OFFICIAL: Senäts vote on abdication proposal

[Lord Q]

*slams gavel, waking up all knuckleheads who reside in the chamber*

I hereby convene the Senäts for consideration of the following. If Sir John would please set up a poll akin to the one in the Cosa thread, it would be most appreciated.

[Gladly, my Lord. Here it is. The measure requires 5 votes to pass in the Senäts with the requisite 2/3. — John Woolley, UrN]

SENATOR	PROVINCE	Üc	Non
Metáiriâ	Atatürk	X
Hooligan	Cézembre	X
J. Woolley	Florenciâ		X
Brainerd	Maricopa	X
Fri. Buchholtz	Maritiimi-Maxhestic	X
Castiglhâ	Mussolini	X
Betiñéir	Vuode		X
TOTAL		5	2

Lord Q
Mençéi

HONORING THE WISHES OF THE KING'S MOTHER—A SORROWFUL RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, King Louis I is not of the age of majority and is not the biological or adopted child of a Talossan citizen and is therefore—under the provisions of the Royal Guardianship Act—considered a ward of the State protected by a Royal Guardianship that is executed jointly by the Ziu and the Cort; and

WHEREAS, the mother of King Louis I—his legal custodian in the United States—has expressed an explicit wish that the Kingdom of Talossa cease recognizing her son as the King of Talossa; and

WHEREAS, it is the considered wisdom of the Ziu that—irrespective of national boundaries—most parents at most times have the best interests of their children in mind and, therefore, that the wishes of parents for their children ought to be given deference whenever possible and with due celerity; and

WHEREAS, the Ziu and the Uppermost Cort of Talossa in their lawful role as the Royal Guardianship are charged to make decisions that protect the best interests of their precious ward,

THEREFORE, the Ziu, acting as part of the Royal Guardianship of King Louis, hereby declares, with great sorrow, that:

His Majesty King Louis I abdicates his Kingship effective upon passage of this resolution by a two-thirds vote in both houses of the legislature and by a unanimous assent by the Uppermost Cort of Talossa as required by law.

Uréu q'estadra så: Quedéir Castiglhâ (CLP - Mussolini)

[King John]

Toward the back of the Senäts chamber, in the dim recesses beneath the balcony, where the light from the candle-stands flanking the President's podium barely reaches, a lonely figure rises. He coughs, clears his throat, and begins to speak.

My Lord President, My Lords, Gentlemen —

I had hoped that the Kingdom of Talossa could avoid this debate, if not forever, then at least for a period of a few years, while our young King grew and matured and, perhaps, became ready and willing to shoulder the burden of his high office. I believe that this unfortunate proposal has been precipitated by a zealous and well-intended initiative that would better have not been made. I believe, and I feel most deeply, that loyalty to our Sovereign — of whose Guardian this estimable body is a constituent part — requires that we consider such a proposal with an exceedingly high degree of caution. I believe we have a solemn duty to examine the proposal with great care — a duty which we have not yet adequately performed.

Lord Castiglhâ's proposal declares that "the mother of King Louis I — his legal custodian in the United States — has expressed an explicit wish that the Kingdom of Talossa cease recognizing her son as the King of Talossa". I ask, How do we know this? And what do we know?

We know that Sir Fritz — whose veracity is beyond question — wrote a letter dated September 24 to one "Michelle D--------" [name blanked for privacy] (at an address we do not know, obtained by means which we have not been told) informing her that we in the Kingdom of Talossa "need your consent as Louis's legal Guardian/Parent" for Louis to continue as King. (This may or may not be accurate, that we needed her consent; I think it is not.)

We know that Sir Fritz received a signed letter back (he had enclosed a self-addressed envelope with his letter) that said "Firest of all, no you can not use my son Louis G-----s name in any of Kingdom."

We do not know that the person who received Sir Fritz's letter (and presumably wrote the answer) is actually Michelle D--------.

We do not know how to get in touch with her.

We do not know (assuming it was Michelle D--------) whether she is in fact the King's "legal custodian in the United States".

We do not know (even if she is) whether her wish that we not use Louis's name is based on her own interests, or on her idea of the King's interests, or anything else about why she wrote what she did.

We have no idea at all what it is about Talossa — if Michelle D-------- indeed knows anything about Talossa — that she objects to. Is it simply the idea of his name appearing on the Internet? If so, we can take care of that by far less drastic means than abdication.

We do not know whether she might agree to let us go on administering the Government on Louis's behalf until he was 18, and then to let him decide whether he wants to be involved; the question was never put to her.

Nobody has suggested any plausible reason why anyone would consider being King of Talossa to be somehow opposed to Louis's actual best interests. Or even why his mother might think so.

Even granted that her wish that we not use his name should be met, we haven't explored the possibility, for instance, of using only his first name with no identifying surname. We haven't offered to remove his photograph from the website, and see whether that might satisfy his mother. We haven't considered using a Talossan form of his name to protect his privacy (if privacy is the issue). We don't even know what the issue is!

And one final consideration. I have no doubt whatsoever of Sir Fritz's good faith and truthfulness. (None. I'll fight anyone who says otherwise!) But I do not believe it is wise for the Kingdom to make big decisions — and this may just be the biggest Constitutional decision the Senäts has ever been called on to make — on the information of a single citizen. Before we can presume to abdicate "in the King's name", we must know far more than we do about the situation — who the lady is, what her problems with us are, how we can talk to her, whether any sort of compromise or understanding might be possible, and so on.

In this whole procedure, I believe that we are falling far short of the kind of diligence required of the Guardian of a minor, and of the legislature of a proud Kingdom; and believing this, as I do, I must vote NON.

Thank you.

He collapses back into his chair. The shadows conceal him.

[Baron Fritz]

Speaking for the first time as a Senator...

My Fellow Senators,

I would like to respond to my esteemed fellow Senator Woolleys above remarks regarding Louis G. I have read them over several times and still could not find one good reason for keeping this young boy our King against his parents wishes.
Instead he makes the case for why we should not. "We do not know how to get in touch with the boys mother" he says. And why not? What kind of King do we have that we do not even know his home address? Before I acted we did not even know his last name!
Why can't local Talossans meet with their King at his parents house? Why can't we use his legal name? That is the one of the purposes of the King, to represent the Kingdom in public is it not?
That I precipitated this situation I do not deny. The late King has been dishonest with us from the very beginning of all this. I believed his parents had no idea that their son was being used in this manner. I was right.
Ask yourself what good do we do our Kingdom by keeping Ben involved in Talossa via Amy's daughters son? Because that is what we will be doing if we allow this charade to persist.
Talossa needs a King we can talk to, who can represent us, who wants to and can be King. And we need a King sooner than nine years from now.
As for the senators "last consideration". If you have all these questions you wish to ask his mother why don't you? The answer is exactly why we need a real King we can communicate with. Enough of Bens final deception. We must vote Uc to preserve a real monarchy for the Kingdom and it's future.

Thank you for your attention.

The senator sits back down.

[Duke Ian von Metairia]

I hereby vote UC on the matter before us.

[King John]

Wearing my Secretary of State hat for a moment here:

1) I'm taking Sir Fritz's posting as an actual ÜC vote.

2) There's nothing in Talossan law to keep MCs and Senators from changing their votes. You can't change a vote in an election, once it's been cast; but if I decide I want to vote ÜC on this measure, for instance, I *can* change it. Just clarifying, in case anyone was wondering.

— John Woolley, UrN, Secretary of State

[Baron Fritz]

Duh. I did lots of talking and forgot to vote. Thanks John.

[Lord Q]

I vote ÜC.

[Olaf]

Chased by ghosts, Senator Olaf runs into the senate room. He slams the doors behind him. The ghosts aren't so smart, and stay outside the doors.

People of the senate, hello. Many apologies for my tardiness.

On this issue before the Senate just now, the abdication of our King, Louis I, I hereby vote thusly:

UC.

I heard two good arguments for the abdication of our king. First, that he is nine. Maybe he'll be an outstanding, ineffably, inimatably, indomitably good citizens and patriot someday, kingly in every respect. But right now, he's nine. We need a king who can spell "legislation" and can pronounce "rudolph the red nosed raindeer". (Woodolph the wed nosed waindeer.) And, especially, a King who can be a great Talossan patriot now.

Excuse me. I have to make a phone call. Does anyone know what area code Bill Murray lives in?

Takes a deep breath, pulls bazooka out of inside pocket, and opens doors again.

[Lord Q]

Point of order - it's spelled weind...I mean, reindeer.

[Trotxâ]

A short, portly fellow arises from the back benches, and signals the Lord President.
My Lord Mençéi and fellow Senators, I rise to vote on the proposed abdication of King Louis.

After great deliberation, I stand to vote "Non" on the proposal. With all due respect to Sir John, I admit that my reason for this negation do not stem from his most worthy objections (objections, which should be noted, have not been addressed.)

Instead, I return to what I said on 13 October, when the matter first came before this august body: "When did Talossa decided to allow Cestoûrs to tell us what to do?" I said it then, and I'll say it now, "A real nation does not allow outsiders to command or demand a government."

What makes the King our King? It is not merely the law, but it is our combined belief that he is our King that is the foundation for his sovereignty. Placing this sovereignty where it can be blown about by the winds of opinion is bad policy and bad precedent.

Giving in to this proposal would cheapen Talossa, canceling all our efforts to build a true nation, and reducing us to a the low status of a micro-nation. Let's not go there. Let us be a true nation.

Thank you,

Trotxâ

[Hooligan]

With an obviously heavy heart, the Senator for Cézembre rises slowly.

My Lord President, my fellow Senators, distinguished guests.

It now falls to me to decide the opinion of this body as regards what is perhaps the most important question ever put before it. I wish all within the sound of my voice to know that this weight does not sit easy upon me. But my duty to my nation outweighs it, and after due deliberation, I must announce my decision.

My friend the distinguished Senator for Vuode makes sound points. Cestoûrs, to be sure, should not dictate to our proud nation who shall and shall not sit upon the throne of Talossa. I cannot also help but agree with his admonition that the "winds of opinion" should not be allowed to trample the train of our monarchy.

The opinion in question, however, and the Cestoûr holding it, must, in my view, be given special import, and the decision is not with any Cestoûr; it is ours to make. The points of my distinguished colleague representing Florenciâ notwithstanding, all evidence we have tells us that the biological mother of our minor sovereign king believes it not to be in his best interests that he continue his reign. Despite calls, no one has produced any contrary evidence, nor even asserted the opposite. Therefore, I am forced to conclude that should our nation vote to continue our king on the throne, it would be in defiance of a mother's wish, and to defy a mother's wish for her son is not the sign of a proud and honourable nation.

My Lord President, my fellow Talossans, conscious of the knowledge that with my ballot, the Senate speaks its part for our young king, I now stand before you to cast my vote. With as much wisdom as the Lord God has provided to me, and firm in the belief that my duty to decide the question on the personal interests of His Majesty is intertwined inextricably with my understanding of these interests, as expressed by she to whom I can only assign the greatest of all possible knowledge of his personal interests, I repeat once more that the impact of my decision lies heavy upon my mind.

My fellow Talossans, I both despair and hope for our nation as I stand before you and vote Për, for the abdication of King Louis I, may God save and protect him.

The Senator pauses, overcome. After a moment, he collects himself, pauses again, clears his throat, then, hesitatingly, continues, his voice breaking, his eyes concentrated on his prepared papers.

With this vote, the Senate stands in favour of the question, and it awaits with all other Talossans everywhere the opinion of the Cosâ and the Cort. Upon the expression of these opinions, it is my wish that the despair I now feel for our nation will be replaced only by the hope, a new hope, that the mechanisms of the Organic Law left to us by the Founder of our Nation and those who have come before us, will stand firm through this crisis, and through the wisdom imbued into their articles, provide us within a short span with a new King, exactly as our Founder intended when the document was written.

Before resuming my seat -- (the Senator raises his eyes) and, Lord President, if you would please use these few final minutes of my speech to arrange for a steady stream of alcohol-bearing pages to visit my seat for a good long time hereafter (the Senator returns his eyes to his papers) -- I wish to reflect, with melancholy and with my proud and stubborn and noble and eternal nation, on what may be the first portent of the loss of our first royal house. Though I am not lucky enough to have become a Talossan long enough ago to be called an Old Growther, my love for Talossa impels me to mourn with them what my vote may mean. Like all Talossans, I believe everywhere, I look over the tumultuous history of our Kingdom, and wish some things had happened differently, wish our first King were still among us, still the biggest proponent of the Kingdom he put into the world. Failing that, I wish his chosen heir could continue in his stead. But my friends, we must take our solace in the fact that his creation, his nation, his Kingdom, persists. In his words, and those who with him crafted our Organic Law, our great nation will continue proudly.

I admit that Senator Betiñéir's stated fear that to abdicate in the name of our king will cheapen our nation, render us something less than the true nation we are, is troubling to me as well. My friends, it should trouble us all. What we decide in answer to this question before us is momentous. It will go down in Talossan history. But what we choose to do after the decision is made is even more important. We must continue to serve our eternal Kingdom, El Regipäts Talossán. We must honour our Organic Law. We must distinguish ourselves from what I agree would be "the low status of a micro-nation" by acting as the Kingdom we are, by naming a new King who will be sure to continue for all eternity that which our Founder began some twenty-seven years ago.

The Senator lifts his eyes from the lectern.

Talossa is too good to die. Talossa is too proud to die. All that has come before us is too great to permit us to allow anything less to be yet to come. Together, my nation, my fellow Talossans, my friends, the Senate bows before its King while, in obedience to his mother, it stands for his abdication, and it proclaims to all Talossans everywhere that Talossa shall survive.

Our Kingdom will survive.

Long live the Kingdom of Talossa.

The Senator dries his face with his hankerchief and collects his papers.

I yield the floor.

The Senator sits, his eyes moist and his throat dry, hoping to at least be able to remedy one of those two situations.

[Capt. Sir Mick Preston]

The Junior member of the MC stands, then sits, then assumes his half crouch

He then fortifies his strength with the finest of Kentucky Ales.

clearing throat

I have watched the debate on this issue with keen interest. Admittedly, from the Visitor's Seats, so I do not know what words were spoken in private.

I do see, that there was not a rush to judgement on this issue, and it was long and hard thought out.

I commend the Senäts, becuase I feel they they came upon thier votes with many a long night of thought, and no doubt many a cup of libation.

But they spoke from both thier heart, and thier mind. They spoke , so that they could create a better Talossa. They spoke, so that the Kingdom would survive.

To each of them, I want to say- May GodSpeed the peace in your heart, for your choice.

slowly , one hand claps against the other. Rising to full stature, the Junior MC applaudes the Senäts chamber, and all members within.