Greetings, everyone. I am Maestro the Stampede, candidate for the presidency of the United States of the Forums. As you all know, the race for president is well underway, with each candidate showing their strengths and weaknesses, as well as their true colours. While many candidates are well known amongst the membership, you may be wondering:
Who is Maestro the Stampede?
First and foremost, I am the only candidate not resorting to mudslinging. I may chastise fellow candidates who display unsavoury behaviour in the Shoutbox, but I do that only to try and protect their integrity as a candidate. After all, who wants to vote for someone who wishes death upon their opponents in a democratic forum such as ours, who stoops so low as to claim their rivals perform nefarious deeds in their spare time? Not I.
And who else tries to protect their opponents? Not a single candidate.
The strength of my opponents reside in their reputations. They have been here longer, that cannot be disputed. In the long run, however, that may be their only saving grace. Their weakness is common, their weakness is mutual: they resort to mudslinging.
Why support those who sling mud, when that is all too prevalent in modern politics? When you watch television during an election, there will be ads to try and convince you to vote for a particular person. Sure, that is all fine and dandy. But, instead of showcasing what the politician they are trying to promote can do for you, they will display why you should not vote for their opponent without giving you a reason to vote for the one who is being promoted.
I, however, respect each opponent, and instead rely on my strengths to propel myself ahead. I will stand tall, I will keep my head up high.
What are my strengths?
To put it simply, I am the underdog. I am the only candidate representing Emerald Team, the new members amongst the United States of the Forum. My opponents have unknowingly splintered the vote, creating a divide between members with more seniority in the community. What divide have I created? Just the divide between other candidates and myself.
I do what I can to make other members feel welcome. While I may poke fun, each joke I make is in good taste, with positive intentions. Know that I am not laughing at you, but with you. I put forward my best effort to cheer other members up. If you have a problem, you are more than welcome to talk to me about it, and I will do everything in my power to try and fix it. If you are nervous about something, I will motivate you to man up and JUST DO IT!
More importantly, you can trust me. I am fiercely loyal to my friends, and I shall come to their aid in their time of need, as shown with my tendency to choose the Drop Shield and Regeneration armour abilities in Halo Reach and Halo 4. I will not betray you, even if you betray me. I remain focused on the mission at hand, and will make sure that everyone stays on course.
Why should you vote for me in the upcoming election?
I shall positively represent this forum through my words and my actions. If I am to be sent on diplomatic missions to other Halo forums, I shall give them a "Hello" that all of 343i.org can be proud of.
I also have a vast experience in governing. My governing experience goes back five years, to the formation of the Empire of Alexhstan. During that time, I have fended off invaders and fought those who would otherwise destroy the integrity and rules bounding which create the very foundation of the Nationsverse. Now, Alexhstan waits. It is the hero that the Nationsverse deserves, but not the one it needs right now.
I am the hero that the United States of the Forum deserves, and the one it needs right now. I will pull our forum out of the depression, and continue our march to glory!
And remember... what other members do...
Thank you for your time.
This message has been approved by Maestro the Stampede and created by the Maestro the Stampede for President group.