Tara Kendrick to replace Henry Cohen at top of Ticket
Cohen: "I should have retired a long time ago"
Kaliburg Ananto
April 17, 4705
Dr. Tara Kendrick, Professor of Geophysical Science, Kaliburg Polytechnic wins nod to represent SP in elections
Henry Cohen, the long serving and recently absent President of the Republic has decided not to seek re-election in the coming General elections later this year. His decision came during a short speech at the recent Party Convention in Kaliburg:
Friends, Comrades, and visitors. I am stepping down from the Presidency at the end of this term. I have served Long enough. In fact, I should have retired long ago. It was always my intention to do so. I'm tired, and my efforts to make peace with our neighbors have all but been demolished by developments in History. In parting, I will say that the militants who have been driving our national policy should reconsider their damaging and nationalistic attitudes sooner rather than later. When our enemies kill friends, and people who have dedicated their lives to the service of the Republic, friends like my friend Ambassador Louis Stevens, we have gone too far.
I do not mean capitulation. Kalistan simply cannot capitulate to external demands. But accommodation. Finding a way to live in a world populated by good people, and yes, monsters who see it as their mission in life to control and dominate. We can be better than even them. We are better than all of them. It is my sincerest hope that you find a way to demonstrate that. To all the warmongering states who focus nearly exclusively on the building of their militaries and their domination of obscure corners of the world, be an example of ETHICAL Socialism. Show them the quality of excellence. And never ever do as I did, be convinced that a few meetings means they will ever tolerate us. The Imperialist Nations of the world will NEVER tolerate an independent Kalistan. But this should not govern your behavior toward them.
In my replacement, I ask you to select someone who has more energy and more patience. Someone who can best represent our people, someone who can improve their lives, and someone who knows how to be firm, but not rigid, with other nations of the world. They may never love us, but they should respect us. We gain that respect by showing the world by our example.
The Convention thanked the President for his service to the Republic. A few militant socialist nationalists stood up to respond to his speech, but the Convention immediately ruled their extemporaneous speeches out of order, each in turn. Following the slight parliamentary dustup, a motion was made to nominate a new candidate. The first and only name put forward to run for President was the acting Secretary of the Convention, Dr. Tara Kendrick. Every other potential candidate refused to accept the nomination, deferring instead to Dr. Kendrick's nomination. Kendrick was approved by acclamation, with only 7 abstentions, from silenced militants.
Her acceptance speech was brief.
Comrades, I am a nationalist, but I am a Brethrenist first. I will do my best, if elected, to stand for peace for Kalistan. We will fall back to the Comprehensive Agreement in the Straits, and will continue to rely on association with the National Conservatives that began under Comrade Cohen. We will focus on development of Kalistan's potential, in all areas: financial, economic, military, and cultural. With a background in the hard sciences, I can tell you, there are many areas which lie undeveloped in Kalistan, such as our Lithium pans in Suldanor. We can produce oil cleaner. We can diversify and focus on alternative energy. We can replant our forests which Liberals seemed to like to bulldoze by the acre. We can plant our crops smarter. We can loosen controls on capital to encourage both domestic and foreign investment in Kalistani industries and services. We can subsidize excellent artists and musicians, which Kalistan seems to have more than an abundance of. And we can build upon the successes of the previous administrations. All of these represent a developmentalist agenda which is not hard socialism, but is also not liberalism either. A developed Kalistan is one which benefits all Kalistanis, and we should all pitch in where we are strongest. I appreciate your faith in me, and if I am elected, I will not let you down.
The nomination of Kendrick signals a move toward the Center of Kalistani politics for the SP. It seems that the delegates to the Convention are in the mood for less confrontation, and more cooperation. Kendrick added, later in on the record comments that she would like to see Sister Rebecca Bennots serving as Premier and would be interested in tossing the FM position to either the NCP or the Syndicalists. "While I think Joaquin [Delgado] has done a good job representing Kalistani interests to the world, he has informed me that he is looking for a less prominent role in office. He believes his health will not allow him to devote fewer hours to the position. He and I agreed that the NCP shadow foreign Minister might be a better fit for the position at this point, but I am also open to consideration of the Syndicalists taking a more high profile role in the Government. They haven't been too incredibly active though, so it might not work out."