Confirmation Hearing: Winston Disraeli (SoIA) [Confirmed]

[Marokai Backbeat]

Winston Disraeli has been nominated by the President for the position of Secretary of Internal Affairs.

This thread shall be open for questioning of the nominee for a maximum of 72 hours unless further questioning requested by the Senate.

Fire away.

[k-onmmunist]

Hello Senators

I'm sure you are surprised as I am by my appointment to the office of SoIA. I certainly had no idea it would happen until I recieved a PM from Purple State asking me such. Now, a lot of the reaction to my appointment has been negative, which I expected. I have extreme beliefs, I'm always going to end up alienating someone. However, in this role, I will be working within the cabinet to secure reforms we can all agree on. Atlasia isn't going to become a dictatorship of the proletariat. Anything the government wants to do has to be approved by the President, and Purple State is obviously a good deal more moderate than me.

You can rely on me to provide activity for the role. And you can rely on me to try and break the stagnation and consensus in Atlasian politics (as I have already tried ). I also believe I can act by giving information on government economic policy to the public and thus allow for constructive debate around our platform. I will work with the GM to give our opinions on passed legislation and its effect upon the economy. And most of all, I seek to define the office of SoIA as a real role and not just a sinecure with no real power.

Thanks for reading, now I am open to any questions

[Franzl]

What's the purpose of this office again?

[k-onmmunist]

To do with econ and domestic policy, basically. It's never been very well defined.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Okay lets start off with a really hard question.

On April 20, 2010 the was a massive explosion on an oil exploration platform in the Gulf of Mexico, that led to a spill of epic proportions. Where were you on April 20th?  

[#CriminalizeSobriety]

I'll be voting nay. I am worried about the policies of the Interior department being diametric to what they were one week from the next, as this will ensure mass confusion amongst the Atlasian people.

[Purple State]

I'll be voting nay. I am worried about the policies of the Interior department being diametric to what they were one week from the next, as this will ensure mass confusion amongst the Atlasian people.

I assure you the Interior Department will maintain a steady and clear policy direction throughout my administration. I feel that Winston is the best and most active person to implement my objectives.

[k-onmmunist]

Okay lets start off with a really hard question.

On April 20, 2010 the was a massive explosion on an oil exploration platform in the Gulf of Mexico, that led to a spill of epic proportions. Where were you on April 20th?  

At home, in Britain. Talking to Annie

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Thanks for the vote of confidence.

[k-onmmunist]

Alright folks, let's face it. This position has become stale. I know for a fact there have been calls before for its abolition, including from our current Vice President himself. One of the main reasons Purple State and Marokai Blue wanted me to take this on was to try and invigorate this office and give it a new role. This role needs several things, in my humble opinion:

• More co-ordination with the GM and the Executive as a whole to make it part of a unified government economic policy
• Ensure a bigger role for the SoIA in creating economic policy and advising the Executive as a whole upon objectives for the economy
• Give the DoI a role as a centre of information on recent economic policy and allow commentary and accountability for government

I ask you to approach this with an open mind and not go in with an automatic 'nay'. Think about it. I will have to work within the government and compromise on objectives. So there will be no collectivisation of agriculture or cultural revolution or so on. I will work with the government on things we all share in common. So I ask you to mull over this and vote with an open mind.

[Franzl]

I will vote aye to confirm. I am satisfied that the nominee will work to give this office a purpose, and I do not believe his extreme personal views will affect his ability to perform.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

I have, in the past, written legislation that left a lot of decision making up to the SoIA, and currently I am working on a bill that will do the same in a slightly different arena. Should such authority be left up to the SoIA, for him to be delegated as he/she feels fit or in your view should these important decisions be given to a specific agency?


Also what country do you prefer to play as, in Victoria: Revolutions? This one will be hilarious when I am finished with it.


What would be your reaction if I decided to make this hearing interesting by pretending to be Joe McCarthy?


Would you like a pillow, I understand those chairs we force you to sit on are uncomfortable?

[k-onmmunist]

I have, in the past, written legislation that left a lot of decision making up to the SoIA, and currently I am working on a bill that will do the same in a slightly different arena. Should such authority be left up to the SoIA, for him to be delegated as he/she feels fit or in your view should these important decisions be given to a specific agency?

Agency, probably. I strongly support decentralisation in government.

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Japan and Britain

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I am good American conservative! Honest!

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Pass

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

I have, in the past, written legislation that left a lot of decision making up to the SoIA, and currently I am working on a bill that will do the same in a slightly different arena. Should such authority be left up to the SoIA, for him to be delegated as he/she feels fit or in your view should these important decisions be given to a specific agency?

Agency, probably. I strongly support decentralisation in government.

Okay. I will reconstruct my legislation accordingly.

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Japan and Britain

From what you have said, you play Japan frequently. Do you feel that you deserve more the title of "The Mikado" then the eccentric moderator who calls himself that?

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I am good American conservative! Honest!

I have here a list of 2,500 communists, socialists, and anarchists which you have associated with in the last two years (pulls out a dinner receipt and waves in the air).

What is your view on public housing in Atlasia? Its condition, quality etc? Ways to improve it?

[k-onmmunist]

Okay. I will reconstruct my legislation accordingly.

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No. I don't like opera

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It's not my fault I go to a college!

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I wouldn't know without being furnished with more details.

[k-onmmunist]

Has anyone other than NCYank got any questions?

I want you to vote for me based upon what I've promised to bring to this office, not upon what my own beliefs are. I will work pragmatically within the government on objectives we all agree on.

[Badger]

Better late than never:

Winston, how active a role do you see your office playing in the budget process (and no, PS, I haven't forgotten ? Would you agree formulating a budget could be quite time consuming, and thus almost perfect for a position dealing with economic and domestic issues and, frankly, leaving one with a lot of time on ones hands?

[k-onmmunist]

It could be a good idea yes, but I'm not sure yet of my exact role. I would certainly be willing to, as long as I had help from Al and other members as I'm still new to the Executive branch

[Bacon King]

I'll be voting to confirm this nominee.

[Bacon King]

A vote to confirm this nominee has begun. Senators, please vote aye, nay, or abstain.

[Franzl]

Aye

[Bacon King]

Aye

[Badger]

AYE. He'll be very active, and basic economic and domestic policy will be governed by PS.

[Hans-im-Glück]

AYE

[bullmoose88]

Present and Abstaining.

[#CriminalizeSobriety]

Nay.