The American Way: A 2016 Election Game. (Sign Up/Rules/Discussion)

[Grassroots]

The American Way

A 2016 Election Game

Note: The timeline of the reality in this game is completely the same as in real life before April 2015. This is not an alternative reality scenario, except for the different candidates and election events, etc.

It has been 7 years since the historic election victory of Barrack Obama in 2008, and 3 years since his re-election in 2012. It is 2015, and the country is desperate for something new. The effects of the recession are starting to wear off, but it's echoes are still heard throughout America, mainly in the midwest and rust-belt states. Terrorism is still a very large problem in the world, with ISIS rising in the middle east, and new concerns over who we are really letting into our country. Concerns and movements such as the Iraq war, the Tea Party, and the issue of Gay marriage are gone. New issues, such as border security, healthcare, and global trade leap into the stage of American politics. New and bold candidates must rise up and aim high for the presidency, with new ideas and solutions on how to fix our countries problems.

On the Democratic side, 8 years of President Obama have changed the party from 8 years ago. The Democratic party is now more bold in it's policies and has tracked further left as liberalism is now undoubtedly the party's core ideology. The democratic party, while incumbent, has weakened in its government power. Democrats no longer control the house or senate in congress. There is also a divide internally, between more establishment friendly moderate democrats, and the newer and growing progressive section of the party, heavily defined by the 2011 Occupy Wall Street protests. Despite this, the party is still the leader in popular opinion.

On the Republican side, the momentum is strong within the party and growing. After 8 years of Democratic rule of the executive branch, the Republicans are eager to reclaim the white house. The party has seen major success over the past few years, reclaiming the senate and house of representatives. With a new potential democratic nominee, and new prospects in the country, the party is experimenting with new alternatives to the usual christian conservatism. Tea party movements and the election of 2012 have changed the party. While still the underdogs among popular opinion, the GOP is building stronger platforms and candidates for the upcoming election.

With no incumbent, and a changing political environment, the future of the country and the outcome of the election is up to you.

Rules:

1. This game lasts from July 20, 2015 to November 8, 2016 in-game.

2. Each turn lasts four days (96 hours). This may be extended by 24 hours if a large percentage of candidates have not posted their campaign schedules.

The campaign is divided into three stages:

(July 2015-June 2016) Primary: Candidates from the two parties duel off in their respective party's polling, each aiming for the party's nomination. Starting in February 2016 and running until June, primaries and caucuses will be held to assign delegates to the winners and runner-ups of each state held. I will post the results of each caucus and primary the next turn from the one in which the primary takes place. There will be a debate for each party every 2 turns. The winner and results of the last debate will be displayed the next turn, along with polling numbers posted every turn.

(June-September 2016) Conventions: The candidate with the most delegates from each of their respective party's primaries will go on to win the nomination for each of their respective parties. Both of the winning candidates will choose a running mate, and have the option to request/ask another experienced forum user to act/play as that running mate if they want to.

(August-November 2016) General Election: In this phase, the two candidates and their running mates, along with their campaign management and endorsers, duel on the campaign trail leading to election day on November 8th. The 72 hour turns will represent shorter in game timespans as the race gets hotter. There will be three presidential debates for the main candidates and a vice-presidential debate for the running mates. On November 8th in-game, I will post the news broadcasted election results over a period of 6-8 hours, then there will be a winner. Over the course of the election, polls will be shown for key swing states every turn, as well as election polling maps every so often. Green Party, Libertarian, Constitution, and up to 2 independent candidates are allowed to join in during this phase.

3.Direct message me for endorsements! Only 2 per turn are allowed during the primaries, and 5 per turn are allowed during the convention and general election phases. You can ask for endorsements of politicians, notable people such as celebrities, and newspapers. During the general election, you can get endorsements from large organizations, such as the NRA or the Human Rights Campaign.

4. Many things can cause a candidate to rise or fall in the polls. Attacks by opponents, a RL scandal, endorsements, rallies, strategic planning, your debate performances, your attendance or absence on the campaign trail, and RL current events can sway your polls at the drop of a feather.

5. No celebrities are allowed except a direct few with my permission. Donald Trump is not allowed to play, in order to ensure a more equal, fair, and competitive GOP primary. Clinton is only allowed in the game due to the fact that she had major opposition in RL, so keep that in mind when signing up.

6. No trollish behavior, constant updates, or sockpuppetry.

A. Don't be in here to get on everyone's nerves. This is a serious thread, in which the most realistic scenarios, gameplay, and results are ideal. Unrealistic celebrity candidates or semi-sarcastic speeches with cursing are not allowed.

B. Give your campaign schedule ONCE PER TERM. You can do it in 2 or 3 parts if you need more time or your post is too big. You can put rally speeches or Q&A's in the schedules, but don't take up the entire schedule. You may also create 1 or 2 posts for a speech or to respond to a candidate for example in the instance of a debate attack or an attack ad, you can make posts responding to that candidate. You can also create ads, 1 per term in primary, 2 per term after that.

C. No sockpuppetry allowed under any circumstance. As some of you know, there was a major case of sockpuppetry in one of the election game threads about a year ago, and it will not be tolerated here. Any suspicion will be reported to a mod which will result in an IP check.

7. Keep it civil and realistic, just like in real life. Pretend like YOU are the presidential candidate yourself.


Follow these rules and you will be good to go.

Lets make this work. I'll be doing my very best to post updates on schedule. Summer is starting and there isn't any excuse for me not to.

The game starts this Wednesday, June 12, at 12 AM.

[Grassroots]

Candidate list.

Democratic party:

-Fmr Gov. Martin O'Malley (D-MD) [JacksonHitchcock]


-Vice President Joe Biden (D-DE) [Gorguf]


-Sec. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) [Ishan]


-Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) [adamevans]


-Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) [GoTfan21]


-Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) [Mycool]


-Fmr Rep. Heath Shuler (D-NC) [Jaguar4life]

Republican party:

-Rep. Jim Renacci (R-OH) [terp40hitch]


Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) [x-Guy]


-Fmr Gov. George Pataki (R-NY) [NyIndy]


-Gov. Nikki Haley (R-SC) [iBizzBee]


-Fmr Gov. Jeb Bush (R-FL) [Dr_Novella]


-Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) [New Tennessean Politician]


-Fmr Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA) [ChairmanSanchez]


-Gov. John Kasich (R-OH) [ClassicGOPer]


-Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) [jakobisgood]


-Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) [S019]


-Fmr Gov. Mike Huckabee (R-AR) [schneiershow]


-Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) [EvanHunt]


Independent (Only 2 allowed at the most):

-Fmr Gov. Jesse Ventura (I-MN) [HoosierDemocrat]



Potential D Candidates:
Joe Biden (D-DE)
Hillary Clinton (D-NY)
Bernie Sanders (D/I-VT)
Jim Webb (D-VI)
Martin O' Malley (D-MA)
Lincoln Chafee (D-RI)
Tim Kaine (D-VA)

Potential R Candidates:
Ted Cruz (R-TX)
Marco Rubio (R-FL)
Scott Walker (R-WI)
Jeb Bush (R-FL)
Rand Paul (R-KY)
Chris Christie (R-NJ)
Mike Huckabee (R-AR)
Carly Fiorina (R-CA)
Ben Carson (R-MI)
Rick Santorum (R-PA)
Bobby Jindal (R-LA)
Rick Perry (R-TX)
George Pataki (R-NY)
Lindsey Graham (R-SC)
John Kasich (R-OH)
Mike Pence (R-IN)
Paul Ryan (R-WI)
Jim Gilmore (R-VA)

Caucus and Primary Schedule:

(All in 2016)

Feb 1 - Iowa Caucus
Feb 9 - New Hampshire Primary
Feb 20 - Nevada Caucus (D)
Feb 20 - South Carolina Primary (R)
Feb 23 - Nevada Caucus (R)
Feb 27 - South Carolina Primary (D)

March 1 - Alabama Primary
March 1 - Alaska Caucus (R)
March 1 - Arkansas Primary
March 1 - Colorado Caucus
March 1 - Georgia Primary
March 1 - Massachusetts Primary
March 1 - Minnesota Caucus
March 1 - North Dakota Caucus (R)
March 1 - Oklahoma Primary
March 1 - Tennessee Primary
March 1 - Texas Primary
March 1 - Vermont Primary
March 1 - Virginia Primary
March 5 - Kansas Caucus
March 5 - Kentucky Caucus (R)
March 5 - Louisiana Primary
March 5 - Maine Caucus (R)
March 5 - Nebraska Caucus (D)
March 6 - Maine Caucus (D)
March 8 - Hawaii Caucus (R)
March 8 - Idaho Primary (R)
March 8 - Michigan Primary
March 8 - Mississippi Primary
March 12 - D.C. Caucus (R)
March 12 - Wyoming Caucus (R)
March 15 - Florida Primary
March 15 - Illinois Primary
March 15 - Missouri Primary
March 15 - North Carolina Primary
March 15 - Ohio Primary
March 22 - Arizona Primary
March 22 - Idaho Caucus (D)
March 22 - Utah Primary
March 26 - Alaska Caucus (D)
March 26 - Hawaii Caucus (D)
March 26 - Washington Caucus (D)

April 5 - Wisconsin Primary
April 9 - Wyoming Caucus (D)
April 19 - New York Primary
April 26 - Connecticut Primary
April 26 - Delaware Primary
April 26 - Maryland Primary
April 26 - Pennsylvania Primary
April 26 - Rhode Island Primary

May 3 - Indiana Primary
May 10 - Nebraska Primary (R)
May 10 - West Virginia Primary
May 17 - Kentucky Primary (D)
May 17 - Oregon Primary
May 24 - Washington Primary (R)

June 7 - California
June 7 - Montana
June 7 - New Jersey
June 7 - New Mexico
June 7 - North Dakota Caucus (D)
June 7 - South Dakota
June 14 - D.C. Primary (D)

[Grassroots]

Jim Renacci?

I'd like Martin O'Malley.

Both are granted!

[Grassroots]

Could I have Biden?

This looks very promising! I'd like to have Rand Paul.

Could I get Pataki?

Granted!

[Grassroots]

Deval Patrick?

6 posts is a risk i'm not willing to take, sorry.

[Grassroots]

Deval Patrick?

6 posts is a risk i'm not willing to take, sorry.

it’s fine

EDIT: how would you feel if I tried to do a third party or independent candidate? Trying to get experience

That's fine. Who do you want to be?

[Grassroots]

I’d like to try Jesse Ventura if that’s fine.

May I have Nikki Haley?

Granted!

Also: I would encourage everyone, if they have time, to make an announcement speech for their candidate. Not only does it help identify your campaign themes and bases, but those who do so will get a polling boost once we start the game!

[Grassroots]

Can I play as SC Senator Tim Scott?

I'll take Jeb!

Can I have Hillary Clinton?

Granted!

Is Lizzy playable? I'll take her if so

Who?

[Grassroots]

Can I play as SC Senator Tim Scott?

I'll take Jeb!

Can I have Hillary Clinton?

Granted!

Is Lizzy playable? I'll take her if so

Who?

Elizabeth Warren

Granted for him.

[Grassroots]

May I take Tammy Baldwin?

Granted!

[Grassroots]

Can I get Marco Rubio?

I'll take Kasich

Granted!

On second thought, I'm dropping out of this game. I just don't have the time this summer to play in full.

Are you sure? The turns are 4 days long in this game, just putting that out there.

[Grassroots]

Can I get Rubio please?

I mistakenly quoted Barron's post in place of your post, apologies. You are in.

I’ll take Rick Santorum.

Granted!

[Grassroots]

Can I be Joe Biden

Biden is already taken by Gorguf right now, sorry.

[Grassroots]

Can I take Amy Klobuchar?

Granted.

Wow, we have a ton of people participating so far. This is going to be awesome!

[Grassroots]

Can I have Paul Ryan

Granted!

[Grassroots]

Candidate: Mike Huckabee, please.

Granted, welcome to the forum!

[Grassroots]

I will be former Congressman Heath Shuler for the Democrats

Granted!

When will there be a gameplay thread?

I believe midnight tonight

^^^

[Grassroots]

Grassr00ts, could a pre-gameplay thread poll be given before tomorrow?

There's no point when it's being posted in 5 hours anyways.

[Grassroots]

wait does it start  12 AM CDT or EDT?

Central time, so the thread will be up in a half an hour basically.

[Grassroots]

Marco Rubio Fundraiser

Wait until the game thread is up before posting campaign stuff. The game hasn't started yet.

[Grassroots]

I realize this may be out of left field, but given there are more Republicans than Democrats can I switch to Heidi Heitkamp for the Democrats? I think it’d be an interesting contrast.

Stay as who you are. I wouldn't switch, at least until later.

[Grassroots]

Thread is up as of last night. Feel free to take your time and post your schedules (and ads/other events) before midnight on Sunday when the turn ends.

[Grassroots]

Is it too late to put Ventura’s announcement speech up?

Of course not. Take your time.

[Grassroots]

I'd like to be Ted Cruz.

Granted!

[Grassroots]

I'd like John Hickenlooper

can i be bernie sanders?

Can I have Governor Chris Christie please?

Granted!

So I can't pm yet for endorsements, so can I get Steve King (R-IA) and Mike Conaway (R-TX)?

I'll grant you those, thanks for letting me know!

I'm going to be out of town from Sunday to Saturday with no internet so I won't be able to play the next turn

That's fine. I wont penalize you.