Questions from a Non American

[martine]

As a Canadian, I'm not entirely ignorant of American politcs and workings of the American Government and perhaps my questions could all by answered if I trolled wikipedia... but I'm hoping someone might have the patience to explain a few things for me.

1) Can anyone really be President of the United States?

Ok..here's what I know. If you were born on American soil and have reached a certain age, you can run for President.

But...most people who have held that office--were they usually Senators? Were a couple of them Governors? Were most of them Senators? Which office is higher? Or are the offices just different? Has a person like Farmer Joe ever made it?

I sort of know what a Governor does...they represent the interests of the state they have been elected Governor for and probably spend 95% of their time in their state. Are there regular reasons why they'd be in Washington ? Or not really?

Whereas...Senators...also represent their state but most of their work happens in Washington?

Is the Governor sort of the 'stay at home leader' and actually runs the state day to day whereas the Senator is our guy/gal in Washington?

So confusing.

So, back to the President---does everything he/she wants to do--does it have to be approved by both houses? I want to say "The Commons" and "The Senate" but I think that's Canadian gov't speak. Perhaps you know what I'm trying to say.

Did Bush need the gov't's approval to go to war in Iraq? Or the UN or did he have the power just to do it?

I have a lot more questions.

I bet you can hardly wait to hear them. ;D ;D ;D

[Brian]

Luckily, Martine, most of your questions call for interpretation so I will rely on my aging memories and resist the temptation to check my facts at this hour, hoping others will add their thoughts.

Let's stick to the 20th and 21st Centuries for now. Senators have routinely failed to get elected President. All 100 of them at any given time think they'd be great at the job, but their voting records provide lots of ammo to their opponents. The last sitting Senator before Obama to win was Kennedy. Of course, Truman, Johnson and Nixon were Vice Presidents after they served in the Senate.

Governors -- and former governors like Reagan and Carter -- have experience as chief executives and little of the baggage on national and international issues. They can run successfully as Washington outsiders, which has always been popular. But those who won't be President would love to be one of the two Senators from their states. So most would consider that to be the higher office. You got their duties right. Governors visit Washington to appear on camera and beg for money.

Going way back, Washington was a farmer, but nobody's Joe. Andrew Jackson is generally acknowledged to be the first man of the people chosen. Lincoln could charm with his simplicity but was famous as a brilliant lawyer, thinker and speaker -- and he was just a one-term Congressman and failed Senate candidate.

Congress is made up of the 100 members of the Senate and 435 in the House of Representatives, who we call Congress members or Representatives, which confuses many Americans too. The President has some executive powers that don't require Congressional approval, but only Congress writes the budget. They let Bush invade Afghanistan and Iraq by passing bills that gave him broad discretion. And they continue to fund both wars. The United Nations approved both ventures, but in this country that's kind of like getting the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval.

[Sharon W]

I should be doing dishes and other useful things but I'm easily distracted. Per my recollection of public school - mostly the 8th grade 'constitution' class:

In theory, anyone who's a native born American (born on US soil or to US parents) and at least 35 years old can run for president. Recent ones have been office holders but I believe Eisenhower went from WWII General straight to President - and he's the one who's famous for warning us of the 'military-industrial complex' that would take over the country.

Each state has a Governor who is the chief executive - Reagan was a California Governor prior to being elected president - we Californians also inflicted Nixon on the nation - I believe he was a Representative prior to being Eisenhower's VP.

Each state has two senators, the Senate is the 'upper' house in our system. That was to give each state, regardless of size, an equal share of the decision making. Obsolete in my opinion because is gives so much power to tiny states with so few people. Founding Fathers feared the rabble, I guess.

The House of Representatives is the 'lower' house and members are based on population so California has a huge delegation there.

Only congress can declare war but the President is the Commander in Chief of the armed forces so he can declare emergencies and do police actions. I believe our engagement in Korea was just a 'police action'. After 9/11/01 there was a vote that authorized the invasion of Afghanistan, only one representative, Barbara Lee of Oakland, CA, voted against it.

Political parties decide who runs - Republican and Democrat - independents and third parties don't do well. The parties try to 'balance the ticket' by having Pres and VP candidates from different parts of the country.

Corporate money controls most of the races. The recent Supreme Court decision saying a corporation has the free speech rights of a person is just another blow to democracy, imo. We need an educated electorate but that's just a dream.

That's a big reason we have to go out to street corners to tell people what's really going on.


I'm sure others can fill in all the blanks - and correct anything I got wrong.

[Roberta]

Jan 27, 2010 10:41:47 GMT -8 Sharon W said:

Political parties decide who runs - Republican and Democrat - independents and third parties don't do well. The parties try to 'balance the ticket' by having Pres and VP candidates from different parts of the country.

Corporate money controls most of the races. The recent Supreme Court decision saying a corporation has the free speech rights of a person is just another blow to democracy, imo. We need an educated electorate but that's just a dream.

That's a big reason we have to go out to street corners to tell people what's really going on.

Too right Sharon and Brian, all of it, and this most importantly, that the corporations have both parties. Meanwhile we the peaceniks, greens, and just plain working people, of all genders, ethnicity/race, and persuasions (even the misguided non-rich Republicans who don't even know their own interests) have no party. We have the corners, our phones, our computers, our mailboxes and our voices. That is why we must and will keep using them. And get others to.

The dishes will get done, but sometimes they just have to wait!