Assemblyman Ron Wilder: Donald Trump is 'an idiot,' but shrewd

GRASSADELLIA CITY -- Grassadellian politicians often try to steer away from politics in other countries, so as to avoid causing a diplomatic row.

But at a recent academic forum in Daintree, Damoign, just outside Grassadellia City, Assemblyman Ron Wilder (C) was very frank about his feelings about US President Donald Trump.

"He's an idiot," Wilder said to laughter and applause from the crowd.

"I'd add more descriptive words, but I don't think I'm allowed to say them," he added, to more laughs.

Wilder said he personally "can't stand the man."

But the veteran assemblyman, who is considering a run for Damoign governor in 2020, told the audience that despite Trump's "repulsive personality," the US president should be commended for his shrewdness.

"I don't like him, but whether or not you like him, an objective observer, if we're being really objective and unbiased and we look at what he's done and how he does it, you have to admit, the man is very strategic. He's much smarter than the media and the Democrats give him credit for. He's dumb, but smart, if that makes sense. He's not very bright in some ways, but I think he's much smarter than people think. He's very shrewd.

"He is very good at riling up his base supporters on the right issues at the right times. He's very good at one-liners, very good at attacking and belittling his opponents. He's a very simple communicator, but he's very effective.

"Sometimes, I think career politicians from both parties, they get so used to speaking in political correctness, and they think that if they speak with lots of intellectual words, it will make them sound smarter and people will respond better. But, Trump has demonstrated, that speaking in simplistic terms, specifically avoiding intellectual words, it actually is a better and more effective communications strategy," said Wilder.

Wilder went on to say he disagrees with Trump on many issues in foreign policy, but he appreciates some of Trump's ideas.

"I think he's way too close with Saudi Arabia, I think he's way too close with Russia. I think he's offended so many of America's allies, and relations with many countries are at all-time lows. But, I don't agree with everything he's done with North Korea, but I will say this, he is at least making an effort. Previous presidents, in the USA and here in Grassadellia, have just ignored North Korea, but Trump is actually addressing the issue, so even if you disagree with him, I think you have to give him credit for having the balls to confront something that so many other Western leaders have been too scared to confront."

While he may dislike Donald Trump, Ron Wilder has something in common with The Donald: both men have been the subject of lurid sexual affairs and scandals.

Back in 2010, a one-time extra-marital lover of Wilder's came out publicly with her story of a scandalous affair with the Congressman.

He survived the scandal, however, and continued his career in the National Assembly. He remains married to his wife Cherrie, though Wilder admitted the two were separated for a year.

Wilder was speaking at the Grassadellian Economic Forum at Kinslow University.

Pete Deetch looking at comeback in North Ceona after racist, sexist comments

PARKINS, N. Ceona -- Recent polling shows former Senator and Parkins Mayor Pete Deetch (C) has stagnant popularity in his home state.

Deetch lost re-election to the Federal Senate in 2018, losing to Nationalist political novice Alexis Stotter by a 47%-50% margin.

However, the Conservative firebrand is rumored to be considering a political comeback, either by running for governor in 2020, or by challenging fellow Senators Anthony Campanelli (N) or Ken Estall, who are up for re-election.

It will be a tall order for the 79-year-old Deetch, who was widely condemned after he was recorded making racist and sexist comments to fellow senators and staff members.

One audio recording caught Deetch speaking about a fellow senator's chief of staff, whose name he couldn't remember.

"Oh what's her name? You know the gal I'm talking about. That brown girl with the African hair," Deetch said to one of his colleagues, during a discussion in the Deetch's office.

Deetch was referring to Adani Krishna, who is the chief of staff for Senator Tim Blakewell (N-Trinton).

Krishna has Indian heritage, not African.

And in another incident, Deetch reportedly complained to fellow Senator Allison Sweeten, a Nationalist from East Deschire, that "you god-damn women can't make up your mind," referring to Sweeten and the other female NAT senators, who were undecided on supporting one of Deetch's bills.

In yet another incident, Deetch went on a car ride to the other side of Mavocke with Senator Luke Gymbal (C-Ansleigha). The two senators and one of Gymbal's staff members stopped at a 7-11. Deetch was heard making derogatory comments about the owners of the convenience store.

"Oh they're all (7-11 stores) owned by god-damned Indians and Pakistanis these days, that's not how it used to be when I was a kid," Deetch said.

A Senate ethics investigation found Deetch in violation of Senate decorum, and ruled his behavior was "reprehensible, ignorant and unbecoming of a senator." He was not formally censured, though, or penalized.

Senate Minority Leader Jon Ralston (C-Ans.) said Deetch's "heart-felt apology" was punishment enough.

"Pete said some bad things. We confronted him about it. We told him it's not acceptable from any member of our caucus, he apologized to us, he apologized to those involved, and he promised it wouldn't happen again. The issue is closed as far as I'm concerned," Ralston said, when asked by reporters what internal party consequences Deetch faced.

Senators from both parties condemned Deetch's comments at the time. Debbie Madronas (N-DMG), the top Nationalist in the Senate, said they were "disgusting and embarrassing for the Senate."

Fellow North Ceona Senator Anthony Campanelli (N) said Deetch's words "are despicable, ignorant and elitist," while Elizabeth Graham, also a Nationalist from North Ceona, said she was "deeply disappointed" in Deetch's behavior.

Ken Estall, a fellow Conservative from North Ceona, said Deetch's words "reflect very poorly on North Ceona, and are in stark contrast to the values of acceptance, diversity and tolerance that North Ceonans champion."

But defenders of Deetch, including Nationalist Senator Vic Chambers (S. Ceona), who at 73, is closer in age to Deetch than many of the Senate's younger members, pointed out that Deetch apologized personally to those he insulted.

"I'm not saying what he said was okay, but he met privately with Adani Krishna and apologized. He met with our lady colleagues here in the Senate and apologized to them. And he even drove back to that 7-11 and apologized in person, in public, right in the middle of the store in front of customers and employees, and he apologized to the owners and the employees he offended," said Chambers.

"I think he made a clear effort to make things right and to fix his behavior. People make mistakes, we all say stupid and ignorant things from time to time. Doesn't make it okay, but the important thing is to learn from your mistakes and most importantly to make it right, and Pete did that, so I think we need to give him some credit for that," said Chambers.

During the 2018 campaign, Alexis Stotter and the state's NAT Party hammered Deetch, calling him "xenophobic" and "an old-fashioned racist and misogynist."

"How embarrassing is it for our state, that the dean of our state's Senate delegation, the most prominent person representing our state, a man who is a grandfather and who has many beautiful women and little granddaughters in his family, and who has many colleagues who are wonderful people of color...how embarrassing is it that this is what people see on the news about our state. He's making North Ceona look like a backwards, racist garbage dump. Our state is not that. We are better than that. Pete Deetch should be better than that. We can do better, we must do better," said Stotter during a televised debate.

Deetch apologized to voters during the televised debate, and asked for forgiveness.

"You know, back in my day, people said a lot of things, they used a lot of terms and phrases that now we consider offensive. And they are offensive. I should never have said those things. I said some really stupid things. Sometimes I put my foot in my mouth. Sometimes I speak before I think. Sometimes I let old school thoughts and words come out of my mouth. And I'm very sorry about that. It's not okay. There's no excuse for what I did. It was wrong and I am very sorry to all the people I offended with my words. All I can do is ask for forgiveness and promise to do better, and I have done that many, many times, and I will continue to pledge to improve and be a better person," said Deetch.

His many apologies weren't enough to save him from electoral defeat in the 2018 elections.

But now, the veteran Conservative politician is hoping to make a comeback.

Sources close to Deetch say he has quietly been reaching out to high-ranking Conservatives in the state's CNS Party.

The sources, who asked to remain anonymous because they were not permitted to speak to the media, told GNN that Deetch would prefer to be back in the Senate.

"He loves it there. He loves debating, he loves fighting for North Ceona and opposing the national government. But he also loves the camaraderie and the bipartisan friendships that he made," said one source. "Pete is very conservative. But some of his best friends are Nationalists who are quite liberal. He is set in his ways, he is very opinionated. He'll never convert to the other side. But he has a good heart, despite his rough exterior. And I think people of both parties see that in Mavocke, and he's hoping the people of North Ceona will give him another chance and will look past his flaws and vote him back into the Senate."

The Senate may be his first choice, but Deetch is also considering a run for governor, the sources said.

Current Governor Tom Cozier (C) will step down in 2020 due to term limits, creating an open governors seat.

However, recent poll by the Opinion Research on a hypothetical match up in the 2020 governor's race found Deetch trailing Elizabeth Graham 44% - 54%, and Deetch trailing former state attorney general John Ennis 44% - 53%, respectively.

Opinion Research is currently conducting polling on potential 2020 Senate races, with results expected in the next few weeks.

A spokesman for the former senator declined to comment on Deetch's future plans.

Damoign Nationalists won fight over constitutional amendment, but they lost the messaging war, says top NAT lawmaker

UPTON, Damoign -- The recent, controversial fight over re-election rules for governors has deeply divided the state of Damoign.

Nationalists prevailed in ending a decades-old ban on governors running for re-election consecutively.

Voters approved the NAT-backed measure with 56 percent on Saturday.

But while Nationalists won the battle over term limits, a top Nationalist state lawmaker says his party lost the messaging war on the issue.

"We won, we got what we wanted, but in terms of messaging and public relations, the Conservative Party was more effective than we were. They made their case better. They made stronger arguments. And now they have a potent issue to batter the Nationalists with in the next election," said state Sen. Harold Lambe, who represents northwest Grassadellia City in the state Senate.

Lambe, a moderate Nationalist, said he supported changing the constitution to allow governors to seek consecutive terms. But the way the Nationalist Party went about it was "a public relations nightmare."

"Most people support their position. Most people agree with the Nationalists on this issue. But the way they went about it was not optically very good," Lambe told Michael Micardi on GNN's Awakening A Nation Sunday.

"The NAT won, but people are mad about the way they did it. They went around the rules. They used obscure procedural rules to get what they want. Rather than wait a sufficient amount of time before holding another referendum, they rushed it through, because they knew the longer they waited, the less likely voters would be sympathetic to their arguments. Rather than reach a compromise with Conservatives, they just decided to do what they wanted, even if it was not very popular with the voters. This at-all-costs tactic could very well backfire on us in 2020," said Lambe.

But NAT state chairman Tom Parry disputed Lambe's remarks.

"Our side won with 56 percent of the vote. So, I'm confused why Senator Lambe thinks we lost the messaging war. If we had lost the messaging war, we wouldn't have won with 56 percent. You can't lost the messaging war but win an election, that makes absolutely no sense," Parry told reporters Sunday outside a campaign fundraiser for Damoign Governor Jenna Duvan Sunday in east Middleboro.

Regardless of who won the messaging war, the contentious issue and that NAT's circumvention of conventional legislative rules is bound to come up on the 2020 campaign trail.

In fact, it already has. Immediately after Jenna Duvan spoke at the "Yes" campaign's victory rally in Middleboro Saturday night, several prominent Conservatives, many who are rumored to be considering a challenge to Duvan, posted criticism on social media.

"The Nationalists will have to account for this at the next election," Assemblyman Brandon O'Malley, a Conservative from Oscarville, tweeted.

"I'm disappointed tonight, not so much by the result, but more so by the unfair and shady way the Nationalist Party went about doing it," Assemblyman John DeGallio, C-Columbus, told Grassadellia City news channel TV1.

And Kim Camden, who served as Deputy Secretary of The Treasury in the Dan Byelle Administration, posted on her Facebook page, "This kind of maneuvering and side-stepping by Jenna Duvan is exactly when people hate the Nationalist Party in Damoign."

There was one prominent Conservative voice, however, who voiced approval at the results of Saturday's referendum.

Former Governor Sid Hoffa said changing the law is "common sense," and the issue has been needlessly politicized.

"It's unfortunate that the politics in our state have devolved so much in the past few years, to the point where people are so politicized, so bitterly partisan, that they refuse to evaluate issues objectively. They always look at everything through a partisan point of view, and that's adding to the enmity in our political process," Hoffa said. "It's very sad and unfair to the people of Damoign."

Damoignites vote to end term limits for governors

GRASSADELLIA CITY -- Voters in the nation's most-populous state approved a constitutional amendment Saturday to end a decades-old ban that prohibited state governors from serving two consecutive terms in office.

Voter turnout was low in Saturday's special state-wide referendum. Secretary of State Rob Mercheck estimated voter turnout at 52 percent with about 9.2 million votes.

With almost 56% of the vote (5.1 million votes), the "Yes" side, which was in favor of ending the ban on consecutive terms, easily defeated the "No" campaign, who voted to retain the one-term status quo.

The No campaign took 44%, or a little less than 4.1 million votes.

The issue of term limits for governors has been a hot-button issue in recent years. Nationalists, who far outnumber Conservatives in the state, had called for an end to the one-term rule, saying it hand-cuffed governors and prevented them from enacting substantive reforms that normally take more than one term to accomplish.

"Today's constitutional referendum result is a success for Damoign," said incumbent Governor Jenna Duvan, who supported ending the rule.

"Damoign was the only state in the country with a one-term rule, no other state has that restriction. This rule has hampered governors in the past from accomplishing large-scale reform. Damoign is a large state with 31 million people. There are some reforms that just can't be accomplished in a mere 4 years. This change in state law will allow governors to finally run for re-election, be evaluated on their records, and have more time to get their agenda achieved," said Duvan at a rally for "Yes" supporters in Middleboro.

The "No" campaign argued lifting the ban would allow Nationalists - who already hold significant power in the state government - to solidify their strength.

"It's just a power-grab by the Nationalist Party and Jenna Duvan, that's all it is," state Senator Joe Murino (C-Tolston) told the National Press Federation (NPF) after the votes were tallied.

"Jenna Duvan wanted to change the law so she can run for re-election and further cement her power. The Nationalists know they have the advantage in this state, and they know if they can lift the ban, then they can re-elect Nationalist governors over and over again and Conservatives will have an even more difficult time winning state-wide elections," Murino said.

While the lines were drawn largely along party lines, there was bipartisan support for each.

Many Conservatives, including former Governor Sid Hoffa, joined with Nationalists to support ending the ban.

"This isn't a partisan issue. It's not about Nationalists versus Conservatives. It's about giving a governor the executive power and authority he or she needs to get legislation passed and policy implemented," Hoffa told reporters at the victory rally in Middleboro.

"I respect my Conservative friends who disagree with me on this issue. I see their point of view, I hear their concerns, and I understand they are worried this will help the Nationalist Party. But this is not about party, this is about constitutional authority for governors, regardless of party. This change in the law will help Nationalists and Conservatives. Governors of both parties will benefit from this reform," added Hoffa.

Similarly, on the "No" side, some Nationalists joined Conservatives to oppose the change.

Opposition mainly came from hardline liberals, who are frustrated with mainstream Nationalist politicians whom they view as "too corporate" and compromised by big corporate money.

"The ban on governors running for re-election was put in place back in the 1980s because before we had the ban, we had governors who were corrupt and who had unchecked power," state Sen. Greg Kelley (N-Sexton).

"This ban on running for consecutive terms helped curtail that corruption. And now, the Nationalist Party basically wants to change the law because Jenna Duvan wants to run for a second term, and they know that this will benefit them politically, it's political opportunism," said Kelley.

"I don't care which party is in power in Mattinow. Unchecked power, corruption, graft, unregulated corporate influence, it will corrupt. The people will lose out."

The "Yes" team received the most support in Xavier County in southeast Damoign, with 78% voting in favor of changing the law.

Danderfield County, a Conservative stronghold in the state's southwest, had the highest support for the "No" side, with 77% voting against the proposal.

Though divisive, it is hoped by many that Saturday's referendum will put the issue to bed once and for all.

Damoign voters already voted in favor of lifting the ban back in 2016, with 56 percent voting in favor.

But in September 2017, the Damoign Supreme Court invalidated that election, saying the text in the state's constitution dealing with state-wide initiatives and constitutional amendments was vague and required clarification from lawmakers.

At the time, the constitution did not specify a minimum percentage of votes required to approve constitutional amendments, as all previous constitutional amendments had been approved through the legislature only.

The court asked the state legislature to "clarify" the exact threshold necessary to approve amendments, and then recommended holding a second referendum once the exact specifications were added to the constitution.

Months of legislative testimony and committee investigations led nowhere, however. Conservative state lawmakers demanded a 60% threshold be required to approve amendments in referendums, while Nationalists wanted an easier to attain simple majority.

With Conservative lawmakers digging their heels in and refusing to compromise, Governor Jenna Duvan and her NAT allies in the state legislature opted for a controversial next move.

NAT lawmakers voted to temporarily amend the state's constitution to require only a simple majority, with the 60% threshold going into effect in September 2019.

This allowed Duvan and her allies to put the referendum back to the voters (before September 2019), but only need a simple majority to approve the change in re-election rules.

This procedural run-around by Nationalists angered Conservatives, with state Sen. Rudy Ruppert (C-Middleboro) calling the June 29 referendum "a sham concocted by Nationalists to benefit Nationalists."

Resentment among Conservative lawmakers lingers in the state capitol of Mattinow, with many Conservative state representatives and senators walking out of the legislative chambers Friday in protest.

 Nationalists say the change is controversial but in the voters' best interest.

"We trust the voters to elect their leaders. Voters are smart enough to choose a governor. They can decide for themselves if they want to re-elect a governor to a second term. If the governor is doing a bad job, the voters will elect someone else," said Sen. Nathan Demenlo (N-Limpet Village).

"This amendment really doesn't change much. It allows governors to run for re-election and back-to-back terms. That's it. It allows them to run. It doesn't mean they'll win," said Demenlo.

Saturday's win for the "Yes" campaign means Jenna Duvan will be permitted to run for a second term in September 2020.

While dissenting Conservatives can't prevent the constitutional amendment from taking effect, they can raise the issue on the campaign trail in 2020.

"Jenna Duvan got her way. She skirted around the voters, she went against precedent and tradition, and she and her NAT cronies found a circumventing way to pass their amendment. But she will have to answer to the voters in 2020. People will ask her, 'Why did you throw voters under the bus? Why did you go around the rules and the norms?' She will have to answer those questions and there are no good answers for them," state Conservative Party spokesman Michael Anlo said following the referendum's result.

Duvan shrugged off the criticism.

"This wasn't about me. This was about giving future governors the means to do their job effectively. The voters already voted in favor of this, 56 percent of them. So I'm standing up for voters by fighting for this change," said Duvan.