Atlasian Civil Liberties Caucus (ACLC)

[King]

BTW, it is Quahog, RI not Quohog, RI.

[Q]

BTW, it is Quahog, RI not Quohog, RI.

Duly noted.  Thank you, King.  Always keeping Atlasia on its toes.

[KEmperor]

BTW, it is Quahog, RI not Quohog, RI.

Regardless, I nominate that town.

[Max Power]

BTW, it is Quahog, RI not Quohog, RI.

I thought we had to nominate a real city?

[KEmperor]

BTW, it is Quahog, RI not Quohog, RI.

I thought we had to nominate a real city?

Shh.....

[Q]

Welcome to Portland, Oregon[/color]

site of the
First Triannual ACLC National Conference[/color]
Friday, August 5 through Tuesday, August 9[/b]

[/size]Our first-ever Caucus meeting will open tomorrow, and it is my pleasure to welcome all Caucus members, our invited speakers, and any and all other interested Atlasians to beautiful Portland, Oregon, our member-chosen conference site.

During the conference, the floor will be open to any Atlasian for speeches, questions, or comments.  I have sent invitations directly to every candidate in the August general elections to address our organization, and several candidates have informed me that they will be making the most of this opportunity.

Caucus members will vote on candidate endorsements on Tuesday through Thursday of next week, with balloting to begin after the conference closes.  Endorsements will be announced next Thursday or Friday.

We will take a look at some contested platform planks and discuss further what we stand for and how to encode those values in a platform amenable to as many members as possible.  Hopefully we can also do some public thinking about our group's role within Atlasia and its politics.

Thank you all for coming, and until the conference opens tomorrow, enjoy the Oregonian hospitality.  Please help yourself to the cocktails and cheese cubes that are now being served in the lobby.

[KEmperor]

We should have our conference on top of that mountain.  First one to the top sets the agenda....GO!

[Speed of Sound]

We should have our conference on top of that mountain.  First one to the top sets the agenda....GO!

well this is just great. the only shoes i brought are made of solid titanium. Go figure.

[Q]

[gavel] The First Triannual Atlasian Civil Liberties Caucus National Conference is hereby open.

[Q]

Any candidates is welcome to make a statement at any time over the course of our conference.

Furthermore, I would like to encourage Caucus members to now voice their opinions on any matter related to our organization.


I have been in communication with Keystone Phil, a candidate for the Senate from District 2.  He has informed me that he regrets that he will be unable to address us in person due to a vacation, but I thought I would pass along to you all his kind words for our mission.  He said, in part, "Send the Caucus my best wishes.  We may not always agree but I believe that there is good in the way the organization is always alert when it comes to fighting for our rights."

[George W. Hobbes]

::Mr. Hobbes approaches to the podium to John Mayer's "Bigger Than My Body"::

Good evening,

First of all, I'd like to extend my thanks to Chairman Q for asking me to speak to this distingushed body, and for this opportunity to flesh out my positions on issues pertaining to the freedoms granted to us by the Constitution. 

Secondly, I wish to inform you that you're not going to like what I have to say.  I told this to your chairman, but in the true spirit of civil libertarianism, he extended his invitation to me anyhow.  I'm not gonna pull any punches right now.  I'm not gonna say anything for the purpose of pandering to your agenda.  I'm just gonna speak the truth, as I see it.

Let's start with the war on terrorism.  A lot of this caucus is probably prone to quote Ben Franklin when he said that those who would deny an essential liberty for security deserve neither liberty or security.  Now, let me tell you all my main problem with that.  This country has a bad habit of treating everything our Founding Fathers wrote or said as if it's holy writ. 

I don't see a reason for this.  Washington owned slaves, Jefferson had an affair with a married women in France, and the Constitution, their holy grail, has been amended twenty-six times. 

Quoting Franklin as if he's God Almighty doesn't do a damn thing when it comes to preventing a terrorist from hijacking a plane or bringing a bomb in a subway station.  The Patriot Act hasn't violated any of your freedoms: the oft-quoted library-card search has never been used, for example. 

There are those who say that we're slipping into becoming like the terrorists and Islamists when we accept that we might need to be a little more bolted down as a society are speaking nonsense.  America rests on a continum, not a slippery slope.  By the definition put forward by civil libertarians, the income tax is the first step towards seizing our money.  We know that's not the case, obviously, as the income tax has been legal since 1913.

Next, let's talk about the seperation of church and state.  I think that religious freedom is perfectly acceptable in American society, and we should respect all faiths and the right of all faiths to assemble.  We also shouldn't be hesitant to say "Merry Christmas", "In God We Trust", or have nondemoninational prayer in public schools.  Seperation of church and state was founded by Jefferson, who wasn't even present at the constitutional convention.

Now, about abortion.  To me, and to millions of Atlasians, abortion is murder.  We believe that a child is a child from conception, and putting state-sanctioned regulations on when a child isn't or is a child is ridiculous and splits moral hairs.  Who are we to really say a child is not a child at thirty-five weeks, six days, but not at thirty-six, for example?  Why aren't we seeking to protect unborn children, and rather than focusing on abortion as a civil liberty of a woman (a fallacy since a baby's DNA is seperate from the mother's at conception...it is certainly *not* her body)-I heard the booing back there.  Let me finih, let me finish-why aren't we seeking, yes government auspices to eliminate the root  causes of abortion?  Why not seek to give free pre-natal care, arm clinics with ultrasounds (once a woman who wanted an abortion sees her baby on ultrasound, eighty percent elect to refuse an abortion), and even crack down on poverty? 

Pro-abortion advocates (and I use pro-abortion in the sense that people are pro-gambling...if you favor legalized gambling, you're pro-gambling...same should go for abortion.  Pro-life and pro-choice are terms we use to pretty up a very ugly debate.), pro-abortion advocates often say abortion should be safe, legal, and rare.  Keeping abortion legal will not make it rare, my friend, and when every third child is being taken from "choice", it's high time that we started making it so!

All right.  That's it.  I'm finished. 

Thank you for listening, I don't expect your support, but thank you for listening...and God bless you all.

[Speed of Sound]

*a TV is pushed out in front of the stage*

Hello everyone! i am at a house party thrown by a supporter, so i come to you via satellite.

I would like to begin by saying that when considering your endorsement vote, ignore the fact that im in the caucus. look at the views and the personality.

There are two major things on my agenda right now.

ONe is to have each state set up a committee (consisting of 1 member of each 'major party') and fund it each year to go around and buy and protect farmlands and empty lots that will surely be bought out by people who will build large developments in these places. Some land needs to be protected, and we need to get on fixing this problem as soon as we can. (note:the commitee will not  consist of actual posters)

My other big thing is to make some 'controversial'/arguably 'pork' program taxes optional to pay. you dont like the fact that so much is going into NASA? dont pay for it. dont like whats going on in our labs? (stem cell research, cloning) dont pay for it. if enough people find these to be useful programs, they will get enough funding to go through with the prgram. only a few taxes would be treated this way, and those taxes would be decided by the senate.

But sometimes, we have to look beyond just the views of the candidate, and look at thier personality. If your 'radical', but can comprpmise, work with others, have a cool temper, and will consider all debate, i believe your more fit for office than someone who is more moderate, but is arrogant, hates to compromise, constantly insists others are wrong, instead of just "having another opinion", and is very hotheaded.

i find myself to be all of the qualities of candidate 1, and i think that that should be very important.

Thank you everyone for listening to what i have to say, but i must go, as i have to give another speech soon. plus they just brought out the little (vegetarian, of course ) cocktail weenies! Gotta go!

[Q]

Thank you, Mr. Hobbes and LiberalPA, for your excellent speeches.  Some very interesting ideas and proposals.

I think it's great that one of our members, LiberalPA, is not taking our endorsement for granted, but rather taking the time to fight for it.  I didn't know you were a vegetarian though?  That makes two of us.

And to Mr. Hobbes, especially, thank you for taking the time to come here today and address us.  I find that all too often in Atlasia, candidates campaign mostly on friendly turf.  It takes backbone to state your views to a crowd, and even moreso when addressing those likely to disagree with you.  Any other candidates who may not believe in the mission of our group, or any other extra-party group here in Atlasia, I point to this speech as an example of trying to connect with those with whom you disagree, and it's not always by pandering and agreement that you win someone's respect. (Edit: I'm not accusing anyone of doing that, by the way.  Just a general statement.)

[The Duke]

Thank you all for bringing your convention to the city of Portland in the wonderful Pacific Region!

I'd like to speak briefly to you about civil liberties issues that are of particular importance to this Region, the liberty of drivers.

I want the Caucus to know that I oppose all seat belt laws.  I take the libertarian view, and I think people had ought t o have the liberty to make decisions about their own safety.  There is no questin seat belts save lives, and I always wear mine.  However, there is no reason the government should be able to force me to protect my health in this way any more than the government should be able to force me to go the gym or count carbs.

I also want to ease speed limit laws, which are an onreous infringement on citizens liberties.  I often make the drive from my home in Los Angeles to see my family in San Diego.  To avoid the traffic on the 405 Freeway during the day, I often leave for San Diego very early in the morning, 3 or 4 am, or very late at night.  I am well rested and sober-- and the only one on the road.  Why should I be forced to drive 65 mph when not another car is in sight?

In the end, its not street signs that provide arbitrary speed limits, but the judgement of drivers that I feel provides the best safety precaution possible, and Germany which has no speed limits on its freeways has proven this with a lower accident rate than in America.

I hope this provides an insight on my attitude sufficient to warrant the endorsement of your organization, thank you.

[MHS2002]

Hello ACLC Members:

I'd like to thank ya'll for giving me the opportunity to speak in front of your caucus for the second time now. As I'm sure all of you know, the caucus and I disagree on a few issues. However, I feel we should instead focus on our similarities and not our differences.

In the Mideast, I have voted to lower the age at which citizens can buy pornography and alcohol. I am also a member of the Atlasian National Rifle Association, an organization whose goal is to protect the right to keep and bear arms. I have also shown myself to be one who is open to compromise. For instance, when my views on abortion clashed with most of the Mideast, I was able to draft an abortion initiative that passed with near unanimity. 

In short, while I am not a member of the ACLC, I appreciate the work it does to further the cause of freedom in Atlasia. If I am reelected to the Senate, rest assured that I will work closely with the ACLC to draft bills that are palatable to this caucus and the Atlasia as a whole.

[Ebowed]

A good speech, Senator.  How do you feel about ending official governmental sanction of the Pledge of Allegiance and other types of legislated patriotism?

[MHS2002]

A good speech, Senator.  How do you feel about ending official governmental sanction of the Pledge of Allegiance and other types of legislated patriotism?

To be honest the current Pledge of Allegiance bill is something I have been going back and forth on for some time. As I said in the debate, I personally have no problem with the pledge; however, I recognize that there are those that have issues with the pledge as it stands right now. Of all the proposed changes to the pledge, I prefer leaving it as it is, but in an unofficial capacity. Obviously I have to vote on the bill eventually so that should tell you ultimately where I stand. On other issues of legislated patriotism, I oppose a constitutional amendment to ban flag burning, but I would also oppose getting rid of the national anthem or anything along those lines.

[Defarge]

*Defarge Approaches Podium to Scattered Applause*

Good evening members of the ACLC.

First, I’d like to extend my thanks to Lt. Governor Q for allowing me to address this great caucus.  I’d like to congratulate you all on being able to build the ACLC into the first caucus which has been able to stand the test of time, and still stay current and significant. It is always good to see both sides of the aisle unite, if only on certain issues.

But, unfortunately, I’m not here exclusively to sing your praises.  I’m here because I’m running for Senate.  I’m here because while you and I may not agree on everything, we both agree that civil liberties are a right, not a privilege; that every Atlasian should expect the rights to free speech, assembly, religion, and choice.

Now, we don’t agree on everything, and I won’t pretend that we do.  I believe that our security must and should come first before everything else.  I’m in favor of keeping our most dangerous weapons out of the hands of criminals.  I’m also in favor of maintaining the topless ban, quite unfortunately .

But there, our disagreements end.  Together we agree that every Atlasian has the right civil unions with another Atlasian, regardless of gender.  Together we agree in the separation of church and state.  Together we agree that every Atlasian has the right or pray in his or her own way, regardless of where they are or who they’re with.  Together we agree that every Atlasian woman has the right to choose.

Together we agree that every Atlasian has the right to their civil liberties, and that no government has the right to take them away (unless they’re criminals, terrorists, or women devoted to walking around topless )

Thank you.

[Akno21]

Good speech Defarge.

What are your feelings on the Patriot Act, as passed by the old government in 2001?

[Defarge]

While I support the spirit of the bill, protecting America, I am against the execution.  I see no need to allow the government to snoop around in our libraries for instance.

[Q]

As I have stated elsewhere, a situation out of my control has dictated that I take a limited leave of absence, and thus my participation in Atlasia has and may continue for a short period to be markedly decreased.  Thus I apologize for my limited involvement in our organization as of late.

Nonetheless, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to each of the candidates who took the time and made the effort to address us here.

Unless there is any motion to extend this conference, I would like to call it to a close.  Candidates may continue to make speeches here if they wish.

Voting on candidate endorsements will begin in the Voting Booth.

[Q]

Voting on endorsements has closed.  The results follow.

The members of the Atlasian Civil Liberties Caucus endorse the following candidates in the August elections:

Midwest Governor: Cheezewhiz

Pacific Governor: Immy

Pacific Lt. Governor: Robert Goldwater

Southeast Governor: Bono

Southeast Lt. Governor: Q

District 1 Senate: Defarge

Disrict 2 Senate: Al

District 3 Senate: RBH

Distirct 4 Senate: Ebowed

District 5 Senate: Gabu

Some votes were very close, but there were no ties.  Congratulations to each of these candidates.  Feel free to either publicize or shun our endorsement.  Thank you to all the candidates who made the effort to address us.  I hope that you felt that merely getting your message out there made it worthwhile.

[Defarge]

I would like to thank the ACLC for their endorsement. 

[Ebowed]

I would like to say that I appreciate the caucus' endorsement very much.

[CheeseWhiz]

I would like to thank you for the endorsement, too.