The Office of Cassius - At-Large Ambassador

[Cassius]

My friends, I come here today to announce my intention to run for the Mideast assembly. My reasons for doing so are simple. First, I am determined to represent the views of my constituents to the best of my ability. Second, I shall be running on an anti-socialist platform, and I pledge to stymie the advance of socialist and radical causes if I am elected to office. All I await now is endorsements!

[Cassius]

The next election is in March so you will have plenty of time to campaign. Best of luck!

Well, that other wacky, idosyncratic outsider Ross Perot started up his campaign many moons before the election and look what happ... Oh wait



Anyway, thanks to both you and Windjammer for wishing me luck. I appreciate it

[Cassius]

Time to reopen the campaign office )

[Cassius]

Heil!

Hynkel?

[Cassius]

Oh dear God no

Oh yes Sir Talbot has been tempted away from his estates and into the business of electioneering.

[Cassius]

Oh dear God no

Oh yes Sir Talbot has been tempted away from his estates and into the business of electioneering.

We already have one fascist in the Assembly. Starting to get worried here

Who is this fascist of whom you speak?

Has socialism taken Atlasia by storm? Am I a socialist too?

Nah, the potential advance of socialism. You obviously aren't a socialist.

[Cassius]

Am I a socialist?

I don't know really. What I do know is that there are a couple of genuine socialists (TNF being among them) who hold political office in Atlasia.

[Cassius]

Endorsed!

Thank you ever so much

[Cassius]

Any questions on policy?

[Cassius]

Endorsed!

Thank you very much!

Any questions on policy?

How do you view Gay Marriage, Marijuana, Taxation and Bitcoins!?

Gay marriage: Personally, I'm opposed to the idea of gay marriage. However, I feel that there is no momentum within this particular issue, and thus I will not concentrate upon it.

Marijuana: I am opposed to marijuana use, and feel that serious efforts need to be made to discourage it's use. I also support coming down hard upon illegal sales.

Taxation: It is my belief that taxes should be low, and that they should be a means of revenue collection, not social engineering. Thus I am opposed to unneccesary taxes on wealth and land.

Bitcoin: I am troubled by the emergence of bitcoin, largely due to it's relative lack of stability, the fact that it is difficult to regulate and it's increasing use in illegal activities. Thus, I am amenable to efforts to ban it's use.

[Cassius]

TV Announcer: 'And now, an election broadcast on behalf of the 'Cassius for the Mideast Assembly campaign'.

...

Shots of a quiet, country scene. The wind gently blows the grass on the hill in the distance, sending it rippling in the direction of the camera. Then, in the background, the gentle sound of a flute can be heard playing. Then, all of a sudden, a dark speck appears on the crest of the hill, and begins to slowly bob up and down as it makes it's way down the slope. The noise of the flutes begins to build, and soon a set of French Horns can be heard playing in the background, steadily climbing to a crescendo as the speck grows to a blob, and then... The image of a man haphazardly riding a thoroughbred, straight in the direction of the camera. He doesn't slow down, instead he makes a beeline right for the camera, forcing the cameraman to dive out of the way as the rider thunders past. Then, the screen cuts to black, and instead, all that can be seen are a set of words. Then, a booming, sonorous voice breaks out, saying:

'Cassius, for the Mideast Assembly!'

The trumpets now sound in full force, ringing out with enough noise to wake the dead. Then, the camera cuts to a montage of scenes showing Cassius out and about on the campaign trail, a warm smile glazed over his vacant face. Then, that sonorous boom breaks out again:

'Who is this man? I'll tell you who; it's Cassius, a candidate in the upcoming regional elections. 'Cassius?' I hear you say. 'Who's he?' I hear you whisper. Well, all I have to say is; he's a man substance. A man of courage. A man of integrity. A man, with kindness in his heart. In other words, a proper gentleman. 'What does he stand for?' I hear you murmur. Well, in four words: prosperity, security and regional rights. Cassius may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer, but, nonetheless, he is a sound knife, a knife of solidity, a knife who wants to get things done for *you*. Vote for him, on March 20th, for safety, solidity and soundness'.

Epic music begins to blair again, as the camera cuts to a solitary figure galloping off into the sunset.

'Vote Cassius! Vote, for a gentleman.'

[Cassius]

Must give you credit for your creativity

I try

[Cassius]

By the way, regarding this recent furore over group 'marriage' in the Northeast; I'm going to make my stance clear on this, as outofbox has done, even if it doesn't seem to be on the radar of Mideast legislation at this time. I strongly oppose this type of thing being recognised by the state, and thus, even if it isn't a major issue, I would like to make clear to fellow opponents of this legislation that if I am elected to office and if similar legislation is put forward, I will do my best to ensure that it doesn't pass into law. I'm not running as the 'anti-group marriage' candidate, I'm just making clear where I stand upon this, rather minor, issue.

[Cassius]

Well, I guess that this is my last address before the election, so I'd like to take the opportunity to wish my fellow candidates luck on election day. So, why should you vote for me. Well, if elected, there isn't any particularly, well, flashy, legislation that I'm desperate to propose, but I will make sure that I have a good attendance record voting on and debating legislation. I'll be reliable. So, if there are any final questions, please feel free to ask them.

[Cassius]

Well, I did it, I was elected, something that I did not expect to achieve when I first announced my intention to run for the Assembly back in January. I'd like to congratulate Inks, JCL, TheRileyKeaton and Benconstine on their successful bids for election and re-election, and I'd also like to offer commiserations to Hifly and Outofbox for being unsuccessful this time round; with any luck they'll be back and will get a chance to represent the Mideast in it's Assembly. In addition, I extend my deepest thanks to all those who endorsed me in this election, and in particular to those who preferenced me first in the actual election and thus ensured that I would be elected on the first count without any need for additional preferences. Finally, I thank both Governor Spiral and Lieutenant Governor TJ for their excellent and efficient managing of this election. So, I look forward to serving you in the Assembly!

[Cassius]

Congratulations. We hardly agree on anything, but I admire the motivation and creativity you put into your campaign, and thus decided to ignore any ideological considerations...

Thanks very much! I will endeavour to try and gain a place on your ballot next time round

[Cassius]

Oh, there was an election? Damn.

I messaged you about it...

Cassius congratulations! You would have got my second preference had I remembered to vote

Thank you Hifly and, eh, we all forget things like this sometimes . If you do decide to run again, you can count upon my support

[Cassius]

I hereby declare this office... open! Now, should anyone have any issues that they would like me to look into, I will be more than happy to oblige...

Anyway, I'd just like to make a statement on the current ballot for at-large Senator. Now, I voted for JCL, however, it is looking like the election will be a battle between Alfred F. Jones and either Simfan or Deus. Now, I have a great respect for all three of these candidates, however, I believe that it is important that we avoid the election of another Laborite to the Senate. Thus, I would recommend that any rightists who still haven't votedgive their votes to Simfan, as projections show that he has the best chance of beating Jones in the election. That is all, for now.

[Cassius]

So yeah, I'm running for re-election, and welcome to the campaign office. Any questions?

[Cassius]

Endorsed of course. No questions

Endorsed

Endorsed!

Thank you all for your kind offers of endorsement!

[Cassius]

Several hundred people are crowded around a podium in the midst of a field, carrying signs and tattered banners saying 'Come on Cassius' or 'Cassius for the Mideast Assembly. A man of average height and build, with a crisp suit and tie, trots through the crowd on horseback to the sound of cheers, before dismounting and marching up to the podium. He comes to a halt atop the podium, clears his breath, and begins to speak

'Friends, Atlasians, countrymen. Well, I am honoured to be here today in this... unseasonably cold weather (chuckles). Before me, I see hundreds of fine upstanding citizens; businessmen, farmers, public servants of all stripes, mothers, fathers, children, young and old, all here to support me, Cassius, in my campaign for reelection (cheers). Now, what are my priorities for this next legislative session. Well, Assemblyman Keaton, or, should I say, the next Governor of the Mideast (more cheering) seems to have a pretty full agenda lined up, which I would be happy to help push through the Assembly. However, as to my own priorities, I'll pinpoint a few key areas - regional rights, economic stability and an emphasis upon maintaining the status quo with regards to social policy. Recently, there has been much irresponsible legislation, relating both to the economic and social spheres, coming from a certain Senator in Nyman (murmuring). I'll leave you to guess who that is, a task I imagine you won't find too difficult. We don't want, or need, this kind of radical and divisive legislation being forced down the throat of this great Region, which is why it is important for the rights of this region to be protected, and for you to elect a good, solid, Federalist majority in these elections, as well as getting out to vote for Assemblyman Keaton and Lieutenant Governor TJ in the gubernatorial race, in order to preserve stability within the region as well. I hope that you'll lend me your votes come election day. Thank you! (Whooping and cheering as Cassius descends from the stage, gladhanding and kissing multiple babies

[Cassius]

So, since the election is now up and running, I strongly urge any Mideasterner who'd like to see me re-elected to the Assembly to give me their first preference in the ongoing ballot. Additionally, I would urge you to vote in the Gubernatorial ballot, and to vote for TheRileyKeaton as our next Governor

[Cassius]

Well, I lost. But, never mind, that's life, and in any case, three good candidates won seats in the Assembly, as did a strong candidate for the Governorship. I'd like to extend my heartiest congratulations to Inks, Spiral, ZuWo and TheRileyKeaton, who deserved their victories in this election. I'd also like to thank those who gave me a preference in this race; this time, I didn't quite make it, but hopefully I'll be back. Meanwhile, the Mideast is in a collection of safe pairs of hands for the next few months, and hopefully they'll be able to revitalise this region.

Anyway, I'm off to buy myself a guitar and a bag. Expect me on your nearest street corner any day soon!

()

[Cassius]

A man in a dinner suit calmy walks up to the microphone atop the podium. It is the annual 'Mideastern Ball and Gala', and this year it is being hosted by... Cassius former politician and now newspaper owner.

'Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and thank you for trooping up here on this beautiful Summer's evening. Now, I'm sure that you've all got more important things to do rather than listening to me blather on, but I would just like to say a few words about the election. Firstly, in this election, we have two candidates of a very strong calibre, and they have running mates who are also very well qualified to be Vice-President. Governor Windjammer in particular, despite our differences, is a very nice chap, and I wish him all the best in this race. However, what I have to say to you now os something rather less jolly. This election may well be the one that decides the very future of Atlasia. There are many threats to Atlasia, foreign, yet also domestic. There is a demon that stalks this fair land ladies and gentlemen, and that demon goes by the name of socialism. What I have to say is that, if we elect the Labor ticket, despite its moderate composition, that is tantamount to voting for the socialists in Nyman. This slithering snake is tying itself up around our fair capital city and squeezing it to death with bill after bill, propagating class warfare and a dystopian vision of society waves arms about violently, blood rushing to his face

There is only one way to stop this, and it is by casting your vote for Sirnick/Dallasfan between June 20th and June 22nd. Not only must you do that, but you must vote for suitable men of quality in the Senatorial races; DC al Fine, Deus, RR1997, either NC Yankee of Maxwell in the south. You must vote across the board for candidates with sound opinions and judgement, for only then will we be able to banish this young leviathan of socialism back to the dark depths from which it came! Vote, volunteer, donate; do whatever you can to be of service. Thank you for listening! again waves arms about violently, before bounding off the stage and into the crowd

[Cassius]

Well my good friends, I have come back! The march to glory in this month's elections for the Mideast Assembly begins today! Yeah, so I'm back, and I'm running for the Mideast Assembly once more. As per usual, please feel free to ask any questions.