2024 Election Game (Sign Up/Discussion/Rules)

[Schiff for Senate]

Still following and enjoying this game  (even if the GOP Primary has gotten a little bit boring without DeSantis).

I’d say the fireworks on the Democratic side more than compensate for the lack of excitement on the GOP side.   

[Schiff for Senate]

Btw good luck winning NH now that Kerry has entered the picture. Unless he's not contesting NH? Seems like Spiral may be employing a Bloomberg Strategy and is not campaigning in early states but is instead focusing on winning in later states?

This aged terribly. Spiral is literally training all his fire at Cooper and doing nothing against Harris.

[Schiff for Senate]

Btw good luck winning NH now that Kerry has entered the picture. Unless he's not contesting NH? Seems like Spiral may be employing a Bloomberg Strategy and is not campaigning in early states but is instead focusing on winning in later states?

This aged terribly. Spiral is literally training all his fire at Cooper and doing nothing against Harris.

For now.

Yes please. And ASAP. Because Cooper is attacking Harris, but now it just looks petty, old, predictable and repetitive. If you tear into Harris too, that would be much more effective. We need to stop Harris in her tracks before she becomes the favourite again like she was when it was Harris vs Adams vs Cooper.

Right now my guess is her rock-solid debate response delivers her a decent win in NH (like over 5 points, probably), and NV is Safe Harris based on the polling anyway, so either Cooper wins SC or it's game over and Harris is basically the presumptive nominee (and if Cooper drops out, he wouldn't be particularly inclined to endorsing Kerry if all Kerry has done is attack him...).

[Schiff for Senate]

Sorry I couldn’t get in Feb 2-3 earlier…a lot of stuff going on IRL now that school 🏫 has started.

[Schiff for Senate]

Jesus I forgot all about including Carter's funeral in Cooper's schedule...

[Schiff for Senate]

Jesus I forgot all about including Carter's funeral in Cooper's schedule...

I think this one necessitates a barb next turn lol

It's been fixed now. Honestly I'd prefer you not attacking me on it because it'd just be confusing (now that I fixed my schedule) and a tad unfair since it was an honest mistake which I corrected. Attack me/Cooper on the issues, sure, but this might be a cheap shot.

[Schiff for Senate]

Requesting an extension. I can't get Cooper's campaigning details up today or anytime before tomorrow evening (after I get back home from school). A 24-hour extension would be appreciated and is necessary.

[Schiff for Senate]

I'm giving it 24 hours before Nevads starts.

…And as for the extension?

Requesting an extension. I can't get Cooper's campaigning details up today or anytime before tomorrow evening (after I get back home from school). A 24-hour extension would be appreciated and is necessary.

[Schiff for Senate]

Stop Corruption Now Act

Ayes: 50 (49 Democrat, 1 Republican)

Nays: 50 (all Republican)

Commentary:

Lester Holt: It seems that the Vice President will be required to break the tie . . .

Brett Baier: Lisa Murkowski, the sole Republican to vote in favour . . .

Anderson Cooper: We are on the verge of the most far-reaching oversight bill in history . . .

I honestly think the SCNA bill shouldn't have had such a rigidly partisan final vote. Some of the Democrats who've participated in insider trading themselves - and yes, they do exist; IIRC one or both of the WA senators have participated in it - should've been nays, and as for the Republicans, Collins at least should've been a yea.

Also, thanks a lot for making this a tie to begin with...all it does is boost Harris in the primaries. And Cooper will now obviously need to commend/praise Harris on her vote.

[Schiff for Senate]

Stop Corruption Now Act

Ayes: 50 (49 Democrat, 1 Republican)

Nays: 50 (all Republican)

Commentary:

Lester Holt: It seems that the Vice President will be required to break the tie . . .

Brett Baier: Lisa Murkowski, the sole Republican to vote in favour . . .

Anderson Cooper: We are on the verge of the most far-reaching oversight bill in history . . .

I honestly think the SCNA bill shouldn't have had such a rigidly partisan final vote. Some of the Democrats who've participated in insider trading themselves - and yes, they do exist; IIRC one or both of the WA senators have participated in it - should've been nays, and as for the Republicans, Collins at least should've been a yea.

Also, thanks a lot for making this a tie to begin with...all it does is boost Harris in the primaries. And Cooper will now obviously need to commend/praise Harris on her vote.

I would have had McConnell refuse to bring it for a vote in the first place had I still been GM. It doesn't really seem in character for him to allow a vote on this.

He (McConnell) would honestly probably decide it'd be too bad a look for him to not even bring this to a vote. Not that this is much better, since every Democrat has supported what should've been a straightforward, common-sense and bipartisan bill, and just one of fifty-one Republicans supported it.

[Schiff for Senate]

Alright then.

I quit.

I think you're overreacting.

This. GoTfan, you've been running the game quite fine, and we need you to continue moderating. This kind of rage-quitting isn't helpful.

[Schiff for Senate]

Alright then.

I quit.

I think you're overreacting.

I'll be willing to step back in for the interim (though election nights are definitelynot my forte), but I would ask that a full-time GM be found somewhat soon.

I get accused of bias whenever I go out to umpire. I didn't volunteer to moderate this game to get accused of the same, or to be second-guessed by everyone. I do that to myself enough already.

No one's second guessing you. You're running the game fine and you should continue running it, at least IMO, but if you want to quit, you do you I guess. As for "bias," I do have a few minor gripes, but that's to be expected and those will always be there. I don't think you're biased towards any particular candidate overall, and I don't think that anyone else does, either.

I get that I have criticized some of your choices, but those are honestly minor gripes... I'm really sorry if they sound like I'm second-guessing you and accusing you of bias; truly, it was just a little bit of commentary on my part. And as for NYE, I think he too just offers you alternative advice in good-faith (though NYE, I'd advise that if GoTfan continues moderating the game, you stop saying "I'd do this differently" or "I disagree with you on that," or at least reduce how often you say so, because it does sound a little bit like second-guessing and appears to be bothering GoTfan).

[Schiff for Senate]

Alright then.

I quit.

I think you're overreacting.

I'll be willing to step back in for the interim (though election nights are definitelynot my forte), but I would ask that a full-time GM be found somewhat soon.

I get accused of bias whenever I go out to umpire. I didn't volunteer to moderate this game to get accused of the same, or to be second-guessed by everyone. I do that to myself enough already.

No one's second guessing you. You're running the game fine and you should continue running it, at least IMO, but if you want to quit, you do you I guess. As for "bias," I do have a few minor gripes, but that's to be expected and those will always be there. I don't think you're biased towards any particular candidate overall, and I don't think that anyone else does, either.

I get that I have criticized some of your choices, but those are honestly minor gripes... I'm really sorry if they sound like I'm second-guessing you and accusing you of bias; truly, it was just a little bit of commentary on my part. And as for NYE, I think he too just offers you alternative advice in good-faith (though NYE, I'd advise that if GoTfan continues moderating the game, you stop saying "I'd do this differently" or "I disagree with you on that," or at least reduce how often you say so, because it does sound a little bit like second-guessing and appears to be bothering GoTfan).

Yeah, GoTfan did an excellent job. I just have a long history playing these, so armchair GM'ing is something I tend to do. When GoTfan puts as many years into these as I have, or when you do, you or he might find yourself doing it regularly too.

If I came off as abrasive in doing so, I apologize.

I think that this is sufficient. I've apologised for my minor gripes/criticisms, as has NYE for his armchair GM'ing. Now, GoTfan, it's up to you. If you'd like to continue as GM, great. We all like what you've done with the game and you've been a good (if, understandably, imperfect) GM. But if you'd still rather quit, we can respect that. NYE or somebody else can run the game instead.

NYE, maybe we should wait a bit to see everyone cool down first and see if GoTfan would really like to step away as GM.

I got a PM from him saying as much, but if he wishes to stay on after all, it goes without saying that I'd prefer that. I did suck at the job.

FWIW, assuming that you do become GM again, I think we should have someone who's not a current player helping with the primary writeups. This isn't meant as a slight towards Ashton but just an acknowledgement on unconscious biases and whatnot.

Ashton has been helping GoTfan with the primary write-ups? I missed that.

[Schiff for Senate]

Anyway, one way or another, the show must go on. Whether GoTfan will continue as GM or whether NYE takes over, let's keep this thing moving.

[Schiff for Senate]

Alright then.

I quit.

I think you're overreacting.

I'll be willing to step back in for the interim (though election nights are definitelynot my forte), but I would ask that a full-time GM be found somewhat soon.

I get accused of bias whenever I go out to umpire. I didn't volunteer to moderate this game to get accused of the same, or to be second-guessed by everyone. I do that to myself enough already.

No one's second guessing you. You're running the game fine and you should continue running it, at least IMO, but if you want to quit, you do you I guess. As for "bias," I do have a few minor gripes, but that's to be expected and those will always be there. I don't think you're biased towards any particular candidate overall, and I don't think that anyone else does, either.

I get that I have criticized some of your choices, but those are honestly minor gripes... I'm really sorry if they sound like I'm second-guessing you and accusing you of bias; truly, it was just a little bit of commentary on my part. And as for NYE, I think he too just offers you alternative advice in good-faith (though NYE, I'd advise that if GoTfan continues moderating the game, you stop saying "I'd do this differently" or "I disagree with you on that," or at least reduce how often you say so, because it does sound a little bit like second-guessing and appears to be bothering GoTfan).

Yeah, GoTfan did an excellent job. I just have a long history playing these, so armchair GM'ing is something I tend to do. When GoTfan puts as many years into these as I have, or when you do, you or he might find yourself doing it regularly too.

If I came off as abrasive in doing so, I apologize.

I think that this is sufficient. I've apologised for my minor gripes/criticisms, as has NYE for his armchair GM'ing. Now, GoTfan, it's up to you. If you'd like to continue as GM, great. We all like what you've done with the game and you've been a good (if, understandably, imperfect) GM. But if you'd still rather quit, we can respect that. NYE or somebody else can run the game instead.

NYE, maybe we should wait a bit to see everyone cool down first and see if GoTfan would really like to step away as GM.

I got a PM from him saying as much, but if he wishes to stay on after all, it goes without saying that I'd prefer that. I did suck at the job.

FWIW, assuming that you do become GM again, I think we should have someone who's not a current player helping with the primary writeups. This isn't meant as a slight towards Ashton but just an acknowledgement on unconscious biases and whatnot.

Ashton has been helping GoTfan with the primary write-ups? I missed that.

No, he'd be helping me with them. As far as I'm aware, GoTfan was doing them himself.

I see.

[Schiff for Senate]

Anyway: I motion that we all patiently wait at least a day or two for GoTfan to collect his final thoughts on being GM.

I say we give him 24 hours. If GoTfan announces he's changed his mind and will continue as GM, great. The game can go on. If GoTfan reiterates that he's not interested in playing as GM anymore, or doesn't say anything (in which case we take his silence to mean that his position is unchanged), after 24 hours, we can let NYE take over the game and continue going on.

Alright then. Find someone else to moderate it.  

I quit.

Huh? I thought you did an extremely solid job managing the game so far. Please reconsider your decision.

Agreed. I think GoTfan's been a good moderator, and while some of us (myself and NYE in particular) offered a few minor criticisms here and there, by and large we all approved of his performance (and he was praised for his handling of enough factors in the game, such as the primary night coverage). But if GoTfan does want to quit, I think we can give him a day to decide for certain if that's what he wants to do and after that respect his decision either way.

[Schiff for Senate]

It's been 24 hours now and GoTfan's not gotten back to us; I think he's made up his mind and doesn't intend to serve as GM any longer.

...So if NYE wants to reclaim the reins of GM and, for one thing, start coverage of the NV caucuses and set up the next round, that would be good.

[Schiff for Senate]

It's been 24 hours now and GoTfan's not gotten back to us; I think he's made up his mind and doesn't intend to serve as GM any longer.

...So if NYE wants to reclaim the reins of GM and, for one thing, start coverage of the NV caucuses and set up the next round, that would be good.

I hindsight, I think I'm going to act out of guilt here, and say that as pennance for driving GoTFan away, the right move from where I'm sitting might just be to let the game die.

...What??

[Schiff for Senate]

Okay, yeah, the game can't die! We have a VERY competitive and interesting Democratic Primary, and to just abandon it at this stage would be a very bad thing. I've dedicated several hours of my time over the past few months playing as Cooper, and so have (albeit to a lesser extent) Spiral and Ashton. This show must go on!

But, if you insist on not GM'ing, what logically follows is we must find a new GM. I would suggest myself for the role, but the obvious problem is I can't both be GM and play as Cooper (otherwise I'd certainly have fun running this game). A possibility is that, if (and only if) Spiral is up to it, he drops out and serves as GM instead? IDK and if Spiral would prefer to just play, that's obviously very understandable, but if he's up to it, that could be an option (ofc then the Democratic Primary would be a little less interesting and it'd just be Harris vs Cooper). If not Spiral, we'll need to find somebody else who's been following the game and who understands it, to run the game.

[Schiff for Senate]

If there is ne thing I can't stand, it's being armchair generalled. I get enough of that from my parents and when I go to umpire on the weekend. And honestly, after a weekend of being cursed at, threatened and spat on by angry fans, I've had enough of people running things from the backseat. I did not volunteer to run this because I wanted to be armchair generalled.

So, I take it you're agreeing with me, that allowing the game to die is the correct move?

I'll come back to it. It'd be a shame for it to die after coming this far.

However, there is to be no more backseat driving. If anyone has suggestions, I want to hear them, but no more backseat driving and no more armchair generalling. Like I said, I get enough of that from my parents that I have to see a psychologist twice a week.

We need more Republican candidates though.

THANK you. You're running the game fine, and moreover, the show must go on.

[Schiff for Senate]

So are we doing the NV caucus then? And going to the next turn?

[Schiff for Senate]

“Well! I gotta say, here in Vegas you need 3 in a row for a jackpot and I gotta say we just hit the jackpot in the primary race! *laughs*”

This was a good one, I'll admit.

[Schiff for Senate]

DELEGATE COUNT

Harris: 54 (21 from IA, 13 from NH, 20 from NV)
Cooper: 44 (19 from IA, 10 from NH, 15 from NV)

I am perfectly capable of keeping track of the delegate count myself.

Turn will end in 96 hours.

All I did was write it down for reference. I don’t know why you’re making such a big deal out of it, but in no way am I micromanaging or backside-driving by posting something for reference. Perhaps you can keep track of the delegates. I’m not denying that. But I posted this for my own benefit and for general reference, so that I could keep track. How is that such a problem?? In no way am I questioning your game-running authority or trying to backside drive. Please, stop thinking of it that way and making a big deal out of something that isn’t. By no means am I trying to “run the game” by posing some numbers for general reference, period, and you really need to understand that. There was no offense meant and I wasn’t trying to run the game.

[Schiff for Senate]

Vice President Harris has remained stone cold quiet about her record with Herbalife. Why? Because she doesn't want you to know that she had a big opportunity to prosecute a company that was preying on our most vulnerable, especially in Hispanic communities, and she never bothered to take it. This was at the same time that you had the federal government and many other states take action. California was ground zero for some of the worst offenses. Innocent, hard-working people had thousands scammed away from them in many cases.

How can you possibly have had this issue on your radar for years and not felt compelled to do your best for working people? This is a damning part of the Vice President's record that she will have to face up to. Lest some Democrats out there think I'm merely racking up baseless mud, you all can Google this and see a bipartisan wave of anger on this issue. If we don't resolve this in the primary now, you can bet the Republicans are going to take full advantage of this and bring it up over and over in the fall. We're already at a time when our party has been struggling with Latino voters, and we need to regain their trust back through action and not just talk. I respectfully have concerns about whether Kamala Harris can make that happen.

John Kerry TV/Radio Ad: Herbalife

Herbalife was a pyramid scheme marketing company that scammed thousands of Americans out of their life savings. They preyed upon the most vulnerable, especially in poor Latino neighborhoods without strong English skills.

The FBI opened an investigation into their practices. So did the Federal Trade Commission, as well as many states.

Who did not investigate Herbalife? California under then-Attorney General Kamala Harris.

Prosecutors in the Attorney General's office wrote lengthy memos about holding Herbalife accountable, but Harris never opened an investigation or even acknowledged the prosecutors. At the same time, she was accepting donations from wealthy Washington lobbyists working for Herbalife.

Activists came knocking at her door. Still nothing. Harris had the opportunity time and time again but refused to act.

The federal government won a $200 million settlement against Herbalife's fraud. Kamala Harris? Thousands for her campaign but $0 for the American people.

I'm John Kerry and I approve this message.

The ad shall play in the following states: Alabama, American Samoa, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Missouri, and Wisconsin.

Thank you for ripping into Kamala Harris. To dislodge her/Ashton from frontrunner status, this kind of double-pounding by Cooper+Kerry will be essential (and, needless to say, it's more effective coming from Kerry than from Cooper).

[Schiff for Senate]

Next round? Want to see the final poll results for SC, as well as the results of the SC-primary...it's a must-win for Cooper (albeit not quite as much as it was for Biden in 2020 - but then, Biden was able to win SC in a landslide and here we're talking about Cooper winning it by only a few points).