B5-Season 1-Presidentail election Question

Hi

We know that incumbent Present Luis Santiago promises to cut the budget and keep Earth out of war. His agenda for his second term includes cultivating a closer relationship with the Mars colony and "preserving Earth cultures in the face of growing non-Terran influences”.

What do we know specifically about policies proposed by his challenger Marie Crane? Are these stated anywhere?

I want to make references to the election in my intro adventure that i am planning. As the majority of my gaming group have watched little/no B5 I want to ease them in on a human colony before heading off to B5 for one of the pre-printed modules.

I know the major changed in EA policy came after VP Clark's coup-de-etat but I wanted to give a taster of it beforehand.

Cheers

James
 
Never said explicitely.

Since these were specifically identified as Santiago's policies, one can assume "reverse of the above" - i.e. trying to significantly increase Earth's position within the galactic economy and political framework - essentially, throwing more support behind projects like babylon 5.

I would assume she's either Pro-Earthforce or at least not rabidly Anti-Earthforce or else Ivanova wouldn't have considered voting for her no matter how many chins Clark had.

Earthforce was on a big refit and rebuild cycle at this point - all the 'directly after the war' stuff was just coming into service after a decade so Earth was more-or-less back to pre-war capability but there were conflicting voices as to how much more stuff Earthforce needed - the hoary old veterans of the line versus the new diplomats versus the hawks who thought they could have won the minbari war if only they'd been in charge (Like Jason Singh, now head of the Admiralty)
 
Why does it have to be the opposite? Could it not also be possible that the political position of the opposition could just as well be completely something else different that is entirely different? Could it also be possible that both parties seek the same objective but desire to use different methods to achieve the common goal?

The point being that just because one side of a political point or set of political points advocates certain goals or objectives does not grant an automatic that the other side is completely opposite down the line on everything.

It might also help IF a viewing of the first Bab 5 movie ("In the Beginning") and perhaps a viewing of the first Babylon 5 episode were held before beginning the game. The movie would give basic overall background. The first episode is a good introduction to the procedures and atmosphere of Babylon 5, the station.
 
I quite like the idea of Marie Crane policies not being diametrically opped to Santiago. I like B5 because it is not black and white- most organisations are varying shades of grey.

I don't want the PC's thinking that challenger is "good" and incumbent is "bad", especially before Clake's coup-de-etat. Or vice versa.

Good idea on showing the1st episode before first session.

Thanks

James
 
On a different note, what say do Mars and other human colonies have in the governing of Earthforce.

Thinking about the "no taxation without representation" angle.

I can see "Marsies" being disgruntled at having to pay tax for Earthforce. Whilst "Earthers" might resent the extra expenditure incurred by Mars colony due to the inhospitable climate.

Thanks

James
 
'LBH- you were correct as usual. EA factbook shows that Mars has 2 senators out of 120. Incredible when you think that UK alone has 3 EarthGov senators.

If Santiago is promising to keep earth out of war and cultivate closer relationships with mars, I cant see these being anything that Marie Crane's campaign would necessarily disagree with. We know that Clarke formed Office of Public Information and the Ministry for Public Morale- it seems as if Santiago was more subtle about "preserving Earth cultures in the face of growing non-Terran influences”..

So it would come down to differences between the 2 campaigns on budget deficit and links with other races. One thought I had would be for increased investment in Babylon 5 station itself, using the half-finished spaces in Grey and Brown sectors.

Maybe a proposed investment by EarthGov in diplomatic budget to allow the League of Non Aligned Worlds to have their own diplomatic offices on B5/ IIRC the league currently have to use their own suites or hire conference rooms to conduct any diplomatic business.

I dont have to go into huge details- Marie Crane was defeated after all and so none of her proposals came to pass. But I wanted to have enough to put the election into context.

Cheers

James
 
Back
Top