IAP Political Forum

WOW

I just figured something out with the US.  You had elections last year in November yet your actual election year is next year.  So that makes me wonder just why have a 'mid' term election?  I mean what purpose do those results serve?  Will you all have to vote again next year?  And honestly what are the chances that the results will be different?


Now I may have greatly misunderstood what happened here so please excuse my ignorance and enlighten me!

I know it appears we have elections every year but really its because of the hype around the presidential primaries. Last year was congressional elections. This year its Primaries Republicans pick their favorites and Democrats pick theirs. Next year Those 2 will square off against each other.

Presidential Elections are every 4 years.
Senate every 6
And House of reps. every 2.

If Primaries are held early enough it appears we have elections every year.
I hope that clears it up.

it seems overwhelming but yah I understand.  We just have federal elections every 4 yrs and provincial every 4 yrs.  UNLESS there is a minority government and then they have so long before they have to set an election date.  I don't know that number off the top of my head.  Ahk probably does though lol ;)

Well, more of a clarification than thything else, a third of the senate every 2 years... so each piece will get elected every 6.

It's confusing. I never got a hold of it till just last year.

Tara,

Mid-Term elections are for the 'House of Represenatives', who serve a shorter term (two years) as well as one third of the Senate. The Senate and the Presidential and the House are at the same time likewise every four years.


Hope this didn't confuse you even more. Down here in Australia is sorta like the UK. The PM decides when to call an election if any.  ???


Warmest regards
Terry



.

it is nice to be able to throw people out every few years...but we rarely do. Resulting in a "Cluster!@#$ to the White House".

ah I see I see.....

crazy Americans... lol....

Chovy mate,

I make it a POINT to un-elect whomever is in.  ;)



Warm regards
Terry


.

I'm gonna try... :evil grin:

Something that occurred to me -- we need a party for the middle class.
It seems republicans cater to the rich, and democrats cater to the poor...what about the other 80% of us?

.


Mom Hall's Bar and Grill, Chattanooga Tennessee! Be there or be rectangular!  ;D




Joke Site, LOL

i'll vote for that.

uhg....tell me about it, I am so disgusted with the political atmosphere of today. I really would like to see some major changes in both parties.

I'd like to see more than 2, for starters...

There were a couple hundred presidential candidates in '04. The 'problem' is not a lack of options, it's that the US is a fairly homogeneous place politically. The two party system is self propagating, but if a bunch (in the hundred thousands or millions) of people cared there would be change, but the vast majority don't. We vote straight party ticket like our grandparents did and that's the way we likes it. If you don't, airfare to Europe is fairly cheap.

Take the 2006 Congressional election in which the Democrats took control with an electoral mandate, among promises of being the most honest, open, ethical congress in history. Today, 9 months later, they have an abysmal 11% approval rating. The next election results may well be different, but I'm not sure the overall results for us will be any different.
We do vote again next year, and the Democratic party should probably stop running against Bush and start talking about the future; come up with a modicum of ideas to solve our real problems. I imagine they'll switch to that mode, but it's getting late fast.

nothing gets done.

In essence the last election was simply a set up for the presidential election.  There are a number of issues being floated in order to prevent one party of the other of gaining control.  Any issue is seized upon by the other side.  The last election was just an opening salvo, not a change in policy.

BALDAR! I was wondering when you would finally join us!

Well, I have been busy and disgusted simultaneously.  What can I say.

But I think i might just hang out up here in the rarefied air for a while.

I am very neutral on the upcoming elections myself.  I kind of like Romney, mainly because there is little to dislike, but I am also suprised as Hillary's strength.

Finally I am disgusted with the republicans here in CA, they are one hell of a dysfunctional group.  Saw it myself when I was invited to Sacramento this past week to discuss water issues (something I tend to be familiar with in my career).  While the republicans in CA are right about building dams, it irks the hell out of me that they cant compromise in other areas in order to provide for a better future for CA growth.  I was suprised how they were ready to commit hara kiri rather than seek common ground.

Mind you the dems in Sacremento also seem to be just slightly to the left of Mao themselves.  I can't believe one legislator told me that CA would continue to grow, that they would de salinate the water.  I asked him where the power would come from.  He replied, "wind farms and bio fuels". 

I tell you its madness.

Can you believe it!  I am listed as a newbie.

Hehe. That sucks.

I will have you lapped by the end of this year.  8)

Haha, I wouldn't doubt it.

So do you think then that the 'pre election' has done anything to predict who will actually win the US Presidency?

I realize that it's just a numbers games and that a lot can happen in 2yrs as they actually gear up for the elections, but I was just curious as to what your perceptions may be

Hard question to answer, one supposes we will know more after the electio.

is the electio different than an election?

sorry canadian ignorance i have limited understanding of american politics

Welcome back! I look forward to the intellectual jousting!

OswaldTheOsprey

Do I know you?

 ;D ;D

If not, you will! ;)

OswaldTheOsprey