My husband (and his mother -- who have never voted) . . .

[frankly_fedup2]

keep preaching to me that if the U.S. is at war, the current president cannot be removed (or voted) out of office. They said it was in the Constitution. I told them that couldn't be correct. If it were correct, then why are we having elections this year. Also it could not be true because the Vietnam war was going on when Kennedy was assassinated, Johnson did not rerun for President, and then Nixon got elected (I have that right, don't I?) Well, they say we never actually declared war against Vietnam. I was a child then so I do not remember too much about that. A declaration of war has to be made by the President and the Congress, right?

I have seen where they can reschedule elections if Congress and the President agree it would be better and/or in the Country's best interest (i.e., possible terrorist attacks around that time) on the latest news board. . . would this be it???? (With the rumors already, sounds like Bush and his gang are already planning this option). They also said that we have not "officially" declared war against Iraq. If we haven't declared war, why did Bush get the money for the war (that is not included in the budget).

I know I can look this up in the Constitution; however, I know there are a lot of you that know this stuff like the back of your hand (and I will become more educated if it is broken down rather than reading what is almost like reading a law book to me). Also, if you could tell me where this is referenced in the Constitution . . . would be of great benefit to me as well but take longer.

I would appreciate any opinions given.

[Richardo]

Two words: Horse. Shit.

:eyes:

[Richardo]

5. ...and THANK GOD they have never voted.

Please tell them not to break the string. :thumbsup:

[frankly_fedup2]

20. I knew it . . .

I'm kind of a new member here; however, I knew you guys would get right to the point and thanks for not holding back (laughing).

One more thing after reading all the posts . . . (and yes, I'm going to get back to the Constitution and find the exact wording), but for a quick response I have this question.

I thought Congress had to declare war? What, did they amend this? Was it ever there? Has it always been up to the President? And you mean to tell me we have not declared war since Pearl Harbor; however, we have been in war (how many times) since then? Did we not lose over 50,000 American lives in Vietnam alone?

Yes, I am going to print this who string out. Thanks so much.

[Richardo]

27. A belated welcome to DU, frankly_fedup2

The War Powers Act gives the President the ability to send the armed forces out but requires him to get congressional permission after some period of time. Like Congress will ever say "Forget it, bring them back."

The constitutionality of this law has always been in doubt but to my knowledge has not been brought before the Supreme Court. (anyone?)

[doni_georgia]

30. The power to declare war is reserved for Congress; however,

Precedents were set with Korea and Vietnam to enter armed conflicts without a formal declaration of war. Technically speaking these two wars were "police actions." I guess Gulf Wars I and II would technically be classified as the same.

[HFishbine]

1. You could print this for them

and ask them to find what the hell they are talking about. Then please ask them to continue to refrain from voting.

http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html

It's hardly a law book. Anybody with a fifth grade education can and should understand it. (With apologies if they didn't finish the 5th grade.)

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

2. Even I, a foreign, know enough about the US Constitution...

...to be 100% certain they're pulling this out of their asses. No such thing.

[frankly_fedup2]

25. I know of the Constitution as well. I didn't mean it that way.

Maybe it is the way you posted it. Your post had an accent (no offense intended).

[wryter2000]

3. They're full of it

Make them show you where in the Constitution it says that. It ain't in there.

[DarkPhenyx]

4. Didn't we hold an election during WWII?

I think we did, but I'm not positive. I think that would be enough said if it's true.

[Richardo]

8. We've held an election every four years PERIOD.

Next subject.

[DarkPhenyx]

22. That's what I thought.

My lack of surity was more becasue I ahdn't heard taht we definately had as opposed to thinking I maight ahve heard we didn't. THanks for backing it up.

[HFishbine]

26. Ding!

This would probably be the easiest for them to comprehend. If one example will make it plain, Thomas Dewey ran against FDR in 1944, while we were in a declared war against Japan and Germany (WWII) and he lost -- in an ELECTION.

[OneTwentyoNine]

21. Hell yes because my Dad voted while in Burma

That's the little fact he finds very interesting about the 2000 election and need to wait for the Military vote to come in. In WWII they voted before the regular election date,maybe as much as a month or more..I'll have to ask him again.

But,come election day his vote and other soldiers half way around the world were counted.

David

[chickflick]

6. Nobody declared war against Iraq.

Congress hasn't declared war since the day after Pearl Harbor.

[WoodrowFan]

15. almost

We last declared war in 1942 against Romania and Bulgaria (Nazi Germany allies)

[prolesunited]

7. Tell them

to stop listening to Rush.

[Walt Starr]

9. We held elections in 1864

during the Civil War.

They are full of shit. Elections cannot be stopped due to war, even a phony war like Bush's phony war.

[wryter2000]

10. Worse than originally thought

They say -- we can't vote the President out during time of war and then they say we never declared war against Iraq? Do they see a teensy contradiction in there?

[Burma Jones]

11. Tell them LINCOLN had to run for pres during the Civil War

Secondly, we aren't Constitutionally at war anyway, Congress has not declared war since 1941.

This is why we will likely become a fascist dictatorship, because people don't have a clue about the Constitution.

[WoodrowFan]

12. geeeeeezzeeee

It's things like this that give historians nightmares.

We had a Presidential election in 1864 during the Civil War.

We had a Presidential election in 1900 while still fighting in the Phillipines.

We had a Presidential election in 1944 during World War II.

We had a Presidential election in 1952 during the Koran War.

We had a Presidential election in 1968 while fighting in Vietnam.

[Richardo]

16. "The Koran War" Isn't that the one we're fighting NOW?

Sorry, WoodrowFan, it was too good a typo to let go... :D

[WoodrowFan]

17. that's why I didn't correct it.

when I corrected the year from 1950 to 52. OOPS. I was so STUNNED by the original assertion I couldn't type straight!

[pop goes the weasel]

19. correction

"We had a Presidential election in 1950 during the Koran War."

No, the election was in 1948. But we did have one in 1952 during the Korean War, and the incumbent (Truman) was not seeking re-election.

[WoodrowFan]

23. I corrected it

I mistyped and corrected it, I was thinking of 1952.

[Spider Jerusalem]

13. Your husband and mother-in-law are brain-damaged idiots...

who have NO IDEA what they are talking about.

US was at war in 1864, and there was a Presidential election.

Also in 1944.

And 1952.

And 1968.

It's quite obvious that they either never learned anything in school or promptly forgot.

[pop goes the weasel]

14. your husband and his mother are wrong

Franklin Roosevelt ran for re-election during World War II, Lincoln ran for re-election during the Civil War. War presidents have traditionally been re-elected during a war, but it has been tight. In the case of both Lincoln and FDR, they changed running mates, taking on more conservative vice presidents in an attempt to maintain narrow war time leads by appealing to the opposition. We are the opposition this time. You think W will pick a more liberal veep to appeal to us? Not hardly.

The Constitution is quite plain that there is a presidential election every four years. No exceptions are made. Congress does have the authority to change the date of the election, but not the year. This is in Article 2. Read the whole Article.

[BostonTeaParty04]

18. No offense....

but you married into this family?

Are you reproducing these faulty genes?

No offense. I am sure I am offending you... but good god.

why not give them each a copy of the constitution, post haste. And read it one more time yourself. It's really not a long read.

[MsUnderstood]

24. Ummm what about WWII?

Help me with the history folks, but I think that Roosevelt was re-elected in 1944, and the war ended Sept 2, 1945?

*dusting off my hands* that settles that arguement, doesn't it?

[GreatCaesarsGhost]

28. is that you, pickles?

[HFishbine]

31. Whoo!

LOL!

[doni_georgia]

29. Tell them they need a Civic's lesson!

Let's see - elections I can think of that occurred during wars (just off the top of my head)

1864 - Lincoln reelected
1944 - Roosevelt reelected
1952 - Eisenhower elected
1964 - Johnson elected
1968 - Nixon elected
1972 - Nixon reelected

In the 1952 election, Eisenhower ran on the platform of ending the Korean War and bringing the troops home. The war ended in 1953. No where in the Constitution is there ANY provision for cancelling elections due to war. Hell, they didn't even cancel the election of 1864 when the country was in a CIVIL WAR! Your husband and his mom really need to go back to school (no offense!) :)