Would you vote for Bush or Kerry?

Wasn't it said that if Bush is re-elected that there could be a possible draft?

What I don't understand is the system of the electoral votes.

It's practical to make predictions with, but I'm used to a system where, the guy with the most otes wins.

I heard last night, that those are called the popular votes. Which makes it sound like it's a contest for the best haircut, or something.

I can't help but worder is that's a bad translation for voix popule.

Are the electoral votes granted only on the number of people living in that state, or are there other influences?

I have heard lots of rumors about the draft but Bush has repeatedly said that he has no intention of bringing it back. Let's hope that's true. I'm really worried about what his environmental policies are going to do in the next four years. I think he let a lot of dubious policies go until his second term.
Erin

My reaction to the ways things have turned out (again)?

This draft issue needs to be cleared up. Last year a bill to reinstitute the draft was introduced by two . . . Democrats. The bill was overwhelmingly rejected and is dead. The military, which DOES have a say in this, does not want a draft ever again because it creates an inferior service full of people who do not want to be there. No President can on their own institute a draft, it must pass through the House and the Senate. Following 9/11 when my son was trying to enlist, I spoke with higher authorities in all branches of the service about the prospects of a draft and it just is not going to happen.



And again, we have the power here. When bills come up we are unhappy about it's up to us to pressure the daylights out of our State representatives and our elected people in D.C. When they are bombarded by their own constituents and let know that how they're voting will cost them YOUR vote next time around, they listen. We hire them, not the other way around.

I'd explain it but I don't have time this minute. Here's a good link -

http://www.fec.gov/pages/ecworks.htm



This post went to the new page, the last post previous page clears up the draft question.

Electorial Votes are based on the combined number of Senators and Representives from the state. Each state as 2 Senators, and the number of Reps. is based on population (but at least 1). So the smallest number of electors possible is 3. It is basically based on population.

The reason for it is since we are the United States of American, the states pick the president, not the people. The people vote for who they want their State to vote for, and then the electors (who represent the state) vote in the national election with all the states. It may seem a little dumb to some, but it's been there since day 1.

I couldn't resist, but I wanted to offer my opinion on that. The reason I feel that politics does not belong on a Muppet site, with agreement that it should remain in one thread (should the subject come up) as was pointed out, is that the Muppets are not political. Yes they have lampooned politics in the past but they do not pick sides. I see watching the Muppets as an escape from stuff like politics, the real world, etc. Even when it comes to this Muppet website. But also it is the simple fact that some people can get so worked up over politics and elections that yes, it does get way out of hand. And I can see it happening here. Especially with the election going into some overtime now. There is bound to be someone who will get fussy and rant about which side is better.
Also I would like to comment on the government control thing too. It is wild, that the government feels they can use you whenever they feel like it: draft, jury duty, etc. Although they did promise they would never use the draft again, but then there was talk that it may come back a little while ago...
Hmmm....
And I think it is also funny that when you turn 18, you HAVE to register for selective service or they put out a bench warrant.
I suppose being selected for jury duty isn't as bad as some other things they could take you for. At least they pay you and feed you for jury duty.
How odd things can be sometimes.
You couldn't script this stuff I don't think. LOL

I think the electoral vote ought to be abolished. We are intelligent people, the popular vote reflects whom we want as president. It has happened several times that the candidate with the largest percent of the popular vote lost the election. What kind of democracy is that?

Kindly see the last post on the page previous to this regarding the draft.

Political discussions are fine on forums in the appropriate threads so long as people are not attacking each other. It's entirely counterproductive.

I agree. I understand the reasoning behind it, but I think in the end a straight popular vote just makes more sense. At least this year Bush won both, so there's no discrepancy. It would've been really ugly if he'd won the electoral but not popular again.
Erin

The electoral college system has been a sore spot to many for quite some time now. It can be changed, but that change would likely have to come from a well-articulated, level-headed grassroots campaign from us, the voters. When enough of us say, in intelligent terms and with intelligent reasoning, that we would like a bill introduced to abolish the electoral college, that bill will then be introduced and go to consideration. Up to us.

So I'll have my guy talk to your guy... oh nuts. Let's just ask Zoot to change it!

We'll do lunch.

This just in:
President-elect Zoot, nursing a slight headache, called a press conference this morning to discuss the antics of his V.P. Link Hogthrob last night. "Vice-President Hogthrob simply got momentarily carried away, and then literally carried away to the hoosgow. We have discussed with him the impropriety of crossing party lines, as Ms. Clinton is a Democrat (though she secretly voted for our ticket) and we are members of the Pigswillfly Party. I can assure you that this incident will not be repeated. Peace and love and clean air, man."

Bob Hope for President.

*sigh* Just in case no one can be bothered to page back one page. I don't like young people getting the wrong idea about things - a bill to reinstate the draft was introduced recently by two DEMOCRATIC Senators. It was DEFEATED and the bill is dead. A President cannot institute a draft, it has to be created as a bill and passed through the House and Senate. The military itself doesn't want a draft ever again, and they have a say in this. Please page back, only one page, and stop worrying about a draft, it's not going to happen and even if it started looking as if it would you, yes you the General You out there, have the power to stop it. OY. OY. OY.

They do not, and cannot. Don't people realize that they still hold every civil liberty? I NEVER registered my son for Selective Service because I object fundamentally to the notion. Nobody ever bothered us. He did register following 9/11 because he wanted to enlist at that point. Bench warrants my eye. You're also free to object in writing to the Selective Service registration and they'll leave you alone. They're not worried about it, get ahold of yourself. EMPLOY the freedoms available to you. Good grief, calm down everybody.

Well, I have certainly not registered for selective service. I did, however, register to vote. And if they reinstate the draft I will knock their socks off.
Plus swear at them in German.

Within your State your vote has a great deal of significance. Under the Electoral College system, we do not elect the President and Vice President through a direct nation-wide vote. The Presidential election is decided by the combined results of 51 State elections (in this context, the term "State" includes DC). Your vote helps decide which candidate receives your State's electoral votes.

The founders of the nation devised the Electoral College system as part of their plan to share power between the States and the national government, since the States report to the Nation, the States pick the nation leaders, but since the people report to the States they vote for their State. Under the Federal system adopted in the U.S. Constitution, the nation-wide popular vote has no legal significance. As a result, it is possible that the electoral votes awarded on the basis of State elections could produce a different result than the nation-wide popular vote. Nevertheless, the individual citizen's vote is important to the outcome of each State election. We are the United States of America, not the United Citizens of America, the states should be deciding.

Since the election of George Washington only once has a person won the Electorial vote and not the popular vote, and that was the election of 2000 between George Bush and Al Gore. Every other election in the history of the country (including the 2004 election) the winner of the popular vote did become president.