billy, you know more about the workings of the American government than many born-in-this-country Americans do. Is it because of your fascination with odd lifeforms?
Dawn: I think a date should be in a real fancy restaurant, then champagne at a night club with a floor show, then ballroom dancing. Joyce: Unfortunately, we're not dating in a movie from the thirties.
'Get It Done'
Natter 70: Hookers and Blow
Off-topic discussion. Wanna talk about corsets, duct tape, or physics? This is the place. Detailed discussion of any current-season TV must be whitefonted.
Connie Neil - Nov 07, 2012 3:04:23 pm PST #29818 of 30001
brillig
billytea - Nov 07, 2012 3:17:25 pm PST #29819 of 30001
You were a wrong baby who grew up wrong. The wrong kind of wrong. It's better you hear it from a friend.
billy, you know more about the workings of the American government than many born-in-this-country Americans do. Is it because of your fascination with odd lifeforms?
Hee. There is an evolutionary process to admire here, it's true.
Ginger - Nov 07, 2012 3:34:25 pm PST #29820 of 30001
"It didn't taste good. It tasted soooo horrible. It tasted like....a vodka martini." - Matilda
One thing to note is that this country is not a democracy; it's a republic. The founders thought of democracy as mob rule. That's why they established a system in which people like them were elected to represent the common people. Henry Adams and his class were appalled by the election of Jackson.
flea - Nov 07, 2012 3:36:15 pm PST #29821 of 30001
information libertarian
To be fair, Jackson did turn out to be pretty appalling.
Typo Boy - Nov 07, 2012 3:38:19 pm PST #29822 of 30001
Calli: My people have a saying. A man who trusts can never be betrayed, only mistaken.Avon: Life expectancy among your people must be extremely short.
Don't forget the role of slavery. The electroral college was also a protection for slavery.
billytea - Nov 07, 2012 3:52:25 pm PST #29823 of 30001
You were a wrong baby who grew up wrong. The wrong kind of wrong. It's better you hear it from a friend.
Don't forget the role of slavery. The electroral college was also a protection for slavery.
That is true (and of course it was pushed as "States' rights" when the tide turned against it). However, I put most weight on the "three-fifths of a person" clause in the Constitution in protecting slavery. It worked easily with the EC, but it did so through its impact on House representation. Conversely, equal Senate representation initially favoured the northern states, which on average were smaller than the southern states.
Volans - Nov 07, 2012 3:55:42 pm PST #29824 of 30001
move out and draw fire
Zen, I fly out of Dulles all the time, and it's not super-complicated. You do have to allow a lot of time though, as the terminals are a ways from the main building. After you check in, just follow the signs.
You know who would be awesome in the job? A career diplomat who has put in years of service and earned the job.
LOLOLOLoLOLOLOL.
The political appointee positions in State go deeper and deeper every year. So even if you did this you'd have hundreds of random political appointees running around.
Kerry's made it extremely clear that he wants the job, and it will probably go to him. But you know what's even scarier? If Mitt had been elected it would've been JOHN BOLTON.
billytea - Nov 07, 2012 4:00:02 pm PST #29825 of 30001
You were a wrong baby who grew up wrong. The wrong kind of wrong. It's better you hear it from a friend.
Kerry's made it extremely clear that he wants the job, and it will probably go to him. But you know what's even scarier? If Mitt had been elected it would've been JOHN BOLTON.
I like to imagine that in a wacky misunderstanding, he instead appoints Michael Bolton. Forget the Monroe Doctrine, world, get ready for the Romney Doctrine: "Let the U.S.A. touch you... there."
Connie Neil - Nov 07, 2012 4:02:18 pm PST #29826 of 30001
brillig
hundreds of random political appointees running around.
Like the minions in Despicable Me?
Banana
Calli - Nov 07, 2012 4:12:02 pm PST #29827 of 30001
I must obey the inscrutable exhortations of my soul—Calvin and Hobbs
Rachel Maddow seems to be having the happiest broadcast of her life right now.