The Porcupine: The most trusted name in news.

[Jbrase]

This shall be the main thread for The Porcupine news and polling.

Owned and operated by:
Jbrase - Editor-in-Chief and White House Correspondent
Dallasfan65 - Senior Beer Expert
Tmthfu94 - Senior Analyst and Mideast Correspondent
SJoyce - Imperial Correspondent
Snowstalker - Northeast Correspondent 
Oakvale - Senior Judicial Analyst, Pacific Correspondent, and Political Cartoonist
Scott - Pollster

[Jbrase]

Over the past several days Dallas & I have polled 32 citizens at random from the various regions on approval of Governor and President. Here are the results.

Southeast: Governor Jbrase
75% approve, 12.5% disapprove, 12.5% are undecided

Mideast: Governor Tmthforu94
85% approve, 0% disapprove, 15% undecided

Northeast: Governor RowanBrandon
42% approve, 58% disapprove

Midwest: Governor Vepres
100% approve

Pacific: Governor Oakvale
66% approve, 33% disapprove

Presidential approval

Southeast:
25% approve, 37.5% disapprove, 37.5% undecided

Mideast:
85% approve, 15% disapprove

Northeast:
42% approve, 42% disapprove, 16% undecided

Midwest:
80% approve, 20% disapprove

Pacific:
83% approve, 17% disapprove

Map'd presidential approval

[Fmr. Emperor PiT]

     Crazy that the Pacific Governor has the second-worst approval rating. I'm used to seeing Pacific officeholders with 100% approval.

[Teddy (IDS Legislator)]

Governor Vepres
100% approve

[oakvale]

     Crazy that the Pacific Governor has the second-worst approval rating. I'm used to seeing Pacific officeholders with 100% approval.

I've chosen to believe that at least one of the people polled was Xahar.

[Jbrase]

     Crazy that the Pacific Governor has the second-worst approval rating. I'm used to seeing Pacific officeholders with 100% approval.

I've chosen to believe that at least one of the people polled was Xahar.

maybe, maybe not.
2/6 disapproved in your region, 4/6 approve, not exactly terrible numbers. Your in the positives, the only governor in the negatives at the moment is Rowan.

[Dallasfan65]

The Porcupine is accepting requests for interviews, along with those who want to be freelance journalists.

[Jbrase]

Interview with Governor Tmthfu94:
By Jbrase

Jbrase - Thank you for participating in The Porcupine's first interview. Is there anything you'd like to say before we start?

tmthforu94 - I just want to thank you, JBrase, for allowing me to do this interview. I look forward to answering your questions!

Question 1:
When you first got involved in Atlasia, what did you see yourself becoming?

Answer:    When I first got involved, my dream was simply to get into the Mideast Assembly and have fun in the position. I never would have dreamed that I would one day be it's Senator and then Governor.

Question 2:
Describe the state in which the Mideast was in prior to your governorship, and how it is currently?

Answer:    Before my term began, I would say the Mideast had become complacement with many not wanting to change much about our double-digit unemployment. When I ran for office, I laid out a plan for the Mideast. Several pillars of my platform have been implemented, but we still have a lot of work to do. It doesn't help that it's summer either, and everyone's going on vacation. I would say the one thing this region has improved on is ambition. I'm excited for this next session, because I believe this Assembly is just as ready as I am to improve this region's economy. We're going to start that by actually having a budget. We're going to build off that budget, and hopefully by the end of this year our unemployment numbers will be below 10%.

Question 3:
What is your opinion on the state of the DA? Are the party's best days behind it?

Answer: While we have managed to maintain a stable number over the past year or so, other parties are growing. I think it's increasingly difficult for the Democratic Alliance to be a gamechanger when we represent less than 10% of the population. For this party to succeed, I think we have to delevop a stronger message on what we're about.
    
    I am concerned that our party's best days could be behind us. A lot of current or potential members are being quickly drawn to other parties, and we are quickly falling behind. One move and we could be destroyed

Question 4:
What are your thoughts on the Purple State administration, more specifically, his appointment of a communist/marxist as SoIA, and Al as GM?

Answer: I admire the Purple State/Marokai Blue administration on their hard work. I think that both of them sincerely care about the positions they hold and are trying to make the most of it. While I don't agree with either of them a lot politically, they are active, and I like that about them.
    
    As to the appointments of Al and Winston, only time will tell. I'm not sure if I would have appointed either of them, given that I don't believe that the positions either men hold represent the views of Atlasians. I think both Al and Winston are off to pretty good starts, and I'm anxious to see what actions both men take over the next two months.

question 5:
Speaking of Secretary Winston, are the rumors true that at one time you were considering being his running mate for a presidential election? and in retrospect would you still have wanted to be his running mate?


Answer:    
 As a matter of fact, Winston and I did have a tentative agreement where I would be his Vice President. However, we also agreed that if Afleitch ran for reelection the deal would be off. That's the main reason it never panned out.
    
    In retrospect, no, I wouldn't have. Assuming he still left the Populares and did a political turnaround, I think our ticket would have really struggled to get votes and wouldn't of had a clear message.

Question 6:

Are you aware that in less than an hour the Region currently known as the Southeast/Dirty South, will amend the regions constitution, in effect becoming The Imperial Dominion of the South? what are your thoughts on this revolution in awesomeness?

Answer:
    I am aware. I've never been a huge fan of the name changing, but I guess to each his own. Everyone has a right to their own decision, and if it ever happened in the Mideast, I'd respect the will of the people.

question 7:
What are your future plans?

answer:    For now, I plan on working with the Assembly this session to create a better region. In the coming days, I'll decide whether or not I'll seek reelection to the Governor's mansion and go from there. :-)

Question 8:
What are your thoughts of the Constitutional convention going on? and what specificly do you want it to accomplish?

Answer: I am generally supportive of the Constitutional convention. I think Purple State and Marokai Blue have a good plan, and if the convention can follow that plan, it should be successful. In the end, I'd like for Atlasia to have an easy to read constitution where we don't have pages and pages of amendments to sift through to determine what is legal and what is not.

Question 9: Now for a peak into the future. Are you looking at possible presidential run in the future? If so, and if in your view it seems beyond repair, would you consider leaving the DA while doing so?

Answer:
    I think that just about everyone in Atlasia has their sights set on the Presidency. ;-) So yes, it is something I have seriously considered on multiple occasions. However, it certainly wouldn't be my main reason if I ever left the DA. Right now I truely want to see the Democratic Alliance prosper. We'll just have to wait and see if that happens.


Question 10: You mentioned earlier about your plan to turn around the ME's unemployment problem. Would you like to elaborate to the readers the steps you have and plan to take to meet this goal?

Answer
    Of course. I want a market-friendly environment for businesses to meet their daily needs and grow. I think cutting taxes could do just that, which is why I support lowering taxes on capital gains and investments.
    Something I have been working with Assemblyman A-Bob on is the building blocks of our budget. One of our key points is to invest heavily in our infrastructure. We believe that is a fast way to provide relief to many struggling families in Atlasia.
    
    Finally, I support a tax credit boasted by the Purple State/Marokai Blue administration that gives businesses with less than 200 employees a tax credit for each new employee they hire. That recently passed on a national level, and I expect it to benefit our unemployment problem as well as the nation's unemployment issue.

[Jayhawker]

Thank you for the interview, JBrase! It honestly was pretty fun.

[A-Bob]

Great interview.

And I was mentioned by the Governor I'm touched Thank you

[Sewer]

I'd like an interview.

[Dallasfan65]

I'd like an interview.

Sure.

[dialectical fetishist]

I'd like an interview.

[Bacon King]

I'm down for an interview!

[oakvale]

Traditionally, I think a newspaper asks people for interviews rather than the other way around.

But yeah, I'm up for an interview some time.

[Jbrase]

Yet another lawsuit involving the Imperial Dominion of the South

Ernest was recently found unconscious in room 101 of an abandoned warehouse, witnesses last saw him being drug into a white van.

In other news...

Ernest, a former legislator for the I.D.S. has challenged the region's authority to change the title of it's chief executive from Governor to Emperor. The Porcupine will be closely following this case.

[Sam Spade]

Once again, I'll always go for an interview if anyone's interested.  (no one is - just letting folks know every once in a while).

[Dallasfan65]

Interview with Sewer Socialist
by Dallasfan65

Question 1:
What is it like to be a Mutant Communist in Space?

Answer:
It's no good, we are all mad from irradiated vodka.

Question 2:
The Porcupine. Great newspaper, or the greatest?

Answer:
Great.

Question 3:
Since your time in Atlasia, you have been a resident of several regions. Which is your favorite?

Answer:
The Midwest, the Northeast was nice too, but I hated the boring do nothing Pacific.

Question 4:
As many know, the Midwest has created it's own legislature recently, the 'Albing', in which you have been active. Who are your favorite members to work with?

Answer:
Everyone!

Question 5:
Finally... What are your thoughts on Fritz's brand new lawsuit against the Midwest?

Answer:
I disapprove of that treason.

[ilikeverin]

What is an "Albing"?

[Dallasfan65]

What is an "Albing"?

http://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=120021.0

[Fmr. Emperor PiT]

What is an "Albing"?

http://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=120021.0

     That is an Alþing, not an Albing.

[Dallasfan65]

What is an "Albing"?

http://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=120021.0

     That is an Alþing, not an Albing.

I don't have a double-sided b...

[Prez Duke]

AndrewCT and I are still available for an interview. We're patiently waiting for the phone to ring.

[Fmr. Emperor PiT]

What is an "Albing"?

http://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=120021.0

     That is an Alþing, not an Albing.

I don't have a double-sided b...

     Neither do I. I just copy-pasted it.

[Dallasfan65]

AndrewCT and I are still available for an interview. We're patiently waiting for the phone to ring.

Heh, excellent!

Sorry for the delay to those that have asked for interviews, they will be done within this week.