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Remember when I said you should expect certain things to come from my first interview? Well, that wasn't necessarily true. Richard Nixon II was the first one interviewed for Sexy and Shoeless, and now we have the interview I originally promised.

Ladies and gentlemen, Cromstar.

When I asked for him to send a picture of his feet, he sent me this instead.



Said it was the last guy who crossed him. Put an arrow through his foot or something. Now, I'm not really sure how an arrow through the foot kills a guy, but when you're Cromstar, I wouldn't question it too hard.

So, without further delay, I give you an exclusive interview with the possibly future, definitely sexy, Caesar of America.



Athanaric: I would like to thank you for taking time out to not only talk to me but also grant me this interview. I’d like to delve into your decision process a little bit. As part of the Old Guard of this game, what made you finally decide to run for the office of President of the United States?
Cromstar: Well, I've been delaying a run for months (well...probably about a year now) for various friends, and since eRep is moving along, I decided that if I was going to do it, I'd better do it before I get too eold for it. Last month I decided to run because the time seemed right. I had nothing against Krems, but I just figured to go for it. This month, i'm running to complete what I almost started a month ago.

Athanaric: Krems was a tough loss for you. Now you are running against Colin Lantrip. What sort of relationship do you have with him, and why do you think you would make the better POTUS?
Cromstar: I've known Colin for some time, though I haven't worked closely with him for some time. I think Colin could be POTUS, but I think I'm the right man for a few reasons. The biggest reason I think I am a better choice than Colin is my wider range of experience. In almost two years of eRep, I've held a LOT of positions and posts, and been a part of most Presidential cabinets since scrabman was POTUS.

Athanaric: What do you consider some of your “crowning achievements” in eRepublik to be?
Cromstar: My crowning achievements? That's hard to say. I'm proud of the work I did as Speaker of the House during the 2.5 months I held that post. I'm proud of my work helping to establish the original FEC. But I suppose my crowning achievement would have to be helping my good friends, such as Josh Frost and Gaius Julius, with their efforts over the years.



Athanaric: I’d like to focus on the military for a second. FER has been a strategic point of contest these last few weeks. Our most recent battle in FER is still in the process of being resolved. What sort of change do see as being necessary now that the V3 military module is out?
Cromstar: First, you mean V1.2.1 😉
Athanaric: Haha. True. 🙂
Cromstar: As for what changes? I'm not sure the military itself needs to change...but the way in which we handle battles certainly has to change. In V1, it was all about doing the most damage over 24 hours. If you missed the first few hours, no big deal. Then in V2, it was the end of a battle that mattered most. Now, its all about the first 10 hours. Those 10 hours can close a battle...meaning we need to be able to respond faster to ANY attack against our regions fast. As opposed to having a chance to prepare before we launch an attack. So, we have to work around this change to prepare for the future of our fight against PHOENIX.

Athanaric: And now for a question from one of our readers, Oli Cromwell. What do you think about all of the foreign citizens in the country taking away the jobs from US citizenship citizens? I am talking about foreigners, with citizenship other than US, in the eUS.
Cromstar: Well, there's no shortage of available jobs in the eUSA, so its not like they are actually taking our jobs. And, they work, we get income taxes from them, and they either don't fight in the wars...or they fight on our side. So...we pretty much win out in the end either way.

Athanaric: Alright, next question. Do you think that the military is to politicized to function capably, as some have claimed?
Cromstar: Seems to be functioning quite well from where I'm sitting. Last I checked, kicking Russian ass in their own backyard, and then beating the crap out of Portugal for an appatizer is a sign its doing its job. While there are most likely problems, they aren't necessarily political, and they aren't stopping the military from functioning.

Athanaric: India is quite an issue right now for America and relations are at a stress. Can this relationship be salvaged?
Cromstar: Frankly, relations with India have always been tricky. Sadly, its largely their own fault. The eUS has a lot of things to worry about. India is one of them. They can't monopolize our time, and often, when we do interact with them, there's a lot of recalcitrance on both sides. Krems decision not to renew the MPP with india was strategically and fiscally sound. As I see it, the status quo is the way things will be until the situation in Asia changes, or India changes the way it wants to deal with us. There's no salvaging to be done there, in my opnion. YOu salvage a destroyed ship, not one you've put into drydock for an overhaul.



Athanaric: Well put imo. Now. The world is changing with possibly new countries being added, and old ones being reformed. What sort of change to foreign diplomacy can you offer?
Cromstar: Honestly, most of these new nations will become long-term PTO battlegrounds, sadly. I wish all the players going to these countries luck, but they need to know what they are getting into. There will be no real changes in foreign diplomacy over these new nations, as many of them won't even be real nations, merely puppet states for one group or another.

Athanaric: There have been many concerns about the content of our country’s media. Specifically the ones about trolling content. The idea that our media content is not as important or as good as other countries and that other countries can essentially come in and do what they want with it. What do you plan to do to revise this issue?
Cromstar: The eUSA owned Russia's Top 5 media for almost a full week, and the only reason they got it back was because we got bored. Our media occasionally gets a few articles form foreigners that we don't really want...but they don't control our media. We do. And when we want to use it, we do. Until the...let the masses have fun with one of the few modules that works pretty well!

Athanaric: I'd like to focus things local.
Cromstar: Uh oh 😛
Athanaric: Some recent domestic issues that have cropped up are the possibility of a new dividing America into sections that are more manageable well as some other issues. What do you see as the main focus in terms of America’s domestic stance right now?
Cromstar: Things in the domestic USA will always be chaotic, no matter how we try. Parties have tried for months and months to control them, and they still can't do it perfectly. I won't comment on specific plans, but I'll say as long as we keep improving on what we've got, and we don't move backwards, we should keep trying.

Athanaric: What do you consider the key focus of your administration?
Cromstar: In addition to keeping up with all the things continuing in our foreign policy, a major focus of my term would be on fun. No POTUS (or Caesar) can honestly promise you war, although it seems very likely right now due to the war mod, so I won't pander to the my gun-toting friends with promises I can't keep. Therefore: fun...and, when it happens, RAWR!

Athanaric: You have yet to announce either a Vice President or a cabinet. Is there any way we could sneak a peek at a few members you have chosen or is Caesar not quite ready to unveil his legions? 😉
Cromstar: Well, I'm keeping that under wraps still. 😉 But when I announce, you'll know it.



Athanaric: Ok. A little bit on foreign policy if you please. You mentioned once in your last election you wished to reestablish some South American ties. What are your plans for this run?
Cromstar: Well, obviously, things are tulmultuous with foreign policy. It's a two way street. I'm hoping to find some streets that don't have roadblocks up.

Athanaric: You’ve wrote several times that this game needs to be fun again, even going so far as to say it is the main focus of your campaign (as evidenced by your declaration of running for Caesar of America, instead of POTUS). A rather abstract goal to be sure, but what ideas do you have that can potentially reengage players and up player retention?
Cromstar: I've got someone lined up as the next Secretary of Fun, and he's full to the brim with good ideas to do just that. So I don't want to spoil his plans just yet...just know, if anyone has ideas for fun things to do...get them in to us on the 6th.

Athanaric: Just a few more questions. From where you stand, where do you see America’s future heading, from an economic, military, and general social stance?
Cromstar: That's a question full of hopes, dreams, fears, and chaos, Athanaric. eRep is stable in some ways...and highly instable in others. The status quo can last for months on end, and then collapse and disappear in 24 hours. I expect that, for the foreseeable future, the eUS will be helping lead the charge agaisnt PHOENIX with our EDEN allies and our Bros in Canada, Australia, and beyond. I hope that we'll become more active and engaged as a nation in general, as that will make us stronger in the end.

Athanaric: What would you like every player to know about you that perhaps they have not already learned?
Cromstar: There is no Cromstar. Only Zuul. 😛 I kid. Honestly, there's not much to be known about me that isn't out there...I'm not a betafgt with a new account...I haven't lied or cheated my way to where I am. So...basically, I'm open and honest. If you don't believe that, ask me. 😉



Remember to vote on October 5th for your choice for President of the United States of America. Stay frosty, America.