Presidential Election Questions

[Squrd]

Who do you think is going to be elected of the 2 candidates selected to represent the Republican and Democratic Parties? Why do you think that candidate will win and do you want that candidate to win?


I will start,
I believe Obama will win now. I originally didn't think he was going to win until I heard the speech he gave after he clinched the nomination. I believe he will win because he is kinda like a Reagan and a Kennedy combined... but black. I believe the way he speaks and looks will win the election especially with todays America. I do not care who will win tho, I have a theory that if McCain is elected there will be a mass counterculture movement in which that case I will quickly go with the new generation of hippies or whatever they will be called. If Obama is president I don't know if he will get the worldwide respect from other nations or he will get assasinated by some southern white supremacist. Either way Europe or Puerto Rico is looking kinda good now.

[Crush]

I can only hope that you americans are intelligent enough to vote for Obama, because I think he is the one who got the better ideas how to improve your life status (like health insurance for everyone - something I am very fond off where I am from) and I believe that he has better chances to repair your image in the rest of the world after 8 years of George W. Bushs politics of unprovoked war and human rights violation.

[Squrd]

haha yea well George Bush wasn't one of our strong points, he was a horrible speaker and tried to reflect ideas of a past era of containment, if you ask me I believe containment is a bullshit idea I don't think we have any right to try to control any other countries government unless they are pulling bullshit moves to the US. I am only 17 so i am not old enough to vote yet but i am encouraging my parents to vote for Obama even though i am fairly conservative.

[Rotonen]

You are aware, that there are more than 2 candidates?

Recently they have been gaining more and more votebase.

(Although the system of voting discourages more than 2 parties.)

[Crush]

The american winner-takes-it-all voting system makes sure that smaller parties have no real chance for any kind of codetermination in the federal government - not like in many European countries where the representation of each party in the parliament depends on their percentage of votes in the whole country and not on the number of regions where they have the absolute majority.

The american voting system is still a relict from the early days of the country and was supposed to make the counting of votes in the huge, sparsely populated country easier. But in the 21th century it is simply antiquated. Unfortunately it won't change because the two parties in power would have only disadvantages when it changes.

[Jaxad0127]

The american winner-takes-it-all voting system makes sure that smaller parties have no real chance for any kind of codetermination in the federal government - not like in many European countries where the representation of each party in the parliament depends on their percentage of votes in the whole country and not on the number of regions where they have the absolute majority.

The american voting system is still a relict from the early days of the country and was supposed to make the counting of votes in the huge, sparsely populated country easier. But in the 21th century it is simply antiquated. Unfortunately it won't change because the two parties in power would have only disadvantages when it changes.

Right. The only effect third parties have is taking votes away from one of the major parties to let the other win. This usually happens when one of the two majors split. They also occasionally bring issues to public knowledge.

[Rotonen]

I just do not see the democracy in a system where someone who does not mass 45%+ is not taken seriously.

Is this topic really necessary to start a flame war about beliefs? Just go vote and come back when the results are clear. (As a sidenote I'm hoping they would also this time select the candidate, which got less votes countrywide.)

[Squrd]

Unfortunately it won't change because the two parties in power would have only disadvantages when it changes.

True I don't believe it will ever change because one of the two parties will always have control over the government and they have the power to change it. No independent will ever win an election because of this.

You are aware, that there are more than 2 candidates?

So I disagree with this statement. yes there are more than 2 candidates but in reality they are the only candidates that will get media coverage and they are the only 2 candidates that will be seriously considered for president. Unless Hilary decides to run as an independent in which case she will just sabotage Obama's chances at winning and give McCain the presidency on a silver plater.

And I know our system of voting and electing is not quite logical especially since the US helped other countries set up democratic systems that work somewhat more logically and fair than our own.

[Tayuke]

I hope Obama wins, now that Clinton's out...I can just see McCain being another Bush, and seriously? Who wants another Bush?

Perosnally, I was hoping Romney would win, but guess he didn't get the support needed...

[MrDan]

Jokingly,

I think Conde should have run because then you would have the first black and woman all rolled into one!! (Shure fire winner)

[evadem]

Actually it is the Electoral College that determines who will be president not the people of the country. It was set up this way by the founding fathers of the country because they felt the common man wasn't smart enough to select a leader. And since the government is controlled by big business lobbies it is not likely to ever change.

http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761 ... llege.html

BTW..GW Bushy didn't beat Gore by the popular vote in 2000. God knows what happened in 2004


And remember...Question Authority!

[Rotonen]

If I lived in the US, I'd vote for something else than the Democrats or the Republicans.

As a non-US citizen, I do not even know the other alternatives, would someone mind finding out who they are, what do they stand for and where to find information? I'd suspect at least the green movement to have a party.

[Superkoop]

When in doubt, turn to wikipedia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_third ... candidates

[Rotonen]

That is actually quite a respectable array of candidates. It'd be more than interesting to see the election system change into something modern.