Welcome To The ATS Bully Pulpit: Civilized Political Debate

New Forum Coming Soon: The ATS Bully Pulpit

The term "bully pulpit" was first coined by U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt as he described the presidency being a public office of high exposure that provided the president (or other high profile national politician) with an opportunity to speak out and be received on any matter of importance. The so called "bully pulpit" can bring important political topics to the forefront that were not prominently in debate, due to any number of reasons.

Now, here on AboveTopSecret.com with our ever-increasing overall popularity and awareness, those who are concerned with the nature of modern political debate are afforded a new high profile "bully pulpit" venue.


Over the next couple of days, we'll be rolling out this new and special forum, where our rules of conduct will be an exceptionally strict interpretation of our existing Terms & Conditions... in addition to two simple core rules...

No Partisanship Bickering: Posts that engage in the all to typical partisan tactics of divisive bickering will not be allowed.

Focus On The Issues: Posts that focus on unrelated rumors associated with candidates and other political personalities are not allowed.


Those who wish to participate in the forum will post a public acceptance of this pledge: "I, _____________, an ATS member concerned about real and important political issues in this 2008 election season promise to do my best to elevate the tone of political debate through my participation in the ATS Bully Pulpit Forum. I will not post insults. I will not engage in divisive political rhetoric. I will focus on the issues important to the American public and the world at large. I will support my statements with confirmed facts. I will conduct myself in the best example of superior participation and fully embrace the spirit of 'deny ignornace.'" Acceptance of this pledge affords a member with the ability to post in the Bully Pulpit Forum... where only few can post, but all can read.


Posting in the Bully Pulpit forum will earn the member more points than other forums.

Each star awarded in the Bully Pulpit earns the post author 25 ATS points.


Exceptionally strict rules will apply, one post containing divisive political rhetoric or deceptive information about candidates will result in:
1- immediate removal from the Bully Pulpit access.
2- a five-day posting ban from participating in ATS.
3- immediate forfeit of all ATS points
4- if a member has fewer than 200 ATS posts, their account will be terminated

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The Kick-Off List of Participants:

seagull
Solarskye
nyk537
Amaterasu
Quazga
titorite
Maxmars
CA_Orot
optimus primal
Benevolent Heretic
marg6043
redmage
nina.
schrodingers dog
candyfloss
sheila947
Multiple Junkie
ItsTheQuestion
adrenochrome
Frankidealist35
Cuhail
Open_Minded Skeptic
Sestias
damntheptb
Andrew E. Wiggin
wisefoolishness
apk4o7mxb
rawsom
semperfortis
JacKatMtn
Nerdling
Hal9000
seagull
argentus
Malynn
DYepes
apolluwn
maudeeb
caballero
Blaine91555
Glencairn
Inannamute
jhill76
Hallberg Rassy
KrazyJethro
nunya13
The Vagabond
XTexan

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FOR THOSE WISHING TO JOIN

Send a U2U to [ur=http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/memcenter.php?action=send&username=SkepticOverlord]me[/url] or Djarums indicating your desire to adhere to these more strict rules of conduct in this forum. You will be provided with the ability to post in this forum so that you can add your personal pledge to this thread.






Enjoy.

Not to start off on the wrong foot by posting something off topic for this new forum, but thanks again SO.

I'm really looking forward to delving into the issues with these guys.

If you are not authorized to post, you can't see this in the recent posts on the main board, will this be enabled in the future? Or, is it meant to be like RATS, where only a select few can see it. But, that can't be right, because if you click board you can get to it.

[edit on 22-8-2008 by jhill76]

I, downtown436, an ATS member concerned about real and important political issues in this 2008 election season promise to do my best to elevate the tone of political debate through my participation in the ATS Bully Pulpit Forum. I will not post insults. I will not engage in divisive political rhetoric. I will focus on the issues important to the American public and the world at large. I will support my statements with confirmed facts. I will conduct myself in the best example of superior participation and fully embrace the spirit of 'deny ignornace.

Thanks for the Bully Pulpit. I think this should help ignorance to be denied at a much higher level.

I, GD, an ATS member concerned about real and important political issues in this 2008 election season promise to do my best to elevate the tone of political debate through my participation in the ATS Bully Pulpit Forum. I will not post insults. I will not engage in divisive political rhetoric. I will focus on the issues important to the American public and the world at large. I will support my statements with confirmed facts. I will conduct myself in the best example of superior participation and fully embrace the spirit of 'deny ignornace.'

I, dizziedame, an ATS member concerned about real and important political issues in this 2008 election season promise to do my best to elevate the tone of political debate through my participation in the ATS Bully Pulpit Forum. I will not post insults. I will not engage in divisive political rhetoric. I will focus on the issues important to the American public and the world at large. I will support my statements with confirmed facts. I will conduct myself in the best example of superior participation and fully embrace the spirit of 'deny ignornace.'

"I, Secret Shadow, an ATS member concerned about real and important political issues in this 2008 election season promise to do my best to elevate the tone of political debate through my participation in the ATS Bully Pulpit Forum. I will not post insults. I will not engage in divisive political rhetoric. I will focus on the issues important to the American public and the world at large. I will support my statements with confirmed facts. I will conduct myself in the best example of superior participation and fully embrace the spirit of 'deny ignornace.'"

I, Coven, an ATS member concerned about real and important political issues in this 2008 election season promise to do my best to elevate the tone of political debate through my participation in the ATS Bully Pulpit Forum. I will not post insults. I will not engage in divisive political rhetoric. I will focus on the issues important to the American public and the world at large. I will support my statements with confirmed facts. I will conduct myself in the best example of superior participation and fully embrace the spirit of 'deny ignorance.


Also, I pledge to be on my bestest behavior at all times as a representative of the Bully Pulpit...

I hope to contribute a new thread soon!

Coven

I, MemoryShock, an ATS member concerned about real and important political issues in this 2008 election season promise to do my best to elevate the tone of political debate through my participation in the ATS Bully Pulpit Forum. I will not post insults. I will not engage in divisive political rhetoric. I will focus on the issues important to the American public and the world at large. I will support my statements with confirmed facts. I will conduct myself in the best example of superior participation and fully embrace the spirit of 'deny ignorance'.

reply to post by SkepticOverlord

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I, kidflash2008, an ATS member concerned about real and important political issues in this 2008 election season promise to do my best to elevate the tone of political debate through my participation in the ATS Bully Pulpit Forum. I will not post insults. I will not engage in divisive political rhetoric. I will focus on the issues important to the American public and the world at large. I will support my statements with confirmed facts. I will conduct myself in the best example of superior participation and fully embrace the spirit of 'deny ignorance'"

Thank you for allowing me in here to post.

"I, realshanti, an ATS member concerned about real and important political issues in this 2008 election season promise to do my best to elevate the tone of political debate through my participation in the ATS Bully Pulpit Forum. I will not post insults. I will not engage in divisive political rhetoric. I will focus on the issues important to the American public and the world at large. I will support my statements with confirmed facts. I will conduct myself in the best example of superior participation and fully embrace the spirit of 'deny ignorance.'"


LETS ROCK & ROLL!!!!!!

"I, dawnstar, an ATS member concerned about real and important political issues in this 2008 election season promise to do my best to elevate the tone of political debate through my participation in the ATS Bully Pulpit Forum. I will not post insults. I will not engage in divisive political rhetoric. I will focus on the issues important to the American public and the world at large. I will support my statements with confirmed facts. I will conduct myself in the best example of superior participation and fully embrace the spirit of 'deny ignornace.'" Acceptance of this pledge affords a member with the ability to post in the Bully Pulpit Forum... where only few can post, but all can read.

"I, sos37, an ATS member concerned about real and important political issues in this 2008 election season promise to do my best to elevate the tone of political debate through my participation in the ATS Bully Pulpit Forum. I will not post insults. I will not engage in divisive political rhetoric. I will focus on the issues important to the American public and the world at large. I will support my statements with confirmed facts. I will conduct myself in the best example of superior participation and fully embrace the spirit of 'deny ignornace.'"

I, matth, an ATS member concerned about real and important political issues in this 2008 election season promise to do my best to elevate the tone of political debate through my participation in the ATS Bully Pulpit Forum. I will not post insults. I will not engage in divisive political rhetoric. I will focus on the issues important to the American public and the world at large. I will support my statements with confirmed facts. I will conduct myself in the best example of superior participation and fully embrace the spirit of 'deny ignorance.'

"I, SonicInfinity, an ATS member concerned about real and important political issues in this 2008 election season promise to do my best to elevate the tone of political debate through my participation in the ATS Bully Pulpit Forum. I will not post insults. I will not engage in divisive political rhetoric. I will focus on the issues important to the American public and the world at large. I will support my statements with confirmed facts. I will conduct myself in the best example of superior participation and fully embrace the spirit of 'deny ignornace.'"

"I, DreamTrekker, an ATS member concerned about real and important political issues in this 2008 election season promise to do my best to elevate the tone of political debate through my participation in the ATS Bully Pulpit Forum. I will not post insults. I will not engage in divisive political rhetoric. I will focus on the issues important to the American public and the world at large. I will support my statements with confirmed facts. I will conduct myself in the best example of superior participation and fully embrace the spirit of 'deny ignornace.'"

"I, Lee Anoma, an ATS member concerned about real and important political issues in this 2008 election season promise to do my best to elevate the tone of political debate through my participation in the ATS Bully Pulpit Forum. I will not post insults. I will not engage in divisive political rhetoric. I will focus on the issues important to the American public and the world at large. I will support my statements with confirmed facts. I will conduct myself in the best example of superior participation and fully embrace the spirit of 'deny ignornace.'"

Bully.

- Lee

Pledge for my conduct in the ATS 'Bully Pulpit' forum:

I, _Ian_McLean_, an ATS member concerned about real and important political issues in this 2008 election season promise to do my best to elevate the tone of political debate through my participation in the ATS Bully Pulpit Forum. I will not post insults. I will not engage in divisive political rhetoric. I will focus on the issues important to the American public and the world at large. I will support my statements with confirmed facts. I will conduct myself in the best example of superior participation and fully embrace the spirit of 'deny ignorance'.

"I, Skeptic1, an ATS member concerned about real and important political issues in this 2008 election season promise to do my best to elevate the tone of political debate through my participation in the ATS Bully Pulpit Forum. I will not post insults. I will not engage in divisive political rhetoric. I will focus on the issues important to the American public and the world at large. I will support my statements with confirmed facts. I will conduct myself in the best example of superior participation and fully embrace the spirit of 'deny ignornace.'"

This is my pledge to one and all!!

I, DevolutionEvolvd, an ATS member concerned about real and important political issues in this 2008 election season promise to do my best to elevate the tone of political debate through my participation in the ATS Bully Pulpit Forum. I will not post insults. I will not engage in divisive political rhetoric. I will focus on the issues important to the American public and the world at large. I will support my statements with confirmed facts. I will conduct myself in the best example of superior participation and fully embrace the spirit of 'deny ignornace.