February 2011 UDL Convention... IT'S ELECTION TIME - VOTE - VOTE - VOTE!!!

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Roll up, roll up one and all...

I was thinking it was about time for this.

Let's firstly nominate a city...

I'll take nominations for the next 24 hours, then we'll have a vote - then start working on the agenda.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Whatever, some people like it.

I frankly don't care.

If the prevailing wisdom is that we don't want to bother, we won't.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Unless I get people who desperately want a city, let's move to an attendance check.

Then we can get started.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Alright, that's more than half, so let's commence.

Would anyone like to make any statements before we get into the business...

I put together a general agenda...

1. Member statements

2. Chairman's Address

3. Endorsement issues

4. Executive Council/President election

5. Other business

6. Incoming President's closing address

7. Close

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

CHAIRMAN'S ADDRESS

I want to thank all of you for being actively involved in your party.

This has been a difficult time to be chair, but my belief that was this party represents is just and right, has made those difficult times easier. I have also kept my sanity, through the support those I have called on for advice during that time.

Just after the primary vote, I said that this period was a great test for this party, and like all tests there was really only two options, pass or fail. I am so proud to say that in the time after the party endorsement vote, that we have united, not only within our own party, but have made greater efforts to form a much stronger working relationship with the JCP and all those who want a progressive agenda driven forward in this country.

This presidential election will be extremely close and requires the full efforts of all of us. The conservative ticket of Governor Tmth and Senator Dallas is one of the strongest the united right have put before the Atlasian people.

Given that there are now two strong progressive parties in Atlasia, we should accept we will not win the primary vote. But that should not surprise anyone. This election will be won and lost in preferences.

The future of the progressive movement lies in your hands. This is not a time for petty personal disagreements. This is a time for pragmatism and facing reality. I say this also to our fellow progressives in the JCP and like-minded Independents, we have to work together. We cannot afford a single vote to disappear into the ether, for every vote that's extinguished is another vote that's lost.

It will be a tough road, but this election is far from lost.

I ask all of you to work as hard as you can, we cannot do this without you.

As for my future, the Executive Council will make a determination as to who the Chair of the UDL will be at the end of this convention. I have been proud of what we have started to build, and whether I'm Chairman or not, that will not change my belief in the future of this party.

Thank you all...

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

OK let's move to the council election.

Can we have 24 hours for nominations for the 5 seats?

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Alright people... one nomination for 5 positions...

I'll take the initiative and extend the nomination period for another 24 hours....

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

I'm intrigued...

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

OK... so after 2 full days, we have 4 nominations for 5 spots...

Joy...

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Hooray!!!

Now, 5 nominations - for 5 spots... will we bother with a vote?

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

You guys could probably remove the "D" from your name, unless it's in the same sense as NDP or DPRK.

You'd think that anyway.

Now... since I have only just been made aware of this news.

We need to decide on whether we will have a new UDL candidate for president.

I believe this matter needs to be handled with considerable speed.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

I think this is an opportunity for us to reassess things, lets stand back for a little bit, everyone have a think.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

I think there are a lot of options - the left as a united force CAN win this election. But I think, while speed is important, we should also not be in a position of having to just react. We need to work out our priorities as a party, as well as working with the JCP.

I don't have the personal issues that a very small number of us have with the JCP - and I would urge cooler and pragmatic heads to prevail.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

You thought that any way

I will undertake to ensure we have a resolution to this issue shortly.

There are some other factors to consider, and I plan on making a statement shortly.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

My fellow members of the UDL,

I will be brief.

This is a difficult time for the country, for the progressive movement and for this party. The exit of our endorsed ticket took me completely by surprise. In my capacity as Chair I have been working hard in the background to ensure that this party and this movement has a chance.

I want to apologise to those who have wondered what has been happening and why we have not had a vote for replace our original ticket.

This election is winnable, but we need the left to unite, even if it is not as one ticket. This will require preferences to transfer cleanly and no votes to exhaust.

In that end, I ask this convention to formally endorse the ticket of Ben/Ogis for the presidential election in 8 days time.

I ask all UDL members, the members of the JCP and the Independents to consider that this will be a very close election, this is a dominant ticket of a united right and we will need every single one of you to give the progressive agenda of Atlasia the opportunity for survival.

Thank you all.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

I agree with Xahar.

I believe that I can declare by acclamation - the ticket of Ben/Ogis to be the official nominees of the UDL for President and Vice President.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

I would like to announce that considering my responsibilities as Speaker of the Northeast Assembly, and with my current campaign to be the first UDL Governor of the Northeast - I will not be seeking the endorsement of the Executive Council to continue on as Chair of this party.

I've had a rollercoaster ride in this position, and I deeply thank those who have been supportive of me.

I believe in advocating for new blood in leadership positions, I believe that there are any number of UDL members who have the enthusiasm and drive that this the position requires, and the party needs.

I'm not going anywhere, and will be here to provide any advice or guidance that may be required of me.

I will remain Chair until the new Executive Council appoints my successor.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

In order to wrap the convention up, we need to elect the President, and the EC need to appoint the new Chair.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

While I admire Jake's enthusiasm, I think he needs some more time to get the hang of how things work around here.

So, I would argue in favour of Rowan, as I hope he will be more active than when he was last in the Senate.

Re: President, given it's largely a ceremonial position, I'm happy to throw my hat into the ring.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

This is being BUMP'd

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Hey y'all,

I'm coming to the aid of Rowan and asking you all to consider endorsing him for the NE senate race. He didn't ask me to pester you all, but this is something important to me if you're struggling with the decision. He's always been a sane voice in a region with plenty of voices. I'm confident he'll represent the region with pragmatism and sane governing....just as I do.

And this is no disrespect to Jake. I think he'll benefit from some experience elsewhere before jumping into the senate.

Duke

Yes, we're in agreement

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

The nominations and appointment of a Chair should be done separately by the new EC in the existing EC thread.

We are now moving to the position of party president, in the absence of Dr Cynic's re-nomination, I have put my name up for consideration for this position.

We will have a vote on this matter shortly.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

I'm trying to guilt Eraser to stay in, but I doubt I'll be successful.

It worked!

Clearly Eraser is a softer touch than me

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Alright, since I'm the only putting myself forward for this...

VOTE

President

[ ] NE Speaker Polnut

[ ] Write in: _________

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

OK, that's probably a fair estimation.

Now... the EC need to appoint my successor as Chair.