I would like to seek a third term as Minister of Foreign Affairs. For those of who do not know what I've accomplished, let me summarize. I've taken several embassy proposals to cabinet, explaining ways in which the region does or does not meet the standards for diplomatic relations (see the Diplomacy forum). I've suggested to cabinet closing a number of embassies in regions with little activity. I've also helped the region to sponsor its first ambassador's day celebration.

Apart from those activities, I've also participated in a number of animated cabinet discussion regarding the future of the region and I have attempted to ask the opinion of people in the region from time to time. As minister, I have always kept an open door and will always answer any questions.

One of the areas of growth this last term that I'm most proud of is that I'm starting to realize that the role of MoFA in the face of international crises is to gather as much information as possible about the situation, to talk to all involved parties when possible, and to move slowly so as not to over react to these situations.

Thoughts for the future

a. I'd like to improve the quality of the diplomatic relationships we have now
b. I'd like to continue to have discussions with a variety of regions in the hopes of making new friends in diplomacy.
c. I'd like to think about what informal diplomatic relations may mean.
d. Unlike like some of my baby-hating colleagues, I will kiss any babies put in front of me, provide they been properly sanitized.

A sanitized baby sounds like a oxymoron to me. :P

:clapping: :clapping:

I'm so glad you're running, JG!
You've done such a great job for Canada already and I can't think of anyone else I'd rather see in the position of MoFA! ^_^

Go, JG! :clap:

Personally, I prefer to shake the babies and kiss the mommies.... :P

Good luck JG. im sure you have this in the bag.

Frankly, your post could have listed twelve ways to kill me and I'd be completely oblivious.

I don't have to read your campaign speech to know that you have my support in your quest of re-election.

well put 420

Shaking babies, bad; Kissing mommies, good.

:blush: Thank you all for the support.

Conflict of Interest Statement: I do not have any conflicts of interest.

JG. Thank you for running. Stepping out of the protective pocket of impartiality for a moment, let me say that the way things stand right now, you are a great asset to this region.

JG, you have my full support behind you -- of course! :D Good luck :)

I'm behind you all the way JG!! :clapping:

That does me make a little nervous JT.


:P

You couldn't be safer JG. Unless you really are a Judith. :ph43r:

*Puts on cheerleader outfit*

GO JG GO JG GO JG GO GO! :clap: :clap: :clap:

Careful Bam. Liarg has a cup of ice water here somewhere.

meh, I'm not afraid of him.

*continues cheering*

:eyebrow:

woo hoo hoo!!
My money's on Bam Bam for sure!!

:clap: :clapping: :clap:

*puts on cheerleader outfit and runs to join Bam*

JG JG he's our man! If he can't do it, no one can!

On a slightly serious note, and realizing that due to an utter lack of challengers you could answer with a quote by Jack Handey, I'd like to ask which regions you think are most important to strengthen diplomatic ties with, and how you plan to achieve that.

Back when I was attempting to define a vocabulary for diplomatic relations, HB and others had made a good point about characterizing the amount of interactions between our regions and others in a prismatic scale.

I think that our relations with Texas, Equilism, Allied States of EuroIslanders, and Q102 are in excellent states. I think we are okay with most of our other regions. I'd like to work at improving the interaction with TPC, 10KI, and England specifically.

The hardest part in saying this for sure is that I don't have concrete measures by which to evaluate diplomatic relationships. Do I simply want to improve the flow of information (number of reports), co-involvement of ambassadors on both the foreign and Canadian boards (post counts), or co-regional events (conferences, celebrations, and sporting events)? I'm not sure. I'd like to work at solving that issue.

If elected, I will be seeking a deputy who can help me work through these issues before we take a proposal to cabinet and to the region. That person ideally would have been BCC, but she has said her schedule at the university is a little too intensive to let her particpate at the levels she'd like. So, I have yet to announce a deputy because I'm not sure who best can help. I know that writing the ambassador's report is one duty (with me doing a part) and the other responsibility for a deputy would be to improve the way we interact with diplomatic contacts.

This post was a little rambling; have I answered your question?

Give me a J!
J you got your J you got your J!
Give me a G!
G you got your G you got your G!

WHAT DOES THAT SPELL?!

JG!!!

*Does toetouch and runs around screaming!*

*puts on some upbeat music and starts a dance-cheer routine*

Here I have a Britney Spears cheerleading mix!!

(That isn't a lie, I really do have a Britney Spears Cheerleading mix that we used to use when I did cheerleading)

*Starts off with a high kick and then many fast moves. Does cute facial expressions the whole time*

*breaks into some dancing from She Gets What She Wants.*

*Does the dance from Mean Girls*

I actually know that dance...

The jingle bell dance?

*puts Santa hats on Bamada and herself*

Yeah that one

*replaces Santa hat with giant menorah hat*

*dances with Bam*

I've been working on a small campaign button, so I can capitalize on merchandising after I retire from public service, but the computers in Dallas are evil and don't like to do graphics.

It just occurred to me that I made the same blunder in answering this question as I had a month ago.

By naming regions, I do not mean that the ambassador's to this region are doing a poor job. In fact, I think we have an excellent ambassadorial corps. I mean to say that the MoFA would need, with other regions, to kick diplomacy up a notch. BAM! The issue involves the role of the MoFA in tying regions together and not with ambassadors who are already doing excellent and vital work for Canada.

Judith Gap being the only candidate running for MoFA will be acclaimed MoFA for the next term.

Congratulations.

May I be the second to congratulate you?

Yes ... I quite may.

Congratulations! I look forward, as always, to working with you in cabinet in the next term.