Further continuation of Our Father's Stars. Also, the U.S. major infoboxes have been fixed to reflect the recalculated seat apportion.
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U.S. Election of 2064
It was hard to believe that the U.S. had only had free elections for the last 8 years. Already, the art of political punditry and horse race reporting had returned to America. Perhaps the news media had dusted off their history books, delving into forgotten lore and rites. Perhaps it was just another import from China, like C-Dance or the Dactyl Rot. Regardless, the spin cycle ratings hadn't been this high since the water riots, causing the American Moderate leadership some groans. It was hard enough trying to keep democracy under control; why did the media companies need to keep reminding people about it? Despite their complaints, one had to admit that the spin cycle wasn't exactly hurting them, to the disappointment of the opposition. The AMP had already moved to absorb its puppet parties and restructure the party apparatus, which was used by the media to construct a narrative of consolidation and reform, rather than erosion and decline. Al-Jazeera America writers were gleefully putting out hit pieces against the socialists, and Brietbart was leveling its own against the moonies. The party's own memetic engineers were hard as work at well, hammering in the message that a vote for the opposition was a vote for revolutionaries and anarchists. As for the nominee herself, Valorie Bak was an elder stateswoman of the party, and her role as a reformist and moderating influence did not go unnoticed by the public. The party's internal projections lined them up for further consolidation and gains against the opposition across east coast. Donors were confident, and while hesitant to increase their already risky investment, did not seek to cut off the party's revenue.
Of course, there was one major issue that the party did not account for. In their exhaustive projections and polling, there was one serious error. Following the election, pundits would compare it to the Shy Labour factor in terms of errancy. One of the major assumptions in the party's polling models was that the libertarians and Municipalists were so divided, almost on every issue, that their partisans would be sufficiently ideological to avoid casting a vote for the other member of the opposition. In some states, this was indeed the case. The South, for example, was a heated battleground between the Left and Right.
However, the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic were not. While many of the Liberationists were loathe to admit it, the Municipalists had done well in local governance. Their attempts to reorganize communities for eventual independence was frustrating and frightening, but they did a good job in fighting against the post-liberal commodification of city life. Even more so, the local libertarian parties themselves gave up trying to compete against the moonies, and quietly let their activists tactically support the Right. Even many in the apolitical masses perceived this development, and decided to take a stand. It was in no way a landslide for the opposition, but it was what the Municipalists needed to surge across the region.
Prior to 2064, the Municipalists had been seen as a regional force, and a minor one at that. Their ideology and rhetoric were inherently tied to the urban experience and the anomie that came with it. The Midwesterners appreciated their anti-synth rhetoric, but saw them as city-slickers that had no business telling anyone about authentic living. The Southwesterners already had religion, and the Church, whether Catholic or Latter-Day Saints, was no friend to the Municipalists. The Northwesterns tended to like their synthetic friends and co-workers, and were horrified by the moonies' rhetoric. And Dixie, well, Dixie knew what it wanted: guns, freedom, and socialism. People respected the Municipalists for not being bought out during the limited election period, and they respected their fight to open up the ballot.
Still, there was a reason that they were called moonbats.
2064 changed all that. It was a minor victory for the Liberationists, but a huge one for the Municipalists, who dramatically increased their popular vote and congressional seats. The AMP could not help but stand in shock, with Senate Leader Roy Wong resigning from leadership over the results. David Stamm, ever the maverick, stood firm and refused to head the calls for his resignation as Speaker. Bak accepted her victory, but quietly informed the party leadership that she would not run again. It was a deeply troubling experience. Yes, they still had domination over the government, but this election was supposed to shore up their position, not see it continue to erode. Yes, they could amend the constitution to kingdom come, but without an overwhelming mandate, it would spark civil unrest. Donors were furious, and many threatened to withdraw their support if the AMP did not turn things around. The U.S. media was stunned to see their stocks plunge due to their blindness, and some began to believe that they were backing the wrong horse. The Municipalists, both in the U.S. and aboard, rejoiced in their victory, pledging to redouble their effort to turn the United States into the first municipal confederation on Earth. The Liberationists were much less jubilant. While they officially declared a victory, they knew that it was going to be a long struggle, and they would have to be careful about their alliances.
====================================================================================
U.S. Election of 2064
It was hard to believe that the U.S. had only had free elections for the last 8 years. Already, the art of political punditry and horse race reporting had returned to America. Perhaps the news media had dusted off their history books, delving into forgotten lore and rites. Perhaps it was just another import from China, like C-Dance or the Dactyl Rot. Regardless, the spin cycle ratings hadn't been this high since the water riots, causing the American Moderate leadership some groans. It was hard enough trying to keep democracy under control; why did the media companies need to keep reminding people about it? Despite their complaints, one had to admit that the spin cycle wasn't exactly hurting them, to the disappointment of the opposition. The AMP had already moved to absorb its puppet parties and restructure the party apparatus, which was used by the media to construct a narrative of consolidation and reform, rather than erosion and decline. Al-Jazeera America writers were gleefully putting out hit pieces against the socialists, and Brietbart was leveling its own against the moonies. The party's own memetic engineers were hard as work at well, hammering in the message that a vote for the opposition was a vote for revolutionaries and anarchists. As for the nominee herself, Valorie Bak was an elder stateswoman of the party, and her role as a reformist and moderating influence did not go unnoticed by the public. The party's internal projections lined them up for further consolidation and gains against the opposition across east coast. Donors were confident, and while hesitant to increase their already risky investment, did not seek to cut off the party's revenue.
Of course, there was one major issue that the party did not account for. In their exhaustive projections and polling, there was one serious error. Following the election, pundits would compare it to the Shy Labour factor in terms of errancy. One of the major assumptions in the party's polling models was that the libertarians and Municipalists were so divided, almost on every issue, that their partisans would be sufficiently ideological to avoid casting a vote for the other member of the opposition. In some states, this was indeed the case. The South, for example, was a heated battleground between the Left and Right.
However, the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic were not. While many of the Liberationists were loathe to admit it, the Municipalists had done well in local governance. Their attempts to reorganize communities for eventual independence was frustrating and frightening, but they did a good job in fighting against the post-liberal commodification of city life. Even more so, the local libertarian parties themselves gave up trying to compete against the moonies, and quietly let their activists tactically support the Right. Even many in the apolitical masses perceived this development, and decided to take a stand. It was in no way a landslide for the opposition, but it was what the Municipalists needed to surge across the region.
Prior to 2064, the Municipalists had been seen as a regional force, and a minor one at that. Their ideology and rhetoric were inherently tied to the urban experience and the anomie that came with it. The Midwesterners appreciated their anti-synth rhetoric, but saw them as city-slickers that had no business telling anyone about authentic living. The Southwesterners already had religion, and the Church, whether Catholic or Latter-Day Saints, was no friend to the Municipalists. The Northwesterns tended to like their synthetic friends and co-workers, and were horrified by the moonies' rhetoric. And Dixie, well, Dixie knew what it wanted: guns, freedom, and socialism. People respected the Municipalists for not being bought out during the limited election period, and they respected their fight to open up the ballot.
Still, there was a reason that they were called moonbats.
2064 changed all that. It was a minor victory for the Liberationists, but a huge one for the Municipalists, who dramatically increased their popular vote and congressional seats. The AMP could not help but stand in shock, with Senate Leader Roy Wong resigning from leadership over the results. David Stamm, ever the maverick, stood firm and refused to head the calls for his resignation as Speaker. Bak accepted her victory, but quietly informed the party leadership that she would not run again. It was a deeply troubling experience. Yes, they still had domination over the government, but this election was supposed to shore up their position, not see it continue to erode. Yes, they could amend the constitution to kingdom come, but without an overwhelming mandate, it would spark civil unrest. Donors were furious, and many threatened to withdraw their support if the AMP did not turn things around. The U.S. media was stunned to see their stocks plunge due to their blindness, and some began to believe that they were backing the wrong horse. The Municipalists, both in the U.S. and aboard, rejoiced in their victory, pledging to redouble their effort to turn the United States into the first municipal confederation on Earth. The Liberationists were much less jubilant. While they officially declared a victory, they knew that it was going to be a long struggle, and they would have to be careful about their alliances.
