My Cabinet:

[Gregory Pratt]

Uh, I believe the runoff is for VP.

[Texsox]

Less corporate influence. No hippie influence. Common sense. Compromise the Economy as little as possible but concede that some compromises must be made. Combat carbon dioxide and pollution both because of global warming and because it's the right thing to do. Remake the FDA and EPA so as to prevent outside influences from interfering with what should be purely scientific. Push for a hybridization of public transit within ten years and of American society within twenty. Funding for it, too.

 

More trees. Less smoke.

 

That is all.

 

I am not answering questions.

 

Or provocation.

 

I will reply via PM to any intellectually and honestly curious potential voter but I expect any questions to please be PMed.

I would raise taxes as necessary and as approved by Congress. But I wouldn't raise one penny more than necessary and I'd only raise if spending cuts alone can't help balance budgets.

I am in agreement with NorthSide.

 

Nothing on the Iraq War.

 

Great job expressing your views in the debates. Next time we can just skip an intelligent exchange of ideas and just see who can spam the most votes. It's a great lesson in why we wind up with the leaders we do.

 

The runoff is for President. You can pick a running mate and you and your VP nomination will run against Rex for President. Of course that will involve Rex expressing his views and you ducking and spamming.

[NorthSideSox72]

Originally, the rules called for a runoff for Prez. But with only 5 candidates, that seemed silly, so the idea was brought up to have the top 2 vote-getters (Rex, GP) each select a VP, and then we have the runoff between those two complete tickets.

 

So, Rex and GP, if you are both willing to do it that way, I'll set it up.

[Texsox]

Originally, the rules called for a runoff for Prez. But with only 5 candidates, that seemed silly, so the idea was brought up to have the top 2 vote-getters (Rex, GP) each select a VP, and then we have the runoff between those two complete tickets.

 

So, Rex and GP, if you are both willing to do it that way, I'll set it up.

 

Why bother? One of the problems with letting High School kids run is their lack of knowledge about world events and solutions, so we get positions like he expressed above. What's the point?

[Gregory Pratt]

I have no interest in that. I think that's nonsense.

 

Rex can have the Presidency if that's what you guys want to do. I'll just bask in the election itself. Doesn't matter to me.

 

Why bother? One of the problems with letting High School kids run is their lack of knowledge about world events and solutions, so we get positions like he expressed above. What's the point?

 

Excuse me, I could definitely debate against you and discuss things with you.

 

I'd run, but I know that most of the "adults" here are now furious with me and testy because of "the way" I won the election. I knew that most of you guys wouldn't vote for me because of my age in the first place -- that's why I didn't put in much effort into the debates.

 

There's no compelling reason for me to run again, especially considering the outright hostility being expressed to me by many in this electorate. Nuts to that, I'm happy with winning the popular vote and I don't care for the runoff. What'd be the point in running into a race that I can't possibly win?

[Texsox]

I have no interest in that. I think that's nonsense.

 

Rex can have the Presidency if that's what you guys want to do. I'll just bask in the election itself. Doesn't matter to me.

 

And that's the point. The interest was the debates, policy, the future, not just some popularity contest.

[NorthSideSox72]

I have no interest in that. I think that's nonsense.

 

Rex can have the Presidency if that's what you guys want to do. I'll just bask in the election itself. Doesn't matter to me.

Excuse me, I could definitely debate against you and discuss things with you.

 

I'd run, but I know that most of the "adults" here are now furious with me and testy because of "the way" I won the election. I knew that most of you guys wouldn't vote for me because of my age in the first place -- that's why I didn't put in much effort into the debates.

 

There's no compelling reason for me to run again, especially considering the outright hostility being expressed to me by many in this electorate. Nuts to that, I'm happy with winning the popular vote and I don't care for the runoff. What'd be the point in running into a race that I can't possibly win?

This stops right here. Neither of the Buster mods has insulted you, or done anything negative to you, other than run against you. And any hostility you felt from another poster or two is no less than the hostility you are showing here and have shown thus far. This despite your apparent paranoia about some sort of "adult conspiracy".

 

Discussing the election is fine. But no more insults - from anyone.

[Gregory Pratt]

Excuse me, but the constant cracks about me being a "child" (not just "high school student" or "teenager") aren't insults? Please.

 

All I'm saying is, everyone has made it clear that you're all so offended at the voting "controversy" and it's clear, then, that there'd be no point to participating in a runoff election. Hell, most of my votes came without me urging anyone on via PM, and so the references to me "spamming" my way to victory are way overblown and petty.

[Texsox]

Sorry if you are feeling some hostility, I was merely pointing out the process was conceived as a vehicle for exchanging ideas and intellectual debate, something you felt compelled to skip. That is why there were actual rules for the debates, that some people here took a lot of time and effort to develop questions and others took the time to write thought out opinions. You took the time to PM people with a vote for me! Congratulations.

 

Did you happen to notice there weren't any baseball questions in the debates? No favorite bands discussions? The intent was to follow a political election that would be purely decided by opinions. You successfully avoided that to have the most people check your name off. That mocks what many people here were trying to accomplish. Something a step above the usual internet forum polls. You managed to bring it down to that level.

[Gregory Pratt]

And, in case I wasn't clear, I'm not going to run in any run-off second-election. You guys can have Rex and Tex do that if they want and the site wants, or you can let the results stand, but I'm just not interested so I decline to participate in any second-rounds.

 

Sorry if you are feeling some hostility, I was merely pointing out the process was conceived as a vehicle for exchanging ideas and intellectual debate, something you felt compelled to skip. That is why there were actual rules for the debates, that some people here took a lot of time and effort to develop questions and others took the time to write thought out opinions. You took the time to PM people with a vote for me! Congratulations.

 

Did you happen to notice there weren't any baseball questions in the debates? No favorite bands discussions? The intent was to follow a political election that would be purely decided by opinions. You successfully avoided that to have the most people check your name off. That mocks what many people here were trying to accomplish. Something a step above the usual internet forum polls. You managed to bring it down to that level.

 

I wrote a platform and put work into that, for what it's worth, but yeah I felt hostility and I think it's absurd that anybody would say that there wasn't any or that I'm being paranoid. "Child" this and "teenager" that. I can sortof see your points about the PMing but I didn't do anything wrong and besides, it isn't as if the Adults were going to vote for a child anyway. Still, I accept your apology and know you meant no harm.

[Texsox]

And, in case I wasn't clear, I'm not going to run in any run-off second-election. You guys can have Rex and Tex do that if they want and the site wants, or you can let the results stand, but I'm just not interested so I decline to participate in any second-rounds.

 

 

 

I wrote a platform and put work into that, for what it's worth, but yeah I felt hostility and I think it's absurd that anybody would say that there wasn't any or that I'm being paranoid. "Child" this and "teenager" that. I can sortof see your points about the PMing but I didn't do anything wrong and besides, it isn't as if the Adults were going to vote for a child anyway. Still, I accept your apology and know you meant no harm.

 

I don't think anyone here had a problem with the pming, it was not being involved in the process much. Almost zero effort in the debates. That was mocking the efforts of those who actually spent time putting this together. My perception is you said screw the formalities and debate, I'm just interested in seeing how many votes I can get.

 

Again, it is a great lesson in how America works. Candidates are elected for stuff other than their beliefs, opinions, solutions, whatever.

 

And there was always going to be a second round, the fact you didn't even take the time to read the rules, once again goes to the heart of any controversy.

[Gregory Pratt]

I'm done with this conversation.

[Texsox]

I'm done with this conversation.

 

Your choice. I believe it would be interesting if you would pick a VP candidate and actually engage in the process. You know you have a base of supporters, see if you can expand on those and actually win the honorary title. You were quick to add it to your sig when you thought you won, why not try for real?

[Gregory Pratt]

I'm a "child" and a "spammer" and the general vibe is from a lot of people that I cheated and/or did something sleazy. The people who think this are the elite of this board -- the Staff. (Which I base, before I get accused of making baseless claims, on the fact that several Staffers have called me as such.) These people who are critics of me are numerous and have friends around the board. I'm unwilling to run again knowing that these people, yourself included, are unlikely to vote for me anyway because they consider me "a child" and I'm less likely to run knowing that everyone's raising a stink about the way I won the first round.

 

I'm more than happy knowing that I won the initial reaction.

Besides, I don't believe in run-off elections.

Edited December 8, 2006 by Gregory Pratt

[southsider2k5]

Excuse me, but the constant cracks about me being a "child" (not just "high school student" or "teenager") aren't insults? Please.

 

All I'm saying is, everyone has made it clear that you're all so offended at the voting "controversy" and it's clear, then, that there'd be no point to participating in a runoff election. Hell, most of my votes came without me urging anyone on via PM, and so the references to me "spamming" my way to victory are way overblown and petty.

 

You took something that 4 other people put a lot of work into, a lot of thought into, and made a complete joke out of it. Its this exact kind of stuff, that makes people wonder about your age. Something like that is a perfect summary of why you get crap about your age. Its exactly why you don't get taken seriously by the "adults" around here. And trust me, age has nothing to do with it. If you had taken the time and articulated your positions, people would have taken them seriously. You don't seem to realize that there are plenty of high school and college kids who get taken very seriously around these parts, and just happen to be playing a key roll in running the show here. Age has nothing to do with it. It's all about how you act. Heck with computers, 99.9% of the people have no idea who you are, how old you are, or anything else about you. All they have to go on is the posts you put up here, and that is where the perception about your age comes from. Its nobody else's fault but your own.

 

To be honest, I am not upset you won, I am upset the Rex, Tex, NSS, and PA wasted their time doing the work they did on it. That's what bothers me.

[Texsox]

Besides, I don't believe in run-off elections.

 

Then why did you run in the first place? This was a primary, pure and simple. Aren't you now mocking the people who took the time to vote you into the finals?

 

A lot of people spent a lot of time figuring out this system. Ideas where brought up, examined, some used, some discarded, until this two step process was implimented. The goal, from the beginning, was having two or three candidates square off in debate. Now you basically are saying piss on it, I'm going home.

 

And yes, it was mostly mods. That's what the mods do. We spend a lot of time and effort building this site. We try and develop concepts that will engage the members, keep them coming back. This was conceived to elevate debate and an intelligent level of discussion. We could have, and maybe we should, have a how many votes can I get poll.

 

Now the choice is yours, finish what you started, or quit part way through.

[sox4lifeinPA]

Just to make a point. I'm 26 and by no means an elder statemen around here. I was the first to express all of my opinions and try to further explain them when individuals asked.

 

That being said, I hardly think that my age had anything to do with losing this thing. As Tex had stated many times, the true hurdle to all of this is that thousands of posts prior to any platforms and debates were what truly defined each candidate.

 

I came in last and I'm not upset by that at all. It's nice to know that 10 or so people like what I had to say. I think we shouldn't sink to cutting comments at this point because we very nicely avoided them in the election process.

 

If we become spiteful towards the "winners" then we should be ashamed for putting up such nice facades, pretending we didn't hate Cops, Teenagers, Gays or Texans in the first place.

 

I think each candidate provided a little innovation and creativity to this whole experience. It was an interesting experiment that provided a look on a micro level to what real politics look like.

 

Congrats to the top two vote getters, no matter how they got the votes. I will think about any VP nominations, but I can say that I'd like to know exactly why each candidate believes he's most qualified and what distinguishes him from the other candidate.

 

Thanks again to Northside, SS2k5, and Soxy for helping out.

 

PA in '08.

[Gregory Pratt]

I'll take Rex on.

 

When is the next election and when are the debates and how does this all work?

[Texsox]

I'll take Rex on.

 

When is the next election and when are the debates and how does this all work?

 

Great!

[bmags]

haha, this thread

[Heads22]

Just to make it clear, I would have given crap to whoever won....

[Flash Tizzle]

haha, this thread

I'm glad to have been alive to witness to such a historical event within Soxtalk history. It's even funnier now that people have become upset with the entire process. LOLLERZ.

 

I can only assume Gregory Pratt will reign until death. Therefore, another election may not occur for 60-70 years. Oh well.

[bmags]

gpratt is our very own king tut. Our very own king arthur. Our very own Doogie Howser.

[SleepyWhiteSox]

I'm glad to have been alive to witness to such a historical event within Soxtalk history. It's even funnier now that people have become upset with the entire process. LOLLERZ.

 

Seriously, talk about sore losers...

[Chisoxfn]

Just to make it clear, I would have given crap to whoever won....

^^^^^^^^^^^^^