Dobs

Sure thing

Unlike most of my fine colleagues in the room, I actually reject the notion that the Supreme Court is at all politicized. Is the nomination and confirmation process political - sure, it's conducted by politicians and it should be political (to a degree) because that means its responsive to democracy and the check and balance is working as it was intended. But the actual institution itself does not even sniff of partisanship in my view. These are 8 of the finest legal minds in the country and Samuel Alito who sit down and do their work and often return a 50% unanimity rate (Could you imagine Congress agreeing on half of all it does unanimously?). These judges are judicious people by nature and they know how to weigh the law and the law alone. They've done it their entire career. I think the whole concept of Court reform is overblown, we need politician reform and to stop electing clowns to positions of high power. Trying to fix the least broken institution in the country seems a bit misguided.

Margaret Thatcher, MP for Finchley, announces bid for Leadership "Ladies and Gentleman, proud conservatives and Brittons, today Britain stands before us as a nation stripped of its former pride and glory. Decades of Socialism and decay have left behind only rot and disfunction. The ruling Labour Party has lost all right to govern with its extremist and far-left politics. Even in our own Conservative Party, the people of Britain, those who simply want to get back to doing business and being free, have been ignored. The old ruling class can never deliver for Britain the kind of total top-to-toe reform which this country so desperately requires. That is why I am proudly announcing my candidacy for Leader of the Conservative Party. The Tories cannot hope to take back Number 10 unless we are clear with the British people that we believe in what we say we believe. We believe in Free Markets and Fiscal Responsibility. We believe in the family and in freedom. We believe in Capitalism and we oppose vigorously the evils of Communism and its sneaky little brother; Socialism. I say this not to create a divide in our party or our country, rather to unite it behind the values upon which we have won World Wars and stared down Empires of Evil. It is time for new change and decisive leadership. I humbly offer that change and that leadership to the Conservative Party and to the United Kingdom. Thank you all and May God Bless you!" The Thatcherite wing of the party will begin organizing as a bloc to pick off One Nation Tories who recognize that Ted Heath has already lost us two election in a row and we simply cannot afford to lose a third in 1979. Thatcher's speech steered clear of blatant attacks to make it clear she will work with all factions of the party but that very clearly we desire a rightward turn of a rapidly left-turning party. And we believe that many One Nation Tories will agree that the direction in which Heath has taken the party is in fact too left-wing even for his own faction.

NBC Nightly News - Decision 1972 Democratic Primary With an incumbent Republican President, all eyes now fall upon the Democratic Primary. The first announcement was electric. Sen. George Wallace (D-AL) announced his campaign to a raving crowd in Birmingham, Alabama (89/100). Wallace’s campaign comes after a failed 1968 campaign resulted in increased influence for his wing of the party at the DNC that year and ultimately representation on the ticket when now-Senate Majority Leader George Smathers (D-FL) was named Nominee Robert F. Kennedy (D-NY)’s running mate. Now, Wallace is back with an important wing of the party behind him: the conservatives. Wallace’s campaign is certain to be strong in the South where friendly Governors have ushered in primaries across the region. However, if he hopes to win the soul of the Democratic Party, he must also capture the support of moderates and blue collar workers. It can certainly be said that winning over the establishment of the Democratic Party will be next to impossible; perhaps then his only true avenue is then to replace it. Shortly following Wallace’s entry to the race, came a moderate luminary who had hoped to take up the center mantle of the party and champion the rural and working class vote. Unfortunately, Sen. Stuart Symington (D-MO) could not have had a bumpier entrance into the race (1!/100). His launch thoroughly failed to appeal to his base and was seen as overly aggressive and negative towards intra-party rival Wallace. Meanwhile, folks on the left didn’t feel as though Symington effectively made any policy appeal to them besides the platitudes launched against common enemy Wallace. Symington appeared nervous and perhaps even lightly inebriated, though it was likely just his nerves, and failed to project any semblance of confidence or leadership to the crowd. The whole that has just been left in moderate leadership likely only stands to benefit the two other major candidates who will soak up Symington’s moderate base from his left and right. Following Symington’s disastrous entrance into the race, there was a short lull in candidate announcements. That was until Rep. Bill Clay (D, MO-1) shocked the political world and made history with an electric speech making him the first black man to mount a notable campaign for the Democratic Party’s nomination (87/100). While not the first major black Presidential candidate, that being Sen. Edward Brooke (R-MA) in last year’s Republican contest, Clay’s announcement electrified the progressive wing of the party and perhaps provided some relief to Missouri Democrats that there is an able leader from there state. Clay’s campaign announcement was perceived in many ways to be a love letter to the base of people, mostly Black Americans, who were devastated by the murder of Shirley Chisholm in 1970. Clay takes up the left-most lane and certainly has an energetic base behind him, as slim as his chances at seriously winning the nomination may be. The final major contender for the Democratic nomination is an old coalition favorite. Sen. Hubert H. Humphrey (D-MN) became the final entry into the race to a decent reception, rounding out the field (63/100). The former Vice President’s largest boon of the early campaign season has been his ability to absorb many of the liberla moderates currently bleeding from the Symington camp. Given that Humphrey is a more moderate liberal, it gives Clay more momentum on the leftist angle. However, it also allows Humphrey to shield himself from the more hawkish environment in which the country currently finds itself, considering that he was never a dove on the now-won Vietnam War. Humphrey is a strong candidate, a former Vice President who redeemed his political career with a come-from-behind victory for his new Minnesota Senate seat, he will likely provide tentative frontrunner Wallace with the most competition now that Symington seems on the verge of complete flameout. National Democratic Polling - February 20th, 1972 George Wallace - 34% Hubert H. Humphrey - 25% Stuart Symington - 16% Bill Clay - 9% Undecided - 18% --- New Hampshire Democratic Polling - February 20th, 1972 Hubert Humphrey - 31% George Wallace - 19% Stuart Symington - 17% Bill Clay - 7% Undecided - 26% --- Republican Primary The Republican Party is likely to be a much simpler affair. President Richard Nixon’s campaign has been slowly building momentum since early and it is now looking like a fine-oiled machine ready to dominate the 50-state primary schedule enforced by the Republican Party for the first time ever (96/100). Less well off, however, is the quixotic campaign of Rep. Pete McCloskey (R, CA-11) which announced and blazed out in the same ball of fire (6/100). McCloskey’s personal attacks seriously failed to land and even as the President loses ground nationally in his approval rating, Republican support remains rock solid. It will be a challenge for McCloskey to scrounge up even a delegate in the upcoming primaries. Perhaps more interestingly, has been the campaign of Sen. Jacob Javits (R-NY) for Vice President. The Javits for VP campaign is not widely supported across the ideological spectrum as more conservative Republicans seem supportive of incumbent Vice President Spiro Agnew (R-MD), but liberal Republicans have boosted the Javits campaign for a decent launch (53/100). Because there are no Vice Presidential primaries, Javits campaign does not seem to have any goal other than either convincing President Nixon to fire Agnew after his approval rating took a tumble or to convince the Republican convention this summer to buck Nixon’s choice and nominate himself instead. --- National Republican Polling Richard Nixon - 89% Other (Write-ins) - 3% Pete McCloskey - 2% Undecided - 6% --- Primary Schedules The Republicans will use the 1976 50-state schedule. Democratic Primaries March 7th - New Hampshire (Proportional) March 14th - Florida (WTM) March 21st - Illinois, Georgia (Proportional, WTM) March 28th - South Carolina (WTM) April 4th - Wisconsin, North Carolina (WTM, Proportional) April 11th - Nevada (WTA) April 25th - Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Texas (WTA, WTM, WTA) May 2nd - DC, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio (Proportional, WTM, Proportional, Proportional) May 9th - Tennessee, Nebraska, West Virginia (WTA, WTM, WTA) May 16th - Maryland, Virginia (WTM, WTA) May 23rd - Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi (WTA, WTA, WTA) June 6th - Arkansas, California, New Jersey, New Mexico (Proportional, WTA, Proportional, Proportional) Wallace’s push for primaries in states with friendly Governors was a success while the establishment was able to successfully cancel several primaries in states friendly to their organization, even among those who had held primaries in 1968. All states with no scheduled primary will have a state nominating convention to be held over the summer. Each of the above primaries has teir own delegate allocation rules and can be Proportional, Winner Take Most, or Winner Take All (These are based on IRL policies). --- Up Next: First Turn of the 1972 Presidential Primary out to February 27th, 1972 The election has begun my Doblets! It is officially primary season and you may begin posting events! Happy flavamaking and may the dice be ever in your flava! @Pringles @Zenobiyl @ConservativeElector2 @WVProgressive @Hestia @The Blood @Cal @Sean F Kennedy @Fbarbarossa

NBC Nightly News - February 20th, 1972 White House Kissinger Trip (3): Kissinger is not welcomed back into China and Enlai reaffirms China’s commitment to Maoism to the American government. Thieu Call (5): Thieu relents and brings his forces back to the current line but refuses to beat a full retreat and is confused when Nixon asks for one. He says that he will hold the current line but will not allow the Khmer Rouge to take full control of Cambodia, he is still determined to win this war. Assasination (1!): The covert attempts are blown when 3 CIA agents are captured by the Khmer Rouge at the same time Vietnamese forces are seen beating a retreat; enraging the American people when the story hits the news. The agents are currently refusing to speak but the Rouge has accused the CIA of staging a plot to Assassinate Pol Pot and are utilizing any means necessary to extract more information about the CIA’s dealings in the region from the agents. Executive Action Items Emergency Health Professions Education Assistance Act Legislative Action Items (Senate) The Native American Protection Act comes to the floor as is. Chair Bob Dole (R-KS) and Ranking Member Scoop Jackson (D-WA), both conservatives, heavily eschew the concept of an at-large member of the House for reservations with a few thousand members as does the vast majority of the Senate save for its most progressive members. The actual legislation itself is likely to pass by a slim margin. The NAPA passes 54-46. (Sparkman, Wallace, Stevens, Rasmuson, Fannin, Goldwater, McClellan, Fulbright, Yorty, Dominick, Smathers, Bryant, Russell, Talmadge, Hansen (ID), Landgrebe, Grassley, Dole, Stubblefield, Ellender, Long, Stennis, Eastland, Curtis (MO), Hruska, Curtis (NE), Cannon, Laxalt, Jordan (NC), Ervin, Young, Thurmond, Hollings, Mundt, Boe, Evins, Connally, Bennett, Weilenmann, Gray, Spong, Jackson, Byrd, Randolph, Thompson, and Hansen (WY)) Legislative Action Items (House) The Emergency Health Professions Education Assistance Act is a dastardly long name. But it will pass. The EHPEAA passes 287-147. (Paleos, DemCons, and 44/61 GOPCons) The Cannabis Sentencing Reform Act is a very popular piece of legislation and liberal opposition will likely not be able to stop a ramping up of the war on drugs. The Cannabis Sentencing Reform Act passes 286-148. (Progs, Libs, and 36/92 DemMods) Legislative Action Items Cannabis Sentencing Reform Act (Senate) Native American Protection Act (House) (Don’t worry about responding to these, they’ll just be included as general headline flava in the election updates) Staunchly conservative Congressman announces resignation; cites mental health January 15th, 1972 - Rep. John Newbold “Happy” Camp (R, OK-6) has announced his immediate resignation from his seat in Congress. Camp, who represents the Oklahoma Panhandle and surrounding region, made the announcement that following the death of his dear friend and colleague, Carl Albert, last year, that he will not be seeking re-election this year and will instead be announcing his immediate resignation from Congress to focus on his banking business in Enid. The special election for Camp’s seat is to happen concurrently with that for Albert’s. Nixon Approval Rating Approve - 52% (-3) Disapprove - 38% (+2) Neutral/No Opinion - 10% (+1) --- Up Next: Presidential Election of 1972 Opening Post (Stand by for the opening of the 1972 election, this will be when you may begin campaigning and I will ping everyone.)

There may be very few sentiments pertaining to President Obama on which we agree entirely V. This is one of them.

NBC Nightly News - January 2nd, 1972 White House Taiwanese Aid (8): The Taiwanese government is extremely grateful for the aid tendered by the Nixon administration. They are particularly grateful in the wake of the possibility of losing their seat not just on the Security Council, but in the UN. Vietnamese Aid (1!): Thieu, finally getting the aid he’s asked for, takes the military aid in gusto and charges headlong into a redoubling of force in Cambodia. Unfortunately for Thieu, this results in the Chinese responding in kind and pushing the Vietnamese forces back. The Chinese government officially announces its support for the Khmer Rouge as the legitimate government of Cambodia and gives the Vietnamese an ultimatum: leave Cambodia or prepare for war with the People’s Republic of China. Communist Sanctions (3): The Soviets are outraged to be lumped in with the Chinese and most of our Western allies do not back the measures considering that new engagements in Southeastern Asia are seen largely as a Chinese-American conflict and Western Europe is less interested in fighting Red China than the Soviets. New Legislative Proposals (Senate) Native American Protection Act (9): The act is very well-received on the hill and given the moderate-to-conservative nature of its sponsors it receives broad support across the spectrum. New Legislative Proposals (House) Cannabis Sentencing Reform Act (10!): The act is a smash hit, especially after the failure of the Republican attempt to ramp up the war on drugs. The act is another win for social conservatives looking to fight drug use and is particularly popular among suburban voters. Senate Votes The Emergency Health Professions Education Assistance Act is a fairly inoffensive Act and it seems only the most conservative of the Senate conservatives will be taking the time to oppose the otherwise consensus legislation. The EHPEAA passes 73-27. (Sparkman, Wallace, Rasmuson, Fannin, Goldwater, McClellan, Yorty, Dominick, Bryant, Russell, Talmadge, Hansen (ID), Landgrebe, Stubblefield, Ellender, Eastland, Curtis (MO), Cotton, Ervin, Lausche, Thurmond, Evins, Weilenmann, Gray, Byrd, and Hansen (WY)) House Votes The Censure of Pete McCloskey hits the floor as a very bipartisan affair. It is entirely obvious to most all impartial observers that McCloskey broke the rules in question for which he is being censured. Some, however, just don’t find those offenses censureable. Those aforementioned opponents are almost entirely of the liberal persuasion. Nevertheless, the resolution is highly likely to pass. Pete McCloskey (R, CA-11) is censured 392-41. (Progs, 15/47 GOPLibs, and 8/49 DemLibs) Legislative Action Items (Senate) Native American Protection Act Legislative Action Items (House) Emergency Health Professions Education Assistance Act Cannabis Sentencing Reform Act Party Events GOP VP Reform (1!): Party regulars balk at the concept and cannot see themselves supporting changing the system midstream when the VP is viewed as necessarily a pointman for the nominee. Supreme Court Action Items None 🙂 General Headlines The Khmer Rouge have redoubled their efforts in Cambodia, attacking the capital airport in Phnom Penh Oman has gained independence from the United Kingdom The U.S. Dollar is devalued for second time in history amidst recession Supreme Court rules that Equal Protection applies to Sex in Estate Case Reed v. Reed The Supreme Court has unanimously ruled that estate administrators cannot be named in ways which discriminate based on sex. The opinion of the court, written by Chief Justice Rehnquist, is a landmark in 14th amendment jurisprudence because it is the first time the court has affirmed that the guarantee of “equal protection” also includes protection based on sex. Former House Leadership hopeful dead at age 63 November 8th, 1971 - Rep. Carl Albert (D, OK-3) has been found dead in his Oklahoma home of a heart attack. The Democrat who was once considered a contender for Speaker of the House was said to have gone into a deep depression following his career opportunities dimming. Following heavy drinking and smoking, it is believed his body went into shock due to the substance use and was finally overwhelmed last night when a heart attack took Albert in his sleep. A special election to fill his seat will be held early next year. Election Updates MS-3 Special Election 150,392 votes Allen C. Thompson (D) - 89,634 votes (59.6%) Prentiss Walker (R) - 58,202 votes votes (38.7%) Fannie Lou Hammer (P) - 2,557 votes (1.7%) D Hold Louisiana Gubernatorial Election 1,015,945 votes Taddy Aycock (D) - 672,556 votes (66.2%) William Henson Moore (R) - 343,389 votes (33.8%) D Hold Kentucky Gubernatorial Election 947,903 votes Frank Chelf (D) - 493,857 votes (52.1%) Tim Lee Carter (R) - 454,046 votes (47.9%) D Pick-Up Mississippi Gubernatorial Election 801,392 votes Charles L. Sullivan (D) - 572,194 votes (71.4%) Clarke Reed (R) - 229,198 votes (28.6%) D Hold IN-2 Special Election 129,045 votes Floyd Fithian (D) - 65,039 votes (50.4%) Harriet Bailey Conn (R) - 64,006 votes (49.6%) D Pick-Up Nixon Approval Rating Approve - 55% (-2) Disapprove - 36% (+1) No Opinion/Neutral - 9% (+1) 1972 Rolls Social Cohesion (47/100): The nation remains on a steady course for unity with average racial tension largely concentrated in the few Southern states in the final death throes of segregation-era politics. Economic Health (23/100): Despite the President's Revenue Act last year, the Treasury was forced to devalue the dollar and the recession has deepened into 1972. Economists are now comfortably declaring that this event has marked the end of the Post-War economic expansion era. The stock market has begun a small "flash crash" which is beginning to self-correct but marks the beginning of a bear market. Unfortunately for the country, the Keynesian policies which have bouyed the post-war expansion seem to be ineffective to stem the tide of the growing recession as productivity falls to new lows. Many economists are now saying that the age-old wisdom of price controls and regulations won't be enough to bring the post-war boom back and keep the economy from freefall. Foreign Policy (62/100): Following the failure in China, the Western World has begun to rally behind the United States new position against China. Initially skittish, the US has avoided a schism in the West in which Western Europe would only oppose the USSR. Now finally comitting to anti-communism globally, the Western World seems to be back under the firm leadership of the United States after a quick scare. --- Up Next: Governing Mini-Turn and Opening of Presidential Election of 1972 to February 20th, 1972 Alright folks, this is it! This final turn is just going to be for cleaning up the few legislative items we have left and easing us into 1972. This turn everyone who wants to run for President and compete in all the primaries should declare! Once this turn is processed governing will be done until 1973 (with exceptions where needed for response to world events or otherwise) and we will officially be in Presidential Election mode. As we enter our second Presidential election, may the odds be ever in your flava and happy flavamaking! @Pringles @Zenobiyl @ConservativeElector2 @WVProgressive @Hestia @The Blood @Cal @Sean F Kennedy @Fbarbarossa @Mishfox

Allo! Sorry for being late to the party but I am Dobs (or Reagan04 from back in the olden 270soft days). I am the proud papa to all my Doblets and tend to be the RP guru around these parts. Along with my dear pals Dakota, V, and Ted I am also a moderator. Politically, I'd consider myself a conservative Libertarian or Reaganite/Goldwater Republican. I consider Reagan, Goldwater, Neil Gorsuch, and Justin Amash to be big political influences. I'm not a huge gamer considering I dedicate the lion share of my free time to this community and am otherwise doing real world work (yuck). To hop on our music discussion, I have a very very wide musical taste. I posted a top 10 list in the old forum but my musical taste spans back to the Jazz of the 1920s and 30s up to modern pop and country with pretty much all pop, country, and blues of the interceding decades falling on the list. I also enjoy Rap from the 1970s - 1990s. My tolerance for Rock extends pretty much just to the poppier stuff like Springsteen.

Rest in peace to the Iron Duke. I may be an American republican through and through, but I must admit I have a soft spot for British constitutional monarchy, even if I would vote to usher in a Republic if given the chance. I hope Her Majesty the Queen and His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge are able to mourn peacefully and privately. I was really hoping His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh would live to see his 100th birthday this year.

That final vote seems to be a bit rigged 🤔 Not sure though.... seems a bit Juchean.

They did this in the olden 270 days if I recall, I remember seeing people with negative scores.

I see through this ploy V! A cheap play for sympathy hearts!

I think the most negative emoji we should allow is my favorite, the old tried and trie passive-aggressive masterpiece "confused" emoji. I used that many a time on our old pal he who shall not be named.

NBC Nightly News - October 24th, 1971 White House China Trip: See Write-Up Belo Executive Action Items Vietnam Assistance Mentorship Act Postal Reorganization Act New Federalism Act Peaceful Atom Power Act Airline Safety Protection Act Police Defense Act New Legislative Proposals (Senate) Emergency Health Professions Educational Assistance Act (8): The new bill, sponsored by Sen. Jacob Javits (R-NY) is a relative hit on Capitol Hill. It’s not a massive new entitlement spending but it’s also enough to make liberals consider it a worthwhile effort. New Legislative Proposals (House) Censure of Pete McCloskey (4): McCloskey is an unpopular guy but some back away from the thought of a full-blown censure. Still, McCloskey doesn’t help himself as he incurs even more disciplinary infractions. Senate Votes American Wildlife Act: 50-50 tie. Vice President Agnew has made history as the first Senate President to vote Present and refuse to break a tie, a decision roundly condemned as abdicating one of the few affirmative duties of his job and cowardly for refusing to take a position on the controversial legislation. Nevertheless, the American Wildlife Act fails 50-50. The Environmental Education Act has the Senate divided. The conservative coalition seems intent on stopping it while liberals will attempt to pick off enough moderate Republicans to save the legislation. It is more likely to fail than not but the votes will decide its final fate. The Environmental Education Act fails 45-55. (Sparkman, Wallace, Stevens, Rasmuson, Fannin, Goldwater, McClellan, Fulbright, Yorty, Kuchel, Vanderhoof, Dominick, Roth, Smathers, Bryant, Russell, Talmadge, Fong, Jordan (ID), Hansen (ID), Landgrebe, Miller, Grassley, Pearson, Dole, Cooper, Stubblefield, Long, Ellender, Stennis, Eastland, Curtis (MO), Hruska, Curtis (NE), Laxalt, McIntyre, Cotton, Jordan (NC), Ervin, Young, Lausche, Thurmond, Hollings, Mundt, Evins, Connally, Tower, Bennett, Weilenmann, Gray, Spong, Byrd, Randolph, Thompson, and Hansen (WY)) Just as in the House, the VAMA is not a controversial piece of legislation and is largely a companion bill for the VRWA. It is unlikely any member will object to the passing. The Vietnam Assistance Mentorship Act passes by acclamation. The Postal Reorganization Act is yet another bipartisan and universally supported piece of legislation which should zoom through the Senate. The Postal Reorganization Act passes by acclamation. The New Federalism Act hits the Senate with the renewed support of moderates but redoubled opposition from liberals. The question is now this: Will Liberal Senators from both parties be able to sustain the filibuster which Sen. Bill Cohen (R-ME) has begun against the bill. The vote on cloture will be close but decisive. The motion for cloture passes 73-27. (Irwin, May, Inouye, Percy, Anderson (IL), Bayh, Cooper, Cohen, Smith, Mathias, Kennedy (MA), Brooke, Romney, Humphrey, Mondale, Metcalf, Fenwick, Case, Kennedy (NY), Javits, Harris, Hatfield, Schweikert, Pell, Stafford, Aiken, and Magnusson) The New Federalism Act passes 75-25. (May, Inouye, Percy, Anderson (IL), Bayh, Cooper, Cohen, Smith, Mathias, Kennedy (MA), Brooke, Humphrey, Mondale, Metcalf, Fenwick, Case, Kennedy (NY), Javits, Harris, Hatfield, Schweikert, Pell, Stafford, Aiken, and Magnusson) House Votes The FBI Accountability Act has been tabled. It may be revisited at any date until it expires at the end of the 92nd Congress. The Peaceful Atom Act is once again set to pass rather easily. However, there are a number of members of Congress whose states fossil fuel industries stand to be harmed if even just a small amount. As a result, despite widespread ideological support, there will be a few objectors. The Peaceful Atom Power Act passes 353-78 (Salty Oil Dawgs) The Airline Safety Protection Act is only opposed by the conservative coalition with moderates in general support. The Airline Safety Protection Act passes 216-215. (Paleos, Cons, 36/91 GOPMods, 15/62 DemMods) The Police Defense Act is broadly supported save for the liberals. However, just like in the Senate, when Pete McCloskey attempts to filibuster he has to be forcibly removed from the House floor given that the House rules do not allow for filibusters so all McCloskey was doing was acting out of order and refusing to surrender the floor when his time expired. The Police Defense Act passes 319-112. (Progs and Libs) Senate Action Items Emergency Health Professions Educational Assistance Act House Action Items Censure of Pete McCloskey Supreme Court Action Items Reed v. Reed - Can administrators of estates be named in ways that discriminates based on sex? General Headlines Massive Prison Revolt in Attica, New York as National Guard are called The Baltimore Orioles beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-3 to win their second consecutive World Series Cardinal József Mindszenty, who has taken refuge in the American embassy in Budapest since 1956 is allowed to leave Hungary Emperor Hirohito of Japan travels abroad, meeting with, among others, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor Walt Disney World opens in Orlando, Florida Supreme Court unanimously rejects Thurmond Appeal Thurmond v. New York Times The United States Supreme Court has issued a kurt rebuke to Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-SC) and his New York-based attorney Roy Cohn. Following a unanimous defeat at the hands of the District Court for Southern New York, Thurmond’s appeal was unanimously rejected by the Second Circuit Court of Appeals and now rather unceremoniously denied consideration by the Supreme Court. The Court noted that there was no disagreement whatsoever between a single judge sitting on the lower courts and that each court had appropriately noted Supreme Court precedent set in Sullivan v. New York Times (1964). The decision of the lower court will stand and the embarrassing defeat serves to draw more attention to the scandal currently enveloping the South Carolina Republican. Rep. Pete McCloskey (R, CA-11) responsible for Thurmond leak (12/20) Sources close to NBC have confirmed that the source of the leak regarding an illegitimate black child fathered by Senator Strom Thurmond was none other than progressivel firebrand and Republican noisemaker Pete McCloskey of California. The news does not come as a surprise to many as McCloskey has long waged a battle against Republicans like Thurmond, wanting to bring his party to the left. The scandal which McCloskey divulged to the press and ensuing lawsuits and defeats in court dealt to Thurmond have seriously damaged, if not doomed, his career. However, McCloskey now also finds himself in increasingly scalding waters. Following several antics in the past few months which the California Republican broke numerous rules of both Houses of Congress and now with an enraged conservative activist contingent motivated against McCloskey, the Congressman has a hostile environment to navigate in the coming months. Election Updates Liberal Republican Draft (5) - Pace, Meyer, Carroll, Harris, and Meyer are called up. IN-2 Special Primary: Harriet Bailey Conn (R) vs. Floyd Kithian (D) IL-23 Special Election 112,452 votes George E. Shipley (D) - 71,744 votes (63.8%) Edward H. Jenison (R) - 40,708 votes (36.2%) The Shipley campaign (10!) was ready go to from Day 1. As soon as Schlafly announced she was accepting Nixon’s offer, the former Congressman began maneuvers to convert his 1972 challenge into a 1971 special election campaign. Meanwhile, the Jenison campaign (1!) was beset with dozens of errors and missteps as Republicans had not failed to hold a special election seat in years given the positive environment. Alas, unfortunately for Jenison, the national environment is now indeed changing and this seat was ripe for a D Gain. President Nixon makes Historic trip to China; meets with icy reception (21/100) President Richard Nixon has become the first President to step foot in Communist China. Coming hot off of a victory in the Vietnam War, the President came ready to play ball with the Chinese, led by Premier Zhou Enlai. Unfortunately, for the President, it appears that they were not. Nixon’s saving grace, the thing which avoided total disaster, was that the trip started off very well. Nixon presented himself as an able leader obviously respected by the Chinese government and people. There was not a hint of vomitorious behavior at the sushi bar and the Chinese Legislature listened intently to Nixon’s address. It was when the President and Premier sat down for negotiations that everything seemed to fall apart. Enlai immediately demurred signing an Arms Limitation treaty and requested the issue be returned too after further negotiations, suggesting the US had to be willing to give up more. Enlai perceives Nixon’s offer of taking the remainder of North Vietnam was pure flattering, knowing that it’s entirely unrealistic and the Soviet Union would never agree to such a thing. Indeed, when word gets back to Brezhnev that such a proposal had been made the enraged Russian was said to nearly knock over his desk in a rage, representing an ever further deteriorated Russo-American relationship. Enlai then told Nixon that the only way that China would ever considering joining the United Nations would be if the “pretender government in Taipei” were kicked out and if the Vietnamese stopped their invasion of Cambodia and recognized the Khmer Rouge as the government of Cambodia and the rightful claimant of the Cambodian seat in the UN. Finally, Nixon was informed rather sternly that no open trade with the United States would ever be tolerated so long as the Glorious Chairman Mao lives. Following the obstinance of the Chinese, sources in the American media begin to understand that the Chinese are willing to give up very little and have only become interested in getting Nixon to the Chinese mainland for a press op and getting pictures taken. The optics currently are that the leader of the free world has come to China and is likely leaving empty-handed. Nixon’s approval rating has taken a slight dive at home as news of stalling talks in China reaches American TV sets. Many on the right have had their suspicions confirmed that detente was the wrong policy and that the Cold War should be fought with vigor against all Communists while those in the left and center remain relatively supportive of the President’s efforts with moderates in the beginning stages of losing confidence. Nixon Approval Rating Approve - 57% (-4) Disapprove - 35% (+3) No Opinion/Neutral - 8% (+1) --- Up Next: Governing to January 1st, 1972 Ironically, I think this format will also take some getting used to again, I mainly miss my handy dividers. Alright, there is going to be another governing turn to finish 1971 and then we're into 1972. Once I do the beginning of year rolls, there will probably be one final mini-turn to process anything I need to process before we start the election. I will try to have a primary calendar to y'all by that mini-turn. The Presidential Election of 1972 will begin in February 1972 one way or another with New Hampshire scheduled to be March 7th and then any number of other primaries. I will determine how successful the push for primaries has been and we'll go from there. Also, these primaries will be shorter than those for 1968 and resemble how we do normal elections once we get passed, say, New Hampshire. More information on that to come! I look forward to many great days of Doblet RP on our new home and I am glad to say the first turn is now officially up. And so for the first time on this forum but certainly not the last: May the dice be ever in your flava and happy flavamaking! @Pringles @Zenobiyl @ConservativeElector2 @WVProgressive @Hestia @The Blood @Cal @Sean F Kennedy @Fbarbarossa

Friends, the great migration has ended. Like the triumphant Rohirrim, we return. I am proud to say that this RP and the many more Doblet excursions which shall follow have found their forever home. And just in time! We began this journey in February 1968 on the old forum and continued it until Fall 1971 on our most recent site. Now, the stage is set for the Presidential Election of 1972 as President Nixon makes one final major move before his re-election campaign swings into full gear: a major play at Detent with Red China. Upon what course shall America embark my fair Doblets? Only the intrepid politicians, mercurial and almighty dice, and their judicial interlocutor (Yours Truly), have the power to decide. I will be putting links to the previous canon archive here at the top of the post. February-June 1968 can be found here. June 1968-August 1971 can be found here. The Master Spreadsheet can be found here. Edit: The archived clippings from the Dakota Forum for June 1968-August 1971 can be found linked above. We have found our home Doblets. May the odds be ever in your flava and happy flavamaking! @Pringles @Zenobiyl @ConservativeElector2 @WVProgressive @Hestia @The Blood @Cal @Sean F Kennedy @Fbarbarossa

I'm just ogling the fact that there are 104 votes on that one option.

Not new but certainly improved.