Confirmation Hearing: wxtransit for SOS (Confirmed)

[YE]

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Nominee has 24 hours for an opening statement.

[wxtransit]

First, I'd like to thank the President for this opportunity and that I'm honored to have been considered for this position and to discuss this nomination on the Senate floor.

As Secretary of State, my tentative goals would be the following:

- renegotiate a Common Market agreement with Canada (which was affected by the reset)
- maintain close contact with our allies in Eastern Asia and ensure that the peace is maintained, including maintaining a strong relationship with North Korea
- help push for Venezuela's transition to democracy (without military intervention)
- help push for a transition to democracy in Paflagonia (again, without military intervention)
- stand by our NATO allies in Eastern Europe
- stand with the rest of our allies across the world
- start the 2019 Foreign Relations Review

Of course, these goals could be changed or new goals could be added as time goes on and with new events from the Game Moderator, which is why the State Department will maintain close contact with the GM and respond effectively to events issued by the GM.

I believe that the State Department should maintain Lumine's legacy of activity and engagement with the Atlasian public. My philosophy is that foreign policy should be front and center in political dialogue, and for that reason I will strive to maintain an active office and updates to the people on foreign policy initatives, trips, and other major foreign policy events. I see the role of the Secretary of State as a liaison between the public, the President, and Congress regarding foreign policy. For this reason, I will maintain constant communication with the President and Congress regarding foreign policy matters and keep all parties up to date as to current happenings around the world.
In addition, I will ensure that action on my part is taken with the advice and consent of the President and the National Security Council, and while I do have my own objectives regarding foreign policy, I will ensure that the President always has a say in foreign policy matters, to maintain a cohesive foreign policy agenda for the Administration.

Concerning my own foreign policy philosophy, I would describe myself as favoring diplomacy before sanctions, and sanctions before military action. I believe that using the military should be considered a severe last resort, however, if it is neccesary and presents a danger to the Atlasian public, military action should be considered. For example, I do not believe we should militarily intervene in Venezuela right now - the situation is already unstable as it is and military action would even further destabilize it.

As for the more administrative aspect of the role, my experience as a public servant involves two terms as a Representative in early 2018, one term as a Senator in the summer of 2018, and my current office as Speaker of the Assembly and Lieutenant Governor of Lincoln. My activity in both of the first two offices was 100% - save for one bill I forgot to vote on as Senator - and as for the third I maintained a 100% activity rate up until last week when I had to take a leave of absense for personal reasons (however I can assure the Senate that this has ended and I can now return to normal activity).

I look forward to the rest of this hearing and to answering your questions, concerns, and any other matters the Senate wishes to discuss concerning this nomination.

[YE]

72 hours for debate.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Would you be able to safeguard the sanctity of information handled in the National Security Council?


Could you give an example of when you would use military force since you gave one in which you would not?

Also I seem to recall something about deregistration and dueling back a couple of months ago, can we get assurances that no such activities will be engaged in while you are serving as Secretary?

Finally, why are you a Texas Socialist and should it be a concern to us that you are?

[Devout Centrist]

How would you push for democracy in Venezuela and Patagonia?

[Pericles]

How do you plan to address relations with China and how would you normalize trade relations with them(presuming that is your intention-is it?)?

[wxtransit]

Thank you for your questions, Senators.

Would you be able to safeguard the sanctity of information handled in the National Security Council?

Yes, I can guarantee the Senate that the National Security Council will have a strict no-leak policy under my administration, and if this is breached, those involved will be immediately and swiftly refered for explusion from the Council to the President. The State Department will treat all sensitive information with the neccesary care, and it will only be shared with those who have been cleared for a briefing (the Council and the President). Furthermore, while the State Department would strive to keep an active operation with the Atlasian public, only information that has been deemed unclassified will be shared in press releases. If any of this is breached, I would immediately communicate with the President concerning disciplinary action.

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While I certainly would strive for diplomacy and sanctions before military action, there are situations where I do believe military action would be neccesary. However, two criteria must be met first: A. the situation presents a direct threat to Atlasia/ns and/or Atlasian interests (and by this, I don't mean Random Oil Well #357 in Kazakhstan that's owned by a British subsidiary of a French company based in part in Atlasia, if that makes sense ), which includes Atlasian allies, and B. diplomacy and sanctions have already been attempted, or the situation undoubtedly and clearly has esclalated too quickly for either to be attempted. An example of this is if Russia began a direct military assault on Poland. Poland, a strategic and close ally of Atlasia and a member of NATO, would fit criterion A, and Russia having already breached Polish territory would signify too great and quick a threat to attempt diplomacy at the outset (though, of course, it would still be attempted if at all possible). Another case of military intervention would be if a direct assualt is not yet underway but it still appears that diplomacy is impossible and a conflict is imminent. With all of these situations, however, severe discretion would still be used in judgement, and no unilateral action would be taken on my part.

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I must admit that I regret the quick manner in which I had left Atlasia last year - I wish I had given more notice to all parties before my semester had started (on top of other RL issues which eventually forced my hand). However, this was a unique situation that I can assure the Senate will not happen during my term at the Department of State, and if I ever must leave, I will give a week's (or so) notice beforehand as to allow time to find an apt successor and for a smooth transition of power. In addition, I would only leave my post on my own volition if deemed absolutely neccesary - I wouldn't be leaving just because I'm on vacation for two days.

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I am here to start the proletariat revolution, and yes, you should be very concerned

In all seriousness, it's just a meme, nothing more.

or is it...

How would you push for democracy in Venezuela and Patagonia?

Similar to my military invervention philosophy, I would first support sanctions to pressure each nation into transitioning into a democratic form of government. While not ideal, this is certainly a better option for Atlasia than getting involved in military action just to force a change in the system of government. In addition, diplomacy will also be on the table, not only with the nation itself, but with other nations in the region to help enforce sanctions or encourage sanctions of their own. Furthermore, if an internationally recognized opposition begins to be a viable alternative (for example, as is the case in real life with Guaido in Venezuela), we would consider recognition and political and economic support, depending on the case and the discretion of the President and the National Security Council. Missing from these alternatives is military intervention - while it should be the perogative of Atlasia to help promote democracy, as explained in my answer to Yankee's question on military intervention, it should not be the business of Atlasia to force democratic change at gunpoint.

How do you plan to address relations with China and how would you normalize trade relations with them(presuming that is your intention-is it?)?

First and foremost the State Department's objective will be to ensure that the hard-fought peace in East Asia is not lost, and policy should be determined from there. While it is understandable that our relations with China likely won't be the warmest, I certainly do not aspire to aggravate relations with China (however, nothing I say here should be misconstrued as saying that we will overlook human rights abuses and other concerns with the Chinese regime), especially within the context of the peace that was just created. The State Department under my leadership would approach relations with China cautiously - we would welcome a stabilization of relations but not without a full assessment of the situation first, especially considering our past relations with the Chinese government.

As for trade relations, it appears that we now are in a period of figuring out what our post-war trade policy with China will be. I would aspire to normalize or at least stabilize trade relations with China, however, I do believe it will take some meetings with the National Security Council and deep assessment of the facts and the current situation to determine what eventual course of action we want to pursue with China. In the end, though, I believe it to be of the highest importance considering trade relations that the Atlasian consumer and Atlasian manufacturers do not recieve the short end of the stick concerning any deal we make - and this is evident in the policy of opposition to the concerning rise of Chinese companies using covert operations to extract trade secrets from Atlasian companies.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

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I am here to start the proletariat revolution, and yes, you should be very concerned

In all seriousness, it's just a meme, nothing more.

or is it...

Forgive me, but you only answered half the question, the socialist part. We demand an answer on the other part of the question!

WE HAVE WAYS TO MAKE YOU TALK!!!

[wxtransit]

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I am here to start the proletariat revolution, and yes, you should be very concerned

In all seriousness, it's just a meme, nothing more.

or is it...

Forgive me, but you only answered half the question, the socialist part. We demand an answer on the other part of the question!

WE HAVE WAYS TO MAKE YOU TALK!!!

I can assure the Senate that you all have no reason to be concerned as I stow away 100 "workers of the world unite" posters.

heh, heh, hey, YE, isn't it a good time to open the vote? walks into corner nervously

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

NO, we demand to know why you are a Texan?

[wxtransit]

NO, we demand to know why you are a Texan?

Texas is the only state. All others are impostors.

[YE]

24 hours to object to a final vote.

[wxtransit]

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

In YE's defense I have a vote I need to certify too, but it will probably have to be done when I get home tonight.

[YE]

A final vote has been opened.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

AYE

[Pericles]

Aye

[Devout Centrist]

Aye

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

That moment when you realize we have become a Senate of three and one region is consistently completely voiceless.

RIP Lincoln and congrats Fremont!

[wxtransit]

That moment when you realize we have become a Senate of three and one region is consistently completely voiceless.

RIP Lincoln and congrats Fremont!

Yikes.

[Sirius_]

That moment when you realize we have become a Senate of three and one region is consistently completely voiceless.

RIP Lincoln and congrats Fremont!

Yikes.

Good to know that whatever may happen, Lincoln will get a new senator. Might have to do something about Maineiac though.

[wxtransit]

oof @ lincoln senators

[YE]

Passes 3-0.

[YE]

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X YE
[/quote]

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

Congratulations wxt!