Talk Elections

Welcome to the White House.


I hereby appoint former President Tmthforu94 to the Wiki Commission.

Jack Polnut

Can someone please sticky this ?

PMing them works best.

I just PMed Gustaf about the Senate Noticeboard and included this as well. So both should be done soon.

Thank you, Mr. President, for the appointment.

The Presidential Game Reform Panel


The President has finalised the current make-up of his reform panel with the appointment of Assemblyman Cincinnatus of the Northeast. He will join former Vice President Marokai and UDL Chairman belgiansocialst.

The terms of reference for the panel are as follows.

• The Game Reform Panel will meet in a manner and at a frequency of their choosing.
• The Panel will be required to produce an interim Game Reform Options Report by 15 August
  
  
• The Panel will be required to present the final Game Reform Report by 15 September to allow the President and the Senate to consider its contents before the end of the current term.
  
  
  • The Panel will be able to examine all governmental and governance functions of the Federal government, however, the repeal of the Game Reform Act passed under the last administration will not be considered.

Neat!

Excellent choices, I hope that the Commisssioners will be comfortable working with the Senate and offering input on some proposals I will be offering throughout the term. There's lots to be done and this is a good group.

I would expect the panel members to garner advice and information from sources outside of themselves.

Thank you Mr. President for the opportunity, and I'm sure the three of us will work diligently in pursuit of this commissions goals. 

Sorry for the unexpected absence over the holiday weekend; I was staying with some relatives and was unaware they no longer had an internet connection.

In light of Rowan Brandon's decision to withdraw himself from Senate consideration for the position of Game Moderator. Given the dedication and attention to detail that this position requires, I have made those my primary determining factors.

I therefore nominate former Vice President Marokai for the position of Game Moderator.

Marokai will retain his seat on the Presidential Game Reform Panel for the time-being.



President Polnut

I'm more than happy to do both. :P

Thank you, Mr. President.

An excellent choice, Mr. President.

If I am not going to hold the job, there's no one else I'd rather see do it than Marokai.

You put your FAMILY before the INTERNET!? are you MAD?!

Excellent choice, Mr. President. :) Marokai has been excellent in every position he has served.

A wonderful choice

I'll only support this nominee on one condition.

That he agrees to change his name to Marokai GM, or Marokai Master, or Game Blue, or somesuch.

I demand he do so or I shall use the most dangerous weapon in my arsenal in order to attempt to force him. I shall share every last original joke I've ever created.

President Polnut will attend the Afghanistan International Security Assistance Force  summit to be held in Istanbul, Turkey on 8-9 July.

The President's Remarks to the Atlasian Business Council Annual Dinner
The Nyman Hilton
Nyman, DC
Tuesday 5 July 2011


Thank you ladies and gentlemen for the invitation to be here with you today.

One comment that I got from a lot Atlasians as I travelled around the country during the campaign was  ‘why would you want to be president when the economy is so bad?’

Now, this isn’t exactly an unreasonable question. I know that I have certainly weighed up the considerable challenges we as a country face, but the Atlasian economy is in a precarious state, this is something we all know.

I outlined my economic platform during the campaign, but I want to expand a little on the basic tenets of my plan.

The first step is to reduce our expenditure – this, of course is basic common-sense. As in our own lives, when you’re in debt, the first thing a financial planner... or even your cab driver will tell you is that you need to find ways to reduce your spending, to find funds to put towards paying down your debt.  For a government, there are of course some different considerations.

I will ask all government departments to find economies, but I have placed clear conditions on those economies. Frontline services must be protected and we must not remove funds from effective stimulus programs. I will also ask the Department of Internal Affairs to examine all of our subsidy programs. If the subsidies do not provide any benefits for the people or if they serve no other purpose than to inflate bottom-lines, they will go.

I will also direct our Military to find savings, we will reduce our overseas military presence by 25% over the next two years. We will reduce our presence in Iraq and Afghanistan starting within this current term.

But this is only part of the formula. To use the household analogy again, when you have those debt issues, you also try to get additional sources of income.

We need to make a reappraisal of the efficacy of the current taxation systems. We need to take seriously the dereliction of the responsibility that our corporate sector has to the wider community that they also are part of. We must close the loopholes that allow a multi-billion profit making multi-national corporation to pay not a cent of tax... in fact, often the government pays massive tax refunds to these corportations.

Equally we cannot stifle economic innovation with punitive or non-competitive tax regimes.

On both of these fronts, balance and strategy are needed.

Unless things change, and people are willing to compromise, we face some very difficult choices. The services we enjoy are under a real threat.

As you will know, the Senate is considering a major reform of our Social Security system, now I should stress that I support the aims of this Bill. But I will be looking very very carefully at the economic details of this Bill. We are looking at making some aggressive cuts, so in that light we need to look at this from both the side of equity and effectiveness to ensure that this Bill does not risk our economic recovery or that this Bill’s funding cannot be maintained for the long-term to deliver the desired effects.

I want to thank the business community for their patience, but in a market economy it is a two-way street. I will close by saying this, if you need people and you can afford to bring them on, please do it. The economy cannot recover until the private sector has the confidence to expand.

Thank you all.

The President will address the nation on Monday evening to discuss the Afghanistan, Iraq and Libyan conflicts.



White House Press Office

Mr. President,

The Register Thread Bill (https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=137725.msg2951247#msg2951247) has passed the Senate and is presented for your signature or veto.

Sen. NC Yankee,
Senate Dean.

I have appointed former Game Moderator Yelnoc to the Presidential Game Reform Panel.


President Polnut
- Air Force One

A very welcome addition to the group.

Mr. President,

The Infant Abandonment Act (https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=137098.msg2952871#msg2952871) has passed the Senate and is presented for your signature or veto.


Sen. NC Yankee,
Senate Dean.

Mr President,

The Giving the Vice-President Annoying Work Act (https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=137334.msg2952873#msg2952873) has passed the senate, and is presented for your signature or veto.

Sen. NC Yankee,
Senate Dean.

The President's Address to the Nation - Our Involvement in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya


My fellow Atlasians,

I have chosen to make my first address to you as President to discuss an issue which weighs heavily on this country,  and on me, as Commander-in-Chief, our military presence in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya.

My personal views on the Iraq conflict are well documented. I never supported the deployment to a conflict that I believed we had no legal justification to engage in. Saddam Hussein was a blood-thirsty dictator, on that there is no confusion. However, my view is that once our young men and women are deployed in harms way, we must do all we can to ensure their safety, as well as their exit from the conflict as soon as conditions allow.

Therefore, after consultations with Military advisors, the External Affairs Department and our allies, including the Iraqi Government, Atlasia will bring home 50% of our current military deployment by February 2012, with more than half of those troops home by Christmas. In relation to the remaining forces, their status will be determined later in the year, once we have undertaken further responsible analyses of the situation on the ground.

Yesterday I returned from a conference of leaders involved in the Afghanistan conflict in Istanbul. What is clear is that death of Osama Bin-Laden created room for a reappraisal of the need for current troop numbers in Afghanistan. I supported our deployment in response to the 9/11 attacks as the Taliban Government of Afghanistan had aided and sheltered those who had engaged in that atrocity.  However, the strategy after the Iraq War started went significantly off-track. We need to be realistic about the situation in Afghanistan, the possibility of a peaceful settlement is certainly there. But the situation remains incredibly delicate, and the consequences of a return of Taliban rule especially for women and minorities cannot be underestimated. On the other side of that, we must examine whether or not, after nearly a decade of fighting, how much more we can achieve through direct conflict.

Atlasia will commence drawing down its forces in Afghanistan at the end of the current fighting season. We will have more than a quarter of our combat forces home by February 2012 – with plans in train to have almost half home by June 2012.

The other conflict is that currently underway is Libya, at my Inauguration I supported those engaged in the Arab Spring. But what I said then, remains now as I warn against expectations that the progress in these countries, most that have never known genuine Democracy, will be smooth or swift. Our democracies have had centuries to make mistakes and learn lessons, while we must guard against abuses, we cannot be their minders. We are liaising with the rebel Libyan administration in Benghazi and will work to support them in their goal of liberating Libya from 40 years of oppressive rule.  Our military involvement in Libya will remain, but not as an offensive force, but one there to defend civilians and civilian infrastructure in Benghazi. We will also be expanding our aid to the rebel forces, and also assisting them through logistical and intelligence support.

If we want the Arab Spring to work, we must make sure that we are there to encourage them to create their own destinies, the changes must be genuine and in order to maintain its credibility we must not fight their wars for them.  

However, as Commander-in-Chief I will always listen to the advice of my Military and foreign policy advisors.

Thank you and good night.

The President has agreed to address the National Small Business Forum in Dallas, Texas on Friday. He will speak on his soon-to-finalised taxation policy.

He will depart on Thursday evening to attend a fundraising dinner in Houston, before arriving in Dallas on Friday morning and will return to Nyman that night.


White House Press Office

The President has conveyed his sympathies to President Karzai of Afghanistan after the assassination of his half-brother.

He condemns this act and reminds the Taliban that they cannot be included in peace negotiations, when they act in a way that does not show peaceful intent. He want to stress to the Taliban that there are deep consequences to their long-term interests when acting with such barbaric shortsightedness.


White House Press Secretary

Mr. President,

The Island Enfranchisement Act (https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=137884.msg2955924#msg2955924) and it is presented for your signature or veto.


Sen. NC Yankee,
President Pro-Tempore

President Polnut wishes to condemn the terrorist attacks that took place in Mumbai.

"What has happened is an vile and cowardly atrocity against innocent civilians. These attacks have not, and will never work and only steel our resolve to defeat that most repugnant ideology. I send my deepest thoughts on behalf of all the Atlasian people to those who are suffering in Mumbai today".

President Polnut will be visiting the newly recognised state of Oceania from July 21-23.

He will arrive in Hagåtña, Guam on July 21 and depart from Pago Pago, American Samoa on July 23 and return to Nyman on July 24.

The President's schedule has been changed to allow him to address the National Small Business Forum Dinner Tonight in Dallas, rather than the lunch tomorrow.

The fundraising dinner in Houston has been shifted to Friday night.

He will depart Dallas straight after dinner for Austin where he will spend most of tomorrow.


White House Press Office

The President's Address to the National Small Business Forum Dinner
Dallas Convention Centre
Dallas, Texas
Thursday 14 July 2011


Ladies and Gentlemen, I want to thank you for the invitation to be here with you today, also for allowing me to accept this invitation so late in your organisation for this forum. As you can understand being a new President, I have a lot of people who want to meet with me, and who I want to meet with. My schedule over the last few weeks has been hectic to say the least.

I want to speak to this gathering of Atlasia’s small business people about an issue that I know is of great concern for you and, indeed, for all Atlasians, our economy and how we can make it stronger and more vital. Our deficit is slowly receding, but we until we can direct funds to pay down our debt, the bill we owe will continue to grow, which means we must act now.

During the campaign I made clear that in order to address the Government’s debt and deficit issues, we need a two-pronged effort. We need to reduce our expenditure in the first instance. So far, I sent instructions out to our Government departments to find economies, but not economies that lead to more people looking for work. My administration is looking at all Federal Government subsidy programs. Subsidies are not handouts they have a purpose, and if they don’t serve that purpose they will be ended immediately.

On Monday night I announced the plan for our military to leave Iraq and Afghanistan over the next couple of years, and to re-focus the mission in Libya to a civilian defense force. These measures, while being based on military advice are also enabling future budgets to not have to deal with great economic weight of those deployments.

The second factor in my economic recovery plan is a serious re-examination of our taxation system. The first thing I want to announce here today is that I will be working to reduce the corporate tax rate on those businesses with annual incomes of less than $500,000. It is our small businesses who have suffered most during these difficult times, and we need to encourage you to get hiring, and put your businesses on the sound financial footing, the bedrock of our employment sector deserves. To put it simply, we need more small business jobs and I believe this is the way we can do it.

We will not increase corporate tax rates at the higher end, but we will cut the loopholes to ensure that the big end of town pays the full amount that they should, because in the end, businesses are part of the community too and should pay their fair share of tax.

Alongside that, we will re-organise personal income tax rates and brackets – there will be a detailed announcement shortly, but we will reduce the income tax rate for those who earn less than $35,000 per year – there will be small increases to higher-brackets, these are difficult times and they call for difficult actions. However, we will also expand the brackets to allow people to earn much more, before they need to pay a higher level of tax.

Now, I know that some on the other side politics believe that the panacea for economic problems is to cut government spending, while at the same time, cutting taxes. My plan cuts spending and my plan cuts taxes. But I believe that the tax cuts I am proposing, which are offset throughout the taxation system, are strategic and right for our economic conditions.

At a time when we still have $12 trillion in national debt, we cannot afford broad-scale tax cuts – we need to be smart and I believe focusing corporate tax cuts at small business is the smart thing to do and personal tax cuts at low-income workers is the fair thing to do.

With difficult times, come difficult choices, we do not have the luxury to do what we want to do, based on political or ideological allegiance – as President, I have a responsibility to every single man, woman and child in this country. Therefore I must advocate for what we have to do to. We either have to make some difficult choices now which will result in largely temporary pain for greater payoff down the track – or we face a future which will be very different from now. 

We need a strong small business sector and I believe these measures will help bring this about, but it cannot work without your help.

Thank you all and my best wishes for a successful forum. 

President Polnut will be visiting  the People's Republic of China, Japan and South Korea next week, in advance of his visit to the newly recognised state of Oceania.

He will depart Nyman from Los Angeles on Sunday evening.

The White House will be releasing specific details of the President's Tax Reform Plan within 48 hours, including a chart showing the proposed changes.


White House Press Office

I love that you respond to my updates. You're a Game Moderator's dream. :P

After a hour-long struggle, President Polnut made a great poo at precisely 9.00 PM EST.

Tomorrow, the President will present his achievement to the school tour.


White House Press Office

President Polnut made a flying visit to Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan this evening. The President was on the ground for 4 hours and met with the Commanders of the Atlasian and other Coalition forces.

He is now en-route to Guam to commence his tour of the newly incorporated Atlasian state of  Oceania.


White House Press Office

While en-route to Guam to commence his tour of the newly incorporated Atlasian state of  Oceania, President Polnut had a tasty pizza. After consuming his pizza, President Polnut performed number one.


White House Press Office

Isn't impersonating the President against the law?

Mr. President,

The Drought Mitigation Act of 2011 (https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=138265.msg2964037#msg2964037) has passed the Senate and is presently awaiting your signature or veto.


Sen. NC Yankee,
President Pro-Tempore

I am the law.

Interesting you say that...

Isn't that a definition of my office?

I'm not "impresionating" Polnut. If I were, I'd change display name and avatar.

I'm merely making fun of his pretentious, frequent updates.

Mr. President,

The Seventh Amendment to the Consolidated Electoral System Reform Act (https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=137298.msg2965013#msg2965013) has passed the Senate and is presented for your signature or veto.

Sen. NC Yankee,
President Pro-Tempore

I don't find the President's updates pretentious. I like them. :)

As do I. He responds to my updates and takes his job seriously. I think he's doing splendidly and shouldn't change a thing.

President Polnut made a statement on arrival in Pago Pago, American Samoa.

"I was utterly horrified by the attacks in Oslo today, and I am pledging the support of the Atlasian Government in any way that might be needed to assist the Norwegian people".

Further comment will be forthcoming once more details are known.

Mr. President,

The Amendment to the Forum Afairs Reform Act (https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=138095.msg2966264#msg2966264) has passed the Senate is and awaiting your signature or veto.

Sen. NC Yankee,
President Pro-Tempore

The Tax Reform Plan details will be released on Wednesday morning - the details have required some additional modelling before final details were made public.

President Polnut will be visiting Oklahoma and Texas tomorrow to see first-hand the impacts of the severe drought that has hit those two states hardest.

The President will stop in:
- Oklahoma City, OK;
- Woodward, OK;
- Amarillo, TX;
- Plainview, TX; and
- Lubbock, TX.

ps... forgive formatting.



The President's Tax Policy

Please note that further economic modeling has meant some change

Corporate Taxation
At a time when unemployment is a huge weight on our ability to rejuvenate our economy, we need to make sure that business, and especially small businesses are able to direct more funds towards bringing on more people and ending the cycle of low business confidence.

The current system

Corporate Taxes:
Percentage of:   Taxable Income
15%             $0 - $50,000
25%            $50,000 - $75,000
34%            $75,000 - $100,000
39%                   $100,000 - $335,000
34%              $335,000 - $10,000,000
35%            $10,000,000 - $15,000,000
38%            $15,000,000 - $18,333,333
35%            $18,333,333+

The new proposal

Corporate Taxes:        Percentage of:   Taxable Income 12%                  $0 - $50,000 23%                  $50,000 - $75,000 30%                  $75,000 - $100,000 31%                  $100,000 - $335,000 33%                  $335,000 - $10,000,000 34%                  $10,000,000 - $15,000,000 35%            $15,000,000 +

There is understanding that many will not be pleased by any reduction in corporate taxation, but I ask that two considerations are undertaken.  The first is that we need jobs to be created in the private sector, we can only do so much from Government. The second is that these cuts will not be instituted until the Senate has passed a Bill closing corporate tax loopholes – so the practical Budgetary impacts will be minimal in relation to physical government revenue.

Personal income tax

Percentage of:     Single Individual 0%                    $0 - $8,025 14%                   $8,026 - $32,550 25%            $32,551 - $78,850 28%                   $78,851 - $164,550 35%                   $164,551 - $367,700 41%             $367,701 - $1,000,000 50%                   $1,000,001 - $2,500,000 60%             $2,500,001+

Proposed changes

Percentage of:   Single Individual
0%           $0 - $9,500
13%     $9,501 - $35,000
24%           $35,001 - $80,000
28%    $80,001 - $170,000
35%    $170,001 - $367,700
41%      $367,701 - $1,000,000
50%*   $1,000,001 - $2,500,000
60%*   $2,500,001+

*I am anticipating reducing those top two brackets to 49% and 58% respectively, but not until the economic situation has stablilised.

These rates and brackets will be carried across to apply equally to couples who file their taxes jointly - however, they do not apply to those couples who file separately.

I have decided to not raise taxation on those two upper-levels. Further modeling has determined that this would have a negligible impact on the Budget.

The short-term impacts of these changes may mean that the deficit may be increased ever-so-slightly, but the medium-long-term impacts are to provide incentives for business to get hiring again- and that can only have a positive effect on our economy and the country’s prosperity going forward.

I have a question.  This may seem stupid to many people, but tax law is one area you put everything I know on the back of a postage stamp.  So here goes, does the current tax rate and the one you are proposing go for total income or last dollar earned as it does in the US.

For example, would it be 60% of 2.5 mil or would it be 60% on the last dollar earned between 1 mil and 1 dollar and 2.5 mil. 

Just wondering.

They're marginal rates, so it would be 60% for income between 1 and 2.5 million, yes.

I surprise vist by future politican RFK. The next Robert F Kennedy.

Thanks.  When it comes to taxes, I really need it spelled out.  Feel a little stupid that it was that easy.

Mr President. According to my calculations, each bracket would result in the following.
The 13% bracket is $3,314.87
This means that for your income between $9,501 and $35,000, you'd pay that in taxes.
The 24% bracket is $10,799.76. Combined total being $14,114.63
The 28% bracket is $25,199.72. Combined total being $39,314.35
The 35% bracket is $69,194.65. Combined total being $108,509.00
The 41% bracket is $259,242.59. Combined total being $367,751.59

At 49%, the next bracket would be $734,999.51
At 50% it would be $749,999.50
A surtax on the taxes above $380,000.00 rate of 3.5% would bring the total to $748,047.39
A similar surtax on a 58% rate on incomes up to $10,000,000 would have the following numbers. 60%=$4,499,999.40 --- 58%=$4,439,999.42 --- W/Surtax $4,502,249.40

In addition, a deficit-surtax would be easier to remove, and could be added to the original legislation. I'm curious if you'd support such a move.

you want to wait to lower top marginal rates until after the economic situation is stabilized? I don't follow the reasoning there. Also do you have any specific corporate 'loopholes' in mind you want to deal with?
I must admit I was hoping for more a much more sweeping reform proposal, substantially lowering rates and ending tax expenditures and all that.

I don't believe in trickle-down economics ?

The economy is in too delicate a state to deal with broad tax reforms - especially if you're talking about broad-scale cuts. This is targeted and strategic cutting, both where I think it's needed and where the Budgetary impacts will be minimal.

so you don't see any economic advantage from reducing taxes on the rich, you just wanna do it at some point cause your a nice guy?

 I wish you could direct me to what economic theory your using to say that a few miniscule tax cuts are going to be good for the economy, while much lower rates  be catastrophic, since it's not anything I'm familiar with. And if you think that ending deductions are bad, what do you call 'closing loopholes'?

This to me, is a first phase.

If you noticed in the response to the Sentiel article

My key immediate economic concerns are

1. Increase business confidence
2. Lower unemployment
3. Maintain reduction in the deficit
4. Lower the debt

Now, I make no apologies for focusing my cuts at small businesses - who are getting some significant cuts, and the personal income tax cuts at lower-middle incomes.

I've made no secret that I believe the top two tax brackets are too high, and I have also made clear that it is my intention to drop them, but I don't have time for economic theory, let alone one that has scant evidence of its effectiveness, I want what will work in practice. You should be thrilled considering that I had people trying to get me to lift upper-bracket tax rates.

We need to increase employment now, especially in small businesses, I'm making cuts to small business corporate tax rates - and personal income tax cuts for that workforce.

I said this before, and I'll say it again - our economy is not stable enough for the kind of sweeping cuts many on the right want.

I may as well make this point now, there will be a second-phase of tax reforms - what I am proposing now is about addressing our short-term needs.

But let's be frank, I expected that some of the left would be angry that I was cutting any taxes and I expected the right to be annoyed that they were deep or broad enough for them.

But, as President, I cannot dictate this - this will be up to the Senate, and I'm prepared to work with the Senate on this.

The President will be have limited availability this weekend - any pressing matters should be directed to the Vice President.

I guess that means you don't like my surtax proposal?

PM me and we can go through it.

Have you made arrangements for a Senator to introduce this tax reform preposal, yet?

On behalf of my trouble making constituents in the Midwest region, I would like to picket your office for no good reason whatsoever.  :)


Oh, and I would very much like it if you supported my green energy bill.  Pleaaase? 

a) get out of my office...

b) as I said before, I think the Green Jobs Bill is a good one... but the detail isn't very good.

I think it should be about phases - you can't just say - here's $x and say that you'll start building renewable plants from next year and have them done by 2018...

It's about financial and existing workforce planning as much as creating jobs in a new sector.

It's not just about making people feel good by dumping money in the Green sector - it should be done very smartly.

I think a process for providing incentives within existing industry to 'green-up' is a good start - then processes to transition them across ... etc etc.

As it stands, I can't support it but I don't think there's enough strategy behind it. 

Someone obviously lost their ability to detect humor.  But thanks for actually responding, this time. 

I'm teasing ... lol... sigh

Meh, okay.  lol

The President will be making a brief press statement 8pm EDT.

I will be brief.

It is with a heavy heart that I have removed the Secretary of Internal Affairs from his post due to inactivity.

I asked him to come on board after a lengthy period of discussion in which he convinced me of his enthusiasm for this game and especially for the opportunities this position offered. Early on, he showed the enthusiasm and forward thinking I had hoped he would bring to this vital position.

Unfortunately after more than 2 weeks without any engagement and attempts at contact from the Game Moderator and myself, and taking into account how important it is to have an active SoIA – it is clear that he cannot continue in his current position.

I would like to announce, that I have asked the former SoIA, Yelnoc to again serve in this role. I look forward to a thorough, but speedy confirmation hearing.

I will also be issuing a Cabinet code of conduct – this will outline a series of responsibilities that Cabinet officers will have and the consequences for not abiding by those rules. Being in the Cabinet is a privilege but one that requires commitment and I intend to make this change to make sure that all those who enter those important positions do so knowing what is expected of them.

Thanks.

Cabinet code of conduct

Keeping in mind that being in the Cabinet is a privilege; and

Noting the importance of an active Cabinet in the proper functioning and therefore good government for the people of Atlasia...

I have written this code of conduct to ensure that those who enter the Cabinet do so in the correct spirit and with commitment to their roles and the Atlasian people.

1. Any Cabinet official who is absent/unavailable without prior notice for more than 14 days will be removed from office

2. Any Cabinet official who anticipates being absent or unavailable for more than 30 days with notice must submit their resignation to the president

3. Any Cabinet official who breaches Cabinet-confidence will be immediately removed from office

4. Any absences of between 5 and 14 days must be noted by a 'leave of absence' notice in the White House thread.

()

The President will be traveling to San Francisco tomorrow to meet with the Governor of the Pacific and other senior lawmakers to discuss issues relating to the disquiet in Oceania.

He will also attend a fundraising dinner in Los Angeles tomorrow evening.

The President has regretfully accepted the resignation of the Attorney General.

"I thank him for his service, and wish him every success with his future endeavours"

Anyone interested in the position should contact the President.

The President will be addressing the ASPCA National Conference Fundraising Dinner at the Sheraton Hotel, Chicago on Saturday night.

He will speak not only on the present Canine Protection Bill before the Senate, but the broader issue of animal abuse and the need to take crimes against animals seriously before the law.

The President's remarks to the Atlasian Society for the Conservation and Preservation of Animals (ASPCA) Annual Conference fundraising dinner

Sheraton Hotel and Towers
Chicago, Illinois


Ladies and gentlemen,

Thank you so much for the invitation to speak with you all today at this very important event.

The ASPCA has a proud history of advocating for the humane treatment of all creatures great and small,  bringing light and hope into the lives of animals who want nothing more than to be loved and cared for, and the opportunity to return that unconditional love that we have experienced from our pets, and I hope this will continue for many many years to come.

I have a long been an advocate for greater protections for those animals with whom we share this planet. I had planned some issues later in this term, but the current Bill to guard against canine abuses has sparked me to start a broader dialogue.

I believe the issues around animal abuse are too important to allow our political discussions to be distracted by sensationalism.

I do support the intent behind the Bill to stop the availability of dog meat – we must make it so commercially and economically unattractive that it becomes more of a non-issue than it already is.

However, I want to address my firm views on animal cruelty and the law.

Like all of you here, I have heard horrific stories of people abusing helpless animals. People kicking kittens onto railway tracks, chopping the nose, leg and ear off a puppy, setting a cat on fire… as far as I’m concerned abuse of the helpless is to me one of the lowest acts you perform and if there’s a hell, there is a special place reserved for all who commit such foul and disgusting crimes.

However, very often, the legal response to these crimes is ‘well, it was just a cat or dog, or horse’. People who are charged and found guilty of crimes of animal abuse end up with mere slaps on the wrist. But what does that say about us as a community, that we don’t consider the willful torture of an animal to be a serious enough crime to warrant serious punishment?

Now  a lot of people who consider these issues to be unimportant, think of them to be issues of people who throw red paint, who live on tofu, and worry more about plants and animals while humans suffer. This is not true, I believe people have room for compassion for both people who are need of help and to prevent cruelty and abuse against animals.

I personally believe that this extends to all animals including those we use for food and other goods. Those animals may not have a full-life, and I’m sure many here would rather that we didn’t use animals for anything, but if they are to have that end, it should be done with the utmost respect for that animal.

I believe these issues require a lot of work from all of us who believe that animals are not tools placed on this planet to use as we please, but creatures who feel as much as we do, and deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, even if it is to end their lives.

You have my best wishes for a successful conference, and in me you will always have an ally.

Thank you all.

Bill on your desk, Mr. P.




(link to debate thread) (https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=138193.0)

The President welcomes the positive economic news released today.

"We have a long way to go to bring Atlasia back to the prosperity we once enjoyed. But these positive numbers show that we are certainly on the right track. My administration continues to work to build business confidence and reinforce the Government's economic credentials"

The President will be visiting Pittsburgh and Detroit on Tuesday to meet with those interested in the state of the Atlasian manufacturing industry.

The President will be speaking on the Somalian Famine and what Atlasia will be doing to assist on Sunday evening.

Mr. President,

The Atlasian Green Jobs Act (https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=138487.msg2990053#msg2990053) has passed the Senate and is presented to you for executive action.


Sen. NC Yankee,
President Pro-Tempore

Mr. President,

The Amendment to the Anti-Opebo Act (https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=139424) has passed the Senate unnopposed and is presented for your signature or veto.

Sen. NC Yankee,
President Pro-Tempore

The White House is announcing that the Atlasian Government will be contributing specific aid to deal with the Somalian famine.

The aid package will consist of food, transport, staff and military escorts - the package will cost $38million. The first shipment will be on the ground tomorrow.

The Department of External Affairs will announce any further specific details on this aid mission.

For the President:


Over the last month, the Game Reform Committee, commissioned by President Polnut on July 3rd, 2011 (https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=137599.msg2946981#msg2946981), has determined the important topics of the day regarding Game Reform and the shared our own personal feelings on what could, or should, be done.

We have since determined the following areas of interest for proposing structural changes: Senate Elections. The Vice Presidency. The Wiki. Regional government authority. The Senate itself. The state of the political parties.

For the purposes of the Interim Report, we present to you all proposals we will seriously consider prior to the final report, where we aim to finalize our proposals. We welcome the contributions and simple comments of others to that end.

Senate Elections:

We have several proposals on this front. The first and simplest, is the one openly proposed by Marokai Blue and Cincinnatus; giving regions the ability to administer and alter the voting system of their regional Senate elections.

Yelnoc presents multiple proposals himself: A return to redistricting, abolishing at-large Senate elections and electing two Senators per region, or making all Senate seats elected at-large. Belgiansocialist is intrigued by a return redistricting, and proposes simply changing the voting system for at-large elections to a variant of FPTP or any other system.

Nevertheless, Jbrase's current effort at altering the way regions elect their Senators has no opposition from the committee, and the expressed endorsement of at least two of our members.

---

The Vice Presidency:

We seem to have at least one area of unanimous agreement: Give the Vice Presidency relevance or abolish the position outright. The Game Reform Committee as a whole believes there is utterly no point to having the position without giving it additional responsibilities.

To that end, we are currently debating over numerous proposals. The first, is giving the Vice President the full powers of a Senator. (Marokai Blue and Belgiansocialist) The second, is giving the Vice President a cabinet office of his choosing, similar to parliamentary systems. (Cincinnatus and Yelnoc) Both proposals receive the support of half of the committee, and this will doubtless be the point of most debate moving forward.

Marokai Blue also proposed electing the Vice Presidency separate.

---

The Wiki:

The Game Reform Committee seems to have another area of unanimous agreement here. We all agree that the best way forward for the Wiki is increased participation from everyone. How to do this, is, we believe, the biggest problem.

Cincinnatus seems to suggest that regional governments should set up individual outreach programs to raise awareness in their region for wiki-editing. Yelnoc proposes asking the Attorney General to create "law summary" pages, that allows statute to be summed up, thus, improving readability.

Marokai Blue proposes a contest system, setting up multiple rewards to be given to the top wiki editors, in the form of temporary honorary positions, the ability to determine one GM article, etc, on a regular (perhaps monthly) basis. Belgiansocialist proposes raising awareness and finding ways to allow people to contribute without necessarily creating an account themselves.

---

Regional Government Authority:

There seems to be a consensus in the committee for, at least, expanding regional power.

Cincinnatus and Yelnoc both propose allowing the regions to function more as individual countries on their own, loosely bound by the federal government ala Articles of Confederation.

Marokai Blue and Belgiansocialist propose allowing the regions to have a greatly expanded role in ratification of Constitutional Amendments through an "Americanization" of the process.

---

The Senate:

The committee remains conflicted in how we can actually improve the inner machinations of the Senate itself. Nevertheless, we endeavor to find a way.

Marokai Blue and Belgiansocialist support the idea of "activity requirements" for individual Senators, mandating a certain number of posts, votes, or legislative proposals, or risk expulsion.

Cincinnatus proposes that the Senate start focusing on rooting out and/or condensing old legislation gumming up the works.

---

Political Parties:

The committee recognizes the need for individual responsibility on this front, and that political parties must, themselves, change. Cincinnatus implores political parties to "move outside their comfort zones" in seeking to change.

Marokai Blue proposes legally mandated party primaries and the legal infrastructure for the establishment of caucuses within parties, that would appear on voting ballots similar to how party labels to, such as "Bgwah (JCP, Social Liberal Caucus)", "Napoleon (JCP, Libertarian Caucus) or "Cincinnatus (CID, Reformist Caucus)" etc.

Belgiansocialist (also) supports the introduction of legally mandated primaries for political office as well. The goal of both proposals is the legal infrastructure for inner-party politics alongside the usual politics. (As recently, Bgwah, leader of the JCP, has said he would like to see become the new stage for political "drama", as it were.)

---

Though the Committee remains without a single voice on most issues, we endeavor to find more refined proposals by the final report. In the coming weeks, we will debate each topic, and settle on a final one or two proposals that can garner the support of the entire, or most of, the Game Reform Committee.

We do believe, however, that we have at least made our initial offerings of proposals that we each individually prefer. We also believe that we have identified the "problem areas" to be targeted by supporters of game reform in general.

The Committee remains open outside commentary at all times, and we greatly thank the President for the creation of this Committee in the first place, as we all believe it's time we got serious about actually changing the game. We see problems in Atlasia, and we have been convened to propose solutions. We will do our best.

The President will be visiting parts of the Mideast next week, the tour will take in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin.

The schedule will be released later this week.

Mr. President, do you have any comments on the Game Reform Committee's Interim Report, or any suggestions for the committee to take into consideration before the final report?

I am a libertarian? If only I knew this yesterday!

Firstly, I want to thank the Committee members for their efforts so far.

I will be reading over the report and will have some comments shortly.

It was just a random example. That's all.

Two in a row for your stellar record of honesty. Keep it up!

What are you going on about now? Are you taking it as an insult or something?

I'm sure a wormyguy supporter in a right wing party calls me a libertarian, something I've never claimed to be, as a friendly gesture.

()

I would certainly consider you to be a libertarian on several issues, yes. That doesn't mean I used it as some sort of insult. Chill.

Your social score indicates you are a libertarian.  There's nothing wrong with that.

The President is currently in the negotiations with Senators over The End to Imperialism Bill. He firmly hopes that a compromise will be reached soon.

The President's remarks to late-night press conference
Troop Withdrawal Bill before the Senate


Ladies and gentlemen,

Thank you for coming in so late, but the issue is important.

I want to make clear that the goals of this Administration and those currently opposing the Bill are in fact the same.

It just the details in which we find ourselves in very different places.

I believe that this issue has been debated, the positions are clear now and I believe that for the good the troops, and for our polity in general - the Senate should make its decision as soon as is practicable.

I have negotiated in good faith with those Senators opposed to my Administration's withdrawal plan, I do understand the position of those who want a more rapid withdrawal, and I have great sympathy for it. I have given a lot of ground and I believe the case for a more staggered withdrawal, especially for the Afghanistan theatre is well made, and is the right thing to do.

For me, this debate is not about the pros and cons of war. My view on War is known, as was the policy of this administration, from the very beginning to extricate ourselves in a responsible manner.

But, as is right in our system of government, the final say lies with the Senate.

Thank you.

The President is being briefed on the situation that is rapidly unfolding in Libya.

He will issue a more detailed comment later.

The President and the Secretary of External Affairs have recently concluded a meeting in the White House to progress Atlasia's formal position on the events in Libya.

No further statements will be forthcoming this evening from the White House.

The President did say that the events in Tripoli were "positive".

Further comments for the time being will be coming from the Department of External Affairs.

The President will  be leaving tomorrow for a 4-state visit of the Mideast.

SCHEDULE

Tuesday 23 August

Cleveland, OH
Cincinnati, OH
Indianapolis, IN

Wednesday 24 August

Bloomington, IN
Chicago, IL

Thursday 25 August

Springfield, IL
Milwaukee, WI
Madison, WI

The President and Vice President congratulate all of those elected or reelected to the Senate.

"There are a great many serious issues that face our nation, I look forward to a positive and effective working relationship with the Senate, with the aim of serving as the people who sent us to our respective offices expect"

Will your tour bus be an Australian import by any chance? :P ;)

No comment...

The President's remarks to airport press-conference, Cleveland Hopkins International Airport

Reporter: Mr President, is this visit the unofficial start of your re-election campaign?

President: *laughs* No, not at all. I have to decide whether I'm running again before conversations start about campaigns, official or unofficial.

Reporter: What are main issues you think the Mideast region is dealing with, that you could have an influence on?

President: Look, the entire nation is very slowly recovering from the fundamental economic shock from nearly 3 years ago. Considering how severe and deep those problems were and are, we are getting there. But unemployment is still far too high, too many people without jobs and too few businesses with the confidence to hire.

Reporter: Back in Nyman you are dealing with a sometimes hostile Senate, which is largely made of people from your own party, how does that make you feel?

President: What I feel is immaterial, I think both myself and all Senators know that what we do in our capacities, we do in those roles. The issues being debated are very important to people all over the country, so passion is expected and to be fair, a bit of a necessity. I don't think the Senate is actual hostile, no more than I am to them. It's a robust exchange of views and ideas and we need that in a democracy. But sometimes words are said that shouldn't be and passion overwhelms reason, but that's very human.

Reporter: Given what's going on in Libya right now, what are your hopes for your Troop Withdrawal plan being implemented over the more dare I say ambitious plan supported by Senators Napoleon and Snowguy?

President: I think what's going on in Libya is positive, but it's too early to claim any sort of victory, the rebel forces still need to do a lot of work before any sort of practical end game comes about.

In relation to the competing withdrawal plans, I think we do need to tone down the rhetoric and the temperature. I've said from the outset that our plans have the same end goal. We both want our troops extricated from the theatres. I do understand the position of those who want a more rapid withdrawal, but I want to know that they also understand where I'm coming from. The position my administration has come to, has been developed with the involvement of the highest levels of our military and diplomatic services. We can move out of Libya and Iraq the fastest, because our involvement is smaller and less crucial, but we need to realise that the Afghanistan theatre is the one that cannot be exited rapidly from without consequences. The situation on the ground is not stable enough. I truly hope some kind of compromise can be reached.

Reporter: If the current Bill passes the Senate, will you veto it?

President: I really hope I don't have to. I think some clear thinking and better understanding of each other's positions would cure a lot of the ills we're dealing with. But I've said that if I'm presented with a Bill that is militarily irresponsible or endangers the situation that so many have fought and died to achieve, then I will veto it. But, there are other options before a blanket veto. But in the end, I do respect the constitutional role for the Senate to declare war and reverse that declaration and to withdraw funding. I will not go beyond what are my constitutional powers but I will argue until I'm blue in the face for what is the better approach to our joint goal.

I think the first step is to calm down and work through our differences.

Guys, I've got to go, thanks.

The President intends to pursue a policy to increase the penalties for acts of cruelty against animals.

He looks to work with the Senate to bring these about.

Mr. President,

The Fifth Amendment to the Consolidated Criminal Justice Act (https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=139562.msg3003923#msg3003923) has passed the Senate and is presented for your signature or veto.

Sen. NC Yankee,
President Pro-Tempore

The President is keeping abreast of the current status of Hurricane Irene.

He made some brief comments...

"I urge all Atlasians along the Eastern sea-board to take seriously the warnings and advice of your regional governments.

The Federal Government stands ready to assist the regional Governments in the aftermath of this storm.

One thing I will add is that very often in conditions like this, animals will be frightened and run away. So make sure that you have your animals in the safe place, or if you see an animal wandering around after the storm, if you can, bring them inside and take them to the closest shelter, as animal care agencies are putting on more resources"

The President will be remaining at the White House during the storm.

I hereby resign as SoIA.

TPP - You previously voted for Junkie, but now changed your vote in the runoff election for Pacific Governor.  There are rumors that you plan to make Junkie AG, or even SOIA.  Any truth to these?

All in good time... all in good time.

Mr. President,

The Atlasian Currency Act (https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=139516.msg3007366#msg3007366) has passed the Senate and is presented for your signature or veto.


Sen. NC Yankee,
President Pro-Tempore

The President will be making an announcement on his re-election plans sometime in the next few days.

The President will be visiting areas hardest hit by Hurricane Irene on Thursday.

Tour schedule

Jacksonville, NC
Havelock, NC
Virginia Beach, VA
Cape May, NJ
Ocean City, NJ

Mr. President,

The Canine Protection Act (https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=138980.msg3009199#msg3009199) has passed the Senate and is presented for your signature or veto.

Sen. NC Yankee,
President Pro-Tempore

The President's address to the Nation

My fellow Atlasians,

There comes a time in every president’s first term when they must make the decision whether or not they will seek the endorsement of the people to continue their work.

As the October election draws closer I have spent considerable time asking myself many questions.

Recently, I have felt that my ability to bring about important policies has been ineffective.

I came in to this office in July to bring about pragmatic progressive change in Atlasia.

So far I have created the Presidential Game Reform Panel, the final report of which will contain concrete plans that will inform the reform agenda in this country for years to come; I have fulfilled my Inauguration promise to have a plan in place to get our troops out of Libya, Iraq and Afghanistan and doing so to make sure that we leave in the right way.

Very soon a Bill will put before the Senate to reduce the tax burden on small businesses to increase their confidence and get them hiring again. Through diligence, determination and some difficult choices we are getting our economy back on the path to prosperity.
I believe in practical and pragmatic solutions to problems.

I know that I have disappointed some on the left, because I did not do what they felt I should do, or in the way I did it. I have worked very hard to do what I felt was the right thing to do, sometimes that upsets people, I’m sorry for disappointing some, but I do not apologise for doing the right thing for the country.

I still have plans for the rest of this term, such as sterner punishments for those who abuse animals, a student-loan forgiveness scheme, among other policies.

However, due to pressures both internal and external, I have determined that I will not seek and will not accept the nomination of my party, nor any other, to serve another term as your president.

This decision has been taken carefully, while I believe I would win in October, the right of the Atlasian people to have an active and effective president outweighs the pride or ego of one person.

To my supporters from across the political spectrum, that support has meant so much to me, the faith you placed in me in record proportions has not been discounted in my decision.

I want to thank Vice President Bacon King and all current and former members of my Cabinet for their service and dedication to their country.

The Atlasian progressive movement must continue, we must hold true to our ideals, but equally we cannot be governed by them in the face of effective compromise. We cannot allow stubborn self-righteousness to taint this movement. We must be inclusive, we must be prepared to work with those with whom we disagree and we must remember that when we work with progressive ideals in mind, we are doing so because we believe in them and what they can do for all. 

When I leave office at the end of my term, I intend this to be the last elected office I will hold in Atlasia.

While this is a sad time in many ways, this is a great opportunity for people who really want to make a difference to the lives of the Atlasian people to stand up.

Thank you and may Dave bless.

The President will be visiting the Northeast next week.

The Schedule will be
Thursday 8 September - Philadelphia, PA - Trenton, NJ - Princeton, NJ
Friday 9 September - Boston, MA - Providence, RI
Saturday 10 September - Manchester, NH - Bangor, ME
Sunday 11 September - New York City, NY
Monday 12 September - Montpellier, VT - Hartford, CT - New Haven, CT

The President requests a Senator submit this piece of legislation.

Amending F.L. 36-13: Animal Protection Act

1. Amend section 5 to read If a person over the age of 18 commits animal abuse, said person shall serve a maximum 3 years in jail and/or 15,000 dollars fine.

2. Amend section 9 to read An organization, business or individual proprietor who violates Section 6 above may be fined up to $1,000,000 per violation and/or the revocation of their operating authority.

The President requests a Senator submit this piece of legislation.

Rewarding Hard Work College Loan Forgiveness Scheme Bill

1. From 1 July 2012 any student enrolled in a publicly-funded University will be eligible to have their Federal Government-funded College loan debt reduced, depending on their academic performance at graduation.

1a. A student who receives a 4.0 GPA (or equivalent) will be eligible to have 75% of their College debt forgiven
1b. A student who received a GPA of between 3.5 and 3.99 (or equivalent)  will be eligible to have up to 50% of their College loan debt forgiven
1c. A student who receives a GPA of between 3.0 and 3.49 (or equivalent)  will be eligible to have up to 25% of their College debt forgiven.

2. The Scheme will operate alongside all other Government financial aid schemes in public universities. Debt forgiveness will be done by application at time of graduation, with University financial aid authorities making forgiveness determinations.

3. Any student who feels circumstances affected their ability to achieve a GPA which gave them access to debt forgiveness, or a higher level of debt reduction may apply for an appeal through regular internal University appeals processes, but any appeal must be lodged prior to graduation. Once a determination is made on the validity of the appeal, the student may apply for the original or adjusted debt reduction rate after graduation.

Mr. President,

The Natural Disaster Relief Act of 2011 (https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=140246.msg3013497#msg3013497) has passed the Senate and is presented to your for executive action.


Sen. NC Yankee,
Senate Dean/Acting Presiding Officer

The President has requested an emergency meeting with the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Atlasian Postal Service and the head of the Atlasian Postal Workers Union to discuss on-going issues.

It will take place on Wednesday evening at the White House.

Mr. President,

The Student Loan Protection Act (https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=140318.msg3014526#msg3014526) has passed the Senate and is presented for your signature or veto.

Sen. NC Yankee,
Dean/Acting Preisiding Officer.

The President has formally changed his state of residence from Washington to Massachusetts.

Carpetbagger.

Welcome ;)

The President will be visiting the Midwest later this week.

The schedule will be:
Wednesday 14 September: Sioux City, IA - Minneapolis, MN - Duluth, MN
Thursday 15 September: Pierre, SD - Bismark, ND - Lincoln, NE
Friday 16 September: Topeka, KS - Oklahoma City, OK - Billings, MT
Saturday 17 September:  Cheyenne, WY - Boulder, CO - Denver, CO

The President's address at the World Trade Center Memorial

My fellow Atlasians,

10 years ago on a beautiful September morning, the security we had had always felt through all the Wars our nation had fought through, was suddenly gone in a horrific instant.

Young men, women and children who were innocently doing what we all do, were brutally targeted. Children lost parents, husbands and wives now without each other, friends gone. The unity of resolve to support those lost and to ensure that such things never happen again, was something that should never vanish.

Every year since the attacks that morning, my predecessors have spoken about our resolve and how we will beat those who sought to do so much damage to us.

But to a large extent, I believe everything on that matter that can be said, has been. We saw in the bombing of the St Louis Arch and the External Affairs Building that the threat that terror poses has not gone away.

However, I think now that a decade has passed, and we have fought in this cause all over the world, we need to ask some fundamental questions about how we can beat terrorism, not just the terrorists.

The view of many who believe that terrorism can be beaten like any other combative enemy is to me, the view from the cheap seats. It is, despite our loss of young life and the expense of money, the easy way out. The simplistic view that a is bad, b is good and b must defeat a.

We need to face some difficult truths that terrorism is a cancer in our world, and much of what we have done since 9/11 has been to treat the symptoms, not the cause. Perhaps, because asking those causal questions makes us uncomfortable… suggesting the role of Western policy to radicalise people in the Arab and wider-Muslim world was considered tantamount to blaming those killed for their deaths. It is not. Like any illness, you need to understand why and how it came about before you can begin to truly excise it. Understanding a justification in someone else’s mind, does not mean that you have to accept it.

Many leaders have trumpeted that we have made it harder to terrorists to function, that is a fact. The work done to disturb communications, money and intelligence has inhibited groups like Al Qaeda from acting in the way they have in the past. But that defeats the terrorists as people, like any other ideology, you cannot defeat it with bombs, guns or drone strikes. You defeat a toxic ideology with better ideas.

For the history of terror as a tactic, from medieval germ warfare, the Assassins during the Crusades, to the PLA, Black September and the IRA in our recent past, there are some common threads. Terror was used as a tactic with a cause, however repugnant. The wave of Jihadism we’ve seen is now clearly without a motive, except simply to disrupt our lives and cause chaos and fear. The other common thread is the terror in our modern time has never achieved the aim of that terrorism. The PLA did not become the PLO, nor did members of the IRA become members of the Northern Ireland Assembly through terror. Terrorism did not win then and it will not win now.

We can defeat terrorism, and do it in the memory of this innocent people who lost their lives 10 years ago, but also those who died in Bali, Madrid, Riyadh, Marrakesh and London… the battle against these fanatics is global and the cause must be global.

All of those who believe that all men, women and children deserve to live in peace with each other, without concern for race, religion or any other artifice of separation need to realize that the solution to terrorism is our universal humanity. Whatever we are or appear to be is merely a casing that contains what we truly are, human beings.

By uniting together and saying ‘no’ and by showing those most vulnerable to the lies of those evil people, are indeed that, then can we  move to truly defeating terrorism. And the best part is that we can do this without more bloodshed. There people who must pay for what they have done, and as president, commander-in-chief and proud Atlasian, I will not rest until they have. However, we must stop the lies and persecution. We have to stop looking at each other as ‘the other’ and be filled with fear and mistrust.

It is said, that September 11, 2001 was the day we lost our innocence. In simple sense, that is accurate. But every day since, opportunities have been lost to work together to defeat the foul ideology or terrorism, which threatens every country, city, community, family and individual that lives with respect and tolerance for our brothers and sisters and works together towards the common goals of human family.

This is a much harder and bigger task than many want to face, but I believe that those who were lost deserve such a living memorial.

Thank you all, may those who have died rest in eternal peace, and may those who remain be comforted in that thought. 

The President has made a statement on the signing of the Bill to establish a timeline to bring troops home from Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya.

"I was very proud to have signed the 'End to Imperialism Act' this evening. This Administration began with a promise to bring our troops home. While it a took a lot work, sometimes involving some dramatic arguments, we all went into this discussion with the same goal, to bring our troops home and do so in a responsible and honourable way.

Now we have a process in place to do that.

I want to thank the Senate, especially those Senators I personally negotiated with, for their work and commitment"

The President's remarks to the crowd at Bayfront Festival Park

Duluth, Minnesota


Thank you Duluth!

I’ve had a great day here in the Midwest meeting so many people and I look forward to meeting many more during this week.

Oh… and I haven’t got my cake yet.

I wanted to take this opportunity to talk with you about one of the biggest challenges we face as a nation.

Our economy is slowly starting to recover, however, we must be mindful of the dangers that lurk beyond our shores. The response to that is to be ready and get our domestic economy firing again.

This city has a proud industrial history, and now many of you are working in renewable technologies. In fact Duluth is one of the powerhouses of renewable technology production. But the problem we face is that they are not being sold here, they are being shipped off-shore to other countries who have embraced the renewable revolution. Atlasia sits on the edge of the precipice, we can step back and reside in our old world of coal and oil and hope they don’t run out and try to ignore the rampant environmental damage done…. Or we can take the leap into renewables.

The difference is that it is not a true precipice, but those who are financially supported by vested interests tell us it’s a massive drop with jagged rocks at the bottom. However, in reality, the precipice I speak of is a place to launch ourselves forward.

The Senate recently passed a Green Energy Program to provide low-interest loans to businesses, and grants to communities and Universities to develop and install the newest generation of renewable technology and keep them here in Atlasia.

Another element of our economy that we need to address is that we don’t build anything any more. I’m not just talking about our manufacturing sector, I’m talking about why we don’t invest in large nation building projects.

Some have accused me of being too conscious of the pennies, well, the pennies matter. But these projects are not just costs, they are investments in the future of manufacturing, investments in ensuring that valuable skills remain in Atlasia and support to make sure that products get from one side of the country to the other.

We have seen discussions about a large transport infrastructure projects. I believe our highways and bridges need constant high-quality maintenance but until we start taking the challenge of high-speed rail for both passenger and freight movements seriously, I will not entertain building more roads they encourage more cars and trucks onto the road, with all of their carbon emissions. High-speed rail is an answer we need to be considering seriously. We need to start with established high-traffic corridors and use them as points to expand.

And the technology to build the tracks and the trains is here in Atlasia, the people we need to maintain them and to serve on them are here in Atlasia.

At a time when the global economy is unsteady, we need to do all we can to stimulate our domestic economy. I have put forward corporate tax cuts in my tax plan, but tax cuts can only do so much. The idea that cutting taxes cures all is voodoo economics with no justification in history or economics, it’s part of the solution, but not the magic bullet.

We need to think big, we need to not be so afraid, our economy is timid, but it is not weak. We can get our economy roaring again, but we need to invest in our industries, invest in our people and invest in our future!

This is probably my last trip to Minnesota before I leave office, so I want to thank you for your support and you all have my best wishes for a bright, prosperous and happy future, and I will do all I
can until I leave office to help this come about.

Thank you all.

The President will be making a 5-day visit later this month to Europe.

The tour will take in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Belgium and Spain.

Schedule

Monday 26 September - London, UK
Tuesday 27 September - Edinburgh, UK - Paris, France
Wednesday 28 September - Paris, France - Cologne, Germany
Thursday 29 September - Berlin, Germany - Brussels, Belgium
Friday 30 September - Madrid, Spain

Hello Mr. President,


It's been great having you in the Midwest today.  :D  Here is your cake.  ;)  Sorry about the delay, but the baker had OCD and had to make the cake perfect.  

Enjoy!

()

The President has returned home ahead of schedule due to a family emergency.

Any matters of an urgent nature should be directed to the Vice President.

I sincerely hope that whatever the emergency is has a positive resolution, Polnut. Take all the time you need. Family comes first.

Due to a death in the family, the President will be on a leave of absence until Saturday 24 September.

According to Article 2 of the Constitution, the President has issued the following statement.

Really sorry to hear it. Peace be with you.

The transfer of power has been noted. Godspeed, Mr. President.

-Acting President Bacon King

I am sorry to hear that. :(

Announcement: Acting President Bacon King will shortly be issuing a statement regarding the current secession crisis.

Link to the speech (https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=141229.msg3032068#msg3032068)

---

Executive Order

1. The Executive Branch shall not file charges of treason in the next 48 hours against any Atlasian who is currently attempting to secede from Atlasia.

2. The Executive Branch shall not file charges of treason against any Atlasian currently attempting secession who publicly reaffirms their Atlasian citizenship within the next 48 hours.

Mr. President\Mr. Acting President:

I represent no government of state or region. Frankly, whether the secessionists win or lose really doesn't make much of a difference to me.

But I see this as something new and exciting. For too long we've been stuck in a rut. That's why I support these individuals claims. They want something new to do. They want to be excited. Going through the motions far too long is what I've been saying since I came back. The people's juices need flowing and we've got to have something good to do. Whichever side wins... I want it to at least be exciting.

Official (Acting) Presidential Action

I hereby submit to the Senate the nomination of Dr. Cynic for the position of Secretary of Internal Affairs.

As it is now September 24th, I hereby return executive authority to President Polnut.

President Polnut has re-assumed full executive authority, he thanks the Vice President for his work this past week. He also thanks Atlasians for the well wishes directed towards him and his family on the death of his grandmother.

He will asking for a full briefing on the issues in the Southeast.

I would understand if the President wishes to rescind the offer made to me by the VP for the office of SOIA, given how late it was made and the fact that I am not confirmed by the Senate.

I hope Doc won't dissapear this time, like when I were Acting President and I had to fire him for inactivity, nominating Andrew.

I support the nomination.

My condolences. 

As do I.

Considering the current issues in the Southeast, President Polnut has postponed his European tour until mid-October.

The President had this to say today...

The President has just arrived at the White House after spending the day in the IDS.

He made this comment on walking off Marine One.

The President will be making a speech later tonight in Las Vegas, Nevada in which he will outline an ambitious change in the nation's tax system.

Full details of the proposal will be outlined tomorrow morning.

The President's Remarks to the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce Dinner

Mandalay Bay Convention Centre, Las Vegas



Ladies and Gentlemen,

Thank you for inviting me here to speak with you this evening.

Given that I have only a short time left as president, I want to make sure that you all know that one thing you haven’t got, is a lame-duck president.

I intend to keep working every single day until I see my successor take the oath of office.

In that spirit, I am announcing one of the most ambitious reforms our economy has ever seen.

If there has been one complaint I have held for a long time about our national finances it is the tiered system of income taxation.

With each region being able to impose its own income tax, it creates disparities and false economies based on the ideological bent or whim of the regions.

Therefore I am today announcing that it will be the policy of my administration to see the abolition of regional income taxation.

Now, regional governments will still need to be funded to do their work, I am not interested in further centralisation of power in Nyman. Regional governments have important roles to play and they need to be able to do their work with maximum benefits for their communities.

This is also not an issue of the abolition of taxation, so the right can stop jumping for joy and the left can stand down from the ledge; this is just a simplifying of a system which I do not think works well. I will convene a meeting of all regional governors within the next week to discuss alternatives.

There are, however, certain conditions that I will apply to alternatives.
•   The Federal Government will not increase its income tax share from either individuals or business
•   The administration of any future finance system will fit within existing bureaucracies
•   There needs to be a uniformity across the regions to ensure a fairer system than currently exists

I cannot and would not seek to impose this on Atlasia, this is an important reform that will require wide-support. I will work with the regional Governors and the Federal Senators to get this done. I know this might not be done within my term, but this is a reform that I believe needs to happen it will simplify our national finances and will lessen the burden of income taxation on many who can least afford it.

This is a golden opportunity for this country to unite and reform our national economy. Yes, we are regions that have separate interests but we are also one nation, with interconnected economies and therefore, an interconnected future.

Finally, I want to thank you for your support during my presidency. It can be a very lonely job, but knowing that the people you serve have your back makes it so much easier. The warmth of the Atlasian people is something I will certainly miss, but I made the decision to not stay on because you deserve an active and available president.

Thank you all.

The President has accepted the resignation of the Game Moderator.

He is disappointed by these turn of events, Marokai has done an extraordinary job.

As to a successor, the President will be considering options.

The President made a brief statement on his arrival on Martha's Vineyard late on Friday night.

Please don't feel as if you've failed anyone, Polnut. You've been the Atlasian equivalent of the little Dutch boy desperately trying to hold up the dyke. It's a shame the environment is what it is, but don't feel as if you're responsible. I certainly don't blame you for it, and I'm sure most others wouldn't either.

Thanks for the confidence you had in me during my time as Game Moderator.

The President has issued the following statement.

The President is requesting a Senator sponsor this Bill.

Apologies that I've been largely inactive for the past week- midterms were a bit overwhelming. Back now though. :)

Air Force One has just landed in Benghazi, Libya where the President will meet with Mustafa Abdul Jalil, Chairman of the National Transitional Council.

They will discuss the future plans for Libya to transition to a functional democracy, and how Atlasia's aid will be directed.

Air Force One has departed Mitiga International Airport in Tripoli.

The meeting between the President and Chairman Mustafa Abdul Jalil was positive and productive.

It is estimated the President will arrive in Paris in a couple of hours for a meeting with President Sarkozy tomorrow morning before arriving back in Nyman late Sunday evening.

The President will be addressing the International HIV prevention symposium in New York City tomorrow.

His address will cover his own views on HIV prevention, as well as the announcement of a new national and international HIV prevention initiative.

And I just saw a flying pig!

Note 'future plans' ... could be tomorrow, could be 67 years from now.

[

The President has today nominated Marokai to serve as Attorney General for the reminder of his administration.

Given his experience in the role, and attention to detail, the President hopes for a speedy confirmation.

TPP - Mr. President.  Should we expect a lawsuit against any remaining rebels, as well as the IDS?  :)

I still have a couple of weeks to have some fun with this job :)

Yep, Marokai Blue to the rescue. :P

Whenever people feel like opening a confirmation thread. :P

The President has decided to travel from Nyman to Boston following his successor's inauguration by train, instead of flying.

It will be an opportunity for the President to show his commitment to rail and show the benefits of serious investments in rail infrastructure.

The special train will leave Nyman and stop in Philadelphia, New York City, New Haven and Providence on the way to a formal 'Welcome Home' reception in Boston.

SCHEDULE - 4 November 2011
1.00pm Departs Union Station, Nyman
2:32pm Arrives 30th St Station Philadelphia
2:40 - 3:00pm - Ceremonial greeting, 30th St Station
3:10pm Departs 30th St Station Philadelphia
4:39pm Arrives - Penn Station, New York City
4:45 - 5:20pm - Ceremonial Greeting, Madison Square Gardens
5:30pm Departs Penn Station, New York City
6:55pm Arrives Union Station, New Haven, Connecticut
7:00 - 7:15 - Ceremonial greeting, Union Station, New Haven
7:20pm Departs New Haven
9:05pm Arrives Providence Railway Station
9:10 - 9:25pm - Ceremonial greeting, outside Providence Railway Station
9:30pm - Departs Providence
10:15pm - Arrives Back Bay Station, Boston
10:17 - 10:24pm - Motorcade to Boston Common
10:30pm - Formal Welcome Home

President Polnut has tonight signed the Right to Treatment Bill before the Senate.

The President undertook a series of consultations as the issues around the Bill's constitutionality. He respects and understands the concerns raised by many on this Bill.

He believes that the Senate does have an explicit right to make determinations in relation to public health.

The Senate however, must be respectful of the rights of the regions to make laws within their own borders, when the Constitutions has enumerated those rights to the regions. This Bill comes VERY close to going over the line, but did not fully cross it.


President Polnut has also tonight, vetoed the Environment and Conservation Protection Bill.

President Polnut's comments on Libya

Today is an opportunity for the Libyan people to unite and move together to a new future.

I am not here to celebrate the death of Gadhafi, nor should this be the key element of today. While his end truly marks the end of this chapter, it is what this moment represents for Libya that is what really matters.

I always stressed that this fight in the final analysis was one for the Libyan people. While the NTC received support from Atlasia and around the world, and we are proud of our young men and women who served roles from active fighting in the early days, to serving as peacekeepers in Benghazi until a month ago, again the final blow needed to be struck by the Libyan people.

I pledge the support of the Atlasian Government, and re-iterate my comments from my visit to Libya a couple of weeks ago.

The President issued the following statement on his vote this evening.

The President has contacted Senator Snowguy and Vice President Bacon King and congratulated them on their victory in the election.

He wishes them both every success, as well as his support during the transition.

The Regional Tour

The President will be making a stop in each region over the coming days, he wants to take the opportunity to thank the Atlasian people for their support.

SCHEDULE

Thursday 27 October - Atlanta, GA and Denver, CO
Friday 28 October - San Francisco, CA
Saturday 29 October - Chicago, IL and Pittsburgh, PA

Farewell Address

As is traditional the President will be making a farewell address to the nation. While the venue is yet to be determined, it will not be an Oval Office Address.

The address will take place at 9pm EST on Wednesday 2 November.

The President has today nominated Homelycooking to serve as the next Registrar-General.

Excellent choice!  Hopefully Napoleon doesn't sink the nomination because of personal animosity.

I feel we should confirm whoever wants that job. It isn't like people are standing in line to do it.

Whoo Hoo!!

I wasn't aware of personal animosity between the two, but if that's the case, I should hope not.

I agree homelycooking is an excellent choice, however, why is the outgoing President making nominations in the dying days of his administration?

Why are these nominations not being made by the incoming President when he takes office?

I believe that's the way this should be working.  To me, it makes much more sense.  Then the new President has his nominees, not someone else's.

The RG list needs an update, and I was the one who suggested Polnut appoint now rather than wait.

There needs to be someone in place now, I still have the capacity to do so... best to get it out of the way. I doubted very much that Snowie would object.

The Farewell Address

The President has invited 1,000 campaign volunteers selected through a lottery, to a stand-up dinner in the Old Executive Office Building, followed by the President's farewell address which will be given to the audience and the nation from the South Lawn of the White House.

The address will commence at 9pm EST on Wednesday 2 November.

The weather is expected to be cool, but clear.

()

Now Former President Polnut's motorcade from the Capitol to Union Station for his 9-hour, 5-city train-trip home to Boston.

()

The VIP express going through a station in suburban Connecticut

()

Crowds listen to a band prior to the official welcome home reception for President Polnut.

Shots fired!  Shots fired!!!!  :o

JK  ;)

That would have been a cool way to go out :P

I know, right?  They would make a statue of you earlier rather than later!  ;D

The President has determined he will not deliver a traditional Inaugural Address.

He will present 'a statement of purpose' on Monday evening at 9pm EST.

The White House will shortly release legislation to create an Atlasian national broadcaster.

The President wishes to thank the Labor Party for making this a plank in their election platform, it is one that he has decided to take up and pursue.

The intent of the Bill is to provide for an intial set up of one national radio and television station. The broadcaster will be funded from a very small national levy, with exemptions provided for those on household incomes below $50,000. There will be no commercial advertising permitted.

The broadcaster will be independently managed, the Government cannot control content and will have no editorial control.

Great! :D

Sorry, guys - tomorrow I'll open up Confirmation Hearings.

The President has been suffering from a severe cold, so his schedule has been cleared until Monday.

:O Get well soon, Mr. P :(

Tomorrow I will hopefully be able to crown a new PPT and get the confirmation hearings wrapped up. I'm in Henryville today, so I don't have computer access.

Mr. President -

I have resigned from my position as Associate Justice on the Supreme Court.

Sincerely,

Oakvale.

The President continues to recover from his illness and will release two-pieces of proposed legislation tomorrow.

He also notes the resignation of Oakvale from the Supreme Court, a nomination for his replacement will be made in the next two days. Anyone interested in serving should be contact within the next 24 hours.

Next week, the President will visit Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan to personally speak with those involved in the Manufacturing industry.

Oh, I didn't notice you were ill. Get well soon, Mister Prez. :(

Fine, if you're going to twist my arm about it, than I guess I wont put my name in. Also, you should go to my areas of PA. Meet the real people, the real racists.

Futtbuck, PA

The President requests a Senator put forward this Bill.

Mr. President- I strongly oppose this legislation but will put it forward so the Senate can stop sitting on their hands all day

The President has nominated former Senator and President Bgwah to serve on the Supreme Court.

This is a nomination based on the desire to serve, the demonstration of activity and commitment to Atlasia.

The President hopes for a speedy confirmation process.

The University of Pittsburgh
Basketball Arena


Ladies and gentlemen,

I want to thank you for your warm welcome also for the good wishes you've sent me while I've been ill for the past week. It's not exactly the best way to start off a presidential term.

But, I'm here today because I want to see the strength of the Atlasian manufacturing industry, I want to talk with you whose small businesses rely on these industries not only surviving, but thriving.

We've seen a lot press over the past few, months, years, undermining the strength of our manufacturing sector and those who work within it. Manufacturing and industry built this country and they remains cornerstones of the Atlasian economy.

I want to make one thing clear, our economy is improving. Despite what you might hear, jobs are being created, people are getting back to work, families are starting to see stability return... this is all good news. I acknowledge that our recovery has been uneven and weaker then we'd like, but the trajectory is positive.

What happened to the world 3 and a half years ago was so fundamentally destabilising that expectations of a strong and bounding recovery were both foolish and only fed continued unease.

During my first term, I instituted tax reform to ease the burden on small businesses to return more certainty and security to their bottom lines, this was accompanied by a low-income tax cut to give more lower-income families more disposable income.

We keep hearing from left and right that they have the solutions and everyone else is wrong. I've been called a moderate hero because I believe in moderation over extremes as the source of the best of public policy solutions. I also believe that you can be creative and focus on a balanced approach.

We cannot tax nor cut our way to financial stability. We need to reduce spending that is both inefficient and without positive benefits, and we also need to be realistic about our revenues. If we focus on boosting what Government can do, and does well and support the private sector to do what they do well, then we can re-build, not boost artificially, but restore structural stability.

Once we do that, our hopes for the future of our economy can grow and manufacturing industries can regain its place and provide security for the people who rely directly and indirectly on it.

I'm looking forward to travelling through Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan over the next day to see what can expect from a strong and revitalised manufacturing sector.

Thank you all very much!

The President will be travelling to the Nuclear Security Summit in Marrakesh, Morocco on Friday.

The President will also be holding a series of one on one meetings with other world leaders, and with IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano.

The President will return to Nyman on Tuesday.

The President is being kept fully abreast of the nuclear security issue in Nevada.

Given the clear implications, the President has requested all related agencies and authorities be ready to respond.

Palais de Congress,
Marrakesh, Morocco


Ladies and gentlemen,

Today we are gathered here to consider the real threat our common future faces. Yet again, nuclear security and therefore the security of the world is a point of concern.

The Hindi God Shiva is both a God of destruction and a God creation and renewal. In many ways our approach to nuclear technology is the same. It is, at once, the harnessing of the base elements of our universe to either destroy in an instant or to create energy to power our world.

People of my political persuasion have been caught in the horns of a dilemma for as long as we knew about nuclear technology. It grants some the capacity for destruction that no single country deserves, but as we saw during the Cold War, the presence of those weapons, and the mutual assured destruction they would bring created equilibrium. However, the race to assume and expand our nuclear knowledge has had a tremendous effect on those directly and those innocently nearby. Apart from environmental desolation, what about the cancer clusters directly related to that research in the early days.

We have states across the world, where dangerous nuclear technology is stored in sheds, protected at best by one guy, a German shepherd and a padlock. We will work with our friends and neighbours to remove fissile material and downgrade it, we will work with them to secure material around the world. The common factor is that Atlasia wants to work with the world to clean up and secure nuclear material.

However, we have also used that technology to change our world for the better. While events like Three-Mile Island, Chernobyl and Fukishima made as all question the need for nuclear power, the fact remains that in many ways it is the low-emission alternative to fossil fuels for the short to medium term. I know I am at odds with many in my country, in my side of politics and within my party. I believe nuclear power can be harnessed safely and with maximum security.

The other key issue we cannot ignore is the risk posed to the wider world by the obtaining of fissile material by rouge nations and non-state actors, not the least of which being terrorists. Their desire to obtain this material is no secret. I understand the total discomfort by many as I stand here as President of a nuclear-armed state suggesting that other countries do not deserve access to such weapons. I understand it, but that does not mean that I am going to engage in moral relativism. However, I am taking this opportunity to make this pledge here and now. Atlasia will commence a new round of nuclear weapon dismantling. It is my intention to reduce Atlasia’s stockpile of nuclear weapons to 15% of 2000 levels within the next two years. I can hear many saying “why can’t you do it faster?” and “why can’t get rid of all nukes?” the answers to those questions are these, in order to dismantle warhead and dispose of fissile material in a safe manner takes time, and the other is a sheer fact of Geopolitical reality.

However, I believe we should pledge that all of our efforts will lead to a time when nuclear weapons are relic of history. It is not an easy ask, in fact, one of the toughest. But we must start now, and we must be united and prevent further destabilizing proliferation.

I truly believe the energy future of the world lies within clean renewable technologies and I will continue to support more research and development to bring those energies online in a wholesale manner as quickly as possible. But we must be realistic; we cannot wail and gnash our teeth because they’re not here now. For the past two decades we have squandered opportunities to focus on that research. We cannot afford to continue to do so. But we need to understand that because of taking our eye off the ball at a critical time, we need to spend more than we should need to and it will take longer to bring online than we want.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is an opportunity we cannot waste. The time is now, and we must be prepared to act.

Mr. President- I am appalled by this. A reduction in our nuclear arsenal as part of an agreement with other nations to do the same is understandable and desirable... a unilateral weakening of our nuclear arsenal with no agreement for other nations to do the same is irresponsible to the point of neglect of your duties as Commander-in-Chief...

I will be putting forward a bill to prevent any reduction in our nuclear arsenal unless there is a treaty with other world powers- specifically China nd Russia- to make equivalent proportional reductions...

You are more than welcome to be appalled.

I am seeking agreements with the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China. I believe we can achieve this without undermining our strategic or military priorities. However, one person needs to be spokesperson for a new treaty, we need to make our intentions clear so we can get negotiations going.

Respectfully, I believe you are overreacting to this measure which is quite mild in the history of nuclear arsenal reductions.

The President requests a Senator put forward this Bill.

The President will travel to Georgia and Florida tomorrow to meet with community leaders after the incident which ended in the death of Treyvon Martin.

The President will make a brief statement in Tampa on Wednesday evening.

On Wednesday night, the President will fly to Denver and will hold a meeting of national nuclear security experts on Thursday before returning to Nyman that night.

White House Rose Garden


Ladies and gentlemen,

I visited Florida on Wednesday to meet with local community leaders over the death of Trayvon Martin.

I did not meet with his family as they were obviously managing their own affairs but I did meet with his uncle.

I will not beat around the bush, I am deeply disturbed by the circumstances of this young man's death. However, vigilante justice cannot be sought to be the answer to matters of justice. I have instructed the federal justice agencies to investigate this issue.

This issue has given light to many truly ugly elements of Atlasian character we cannot hide from any longer. The idea that because of the way someone dresses, or due to their race, suddenly we are supposed to fear them and perceive them as a threat, and not just a threat, an immediate threat that must be met with lethal force, sickens me to the core.

Now, I believe that the justice system must be engaged completely. The fact remains, the way this issue has been handled at the local level has been deeply disappointing, which is why I have engaged the federal government to ensure that justice is done.

There are some issues I need to make comments on.

The first is the value of neighbourhood watch, they are a valuable force to make sure our communities are more secure. The idea of neighbour looking out for neighbour is one we should be encouraging. However, their role is not to take the place of local law enforcement.

I accept the role of the second amendment in Atlasia, but I believe that rights, including the right to bear arms need to be exercised with a strong sense of responsibility.

We need to work together to make sure that justice is done and that it is carried out fairly and with utmost respect of all sides.

I urge restraint, these processes need to be allowed to occur.

The President will visit Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky from 10 April.

10 April
Chicago, IL - Champaign, IL

11 April
Indianapolis, IN - Bloomington, IN

12 April
Louisville, KY - Lexington, KY

The President has formally requested federal legal authorities to examine any regional law which enables the use lethal force beyond traditional concepts of self-defense.

Press Secretary

You have been subpoenaed to testify in favor of your Broadcaster bill. Failure to appear in the next 24 hours may result in negative consequences for yourself and for your bill. :P

Question asked to the President while visiting a school in Arlington, Virginia


Reporter: What do you have to say about the 'revolution' being advocated? Including by some of your political allies?

PP: I think strong political discussions should happen, we always need to face up to difficult truths if things aren't working. Tweed is welcome back to Atlasia and I'm sure will run a very spirited campaign for the June election. However, I'm concerned that some people are attracted to a strategy that will likely blow up in their faces.

Atlasia is going through a period that is certainly more stagnant than I'd like, but I don't think a 'revolution' will do anything except provide some drama for a while, and because of that, the stagnation will return. I've been around Atlasia for a while, and stagnant periods happen. I don't believe this is a terminal decline. I'd be very interested what happens in Atlasia... say after November. I think you'll see activity return.

I should also say, what I said when a 'founder' returned to Atlasia to personally attack me, you built it, but didn't buy it, so you don't own it. Thanks...

Reporter: However, Mr Tweed has declared the Atlasian Government illegitimate

PP: Last time I checked, the people voted for the Government, in line with the Constitutional authorities that they also voted for. The Atlasian Government is most certainly legitimate, and he has no place to make such proclamations.

In fact, it's a bit like your mother turning up in your house, and proclaiming you divorced because she doesn't like your wife. It's dramatic and a little wacky, but also destabilising, which I presume is the point.

Thank you for taking a sensible position on this, Mr. President.

Mr. President,

The Senate has passed the Homeowners Protection Act (https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=151524.msg3257858#msg3257858) and it is presented for to you for your signature or veto.


Sen. NC Yankee,
President Pro-Tempore.

The President is pleased with the passage of the Homeowners Protection Act by the Senate.

He says "this is a vital first step to get our housing market in good order".

Mr. President,

The Comprehensive Protection of Nuclear Power Act (https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=151499.msg3262662#msg3262662) has passed the Senate and is presented for your signature or veto.

Sen. NC Yankee,
President Pro-Tempore.

The President was unharmed during the security incident involving tainted mail.

He was initially removed from the West Wing to a secure location, but chose to continue with plan to spend the weekend at Camp David as soon as Secret Service were sure there was no thread of contamination.

The President wants to make clear that he will not respond to threats and will continue with his visit to North Carolina and Virginia next week. His public schedule will not be curtailed.

()

The President will be visiting North Carolina and Virginia next week.

The schedule will be as follows:

Tuesday 17 April

Raleigh, Durham and Winston-Salem NC

Wednesday 18 April

Richmond, Norfolk and Williamsburg VA

Mr. President,

The Smart Grid Electrical Distribution Act (https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=151471.msg3264693#msg3264693) has passed the Senate and is presented to you for your signature or veto.

Sen. NC Yankee,
President Pro-Tempore

Mr. President,

The Atlasian National Broadcaster Bill (https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=151500.msg3271872#msg3271872) has passed the Senate and is presented for your signature or veto.

Sen. NC Yankee,
President Pro-Tempore.

The President wishes to sincerely apologise to all Senate candidates due to his absence from the Senate election.

He has been suffering with a severe flu and pharyngitis for the past week.

Feel better- Polnut

No excuse, get back to work biatch.

Mr. President,

The Primary System Introduction Act (https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=152133.msg3276274#msg3276274) has passed the Senate and is presented for your signature or veto.


Senator NC Yankee,
President Pro-Tempore

I will have limited access for the next few days - I have the opportunity to do some disaster relief work in Henryville again. Please pm me if my services are very much needed. Thanks :)

The President thanks those who have passed on best wishes during his illness.

He was diagnosed with the flu and pharyngitis, which turned into a bronchial infection. He has now being given the all clear from his doctor.

The President also wishes to state that he intends to make an endorsement for the Presidential election, however, he does not intend to make it precipitously but an endorsement will be made before the election.

It's gonna be Oakvale, but I can at least ask, right? :P

Mr. President,

The Caucus Infrastructure and Formation Act Repeal Act (https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=152324.msg3280110#msg3280110) has passed the Senate and is presented for your signature or veto.

Senator NC Yankee,
President Pro-Tempore.

---

Glad to see you are feeling better. :)

The President and the Vice President are currently working on a Budget to put forward for the Senate's consideration.

It will focus on three things

1. reducing the overheads of government, without triggering mass unemployment
2. making sensible reductions in areas of duplication and where consolidation would work
3. finding reasonable revenue increases with minimal household impact.

The minimum deficit reduction target for this year is 17%.

The President will be addressing the Atlasian Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) National Congress in Atlanta, Georgia on Wednesday.

He will then travel to Miami, where he will address the National Women's Leadership Council dinner.

The President made a statement today about the resignation of the Secretary of External Affairs.

"Secretary Ben has served me well, with loyalty and commitment. It was often a difficult job for him and I always appreciated his ability to separate his own views and interests with that of my administration.

I have always known Ben's desire to serve in the national legislature, so I accepted his resignation.

I wish him every success."

The President requests any who wish to serve as Secretary of External Affairs to make contact by the weekend.

-cough- SJOYCEFLA GET IN HERE -cough-

Thank you, Mr. President, for your kind words.  And for tolerating me in my capacity as SoEA; it won't be forgotten.

Seconded.

Mr. President,

The Access for Afghan Women Act of 2012 (https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=152374.msg3283179#msg3283179) has passed the Senate and is presented for your signature or veto.

Senator NC Yankee,
President Pro-Tempore.

The President has accepted the invitation of the National Council of Bishops to speak at their national gathering in Kansas City, Missouri on Monday 7 May.

Speech to the National Council of Bishops
Kansas City, Missouri

Ladies and gentlemen,

I want to thank you for extending this invitation to me to be here with you all today.

I think we should get the numerous and enormous pink elephants out of the room right up front.

There are obviously many areas in which we are in complete and total disagreement.

I supported full legal equality of same-sex couples, including the right of adoption. I support the use of stem-cell research and believe in the separation of Church and State.

The separation of Church and State is an issue that has been one often fraught with landmines for those who discuss it. For those of strong faith, it is an affront and an assault of your personal religious liberty, for those of no faith, it means that religious beliefs and views should be excluded from our political discourse.

I believe my position on this is clear, but I want to repeat it for you. I believe in State whose administration is free of the involvement of any specific religious interest or group. However, we must also be realistic. For many in our community, their faith is a core factor in what drives them and therefore it must not be discounted as invalid, simply because of the fact it’s faith-driven.

We have a number of clear protections in our system to ensure that policies and their implementation are not discriminatory.

I believe that faith is deeply personal, and in our country, your right to practice or not practice any religious belief is respected as long as you do not impinge on the rights of others. That includes respecting that just because you believe it’s right, does not give you the right to place demands on others who do not follow your own religious views.

I’m going to mention the evil ‘L’ word, liberal. Part of the reason I consider myself a liberal is that I believe that individual rights need to be respected as a paramount element of society. That doesn’t mean we don’t make laws for society as a whole, but those particular rights and liberties need to be acknowledged. I will always defend the rights of people of faith to exercise them, with the same fervor I will protect the rights of those who do not have any or a different faith to live their lives how they see fit.

I’m a liberal, because I believe in the right to choose.

I’m going to go even further here… I spoke to the National Women’s Leadership Congress last week and I discussed my view of the reproductive rights issues currently swirling around. I made clear that I am fundamentally pro-choice. However, many members of organisations such as this attacked me, suggesting that I am pro-abortion. There is a difference and it’s deeply offensive to suggest otherwise. Abortion is a terrible thing for all parties involved, and support, not guilt, should be there to give women options, I personally a support a graduated system of checks from beginning of the second trimester. One key element that angers me no end, is that no connection is made between those who are pro-life  and those who are opposed to comprehensive sex education.
To me, they are part of the same basket. There is real evidence that if you are given all of the information up front, including the use of condoms and other forms of birth control, the likelihood of unwanted pregnancies is much lower. This also is reflected in the rates of sexually transmitted infections.

Now, let’s work on what we generally agree on.

All religious texts instruct us that we must care  for those unable to care for themselves. That we should be devoting our time and resources to looking after each other and treating all, even our enemies with the respect and dignity we would hope to see from them.

I am about to hand down a Budget proposal to the Senate. I intend to bring down a deficit much faster than originally projected, with the opportunity to start paying down our debt from next year. We will do this, with small increases in some government charges and excises, we will do this from streamlining the way our military operates, we will cut back our military aid, but increase our humanitarian aid and we will cut back the operating costs of government. But I want to make this clear, there will be no cuts to social programs and I will not be cutting back the public sector workforce. I will defend those who administer vital programs for our country and am frankly sick and tired of seeing them attacked by people who know nothing of the work they do, or how hard they work. I will also ensure that those at the top know the need to reign in unnecessary spending. I will personally take a 20% cut in my operating and living allowances, and I will expect the same of all other elected and judicial officials.

We can deal with our economic problems, but we will not apply a machete when a scalpel works better.

Again, I want to thank you for inviting me here today. I’m sure many might not have liked what I had to say, but the opportunity meant a lot to me, so thank you.

Mr. President- I'll reserve most comments until I see the budget but I want to say a few things...
-I agree that the demonization of public workers is inappropriate- they are people who have families to feed like everyone else. But to announce ZERO cuts to the public sector workforce makes me question a few things...considering you want to streamline the military which sounds like code for cuts to troop levels
-I hope the streamlining takes into account my suggestions regarding having distinct air, land, and sea forces with the logistics for all branches handled by civilian Pentagon employees...
-I hope you consider military aid and how though it may not be a huge part of our budget- it is a major compoment for many of our allies' defense capabilities
-I hope you consider past accountability issues in humanitarian aid- Food for Oil comes to mind

I look forward to discussing and debating the merits of your proposal...

I assure you, there's no code words.

Streamlining means reducing duplication across the services, reducing the procurement red-tape and examining defence projects that are actively behind schedule and have not delivered on their promised outcomes.

There will be no active cuts in military numbers.

Mr. President, the wiki statute page is sorely out of date. Do you know if the AG or anyone else is planning on updating it soon?

The Attorney General has been in contact with me on that matter.

The President will be announcing his nomination for Secretary of External Affairs on Wednesday evening.

The Administration will release its Budget for Senate consideration on Friday.

President Polnut tonight nominated IDS Legislator SJoyceFla to serve as the next Secretary of External Affairs.

The President made this statement... "SoEA is an often thankless position, but it is deeply important and as a president that has a focus on foreign policy, whom I nominate must have a number of clear qualities.

The most important of which is knowledge, the SoEA must not only know what is going on in the rest of the world, but also know the mechanisms of global organisations and diplomacy.

Taking that into consideration, I have been deeply impressed with SJoyceFla's understanding and enthusiasm, therefore I have no hesitation in nominating him to serve in my Cabinet."

Excellent choice!

I agree 100%. :)

Ready and willing to serve, and thank you.

Mr. President,

The Corporate Governance Reform Act (https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=153011.msg3292469#msg3292469) has passed the Senate and is presented for your signature or veto.

Senator NC Yankee,
Senate President Pro-Tempore.

The White House Budget Committee has had to delay the formal release of the Budget proposal until Sunday or Monday. 

The President will travel to London, Paris and Berlin next week.

The meetings will focus on continued European economic instability. He will meet with Prime Minister Cameron, President Hollande and Chancellor Merkel. As well as present Atlasia's official gift to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee.

He will also be awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Science-Po (Paris Institute of Political Studies).

The President will depart on Air Force One on Sunday evening, arriving in London on Monday morning and will return to Nyman early on Thursday morning.

The President has been informed of the electoral issues in the Pacific.

He has instructed officials to stand by to offer assistance if required.

President Polnut door-stop leaving Nyman DC Hilton


Reporter: Mr President, you're yet to make an endorsement in the presidential race, why not?

President: It's really quite simple, I haven't made up my mind yet.

R: Not any hints?

P: Well put it this way, I'm not going to support someone who wants to undo all of the good work and valuable programs that have been put in place during my terms as president.

R: You're going to Europe next week, it's been a very difficult time, what do you plan on talking about?

P: It's not just the European economy that's in a delicate state. We need to do all we can to ensure those economies can keep their heads above water, because the whole world will suffer if they don't. I'm personally of the view that the strong austerity measures applied were too much for some of the economies to take. The problem is that a one-size-fits-all approach has been put in place and it's not working, things are getting worse on paper and it need to be arrested right now.

R: Back to the election, you and Governor Napoleon have called for a unity across the left heading into the election, what exactly do you mean by that?

P: Well, during the last election I knew that it would be a terribly hard-fought election. The first real test of the post JCP-RPP electorate. When you have three tickets across the left/progressive movement, it makes a concerted effort to make sure preferences flow in the right way so important.

While I won the second highest number of primary votes, I wouldn't be in the White House were it not for the preferential support of the Labor Party, and I know that must have been a tough call for some of them.

I know there's a lot of drama going on within Labor as to how to approach this election. The only advice I can give them is to think about the big picture. I think both Oakvale and Napoleon would serve the interests of the progressive movement. They might not be perfect in the eyes of some, but they'd both do an excellent job and despite what some say, they are both progressives.

So, I hope people will think about that bigger picture.

Dear Mr. President,

I am much relieved to hear that you are following the constitutional crisis- "electoral issues", sir, is far too vast an understatement- currently the governor there has apparently forgotten to hold elections and is currently going about seriously suggesting that there is no point in holding new elections as he would be running uncontested. This to me is a complete abandonment of the democratic process and should not be tolerated. In my opinion as a concerned citizen, the only possible course of recourse at this juncture is direct federal provisional rule and substantial reforms being made. Otherwise our country shall begin to fray at its seams.

Sincerely yours,
Simfan34
Former Lt. Governor of the Northeast and Whig Party Chair

I'm am going to investigate what options I have to make sure this can be resolved.

President Polnut visited Walter Reed Army Hospital in Maryland tonight.

He has delayed releasing the Budget, in order to see what more can be done for military mental health care.

The President will be making a statement on the Iranian Nuclear Test this evening.

The President will also hold emergency talks on the Pacific's electoral issues with regional officials in the White House later tonight. He will then head to Andrews Air Force Base and will fly to Moscow then Berlin for talks with President Putin and Chancellor Merkel.

Next week's European Visit schedule will be restructured, and the President will return to Atlasia on Wednesday.

The President has requested the Governor of the Pacific to open a full voting booth within 48 hours, or to assign the responsibility to another Pacific citizen (as outlined in the Pacific Constitution), or else I will order the Attorney General to undertake all legal remedies to ensure Pacific residents are able to exercise their democratic rights and responsibilities.

President's Statement to the Nation on Iran


My fellow Atlasians,

Today we learned that Iran has tested a nuclear device.

This is especially egregious as this now flies against their stated public position for the past few years, that they wanted nuclear technology for power purposes.

Atlasia was supportive of that, and along with fellow countries offered to aid them in that endeavour, in most cases that support had been rejected.

The Atlasian Government views this event with the greatest seriousness. Taking that into account, the Secretary of External Affairs will visit Turkey, Israel, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. I have changed my schedule and will be leaving tonight for Russia and then Germany, and then carry on my previously planned European visit.

I will close by saying this, I urge the entire international community to act calmly and with the utmost consideration for the delicate situation we are now in. Now is not a time to react, but instead to act with clear deliberation and common purpose.

I assure the Atlasian people, that your government is keeping the closest possible eye on this situation and you will not be kept in the dark.

Thank you, and Dave bless.

                  
Income Taxes:   $ 1,466.3 B                  
 by tax bracket                   
 9.5K-35K     13%          65.8 B                  
 35K-80K      24%        224.2 B                  
 80K-170K    28%        250.1 B                  
 170K-368K  35%        239.8 B                  
 368K-1M     40%        214.7 B                  
 1M-2.5M     50%        175.2 B                   
 2.5M+        60%        296.5 B                   
                  
Corporate Taxes:  $ 378.7 B                    
 rates                  
 0-50K          12%                   
 50-75K         23%                      
 75K-100K     30%                  
 100K-335K    31%                     
 335K-10M     33%                  
 10M-15M      34%                  
 15M+           35%                       
                  
National Broadcaster Levy  $ 18.6 B                  
 Individual (0.25% > $50K)  $ 13.9 B                  
 Corporate (0.5% > $350K) $ 4.7 B                  
                  
Healthcare Taxes    $ 697.7 B                  
 Healthcare Payroll Tax  (CSSRA sec.4)              $ 687.4 B                  
     4.5% Apr-Jun 2012, 6% Jul-Aug 2012, 6.5% Sep-Dec 2012, 2013                  
 Health Insurance Tax   (ANHA sec.2c)                 $ 10.3 B                  
                  
Excise Taxes   $ 51.2  B                   
  Gasoline Tax  (12 cents/gallon)       $ 19.2 B                   
 Cigarette and Tobacco Taxes                       
    (43 cents/pack, plus 2% or 4% for various products)* $ 6.9 B                   
 Alcohol Tax        (various rates per unit, plus 4% tax)*  $ 10.2 B                   
 Marijuana Tax  (28% tax)           $ 14.9 B                    
 *(National Sin Tax Act, as amended)                  
                  
Carbon Taxes  ($25-30/ton)    $ 152.7 B                  
 Domestic              $  133.6 B                  
 Carbon Import Tax  $  19.1 B                      
                  
                  
Special Program Taxes                     
 Plastic Bag Tax (Environmental Fund)      $ 4.9 B                   
 Chain Business Differential Tax (SBA Fund)  $ 33.1 B                  
Oil Spill Protection Tax (5% on profits > $1B) $7.2 B                  
Electrical Power Transmission Network Tax (0.65 c/kW-h) $23.6 B                  
                  
Customs Duties   $ 58.2 B                  
                  
Other Revenue (Sales, Earnings, Fees, Etc.)   $ 83.4 B                  
                  
                  
Total Revenue    $2,978.5 Billion         


Budget Update: Part 2A - Tax Credits         
         
Dependent Child Tax Credit            115 B         
Education Tax Credits                       
   Higher Education                          75  B         
   Elementary/Secondary                   3.5 B         
Earned Income Tax Credit                46.3 B         
Adoption and Foster Care Credit         1.1 B         
Carbon Tax Residential Relief Credits         
   Carbon Tax Electricity Credit          11.6 B         
   Heating Fuel Consumption Credit     6.2 B         
   Fuel Efficiency Reimbursement        4.1 B         
Corporate Clean Energy Credit           2.7 B         
Alternate Energy R&D Credits            3.4 B         
Nuclear Waste Reprocessing Credit    2.9 B         
Public Transportation Tax Credit         6.4 B         
First-time Homebuyer Credit              2.8 B         
Retirement Savings Credits               2.5 B         
Individual Business Credits                2.2 B         
Foreign Tax Credit                          13.1 B         
  TOTAL                                    $ 298.8 Billion         

   Budget Update- Part 2B Direct Spending                
               
TOTAL Direct Spending = $ 2.767.9 Trillion               
               
Military Spending ($356.63 billion)               
$95.00 billion ... Military personnel               
$115.20 billion ... Operation and maintenance               
$60.00 billion .... Procurement               
$50.00 billion .... Research, development, test and evaluation               
$15.25 billion .... Military Construction, Family Housing and Other               
$18.29 billion .... Atomic Energy Defense Activities               
$2.89 billion ..... Defense Related activities               
               
Afghanistan Operations ($29.0 billion)               
$19.0 billion ..... Military Operations               
$10.00 billion .... Reconstruction aid               
               
Military Retirement ($140.5 billion)               
$46.5 billion .... Military retirement               
$40 billion .... Income security for veterans               
$9 billion ...... Veterans education, training, and rehabilitation               
$ 2 billion….. Veterans mental health resources               
$42 billion ..... Hospital and medical care for veterans and retired military               
$1 billion ...... Housing and other veterans benefits and services               
               
               
International affairs ($24.15 billion)               
$15.00 billion ...... International development and humanitarian assistance               
$3.0 billion ...... International military aid               
$5.0 billion ...... Conduct of foreign affairs               
$1.15 billion ...... Foreign information and exchange activities               
               
General science, space, and technology ($23.97 billion)               
$5.62 billion ...... National Science Foundation programs               
$3.44 billion ...... Department of Energy general science programs               
$14.91 billion ..... Space flight, research, and supporting activities               
               
Non-Defense Energy Spending ($14.62 billion)               
$0.73 billion ...... Energy supply               
$1.03 billion ...... Energy conservation and preparedness               
$0.36 billion ...... Energy information, preparedness, & regulation               
$12.5 billion ...... Go Green Fund               
               
Natural resources and environment ($36.06 billion)               
$5.45 billion ..... Water resources               
$9.07 billion ..... Conservation and land management               
$3.12 billion ..... Recreational & Park resources               
$8.42 billion ..... Pollution control and abatement               
$4.9 billion ....... Environmental Fund from plastic bag tax                 
$5.1 billion ....... Other natural resources               
               
Agriculture ($14.5 billion)               
$11.00 billion ..... Farm income stabilization & crop insurance               
$3.50 billion ...... Agricultural research and services               
               
Commerce and Housing Loan Programs ($6.82 billion)               
$-4.28 billion ..... Federal Housing Loan Programs               
$2.17 billion ...... Postal service               
$-0.96 billion ..... Deposit insurance               
$7.96 billion ...... Universal service fund               
$1.93 billion ...... Other advancement of commerce               
               
Transportation ($87.27 billion)               
$33.13 billion ..... Highways and highway safety               
$18 billion ......... High speed rail (Transportation Infrastructure Investment Act)               
$10 billion ...... Other Mass transit               
$2.81 billion ...... Railroads               
$17.26 billion ..... Air Transportation               
$5.65 billion ...... Water transportation               
$0.42 billion ...... Other transportation               
               
Community and regional development ($59.96 billion)               
$6.25 billion ...... Community development               
$8.36 billion ...... Area and regional development               
$10.15 billion ...... Disaster relief and insurance               
$2.5 billion ........ Homeless Shelter Emergency Housing               
$32.7 billion ...... Small Business Association               
               
Education ($120.95 billion)               
$57.57 billion ..... Elementary, Secondary & Vocational education               
$42.72 billion ..... Higher education               
$3.23 billion ...... Research and general education               
               
Training, labor and unemployment ($11.6 billion)               
$10 billion ...... Training and employment               
$1.6 billion ....... Labor law, statistics, and other administration               
               
Atlasian National Healthcare ($1229.13 billion)               
$299.27 billion ... IDS Community Health Partnership                
$278.07 billion ... ME Community Health Partnership                
$140.18 billion ... MW Community Health Partnership                
$257.89 billion ... NE Community Health Partnership                
$231.71 billion ... PA Community Health Partnership                
$21.81 billion ..... Central Administration Costs                
               
Non-ANH Health Spending ($37.07 billion)               
$4.7 billion ....... Disease control, public health and bioterrorism               
$29.36 billion ... Health research and training               
$3.01 billion ..... Food safety and occupational health and safety               
               
Civilian Retirement (Social Security excluded) ($72.02 billion)               
$4.89 billion ...... Civilian retirement and disability insurance               
$58.22 billion .... Federal employee retirement and disability               
$8.91 billion ...... Federal employees' and retired employees' health benefits               
               
Atlasian National Broadcaster ($6.35 billion)               
$4.6 billion …. Infrastructure buliding and acquisition                
$1.75 billion …. Initial start up costs                 
               
Aid to Low-Income Families ($182.96 billion)               
$67 billion ..... Housing assistance               
$87.58 billion ..... Food stamps               
$21 billion ...... Other nutrition programs (WIC, school lunches)               
$4.8 billion ....... Child care funds               
$2.58 billion ...... Other aid to low-income families               
               
General Family Support ($27.06 billion)               
$8 billion ...... Foster care and adoption assistance               
$2.92 billion ...... Child support and family support programs               
$16.14 billion ..... Social and family services               
               
Administration of justice ($29.79 billion)               
$7.25 billion ..... Federal law enforcement               
$7.46 billion ..... Border security and immigration               
$7.6 billion ..... Federal litigation and judicial activities               
$3.26 billion ...... Federal prison system               
$4.22 billion ...... Criminal justice assistance               
               
General government administration ($13.3 billion)               
$2.75 billion ...... Legislative functions               
$0.95 billion ...... Executive office programs               
$7.6 billion ....... IRS & other fiscal operations               
$2 billion ...... Other general government               
               
Interest on debt ($244.73 billion)               
$244.73 billion .... Net Interest[/size]               
               
***************************************               
               
SUMMARY: Current Projected Figures for 2012               
               
Direct Spending                 $2767.9 billion   
Tax Credits                           $298.8 billion   
TOTAL Expenditures             $3,061.3 billion   
               
REVENUE               $2,978.5 Billion               
EXPENDITURES     -$3,061.3 billion               
BALANCE                 -$ 82.8 Billion               
      

Polnut Administration Budget highlights

New measures
•   Increasing support for Veterans by more than $15 billion, including medical, training and housing support
•   A new $8 billion program over the next 5 years to address veteran’s mental health, with $2 billion appropriated this year
•   Placing new human rights and social condition requirements on military aid recipients, which will allow humanitarian aid to be increased to $10 billion
•   Increasing funding to support foster parents and adoption services
•   Increasing funding to support training and further education
•   Additional support for low-income families with increases to school lunch programs and increased housing assistance
•   Increased funding for mass transit programs

This has been achieved by
•   Making small increases to alcohol, tobacco and marijuana excises
•   Ensuring the Budget outlay on our military commitments overseas reflect our place in the world, which reduces our military overheads by billions
•   Closing 30% of our overseas military bases within the year
•   Slowing down of military recruitment, and allowing held-off retirements to take place
•   Deferring some non-essential infrastructure spending to 2013-2014
•   Reducing the overheads of Federal Government administration, including
o   Maximising the space within Government owned buildings, to save on rent
o   Non-essential office upgrades to be postponed
o   Increasing the use of energy-efficient lighting and air conditioning
o   Non-essential Federal Government recruitment freeze for 6 months
o   Pay freeze on all Federal Government employees for 12 months
o   Pay freeze on all Senior Government employees for 18 months
o   Elected and Judicial officials to have office allowances reduced by 20% for 2012-13, and 10% for 2013-14.

This Budget has tried hard to ensure that it balances the need to provide vital services at a difficult time, with the need to bring the deficit down and provide more economic stability for the country.


(ps... I hope the numbers pan out... as my eyes have been on them for weeks now, lol if not, I hope someone will correct them)...

and with that my record-breaking day of activity and press releases comes to an END! :P

Mr. President,

The Atlasian Arts Advocation Act of 2012 (https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=152692.msg3300948#msg3300948) has passed the Senate and is presented for your signature or veto.


Sen. NC Yankee,
Senate President Pro-Tempore.

Mr. President- I commend you on this budget...I'm sure there will be minor disagreements when the real deal is rolled out but I find this very agreeable and I appreciate your commitment to veterans...

Especially the money for mental health services for veterans, which is a big contributor to the problem of homelessness amongst veterans.

I, Jack Polnut, acting within my Constitutional authority as President of the Republic, am formally declaring a state of emergency to exist within the Pacific Region.

The lack of the Governor to open a voting booth represents a clear violation to the constitutional rights of the citizens of the region, and therefore, despite efforts to ensure this is carried out, must now be considered an extraordinary event.

I will be instructing the Secretary of Federal Elections to open a fully recognised voting booth for the Pacific Region by 12:01am on Tuesday 22 May 2012.

Any action by the Governor to interfere with this process will render him liable to further legal consequences.

()

and also because a veteran attempts suicide roughly every 20 minutes, it's something that needs to be addressed over a decent period of time.

The President's Press Conference
Atlasian Embassy
Berlin, Germany


Reporter: Mr President, you took the rather dramatic step of issuing a state of emergency due to the Pacific Governor's failure to open a voting booth. What are the next steps and what do you think this step will signal to other regional governors?

President Polnut: It's very simple, it signals to the Governors that an active President will step in, when they do not fulfil their constitutional responsibilities. This step was taken with the utmost seriousness. I gave the Governor two full days to respond to this issue, to either open the booth himself, or to follow the Pacific Constitution and assign that responsibility to another Pacific citizen. He did not. While it might be a dramatic step, it was the only responsible step to take.

R: Mr President, there are rumors that you've had a difficult time in negotiations with the Russian President? Surely this is a vitally important intermediary?

PP: I'm not sure who gave you that information. This is a highly delicate situation, and it's vital that we don't allow idle gossip to get in the way. What I can say, is to repeat what I said in Moscow with President Putin, we both considered this action by the Iranian regime to be a tremendous regression in the security, both of the region and the world. So, to suggest that the talks in Moscow weren't productive is wrong.

R: Can you confirm or deny that the military option has been taken off the table?

PP: At no time have I said that any option has been put on or subsequently taken off the table. My ideal has always been that a combination of diplomatic efforts and economic sanctions should be at the heart of any response to this matter, that's why I was in Moscow and now why I'm in Berlin.

R: Will you be returning to Atlasia early to deal with the Pacific matter?

PP: I have been in constant contact with my office, and with the Secretary of Federal Elections. I have spoken with him to ensure that a polling booth will be opened at just after midnight on Tuesday. The Atlasian people need to know their rights will be protected. The citizens of the Pacific deserve to know their voices will be heard and respected. I consider the current executive of the Pacific to be illegitimate.

R: Did you not commit the same error during your first term as Mideast Governor?

PP: I was wondering when this would come up, indeed. I miscalculated a date, but instead of ignoring it, I acted as soon as I realised the error.

R: Your Budget shows a rise in revenues, as well as increases in spending...

PP: It shows the Budget deficit of more than half of what it would be without my additional economies or small revenue increases. We're on track to have a Budget surplus next year and we can finally start to pay down our debt, which is at the core of my economic policy. We did this without resorting an ideological morass, we approached spending to find fat, to improve the efficiency of our services, without in any way weakening services, in fact, we're increasing services.

R: Yes Mr President, but do you not think that considering the cuts are quite modest, you could have achieved a surplus this year?

PP: Of course I could have, but my promise was to manage the economic policy of this nation sensibly, without making the lives of people doing it tough any harder. Simple as that. Unemployment is dropping but we need to make sure that services remain strong.

Guys, I need to go, thanks and see you in London.

^^^

This budget is very commendable, Mr. President. I'd certainly vote in favour of it :)

The marijuana tax revenues seem very high. Considering that it is easy enough to grow your own and avoid the tax, or that a large amount of consumption will be for medicinal purposes, I think these estimates are a bit high. That tax will push business underground- why not?

The President arrived in London today. His first stop was Windsor Castle, where had an audience with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and presented her with the official Atlasian gift on the event of her Diamond Jubilee. The gift is a two-tier cabinet based on an item that was destroyed in the Windsor Castle fire of 1992, but made of Atlasian wood sourced from across the country and built in Washington state.

He then travelled into London and had a working lunch with Prime Minister Cameron, they discussed both the troubles plaguing the Eurozone, as well as the current Iranian threat.

The President then attended a Red Cross dinner as the guest of the Prince of Wales.

He will be arriving in Paris tomorrow morning at 10:15am local time.

Mr. President,

The Atlasian Mountaintop Removal Ban Act (https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=153012.msg3304469#msg3304469) has passed the Senate and is presented for your signature or veto.


Senator NC Yankee,
Senate President Pro-Tempore.

The President arrived in Paris today, his first order of business was a meeting with new French President Francois Hollande, where they discussed the Eurozone financial crisis, as well as threat posed by the Iranian weapons test.

The President was then honoured with an Honorary Doctorate from Sciences-Po, and he made an address on economic policy, the transcript of which will be available later.

He then had a private dinner at the Elysee Palace before returning to the Sofitel Paris le Faubourg for the night.

He will meet with Mario Draghi, President of the European Central bank on Wednesday morning before leaving for Charles de Gaulle Airport to depart for Nyman. Where he is expected to arrive early on Wednesday evening.

The President spent Memorial Day with veterans and their families.

He attended the National Service at Arlington National Cemetery where he laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown. He then went to Walter Reed Medical Centre where he met with recovering soliders, then attended a barbeque with recent veterans, their families and the families of fallen soldiers at the White House.   

The President's Press Conference
White House Rose Garden


Reporter: The election is three weeks away, and you've yet to make an endorsement, why the wait?

President: This again, I have said that I will make an endorsement sometime in early June. It is nearly early June, so it'll be soon.

Reporter: You can't give us a clue?

President: Well, I think it's pretty clear that the decision is a choice between two candidates, and two very different characters. I believe that being President is a complex balancing act, you need that fire and drive of an advocate, but you also need to know when to pull back. Sometimes winning isn't what matters, getting a good compromise is. You also need to be prepared to step back.

Obviously, when there's been an issue I've been strongly in favour of, or strongly opposed to, I've worked for it. But other times, my job is not to see my party, my side, my philosophy win, although it is nice thing to happen, it's to get a good result for as many people as possible.

So the person I personally endorse, will be the one who I think has the drive, but also the capacity to see the bigger picture and be pragmatic and open to finding common ground.

Reporter: It sounds like you've already made your mind up?

President: Have I? News to me...

Reporter: Mr President, Secretary Jake Matthews has left not only the presidential race, but also it seems his post in Internal Affairs, what are your thoughts?

President: I honestly haven't had a discussion with the Secretary. Presidential politics is hard, through whatever means, discovering you don't have the support you think you, or even should is very damaging. But Jake's choice, is his alone. He's been a great member of my Cabinet, I can't fault his work and his efforts to make that position more relevant.

Politics is also about timing, and I know Jake has wanted to be president for a long time, but this just wasn't his time and very often, you can't force the timing.

I think, if he follows through with his retirement, Atlasia will be much poorer for it.

Reporter: Senator Wormyguy made a comment in relation to your increased support for veterans today, he referred to them a subset, thoughts on that.

President: As you know the Senator and I go back a while, and our working relationship has been far from warm or even constructive. I had seen what I thought was an introduction of more reasonable positions from him, still far too extreme for me, but progress is progress. But this comment is not only disrespectful, but ill-informed. The men and women he derided with his comment are owed more than we can give, and in this Budget I've sought to do more for them, because they deserve it.

Reporter: On a similar topic, you're getting pressure from your own party over the re-introduction of a Constitutional Amendment to ban conscription. In the Senate you were of mixed mind and eventually voted for it....

President: I think we need to be completely clear. I opposed a blanket ban through an amendment, full stop. In fact, I generally oppose the Constitution being used for things like this. We have strong legislative instruments that would make conscription all but impossible. But I see this as issue of principle, people who believe conscription is wrong, as I generally do, but want to use the their current position and the power of the Senate to bind the hands of future Senators and Commanders-in-Chief. I simply believe that's irresponsible.

Guys, thanks.

The President will make an endorsement for the presidency on Tuesday 12 June 2012.

Mr. President,

The New Atlasian Healthcare Act (https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=151527.msg3318398#msg3318398) has passed the Senate and is presented for your signature or veto.

Senator NC Yankee,
President Pro-Tempore

Mr. President, will you be appointing a new SoIA if Jake Matthews does not return to the forum soon?  Sadly, I think he might be done here.

As will the Vice President. ;)

I will be formally declaring the post vacant on Saturday if he has not formally resigned by that point.

I am happy to speak with people who may be interested in serving in this post.

The President be making visits in support of candidates he has endorsed for various offices next week.

Monday: Campaigning with Senator Ben - Indianapolis, IN

Tuesday: Campaigning with Senator Scott - tba

The President has decided to not make an endorsement for the presidency, until a debate has taken place.

While it is clear the President has options, he expected a debate to have taken place by this time.

He apologies to the candidates, but considering how difficult a decision this is for him, he wants to make sure it is the right one, not the easiest one.

The President made a brief comment on the reduction in national unemployment numbers.

"This is good news, but it shows that there is more that we need to do. The results are uneven and the inflation numbers are still higher than we'd like to see.

But the Atlasian economy is recovering, and we should be proud of that."

East Room Press Briefing - Syria


Thanks guys,

What's happening in Syria is deeply troubling and upsetting to me. We had hoped that the Assad Regime would enter a functioning ceasefire for no other reason than to restore stability to their country.

Unfortunately, it is clear now that the Syrian Government is not serious about this ceasefire, and if the far more powerful and better equipped state forces are not serious, why should the opposing forces be so either. It's a very precarious situation, not just for Syria, but for the region.

Earlier today, I sent the Secretary of External Affairs to Moscow to meet with officials there to determine what they are prepared to do to see stability restored in this country for the sake of the innocent civilians. Too many have died and it needs to stop.

I want to make this message clear to President Assad, 'you continue to act with willful disregard to both the well-being of your own people, as well as the international community, clearly because you don't see any consequences to doing so. Let me say, consequences are on the table, and you need to think very carefully if you continue down this path'.

I'll take a few questions...

Reporter: Mr President, does that mean you are not ruling out military intervention?

President: Look, there remains a multitude of options before the military option is entertained.

Reporter: Mr President, by sending the Secretary to Moscow, what message are you trying to send to both Damascus, and those who are supporting their actions?

President: I don't want to categorise Russia as supportive of the Assad regime's actions. They certainly have greater channels to Damascus than we do. The message to Assad should be that this is a domestic tragedy for his country that he compounding by his actions. He had an opportunity for international good-will, but he's completely blown that opportunity.

We have verified evidence of children being used as human shields, women and children being tortured and murdered. This cannot stand, and I urge all the international community to condemn these actions and this regime.

Thanks, guys.

The President made a brief statement earlier about case being brought against the IDS.

"The section in question creates an alternative legal tender in the region. Whether or not they define it as 'not currency' in the bill is irrelevant, it is minted by the regional government, assigned a monetary value and able to be provided in exchange for goods and services. It is, by those very definitions, currency."

The President held emergency meetings late tonight with the Attorney General.

A statement was released:

"The President is very clear that the current IDS laws do violate the Constitution. However, this issue needs to be resolved without further drama or risk to life.

The Federal Government will defend the Constitution, and also the viability of our national currency, and will be pursuing this matter through the courts. The President expects all parties to respect the will of the Judiciary on this matter.

The President is fully prepared to engage in a positive dialogue with the Emperor of the IDS, however, the 'dibble' as it stands cannot remain in place."

     I disagree with your contention regarding the dibble, but I have no wish for further drama either. My people are eager to return to work at their usual places, and hope to avoid any more disruptions like the one that occurred earlier.

     Furthermore, no matter how certain you may be of the illicit nature of the dibble, no ruling has been made relegating the dibble to the level of contraband, requiring its seizure by the FBI. I would hope to see any dibbles that have been taken restored to the region, where they may be kept and, if the Supreme Court so rules, retired.

I should have said "I believe"...

It's in the best interests of the people of the IDS to allow this matter to be handled in court, and we agree on that and I'm happy to work with you and let this matter be handled by the appropriate channels.

I won't endorse any action beyond that by the Federal Government.

The President is pleased, that with the passage of the new Health reform Bill, the Budget looks to be heading towards a surplus.

This economic record is something the president is proud of and thanks the Senate for the diligence on this issue. The working relationship between this Senate, on the while, and the administration has enabled a government for the Atlasian people which is functional and strong.

The President has asked the Vice President to act as his negotiator with the IDS.

The President will be working from Camp David until Tuesday, so will be of only limited availability.

In the event of an emergency, contact via PM.

The President has recently made a comment in relation to the upcoming Presidential Race.

Mr. President and I do take great pleasure in calling you that,

The Pregnant Women Support Act (https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=153767.msg3334031#msg3334031) has passed the Senate and is presented for your signature or veto.

Senator NC Yankee,
Senate President Pro-Tempore.

The President will on a private family vacation until Friday 29 June. He will still retain authority over the signing of Bills and the issuing of Executive Orders. The Vice President will assume authority over issues not related to the passage of legislation and Executive Orders.

In the event of an emergency, contact via PM.

Have fun!

Skiing in NZ :D - how elitist and out of touch of me!
;)

Mwahaha! ;)

Have fun!

Mr. President,

The Home and Private Schooling Tax Credit Act (https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=154501.msg3335614#msg3335614) has passed the Senate and is presented for your ve err signature or veto.

Senator NC Yankee,
Senate President Pro-Tempore

Mr. President- I urge you to sign this legislation. I'm happy to discuss it with you in any further detail if you'd like...
clarence

Mr. President,

The Foreign Policy Reform Act of 2012 (https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=155156.msg3336373#msg3336373) has passed the Senate and is presented for your signature or veto.

Senator NC Yankee,
Senate President Pro-Tempore.

I encourage the President to sign this bill which should have been passed in his first term. :P

I urge the President to condemn the Tweed's lawsuit.

Which Bill is this?

The Foreign Policy Reform Act.

Yeah, it's a year overdue.  That's my bad.

The President will be making a farewell address to the Atlasian people on Wednesday 4 July.

Mr. President,

The Airport Renaming Act (https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=155158.msg3339058#msg3339058) has passed the Senate and is presented for your signature or veto.

Senator NC Yankee,
Senate President Pro-Tempore.

The President will be visiting Colorado early next week, conditions permitting, to show his support for those battling the wildfires as well as those directly affected.

The President also wishes to extend his support to the Senators who upheld his veto on the private education tax credit Bill. The Bill created numerous loopholes and was far too simplistic, ignored issues of accreditation and undermined the regional prerogative on education. As someone who was educated entirely in the public education system, he resents attempts to make public education as the 'worst-case scenario' for parents. If the Senate was serious about this issue why not help to make public education stronger - in reality not through an ideological default.

As another product of exclusively public schools, I believe government should act in the interests of students and parents, not in the interest of the public school system... while the two often are the same- I don't believe we should ever place the latter over the former

This issue should be pursued through the regions. I do have a problem with the state saying (which it would through this Bill) private education is the best option... rather than making sure parents and students are equally served through the public system.

Even if we stood aside - the Bill is a disaster for legal challenges and abuse of the system.

The first point's been argued and would be pointless to argue again here... But with regards to your second- I don't think any one would appreciate a hundreds-page bill on here. I don't think any one would read it or write it- hell if I would! Bills on the web are more general because this is a Fantasy board and don't affect actual people... I respect ideological criticism but blasting the bill for being too simplistic isn't right

The President has instructed all required resources be made available to defend the integrity of the last presidential election.

Mr. President,

The Swearing in Made Easy Act (https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=155237.msg3341858#msg3341858) has passed the Senate and is presented for your signature or veto.

Senator NC Yankee,
Senate President Pro-Tempore.

The National Council for the Restoration of Democracy applauds the President's move.

The President is deeply distressed by the significant backlog in veterans support applications being approved. This is not however an issue of 'bureaucracy', but a combination of an increased number of veterans with severe injuries and other related needs and the conditions we have placed on them. The onus of proof for these applications is on the veteran to provide considerable paperwork, which requires equally time-consuming processing. With applicants waiting up to a year for even a response, this is a crisis in support for those who have given of themselves for their fellow citizens.

Considering that most tax returns are accepted and processed with almost no overt investigation, but with the threat of audit there to promote honesty in this process, there is no reason why this kind of system should not be applied to veteran support service applications.

Therefore the President request the Senate debate and pass with all due haste this Bill.

------

The Veteran Support Reform Bill 2012

From 1 January 2013 all applications through any Federal Government veteran support payment or service will be made in the same format as Federal Income Taxation, accepted with audit threat.

This will require support for the relevant agencies, in both resources and the development of  processing soft and hardware. This Bill will appropriate $15 million over the next 2 years to install new computer equipment and the engagement of appropriate staff, although re-assignment from existing employment pools will be given priority.

From 1 January 2013, all applications will be made up of an application, either on paper, or electronic, with a letter from a registered medical official or other registered related official to verify the claim. The applicant should be prepared to provide additional documentation, if the application is insufficient. An audit process of a random 2% of applications will be made annually.

Until 1 January 2013, new standards will be applied from 1 August 2012 to any existing or new applications.
* The applicant must be a verified service member, with claim-related conditions being registered on their service file
* The applicant must provide a letter from a registered official outlining their condition and needs
* If the application meets those two basic criteria, the claim will be paid within 30 days
* An audit of 2% of all applications received until 31 December 2012 will be held and severe penalties, including the cessation of payment and possible criminal prosecution will be incurred from any fraudulent activities.

Mr. President- what happened to the veterans of my war was a national disgrace, and to consider the possibility of it occurring again keeps me up at night... I commend you for your commitment to veterans during your administration...I have a few comments and questions for later but I am proud to join you on this initiative

A reminder that The President will be making his farewell address to the Atlasian people at 8pm eastern tomorrow night.

The President has amended his plan, and will deliver his address at 8pm on Thursday 5 July 2012.

The President also has seen the decisions of the Supreme Court and thanks them for ruling in a way that maintains the integrity of our democracy and our Constitution.

And the entire nation anxiously awaits in eager anticipation of your valedictory remarks.

Mr. President,

The Care for Homeless Pets Act of 2012 (https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=155454.msg3346913#msg3346913) has passed the Senate and is presented for your signature or veto.

Senator NC Yankee,
Senate President Pro-Tempore.

Mr. President,

The Atlasia-Israel Defense and Security Cooperation Treaty (https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=154812.msg3347143#msg3347143) has passed the Senate and is presented for executive action.

Senator NC Yankee,
Senate President Pro-Tempore