Flip the 6th (gameplay thread)

[GoTfan]

Commissioner Thomas Ryder announces campaign in Corvallis

Hello, hello! Great to be here with all of you!

 
Two years ago, we faced a dangerous moment. A moment where democracy itself was threatened in this country. Amidst a pandemic, economic devastation, and a housing crisis we elected a man who campaigned on empathy, unity and restoring America in Joe Biden. Over the last two years, President Biden has passed our nation's largest infrastructure bill in years, but a larger fight remains ahead: a fight against cynicism, a fight against this idea that things can never  get better.

Wel., things can get better, as this year has proven! Employment is up, wages are up and things are only going to get better!

When I founded Ryder Community Development in 2009, we made sure that each project was done sustainably and and on time. As your County Commissioner, I have spearheaded the development of our roads and our much-needed Hubbard Bridge Replacement. I have asked twice for your votes, and now I ask for them again as a candidate for the 6th Congressional District of this great state!

As your Congressman,  I pledge that I will always put your interests ahead of anyrhing else. This campaign will take no money from lobbyists, PACs or SuperPACs. This campaign will be entirely funded by the people. We will fight climate change, we will hold our government to account, we will make the richest of us pay their fair share.

Together, we can make a difference in Washington!

Campaign motto: Make a Difference

[GoTfan]

Ryder holds rally in Salem

"Thank you all for coming here!

People often ask why I'm the sort of politician I am: a proudly progressive Democrat. After all, a private business owner is not usually the natural start for someone who supports the same policies as Senator Warren or Senator Sanders.

Nonetheless, those progressive ideals are what has made our country great. The idea of equality for all, that workers are free to join a union, that students should not be left saddled with loans their whole lives, that those at the top should pay a bit more; these are not radical ideas. Many countries in the world do the same thing already.

These ideals informed my apporach as a developer. From the start, we set out to create a business that was friendly to the environment and provided a living wage to everyone who worked for us. Paying good wages-and this is something Republicans don't realise-is simply good business.

So let's bring good business to Washington, and send a message to those who want to trample over the poor and middle class!"


Ad to play in Portland media market: Job creator for Congress

Ryder: "I was interested in how things moved around from the start. How we got places, where we built our homes, why we decided to build something here and not there. Ending up as a land developer was probably inevitable.

At Ryder Community Development, we created jobs for construction workers, planners, administrators and everything in between for people in Salem and Corvallis. We paid a living wage so our workers didn't have to worry about putting food on the table. We made sure our worker were looked after, and able to achieve their full potential.

I'm a job creator, and it's time we stopped surrendering that narrative to Republicans. I'm THomas Ryder, and I'm running for Congress."

[GoTfan]

@ComRyder: The Republicans can't seem to work out who or what they are.

[GoTfan]

@ComRyder: The Republicans can't seem to work out who or what they are.

@HeatherCooper: The Democratic candidates cannot spell their own first names correctly.

@ComRyder: The 'com' means 'Commissioner', Representative.

[GoTfan]

Schedule for Thomas Ryder

December 1-7: County Commissioner duties.

December 8: Rally at Oregon State University

December 9-10: Travel to Salem and Meet with Sen. Jeff Merkley

December 11: Rally at Willamette University, Salem

December 12: Town hall at the Pringle Hall Community Center in Salem

December 13: Return to Corvallis for announcement.

"Due to the people of Benton County going out and getting vaccinated, we are today announcing that the Commssion, acting on the appropriate health advice, has voted that outdoor masks are no longer required in the county. They will remain required in indoor public settings, but no longer are required outdoors."

December 15: Policy speech in Newport

December 17: Rally and town hall at Western Oregon University, Monmouth

December 18: Rally in Dallas

December 19: Meet with Will Music, President of the Marion-Polk-Yamhill Central Labor Chapter of the state AFL-CIO

December 21-22: County Commissioner duties

December 23-31: Christmas and New Year with family.

[GoTfan]

Tom Ryder's key issues

-Poverty. 13.4% of our nation lives below the poverty line, and 21% of Oregonians are forced to rely on food stamps. This is unacceptable in the richest nation on the planet. No one should be living in poverty in the United States. I support rigorous anti-poverty measures, including reducing taxes for those in poverty, providing good-paying jobs, and expanding public housing to fight homelessness.

-Universal healthcare. It is past time our nation had healthcare for all, and the private sector is not meeting the demand for it. Everyone should be covered, regardless of whether or not they have enough to purchase private insurance.

-Climate change. The science is long settled; we have to reduce emissions and transition to renewable energy without delay. Oregon has been one of the leading states in this transition, but work continues. I support the Green New Deal as a way to provide jobs, grow our economy, and fight climate change.

-Fighting corruption. Corruption affects people's trust in government and degrades our country overall. I support the establishment of an Independent Commission Against Corruption to fight that influence at all levels of the federal government.

[GoTfan]

Speech by Tom Ryder

"The Republicans can't even go one single day withut sniping at each other! If you wanted a summary of the modern-day Republican Party, look at their candidates here. They can't stop attacking each other for more than a single day.

The fact is that this is their focus now. Their focus is on each other. One of them couldn't even work out that the first three letters of my Twitter handle refer to my job as a County Commissioner.

Look, this Republican Party is completely rudderless, unsure of where they want to go. Oh sure, they make noises about being different kinds of Republicans, but they all do the same thing. Think about it: Bush and Trump claim to be completely different, yet they both decided to worsen our debt by passing irresponsible tax cuts that simply didn't work.

Republicans are all the same, no matter what they claim to be."

[GoTfan]

Speech by Tom Ryder

"The Republicans can't even go one single day withut sniping at each other! If you wanted a summary of the modern-day Republican Party, look at their candidates here. They can't stop attacking each other for more than a single day.

The fact is that this is their focus now. Their focus is on each other. One of them couldn't even work out that the first three letters of my Twitter handle refer to my job as a County Commissioner.

Look, this Republican Party is completely rudderless, unsure of where they want to go. Oh sure, they make noises about being different kinds of Republicans, but they all do the same thing. Think about it: Bush and Trump claim to be completely different, yet they both decided to worsen our debt by passing irresponsible tax cuts that simply didn't work.

Republicans are all the same, no matter what they claim to be."

Rep. Cooper: "This statement is as baseless as would be my equating all Democratic candidates with Yuri Testikov. Clearly, you do not see the Republican field clearly - it is negative, but it is negative because of a diversity of candidates as far as ideology is concerned (something absent in the Democratic primary): we have one Clinton-Trump voter; one far-right believer of conspiracy theories; a radical who supports UBI and legalizing hard drugs; and one (1) mainstream conservative (who supports increasing, not decreasing, taxes on the rich). It's easy for there to be less negativity in a Democratic primary with 4 mainstream liberals who support Biden's far-left, radical agenda, and one socialist and borderline communist who, thankfully, represents the fringe faction of your party, but in a party that's Big Tent and holds diverse views, some negative comments to highlight different views is necessary (though I admit that the Republican primary is a little too negative, and because of that, Dale Scott and I signed an anti-negative campaigning agreement). Do your homework before making what are, quite frankly, baseless and embarrassing comments."

@ComRyder: Baseless and embarrassing? Like the time you couldn't work out what the first three letters of my handle stood for?

[GoTfan]

Doyle Brooks @DoyleBrooksForCongress

I am the only candidate who truly opposes mask mandates, vaccine requirements, and socialist restrictions! The people have suffered enough! It is time for a return to normality to happen instead of being a lie used by the government to deceive us! My utmost priority as a US Representative will be to give the people of Oregon 6th their lives back!

Dale Scott @DaleForOregon

There is just one thing wrong this. I have stood against mandates throughout the entire campaign

Doyle Brooks @DoyleBrooksForCongress

Given that Nike, the company in which you had a high-ranking position, has used said mandates, I think you might be against mandates just as much as you are for President Trump.

@ComRyder: Well this is interesting. Should a private company have vaccine mandates? Surely private companies have very right to.

[GoTfan]

Doyle Brooks @DoyleBrooksForCongress

I am the only candidate who truly opposes mask mandates, vaccine requirements, and socialist restrictions! The people have suffered enough! It is time for a return to normality to happen instead of being a lie used by the government to deceive us! My utmost priority as a US Representative will be to give the people of Oregon 6th their lives back!

Dale Scott @DaleForOregon

There is just one thing wrong this. I have stood against mandates throughout the entire campaign

Doyle Brooks @DoyleBrooksForCongress

Given that Nike, the company in which you had a high-ranking position, has used said mandates, I think you might be against mandates just as much as you are for President Trump.

@ComRyder: Well this is interesting. Should a private company have vaccine mandates? Surely private companies have very right to.

Doyle Brooks @DoyleBrooksForCongress

I disagree, it is discriminatory to fire people based on their health choices. However, my point was mostly about Mr. Hillary Voter pretending to be against mandates while his company uses them. Anyway, now that I got your attention Commissioner, when do you anticipate that the people of Benton County will be freed from indoor mask mandates? Is the answer never by any chance?

@ComRyder: Governor Brown's executive order on masks requires them. I'm sure you're aware that state authority trumps local.

[GoTfan]

Thomas Ryder's January 2022 Schedule

January 1-5: Spent with family in Corvallis

January 7: Meet with Sen. Jeff Merkley to discuss progressive priorities in Congress

January 8: Rally in Salem. Reach out to voters put off by Testikov's radicalism. Focus speech on support for Build Back Better and the infrastructure bill.

January 10: Return to Corvallis for Commission announcement.

People are naturally concerned about the Omicron variant that is currently working its way across America and the world. Today, I will attempt to cut through the noise.

To the best of our knowledge, Omicron is milder than Delta. Getting vaccinated further improves your chances or escaping hospitalisation.

Even a mild variant of COVID remains a concern though, and can easily overwhelm our health system if not managed effectively. Exercise caution as always, and please get vaccinated. If you have already been vaccinated, please get your booster shot; it has been proven to be at least 87% effective against the Omicron variant.

Following the scientific advice, Benton County will not be reinstituting outdoor mask mandates. We simply ask all citizens of the county to exercise caution and common-sense.

We are coming out of this pandemic, make no mistake. Stay alert, not anxious."

January 13: Rally in Detroit. Focus message on progressive priorities, such as the Green New Deal and and Build Back Better. Spruik leadership credentials forged during the height of the pandemic.

January 14: Strategy meeting in Marion Forks. Develop comprehensive strategy fot voters in the district's east.

January 16: Debate practice.

January 17-24: County Commissioner duties

January 26: Rally in Stayton. Focus message on previous career as business owner and job creator. In particular, focus on successful housing project Ryder Community Development undertook.

January 28: Zoom call with Bernie Sanders to dsicuss progressive priorities in Congress.

January 29: Policy speech in Lincoln City: Fighting Our Way Out Of The Pandemic. Focus on need for infrastructure investment and Build Back Better. Reiterate that Omicron is a milder variant.

January 30-31: Personal time.

[GoTfan]

@ComRyder: In response to some inane tweet from earlier, allow me to reiterate: Evidence suggests Omicron is more mild, but even that can cause trouble for our health system. Exercise caution, get vaccinated, and we'll be fine. Again, Benton County will NOT be reinstating outdoor mask mandates. Indoor mandates are currently enforced by the state; the commission has no control.

[GoTfan]

@ComRyder: Actual tyranny looks like encouraging people to overturn a free and fair election and threatening to hang the VP, as Trump supporters attempted to do on January 6 2021. Only a handful of Republicans have denounced that attack on our democracy. Still waiting on the others.

[GoTfan]

@DaleForOregon on Twitter

Left-wing politicians are forcing masks on Oregonians of all walks of life, yet they lack the respect for those they serve to follow their own rules

@ComRyder Sorry? I wear a mask as a matter of routine, have been double vaccinated and will be getting my booster shot as soon as I can.

[GoTfan]

(edited my earlier schedule for a special announcement)

January 30

@ComRyder: Ten years ago, I asked Freya to marry me, and she said yes (to my everlasting shock). Now we have a son and daughter and spend whatever free time we have as a family. Here's to another ten years of marriage!

[GoTfan]

Doyle Brooks @DoyleBrooksForCongress

@ComRyder Do you support or oppose Kate Brown's tyrannical indoor mask mandate?

@ComRyder: I tend to avoid arguments with conspiracy theorists who support wannabee authoritarians

[GoTfan]

Doyle Brooks @DoyleBrooksForCongress

@ComRyder Do you support or oppose Kate Brown's tyrannical indoor mask mandate?

@ComRyder: I tend to avoid arguments with conspiracy theorists who support wannabee authoritarians

Doyle Brooks @DoyleBrooksForCongress

@ComRyder What authoritarians? I do not support Biden and Brown. Anyway, what this sad attempt at dodging means is - I am ashamed of my actual answer. Pathetic.

@ComRyder: The cries of a conspiracy theorist who supports a man who attempted to overturn an election via mob.

[GoTfan]

Doyle Brooks @DoyleBrooksForCongress

@ComRyder Do you support or oppose Kate Brown's tyrannical indoor mask mandate?

@ComRyder: I tend to avoid arguments with conspiracy theorists who support wannabee authoritarians

Doyle Brooks @DoyleBrooksForCongress

@ComRyder What authoritarians? I do not support Biden and Brown. Anyway, what this sad attempt at dodging means is - I am ashamed of my actual answer. Pathetic.

@ComRyder: The cries of a conspiracy theorist who supports a man who attempted to overturn an election via mob.

Doyle Brooks @DoyleBrooksForCongress

Yeah, yeah, whatever. Do you support indoor mask mandates or not?

@ComRyder: I support any measure to prevent someone getting this virus that 800,000 Americans have died from. Republicans on the other hand seem just not to care about that.

[GoTfan]

Doyle Brooks @DoyleBrooksForCongress

@ComRyder Do you support or oppose Kate Brown's tyrannical indoor mask mandate?

@ComRyder: I tend to avoid arguments with conspiracy theorists who support wannabee authoritarians

Doyle Brooks @DoyleBrooksForCongress

@ComRyder What authoritarians? I do not support Biden and Brown. Anyway, what this sad attempt at dodging means is - I am ashamed of my actual answer. Pathetic.

@ComRyder: The cries of a conspiracy theorist who supports a man who attempted to overturn an election via mob.

Doyle Brooks @DoyleBrooksForCongress

Yeah, yeah, whatever. Do you support indoor mask mandates or not?

@ComRyder: I support any measure to prevent someone getting this virus that 800,000 Americans have died from. Republicans on the other hand seem just not to care about that.

Doyle Brooks @DoyleBrooksForCongress

"ANY" measure?! All I can say to Benton County residents is: beware. The people deserve their lives back! This is the type of hysterical thinking that I invite you to protest against in Salem on the 25th. NO MORE MANDATES NOW!

@ComRyder: The Commission has removed outdoor mask mandates within the county, in line with the agreed science. I have stated that omicron is a milder variant. We know that it is more transmissible, and that it still can cause deaths and hospital overruns, and that it is more likely to spread indoors. I understand that shouting from the sidelines is what you do, but you're running for office now. Act like an adult.

[GoTfan]

Doyle Brooks @DoyleBrooksForCongress

@ComRyder Do you support or oppose Kate Brown's tyrannical indoor mask mandate?

@ComRyder: I tend to avoid arguments with conspiracy theorists who support wannabee authoritarians

Doyle Brooks @DoyleBrooksForCongress

@ComRyder What authoritarians? I do not support Biden and Brown. Anyway, what this sad attempt at dodging means is - I am ashamed of my actual answer. Pathetic.

@ComRyder: The cries of a conspiracy theorist who supports a man who attempted to overturn an election via mob.

Doyle Brooks @DoyleBrooksForCongress

Yeah, yeah, whatever. Do you support indoor mask mandates or not?

@ComRyder: I support any measure to prevent someone getting this virus that 800,000 Americans have died from. Republicans on the other hand seem just not to care about that.

Doyle Brooks @DoyleBrooksForCongress

"ANY" measure?! All I can say to Benton County residents is: beware. The people deserve their lives back! This is the type of hysterical thinking that I invite you to protest against in Salem on the 25th. NO MORE MANDATES NOW!

@ComRyder: The Commission has removed outdoor mask mandates within the county, in line with the agreed science. I have stated that omicron is a milder variant. We know that it is more transmissible, and that it still can cause deaths and hospital overruns, and that it is more likely to spread indoors. I understand that shouting from the sidelines is what you do, but you're running for office now. Act like an adult.

Doyle Brooks @DoyleBrooksForCongress

Well, any measure means...well, any measure. It is honestly frightening to see that even a year after a vaccine was developed there are still mask mandates, and even worse, people who support such policies. The left wing hysteria has reached its peak, I suppose.

@ComRyder: They wouldn't be necessary if your network and others like it didn't push anti-vaccine hysteria.

[GoTfan]

Doyle Brooks @DoyleBrooksForCongress

@ComRyder Do you support or oppose Kate Brown's tyrannical indoor mask mandate?

@ComRyder: I tend to avoid arguments with conspiracy theorists who support wannabee authoritarians

Doyle Brooks @DoyleBrooksForCongress

@ComRyder What authoritarians? I do not support Biden and Brown. Anyway, what this sad attempt at dodging means is - I am ashamed of my actual answer. Pathetic.

@ComRyder: The cries of a conspiracy theorist who supports a man who attempted to overturn an election via mob.

Doyle Brooks @DoyleBrooksForCongress

Yeah, yeah, whatever. Do you support indoor mask mandates or not?

@ComRyder: I support any measure to prevent someone getting this virus that 800,000 Americans have died from. Republicans on the other hand seem just not to care about that.

Doyle Brooks @DoyleBrooksForCongress

"ANY" measure?! All I can say to Benton County residents is: beware. The people deserve their lives back! This is the type of hysterical thinking that I invite you to protest against in Salem on the 25th. NO MORE MANDATES NOW!

@ComRyder: The Commission has removed outdoor mask mandates within the county, in line with the agreed science. I have stated that omicron is a milder variant. We know that it is more transmissible, and that it still can cause deaths and hospital overruns, and that it is more likely to spread indoors. I understand that shouting from the sidelines is what you do, but you're running for office now. Act like an adult.

Doyle Brooks @DoyleBrooksForCongress

Well, any measure means...well, any measure. It is honestly frightening to see that even a year after a vaccine was developed there are still mask mandates, and even worse, people who support such policies. The left wing hysteria has reached its peak, I suppose.

@ComRyder: They wouldn't be necessary if your network and others like it didn't push anti-vaccine hysteria.

Doyle Brooks @DoyleBrooksForCongress

They aren't necessary in the current situation either. There is no reason for this left wing tyranny, none.

@ComRyder: I'd like your scientific basis for that. Omicron is causing breakthrough infections, which is why i'm lined up for my booster shot. We also know that it spreads more easily than Delta and particularly indoors.

[GoTfan]

Head-to-Head Matchups
Thomas Ryder (D) 46%
Doyle Brooks (R) 38%
Undecided/Other 16%

Christine Jang (D) 45%
Doyle Brooks (R) 40%
Undecided/Other 15%

Doyle Brooks (R) 41%
Yuri Testikov (D) 40%
Undecided/Other 19%


Thomas Ryder (D) 43%
Dale Scott (R) 42%
Undecided/Other 15%

Christine Jang (D) 42%
Dale Scott (R) 42%
Undecided/Other 16%

Thomas Ryder (D) 43%
Heather Cooper (R) 41%
Undecided/Other 16%

Christine Jang (D) 44%
Heather Cooper (R) 42%
Undecided/Other 14%

Statement from the Ryder campaign: This latest round of polls proves that Commissioner Ryder is the best candidate to take on the Republicans this November. We are heartened by the support the people of the district have given to Commissioner Ryder, but we will not stop. Votes are earned, not given, and we intend to earn every vote we can get.

[GoTfan]

Doyle Brooks @DoyleBrooksForCongress

The fake polls are designed by the mainstream media to trick us into nominating weak RINOs who would depress turnout, giving seats to Democrats on a silver platter! Ignore them! We will have the last laugh!

Dale Scott

"Did you just call yourself a RINO?"

This game is dead now. I at least am not playing it anymore, and I don’t think anybody else is either given that we went nearly 6 months without any activity in the game.

Personally I'd be willing to restart if there is interest from the other players and the GM.

Let's see if OBD is still up to being GM. I'm not sure I'm still willing to play now since I'm in the middle of another game and have kind of lost interest in this game, but if OBD is willing, I might be game too, we'll have to see. And if OBD is willing and I'm not, I can always have Cooper (ironically the other game I'm playing right now also has me playing as a Cooper - Roy Cooper) drop out.

If there is interest from the players I suppose I can look into restarting this. However, it seems like intrest is solely on the Republican side at the moment, and I would prefer to have some of the old Democrats jump back in as well if a reboot is to occur.

I'd be very interested. I can manage the 2024 game and play something on a smaller scale like this.