Campaign HQ - Ebowed for Lieutenant Governor

[Ebowed]

Welcome to the campaign headquarters for my candidacy for the office of Pacific Lieutenant Governor.

All announcements and policy positions will be posted here.  Anyone with questions is encouraged to ask them.

[Ebowed]

I thank the Senator and the Vice President for their support.  It is much appreciated.

Why should anybody support you when you were so inactive as GM?

There is much more to my career in Atlasia than my stint as GM.  I have extensive executive and legislative experience, including as a member of the Pacific regional legislature where I have successfully passed many bills on a wide range of topics.  I would aim, if elected, to use my position to stimulate the regional legislature by offering proposals for the citizens of the Pacific to consider on a consistent basis.

Do you think that the U.S Atlasia should have allied with Hitler during the Second World War?

I can't say that I do.

[Ebowed]

Good evening, citizens of the Pacific.

My opponent has begun attacking my record, claiming that I lack the passion for the Pacific Region that he has which will allow our region to flourish.  He also refers to my GM tenure as disastrous.

So I suppose my question to the people of the Pacific is - what has my opponent ever done for this region?

I have successfully proposed dozens of substantial pieces of legislation for this region which have given us some of the most progressive economic and social laws in the nation.  We have a strong civil libertarian tradition with laws which protect legal gambling, prostitution, many recreational drugs, the right to an abortion, and the civil rights of minority groups.  We have instituted a single-payer universal preventative health care system.  We maintain one of the highest minimum wages in the nation, have banned private prisons, donated regional resources to embryonic stem cell research and needle exchange programs, and pay for our programs with sharp income and estate tax increases which allow us to practice better fiscal discipline.

My opponent seems to feel the need to wait until the election to demonstrate his legislative abilities.  So, when he slams my record, I can only lament that at least I have one.

[Ebowed]

I would like to challenge my opponent to a debate.  Anyone willing to moderate such a debate should let us know.

[Ebowed]

I will not participate in a debate moderated by Xahar. I'm sure Ebowed understands.

I think he would be fine as a moderator.

[Ebowed]

I'd be fine serving as a moderator.

I am good with this. Ebowed?

Sure.

[Ebowed]

Good evening, citizens of the Pacific.

My opponent has introduced his first piece of legislation to our regional legislature.  It is a poorly written and redundant effort to remove the general sales tax.  I will outline some of my problems with the proposal here:

a. It bans any general sales tax, except an undefined number of exceptions, the only ones named being cigarettes, cannabis, and gasoline.  I can think of quite a few other items with excise taxes which he may or may not want to include in the relevant clause.  Nonetheless, if my opponent hopes to reduce the burden of taxation on the poor by removing a general sales tax, it is curious that he would defend just as a regressive source of revenue such as sin taxes.

b. I authored legislation which removed the sales tax on food, groceries, and books, which was passed unanimously by the legislature and signed by the Governor on October 13, 2008, making this legislation largely redundant.

c. This tax cut is funded by a ".5 percent income tax increase on top bracket earners."  I would like to know what, exactly, this means.  On October 27, 2007, the legislature passed a bill which I authored to establish a new tax on income exceeding $50 million of 45.5%.  If my opponent has his way, it follows that this tax bracket would thus be increased to 46%, which is a curious method indeed of making up a large revenue deficit that would be caused by a potential removal of all sales taxes.

d. The final prong of this bill asserts that a 3.5% surcharge will be added to the costs of all air travel.  Firstly, do not call this a "surcharge."  It is a tax increase - notably a sales tax increase.  Secondly, should my opponent's air travel tax pass, people would just buy airline tickets outside of the region over the Internet.  An excellent source of revenue, indeed.

When it comes to campaign rhetoric, my opponent may have convinced some of you that he is an active, fresh face who is ready to serve the people of the Pacific.  But when it comes to the complex details of legislative fine-tuning, my opponent simply is not ready.  He is running on redundant ideas.  If my opponent is only going to suggest the same ideas that I had one and two years ago, perhaps he should drop out and endorse my candidacy.

[Ebowed]

The following is a paid political advertisement.

HAMILTON - ABOLISHING THE SALES TAX BY RAISING THE SALES TAX

(unsettling, haunting music playing in background)

What do you know about Alexander Hamilton?  Perhaps you know about his plan to completely abolish the general sales tax.  He has been talking about it a lot lately.

But now we have the details of his plan, and it looks like he hopes to abolish the sales tax by raising another sales tax and calling it a "surcharge."

Is this really what we would expect from a candidate who has promised to reform our tax code?

(switch to positive background melody)

Former President Ebowed successfully passed legislation to remove the sales tax on food, groceries, and books, rather than a wholesale removal of the GST with a tricky move to replace it with fee and surcharge increases.

Ebowed - working for the Pacific; working for you.

Paid for by the Committee to Elect Ebowed to the Pacific Lieutenant Governorship.

[Ebowed]

Stop making false accusations and attack ads and decide when you want to follow through on the debate. Thank you. Office of Hamilton for Lieutenant Governor.

I already agreed to the debate and remain more than eager to participate.  I don't see the need for a "when."  The moderator posts a question, we both answer it, then he posts another.

If you would care to point out which of my accusations are false, that would be appreciated.

[Ebowed]

The following is a paid political advertisement.

HAMILTON GOES NEGATIVE!

Today we heard some chilling, contradictory words from Alexander Hamilton (RPP).

This campaign will not be defined by divisive remarks, regardless if my opponent is choosing to do so. Atlasia may have been better off if he had put the effort he has put in this campaign into his Presidency and position as GM.

Is Alexander Hamilton attacking the Ebowed Presidency?  What does he even know about it?

Alexander Hamilton proposed raising a fee on air travel to finance his scheme to eliminate the general sales tax (in other words, raise a tax on one form of sales to pay for a half-hearted plan to remove another category of sales taxes), but apparently if I try to point this out, it counts as a negative attack.

Alexander Hamilton says he will not define his campaign with divisive rhetoric, yet in the very same paragraph he once again attacks the Ebowed record.

Where is Alexander Hamilton's record?

Paid for by the Committee to Elect Ebowed to the Pacific Lieutenant Governorship.

[Ebowed]

The following is a paid political advertisement.

HAMILTON ALREADY MAKING FALSE ACCUSATIONS IN DEBATE

The more the Pacific Region learns about Alexander Hamilton, the more concerned they are about the idea of his winning an election.

For example, in tonight's debate, Hamilton began making false accusations and hypocritical claims in just his opening statement!

"What you get from a Hamilton candidacy is a forward-thinking administration and common-sense solutions to the critical problems we face today. Ebowed hasn’t really told us anything that he wants to do if elected."

Perhaps if he had looked at the opening statement preceding his, he would have noticed my pledge to uphold the duties of office by continuing my advocacy for progressive causes in the regional legislature, opening election booths when necessary, and updating the Pacific wiki pages which are missing crucial information.

Does Hamilton even have a Wiki account?

How can he uphold the duties of this office when he spends all of his time making false accusations?

Paid for by the Committee to Elect Ebowed to the Pacific Lieutenant Governorship.

[Ebowed]

I actually typed mine before you had an opening statement and didn't read yours until afterwards, to refute one claim of yours.

So you don't have a Wiki account?

[Ebowed]

The following is a paid political advertisement.

HAMILTON PANDERS TO THE LEFT, THEN PANDERS TO THE RIGHT

Alexander Hamilton (RPP) has been sending private campaign messages to members of the Jesus Christ Party to try and convince them that he is a solid, progressive candidate for the Pacific Region.

Bombarding them with messages, some of them may have felt that they had no choice but to agree with whatever tall claims the candidate put in his private campaign rhetoric.

The problem is - whose side is he really on?

"And this is what the Pacific needs... not just another empty suit hiding behind a red avatar."

If you pay close attention to Hamilton's campaign operation, you will find that he is plotting with members of the RPP to completely change the Pacific Region as we know it, with registration drives and efforts to turn the Pacific "blue."

So our main question is - who does Alexander Hamilton work for?  The RPP, or the Pacific Region?

Paid for by the Committee to Elect Ebowed to the Pacific Lieutenant Governorship.

[Ebowed]

Uh oh. Who is this mysterious RRP? Are we being invaded by an underground group of members plotting to overthrow the regions one by one? Dave have mercy on our souls.

The Reactionary Rightwing Party is coming for us all, PS.

I would recommend wearing a face mask when they break your doors down but it won't actually prevent the spread of the conservatism disease.

[Ebowed]

The following is a paid political advertisement.

THE CANDIDATE WITH AN ATTITUDE: HAMILTON CONTINUES NEGATIVE CAMPAIGN

Alexander Hamilton (RPP) is shaping up to be the candidate with a bad attitude.

Faced with questions about his ability to win and his ability to govern competently, he actually called a well respected Pacific resident an "asshole" and a "dick."

Some people might say that a candidate should show respect to all of his potential constituents, and avoid profane name calling to the person that he would be expected to work alongside with if elected.

Clearly, Hamilton is not one of these people.

Paid for by the Committee to Elect Ebowed to the Pacific Lieutenant Governorship.

[Ebowed]

More lies, eh? I told him to stop "being" a dick. Much different from is.

In order to stop being a dick, one must be a dick in the first place.

Keep digging that hole.

[Ebowed]

Being implies a specific point in time. Is implies the basic composure of something.

So you mean to clarify that when you told Meeker to stop being a dick, you never at any point hoped to imply that he is one.

Reminds me of a time back in Vietnam when I told one of my soldier friends to stop being a Communist.  He got all angry at me because I accused him of being a Communist.  I was like, nah, dude, I just meant, stop being one.  That's all.

[Ebowed]

This quote seems to suggest unnecessary confrontation on Meeker's part.

Really?

You must be logged in to read this quote.

[Ebowed]

No I didn't. I said we don't need that. I never said that you were that. But if you think something like that would be a reference to you.....

Why would you say that we don't need it if it applies to none of the options facing the Pacific?

You need to stop calling people names and then pretending that you did not.  This is becoming a habit!

[Ebowed]

Ebowed will now receive the coveted President's Endorsement©, for being the candidate in this race who is not trying to win with a flood of horrible newbie posters as well as not calling respected members of Atlasia dicks. Congratulations!

Thank you, Mr. President.

[Ebowed]

I have nothing to do with the recruitment drive in the Pacific as I have told many including some in the JCP.  However, at this point considering its success I see no reason to call it off.  I may have called it off if the JCP was welcoming of opposing parties as the Dirty South is, but you guys called in the big guns for a Lt. Gov. race

You had nothing to do with the recruitment process, yet you have the power to "call it off."  Interesting.

I don't see why you continue to assume that we have called in the big guns.  Everything I have done here is my standard campaign procedure.  It's not my fault if your candidate cannot conduct a campaign as well and instead must rely on manipulating the electorate.  The fact that you defend such behavior suggests to me that some sort of ethics investigation should not be out of the question.

Pacific Regional Senator's Endorsed!

Thank you, Senator.

[Ebowed]

Says the disgraced former PPT, ethics violator.

Too bad you weren't around to join your mentor's call for the PPT's impeachment.

Heh.

P.S. If you are seriously ignoring the ethical implications of this it will come back to hurt you, undoubtedly.  The wisest thing would be to distance yourself from the manipulation.  Of course, since your victory relies on these votes, I hardly expect you to do the right thing here.

[Ebowed]

And I clearly do not have an ethics problem.

Except for the constant lies, half-truths, uninformed insults, and legal manipulation (is it difficult to convince someone to post 30 useless posts so that they can register to vote?  I imagine it's not).

[Ebowed]

I would just like to briefly note that one of the main components of the job of Lieutenant Governor is to be able to administer elections competently and lawfully.

[Ebowed]

I'd like to thank everyone for their votes and support so far.

We have a very good shot at winning this thing!  I encourage everyone to go out and vote.