Confirmation Hearing: Mr. Moderate (Secretary of Forum Affairs)

[Verily]

I have made my decision on how I will vote one Mr. Moderate's confirmation (assuming Ebowed ever gets around to starting the confirmation of the PPT).

I am deeply disturbed by the arguments put forward by the President. He had campaigned on a non-partisan approach to the running of government, and he has promptly evicted arguably the most capable SoFA we have ever had on essentially ideological grounds, grounds that shouldn't even be relevant to the position. Whatever others might say, it is clear that Phil, despite his running mate (who has been conspicuously absent), is unwilling to fulfill his promise of compromise and cross-ideological discourse.

However, I have a great deal of respect for Sen. Moderate, who has been one of the most active and effective Senators and who has been a pleasure to work with, both in the Senate and in our party. I have confidence that he will perform the job of SoFA capably, and I therefore have no desire to vote against his confirmation because I am upset at the tactics of the ticket my vote counted for. Despite Sam's argument, the Senate is not a rubberstamp for the President, and the Cabinet is as much the Senate's discretion as the President's.

I will not vote against Moderate's confirmation as doing so would be denying Atlasia a capable SoFA. I will also not vote in favor, as to do so would be to condone all of the President's decisions in this matter, of which I deeply disapprove. I urge other Senators to express their displeasure similarly and to abstain on Moderate's confirmation.

[Verily]

and the Cabinet is as much the Senate's discretion as the President's.

I must strongly disagree: the Cabinet is part of the executive branch, and not the legislative branch, for a reason.  The Senate provides input to ensure equality among the branches, not because the Cabinet serves at its discretion.

If the Senate is expected to confirm anyone the President puts forward, then there is no equality between branches, and we might as well have no confirmation process at all. As we have a confirmation process, I believe the Senate should and must use it to express its own opinion, not the opinion of the President.

[Verily]

No, I agree that the Senate should not be a rubber stamp.  I have voted against more Presidential nominations than probably any other Senator has had the opportunity to.

But I can't see any justification for the reasons that people are disappointed with this particular nominee- it has all to do with the fact that he is not someone else, and his merits are being glossed over because of it.

As I said, I will not vote against Mr. Moderate. However, I wish to express my displeasure with the President. I will not roll over for the President because he says so.

[Verily]

No, I agree that the Senate should not be a rubber stamp.  I have voted against more Presidential nominations than probably any other Senator has had the opportunity to.

But I can't see any justification for the reasons that people are disappointed with this particular nominee- it has all to do with the fact that he is not someone else, and his merits are being glossed over because of it.

As I said, I will not vote against Mr. Moderate. However, I wish to express my displeasure with the President. I will not roll over for the President because he says so.

I never asked anyone to "roll over." I'm asking people to stop acting childish because they didn't get who they wanted. That's not how this works. You don't roll over me and I sure as hell won't roll over for you.

You are talking down to the Senate. I believe we are as capable, perhaps more capable as a chamber of many voices, to make this decision. If the Senate, or any individual Senator, or any Atlasian at all, believes the President is making an incorrect decision, it is our right and our duty to point out that error and call for its correction. In the case of Senators, we have greater authority than the citizenry in calling out such errors and thus have the greatest duty to express our own opinions, in speeches and in votes.

If you, as President, feel that our votes, or my own vote individually, force you to roll over, then you fundamentally misunderstand the balance of power.


I have no question for Mr. Moderate, and I would like him to know that this bears nothing against him.

[Verily]

In case you haven't noticed, I am not forcing you to do anything. You words, not mine.

[Verily]

In case you haven't noticed, I am not forcing you to do anything. You words, not mine.

Then what are you simply expressing disapproval of? You're disappointed because I nominated an extremely qualified citizen to the position of SoFA instead of your personal choice?

When others were President, I support different people for Cabinet positions and may have voiced that opinion but when the President made his decision, it is time to put that aside and debate the qualifications of the nominee. Instead, we had an angry uproar. Instead I was being told I was dividing Atlasia, I was being told I was a hypocrite, etc. because I didn't go with the popular pick. Shameful.

I am disappointed because you made the wrong choice for Atlasia, not in nominating Moderate, but in turning this into a big fight. The President is not above scrutiny in his decisions, and we are free to criticize them. You have stated that "when the President made his decision, it is time to put that aside and debate the qualifications of the nominee." I have no concerns about the nominee, but the decision was still the wrong one. It would be wrong to abandon my criticism simply because you are the President. And that is the only message I am getting from you.

I am done with this debate.

[Verily]

We are now voting on the confirmation of Mr. Moderate as the Secretary of Forum Affairs. Please vote Aye, Nay or Abstain.


Abstain

[Verily]

Result on Confirmation
Aye: 6 (Meekermariner; Jake; Sam Spade; Friz; Hughento; Bacon King)
Nay: 0
Abstain [Voted]: 2 (Verily; Moderate)
Abstain [Didn't vote]: 1 (Afleitch)
Vacant: 1 (D5)

With six in favor, Mr. Moderate is confirmed as the Secretary of Forum Affairs.