... I can't believe that "they" are trying to pass something that is going to cost us 700 billion dollars
and they have the audacity to "tack" on pork to it!!!! Rum & Arrows???? Seriously???? WTF are they thinking?
Studying History and Government wasn't a priority for me in High School, along with most of the other subjects they subjected us to, but "Riddle me this, Batman." Why is it that we have a term limit on our President but not for all of those other buffoons in Washington D.C.? And I realize Hillary didn't make it this time (so sad), but why don't we have some restriction against 1 or 2 families being able to "lead" us for the last 19 years? (Note to self -- look up definition of a monarchy)
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Originally the two-term presidency was a tradition set by George Washington when he declined to run again, although he could, undoubtedly, have held the position for life.
The tradition was honored until Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected a third, and then a fourth time. Because of several incidents in his administrations, including the Court Packing Scheme to re-make the Supreme Court, Congress passed a law mandating the two term presidency.
There is nothing, however, to prevent the members of one family from being elected to the office. We had two Adams (John and John Quincy), William and Benjamin Harrison, and now the Bushes.
In fact most of our presidents were, in some way, related, and a number were related to European aristocracy. See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_Presidents_by_genealogical_relationship
And thus you have the danger of a bored ex-history professor reading your blog. ;-)
I really should have paid attention in History class. Thanks for explaining the term limit thingy :) for the President, but why isn't there a term limit for the Senators and Congressmen? Seems to me some of those guys (and gals) have been in there since before sliced bread! And dare I say that they've got their pockets lined with people and interest groups that will keep there till they croak?
No question, about that. Strom Thurmond stayed in office until he was 100 and Bob Byrd of West Virginia has served in the Senate just a few days shy of 50 years.
You have to remember, however, that the Congress was conceived as a balance between advocates of proportional representation vs. equal representation. This was one of those thorny matters at the heart of a host of states rights vs. strong federal government issues that ultimately erupted into the American Civil War.
Also, no individual Congressman, in theory, can wield sufficient power to sway the body. Term limitation on the president is considered an aspect of checks and balances. The Congress functions as a single body of two houses and individual members and is therefore, self-checking and balancing. If that makes any sense.
Certainly term limits have been brought up time and time again, but I wouldn't hold my breath about seeing them passed.
Thanks, Dr. Williamson, bored or not, for your easy-to-understand explanation. And I understand in theory that no single Congressman would be able to sway the body, but I bet in reality some of those old-timers do.
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