- turnover rate (hehe) - I think that each team should be given 24 hours to play each turn.  That way, no matter where in the globe you are, you won't have an excuse for not playing.  I think there should be no minimum amount of time though so if possible (and our government style permits ), we can fly through a few turns a day at times.
- game speed - fastest IMO
- game settings - I guess this could be polled but I'd like a smallish map with not too many AI.  Maybe a funky type of map like the inland sea thingy? 
- victory conditions - I think domination should definately be allowed as well as time.  Diplomatic almost seems pointless.  Your other uncoventional VC's sound intriguing as well.

I agree with most of that, though Christmas is a bit optimistic - that only gives us 70 turns (approx) at one turn per team per working day so anything we can to to get the turnover rate up would be high priority.

We also need to dictate, er, discuss what reports, if any, should be posted so that the outside world may marvel at our deeds of cunning and cruelty (us) or indecisive paralysis (them)

Oh, and I agree with all of the above.

I don't know how you feel about this TC, but perhaps we could employ your services as a roving journalist and war correspondent. If both leaders of each team write up full reports for their teams once a week, and if you had access to each team's private forum, you could report on anything interesting in the form of an article or newspaper column, with comments, pics, interviews, you-name-it. An independent observer might prove just the interface we need between the two teams and the "outside world" - a problem that has been bugging me since the outset.

And if not you, maybe someone else....? What do you think?