Brethren and patriots of our vaunted nation: Having decimated the rampant scourge of smallpox and heaved off the yoke of Mother England (the term so used by myself in ironic jest, for not hardly could the warm constitution of motherhood be aptly applied to that monarchical State), I regret to affirm that we find ourselves beshadowed by an encroaching threat: the scurrilous repression of unchained speech. To invoke the words and deeds of our esteemed forefathers, themselves guided by the profound wisdom of classical antiquity

— Octavian Nothing,
The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Vols. I & II

This post is part of our ongoing Horn Book KidLit Election 2012 coverage. This week, Democratic candidates present their platforms; polls will open for the Democratic ballot Thursday, September 6^th, and close at noon on Friday, September 7^th. Look for our announcement of the winning Democratic presidential candidate and his or her running mate Friday afternoon. Last week, the Republican candidates had their say; see the results of their primary here. Click on the tag KidLit Election 2012 to see all posts.