Nation of Three Hundred Million Understands President Can Only Come From Two Families

[n2doc]

BY ANDY BOROWITZ

WASHINGTON, D.C. (The Borowitz Report)—The United States of America, a nation with a population of approximately three hundred million people, totally accepts that the next President of the United States can only be selected from two families.

In interviews conducted across the country, Americans acknowledged that, while the United States boasts many exceptional people in the fields of technology, business, public policy, and government, none will be offered to voters as candidates because they do not come from one of the two families deemed eligible.


“No doubt about it, there are a lot of great people out there who could be President,” said Stoddard Vinton, of Toledo. “But I guess our system of choosing people from just two families has worked out pretty well.”

Leslie McEdwards, of San Jose agreed, that, while “it would be cool” to choose a President from more than two families, “on the plus side, we voters don’t have to learn a bunch of new names.”

more

http://www.newyorker.com/humor/borowitz-report/nation-three-hundred-million-understands-president-can-come-two-families?intcid=mod-most-popular

[TwilightGardener]

1. I wouldn't be opposed to the two-family rule if either Bushes or Clintons possessed

anything approaching greatness...or even a strong spirit and record of selfless public service, like the Kennedys and the Roosevelts. But, no, we're in a name recognition game now.

[Baitball Blogger]

2. And we thought we did away with regal asencions when we broke with England.

[LanternWaste]

6. Yet we still maintain the option to vote for, or against a candidate based solely on the bloodlines

Yet we still maintain the option to vote for, or against a candidate based solely on the bloodlines-- both being equally absurd.

[MisterP]

9. heck, a royal family gives you options--there's always a cousin running around

if the instruction fails to stick

[True Blue Door]

3. Incipient monarchism is a real problem.

Fortunately Hillary Clinton is useless and the Bushes are genetically incapable of leadership.

[pampango]

4. Well, three families since most of the 300 million understand Obama is the president.

I imagine the odds makers are not giving Jeb much of a chance although it certainly looks as though he thinks it is his turn. I would say that Hillary's odds are 50-50 at best. Not many of us would be surprised if a dark horse once again took the Democratic nomination.

[JRLeft]

7. Technically Obama is related to Bush and Cheney so it's still 2 lol!

[grahamhgreen]

5. Instant run-off voting would solve this:

In the United States

State and local governments using instant runoff voting as of November 2013

Arkansas (only overseas voters in runoffs): Adopted in 2005 and first used 2006
Alabama (only overseas voters): By agreement with a federal court, used in special election for U.S. House, 2013
Berkeley, California: Adopted in 2004 and first used 2010 (for mayor, city council and other city offices)
Hendersonville, North Carolina Adopted and used as part of a pilot program in 2007, 2009 and 2011 (mayor and multi-seat variation for city council) and under consideration for future elections
Louisiana (only overseas and out-of-state military voters in federal and state runoffs): Adopted and used since the 1990s
Minneapolis, Minnesota: Adopted in 2006 and first used in 2009 in elections for mayor, city council and several other city offices, including certain multi-seat elections
Oakland, California: Adopted in 2006 and first used in 2010 (for a total of 18 city offices, including mayor and city council)
Portland, Maine: Adopted in 2010 and first used in 2011 (for electing mayor only)
San Francisco, California: Adopted in 2002, first used in 2004 and used every November election since then (for mayor, city attorney, Board of Supervisors and five additional citywide offices)
San Leandro, California: Adopted as option in 2000 charter amendment and first used in 2010 and every two years since (for mayor and city council)
South Carolina (only for overseas voters in federal and state primary runoffs): Adopted and first used in 2006
St. Paul, Minnesota: Adopted in 2009, first used in 2011 and to be used every two years (mayor and city council)
Springfield, Illinois (for overseas voters only): Adopted in 2007 and first used in 2011
Takoma Park, Maryland: Adopted in 2006 and first used in 2007, with elections every two years and with some special elections in between (for mayor and city council)
Telluride, Colorado: Adopted in 2008 and first used in 2011 (for mayoral elections)

Upcoming implementations

Memphis, TN (adopted 2008; scheduled for 2015 for electing city council and other offices)
Santa Fe, NM (adopted 2008; scheduled for 2016 for electing mayor city council)

Advisory, Option or Contingent Measure in the United States

Ferndale, Michigan (adopted in 2004)
Santa Clara County, California (adopted in 1998)
Sarasota, Florida (adopted in 2007)
Vancouver, Washington (adopted in 1999)

http://www.fairvote.org/reforms/instant-runoff-voting/where-instant-runoff-is-used/

[GoCubsGo]

8. That's my biggest reservation regarding Hillary.

Our founding fathers fought a revolution to get out from under a monarchy. If they saw that the next election will probably be another Clinton vs. Bush battle, they'd spin in their graves. There are 350+ million people in this country. One would think that we could find other candidates other than the ones from these two families.