Atlas Forum '08: February 8-11

[Хahar 🤔]

There've been a lot of election-related forum community match-ups, with many lamenting their exclusion. So I thought, what if people signed up themselves? And this was what sprang out of my twisted mind.
Here's how Atlas Forum '08 (henceforth known as AF08) works. It's a copy of the 2008 elections, except faster: 4 days in the election timeline (henceforth known as ETL) is equal to a day in real life (henceforth known as IRL). ETL starts on September 1, some time before Iowa. Each election/caucus/convention will be held, after much campaigning, ads, debates, you name it. The election results will be created by me, the GM, as an aggregate of all predictions made for that particular election.

Aside from judges (which is everybody except the candidates), there are three types of participants in AF08:

• Candidates: Candidates are the heart of the game. You can stump, make backroom deals, attack each other, or anything else. It's all up to you. You can register or drop out at any time, but you should register before Iowa if you don't want to fall into a hole. For the candidates, I'm looking for a good mix, but not an overcrowded field.
  
  To sign up as a candidate, post something along the lines of this template here:
  
  I am running as a [Democrat/Republican/Independent/etc.].
  
  If you live outside of the US IRL, or your ETL home state is not your IRL home state, add the following:
  
  My home state is [state].
  
  
• Special Interests: Your job is to endorse (or not endorse) candidates. You can also make ads, campaign speeches, the works. You can also ask the tough questions to wring positions on key issues out of the candidates. Special Interests can be anybody from Bob Jones to the ACLU.
  
  To sign up as a special interest, post something along the lines of this template here:
  
  I am a special interest, representing [special interest name].
  
  
• News Reporter: The news reporters do the hard stuff, like organizing and moderating debates, asking biting questions, or publicizing a candidate's refusal to answer biting questions. Though this position may be a bit neglected, it looks like a lot of fun. You can be ABC or The New York Times or the Drudge Report, or anything else, for that matter.
  
  To sign up as a news reporter, post something along the lines of this template here:
  
  I am a news reporter, representing [news agency name].

And there are also the aforementioned judges. A judge is simply any non-candidate who posts a prediction on the day of an election (or just before that). Judges decide the direction of the game.

And at the end of the game, we'll have a President and a Vice President. I'll go over stuff like convention rules when they come (though I will say that there are no superdelegates). If you have any questions, ask away. Otherwise, let the games begin!

Oh, and have fun! This is your game to decide.

[Хahar 🤔]

Declared candidates:

KingoftheBenchPress (R-PA)
TN2024 (R-TX)
Fezzyfestoon (R-MA)
Hashemite (R-OH)
Andrew Leitch (R-WI)

Ben Constine (D-VA)
NDN (D-CO)
Conor Flynn (D-ME)
Willy Woz (D-AR)

Special Interests:

Ernest (National Association of Small Businesses)

News/Polling:

Meeker

[Хahar 🤔]

Miscellaneous placeholder.

[Хahar 🤔]

Miscellaneous placeholder.

[Хahar 🤔]

Oh, and feel free to start campaign events in various states as soon as you declare your candidacy. One stop in a small state could swing it for you.

[Хahar 🤔]

I'm torn between special interests or being a judge.

As non-candidates, special interests are judges. The requirement that judges be non-candidates is just so that candidates don't "predict" hundred-percent victories for themselves.

[Хahar 🤔]

I kinda want to play as a candidate...and if I did it would be as an Independent.

Well, there's a lot of time left, so you don't have to decide now.

BTW, if you're running as an indie, you'll need a VP.

[Хahar 🤔]

OK, I'm a special interest then

What special interest?

[Хahar 🤔]

OK, I'm a special interest then

What special interest?

I'll need to think of one.

Does it need to be an actual one?

It would help.

[Хahar 🤔]

Question, outside of my capacity as GM:

The NASB (National Association of Small Businesses) wants to know what the candidates will do to help small business, so we'll be sponsoring a debate in New Hampshire.

For which party?
BTW, does somebody want to create a schedule showing what date each ETL primary will be IRL?

[Хahar 🤔]

If it's not too late to announce my candidacy, I'd like to run as a Democrat from Maine.

It's never too late.

Though it's smart to declare pre-Iowa.
I love the reception this game has gotten. It really seems to be taking off.

[Хahar 🤔]

I'd be happy to be an interest group.

Cool, what interest group?

[Хahar 🤔]

Would you like me to sticky this thread?

That'd be appreciated.

[Хahar 🤔]

Would you like me to sticky this thread?

That'd be appreciated.

Done.

Thanks.
We need some more Republicans. Some polls might also be nice. Anyone up for concocting a few?

[Хahar 🤔]

The NASB (National Association of Small Businesses) wants to know what the candidates will do to help small business, so we'll be sponsoring a debate in New Hampshire.

Endorse me. If elected I'll reduce taxes on small business and streamline regulation. Among other things.

Wait for the debate.

Ernest did say to PM him if interested.

[Хahar 🤔]

The NASB (National Association of Small Businesses) wants to know what the candidates will do to help small business, so we'll be sponsoring a debate in New Hampshire.

Endorse me. If elected I'll reduce taxes on small business and streamline regulation. Among other things.

Wait for the debate.

Ernest did say to PM him if interested.

I like to be proactive though.

I'll debate if it's on Tuesday night. I can't do it any earlier because of exams plus moving out.

It'll be in November ETL or thereabouts.

[Хahar 🤔]

Come on, let's get some Republicans!

[Хahar 🤔]

NDN is in California talking about his 'humble foreign policy.'

Not funny.

[Хahar 🤔]

NDN is in California talking about his 'humble foreign policy.'

Not funny.

I actually mean it though.

I'm sure, but the word "humble" no longer means humble. On this forum, at least.

[Хahar 🤔]

We need some rules, regulations and other stuff with this. I am willing to come up with them.

Explain?

[Хahar 🤔]

We need some rules, regulations and other stuff with this. I am willing to come up with them.

Explain?

We need at least 2 people to do polls, and determine results, a grading system and people actually need to give soundbites from speeches. They also need to fundraise, etc.

I'm trying to keep this open-ended. We have some polling firms, but I don't want to go into grades and such. Joe Republic tried such a thing, and he was forced to abandon it.

[Хahar 🤔]

Senator Flynn is now in Pittsberg, Pennsylvania talking about Affirmative Action.

What is this "Pittsberg"?

[Хahar 🤔]

[Is it too late to throw my name in the fray..?]

Nope.

Senator Conor Flynn is now attending a fundraiser in Cleveland, Ohio, where he is conducting a forum regarding the current Economic Crisis in the United States and thus he is discussing his plans to fix the current Crisis.

Senator Flynn is now in Pittsberg, Pennsylvania talking about Affirmative Action.

What is this "Pittsberg"?

I'm surprised you've never heard of Pittsberg before and you are an American! Why it's in the same state as Allanstown, Eary and Transylvania .

D'oh!

[Хahar 🤔]

Meeker had some ready. Dunno what happened. Likewise for the debate.

[Хahar 🤔]

This is in dire needs of rules, guidance etc., if you understand what I mean.

Go on? It's meant to be very open in nature.

Anybody want to recruit some Republicans?