NORTON FAREWELLS POLITICAL HOME: RESIGNS RNC

NORTON DEPARTS POLITICS FOR THE COURT
TITULIA'S FIRST DJ AND RADIO VOICE COMING NEXT WEEK







STORY BY BAILEY MOREVILLE
EDITORIAL PARTNER


IN A DAILY ROUTINE set like clockwork Monday-Friday and sometimes at odd hours during the presidential campaigns, party staff at RNC national party office sign in and sign out.

A simple employment and building security procedure until today, held special meaning at 5:01 PM Titulia Standard Time on Tuesday afternoon 30th June 2009. A man - not a monument. A person which most if not all citizens alike either revere, admire or both - Republican Chairman and former presidential nominee T. J. Norton resigned the Republican Party.

Mr Norton - famed for his wit, sterling character and sharp tact has now entered the Titulian private sector full-time as a member of the Bar Association, accredited Legal Aid and full service professional law firm principal, the new "Voice of Titulia" as the Lead Presenter and Disc Jockey or the Republic's first professionally-hosted 24/7 radio station - T21 FM Radio - and Director of the fastest growing corporation in Titulia - the Titulia Media Group ("TMG").

Mr Norton accepted an exclusive interview with the Herald to explain why he has left the party he is synonymously identified with and what his future plans are. As the transcript was taken from a telephone conversation with the conservative giant, editing as necessary to maintain credibility of the flow of the conversation.



BAILEY MOREVILLE: T. J. - thanks for agreeing to sit down with us and appreciate you taking the time especially with this emotional move.

T. J. NORTON: As long as you're buyin' the coffee I'll spring for my own gold watch.

B.M. : *Laughs* Rumour has it your assistant-level staff are looking at some kind of decorative Republican-branded elephant.

T.N. : I'll take it any way I can get it.

B.M. : *Laughs* No .. I mean - seriously. What can I say? I mean, when you ask most citizens ..

T.N. : [Interrupts] Mhm. You referring to 'those' people?

B.M. : -- I'm trying to be magnanimous, Mr Chairman.

T.N. : -- and you have succeeded.

B.M. : Thank you, kind sir.

T.N. : You are most welcome.

B.M. : Ok seriously now. What do I want to ask? Why now? What for? What are you planning to do next?

T.N. : Well -- if you want answers to all three you're going to have to give me a refill.

* Both laugh*

B.M. : Ok so, are the citizens no longer going to benefit from the wisdom of the most senior political figure in the republic?

T.N. : Ya know -- Titulia is parallel to real-life on this point. I never say never.

B.M. : You have served in real-life as a Legislative Liaison, Deputy Chief of Staff for Administration, Chief of Staff and now you are running for local government election with a massive popularity showing in your city.

If I can ask -- one thing that's astounded me since following Titulia has been that we've seen a number of citizens come and go because of one reason or the other. Some of these citizens have been qualified in the areas they work or play in the virtual republic. Why is it do you think that Titulians haven't elected you yet?


T.N. : You know I -- when I first arrived in Titulia in January I never thought for one moment that I would end up becoming one of the Republic's most influential people, certainly not a company director or law firm principal. Titulia - to me - is like answering the ephemera itself - the trivia - the unanswered law review note - although notes aren't but I'm employing an appropriate adage to suit.

The school-boy try-outs for 'wannabe' grown-up like personalities that take stage have often made Titulia lack in common sense, responsible governmental mechanics - let alone agenda itself. The foundation of a nation itself has taken a back seat and that's not my scene. I'm about getting to work not holding a title for the sake of some form of accolade. My own real-life success keeps me satisfied perhaps it's what these poor souls are missing. Once some of these more negative citizens die off I might run to make difference for a brighter republic.


B.M. : According to the newspaper's editor, alleged emails in the possession of the Linardist Party newspaper the Titulia Times mention three of your political adversaries behind the Dealgate scandal moved to ensure you could not run for election. What do you say to that?


T.N. : Well firstly, Bailey. Let's talk about what we're actually talking about.

To date, not one single Linardist to any kind of degree - despite issuing perceived threats about this and that or the other - have shared one single ounce of courage between them to even put their real name to any of it? My name is there front and centre. Right or wrong in whatever view - I stand up like a man and say 'my name is T. J. Norton and these are the things I believe'. Not 'MC Daddy D' or 'William D. Money' or 'Fatty McPatty' or whatever. Come on!

*Both laugh* I tend to not lend too much - if not any credibility to opponents who don't at the very least have the guts to come out from hiding behind their monitors and sign on the bottom line.


B.M. : Perhaps they feel afraid of cyber stalking?

T.N. : Ok let's go along with that for a moment. I have personal information on 1 in 4 active citizens in the Republic either given to me because we're friends or has been obtained for legally-related reasons. To say that the information in itself is unattainable by any other means is a flawed conception.

I can't speak for these gentlemen, but I don't have the time even if I wanted to give a darn.


B.M. : Tru' dat - well said.

T.N. : Thanks I thought you'd like that one.

B.M. : *Laughs* So how were things when you left the party office?

T.N. : To be honest a whole lot less eventful than here at the Herald, B. *Laughs*

I knocked my desk as my own symbolic way to say goodbye, shook a few hands, tossed my security pass to the good officers at RNC security and left for the last time on a temporary pass to the secure car-parking garage and left.

B.M. : No sad exchanges between you and the former Vice President?

T.N. : Karl? pfft. Nah. We don't do emotion. No - Karl was busy with the strategists and I wanted it that way - as little noise as possible.

You know what's funny though -- I saw a list put out earlier today by national strategic moron John Daly who is practically deaf when it comes to message politics - that list is a poorly choreographed comedy sketch.

Let me go on the record and say this much. Karl Christen - will no doubt - none whatsoever - be the next president of Titulia should he run - and bless his heart for doing so. He was great as a cabinet secretary, he was a terrific vice president and he will make one of the best chief executives this nation has ever seen bar none.

B.M. : I wouldn't want to run against him given that endorsement. Wow. On other fronts, any "bad blood" between you and other Republicans?

T.N. : Let's say that the Conservative Branch and I don't talk alot. There seems to be a bit of a rouse trying to be pulled off there it astounds me - so I didn't even bother.

If they spent half the time they've been spending proclaiming who is and isn't "Republican" enough by way of saying their branch is the 'real' conservative force of the party then the RNC would have an advance team strategy locked up 20 days out.

B.M. : Oook. So .. any last words for them?

T.N. : Got a joke for ya. What does the RNC and Wall Street have in common?

B.M. : What?

T.N. : They're both up sh*t creek and until they wake up to themselves they'll stay up there.

B.M. : I suppose asking you personally to either confirm or deny our report covering you and former President Dennis McVicker is a waste of time?

T.N. : See? You're great at this job!

B.M. : *Laughs* Aww -- thanks. So what are you planning to do now?

T.N. : Former President Meissner wants me to go golfing with him -- we compromised at mini golf and I have a sneaking suspicion he wants a hand with the windmill shot. I think we got it covered.

B.M. : Sounds like fun-and-a-half.

T.N. : From there I'll head straight into my legal work. As you would have no doubt heard I passed the bar in Titulia.

B.M. : Which one? *Laughs*

T.N. : Everyone wants to be a comedian today, hey? *Laughs*

B.M. : Sorry I couldn't help myself.

T.N. : Bet you couldn't. Ah man. *Laughs* Seriously, like, from there I'll be working my backside off at my new firm - Star and Associates Lawyers, LLC.

B.M. : Congratulations due, by the way.

T.N. : Thank you ma'am -- yeah ya know -- it's good. It's good all around. Between that and T21 Radio and TBW I'm going to have my hands full.

B.M. : Yeah -- but -- wasn't that the case before?

T.N. : Yeah - true -- but. What's important to note is that when you're a political figure you're expected to give an opinion on absolutely everything, take up sides, draw swords, tell the opposing debater why he's a complete f***wit and explain what he can do to fix it -- it's never-ending. In the private sector you can easily say, "Good day to you! Now f*** off".

B.M. : If only Titulian citizens were that honest with each other we might just have a ball game.

T.N. : I'm working on it it's a slow and painful process.

B.M. : Well keep trying, sir. -- Now, on the most serious note we've been all interview -- more like NBC Today.

T.N. : [Interrupts] Ha-ha! You get to play Meredith Vierra!

B.M. : Ha-ha! You get to play Al Roker!

T.N. : Ohh snap! Well done ole' girl.

B.M. : Thank you very much. Now back to the question -- what's the message you want to leave for the Republican base or for that matter any Titulian wanting to succeed?

T.N. : Three things. Stay away from John Daly, breeze past anything to do with the Linardist Party, don't play cards with former President Pijanowski he cheats like sh*t. I joke - only on the last point.

But seriously -- stay true to who you are. Even if you get called on an idea that you may have and someone has an issue with - look at it this way. Titulia has nothing to do with debate and all about the game itself - who wants to be the next president? Every comment you make or association you have will determine how to pieces fall on the board.

Along the way you are required to sacrifice a few pawns and even the rooks and knights will go but remember the similarity between the king and the president - they can only move one space at a time.

Private sector identities can govern from the sidelines, turn over any election, influence every single decision and be more powerful than any president. Choose wisely and absolutely anyone can succeed in Titulian politics.

B.M. : Powerful reminders of the things set to come. Will you miss the campaign excitement - the adrenaline - the thrill of the chase?

T.N. : Of course I will -- but you should have asked "is it worth the drama?" or "can I bring the reform Titulia needs to take her in the right direction by my efforts?" The answer to that is absolutely not. Combating ignorance and imperialism with truth, justice and old fashioned common sense is like doing the same thing over the same way and expecting a different result - we ain't.

B.M. : Something to remind us all. For the final time I get to say this - we've been speaking with outgoing Chairman, former presidential nominee and member of the Republican Party of Titulia -- the RNC - Mr T. J. Norton.

Thanks for your service, Mr Chairman.

T.N. : Thanks, B. See you on T21.