Questions for the Candidates

[Capt. Sir Mick Preston]

S:reu Davis we await your reply.

[Sir Alexandreu Davinescu]

1. We have different visions of provincial officials, Grand General Secretary Tzaracomprada. I had hoped some of them might be involved in the province, and not just our Senator. In the future, I will take your views into account and try to force you to get involved in Maritiimi-Maxhestic.

I do think it's a great suggestion to consult with the citizens and get their input. If I am elected again, I intend to continue that - I guess I endorse your suggestion? I think it might be wiser to have the Assembly meet, since ideally that's where provincial matters are discussed.

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2. I think one way we can collaborate would be on a Maritiimi-Maxhestic history course. I can teach it, and you can recruit other citizens for it and learn our history.

Maritiimi only was created in 1984. And the Second Canonization wasn't until 1993; Maritiimi didn't join with Port Maxhestic until then. That's when our province began. The correct answer would have been that in 1985, Maritiimi Province was doubled in size through the acquisition of South Territory land.

I think all citizens can benefit from knowing their provincial history, and would be glad of the help in bringing it to them.

[Capt. Sir Mick Preston]

I would like to take a moment to thank both gentleman for taking the time and effort to give thoughtful and well spoken replies.

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Next Question:

An Act is proposed, that is rather controversial. After a month of strong debate, it comes up for a vote.

After reviewing all the arguments, you have decided to vote against the Act. You have problems with it's intent, and oppose certain procedures that the Act will put in place.

You have polled the citizens of M-M , and they are For the Act.

When the final day has come, the Act is going to Pass in the Cosa. The Senate is Tied 3-3 in it's vote, so yours will be the deciding vote.


My question is: "Do you vote how your Citizens want you to vote, or do you vote how your conscience want you to vote? And why?
This will be a 250 word limit answer.



S:reu Davis, you are first to reply.


Edit: spelling ... bad.

[Capt. Sir Mick Preston]

I will ask for a commercial break, while the candidates and I discuss ....uh.... the weather here in M-M.

[Sir Alexandreu Davinescu]

This is an excellent question. It comes right to a good point: why do we have a Senäts? What is a Senator?

The Senäts serves terms of three or four Cosas, far longer than any other elected office. It is called the upper house of the Ziu, but yet has inferior powers because it can appropriate no monies and has no power to dismiss the Government. So what is the purpose of this seemingly contradictory house of the Ziu?

The Senäts is intended to provide a considered buffer on the functions of the Ziu. Standing apart from immediate reactions because of long terms, a Senator is supposed to vote his conscience and sometimes make the unpopular decision. The keys to the treasury and the government remain in the indirect hands of the people, through the frequently-elected Cosa – this helps ensure that the Senäts doesn't wield undue power. But a Senator is supposed to be more than a census-taker. He's supposed to be a legislator.

In the scenario outlined, I would vote my conscience. A Senator should always listen to his constituents because they may have good arguments or good ideas. But when it comes to the question of doing what is popular or doing what is right, then he should always choose to do what is right. He should use his knowledge and experience with the law, history, and his province and have the courage of his convictions. Anything else demeans the purpose of his noble institution.

[Capt. Sir Mick Preston]

S:reu Tzaracomprada, you have the floor

[Breneir Itravilatx]

Thank you Senator Preston.

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This wonderful question incisively probes what precisely is the role of our elected officials in a representative democracy. Are our representatives simply automatons who register the popular will? Or are they allowed the ability to interpret the nuances of specific legislation in order to protect and further common posterity?

One of my favorite political philosophers, the Irishman Edmund Burke, answered this quandary brilliantly and sums up my attitude perfectly: "Your representative owes you, not his industry only, but his judgment; and he betrays instead of serving you if he sacrifices it to your opinion."

After sustained voter consultation I would vote my conscience. With a statement on the reasons for my vote to the people of M-M quickly following. The people of M-M consider my judgment as they vote not simply my past industry and I determine to use it for the betterment of our province. If I vote in a way that is contrary to the popular will of my constituents then a concise explanation is deserved to those very same constituents. Further, I would be prepared to "reap the whirlwind" of public discontent over support or opposition contrary to prevailing provincial sentiment and potentially lose office. As an observer of American politics I've seen politicians take easy, expedient courses in order to secure their office rather than hard and winding but just paths that secure our commonwealth.

[Capt. Sir Mick Preston]

Well.

I don't see the need to have a follow-up statement to that, in that you both seem to be in agreement.

I will take break now as the questioner. I will now allow the two Candidates to ask questions of each other.

I ask that the questions be no more than 100 words, and the replies be no more than 250 words.

The challenge here will be the dreaded "Be concise, but brief."

I will try to keep this part of my moderation to a Minimum, and let the Candidates have a bit of lee way in the discussion.

Y'all be nice, y'hear?

S:reu Tzaracomprada, you have First Fire the floor .

Please submit your first question to S:reu Davis.

[Breneir Itravilatx]

Thanks again, Senator Preston.
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Alexander. Should you be elected, what will be the first act of your new term?

[Sir Alexandreu Davinescu]

Ooh, a complicated question.

If I am elected, my first act will be to have a delicious Monte Cristo sandwich. That is our official provincial sandwich. I suppose that actually comprises several smaller actions that I would have to take first, such as opening the fridge and getting out the bread. But as a larger whole, I will go have a sandwich. Years ago, I worked as a provincial official to write and help pass the legislation that made the Monte Cristo official, and so it seems fitting.

More specifically, my first act in my capacity as Senator will be to comment and work on the legislation in the Hopper. I have always prided myself on dutifully working with other legislators to find the right solutions for Talossa's future. When I first became a Senator, I was so eager to be sure of my ability to do so that I sat down and read every law on the books: every word of the Organic, every statute since the first, and even the now-defunct house law. That's why I try to take such pains with legislation in the Hopper, because so often I see laws that are inorganic or redundant to earlier legislation or simply unneeded. I think it's one of my strengths as Senator, and so it's probably the first thing I'll do.

Even more specifically, my first act in my capacity as Senator in Maritiimi-Maxhestic will be to help convene the Assembly, elect a GGS, and pass the Body of Law Act.

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MC Tzaracomprada, in light of John Jahn's history in our province, what do you think an appropriate way to memorialize him in Maritiimi-Maxhestic might be - being in mind both the good and the terrible aspects of his time here?

[Breneir Itravilatx]

Thank you S:reu Davis for the excellent answer and the excellent question.
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As a potential Senator, I do not believe that the memorializing of anyone will be a significant priority. M-M voters are not looking for a legacy foundation member or a history professor they are looking for a Senator with the judgment to know the difference between right and wrong and for a Senator who they can trust will not endanger the prestige of the office by going into fits of unreason.

With respect for the serious concerns of M-M voters I will be focused on bringing the province out of the State of Emergency that you declared while in office which prevented needed activity from occurring and led to the Province being overseen by an absent Cunstaval, increasing activity levels in the province, creating a dialogue between the Senator and the provincial citizenry and ensuring that I do not misuse the office of Senator as you had threatened to do leading to your subsequent resignation and then, approximately 24 hours later, your current candidacy.
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Please explain to M-M voters the reasons for your (11/16/2009) resignation as Senator for M-M.

[Sir Alexandreu Davinescu]

Earlier I had thought someone was attacking Secretary of State Preston, and I lashed out at that person's party. It was silly and stupid. I resigned because I thought I had made a mistake, and wanted to give voters a chance to decide if I should keep serving as their Senator.

I guess maybe that was shooting myself in the foot in some ways. After all, in only the last election I was re-elected by Maritiimi-Maxhestic with almost every vote. I received endorsements by every party that endorsed a candidate. So I could have just cruised on by in office, apologized and moved on.

But even though it was to my personal disadvantage, I thought the citizens deserved to vote to see if I should keep my seat. So I resigned, and I hope the electorate sees their way through to forgiving a single lapse in light of my years of service and accomplishments.

I appreciate your take on it, though. "Fits of unreason"... hm. I guess that's fair, if a little self-serving. But please don't disparage the history of our province. You may not think it matters, but citizens like Istefan Lorentzescu have a clear concern for it. Knowing where we have been can help guide us into the future. Plus, I think it shows a decent appreciation for our province to take the trouble to learn its history. At least don't be as snide when you call me a "history professor," maybe?

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Aside from your role in the development of our constitution (i.e. declaring the convention's start and making some suggestions, which were very helpful) and the process of this special election, what have you done for Maritiimi-Maxhestic specifically? Please don't indulge in generalities or by referencing some national legislation that incidentally includes our province - what have you done for your province, prior to wanting its Senate seat? Also, maybe avoid writing an essay on an unrelated matter instead of answering.

[Breneir Itravilatx]

Former Senator Davis, besides my assistance with our province's Constitution and the convening of the Convention that it arose from I take pride in my frequent contact with residents of the province which is why I have said that that will be the hallmark of my time in the Senate and the key change regarding national issues from your term in office. But the singular act that I can say I am most proud of committing in service to my fellow M-Mers is when I confronted you, at first completely alone, when you threatened to not consider any legislation from the Progressive Party in a blatant and cynical act of retribution that would have nullified our provincial representation in the Senate for your want to settle scores. Rather than face the inevitable consequences of your threat of inorganic activity, you resigned. Rightfully so.

In that moment, S:reu Davis, I and those who stood with me...stood in order to protect the integrity of the very Office that you now seek to hold once more. Yes, you may consider that insignificant, but for me, it is not, it was a moment of true provincial patriotism when it most mattered. Besides my help with the Convention and the Constitution, that is the moment, that I am running on. Call it what you will, but it demonstrated my commitment to defending our province's nascent democracy and unfortunately it demonstrated what you are capable of should you "lose your temper" again.
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S:reu Davis, what is your opinion on the current status of Kingdom-Republic relations?

[Sir Alexandreu Davinescu]

Kingdom-Republic relations are pretty lukewarm. There's been some improvement, but not much. I'm not sure how much there is to say about it, really. Most people on both sides want to be friends, and many (perhaps even a majority) seek reunion. The differences have been hashed out repeatedly, and it comes down to seemingly irreconcilable problems of perspective. We see them as having departed and wanting to return, and so we're unwilling to void our Organic Law for reunion; they see Talossa as having split and wanting to rejoin it, and so they're unwilling to allow us to retain the Organic Law. It's sad. But we'll keep working at it.

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I'm actually going to repeat my last question, a little reworded. I understand that you were intimately involved with censuring my regrettable action. And of course as soon as I resigned, you leap to the process of replacing me. Intriguingly, I think it was actually your first-ever action taken as Grand General Secretary.

But again, aside from your role in the development of our constitution (i.e. declaring the convention's start and making some suggestions, which were very helpful) and the circumstances leading to this special election, what have you done for Maritiimi-Maxhestic specifically?

EDIT: Formatting

[Breneir Itravilatx]

Well S:reu Davis, since you repeated the question I wanted to thank you for allowing me to repeat my answer for the voters of M-M.

Jan 23, 2010 17:43:46 GMT -6 Breneir Itravilatx said:

Former Senator Davis, besides my assistance with our province's Constitution and the convening of the Convention that it arose from I take pride in my frequent contact with residents of the province which is why I have said that that will be the hallmark of my time in the Senate and the key change regarding national issues from your term in office. But the singular act that I can say I am most proud of committing in service to my fellow M-Mers is when I confronted you, at first completely alone, when you threatened to not consider any legislation from the Progressive Party in a blatant and cynical act of retribution that would have nullified our provincial representation in the Senate for your want to settle scores. Rather than face the inevitable consequences of your threat of inorganic activity, you resigned. Rightfully so.

In that moment, S:reu Davis, I and those who stood with me...stood in order to protect the integrity of the very Office that you now seek to hold once more. Yes, you may consider that insignificant, but for me, it is not, it was a moment of true provincial patriotism when it most mattered. Besides my help with the Convention and the Constitution, that is the moment, that I am running on. Call it what you will, but it demonstrated my commitment to defending our province's nascent democracy and unfortunately it demonstrated what you are capable of should you "lose your temper" again.

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Thanks again for that opportunity, my friend. S:reu Davis, I have become truly enamored and admiring of the performance of our current Senator, Capt. Mick Preston. How would you rate his performance?