A Prayer for Political Incumbents
Vincent Parry
"May his days be few and let someone else take his position of leadership."
Look it up if you don't believe me!!
Percival P. Cassidy
IOW: Replace the person who's gradually figuring out how the system
works by a newbie who has to start from the beginning.
We should try it with our major corporations.
Perce
Larry
"Vincent Parry" <vi...@sq.net> wrote in message
news:i1qnui$7q3$1...@news.albasani.net...
Why parrot your favorite hate radio hosts?
David Nebenzahl
Eggs-zactly!
WTF is it with all this hoo-ha about term limits and incumbents? In
addition to the observation you made, it turns out that we already have
term limits, and a way to deal with incumbents who ought to be removed
from office: they're called ...
ELECTIONS!
(The *real* problem is getting $$$$ out of elections[1], which of course
we've done practically nothing about. Can you say "publicly financed
elections"?)
[1] Of course, the recent Supreme Court decision (Citizens United v.
Federal Election Commission) sends us in the completely wrong direction
here.
--
The fashion in killing has an insouciant, flirty style this spring,
with the flaunting of well-defined muscle, wrapped in flags.
- Comment from an article on Antiwar.com (http://antiwar.com)
Percival P. Cassidy
>>> Psalm 109:8
>>>
>>> "May his days be few and let someone else take his position of
>>> leadership."
>>>
>>> Look it up if you don't believe me!!
>>
>> IOW: Replace the person who's gradually figuring out how the system
>> works by a newbie who has to start from the beginning.
>> We should try it with our major corporations.
>
> Eggs-zactly!
>
> WTF is it with all this hoo-ha about term limits and incumbents? In
> addition to the observation you made, it turns out that we already have
> term limits, and a way to deal with incumbents who ought to be removed
> from office: they're called ...
>
> ELECTIONS!
>
> (The *real* problem is getting $$$$ out of elections[1], which of course
> we've done practically nothing about. Can you say "publicly financed
> elections"?)
> [1] Of course, the recent Supreme Court decision (Citizens United v.
> Federal Election Commission) sends us in the completely wrong direction
> here.
Here is the proposal for political reform I posted in another ng just a
few weeks ago:
Hold a new election for all positions --
(a) A publicly funded election with a permanent prohibition of all other
political contributions, whether corporate or private.
(b) A permanent prohibition of political advertising by radio, TV and
print media.
(c) The public funding shall include the financing of printing and
distribution of policy statements (an agreed set maximum number of words
or pages) by each candidate to every household in his/her electoral
district (for elections to the House), state (for elections to the
Senate) -- or nationwide (for the President/VP). These could be separate
publications for each candidate, or they could to advantage be combined
in a single booklet to each household. Such publications to be in at
least both English and Spanish, and where more than x% (to be decided)
of the population of any area has as its mother tongue a language other
than those two, such publication should be in that language/those
languages as well.
(d) To become a candidate and thus qualify for such public funding and
get one's name on the ballot would require nomination by some specified
modest number of citizens and payment of a modest fee; both number and
fee might well vary according to the position being sought.
(e) Direct election of President/VP -- no Electoral College.
That should be a good start.
Unfortunately, most of it would be ruled unconstitutional. But now we
see all the problems with the "it-seemed-like-a-good-idea-at-the-time"
Constitution and its amendments -- or at least with the specific wording
that was employed.
Perce
Gordon Shumway
<Nob...@NotMyISP.com> wrote:
<Snip>
>Such publications to be in at least both English and Spanish,
>and where more than x% (to be decided) of the population of any
>area has as its mother tongue a language other than those two,
>such publication should be in that language/those languages as well.
<Snip>
Correct me if I am wrong, but I was certain that English was the
language of the U.S.A. Did this change?
hibb
You are wrong. The USA has no such designation.
You are welcome.
.
Gordon Shumway
wrote:
Thanks! If it wasn't for the internet I would have never known.
Stormin Mormon
balanced.
--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
.
"David Nebenzahl" <nob...@but.us.chickens> wrote in message
news:4c411195$0$2408$8226...@news.adtechcomputers.com...
Stormin Mormon
power.
Incidentally, as to replacing experienced guys. The LDS church does it
all the time. Of course, we have the power of God with us. That (God;
Heavenly Father) doesn't need replacing.
--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
.
"Percival P. Cassidy" <Nob...@NotMyISP.com> wrote in message
news:i1qpc9$u4$1...@news.eternal-september.org...
Bob Villa
That doesn't keep individuals from replacing Him all the time.
Kurt Ullman
"Percival P. Cassidy" <Nob...@NotMyISP.com> wrote:
>
> (a) A publicly funded election with a permanent prohibition of all other
> political contributions, whether corporate or private.
You won't get that though. Many different courts of many different
ideological outlooks have said that this won't fly. That pesky first
amendment thingy.
> (d) To become a candidate and thus qualify for such public funding and
> get one's name on the ballot would require nomination by some specified
> modest number of citizens and payment of a modest fee; both number and
> fee might well vary according to the position being sought.
You most likely won't get this either. Way too close to a poll tax
which has been tossed long ago.
>
> (e) Direct election of President/VP -- no Electoral College.
Until 2000 I probably would have agreed. We had enough trouble with
FL, just think what would have happened if we had to recount EVERY state
and EVERY precinct in every state. We'd still be at it.
>
--
I want to find a voracious, small-minded predator
and name it after the IRS.
Robert Bakker, paleontologist
Stormin Mormon
the same language. Blimey, my tyke just turned up the telly. I've got
to go to the ironmonger and buy a bulb for my torch. And put some
petrol in the lorry, on the way back to my flat.
I don't think the USA has an official language. I'd like to see
American as the official language. Stop doing government things in
multiple languages. I'd also like to see American only at the stores.
Like Lowe's, I try not to shop there. Everything is bilingual with
American and Spanish. Disgusting.
--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
.
>
>
HeyBub
>
> Eggs-zactly!
>
> WTF is it with all this hoo-ha about term limits and incumbents? In
> addition to the observation you made, it turns out that we already
> have term limits, and a way to deal with incumbents who ought to be
> removed from office: they're called ...
>
> ELECTIONS!
>
Nope. I'm in Texas. No matter how hard I work or how often I vote, I can't
do anything about Harry Reid or Chuck Schumer. Their votes affect ME, but my
vote has no effect on them.
> (The *real* problem is getting $$$$ out of elections[1], which of
> course we've done practically nothing about. Can you say "publicly
> financed elections"?)
Nonsense. There's too LITTLE money spent on elections. Some wag figured out
we spend more on potato chips than we do on presidential elections. George
Will proposed three simple rules for campaign finance:
1. No foreign contributions,
2. No cash, and
3. Instant, public, reporting.
If a voter doesn't want to vote for a candidate that takes 95% of his
campaign funding from the rutabaga industry, or if the voter supports the
hand-picked and financed pawn of the Aircraft Propeller Manufacturer's
Association, he can make his decision based on the support the candidate
receives. If, for example, a voter sees that the Sierra Club (or the NRA or
the ACLU, etc.) promotes a candidate, the voter can easily make the
determination that a group knows more about, and favors, the candidate. To
the degree, then, that the voter agrees with the aim of the supporting
group, the voter can make a better decision about the candidate.
>
>
> [1] Of course, the recent Supreme Court decision (Citizens United v.
> Federal Election Commission) sends us in the completely wrong
> direction here.
The Supreme Court held that people who have banded together and pooled their
money to support a candidate are exercising a constitutionally-protected
form of political support and speech. Absent that ruling groups as diverse
as the ACLU and the NRA could not support the candidacy of people friendly
to their cause.
A politician needs two things to get elected: support of the voters and
money. Money (i.e., "special interests") is the counterpoint to mob rule.
California, to a significant degree, is a "mob rule" state where all manner
of wacky propositions find their way onto the ballot - and get adopted. For
example, a proposal to limit the number of children in a classroom to, say,
25, sound good to the general public but may have profound, and expensive,
consequences.
HeyBub
> I think the OP meant to replace the ones who had been corrupted by
> power.
>
> Incidentally, as to replacing experienced guys. The LDS church does it
> all the time. Of course, we have the power of God with us. That (God;
> Heavenly Father) doesn't need replacing.
Uh, so do the Catholics. In fact, all hierarchical religions do.
Jews, Muslims, Southern Baptists, most evangelical churches, and others
replace their local authorities regularly, but they don't have a central
authority TO replace.
The Daring Dufas
> English and American have some similarity. But, they are clearly not
> the same language. Blimey, my tyke just turned up the telly. I've got
> to go to the ironmonger and buy a bulb for my torch. And put some
> petrol in the lorry, on the way back to my flat.
>
> I don't think the USA has an official language. I'd like to see
> American as the official language. Stop doing government things in
> multiple languages. I'd also like to see American only at the stores.
> Like Lowe's, I try not to shop there. Everything is bilingual with
> American and Spanish. Disgusting.
>
Perhaps we should all speak Canadian, eh? Show those Brit hosers
who's boss, eh.
TDD
Kurt Ullman
"HeyBub" <hey...@NOSPAMgmail.com> wrote:
> The Supreme Court held that people who have banded together and pooled their
> money to support a candidate are exercising a constitutionally-protected
> form of political support and speech. Absent that ruling groups as diverse
> as the ACLU and the NRA could not support the candidacy of people friendly
> to their cause.
And the law in question only was involving 90 days before a regular
election and some time before a primary. It also SPECIFICALLY reiterated
that it was okay to put caps on what everybody could give to the
CANDIDATES.
David Nebenzahl
> In article <i1r81v$jjt$1...@news.eternal-september.org>,
> "Percival P. Cassidy" <Nob...@NotMyISP.com> wrote:
>
>> (d) To become a candidate and thus qualify for such public funding and
>> get one's name on the ballot would require nomination by some specified
>> modest number of citizens and payment of a modest fee; both number and
>> fee might well vary according to the position being sought.
>
> You most likely won't get this either. Way too close to a poll tax
> which has been tossed long ago.
How do you figure that's like a poll tax? A poll tax is a levy on
*voters*; he's talking about a small fee for *candidates*. As things
stand now, candidates for many offices have to pay a nominal filing fee,
as an indicator of good faith, I suppose; I assume that's what he means.
As long as it isn't an insurmountable barrier to some class of
candidates compared to others, it ought to pass Constitutional scrutiny.
>> (e) Direct election of President/VP -- no Electoral College.
>
> Until 2000 I probably would have agreed. We had enough trouble with
> FL, just think what would have happened if we had to recount EVERY state
> and EVERY precinct in every state. We'd still be at it.
Well, we do have these newfangled things called "computers", you know,
which can help count votes even when paper ballots are used. Should be
do-able.
Kurt Ullman
David Nebenzahl <nob...@but.us.chickens> wrote:
> On 7/17/2010 5:09 AM Kurt Ullman spake thus:
>
>
> > You most likely won't get this either. Way too close to a poll tax
> > which has been tossed long ago.
>
> How do you figure that's like a poll tax? A poll tax is a levy on
> *voters*; he's talking about a small fee for *candidates*. As things
> stand now, candidates for many offices have to pay a nominal filing fee,
> as an indicator of good faith, I suppose; I assume that's what he means.
> As long as it isn't an insurmountable barrier to some class of
> candidates compared to others, it ought to pass Constitutional scrutiny.
Assuming that, but it sounded like something in addition to the
filing fee to my reading. The main reason I thought it might be
constitutionally suspect is that the whole point was to make sure some
people were unable to run. That is was a way to screen out, then it
would be suspect. For the reasons you suggested.
>
> >> (e) Direct election of President/VP -- no Electoral College.
> >
> > Until 2000 I probably would have agreed. We had enough trouble with
> > FL, just think what would have happened if we had to recount EVERY state
> > and EVERY precinct in every state. We'd still be at it.
>
> Well, we do have these newfangled things called "computers", you know,
> which can help count votes even when paper ballots are used. Should be
> do-able.
Won't be. If you want a really interesting disertation on this find
the Ca Supreme Court opinion on whether the Recall Election that
eventually lead to Ahnold's coronation could be held. (Sorry don't have
the citation right off). They went into rather long and involved
discussion of error rates, and even computers had error rates in the +-
3% range. 2000 was well within that error rate.
Most of the computer readers were higher. I don't think it is
possible to get any system to the margin of error of less than 1/2 of
1%, the difference in 2000.
Percival P. Cassidy
>>> You most likely won't get this either. Way too close to a poll tax
>>> which has been tossed long ago.
>> How do you figure that's like a poll tax? A poll tax is a levy on
>> *voters*; he's talking about a small fee for *candidates*. As things
>> stand now, candidates for many offices have to pay a nominal filing fee,
>> as an indicator of good faith, I suppose; I assume that's what he means.
>> As long as it isn't an insurmountable barrier to some class of
>> candidates compared to others, it ought to pass Constitutional scrutiny.
> Assuming that, but it sounded like something in addition to the
> filing fee to my reading. The main reason I thought it might be
> constitutionally suspect is that the whole point was to make sure some
> people were unable to run. That is was a way to screen out, then it
> would be suspect. For the reasons you suggested.
What I had in mind was a somewhat nominal filing fee (even a refundable
deposit in the event of gaining more than x% of the vote) as evidence of
good faith -- to replace the vast sums of money people spend now just to
get their name on the ballot paper.
I had friends in Australia who ran as candidates for a new political
party (which did not survive). Six signatures and a few hundred $$ to
get their names on the ballot for a State election; ten or twenty
signatures and $1000 to get their names on the Commonwealth (national)
ballot paper.
Perce
LSMFT
There is a proverb that states, "the rod is for the back of those who are
void of understanding".
--
LSMFT Consumption, the old new disease.
LSMFT
There is a proverb that states, "the rod is for the back of those who are
LSMFT
There is a proverb that states, "the rod is for the back of those who are
LSMFT
There is a proverb that states, "the rod is for the back of those who are
LSMFT
There is a proverb that states, "the rod is for the back of those who are
LSMFT
There is a proverb that states, "the rod is for the back of those who are
LSMFT
LSMFT
LSMFT
LSMFT
> Psalm 109:8
>
>
>
>
> "May his days be few and let someone else take his position of leadership."
>
> Look it up if you don't believe me!!
There is a proverb that states, "the rod is for the back of those who
are void of understanding".
--
LSMFT
I haven't spoken to my wife in 18 months.
I don't like to interrupt her.
Bob Villa
I'm betting...there's a proverb that states...etc,etc, duh!
Proteus IIV
> Psalm 109:8
>
> "May his days be few and let someone else take his position of leadership."
>
> Look it up if you don't believe me!!
ARE YOU RELATED TO PANCHO VILLA ?
MUST BE [;-)]
SEEMS LIKE THE LORD FAVORED DEMOCRACY WITH THIS PSALM EVEN BACK THEN
I AM PROTEUS
HeyBub
> In article <0ZGdnU6efM2vWtzR...@earthlink.com>,
> "HeyBub" <hey...@NOSPAMgmail.com> wrote:
>
>> The Supreme Court held that people who have banded together and
>> pooled their money to support a candidate are exercising a
>> constitutionally-protected form of political support and speech.
>> Absent that ruling groups as diverse as the ACLU and the NRA could
>> not support the candidacy of people friendly to their cause.
>
> And the law in question only was involving 90 days before a regular
> election and some time before a primary. It also SPECIFICALLY
> reiterated that it was okay to put caps on what everybody could give
> to the CANDIDATES.
"Only 90 days..." The difference between 90 days and one year is where the
line is drawn. The court held there can not be a line at all, no matter
where it might be.
We have "Freedom of Speech," but the court has allowed differing
restrictions based on the content. One of the most restricted is
"commercial" speech, for example, cigarette advertising. The restrictions
which the court holds most suspect and on which they frown severly is
"political" speech. True, they've allowed SOME restrictions, such as permits
and boundaries around sound trucks and parades, but, in general, the court
has traditionally cleaved to the notion that polictical speech should be
almost without limits.
For example, some years ago a New England local candidate proposed a TV
commercial featuring a nude model. The TV station declined to run the ad and
the politician sued. The court held that, as a political speech, the ad
trumped decency laws.
As for money, the struck-down law permitted the NY Times to print anything
for or against a candidate, but prohibited me from running my own small
printing press with the same story. The court essentially held that "money"
= "press" and trash-canned limits on contributions.
Proteus IIV
> Kurt Ullman wrote:
BOO WHOO [;-(]
THIS IS A HOME REPAIR GROUP
TAKE YOUR A POLITICAL RANTS ELSEWHERE
I AM PROTEUS
Kurt Ullman
"Percival P. Cassidy" <Nob...@NotMyISP.com> wrote:
> What I had in mind was a somewhat nominal filing fee (even a refundable
> deposit in the event of gaining more than x% of the vote) as evidence of
> good faith -- to replace the vast sums of money people spend now just to
> get their name on the ballot paper.
Thanks, I stand better informed (grin)
HeyBub
>
> BOO WHOO [;-(]
>
> THIS IS A HOME REPAIR GROUP
> TAKE YOUR A POLITICAL RANTS ELSEWHERE
>
> I AM PROTEUS
"Proteus" is the illegitimate (bastard) son of Posiedon and assign the task
of herding sea turtles for eternity.
Bob Villa
It's not my quote...what the...?
Proteus IIV
YES MY LITTLE SEA TURTLE COME COME ALONG
I AM PROTEUS
Proteus IIV
YOU SEE A FOREST NEVER STOPPING TO REALLY LOOK AT THE TREES
I AM PROTEUS
willshak
Canadian is the same as American, except for the pronouncing of any word
with "ou" in it.
--
Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY
In the original Orange County. Est. 1683
To email, remove the double zeroes after @
Kurt Ullman
willshak <will...@00hvc.rr.com> wrote:
> > Perhaps we should all speak Canadian, eh? Show those Brit hosers
> > who's boss, eh.
> >
> > TDD
>
> Canadian is the same as American, except for the pronouncing of any word
> with "ou" in it.
Which American? Heck, here in Indiana alone you can see 3-4 different
dialects of pronunciation and usage as you head from the Chicauga
suburbs down through the Southern accents around Lville or Cinci.
The Daring Dufas
> In article<bNWdnXZJLIY_ztrR...@supernews.com>,
> willshak<will...@00hvc.rr.com> wrote:
>
>>> Perhaps we should all speak Canadian, eh? Show those Brit hosers
>>> who's boss, eh.
>>>
>>> TDD
>>
>> Canadian is the same as American, except for the pronouncing of any word
>> with "ou" in it.
>
> Which American? Heck, here in Indiana alone you can see 3-4 different
> dialects of pronunciation and usage as you head from the Chicauga
> suburbs down through the Southern accents around Lville or Cinci.
>
Here in Alabamastan there are four distinct dialects that I'm
familiar with. The Northern Hillbillies, the central hicks,
flat-landers and coast-liners around Mobile. There is actually
a region that was settled by the exiled officers of Napoleon's
army, they thought they could grow grapes there for wine making.
TDD