Confirmation Hearing: Realpolitik (GM) [Confirmed]

[Sibboleth]

I am certainly prepared to lay aside early reservations relating to that subject; I would not have agreed to this nomination were anything else the case.

My views on the budget are, I think, well know. If we are to have one, then it must be as simple as possible. The point at which we need calculators and degrees in statistics, and a fair knowledge of advanced mathematics in order to play the game in anything other than a supporting role is one that must be avoided. Equally a budgetary system that requires us to go into great detail regarding specific spending decisions and government departments (as was the case with the old budget) is one that will only damage the game.

I would like to think that this answer counts as a 'yes' to your question.

[Badger]

I am certainly prepared to lay aside early reservations relating to that subject; I would not have agreed to this nomination were anything else the case.

My views on the budget are, I think, well know. If we are to have one, then it must be as simple as possible. The point at which we need calculators and degrees in statistics, and a fair knowledge of advanced mathematics in order to play the game in anything other than a supporting role is one that must be avoided. Equally a budgetary system that requires us to go into great detail regarding specific spending decisions and government departments (as was the case with the old budget) is one that will only damage the game.

I would like to think that this answer counts as a 'yes' to your question.

Or at least close enough.

[Purple State]

And I should reiterate that Al's view of the budget matches mine almost exactly. A very general, very basic budget can be extremely useful for the game, but if the system becomes overly complex and an obstacle to discussion of other issues then it will end up where the old process is now.

[Bacon King]

I'd also like to point out that placing Al on the Budget panel will prevent Atlasia from making the same mistakes of the past.

[Bacon King]

A vote to confirm this nominee has begun. Senators, please vote aye, nay, or abstain.

[I left.]

Aye

[Bacon King]

Aye

[Badger]

AYE.

(And please change the thread title to note a vote is being held. Thanks!)

[bgwah]

nay

[Hans-im-Glück]

AYE

[bullmoose88]

Aye

[Dallasfan65]

Nay.

[dialectical fetishist]

No ideological bias in your three nay votes at all...

[Senator North Carolina Yankee]

This is why I joined the Senate, to make tough votes like this. Now I could vote NAY because of my personal animousity towards Al, but I won't, because that would be a betrayal of the guidlines I set for myself on matters such as these and when personality has gotten involved in supporting or opposing appointments we often ended up with Incompetence. I could also vote Nay because thats what I told a fellow Senator I planned to do and I don't break my promises. However as a Senator, sometimes such sacrifices are necessary to do the job. Lastly I could vote Nay with the knowledge that it doesn't matter how I vote because there are presently five AYEs and one Marokai Blue is second stringer, I could do that and use any of the above or even past record of innactivity as Game Moderator as grounds for voting Nay.

However today, I am going to vote AYE, because I am satisfied with the answers given here and to judge the decision based on any other grounds is in my opinion a grave injustice to the system, I look forward to your hopefully successful term as Game Moderator.   


I eagerly await my assassination by the usually suspects.

I'd also like to point out that placing Al on the Budget panel will prevent Atlasia from making the same mistakes of the past.

Agreed, I did suggest and others as well that someone with experience of what happened then be consulted in the process. This will do that.

[Sibboleth]

Diolch, diolch, diolch.

Little note: access to teh interwebs will be somewhat sporadic this week.

[Dallasfan65]

No ideological bias in your three nay votes at all...

Aye.

[Senator Libertas]

Aye

[Bacon King]

Senators voting in favor of the nominee: Franzl, Bacon King, Badger, Hans-im-Gluck, Bullmoose, NCYankee, Libertas (7)
Senators opposed: Bgwah, Dallasfan65 (2)
Senators abstaining: AHDuke (1)
italics: abstained without vote

This nominee is hereby confirmed by the Senate.

(edit: missed NCYankee's Aye vote in his wall o' text)

[Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Senators voting in favor of the nominee: Franzl, Bacon King, Badger, Hans-im-Gluck, Bullmoose, NCYankee, Libertas (7)
Senators opposed: Bgwah, Dallasfan65 (2)
Senators abstaining: AHDuke (1)
italics: abstained without vote

This nominee is hereby confirmed by the Senate.

(edit: missed NCYankee's Aye vote in his wall o' text)

I mean, who would have thought that mentioning the word "Nay" three or four times before finally mentioning that I was voting "Aye", would cause confusiong?

[Vasall des Midas]

Little note: access to teh interwebs will be somewhat sporadic this week.

Just as I was starting to get worried, I come across this post.

[Sibboleth]

Alrighty then. Do I have to swear in or am I technically not a public servant? (yeah, yeah, yeah, I ought to know this. But I've been a long way from atlasia for the past week)

[Vepres]

Alrighty then. Do I have to swear in or am I technically not a public servant? (yeah, yeah, yeah, I ought to know this. But I've been a long way from atlasia for the past week)

Purple State did, but I don't think you have to.

[Sibboleth]

Alrighty then. Do I have to swear in or am I technically not a public servant? (yeah, yeah, yeah, I ought to know this. But I've been a long way from atlasia for the past week)

Purple State did, but I don't think you have to.

Well, there's nowt in legislation saying I have to. So, I won't.

[Јas]

Alrighty then. Do I have to swear in or am I technically not a public servant? (yeah, yeah, yeah, I ought to know this. But I've been a long way from atlasia for the past week)

An interesting question.

Per the Constitution:

In order to exercise their powers, all officers of the Federal government must first be sworn into office.

Is the GM an "officer of the Federal government"?

Per the decision in Ebowed v. Atlasia (2009 Atl. S.C.2d 2), the GM was deemed to be a “constitutionally created executive office”. The constitutional position of the GM may have been altered though by the Game Moderator Reform Act - which enunciates the appointment and removal of the GM in the same section, and in a manner of some similarity, as that of other executive officers.

The GM is appointed and removable by officers of the Federal Government. The GM's job description is also clearly devoted (officially) solely to the needs of the Federal Government ("The Game Moderator is responsible for providing the Senate and Atlasia with the necessary information to conduct debate and create legislation.").

It might also be relevant that in recent times the role of the GM might have changed somewhat also -  for example, the Budget Process Renewal Committee Act gives the GM a position as chair of a government committee, clearly at the heart of actual government process rather than the game's meta-process. Indeed, Purple State's tenure as GM seemed to me to indicate a shift in that direction generally, e.g. I believe that he would be the first GM to have sat in on cabinet meetings.

All in all, my wager would be that the Court would find it necessary for the GM to swear-in.

[Sibboleth]

I'll do so just to be on the safe side, then. I don't especially like it, but, meh.