Concession

[StevenNick]

Well, folks, I did my best and I got my ass kicked.

I'd like to thank Nym and Gustaf for running solid campaigns.  For them, the election lingers on; for me it's all over but the shoutin'.  I'd like to offer my congratulations to whichever candidate ends up winning the election.

I want my supporters to know that this election, this fight was not in vain.  We talked about the issues, we reformed the republican party, and we went down in defeat with our dignity mostly intact ( ).

In the coming days you'll be hearing more from me.  I'm going to keep talking about rebuilding the party and I'm going to keep talking about my vision for this forum.  We have only to reach out and grab the promises of the future to achieve greatness.  Remember that.

Thank you and God bless you all.

Yours in victory and defeat,

Stephen Nichols a.k.a. StevenNick

[Lunar]

The problem lies in the way that the partise fractured with the entrance of the UAC.  The Republicans took the worst of it, losing not only their moderates but their conservatives as well.

[The Duke]

A congratulations to StevenNick on a well run campaign against impossible odds.  My hat is off.

[Reaganfan]

Great job StevenNick.

[Gustaf]

I would like to congratulate StevenNick on running a good campaign against bad odds and neither giving up, nor resorting to bad sportsmanship. I am confident that his actions during this campaign went a long way to resotring confidence in a party that badly needed it.

[Nym90]

I'd also like to congratulate StevenNick for running a fine campaign. I hope that he is successful in his efforts to revive the Republican Party...for the good of the Atlas Forum, we need to have 3 strong parties, and I believe that Steven is a very articulate and passionate Senator who can continue to be a real leader for his party for a long time to come.

[KEmperor]

Well said StevenNick, I think you had an impressive showing considering the situation with the Republicans.

[??????????]

If Reagantroll hadn't stolen the nomination we may have been saying "President John Ford - R ".

[JohnFKennedy]

If Reagantroll hadn't stolen the nomination we may have been saying "President John Ford - R ".

Ford left the Reps for the UAC before Reaganfan became a candidate.

[??????????]

I believe the whole thing was rigged and that Ford was run out by the likes of Josh and Reaganfan.

[Bleeding heart conservative, HTMLdon]

Stop blaming the UAC and look at the actual numbers of active posters and voters before the UAC.  If there were no UAC, the Atlas Democrats would have won every election and moderates and conservatives would have no representation.  The UAC made elections competitive around here - and after all, isn't that the point?  We're not really here to discuss issues or solve the great problems of the world.  We're here because we're political junkies and like the intracacies of elections.

The very point of the UAC IS to disrupt and dismantle the former two-party system that would have stifiled competition and eliminated the fun of competitive elections in the forum.  The Republicans complied... most of the Democrats did not get the memo.  As virtually every one of us is a hardcore partisan for one of the respective real parties... it is difficult for us to be impartial and support "the best man" for the job as long as the "real" party labels are ruining the show.

The problem lies in the way that the partise fractured with the entrance of the UAC.  The Republicans took the worst of it, losing not only their moderates but their conservatives as well.

[7,052,770]

Stop blaming the UAC and look at the actual numbers of active posters and voters before the UAC.  If there were no UAC, the Atlas Democrats would have won every election and moderates and conservatives would have no representation.  The UAC made elections competitive around here - and after all, isn't that the point?  We're not really here to discuss issues or solve the great problems of the world.  We're here because we're political junkies and like the intracacies of elections.

The very point of the UAC IS to disrupt and dismantle the former two-party system that would have stifiled competition and eliminated the fun of competitive elections in the forum.  The Republicans complied... most of the Democrats did not get the memo.  As virtually every one of us is a hardcore partisan for one of the respective real parties... it is difficult for us to be impartial and support "the best man" for the job as long as the "real" party labels are ruining the show.

The problem lies in the way that the partise fractured with the entrance of the UAC.  The Republicans took the worst of it, losing not only their moderates but their conservatives as well.

now it seems that the UAC is gonna win everything. . . .

[Nym90]

He didn't blame the UAC. He merely pointed out that the GOP was hurt more than the Dems were by the UAC's formation...which is clearly true, seeing as to how StevenNick had many fewer votes than the last GOP nominee, Supersoulty, whereas I had quite a few more votes than I had last time.

Why so defensive, Don? Lunar never blamed the UAC for anything. Reread his post. It's a completely factual statement...the GOP lost not only more moderate members but even some hard-core conservatives. Democrats didn't fracture nearly as much after the UAC's formation. Thus, we ended up with a 2 party system basically (Dems and UAC) with the GOP as a third party. Hopefully that won't last, and the GOP will make a comeback. It would be cool to have a very close 3 way election.

As for your statement that we're not here to discuss issues or solve problems...well obviously we aren't going to actually SOLVE any problems on this forum...but I personally do very much like discussing the issues and proposing solutions to the world's problems. I very much enjoyed giving my lengthy campaign speeches and writing a highly detailed party platform.

But maybe you are correct as to the majority sentiment of the Forum. That I don't know...all I know is that I had a lot of fun in this campaign, airing my views and talking about issues at great length, some conventional, and some not so conventional. And at the end of the day, that's what the Forum should be about...fun.

It just seems to me that the candidates should speak a lot about the issues and where they stand...otherwise how do we know who to vote for? I commend StevenNick for having done a good job laying out his positions, thoughtfully and articulately.

[PBrunsel]

StevenNick, I supported you all the way for the GOP Nomination. Although you did not become president and I vice president, I feel that this election will be known as a strong campaign the ended in a begining, and that begining was for the Grand Old Party.

[JohnFKennedy]

Stop blaming the UAC and look at the actual numbers of active posters and voters before the UAC.  If there were no UAC, the Atlas Democrats would have won every election and moderates and conservatives would have no representation.  The UAC made elections competitive around here - and after all, isn't that the point?  We're not really here to discuss issues or solve the great problems of the world.  We're here because we're political junkies and like the intracacies of elections.

The very point of the UAC IS to disrupt and dismantle the former two-party system that would have stifiled competition and eliminated the fun of competitive elections in the forum.  The Republicans complied... most of the Democrats did not get the memo.  As virtually every one of us is a hardcore partisan for one of the respective real parties... it is difficult for us to be impartial and support "the best man" for the job as long as the "real" party labels are ruining the show.

The problem lies in the way that the partise fractured with the entrance of the UAC.  The Republicans took the worst of it, losing not only their moderates but their conservatives as well.

now it seems that the UAC is gonna win everything. . . .

Hardly.

[Lunar]

Stop blaming the UAC and look at the actual numbers of active posters and voters before the UAC.  If there were no UAC, the Atlas Democrats would have won every election and moderates and conservatives would have no representation.  The UAC made elections competitive around here - and after all, isn't that the point?  We're not really here to discuss issues or solve the great problems of the world.  We're here because we're political junkies and like the intracacies of elections.

The very point of the UAC IS to disrupt and dismantle the former two-party system that would have stifiled competition and eliminated the fun of competitive elections in the forum.  The Republicans complied... most of the Democrats did not get the memo.  As virtually every one of us is a hardcore partisan for one of the respective real parties... it is difficult for us to be impartial and support "the best man" for the job as long as the "real" party labels are ruining the show.

Sorry for the miscommunication.  Nym answered this pretty well but I'd like to add that I'm glad that the UAC came around for many of the reasons that you pointed out.

[Reaganfan]

I supported Ford, he dropped out and gave me his delegates. Then I ran against Nick and he dropped out. Don't blame me. But thank me for helping re-build the base of the GOP. And Statesrights, you have changed. You used to AIM me with questions and I gave you advice. Since then you have reallly been nasty to me. I hope that all members can resolve their political differences to be friends and do everything we can to make the forum fun and better.

[JohnFKennedy]

Stop blaming the UAC and look at the actual numbers of active posters and voters before the UAC.  If there were no UAC, the Atlas Democrats would have won every election and moderates and conservatives would have no representation.  The UAC made elections competitive around here - and after all, isn't that the point?  We're not really here to discuss issues or solve the great problems of the world.  We're here because we're political junkies and like the intracacies of elections.

The very point of the UAC IS to disrupt and dismantle the former two-party system that would have stifiled competition and eliminated the fun of competitive elections in the forum.  The Republicans complied... most of the Democrats did not get the memo.  As virtually every one of us is a hardcore partisan for one of the respective real parties... it is difficult for us to be impartial and support "the best man" for the job as long as the "real" party labels are ruining the show.

The problem lies in the way that the partise fractured with the entrance of the UAC.  The Republicans took the worst of it, losing not only their moderates but their conservatives as well.

now it seems that the UAC is gonna win everything. . . .

Hardly.

To further this point, the UAC lost the Senatorial Election in the North East against Tweed I seem to recall. Besides, we have only contested a few races, we are being picky, going with ones we have chances. We don't just field a candidate when there is no hope. Just like the two main parties do occassionally in Senatorial or Congressional Races.

[TheWildCard]

I'd just like to say you ran a good reace Steven as Governor of the Pacific I salute you on a good campaign.

[JohnFKennedy]

I would also like to congratulate Stevennick on running a good campaign and doing better than would have been expected when he entered the race as a Capitalist Pig .

[The Duke]

Let me just say, that I don't think anyone should blame anyone else for the Republicans not winning the election.  StevenNick earned his place as a candidate, and I think he earned a lot of respect from forum members for how he ran his campaign.