These attacks are so hilariously moronic on so many fronts that I'm having a hard time believing the accusers are actually serious. Then again, I suppose this is the party that claimed I was not sufficiently active to be president back in June (seriously, WTF?), so I guess I shouldn't be surprised that they would resort to clownish double standards and misrepresentations of fact to prop up their own failing campaign.
But let's give them the benefit of the doubt. Surely, if these individuals believe taking a break from politics disqualifies one from ever holding national office again, they would be prepared to apply that standard equally? For example, they would never have considered supporting Lumine for vice president four months ago, seeing as he took an extended break from the game last November (when the situation was just as dire as it had been two months before, when Blair left for less than a month). Oh, wait - none of them had any problem with Lumine's record, nor did it bother them that Tmth left the game for almost a year before returning to run for Midwest Governor. Huh.
Let's be honest: these "concerns" are nothing more than the last, desperate attempt of a defeated party to whip up enough faux outrage to rescue their dying electoral prospects. There was a time when I would have been surprised by this sort of conduct - especially from a party that claims to fight for a "more welcoming Atlasia" - but I guess this is the world we live in now. What a shame.
No one on this thread ever challenged Blair's right to return, participate or run for President. What was challenged is his claim to have always fought, it is his whole campaign theme. This came just after he questioned my commitment to my campaign theme, therefore my supporters saw it as fair game.
I wanted a completely positive campaign. I never have mention Blair in a negative light in my speeches, I have referred to him as my distinguished opponent, and I have not sent anything critical of him in any of my PMs, but I have confirmation he has not been extending me the same courtesy.
You say we have a failing campaign. Well, Truman, lets see you hop into a race two weeks late, because a previous candidate was driven off, go through the worst Hurricane since Floyd and still put up a campaign. Some polls now even have me ahead, which wasn't the case before.
The whole reason I am in this race, is because a previous candidate found himself facing such negativity and hostility, that he decided this game wasn't worth it anymore and left. I am all for people returning, and being active, it is part of my platform for heaven's sake. However, there comes a point where the tactics have to be examined and when people are leaving, perhaps you are going too far.
All right. I was asked to have a look at this lovely discussion here and give my input. I've been feeling like sht the entire day and didn't get to this until now, so I'm glad we're getting some level of civility back in this thread.
I don't really have anything to say beyond what LLR has relayed. I wasn't around for half the sht that's been mentioned in this thread and I really don't care to go back and get in on all the details. I really don't. I rejoined this game because I wanted to debate bills and run for stuff. I freely admit to being an asshole on this site pretty much in general, but most of the "attack dog" BS in this game is childish and ultimately counterproductive when we end up losing valued and active members (Tmth being one) because of it.
If you want to attack a party's record, fine. But let's steer away from the personality cultism that has dominated the culture of this game for far too long.
What was used against Tmth was disgusting and disgraceful. Had nothing to do with Atlasia and frankly the people who engaged it in should have been ashamed of themselves. And frankly I find it galling when people are claiming moral outrage over us critiquing Blair's theme the same way he critiqued mine, and yet I didn't see any equivalent criticism or self examination when worse tactics were used by use guys.
There is no equivalency here.
Dfw encourages someone to run for President - outrage.
Meanwhile Labor registers people during an election and has them vote in the same election, which has never been allowed before or tolerated. Perfectly fine
Blair questions my Welcoming Theme, so Leinad/dfw question Blair's Fighting Theme - Outrage
Yet Labor is spamming voters with negative attacks on me and exploiting anti-Yankee hostilities via IRC to divide Atlasia and win the election. Perfectly fine
I must say I am thoroughly disappointed Scott and Truman. We could have had a 100% positive campaign, despite Tmth's departure and the events motivating. Clearly Labor didn't want that. Winning matters more than anything else, which is exactly what I warned about two months ago, when Blair assured us that things had changed now that he was running the party and yet since then, things have only gotten worse.
