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Version 6, 2005-03-08 21:31 Version 10, 2005-03-31 18:21
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Why Schwarzenegger will not become US president? Because it would take to long, the constitution would have to be changed. But he could become Austrian president... (Note: Would he introduce death-penalty here? I would want to throw him out then). Why Schwarzenegger will not become US president? Because it would take to long, the constitution would have to be changed. But he could become Austrian president... (Note: Would he introduce death-penalty here? I would want to throw him out then).
   
   
  +++ How did Vietnam happen?
   
  (Thanks to Mr. Gauster-Filek to answering my question about that)
   
  Vietnam to a degree because of France. (Sidenote: Sophie, the girl giving this presentation, is actually a ERASMUS student from France. So all eyes were on her after that remark :-))
   
  There was the Domino theory: If Vietnam falls, everything else would get communistic.
   
  The question remains: Have the US ships really been attacked by north-vietnamese? The congress didn't start the war. But the congress gave the president the power to start it.
   
  Since then, the president doesn't have as much power.
   
   
  +++ The thing about Iraq
   
  Here, the congress actually wanted to support Kuwait. The congress gave the president power but didn't want (?).
   
  Carry voted against helping Kuwait, but for war against Iraq before. That was seen as doubletalk, and so the population lost confidence in Carry.
   
   
  +++ Who is the most powerful?
   
  Well, the Court makes laws and declars laws for unconstitutional.
   
  The Civil Rights (as driven by Martin Luther King, etc.) were sucessful because of the courts. The "separate but equal" story wasn't believed by the courts and seen as unconstitutional.
   
  There were separate schools for blacks and whites. Earlier, there even were separated bathrooms, drinking fountains, restaurants, and so on.
   
  In 1954, the Supreme Court decided for the first time: Separate is //not// equal. Until at least 1964, they had decided that again and again.
   
  In 1965, the Civil Right laws passed the Congress at last.
   
  Moral: The American process is taking a //long// time. If you need support of at least 30 states, that is. So: No chance for Schwarzenegger becoming president! :-)
   
   
  +++ How is the president elected?
   
  1) there are the //primaries//. (Note: need more info on that)
   
  There's the Bush vs. !McCane story, for example. To become elected, you need to win primaries.
   
  While Austria does not see its politicans, the US might see them a bit too often.
   
   
  2) the //national convention//
   
  Here, the official naming of candidates takes place.
   
  In July 2004, the republicans national convention took place. In August 2004, the democrats national convention took place.
   
   
  3) the //general election//
   
  Here, not the popular vote, but the //electoral// vote counts.
   
  The next election takes place in 2008. And there are already (it is 2005 now) plans about the talk to New Hampshire!
   
  the first primary creates a certain image. Once you start winning in the smaller states, you start getting more votes. It is a snowball effect.
   
  In former days, when the constitution was made, there was no television. And thus, the president was not as powerful as today.
   
   
  +++ Clintons Problem
   
  Clintons Problem was: media. Television was full of Monica.
   
  Mr. Carey had vietnam-service problems. People said, he got his purple hearts because of self inflicted wounds.
   
   
   
  +++ Next
   
  SocialSecurityUK