Honduras Military Kicks Out President

[Husar]

First you say Chavez will stay in power because he(/the people in a referendum) abolished term-limits and now you say he is like Putin even though Putin had to go due to term-limits. So what difference do term-limits make then and why would they be important? Clinton almost came back to power through his puppet-wife as well, clearly term-limits aren't even protecting the USA from despotism and dictators. It's the people who do that and if they're not standing up they get what they asked for, why does it bother you so much?

@Tribes: What is Uribe?

[rvg]

First you say Chavez will stay in power because he(/the people in a referendum) abolished term-limits and now you say he is like Putin even though Putin had to go due to term-limits. So what difference do term-limits make then and why would they be important? Clinton almost came back to power through his puppet-wife as well, clearly term-limits aren't even protecting the USA from despotism and dictators. It's the people who do that and if they're not standing up they get what they asked for, why does it bother you so much?

@Tribes: What is Uribe?

His methods of getting elected are very similar to those of Putin. Yes, Putin left the presidential office, but he will be back. As for importance of term limits, they exist to make sure that nobody tries to run a republic as if it were a kingdom. This is very important for any presidential republic. No so for countries like Germany, where the Chancellor is not the head of state. As for Clinton, he is gone. Done. Even if Hillary won, it would have been her who would run the show, not Bill.

P.S. Uribe is the Columbian prez. Hates Chavez but wants to be just like Chavez. Same bad apples.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

His methods of getting elected are very similar to those of Putin. Yes, Putin left the presidential office, but he will be back. As for importance of term limits, they exist to make sure that nobody tries to run a republic as if it were a kingdom. This is very important for any presidential republic. No so for countries like Germany, where the Chancellor is not the head of state. As for Clinton, he is gone. Done. Even if Hillary won, it would have been her who would run the show, not Bill.

P.S. Uribe is the Columbian prez. Hates Chavez but wants to be just like Chavez. Same bad apples.

I understand your point regarding term limits, but you cannot legislate the concept of a Cinncinatus. You either have a mindset that centers on acquiring executive power to accomplish a simple concrete goal and then set aside power when you're done, or you do not. Term limits just beget loophole exploitation.

e.g. I can't run for the Senate again, so I'll run for the HOR, due two terms there, then go back into the Senate.

Politicians seek power, and for many of them that power is an end goal in itself. Moreover, once you are exercising power, it is easy to come to view your exercise of that power as VITAL to the furtherance of the political program you hold dear.

Creating political leaders who seek to serve for a stretch as leader and then leave office and leave "the game" can only be accomplished on a cultural level.

So, ultimately, I disagree with term limits. If the voters, in a free and fair election, truly wish to have such leadership repeat, that IS their prerogative. I think you end up with a BOHICA situation, but that's their choice.

[rvg]

Term limits just beget loophole exploitation.

In case of Russia, absolutely. In case of us, I do not see how. Once the two terms are up, you permanently lose the eligibility to run for office. That's pretty effective.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

In case of Russia, absolutely. In case of us, I do not see how. Once the two terms are up, you permanently lose the eligibility to run for office. That's pretty effective.

Governor Long of Louisiana being "succeeded" by his wife. A few other such incidents. For the most part, we DON'T have term limits. Federally, only the POTUS is limited (2.49 terms or less; elected no more than twice). There, that ammendment was made to prevent another chap running against the precedent GW put in place at the outset -- in other words it did little but codify an extant cultural norm.

Even so, I think it should be repealed. The people should vote for whomever they wish to see serve (save for the constitutional minimum restrictions imposed).

[Tribesman]

Oh well it seems as if the coup is fracturing , politicians are jumping ship and much of the section of the populace who originally supported the coup are now getting sick of the errrrr....dictatorial policies imposed by the new "government" and their flagrant and very serious violations of the constitution which are increasing in number on a regular basis.

[Tribesman]

why does it bother you so much?

Just a guess , but certain sections of the US population have a strange fetish when it comes to Latin american elections and have a history of supporting coups and dictators down that way.

[Tribesman]

This is very important for any presidential republic.

Is that why it took until 1951 to get the 22nd amendment.
Lucky it was very important or they would have had to wait another 163 years.

P.S. Uribe is the Columbian prez. Hates Chavez but wants to be just like Chavez. Same bad apples.

Where was the condemnation of Uribe abolishing term limits?

[rvg]

Is that why it took until 1951 to get the 22nd amendment.
Lucky it was very important or they would have had to wait another 163 years.


Where was the condemnation of Uribe abolishing term limits?

Before 1951 there was no need to hardcode the term limits as FDR was the one and only guy who won more than 2 terms. Once FDR was out, the American people made sure that this never happens again.

As for condemning Uribe, well, I can condemn him right here and right now. Bad Uribe. Bad.

[Tribesman]

Before 1951 there was no need to hardcode the term limits

So they are very important to the extent that they were not needed

[rvg]

So they are very important to the extent that they were not needed

They were important to the extent that all presidents observed them without having them explicitly defined in the law of the land. Until FDR came by.

[Ice]

They were important to the extent that all presidents observed them without having them explicitly defined in the law of the land. Until FDR came by.

I thought past presidents only sat for two terms because they were following Washington's example rather than for the good of the republic.