Bush Bashing

[Tom]

All this activity about the U.S. president got me curious about other world leaders. Just how many votes did the Prince of Wales get in the last election?

[Nick Grana]

Some say Bush is going to get 2 people on the supreme court that will recind the amendment limiting presidential terms and Bush may be prez for life---what are your thoughts on this?---Uh Oh
On the voting part, you can't go by the number of people voting but the percentage of total population that vote. I can't find any info to support the question or other countries either. In the U.S. it really doesn't matter how many people vote for whom. The electorial college just turns close counts over to the Supreme Court and they choose who they want.

[Miz]

The Supreme Court can't rescind a constitutional amendment. That has to be either passed by 2/3 majority of both houses of Congress and then ratifed by 2/3 of the states or through a constitutional convention of 2/3 of the states which then sends the proposed amendment back to the states where it must be passed by a 2/3 majority of their legislatures. The Supremes aren't all-powerful, fortunately.

As far as I know (too lazy to do any research on it), the 2000 election was the only one that was contested and ended up in the Supreme Court. The Supremes only rule on constitutional issues and the issue in that case was equal protection and due process. Florida's attempt to recount only some votes in some counties that met an "undervote" requirement was deemed to violate both.

[Nick Grana]

Sorry, Miz. I oversimplified.
I thought this was a pretty good article on voter turnout and other things:
Voter Turnout It's a shame the U.S. is in the lower percentage of voter turnouts.
Didn't vote? Quit your bich'n.

[Miz]

The low U.S. voter turnout is even more amazing when viewed in light of people who risk their lives to vote. The most recent examples I can think of at the moment are Afghanistan and Iraq. There was a very real life-and-death risk to standing in line to vote in either country's elections yet both had higher turnouts than the U.S. usually does.

All Americans risk is being late to lunch or missing that all-important 20% off sale at the mall yet they stay away from the polls in droves.

I've heard all the usual excuses..."I'm only one vote so it doesn't make any difference" and "I don't like any of the candidates" and, my all-time favorite, "I'm too busy."

I reply to the first with, "Good! That makes my vote count double." To the second, "Yeah, sometimes it's like voting for the least worst but getting the least worst elected is better than having to put up with the worst." To the last one, "I've noticed that people always have time to do the things they want to do."

Yeah, I've irritated a few people but at the very least they don't get into "why I don't vote" discussions with me.

While those of us who live in rural areas may be dismissed as hicks, at least we tend to vote. The average turnout in my underpopulated county (approximatel 2400 people, about 1200 registered voters) is close to 75%.

[dammit]

Just how many votes did the Prince of Wales get in the last election?

We don't vote for that Idiot... he's not a politician.. he's Royal.. so we are stuck with him... sadly.

[Mr Bean]

He has got a good title though.

Snurfen is commonly known as the p***k of Wales.

[Snurfen]

thats where Lesley Philips got his catchprase "bang on, Princess"

[Snurfen]

Feel a bit sorry for Old Charley. Fancy being named after a pub!!
Could've been worse, they could have called him the "Frog n Parrot"

[Mr Bean]

Originally Posted by Snurfen

thats where Lesley Philips got his catchprase "bang on, Princess"

I'm sure I've got a photograph of that somewhere.

If I remember rightly it's a Range Rover though

[Tom]

I start my morning by dropping this silly dig here, fully expecting to return to find some loyal subjects givin' me the verbal evils. Instead, it's a coupla' Taffy emmas mass producing drivel again.

[Mr Bean]

Sorry to disappoint you me old fruit.

[Nick Grana]

Miz, one more to add to your excuse list.
Who are you voting for?
I'm voting for the other?
That means our votes cancel, so what's the use. Let's go get a beer.
Yes, people risked their lives to cast a vote in some countries recently.
But don't forget those of us who risked and lost our lives to protect the right to vote right here.

[dammit]

Well.... i tried.....

[Tom]

How about that Brit-speak, hey. People must think I was raised on those flaming puddings I saw in A Christmas Carol. Felt a bit like Pip there for a moment.