ELECTION: RNC/UP launches smear campaign-compares Norton & Buchanan to a 'toilet'

Former RNC Titulian president and Unity Party leader Julian has hit out at former Presidents Norton and Buchanan on day two of the presidential nomination period for the Dec '10/Jan '11 elections.

In the graphic advertisement endorsed by the Unity Party with ties to the RNC aligned CAApac (file saved as "caapactoilet.png"), Julian compared Mr Norton and Ms Buchanan to a toilet with the slogan "vote for someone that will clean up the mess they made".


LRP secretary Malinda Noble labelled the advertisement as 'disgraceful campaigning' while runner up for the veep nomination Cara Dellahunty called on Mr Julian to apologise for the advertisement's 'poor taste'.

Meanwhile, LRP presidential candidate TJ Norton hit back in a letter to the republic on his blog, which calls the ad 'a desperate attempt to rebrand the worst stains in [on] the political field'.

No word yet from Mr Norton's competitor, former RNC leader Luxis Avaram. Mr Norton has honoured his only opponent (so far) saying he has 'tremendous respect' for Mr Avaram and Norton calls on his counterpart to denounce what he refers to as 'grotty tactics'.

"I'm all for respectful criticism but it crosses the line when you characterise your opponents to the bowel of a toilet", Norton said.

"That's beyond disgraceful and if not for me .. I would like to see Julian gain the common decency to write a public apology to my running mate [Buchanan]. Obviously this fellow has little respect for women and it's not only in bad taste it's completely out of order", Norton said.

LRP political analyst Todd Richards commented that the advertisement should be pulled if the RNC/UP campaign had an interest in the independent vote.

"The non affiliated vote has played a crucial factor in election contests as far back as before I was a citizen", Richards said.

"Previous polls and voting attitudes highlight negative advertising as a key turn off for independent and swinging voters. Good news for us but that's no excuse to take the low road".

Norton challenged Mr Julian and the RNC/UP campaign to 'take one small step towards progress' and repair the divisions caused by the conservative parties in the past week.

Over the past few days Mr Julian has accused the outgoing Wilberforce government and the LRP hopeful of 'corruption' despite producing no evidence and the matter being squashed by both sides to the conflict. Citizens throughout the republic have suspected the RNC and UP of deliberating causing the rift between the politicians due to the RNC's continued campaign against the LRP for the legislature's impeachment of former Norton VP Owen Merry.

The Express will stay on the story and attempt to seek comment from the Republican and Unity Party leadership.

ELECTION COVERAGE: The December 2010/January 2011 elections

Tomorrow marks the start of the first election for president and vice president of the republic to take office in 2011. It has been the latest time in the preelection cycle before intending candidates came out to declare standing, with only one citizen (newcomer UP aligned Remi Delarue) coming out during the past term indicating they might run.

The LRP has commenced balloting for their president and vice presidential candidates, with current leader and former Titulian president TJ Norton tipped to receive the nomination. Sources inside the party say the veep contest is wide open with five candidates standing including former Titulian president Renee Buchanan, policy committee chair Todd Richards, delegate Chris Hoyt, entertainment guru Lisa Carpenter and senior counsel Cara Dellahunty.

Party secretary Malinda Noble has confirmed that her party will still take interest from non LRP candidates for vice president, though it will be a 'tough fit' compared to previous elections.

"We've looked outside the party or even left it the presidential nominee to nominate an external vice presidential candidate but never had so much interest in the no 2 spot before" Noble said.

Asked whether she believed it narrows the race to party cordons, Ms Noble rejected that the focus was a 'one size-fits all'.

"Five months ago the importance of the vice presidency was put on display during a vote on impeachment of the presidency. Not many campaigns have been typically concerned with the no 2 on the ticket but that attitude has changed now. This isn't about picking someone by throwing darts at a board and choosing whoever it hits this is now about choosing a potential president rather than a vice president".

Candidate for the vice presidential nomination and party political strategist Todd Richards agreed with Noble's assessment saying it was time the LRP took its VP selections 'more seriously'.

"The party is right to boast good choices for President, though I believe one of our weaknesses has been the way we have selected the second in charge" said Richards.

The LRP's two terms in government saw the election of the RNC's Owen Merry and former Titulian president, the Linardist's Gregory Hock, as its vice presidents.

Mr Merry was put under the microscope for his frequent disruptions in cabinet meetings and taking aim at political opponents during meetings of inter party dialogue. These actions resulted in Merry's impeachment as VP. Mr Hock's tenure as vice president was no where near as controversial, although former Buchanan government colleagues have said Hock rarely weighed in on cabinet discussions.

Presidential nomination candidate TJ Norton said he would be 'thrilled to work with whoever the party decided upon'.

"I would be more than satisfied with whoever the party picked to run with me - inside or outside of the party - and that opinion extends to our tenure in Liberty House" said Norton.

"It's going to be a tremendous term of work ahead to take Titulia forward".

Stay here at the Express as the candidates get into gear for the December 2010/January 2011 election.

- Happy New Year to our readers

LRP camps on Admin's doorstep over legislation passage

The Liberal Republican Party has issued an open letter to the ADMIN of Titulia in the hope of getting their attention on legislation passed this term. LRP president TJ Norton sent the letter following a conference policy committee meeting, where the legislation started off last month.

"The Administrators don't have a lot of work to do with these bills. This is what the party .. and quite rightly so .. wants answers to. It shouldn't be taking long to implement because there are no far reaching website implications despite changing a '5' to a '0' in a database. I think this is a bipartisan measure" said Norton.

Out of the two pieces of legislation passed by the citizen congress, the constitutional amendment requires only a text change to the constitution that ratifies into law how governments have operated over a long period of time. Issues covered include granting the whole of the executive branch operational power to hold and disperse funds, the long awaited answer on how to impeach all executive officials and the oversight in place to prevent abuse of power.

The second law was to remove the ADMIN provision that required presidential candidates to gain five nomination votes before they were allowed on the ballot. The LRP conceded that to make the bill bipartisan, a trial run was necessary and the vote would expire on 1 March 2011 unless repealed or extended earlier.

"It's what the people want" Norton said. "The Administrators have been saying forever that these were citizen issues but as a legislature body no one had any idea where to start. This day belongs to Reg Ambrose who found the answer in more ways than one".

Former LRP president and current Attorney General Reg Ambrose said he was pleased the people of Titulia came together where it counted the most.

"We come from different areas of society and can look at things very differently. I have found that Titulia citizens agree with protecting our democratic institution and these two acts of parliament honour our state" said Ambrose.

The Express will stay on this report and will ask ADMIN for comment in the next article.

BREAKING: LRP and Government settle dispute on GC nom eruption

At 6:00 pm Australian Eastern time, LRP president TJ Norton advised the Titulia legislature that the ongoing dispute with the Government has ended. The dispute arose shortly before Christmas Day between Vice President Reformer and LRP legislators following the rejected nominations of Boyd X. Biggs and later replacement nominee William D. Money to the Titulian bench.

"After speaking with the Vice President privately I consider this matter closed", said Norton in a short statement to legislators. When sought for comment on what transpired from the conversation, Mr Norton responded that it ".. cleared up what had occurred and each side understood where the other came from".

Asked to give specifics, the LRP leader gave no comment and said he deemed the conversation to be private.

"If it gets leaked like the rest - so be it. No one did anything wrong and if it does get released there is the positive side that it will prove the LRP's innocence to the ridiculous allegations made by the RNC and UP parties" said Norton.

"This is one of those rare times when despite the natural curiosity and query arising from such an event - no one did anything wrong, immoral, illegal or the like. No one promised money or favour through both overlapping administrations to the event and we can all decamp from the issue holding our heads high".

In the post to legislators, Norton hit back at the Titulian Conservative and the RNC/UP alliance's accusations.

"If the TC wants to carry it on then be it on their heads", Norton concluded.

The end of the post nomination debacle that brought Titulia to a standstill comes on the eve of the presidential election season which kicks off tomorrow.

Stay tuned for your election coverage at the Titulia Express.

Sparks fly over GC nomination scandal: RNC and UP allege 'corruption'

The Christmas season, largely expected to be a festive time in the republic, has manifested into a war of words in the wake of the failed General Court nominations of retiring Associate Justice Boyd X. Biggs and former president William D. Money. With the president on his way out of Liberty House, the circumstances behind the administration's defeat in the Titulia legislature are emerging and has sent the most powerful in the state's political arena into a public relations furore.

Former Titulian president Julian of the new Unity Party has released a series of WikiLeaks-styled messages conveyed to him through outgoing vice president Reformer, which allege the LRP was "corrupt" during the process to fill the vacant seat on the General Court following the expired Biggs term.

As reported in the Titulian Conservative, RNC leader jp9893 and UP leader Julian allege the messages ".. may show evidence of corrupt bargaining" despite not yet releasing any evidence of a monetary or political exchange between the government or the Liberal Republican Party.

LRP member and co-creator of The J-Dawgs web series Chris Hoyt commented that the breadth of the event is 'top value'.

"This is great news for Titulia's entertainment division. The teenagers are doing what they're good at making up stories and giving us plenty of cool material to use in the [J-Dawgs] series" he said.

On the political front, LRP president TJ Norton has demanded the Titulian Conservative and their affiliated parties produce evidence of corruption or issue an apology, failing that with a likely suit in Titulia's federal court.

"The [LRP] party has taken legal advice and our attorneys believe we're in a strong position to file for injunctive relief and seek damages against the [Titulian Conservative] paper. The TC Media Corporation has fabricated many gross claims about the LRP .. but we stand in applause of the right to freedom of speech even when every claim against us to date has been ridiculous".

"However, alleging criminal activity when there is no evidence of a corrupt exchange is where we draw the line and we will defend any such allegations against us by availing ourselves of every tool at our disposal under Titulian law", Mr Norton said.

Party secretary Malinda Noble and policy committee chair Todd Richards have weighed into the ongoing saga, with Noble today claiming that Mr Julian is 'the last person to position himself as a leader against corruption'.

"It was less than six months ago when then President Julian was impeached from office for organising far greater than a legislative discussion on judicial nominees", Ms Noble said.

In a chat transcript released by Julian himself, it was revealed that the-then RNC candidate for president of the republic promised Linardist president William D. Money the renomination of former member and Justice Boyd X Biggs in exchange for Mr Money's support and that of his party in the presidential election.

Mr Julian later condemned his own agreement with Money as 'dirty' despite many across the aisle standing by the Linardist leader for doing nothing more than 'standing up for the interests of his party'.

Then-LRP president and current Attorney General Reg C Ambrose said of the now coined Juliangate drama: ".. in the end it did more damage to Julian's credibility than it did for Bill [Money]. The man [Money] was looking out for his party and that's all a party president's job is, to be its representative and negotiate its case", said Ambrose (Exclusive with the LRP: 9 Sept 2010)

Norton has defended his role in the negotiations as a party leader advocating the best people for the Court.

"I think the first step is to take a look at Titulian history. The whip process for whoever is believed to be the best for a position in any branch of our Government is a common practice throughout", Mr Norton said.

"As President .. I opened the vetting process to the most bilateral standard set by any chief executive to date. I consulted every major party leader on nominations and those leaders were free to express whatever they wished .. whether I agreed with them or not".

Mr Norton said the behaviour of the Government and the RNC/UP alliance in the aftermath of the nomination rejections 'left a lot to be desired'.

"On one hand I'm not surprised because these kinds of expressions aren't new for the impeached and disgraced former President Julian. I am surprised that Vice President Reformer has weighed in how he has but I won't describe our issues with Reformer as being one and the same as with Julian".

"I am disappointed however that Reformer is back in bed with Julian again as was the case under the Brady Administration when the SDP had the RNC in its back pocket. Less than a week into the foundation of Julian's so-called "Unity" party it's not surprising he's up to the same divisive and partisan activities as usual".

"It's sour grapes on Reformer's part and political opportunism by conveying lies on Julian's part", concluded Norton.

No word yet from the Department of Justice on whether there will be a special prosecutor assigned to investigate the claims made by TC Media Corporation and the RNC/UP alliance, though it has been welcomed by the LRP leadership.

Stay tuned as the story unfolds on the eve of the December 2010/January 2011 presidential election.

-Happy New Year to our readers.


Ed: The Titulia Express apologies to Julian Assange of WikiLeaks for any offence taken in the unintentional comparison to WikiLeaks and the Editor of the Titulian Conservative 'Julian'. The Express recognises the integrity of WikiLeaks journalism.

POLITICS: NOV. LRP CONFERENCE WRAP UP

SPECIAL EDITION: THE NOVEMBER 2010 LIBERAL REPUBLICAN FEDERAL CONFERENCE

It's conference time for the Liberal Republican Party once again and it's been full of debate and emotion due to the events of the past week.

Party founder Leah Carmody made an appearance to thank members for their expressions, visits and gifts and to thank US and UK members new to the Titulian party who were only too glad to pay their respects in the wake of the passing of her mother, Christine, last week.

Acting party president TJ Norton opened the conference with the traditional acknowledgement to the native peoples of the world and a special moment of silence for the Carmody family.

A motion of thanks was successfully proposed to honour the immediate former party president, current attorney general Reg Ambrose, who stood down from the position midterm. Conference committees presented their reports and made few changes to existing policy positions.

Honouring the old and the new: changes to the LRP leadership

This conference has seen the largest change in the party's leadership since its inception in May. In addition to the party presidency, branch and committee figures have also changed hands.

COMMITTEE CHANGES

The party's two standing policy committees - Development; and Justice and Public Law Reform - were disbanded and merged into a central committee, aptly titled "the Policy Committee".

The structural changed dissolved the chairmanships of public law reform chair Todd Richards and development chair Cara Dellahunty. In the nomination ballot for the new central policy committee, Todd Richards and Cara Dellahunty were elected unopposed to the posts of chair and deputy chair respectively.

BRANCH NAME CHANGES

Conference resolved that the party's central branch "GOP" was overdue for a name change. The original name was adopted as a political statement when the foundation membership of the LRP were run out of their original RNC branch for being 'too liberal'.

Former president Reg Ambrose proposed that the time had come for a change.

"The names of our party units must reflect who we are as a party ....other branches have adopted the name of their location or grouping. Is this something we should consider?" said Ambrose in his floor speech.

It was agreed to change the name of the branch. After several suggestions were proposed a proposal was taken and by an up or down vote of 12-2 the name 'Brisbane City Branch' was officially adopted.

A notion was put that Reg Ambrose will be entered as the second and last president of the GOP branch, with the new branch presidential election to be conducted under its new name.

BRANCH PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

The vacancy of the Brisbane City (formerly GOP) branch presidency was conducted under new Titulia site rules introduced after the transition that removed the qualification to stringently conduct branch presidential contests contingent of the party presidency.

Two nominations were moved and seconded: Renee Buchanan and John Baxter. A ballot was conducted, with Renee Buchanan easily succeeding to become the first leader of the new branch.

DEPUTY PRESIDENT

Renee Buchanan was nominated for the position and was elected unopposed.

PARTY PRESIDENT

Special guest, founder and first LRP president Leah Carmody was applauded for her rousing speech to conference, much due out of personal support in the wake of her mother's recent passing.

In her address, she congratulated acting party president TJ Norton for successfully leading the party to its victory in ousting the establishment government after only its third contested election. Ms Carmody also had plenty of praise for Renee Buchanan in succeeding Norton, as she did for Reg Ambrose in representing the party's core beliefs of fairness, balance and good public law as the attorney general under presidents Buchanan and McVicker.

"and you all said you would die without me" Carmody joked.

In her first address about Titulia since her long expired ban was imposed by the General Court, the founder commented on her love of family and friendship as her inspiration not to return to Titulia.

"Life brings new meaning when you're raising a daughter, a career and now taking care of your Dad. Mum was still with us when I stepped away from Titulia and I had little time to do a really good job then" said Carmody.

"I joined up at first to help out a mate and not long after it drew me into it and I too became interested. Titulia presented an opportunity to put my skills and my talents to use to help out building the digital nation".

In questions without notice from the conference floor, new member and film maker Carl Horner asked her if she had any regrets or bad memories of Titulia.

"Do I harbour any bad memories or feelings toward anyone? That's crazy not in the least. I do regret not being able to fight my case on merit and real common law".

Prompting a question about the case that determined the LRP to succeed more than ever, acting party president TJ Norton asked the practising solicitor and former leader at what point did she feel it was over for her, both for her legal plight and for her future in Titulia.

"My greatest disappointment wasn't the judgement but how the case was heard and what the court applied in its reasons for adopting the judgement weighting. It was obvious after the submissions were entered that the judicial system in Titulia wasn't anywhere near based on a true respect of real common law or practice pursuit. If it had been and I say this with humility that my case would have been thrown out on at least four different points of law " she answered.

When asked what she thought about party co founder James Matthews taking robes on the Titulian bench, Carmody responded that it 'represented a spark of hope for Titulia'.

"Titulia struggled so much with setting up a good system of government that works. it needs a judiciary of talented lawyers and an executive of experienced policy servants. I would have never thought that Jim excuse me 'Justice' Matthews would have ever made it through. He's a tough lawyer but extremely fair minded in his approach to the law. It represents a spark of hope for its [Titulia's] future".

Taking one last question before the nominations and balloting for the position she originally held, Mr Norton asked her what she believes a party president's qualities should be.

"It's not for me to say that's up to the members but that's the point isn't it? Our party was founded on the platform and I'm glad it continues to be so that the party president has no actual power other than to engage, argue for and represent the decisions of the party members. That's a powerful quality that has always and seems to continue to separate the LRP from other Titulian parties" she said.

"The LRP was never and hopefully it will never take a top down attitude to policies or decisions. The LRP is the party for all that want to direct what it does and not just be the voice of the people but the people themselves be its voice. if there's any one thing candidates to be the next party president should think about ask yourselves 'can I lead like that?' If anyone can truly answer yes then that makes all that do good candidates for the job".

In her closing, Ms Carmody extended her thanks to everyone who made the LRP the success it has been.

"To me you're not some political party on a computer-I knew most of you before Titulia existed and I will know you after its gone. You're part of my family and have ben for a long time. I love you all like my sisters and brothers and I hope you do well. Thanks and toodle-oo".

The next party president: nominations opened

TJ Norton was elected by majority vote.

PARTY SECRETARY

Malinda Noble was reelected unopposed as party secretary, the most senior leadership member to remain since the day the party was established.

This concluded day one.

DAY TWO

New LRP president TJ Norton opened the floor for the question of the next government elections to be held in three days. Conference decided to delay consideration until talks were held with the current government, though it reserved its decision to contest the vice presidency.

Thanks to all LRP members for permitting the Express to record contents of the conference for dictation and reporting.

'J Dawgs' prove hit in satirical media

Creators of satirical new Titulian web series The J Dawgs are on the move as they release their line up of follow on clips on YouTube. Creators Lisa Carpenter and Chris Hoyt came up with the idea of satirising the political establishment, taking a poking iron to both government and opposition MPs alike.

"[Titulia] is boring as shit at the moment so Lis and I got together and thought of something people would want to follow" said Co creator Chris Hoyt.

Co creator Lisa Carpenter was surprised by the quick take up above and beyond Titulia's borders.

"I checked out the party's channel [on Youtube] this morning and saw that 27 people have watched the pilot so far. I thought holy shit that's more than visit Titulia in a week".

Today the web series entrepreneurs released a 10 second opening titles sequence with the track Hey J Dawg! with annotations to the next succeeding episode for faster viewing. They have also released their second instalment in the comedy sketch titled Campaign Routines but with a change in characters.






"We've used a combination of web creation technology site Xtranormal as well as our own software to spice it up more than XN can provide" said Hoyt.

"Through feedback received we've also made some minor touches to the series. For instance you'll now notice in ep 2 that we swapped around the characters so 'J Dawg' as was known from the pilot is now 'J2 Dawg' and vice versa. We've also changed the voice for [the new] J2 Dawg so he'll have his own unique sound".

Hoyt doesn't think the changes will impact the future success of the show.

"Pilots are there for a reason. It's to put something out there and see how others react. Anyone used to seeing this with television shows will notice more substantial changes that go as far as changing actors before the second episode comes out".

"....and this is Titulia too. If we put up a big poster in the background with the words 'fu-- yourself' I'd be surprised if anyone noticed".

When asked what we can expect for the future of the web nation's crazy canines, Carpenter (the editing queen of the series) was as off the charts as her new web show.

"I can proudly say that it looks like Titulia has gone to 'the dawgs' ", referring to the name of the show.

Stay at the Express for the scoop on every new episode that comes the way of the webisphere!