[TB] Nostalgia, My Own Observations, and No Fed Left Behind
Tyler Bubblar
It is a slow day at the office today. While perusing my account it occurred to me that I could not remember when I last wrote an article. Upon checking I saw that it has been more than 400 days since I last published. Once upon a time that would have been unheard of because the media module has always been one of my favorite parts of this game. It has been more than a little sad to watch the media module along with so many other aspects of this game whither and atrophy to near nothing. So to take advantage of this downtime I have decided to type up one of my classic novel articles.
I joined this game in 2009 and I quit for the first time in early 2010. I returned a little more than 3 years later in the Spring of 2013. I found a home quickly in the Federalist Party and since then my erepublik journey has become irretrievably intertwined with the Federalists. When I first joined the Feds the Fed forums and the eUSA Forums were vibrant. The Fed Forums still remain and I hope they will always be there, but they have gone largely silent. The eUSA forums are now defunct.
During those times there was a lot of discussion about party culture. It could largely be boiled down to two phrases. Noob Centric Meritocracy and Country > Party > Self. That was the essence of the Federalist Party. It was simple and easy to remember. From my perspective it was also true. It was not just a catch phrase, slogan, or empty platitudes. I was embraced immediately and given positions of increasing trust as the months went on. These days there are few if any noobs and few players that do much more than 2 click. Over the years the Federalist Party endorsed me to be their standard bearer for Country President 12 times of which I won 8 of those elections.
During my time here I have made a lot of friends, my share of enemies, turned some enemies into friends, and sadly turned some friends into enemies. If you are near the levers of power it is inevitable that you make decisions that will upset someone, be it here in the eUSA, or on the international stage. Even if you are in a stance as a resistor or opposition to the powers that be you step on some toes. I have long maintained that Harvey Dent put it best:
Being a leader in this game is not always easy. I do not know that I have ever had a term in office that just went smoothly without having to make some kind of controversial decision. I have spent the bulk of the last several years just handing out goodies for a party program, so I have not been near the halls of power in this country, but it seems to me that since Voots, Thee Dude, and company managed to weather one of the many times Croatia has shown that they just cannot handle prosperity, things are going very smoothly.
Which is why I have questions for this current Administration and in particular Stormin Ewok. It seems to me that there have been so many unforced errors the last little bit. I say this as someone who has made a few myself over the years. A "presidential article" attacking a top 5 party, pushes for multiple bills in Congress that seem unlikely to pass that even if they did would do little more than disrupt for the sake of disruption. As I said I have many questions chief among them is:
As I mentioned for the last several years I have been administering No Fed Left Behind, a program that provides food and tanks to members of the Fed Party. I try to post every weekday on the party feed and fill the requests. I freely admit sometimes my consistency in filling is not great and at times find myself backfilling several days at a time. However, free stuff is available and delivered. I am considering expanding NFLB to include helping with purchasing a Q1 home up to 3 times for party members. We used to do this a few years back but cut it in the interest of not bankrupting the party treasury. As of now that is no longer an issue.
I am also considering adding requests for air weapons to NFLB. This would be expensive, but until it is tested out I am unsure about how expensive. I expect to announce a pilot test of air weapons for Feds in the near future. If it can be financially sustained it will stay. If not well for a brief time air weapons will be available for free. The Federalist Party has given me much. I am happy to be in a position to give back in some small capacity so please hit up those party feed posts for the stuffs.
I am often told that my article are lengthy, so I will start to wrap this up. For those of you who are still here in this game which has become a shell of what it once was, I salute you. Going all the way back to 2013 there was talk about how the game was shrinking. Parties went from thousands of members to hundreds, and now to dozens. We have all watched cherished friends and even avowed enemies hit the exits numerous times. Each time they do the experience here is usually less for the departures. Yet we remain a decade or more after erepublik labs stopped caring about the game they built. I respect your tenacity and stubbornness! Until next time, thanks for reading.
Comments
First for those who remain
You have contributed a lot, despite being inactive.
"Which is why I have questions for this current Administration and in particular Stormin Ewok. It seems to me that there have been so many unforced errors the last little bit. I say this as someone who has made a few myself over the years. A "presidential article" attacking a top 5 party, pushes for multiple bills in Congress that seem unlikely to pass that even if they did would do little more than disrupt for the sake of disruption. As I said I have many questions chief among them is:"
👏👏
o7
🏴🐑 ★★★ Baaaaa ★★★ 🏴🐑
A Question for BSP:
Your excuse for BSP supporting Plato keeping our Tax money was that ABS was never used.
ABS was just used but BSP is still voting for Plato to keep our tax money,
So what is the BSP real reason?
tyler, the feds are so lucky to have you
I'm glad it's been mutually good.
"Oh no baby, what is you doing" is exactly the right question one should be asking our beloved president.
As a matter of fact I would slightly change this question..
I'd remove the 'baby' part
Oh no (insert your own word) what is you doing with your 30 days of rule.. Not 5 years
o7 great article
"Which is why I have questions for this current Administration and in particular Stormin Ewok. It seems to me that there have been so many unforced errors the last little bit. I say this as someone who has made a few myself over the years. A "presidential article" attacking a top 5 party, pushes for multiple bills in Congress that seem unlikely to pass that even if they did would do little more than disrupt for the sake of disruption. As I said I have many questions chief among them is:"
👏👏
o7
🏴🐑 ★★★ Baaaaa ★★★ 🏴🐑
Well to be honest this is not 2013.
Things have changed a wee bit.
An interesting hit piece of an article by someone who might not have been paying all that much attention since 2013.
I am well aware that it is not 2013. You were part of my Foreign Affairs team during my last 4 terms a few years ago. So you also know that I have paid plenty of attention since 2013 with the exception of the last 2 or so years. I went back to school and have been focused heavily on that. I freely admitted in this article that I have not been overly present in government.
Shiloh I would like to think that you know me well enough to know that I do not write hit articles. As I said I have questions from the perspective of someone who has worked with Congress and the other Parties as President. I am idly curious about the motivation and expectations behind the article and congressional proposals that's the extent. I have no axe to grind in this.
"Which is why I have questions for this current Administration and in particular Stormin Ewok." -from Article.. ..from Comments- "I really don't need an answer from Stormin." "Ewok does not owe me an explanation nor do I expect one." You get thats a contradiction, right? and saying you want answers, then saying you dont need answers, there is no other conclusion then its a hit piece.
[removed]
Good job for publishing an article after long time, we need more of those…
I believe stormin himself will answer you at his own pace. But a few things:
1. Well unlike 2013, you need to push people to action nowadays. Otherwise all we have is an inactive congress, and regular TWs… and everybody gets bored out of their fking minds quickly... This term was by far the most active recently.
2. Seems like you have not been paying attention to what actually led to those events. And you are just focusing on the results, not the cause itself.
3. Not every law should be passed. Are we questioning why somebody suggested a bill or a discussion?
Anyways, i hope you become more active and we see more from you o/
I really don't need an answer from Stormin about my own idle musings. I also recognize that it is not 2013, and the bulk of my own political experiences is not from 2013. My last terms as CP was in 2020 which yes I know is not today, but my terms had a lot to do with leaving the Croatian centric bloc and embarking on our current course of foreign affairs.
It has been years since I have been in Congress, but I know the Parties and most of the individuals involved. Working with Congress rather than fighting with Congress is something I think every CP should strive to do.
I heartily agree that not every law should be passed, but I also believe when you are CP it is best not to put forward proposals that have limited prospects for success.
I will be graduating in May and then starting Grad School right after so we will have to see if I can be more active in the next little while. If not now soon.
All the best to you.
"Which is why I have questions for this current Administration and in particular Stormin Ewok." -from Article.. ..from Comments- "I really don't need an answer from Stormin." "Ewok does not owe me an explanation nor do I expect one." You get thats a contradiction, right? and saying you want answers, then saying you dont need answers, there is no other conclusion then its a hit piece.
Ricky Bobby
You and I go way back, Tyler. I'm sure Ewok will respond at his discretion. I'm just gonna say maybe you aren't getting the whole story. That's all.
Nice to see you writing again. Cheers.
Honestly I'm not trying to throw shade. I just have idle musings from an outsider perspective. I've done similar to what I'm questioning during my own times at the helm. Ewok does not owe me an explanation nor do I expect one.
Good to see you Harambe. I hope to be around more.
"Which is why I have questions for this current Administration and in particular Stormin Ewok." -from Article.. ..from Comments- "I really don't need an answer from Stormin." "Ewok does not owe me an explanation nor do I expect one." You get thats a contradiction, right? and saying you want answers, then saying you dont need answers, there is no other conclusion then its a hit piece.
Welcome back !
P/H for TBuBB
o7
o7
Welcome back.
In defense of the administration, it's been a decent term militarily, we have fought Code hard, and they're pretty much on their knees.
Thanks brother. I'm really not trying to throw shade. Just curious to the motivation on what from my view looks like avoidable missteps. Always good to see Croatia and company on the short end of things.
We're gonna delete code today.
That's amazing!
Well, did you message and ask Stormin for what reason he said the things he said about the BSP? Did you make an attempt to find out why? From reading above, it seems like you said "no" .. "I really don't need an answer from Stormin about my own idle musings" .. So you did no research for this article, or to find out what and why things are happening.. Maybe you should be asking yourself "Oh no baby, what is you doing???" You self admitted this is an article based upon ignorance. That is not a dig, its a truth you acknowledged in not knowing anything about the situation. You also stated "Which is why I have questions for this current Administration and in particular Stormin Ewok" .. So in the article you say you have questions, but to someones reply you say you dont need an answer. This feels more like an intentional hit piece.
As for the bills, my understanding is Storming is fulfilling campaign promises. Supporters, including your own party that endorsed Stormin, asked for things, as all parties do. Maybe ask your own party if you are serious in any way? Many have been requesting changes. So he is fulfilling his duty even though he knows, and told the requesters, that there was little chance of the bill(s) passing/changing. You know congress, and sometimes some people just want something to debate about, or more so, argue about.. heh
Lastly, TB you were a solid CP for the eUS, and as you mentioned being a leader and trying to keep everyone happy is not easy. I wish you would have stated that this article was for your "idle musing" and did no research but only current observations. However, I do think you know better. Which is why i think this was a form of a hit piece. I call you a friend TB. We've had nothing but good interactions, socially, in government, and with the Feds.. But just as you are trying to attack Stormin, I'll feel a need to defend a fellow party member until I see a transgression, and if that happens I'll msg him first. I know this is not exactly nice to say, but it seems like you are being used as a tool to strike at our current CP, likely being urged upon. Maybe you are aware of this, maybe you are not. Or just a grudge? The first part of the article was nice reminiscing but the second part I don't understand the 'Why' .. I can only go by what I'm reading.
GL and Best wishes to you, and Happy Easter everyone! 😃
o7
As you said we've had nothing but positive interactions, you and I. There is no grudge because I don't have one. Stormin and I, as far as I know, are on cordially friendly terms. We've never been best friends, but always gotten along. I have no axe to grind. I voted for him in our party primary and on election day with no misgivings.
I chose to write this article because I wanted to write an article about my own reminiscings, my own observations of what look to me like unforced errors, and my own thoughts on expanding a party program. No one asked me to.
As I said, I have questions, but I don't expect, demand, or even need an answer. Me having questions about anything places in my view no burden on anyone else to satisfy those questions. I alluded to it, but it seems I should have been more specific, but as President, I once wrote an article going after BSP because we disagreed on tax policy. Before that as Party President I wrote an article going after WTP and the AMP because we disagreed on tax policy. Ahh the good old days when the work as manager tax was first implemented. I came to view those articles down the road as mistakes. They cost me politically and personally in this game.
When I was first asked to head up the Fed Congress caucus I put a lot of bills forward that were dead on arrival, but fought with sharp elbows to push them through which only created animosity. That as I said cost me. So when I see and hear about similar doings by a first time President it brings me to "Oh no baby. What is you doing?"
It comes not from a place of malice, agenda, or ulterior motives. It comes from a place of hoping it doesn't exact a price similar to the one I paid. I'm not sure if this clarifies things, but I hope it does. My days of throwing shade and elbows are long behind me.
All the best to you Norm. Appreciate you my friend.
Well TB, the way you articulated the events seemed like you are telling only 1 side of the story that you heard from someone… at-least seemed that way!
Are you suggesting that a CP / PP / Leader shouldn’t publish an article in disagreements and arguments against other parties? Or else it’s a mistake in your opinion. I think that’s just your opinion…
Sometimes you just encounter so much toxicity that it leaves you with no choice other than to re-act to it.
Of course this article is my opinion. I'm saying in my experience it's a mistake to write a personal attack under the auspices of the Presidential office. Here's the link to the article I wrote for full disclosure and reference.
https://www.erepublik.com/en/article/-potus-usaf-work-tax-and-me-a-love-story-2461248
This has only ever been my opinion. No more and no less.
I would argue neither article was necessarily a mistake, because articles like that create drama, intrigue, and interest for everyone. When everyone gets along and things are just steady it gets so boring, it is a video game after all.
I assume, you really are not interested in getting an answer to your "questions for this current Administration and in particular Stormin Ewok". If you were the simplest thing, which I think this is covered in diplomacy 101, would have been to reach out directly and ask.
In terms of unforced errors, I think you would have been much better off to have covered No Fed Let behind in a separate article. You may have noticed, no one, other than myself, has mentioned it in their comments.
I am not so arrogant as to think that just because I have questions means that I am entitled to just reach out and ask people who I would imagine have better things to do than respond to questions about the minutia of what they are doing.
If consolidating what I wanted to write about in one article is an unforced error so be it. I imagine NFLB will continue to roll along just as it has for years. Food and weapons will be requested and shortly thereafter food and weapons will be supplied.
I find it interesting that you publish this "hit piece"against the current CP who is running again this month just a couple of hours before an article comes out that the Feds are endorsing Iamthedanger for CP. A person that the author of that article basically admits that your party knows nothing about.
Coincedence maybe,
But as far as I am concerned doubtful.
You do know what Iamthedanger is don't you?
That is who you want to run the show?
Or did your orders come from higher up in your pecking order?
Or do you all just endorse people you know nothing about?
Either answer is quite disturbing.
No way out of this sh*tshow kiddos.
Country first.
Yeah right.
Empty words Feds.
We have a primary Shiloh. The primary had been running for 48 hours. Naz only just came back to the game but volunteered to do our media announcement. It's not that deep
I think Stormin has had a very good term and I am surprised he lost our primary, but to imply that our primary was "orders from up top" I find offensive and a step too far.
Yeah, we have a primary that is announced beforehand, it is pretty simple and concise stuff.
I know he hits things really hard.
That is nice.
Who were you again?
Oh never mind, I don't care.
Enjoy, which I am sure will be a short stay.
Shiloh, once again this is not a hit article. If it were a hit article I would say it was. As I have said I think you know me better than to believe otherwise. I have been around for years and during those years I would like to think that I have been pretty consistent in how I operate. You also have been around for a long time you know what a hit article is, Israel Stevens and his articles come to mind as a strong example of actual hit articles.
I also don't take orders. This might sound arrogant and maybe it is but at this point in my erep journey I want nothing and I need nothing. I stay to give stuff away and help where I can. Even when I still had aspirations I did not take orders. That's why I lost several CP elections I would not march to Pfeiffer's tune and I paid the price in electoral defeat.
Contrary to what many people used to think I am not the Federalist Party and never have been. I have one vote that I use in primaries and on election days. It has been many years since I have tried to endorse a candidate in a primary or try to sway the outcome of a primary through what influence I may have. This particular primary was not one of them. Nor am I really Federalist leadership at this point, they do allow me to stay in the leadership discord and forum sections ( more as a courtesy I think than any reflection of any contributions that I have made over the last several years), but my contributions in terms of deciding party direction are nil. I hope this helps clear up any misunderstandings.
oh well sometimes I go a little too far what can I say?
But do you realize what you endorsed?
That is who you want running the country or do you have no idea what he is?
Will he mobilize all his cousins to vote for him?
That is what the Feds endorse?
A Bot Master?
Over a real person. That is what the Feds want?
Or did you not know?
Because that is what Iamthedanger is.
Defend that choice.
Please.
He hits things really hard in a game about trophy hunting battles.
I miss the old days man
The comments to this article are interesting because they have seamed to glean the worst possible interpretation of the work, which as someone who enjoys fun, I can't argue against. But I sort of have to ask why that may be the case, and I do believe it is the inherent desires of everyone playing this game to have something to talk about, something to write about, and in fact something to log in about.
I have wrote about this in the past, my article "Where are all the Fun Nations?" (https://www.erepublik.com/en/article/where-are-the-fun-nations--2769477/1/20) Where I sort of reminisced about the past at a more international scale, less a national one. But maybe I missed the mark and should have mentioned how ruckus the old order used to be between parties, PTO attempts, and the like.
I am thankful an article like this came around because I enjoy a little tea here and there, a little drama, and a little emotional expenditure before an inevitable return the monotonous and boring clicking of work, training, and battlefields where we fight over fake gold metals.
[removed]