The American Presidential Election

[Auburn Mariner]

Auburn's bold tips:

1. Barack Obama wins, even gaining Arizona (where McCain is from) and the patron state of shooting stuff, New Mexico
2. Fox News, News Ltd in Australia and EVERY conservative paper in the WORLD sticks it to Obama for 4 years STRAIGHT
3. Sadly, some redneck neanderthal (are you reading this, KKK Klukker Mother F___rs) takes a genuine potshot at Obama, at a guess at an open-air proceedings in Birmingham, Jackson or rural West Virginia
4. Obama survives, making him an instant hero
5. The Republicans, desperate as they are, choose the Governor of Alaska, Mrs Sarah Palin, as their Presidential Nominee for the 2012 election, despite getting HAMMERED by the Democrats at the 2010 Congressional & Senatorial elections. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is chosen as her V-P running mate
6. Obama gets the Yanks out of Iraq
7. Bill O'Reilly gets sacked for racially abusing Obama on "The Factor"
8. Bill O'Reilly gets reinstated by Rupert 24 hours later, proving that America is just F___ed
9. Tiger Woods is groomed as the Presidential nominee for the Dems in 2016
10. Osama dies, followed by mass mourning and the emergence of the extraordinarily dangerous quinella of the Prime Minister of Iran AND Kim Jong-Il.

CNN will be FASCINATING tomorrow. Youngsters, sit back and watch history unfold. The rest, hold your breath, we will have an Afro-American President-elect at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in 36 hours.

 

[FFC Mariner]

I'll have 3, 7 and eight to win and 9 each way

 

[clarence]

Sadly, point 3 looms very large throughout the whole of Obama's public life from here on, whether he wins or loses. I cannot see the good ol' boys from the deep, deep south taking an Afro Amercian President, or candidate for that matter, lying down. Someone is going to have a shot sooner or later.

Can Arnie run for V-P, I thought the highest office he could hold was Governor? The US Constitution calls for a President to be US born , and as a VP is 'one heartbeat' from being President, does he qualify being born OS?

Birmingham, Alabama would be more dangerous for a President Obama than Baghdad!

 

[dbryant]

He could be VP, however he would not be eligible to be part of the presidential line of succession (where the VP would normally sit #2, behind the P him/herself). Rather, the Speaker of the House of Representatives would assume the Presidency should the P be incapacitated and the VP ineligible (not a U.S.-born citizen, not over 35 years of age, or not residing in the U.S. for over 14 years, from memory). Presidential Succession Act 1947 [3 U.S.C. 19(a) thru (e)] if anyone is that interested

Section 19:
(a) If, by reason of death, resignation, removal from office, inability, or failure to qualify, there is neither a President nor Vice President to discharge the powers and duties of the office of President, then the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall, upon his resignation as Speaker and as Representative in Congress, act as President.

...

(d) If, by reason of death, resignation, removal from office, inability, or failure to qualify, there is no President pro tempore to act as President under subsection (b) of this section, then the officer of the United States who is highest on the following list, and who is not under disability to discharge the powers and duties of the office of President shall act as President: Secretary of State, Secretary of the Treasury, Secretary of Defense, Attorney General, Secretary of the Interior, Secretary of Agriculture, Secretary of Commerce, Secretary of Labor, Secretary of Health and Human Services, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Secretary of Transportation, Secretary of Energy, Secretary of Education, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Secretary of Homeland Security.

(e) Subsections (a), (b), and (d) of this section shall apply only to such officers as are eligible to the office of President under the Constitution. Subsection (d) of this section shall apply only to officers appointed, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, prior to the time of the death, resignation, removal from office, inability, or failure to qualify, of the President pro tempore, and only to officers not under impeachment by the House of Representatives at the time the powers and duties of the office of President devolve upon them.

 

[marinermick]

The US Constitution calls for a President to be US born

but barack was born in hawaii

surely that constitutes being born overseas?

 

[dbryant]

but barack was born in hawaii

surely that constitutes being born overseas?

I'm sure if the U.S. ever wanted to disown Hawaii, we'd be happy to take over. Right?

 

[clarence]

No, Hawaii is one of the 52 states. It's just not one of the 48 mainland states, as the US folks say.
Definitely born USA.

 

[clarence]

Would it be worth it having Arnie as VP candidate, as they seem to make a lot of noise about the VP being the President in waiting, and if Arnie couldn't become Prez, he'd be a lameduck candidate?

And if Arnie somehow got elected VP, you'd really hope the President stayed healthy as there'd be some significant political and constitutional issues arising from the Speaker taking the Presidency.

1) Would Arnie remain as VP?
2) Would there be argument, if Arnie stayed as VP, that he was really running the show rather than the Speaker-President?
3) Would the Speaker, upon taking the Presidency, have to keep all Secretaries and other folks that the deceased President put into office or would they have a choice?

 

[marinermick]

No, Hawaii is one of the 52 states. It's just not one of the 48 mainland states, as the US folks say.
Definitely born USA.

arnie has actually done a pretty good job of kickstarting the californian economy when he came in

pity bush has reversed this kickstarting

arnie has also introuduced some very radical and excellent environmental policies

 

[FFC Mariner]

Arnie supported Bush so he is obviously not that clever is he?

He has also backed McCain.

Sadly for the septics, it all started going wrong after 1776 really. Just think, all they had to do was pay their taxes and they would love cricket too

 

[Auburn Mariner]

The United States of America has 50 states, NOT 52, as is commonly believed outside of the USA. DC, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and American Samoa ARE NOT States; the last two states admitted into the Union were Alaska & Hawaii in the late 1950's.

Arnie can be V-P under the current rules; he could only become Prez if they relax the American-born laws.

And yes, if Sarah gets whacked when Arnie is V-P, the Speaker becomes Prez, a situation that occurred in the brilliant "West Wing', when the Prez's daughter gets kidnapped by fundamentalists and the V-P position is vacant because the incumbent has had to resign because of skirt-chasing.

Speaker Glenallen Walken, played by John Goodman, assumes the mantle of President after Josiah Bartlet (Martin Sheen) enacts the 25th Amendment.

 

[serious14]

Battleground states are still currently too close to call.

CNN projects that Barack Obama will win Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Washington D.C. John McCain will win Oklahoma, South Carolina and Tennessee

Current _projected_ Electoral College votes are at Obama 102, McCain 34 (12.45pm).  270 to claim the Presidency.

 

[ryan]

I'm still waiting to see how the Republicans rig it this time. They were very creative in 2000. Fingers are crossed they have not found a way. It's pretty sad that it means so much to us but that's the reality of the situation. I am looking forward to watching the FOX News - fair and balanced, you have to be kidding - anchors if Obama wins. They will be spewing even more bile than usual, especially Bill O'Reilly.

 

[serious14]

Fox have just conceded Ohio to Obama. 

CNN latest - 174 to 69 to Obama.

 

[Auburn Mariner]

Ohio just became the first State to turn. Obama wins in Ohio, meaning the Cavs, Indians, Browns, Bengals & Big Red Machine fans have spoken up BIG TIME.

194-69. 270 is the magic number. California is a given, 55 votes, Oregon & Washington also, 28 votes there. We are witnessing history, my friends.

 

[serious14]

*smiles*

50 years ago, a black man could not vote in America.  Tonight, one becomes their president.  This is one of the most important days in world history.

200 - 85 to Obama (NBC), all he needs now is California, Oregon, and Washington.  He might just steal away Florida for a laugh as well.

Take a bow America, you finally did the right thing.  ;D

 

[ponno]

Its pretty amazing hey, hopefully he will make true on all his promises for change..

 

[dru]

This is better than watching the melbourne cup.

 

[serious14]

This is better than watching the melbourne cup.

McCain is out to 201 quid on Betfair - more money in this. 

 

[loyalist]

LOL cnn has will.i.am appearing in the studio to give his views via hologram

fox news atm have it as 220-138