Charybdis - 10 March 2008 08:46 AM

I can guarantee you that Bill Clinton did NOT just hand the presidency to George Bush, nor will Bush willingly hand to Hillary if she wins.  It’s required by law, but they sure weren’t/won’t be happy about it.

Yes.  I hear the Clintons short-sheeted the beds and took all the toilet paper when they left the White House.

The Illuminati told me.

Charybdis - 10 March 2008 10:57 AM

But again you haven’t addressed the fact that, even if Hillary wins, it’s A) Not unprecedented, B) Not unconstitutional, C) Not a dynasty since they’re alternating political parties, and D) Not a dynasty since there doesn’t appear to be anyone to take over after them.

Regarding A and B: Hitler gained power democratically at the time. And then used his power to corrupt it.

Not that I think the Clintons, Bushes or whoever was past president of the USA is the likeness of Hitler and/or out to corrupt his power (well, maybe W. ....), don’t get me wrong. Not at all. What I mean is that while it is not unconstitutional to be elected President if your husband or father has been, this doesn’t mean there is no potential harm in it.

You have to look at what was the intention at the time, of establishing a republic, with an elected president as head of state. I am pretty sure the intention was not to see multiple members of the same family occupy the office of President.

But then, as an European I care less. It’s your country, your political system.

LaMa - 10 March 2008 02:25 PM

Regarding A and B: Hitler gained power democratically at the time. And then used his power to corrupt it.

Yet he was the first of his family to be of any political influence.  He wasn’t any part of a dynasty.  If somebody’s going to try to overthrow the system and take power, then they’re going to do it whether they had a father in politics or not.

You have to look at what was the intention at the time, of establishing a republic, with an elected president as head of state. I am pretty sure the intention was not to see multiple members of the same family occupy the office of President.

Again, look at John Adams.  He was part of the group who came up with the Constitution, he was the first Vice President and the second President, and he got his son into politics to eventually become President as well.  Many of the other people who drafted the Constitution were also from politically-minded families.  The idea of an elected president wasn’t to keep people from the same family from being in charge, it was just to keep anybody from keeping unlimited power to themselves.  The people who wrote up the Constitution didn’t care if multiple generations of the same family held the office of President; heck, given the attitudes of the day, they probably assumed that politics to be pretty much dominated by a collection of upper-class families.

There is no unusual amount of nepotism going on in goverment, and there is no overall feeling or desire among the electorate to consider family ties in voting.  The US is about as far from dynastic rule as it is possible to get.

Tah - 10 March 2008 01:01 PM

Charybdis - 10 March 2008 08:46 AM

I can guarantee you that Bill Clinton did NOT just hand the presidency to George Bush, nor will Bush willingly hand to Hillary if she wins.  It’s required by law, but they sure weren’t/won’t be happy about it.

Yes.  I hear the Clintons short-sheeted the beds and took all the toilet paper when they left the White House.

The Illuminati told me.

If it was me I’d clog the toilet before I left. Badly.

With a possum or something. Or call the Marines, get them to come round and jam a puppy down the U-bend.

I hate to butt in.
But the more you respond to this thread, the more this BigLieTechnique fellow is going to keep comming back.
You want to chat, keep it in the Off Topic Area.
or atleast wait for Alex to consider a ChatRoom which I sujested ages ago.

BaconLettuceTomato is going to come back regardless.  It’s not as if he’s actually reading anything we post.  He just logs in to spout some new nonsensical ramblings, then leaves.

And this *is* our chat room, DJ.

DJ_Canada - 10 March 2008 11:14 PM

I hate to butt in.
But the more you respond to this thread, the more this BigLieTechnique fellow is going to keep comming back.
You want to chat, keep it in the Off Topic Area.
or atleast wait for Alex to consider a ChatRoom which I sujested ages ago.

With all due respect, DJ, threads evolve.
If you have a problem with people leading the thread off-topic, please let the Mods know - it’s their job to decide whether or not it’s appropriate.
BLT doesn’t answer anyone on any of his threads anyway, and since some Mods are posting on here, you can assume they’re aware of the conversation.

All I am saying is “Don’t feed the bear”

It doesn’t matter.
This bear has no teeth.

But being gummed can get uncomfortable after a while.

Teeth or not, I still do not wanna hug.