‘President 2008’ Category
» posted on Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012 at 9:46 pm by Andy D
Welcome to 2012 and the Presidential Race!
I hope you and your family had a safe holiday. I also hope you are ready for the official kick off of the 2012 Presidential race!
As I write this, I am watching Fox News’ coverage of the Iowa caucus. Up until tonight, all of the media coverage has been on campaign happenings, and polls. Now those will still be covered, but the real will also be some real voting to affect candidates. As the weeks start to pass this year,there will be more and more of these caucus and primaries. We are going to finally see something other than polls!
I am lookingforward to the primary and thepresidential race. I am sure it will be exciting, and I wonder how many people will actually be able to pick the Republican nominee after tonight. I do feel comfortable making this prediction: the top three winners will stay in the race, the next three will stay in the race, the rest may not.
3 comments | filed under President 2008
» posted on Monday, November 7th, 2011 at 7:25 pm by Andy D
America the Beautiful Day 7: Presidential Elections
With the constant barrage of campaign emails, flyers, and TV spots, it may be hard to be thankful for Presidential elections. It’s hard today to go an hour without catching some sort of reporting on President Obama or one of the many Republican candidates. However, for today’s America the Beautiful post, I would like to celebrate presidential elections.
The first national presidential election day was November 7, 1848. Since that time we have continued to hold our national elections on the same day, regardless of what was going on in the country. We have also peacefully changed power from very different political parties without blood shed. We take this for granted in our nation, but this isn’t the norm in the rest of the world, or through time. Look no further than the current “Arab Spring” for evidence that a peaceful transition of power isn’t the norm.
As we approach the election next day, we should all be thankful that regardless of who is elected, it will be done without bloodshed and without the loss of life other nations have experienced.
one Comment | filed under 31 Days of Blogging · America · President 2008 · President 2012
» posted on Wednesday, November 5th, 2008 at 4:50 pm by Andy D
Congratulations to President Elect Obama
Second, President Elect Obama had a very significant win with the Electoral College yesterday. As I write this, Missouri and Virgina are still being listed as too close to call. Even if both of those states should go to McCain, no one will call this a close election. Obama won the election, and won without it being very close. No one will be looking for hanging chads or to try any states election process in court.
Finally, we in the United States take for granted the changing of our Presidency. Yesterday, we had a regularly scheduled election, that no party had to call for. The result of the election was that the party that controled our Presidency was thrown out, and the rival party gained the Executive branch. All of this happened without any use of force, and without any bloodshed. This is very rare in the rest of the world, and we should be proud of it.
In the months to come, we will see what kind of President Obama will be. Will the Obama who voted in Illinios and the Senate, the Obama who never disagreed with his party, become President? Will the Obama from the campaign trail, the Obama who pormised a new type of politics become President? I hope for the centerist Obama, but worry we will get the leftist Obama.
Regardless of what the future holds in store, congratulations Mr. Obama. Good luck in your Presidency.
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» posted on Sunday, November 2nd, 2008 at 7:32 pm by Andy D
Quick Notes: Pre-Tuesday Edition
This is likely to be my last post before the country heads to the voting both on Tuesday. Most blogs and news outlets are spending their time today predicting what will happen on Tuesday. I have decided to make a post that you can sit back and enjoy no matter who you support:
Go Vote! I would be a terrible political junkie if I didn’t tell everyone reading this site to go vote. Whether you support Obama, McCain, or some third party candidate, take the time on Tuesday and cast your ballot. Our country has had somewhere around a 50% turn out rate on Election Day. That isn’t good enough. Voting isn’t a gift, it is a responsibility. Go do your duty!
What if no one gets 270 votes? Our election process is based on a Presidential candidate getting a majority of the number of electoral votes, and not popular votes. That means Obama or McCain must get 270 electoral votes to become President. Well, what happens if neither of them gets the required 270 votes? According to the Twelfth Amendment of the U. S. Constitution, the House of Representatives would then meet and elect the President. There are a few rules that govern this. Most importantly, each state only gets one vote. That means Texas = Rhode Island = New York = Alaska when it gets to this stage. It wouldn’t matter the percentage of Democrats or Republicans in the House. The Senate would meet and vote for the Vice President using similar rules.
To carry the “what if…?” out a little further, if the voting process in the House drags out to Inauguration day, what would happen? Jefferson’s election got thrown into the House and it took some 36 ballots. Should the House of Representatives be unable to declare a President by the end of January, then the current Vice-President would become President as if the President was removed from office. You read right, say hello to President Dick Cheney. Dick Cheney would then be able to nominate a Vice President for confirmation by the Senate until the House could decide what to do. This is potentially the most entertaining possibility of all the different political tales being told.
Starbucks and You. Finally, if you do go vote on Tuesday, Starbucks wants to reward you. They are running spots saying if you come to a Starbucks on Tuesday and tell them you voted, they will give you a free coffee. Just one more reason to go out and do your duty.
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» posted on Thursday, October 30th, 2008 at 5:53 pm by Andy D
Obama’s "Present"?
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