After I thought about it more, I realized France and the US are not so different in that respect.
Joel Send a noteboard - 08/03/2012 08:51:03 PM
Yet another argument for Instant Runoff Voting (or Preferential Voting, of one prefers.) Personally, I would prefer America institute that and let everyone vote in both primaries, but do not expect either to happen soon.
Yes, indeed. Definitely would've resulted in better results in that election.
Specifically, what you said about the French presidency being a far more powerful position if his party also has a parliamentary majority. The US president is in a similar, if not identical, position (hence Obama screwed the pooch in not taking advantage of the Democratic House and Senate majorities while he still had them.)
I did qualify that slightly, but I meant the PM is the head of government as well as of the legislature. That makes implementing checks and balances harder.
Ohhh, you meant *both* terms as referring to American politics. That was rather confusing, considering that the UK actually *has* a Speaker of the House, and he/she is very much not the President.
Ah, right; I completely forgot the House of Commons has its own Speaker also, sorry.
' /> So what you say isn't really accurate - the British PM dominates parliament in the sense that his/her party controls it and he/she controls his party (or at least one would hope he/she does), but isn't the head of it in any formal sense. Still, I see your point that it's very different from American politics where the only one in the government (or administration, anyway) who is elected is the president himself, and that in a completely separate election.
It is more a matter of the PM being both a member of the legislative majority AND head of state. In some ways that gives Britains PM greater (if more precarious) power than the US president. The PMs situation seems more like Obamas before 2010 or Clintons before 1994; he may need the Whip to keep a few unruly party members in line, but seldom faces an openly hostile majority (if only because such majorities tend to relieve him of that burden, by bringing down his government.
)
Honorbound and honored to be Bonded to Mahtaliel Sedai
Last First in wotmania Chat
Slightly better than chocolate.
Love still can't be coerced.
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LoL. Be well, RAFOlk.
Last First in wotmania Chat
Slightly better than chocolate.
Love still can't be coerced.
Please Don't Eat the Newbies!
LoL. Be well, RAFOlk.
This message last edited by Joel on 11/03/2012 at 12:59:54 AM
Now That Romney Is Officially the Republican Presidential Nominee: Pick the President! 
- 29/02/2012 08:29:02 PM
1848 Views
- 29/02/2012 08:29:02 PM
1848 Views
I agree Romney will be the candidate.
- 29/02/2012 08:54:52 PM
903 Views
I would say the math favors Romney over Obama, but it will probably be close either way.
- 01/03/2012 03:37:52 PM
998 Views
I have never understood the point of the Electoral College.
- 29/02/2012 11:39:11 PM
976 Views
You don't think like a politician then
- 01/03/2012 12:38:36 AM
1035 Views
- 01/03/2012 12:38:36 AM
1035 Views
I certainly hadn't considered much of that. I'm glad you posted it. *NM*
- 01/03/2012 07:15:03 AM
453 Views
I also have not seen most of that mentioned in the popular vs. electoral debate.
- 01/03/2012 02:34:31 PM
929 Views
a bit simplistic and unrealistic
- 02/03/2012 11:44:02 PM
967 Views
When illustrating a point realism is not required and simplicity is a plus
- 03/03/2012 03:04:26 AM
1014 Views
I have a couple quibbles.
- 03/03/2012 05:23:46 AM
1021 Views
Oh, certainly, I'm over-generalizing but I was already getting long-winded
- 03/03/2012 06:52:04 AM
951 Views
What a bunch of waffle!
- 03/03/2012 10:47:19 AM
1110 Views
Also I don't like this refrain that implies only the POTUS vote matters
- 03/03/2012 03:29:58 AM
1125 Views
IMHO, parliaments choosing prime ministers is LESS democratic than the electoral college.
- 03/03/2012 05:57:41 AM
929 Views
Re: IMHO, parliaments choosing prime ministers is LESS democratic than the electoral college.
- 03/03/2012 07:02:30 AM
973 Views
*is learning*
- 04/03/2012 09:49:42 PM
931 Views
Re: *is learning*
- 04/03/2012 09:56:16 PM
975 Views
Re: *is learning*
- 05/03/2012 12:08:08 AM
1012 Views
You could imitate the French.
- 07/03/2012 10:40:16 PM
928 Views
- 07/03/2012 10:40:16 PM
928 Views
That seems... unlikely....
- 08/03/2012 03:03:54 PM
938 Views
- 08/03/2012 03:03:54 PM
938 Views
It does, doesn't it?
- 08/03/2012 06:11:08 PM
1107 Views
- 08/03/2012 06:11:08 PM
1107 Views
After I thought about it more, I realized France and the US are not so different in that respect.
- 08/03/2012 08:51:03 PM
902 Views
More similar than the other major Western democracies at least, agreed.
- 08/03/2012 09:32:55 PM
900 Views
I did not realize lack of a parliamentary majority dictated his cabinet.
- 09/03/2012 12:27:31 AM
976 Views
I don't know much about Norwegian politics, but you seem to be wrong.
- 03/03/2012 06:18:08 PM
967 Views
Do you happen to have that link, please?
- 03/03/2012 06:46:31 PM
858 Views
Sure.
- 03/03/2012 06:58:07 PM
1082 Views
Guess we did not read far enough.
- 03/03/2012 10:38:07 PM
985 Views
Yeah, you have to know a few things about European politics...
- 03/03/2012 11:49:44 PM
1180 Views
Hey, man, I am an AMERICAN: I do not HAVE to know ANYTHING! 
- 04/03/2012 11:46:57 PM
1186 Views
- 04/03/2012 11:46:57 PM
1186 Views
Re: Yeah, you have to know a few things about European politics...
- 05/03/2012 06:56:24 AM
972 Views
The thing is, regions often have national relevance far greater than their populations would suggest
- 05/03/2012 10:21:26 AM
937 Views
Re: Yeah, you have to know a few things about European politics...
- 08/03/2012 07:11:12 PM
929 Views
Many valid reasons, including those Isaac cited.
- 02/03/2012 02:26:37 AM
1090 Views
Most states are ignored anyway
- 02/03/2012 11:56:12 PM
1154 Views
Only because and to the extent they have already committed themselves.
- 03/03/2012 03:41:39 AM
989 Views
Why would we do something logical? Dude, you're utterly ridiculous. *NM*
- 05/03/2012 04:53:38 PM
495 Views
I'm kind of sad- does this mean Santorum won't be providing wonderful sound bites anymore?
- 01/03/2012 02:22:31 PM
896 Views
Romney or Obama, either way, America loses. *NM*
- 02/03/2012 01:10:26 AM
660 Views
Hard to dispute that either; six of one, half a dozen of the other.
- 02/03/2012 01:38:07 AM
879 Views
I'd agree hope and change was extremely unrealistic
- 02/03/2012 11:58:57 PM
876 Views
Well, you know my story there; I voted for Obama and got Hillary (at best.)
- 03/03/2012 01:43:20 AM
904 Views
Update: Despite rules requiring they be split, the MI GOP is giving Romney BOTH statewide delegates.
- 02/03/2012 11:10:56 PM
996 Views
Romney is damaged
- 02/03/2012 11:27:33 PM
869 Views
Obama is rather damaged also; it will probably come down to FL and OH, yet again.
- 03/03/2012 02:23:53 AM
1026 Views
I'm hoping for Rubio as VP... then FL probably won't matter
- 03/03/2012 04:28:08 AM
875 Views
You should put that on your license plates. 
- 03/03/2012 06:41:34 AM
1045 Views
- 03/03/2012 06:41:34 AM
1045 Views
And what are you basing all of this on?
- 03/03/2012 09:54:06 PM
978 Views
The closeness of several states when Obama was far more popular, and UTs heavily Mormon neighbors.
- 03/03/2012 11:44:06 PM
978 Views
Wrong
- 04/03/2012 08:08:56 AM
1065 Views
Higher turnout magnifies the Mormon effect.
- 04/03/2012 08:08:09 PM
1130 Views
Your reasoning is flawed and if you can't see it there is no hope for you
- 05/03/2012 11:39:04 PM
1058 Views
Yeah, I think we had that conversation already, several times, in fact.
- 07/03/2012 05:36:45 AM
857 Views
Do you have any knowledge of statistics at all?
- 07/03/2012 09:04:15 PM
1035 Views
I hate this message board
- 07/03/2012 09:06:30 PM
828 Views
It would probably help if you deleted the stuff from two, three posts back?
- 07/03/2012 09:25:40 PM
936 Views