) was believed to be a rising star within the party and a man with a strong future ahead of him on account of his latest political triumph on his run for Senate. Speaking with apparent regret, the Senator stressed his wish for a “new start”, explaining he had engaged in substantial plotting to rise in Atlasia and advance his own career and promising that he was placing that behavior behind. For some reason unknown to the Editor when he first read the Senator’s statement, this vague and unconvincing statement and this curious resignation was apparently enough grounds for redemption in a case all too vague to be fully understood.

The Crusader was approached by sources all too willing to explain the true situation that took place behind the scenes, a story we cannot refrain from publishing given the circumstances. From what sources have separately told The Crusader it seems that Senator Young Texan’s private misgivings and criticism of the President had risen to the point in which the relationship between the Senator and the White House had completely broken down after the midterms. The Senator was, so it seems, the ringleader of a concerted effort to sabotage the potential reelection of President Fhtagn by gathering votes and supporters for what we infer could likely be a primary challenge inside the Federalist Party. But rather than an open challenge, sources agree that the Senator decided to proceed by leaking private information and opinions regarding the President to Atlasian newspapers, among other shady moves to ensure the success of his coup.

Alas, the plot thickens further. Sources stress that President Fhtagn discovered the efforts of her would-be political rival and started an immediate full-scale investigation on the Senator with the support of prominent figures inside the Federalist Party. Even more, in the course of this investigation sensitive logs of Senator Young Texan’s talks with other Federalists were discovered by the President and leaked to other members of the party, supposedly detailing efforts to undermine the President while giving a large bolster to the Senator as a more ideologically consistent leader for the dominant party in Atlasian politics. According to these separate versions, the discovery of the presidential investigation was what led to Senator Young Texan to leave the Federalist Party, rather than a sincere damascene conversion.

Even more, it appears to be a commonly known fact in political circles that the Senator was undermining the President and her Administration all the way back to his service in Cabinet a few months ago, and involved in varying attempts to bolster his own profile by contemplating resignation and/or defection at an earlier point while openly misleading several prominent Atlasians on his actual intentions and actions. Normally such a story would require a greater deal of prudence from The Crusader, but seeing as the Senator has spoken with such eloquence about the need for greater transparency in Nyman, about the importance of a “work ethic”, and of being a “fighter” ready to fight back against those who were “in it to advance their own careers”, it seems to us that publishing this story is about as consistent as one can be with the views so bravely put forward by the Senator in earlier days.

In any case, it is a most fascinating case for a political "new start."

[Lumine]

lol

Very amusing, this is the same paper that happened to report on the allegations against me which were proposed  (and 100% made up) by YT and his allies, when you say he has been sabotaging "party people" for months, well yes, he tried to sabotage me with his allies through this very paper, quite a weird......twist?

Not to mention he went after me because he thinks I control fhtagn or something (as the earlier story perpetuated by them suggests) so it seemed very amusing to me. Guess this is how everything turns out in the end.

I can't help but to admit it, dfw, you're remarkably perseverant when it comes to defending your own version of events. My respects for that.

[Lumine]

Greedo undergoes face transplant:

Exclusive images before and after the operation

[Lumine]

Didn't realize The Crusader became a checkout line tabloid. Atlasia needs one, though.

We've always done both serious and tabloid journalist as it seems appropiate. It's certainly more fun this way.

[Lumine]

A Statement from the Editor:

After a brief hiatus The Crusader is back. Before suspending operations a number of interviews were requested, and we offer our sincere apologies on the fact that said interviews were not conducted at the time. However, The Crusader is bringing back interviews starting as soon as possible, so we extend an open invitation to Atlasians interested in being interviewed by this media source.

[Lumine]

The Crusader is pleased to confirm its first three interviews for this year: President Fhtagn, former President Leinad and former Game Moderator 1184AZ. Should be an interesting experience, stay tuned!

[Lumine]

A Interview with the President: (Part I)

Former President Lumine and President Fhtagn open the revival of The Crusader's interviews:

Lumine: Madam President, welcome. A pleasure to have you here. The first topic I wish to touch upon relates to the fact that we are upon the fourth month since your ascension to the Presidency. Having governed for what equates to a traditional “full-term”, which accomplishment would you say is the more significant you’ve achieved?

Fhtagn: While this may not be something flashy and "big news" worthy to most, my answer to this is something that is not only near and dear to my heart, but something I have consistently campaigned on going all the way back to my Labor Party days: which is fulfilling some of the promises I've made to commit to promoting clean energy and protecting the environment. There's a few ways that we accomplished this. When I served in the House of Representatives, I had taken sponsorship of the Renewable Energy Rebate and Subsidy Act (which I had gotten the opportunity to sign into law back in September), which provided an incentive for both companies and private citizens to invest in renewable energy sources for their homes and businesses. I also had the opportunity in November to negotiate terms and sign into law the Carbon Tax Act, which not only ensures we hold ourselves accountable for our carbon emissions, but offers a source of funding for the Renewable Energy Rebate and Subsidy Act, as well as puts the excess revenue back into the pockets of our people to continue investing in clean energy solutions. And lastly, another bill I was heavily involved with in the House that I signed into law in December, The Preservation of Our Future Act, which ensures that we are protecting Atlasia's waterways and holding corporations accountable for their role in polluting our precious freshwater sources.

Lumine: Alternatively, and asking from the opposite end of the past question, what is your biggest regret since becoming President?

Fhtagn: I would say one of my biggest regrets would be getting caught up in the drama, and in some cases, partisan hackery, especially in the early days of my Presidency. I made the mistake of burning bridges with some people I held a great deal of respect for over disagreements big and small, such as folks like Senator Siren, Former Senator Scott, and even you (just to name a few) when it came to issues such as the Second Korean War and Atlasia's strategy, and even during the October Election. It certainly is a very fine line that is all too easy to cross, made even more difficult as someone who is a leader within their party and in a position where more information is received than can legally be relayed to others at the time.

Lumine: One of the issues that are more prominent at the moment is, of course, that of the civil war in North Korea. Without wishing to enter the realm of classified information, how would you describe the overall strategy of the administration on this front?

Fhtagn: Well, for starters, I think we can all agree this certainly was never a scenario any of us really wanted to find ourselves in. Like our involvement in many foreign conflicts, sometimes we don't end up with the results post-war that were intended, and we end up in a position where we must clean up the mess we left behind. As some may have tuned into, I recently made a statement coming out in support of the People's Republic of Korea, and that we should side with our allies in Japan and South Korea to recognize them as North Korea's legitimate government. While the details of our strategy are still a work in progress, I have been working closely with Secretary of State Reactionary to set up meetings with our allies and determine in which ways we can assist to ensure that peace and stability are reached in the region, and to solve the continuing humanitarian crisis resulting from the Second Korean War and the current civil war. We are also setting up meetings with our allies in China to ensure that they are on board with the strategy as well. Of course it is my hope that the end result of this is a stable region and a sitting government in North Korea that we can work closely with, so that we can avoid the tensions we have had with them for far too long.

Lumine: Another issue that has flared up in a most concerning manner is that of Spain and the strength of the secessionist movement in Catalonia. My question is, where do you stand personally when it comes to secessionism, both in Atlasia and in the case of Spain?

Fhtagn: When it comes to secessionism in general, I believe that there are sometimes extreme circumstances where it is a necessary and healthy step for an existing and soon to exist country, but ideally if a nation can remain unified and resolve their issues in a diplomatic manner, it should. In the case of Catalonia, I believe that the best approach is to support our friends, the Spanish government, and promote a unified Spain. This is something that was discussed when my administration submitted the Foreign Relations Review to Congress as well as in National Security Council meetings while it was being developed. That being said, the terms of the agreement between Spain and Catalonia in the meeting we mediated were agreed upon by both sides, and no matter what happens, the results of the referendum should be honored.

Lumine: With due respect, Madam President, there has been some degree of speculation in past weeks regarding internal events in the Federalist Party, in particular relating to issues of dissent such as the bizarre ordeal surrounding Senator Young Texan. What is your personal take on these matters?

Fhtagn: My personal take is that no party is without issues, especially ones as long standing as the Federalist Party. We have a very ideologically diverse group of individuals we are representing, and it is completely natural for there to be struggles here and there. As Vice Chair of the party, I work very closely with Chairman North Carolina Yankee to ensure that when things are starting to escalate, we work together on solutions to minimize the potential damage, and work on ensuring that our party remains unified. While there may be disagreements on specific policies, and even our approach to certain scenarios, our overall mission remains the same. As for the ordeal surrounding Senator Young Texan, I would be lying if I said I wasn't deeply disappointed to see someone I held respect for, brought into my administration as my Secretary of Internal Affairs and other positions, and aided in his election to the Senate turn his back and work against me. Since the controversy surrounding him was revealed, he has apologized to me and offered to make amends, and for the sake of our party and our friendship, he deserves the chance to try and redeem himself. What the future holds is something we will see as it develops.

[Lumine]

A Interview with the President: (Part II)

Lumine: There has been an interesting shift lately when it comes to ideology in Atlasia, with several politicians – myself included – a bit curious about what feels like a system more grounded in personality than ideas themselves. The first question is, of course, whether you agree with that broad assessment, but more importantly, how would you define your personal ideology?

Fhtagn: I can certainly say I agree with that assessment. And I'm sure many would say "Why would she say that when she benefited from that system?". The fact of the matter is, we are currently facing tough times in Atlasia. While I am happy for my party that we are dominating in many elections, I understand that having little to no opposition, and few intense debates on differences in policy ideas in many races and legislative sessions is not healthy for the game long term. One of the things I try to make sure I do when it comes time for elections is to present the people I contact with things I have done, or things I plan to do, and really give them a reason to vote for me. I have no interest in just being another popular personality, and these are things I try to push on candidates within my party who consult with me on elections they decide to run in. As for my personal ideology, anyone who is close to me or even held private conversations with me can tell you I've never really been one for labels (though I do sometimes wish it was easy for me to say things like "I'm a progressive/liberal/conservative/libertarian"). In a nutshell my ideology I guess can be described as socially "libertarian" and fiscally "moderate"/lean "conservative".

Applied to actual policies, I have long been a supporter of ensuring that the government does not interfere with the average citizen's private life as long as their actions do not infringe on the Constitutional rights of others. As stated in the first question I very much support a push for clean energy/energy independence, protecting our environment, and am very pro-science on most issues. I support protection for marginalized groups and ensuring elected officials, corporations, and other groups are held accountable in the event that they cause harm to those groups. That being said, we must not lose focus on an incredibly important issue: ensuring that Atlasia is responsible with it's finances. I fully supported the House's PAYGO Resolution ensuring all bills are funded, and hope that soon we can continue work on submitting the budget and finally balancing it. There are so many wonderful policy ideas that I have wholeheartedly agreed with, and when we make sure to stay on top of our finances, we can make sure that all these ideas that help us are feasible, and don't get passed only to either waste away due to lack of funding, or put our nation at further risk by spending more than what we actually have.

Lumine: I'd like to follow-up a bit on the overall political system we face, or party system if you will. What is the single biggest challenge the Federalist Party currently faces in your opinion?

Fhtagn: I think the biggest challenge we face now is "How do we ensure that we are still running active candidates and treating every race like it's competitive?" It's easy to try and sit back and say "we got this" or treat competition like it's not a threat and run people who may not be best suited for these positions. But with myself, and party members I advise in elections, I always find it best to treat your campaign as if you are already losing, and make a case for why you should win. We will not be in this dominant position forever, history has already proven this. We have new parties such as the Peace Party and Alliance with active members and ideas to change Atlasia, and I firmly believe with some regrouping and changes in leadership that the Labor Party will be back, and that is something we need to be prepared for.

Lumine: On the other side of the political aisle I think we've all been surprised by what seems like the agony of the Labor Party, particularly showcased in the midterm rout. What would you say is going wrong with the Atlasian left?

Fhtagn: Well, as someone who isn't on the inside, obviously I wouldn't be able to definitively say what happened with the Labor Party, so I wouldn't exactly consider my speculation an "expert opinion". But at least from what it seems from the outside looking in, there are a couple factors that have led to the downfall of the Labor Party and the Atlasian Left. I think the first, and most important factor is Leadership. The Labor Party has gone through numerous Chairmen in the last year, and a huge reason being due to ineffective and inactive people being placed in the position. The position of Party Chair isn't meant to be a warm body to fill it until something else is figured out, it's meant to be a proven leader within the party who has a clear vision and brings forward ideas to ensure success. Since the resignation of Blair, we saw this very briefly with windjammer, and the success of the Labor Party in August elections were clearly a result of that.

Secondly, there seems to have been a drop in ensuring that not only their party members run for positions, but that they run a smart and active campaign as well. We saw this start to slip away in October, and in a more extreme way in December. Of course, I understand people have lives, and there may be some races where there truly is no one a party can run (we have faced this at times in the Federalist Party as well). But the goal should be set by leadership that by the time the next elections come around, that issue can be resolved, be that through motivating existing party members, or recruiting fresh faces and giving them an opportunity to plant their seeds in Atlasia and blossom.

Lumine: While none of us can predict the future, you will be President of Atlasia for at least a few more weeks, potentially for another full consecutive term. What would be your single more important objective in the time you may have left in the White House?

Fhtagn: The single most important objective to me at this time and in my remaining time in the White House is finally passing a budget and working towards balancing it. I campaigned heavily on making sure that my administration completes this task that has been put off for far too long by previous administrations. While circumstances beyond my control and the control of many in the Budget Process Committee have delayed this, it is still at the very top of my list and I have no desire to end my time in office with it still incomplete.

Lumine: Madam President, thank you for this interview.