Departing president weighs into election: smacks down McVicker and RNC

He led the experimental internet country as a president for all and left politics on the way into Titulia's top job. In the final days of his Liberty House tenancy, President TJ Norton (LRP) has spoken out about the contenders and the parties in the running to succeed him.

In response to requests for comment from the Express the president has lashed out against conservative former president Dennis McVicker (RNC) and the lack of detail in his economic plan and the candidate's reliance on Admin to deliver his agenda.

"Dennis has been down this road before as have other presidents" said Norton.

"The Government under my leadership did not seek one thing from the Administrator to deliver the future for the real estate industry, job creation or to provide homes for people that wanted them. This was the result of the Titulian people and the hard work of cabinet - especially from the Secretary for Commerce, Gerry Brady".

Norton was critical of the what he referred to as 'recycling tried and failed policies' and said that new ideas have generated the most results for Titulia.

"Dennis is doing what Dennis does .. he ignores the public's hunger for details, sticks to a failed past that achieved nothing by way of results for the future and no stability for the Republic - most certainly any hope of the legislature will be gone".

The president said that although he agrees with McVicker on the 'crux of progress', the tone of respect for all citizens is absent from the debate.

"You have to understand the status quo .. every citizen that has ever stood for election as President is in favour of progress - Dennis [McVicker] included. But as a citizen I'm insulted by Dennis' insinuation that after him spending the last couple of months ignoring Titulia and participating in the alternate e-nation simulation eRepublik - he now returns self-adorned like a preacher trying to convert cave men into civilised beings", said Norton.

Mr Norton said the RNC 'doesn't get it' and this caused them to distance themselves from the RNC member.

"I can sit and debate fine with the SDP .. I can even debate and find room to agree with the Linardists - two parties that have been my strongest critics. It's then logical to question the reason why .. after many time consuming and failed attempts to reach out to the RNC .. why they persist the way they do. If anyone has a reason to pick up a sword and go to battle it's me. But that's not the way to take Titulia ahead", said the president.

Former president and now deputy leader Luxis Avaram (RNC) is desperately attempting to repair the image of the once strong movement only to be thwarted by its sole remaining active members Julian, leader JP9893 and his leadership contending brother JI. Mr Avaram, a moderate much like Mr Norton launched an attempt at resolving old conflicts.

"Politics has swings and shifts", he said. "If we as a party are going to let personal slights set platform, we're going to find ourselves in the desert for a long time".

LRP secretary Malinda Noble claimed the RNC are 'playing divisive politics' and that similar personal and partisan attitudes are holding Titulia back.

"The Republicans never supported the LRP. They never supported Tom at the ballot box, they continue to hound and lie about the government accusing them of "backdoor deals" even as they are about to walk out the door", she said.

Ms Noble claimed they were a party with no discipline and no direction.

"For all their rhetoric it's a puzzle why they don't join another party because they don't support their coalition partners and they don't support themselves. They proved it to William Money when Julian wanted Linardist help and now they've knifed Tom even after he took on a vice president that was lethal to the administration from the start".

President of the LRP Reg Ambrose has called for order between the feuding groups and proposed unity under a Buchanan-Hock government.

"President Norton is a great Titulian and responsible for the prosperity of many and much of its progress. He is departing that most high office with one objective: to unify the republic under two, historically competing political parties and graciously campaigns for both of these candidates as he does for the issues they represent".

"I arrived towards its concluding months and there were no winners arising out of it and no battles declared won. Most of all it achieved no good for the experiment. Our right to vote as citizens is a serious business. I beseech all do not vote to take Titulia backwards".

Voting continues in the second day of the first round. Stay tuned at the Express for your election coverage!