Today I went out and visited some polling stations for Video the Vote. Churchill High School is where precincts 3111 and 3151 vote. The election judge said that 39% of the registered voters voted early in this election. While I was talking to him, Roger came up to me and asked if I’d interview him about his voting experience. Apparently he wasn’t aware that Bush could not serve a 3rd term. I was not aware that voters did not know this.
[edit] I forgot to mention that he told me off camera (while I was setting up) that he had voted for Hillary Clinton in the primary and was disappointed that she didn’t get the nomination so he thought he’d vote for Bush again.
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15 Comments
Wow. I had no idea that some people didn’t know the President can only serve 2 terms, either. That’s kind of scary.
Oh.
My.
God.
I actually screamed watching this. Serious. I just screamed at my screen.
The two term thing is relatively new, historically speaking. Most people don’t know that FDR served 3 1/2 terms, and died in office during his fourth – that’s how Harry Truman became president. Ulysses S Grant and Teddy Roosevelt had tried for third terms. I think I’ve got my facts right here – I’m only a Brit
I think the two term limit has its origins in postwar partisan bullshit. The Republicans invented the 2 term rule as soon as they regained control of Congress and it became law as the 22nd amendment in 1951. Because they were pissed off about FDR. For 175 years it had just been a guideline, following Washington’s example. But he didn’t even want to serve 2 terms – he was relieved to retired after the second, and his Farewell address indicates that he was retiring because of age, not principle. So the constitutional basis for a 2 terms is pretty shaky.
I mean, if you’re going to follow Washington’s example in everything and make that law instead of what was actually written in the Constitution, then we should outlaw political parties. He thought “the common and continual mischiefs of the spirit of party are sufficient to make it the interest and duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain it.” He was right. But I don’t see anybody calling parties unconstitutional. I wonder why.
If the people want to elect someone again and again, let them. Preventing them doesn’t protect against bad demagoguery – free speech, education and democracy does that. It just limits the good a president can do, and creates the phenomenon of the Lame Duck. Bad law.
Obama 2020!
Most people stay away from politics. Thus why people like him exist.
that’s amazing, despite Rupert’s accurate info… it’s common knowledge that their is a two term limit.
i have friends voting for hillary clinton, which annoys me.
A blank ballot? What? The man voted (hopefully) for other city, state or regional issues. Right?
Please, he didn’t just walk in, pick up a ballot and then not seeing Dubya’s name turned it in?
Mercy.
Rupert, I don’t disagree with anything you wrote. I would would also say that our whole system needs some rethinking.
The thing with this guy though…
How could you live through the last 8 years and not understand that Bush’s term is up?
How could think Bush has done an “OK job” and vote for Hillary Clinton in the primary?
How could you have taken time out from work, clearly desiring to vote and leave having cast a blank ballot?
In my mind what might partly explain this is apathy but if that’s so, why not just stay home?
Gena,
I’m not positive but that’s what it sounded like he did – he talked about quick he was in and out of there. Ironically there was a local measure on the ballot to increase the amount of two-year terms our Mayor and City Council members could serve from 2 to 4.
I don’t think it voter apathy, I think it’s just a general lack of knowledge or a general lack of wa…..you know what it is apathy and this is an example of how bad apathy can be…..regardless of who you like or dislike, we have a responabilty to get involved….it almost seems like we should be made to participate….sigh
WHoa.
I’ll admit I didn’t pay a lot of attention in 5th grade civics but…
Whoa.
Holy moly. I was not aware, either, that anyone doesn’t know about the current 2 term limit for president. I’ve always thought it wasn’t really enough time for any of their plans to come to fruition – no one has enough time to implement a real lasting change from the office of president any more.
I moved from Canada to the US several years a go. I don’t have the right to vote and probably won’t for the next couple of years. Regardless, I am probably more in tune to the current state of politics in the US than I should be considering I can’t actually make my vote count.
It didn’t bother me that this person was ignorant of the 2 term rule. What bothered me was that he wasn’t aware that Bush was not running again. You can’t turn on a TV or radio anywhere in the US let alone the world without hearing about Obama or McCain.
This guy must be really living in a hole in the ground. I would love to do a follow up interview with him. Like really follow him home and find out what his personal life is like. Some potentially great stuff there.
An aside. My favorite line from Obama’s victory speech:
“And to all those who have wondered if America’s beacon still burns as bright: Tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity and unyielding hope.”
Banging my head against the wall.
Looks like an honest and likable person. It’s a shame he has no clue.
Thought you should know:
http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1889562
I don’t see your credit anywhere.
wow. I don’t know shit about politics but I knew that at least. And I totally agree with your above comment. Why take the time and then not even vote. But I guess if he didn’t look into any of the candidates then he couldn’t really make an accurate vote or even an educated one.