by Mr.Yankees » Sat May 02, 2009 7:26 am
President and Vice President make announcements
Port Andalay, Andalay (LCN)- Earlier today at a news conference, President Kynes announced that he will be retiring and thus resigning next year.
Making his usual stylish entrance, the President shook hands with a few aides and assistants and quickly approached to podium. The President did not have a speech prepared nor did he need any paper to remind him of what he wanted to say.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the press, thank you for coming. I truly appreciate the work you have done all these years. You have definitely kept my staff very busy (*draws a laugh from the reporters*).
Citizens of Lodamun. I have had the priviledge of serving this country for almost five decades. This has truly been an amazing journey for me. In 2701, at a mere age of 35, I was approached by former President Michael Porter Jr. and offered the job of Foreign Affairs Ministry. To be honest, I never thought that could ever happened. I was a regular Foreign service man who went to the University of Port Andalay and graduated with a degree in international relations. However, President Porter saw something in me that no one else did and I cannot be thankful enough to him. Wherever he may be, I know he is listening right now. Thank you very much for what you did for me.
I was only 35 years of age and I had just been thrown into one of the most difficult positions in the government. Our country was just recovering from a very tough time and I was determined not to let down those who put faith in me.
I worked for 22 years as Foreign Affairs Minister. It seems like three months to me now. I negotiated over half a dozen trade agreements, I made sure Lodamun took its place within NATO once again, and I negotiated more than five peace agreements.
In December 2723, the people of Lodamun gave me a chance to be their President for the first time and here I am. Our country has faced many difficult situations but we have overcome all of them because that was my goal and yours.
We have faced terrorism and aggression. We have faced attacks by inhumane and cruel people but we never gave up and we will never give up. Terra has seen many changes since I became Foreign Affairs Ministry but there is something that has not changed at all: our determination. We, Lodamese citizens, are determined to protect our homeland. We, Lodamese citizens, are determined to ensure peace reigns all around the world. We, Lodamese citizens, are determined to fight until our last breath to ensure that our values and society are preserved.
I have been in public service for five decades now, I cannot imagine myself as a regular civilian. I love this country ver much and I will work, until my last breath, to ensure that peace in Lodamun exists.
I have given more than half of my life to Lodamun and I don't regret any second of it. I have been honored to serve this great and I will always be thankful for the opportunites you have given me. I will always be thankful for the support you have shown. I will always be in your debt for allowing me to represent you here at home and abroad.
However, I have decided that it is time for me to step aside and allow those who are younger and more vibrant to take over. It is your world now and I am sure it is in good hands. I wouldn't have not made the decision I made without making sure that our country falls in good hands.
So, it is my decision to retire and resign the Presidency on January of next year (2750). I wish the next President the best and I hope he or she keeps leading this country in the right path.
Thank you all and God Bless Lodamun!"
With those words, the President stepped away from the podium amid intense applause from everyone present in the room. The President, in an unexpected move, walked to where the reporters were sitting and started shaking the hands of those sitting in the front rows.
Merely twenty minutes after the President's news conference, the Vice President released a stunning statement.
"Citizens of Lodamun. Today, President Kynes has announced his retirement from public service. Both of us have been talking about such subject for some time now. We have both served this country for almost five decades now. I have had the great opportunity to serve as Vice President for this time and I greatly appreciate this chance given to me.
For almost fifty years, I have the Chairman of the Council of NATO and I have proudly developed this military alliance into the most neutral of any military alliances in the world. I have worked very hard to see peace in every corner of this world. While I may not have succeeded in achieving that goal, I have seen Terra grow more united towards the establishment of peace and stability. I have seen this world develop for the better, which brings me great happiness. I sincerely hope that future generations continue this path of peace for peace brings hapiness and hapiness brings glory.
I also want to thank former President Michael Porter Jr. for the opportunity given to me. I became Vice President at merely 37 years of age and now, after almost 50 years, I am 86 years old and still in public office. His remarkable show of confidence and his advice made me what I am now. I will forever be greatful.
After consultation with President Kynes and family members, I have also decide to retire from public service on January of next year.
After my retirement, Micheal J. Johnson shall become the official representative of Lodamun to NATO and the Chairman of the Council of NATO. I am fully confident that NATO is in the best of hands. Minister Johnson has served as Defense Minister for almost twenty years and is one of the most knowledge individuals in the world when it comes to security and national defense. I wish Minister Johnson the best of lucks and give him one advice: Neutrality is at the foundation of a great alliance. If you let your foundation break, you alliance will fall and you will fall with it.
I want to thank the citizens of Lodamun for this great time and I want to thank President Kynes for his support and leadership throughtout the years.
Thank you and may God Bless Lodamun now and forever!
Signed,
Roland Lincoln
Vice President of the United Republics of Lodamun"
This is the first time in the history of Lodamun that both the President and Vice President decide to retire at the same time.
Both announcements have experts puzzled and the press buzzing. The question in everyone's mind is: Who will replace both of these great men?
Let's go to our panel of experts to get this and other questions answered. Manuel Kirk, Mark Trent, Donna Salds thank you for being here today. Let's get right to it.
John Benz: What are your opinions of these two announcements? Donna let's start with you.
Donna Salds: It was a bit surprising that both decided to retire at the same time. Usually that doesn't happen. They like to maintain some sort of leadership figure during the transaction phase. I guess they have a lot of faith in the new leadership. They both have shown to be in great health and physical condition as well. Look, John, they have both served this country for quite some time. They deserve some time for themselves.
JB: Manuel?
Manuel Kirk: I agree. They have both served for a long time and they deserve to enjoy the rest of the years they have left. They are both into their mid 80s, it is time to start having as stress-free life.
JB: Mark?
Mark Trent: I am not surprised at all. The fact is that this was coming sooner rather than later. They are old. They are not nearly as energetic as they were. We need new leadership, a younger leadership.
JB: Who will replace President Kynes as the nominee from the Liberal Party?
DS: Is that a rhetorical question, John? *She laughs* I think not to many people would disagree that Foreign Affairs Minister Elizabeth Kynes is the nominee in waiting.
JB: Mark, Manuel, do you agree?
MT: Absolutely.
MK: No question about that.
JB: Given the great consensus we have on the potential Liberal Party's nominee *they all laugh for a couple of seconds*, I guess the question is: Can she win in the general election?
MT: I think she has shown her great leadership capabilities. She has taken on an important role as ambassador to the UNT and the Foreign Affairs Ministry is a great training opportunity for Presidential candidates. Her dad, President Kynes, was a Foreign Affairs Minister for 22 years.
DS: She can win. Maybe not with huge landslide as her father has for the last 15 years but she can win.
JB: What do you think about Vice President Lincoln's replacement? Is Minister Johnson the right person to lead NATO?
MK: Minister Johnson is the perfect person. Over 20 years of experience heading the Defense Ministry is not a bad line for your resume.
DS: I agree. He is a great pick for the job.
JB: Does that give him an edge to be the next Vice President?
MT: He would be in anyone's short list. I can't say that his new position will give him an edge but I think that if Ms. Kynes get elected, he will be nominated as Vice President. They seem to share a very special friendship. They trust each other...
JB: I am sorry to interrupt you Manuel but we are getting some new information. According to sources, Prime Minister Johnson will also announce her retirement this week. The sources could not comment further on this issue as it has not yet been made public.
JB: What do you think about this?
DS: Not surprising. She has been Prime Minister for a long time and the job was clearly taking a toll on her health. It is definitely the time for her to step down. I think they all made the decision together, it seems.
MK: I was just thinking the same thing.
MT: They probably were drinking coffee one afternoon and said to each other: How cool will it be for the three of us to retire at the same time?
*Draws laughs*
JB: We are running out of time. OK, let's get into hypotheticals here. Let's say Minister Kynes gets elected President. Who gets the Vice Presidential nod? Just answer the question quickly.
DS: Minister Johnson
MT: Minister Johnson
MK: Her sister, Minister of Finance Kynes.
JB: Who gets the Prime Minister position?
MT: The Deputy Prime Minister or someone who is not known too well.
DS: The Liberal's Party Chairman, Gregory Kynes
MK: Too many people to choose from.
JB: Who gets the Foreign Affairs Minister position?
MK: Gregory Kynes
DS: Patricia K. Johnson II
MT: Gregory Kynes
JB: Who gets to be Defense Minister if Minister Johnson becomes Vice President?
DS: His deputy.
MT: I agree
MK: Someone from outside. Perhaps someone from the opposition party.
JB: Thank you all for being here today. We will keep you updated of new developments as they occur.
Fighting for the people, supported by the people.