Thread: Stupid Americans?

Originally Posted by Waldo

Or is this part of the Australia/US free trade agreement that we have to import this stuff on to our TVs each night.

I reckon. How would you like to sit over here and watch it every living minute of every living day? The job doesn't even pay that much!

Anyone remember the old BBC show "Yes, Minister?" That, I think, is all that saves us.

Originally Posted by Honorary Bloke

Anyone remember the old BBC show "Yes, Minister?" That, I think, is all that saves us.

It was a brilliant satire of politics, it must've been Politics 101 the world over for all in government and opposition, unfortunately they all seem to have passed with flying honors.

Bah! The winner will be the one with the best-looking hair. And even that contest is in the eye of the beholder. Heck, Eisenhower had more hair than Stevenson in 1952. Turned out as at least half-good president anyway.

With all the noise and fury, I MUST get to work on the BS meter before the election.

Cheers,
Joe

Originally Posted by joe greiner

............With all the noise and fury, I MUST get to work on the BS meter before the election............

Won't the needle get bent when it hits the peg on the right of the scale?

Mick

Originally Posted by journeyman Mick

Won't the needle get bent when it hits the peg on the right of the scale?

Mick

Nah. Just switch from metric to Imperial. Or vice-versa.

Joe

Originally Posted by joe greiner

Bah! The winner will be the one with the best-looking hair. ..... Heck, Eisenhower had more hair than Stevenson in 1952. Turned out as at least half-good president anyway.

Cheers,
Joe

That's because Eisenhower had Sherman Adams as his Chief of Staff. I had the occasion to meet him once in the sixties (I think I was 15). He was an intense son of a bitch even after being diminished by scandal. There used to be a joke in D.C. about Eisenhower dying and Nixon becoming president. The punch line was "Never mind that, what if Sherman Adams dies and Eisenhower becomes President!"

I think you're right about the hair thing. Only time I can recall it failing was Goldwater v Johnson, but of course after Kennedy LBJ was always going to win.

Got to go watch some West Wing re-runs....

Waldo,
Pleas accept my sympathies if your news covers the "Candidates" attempting to run my country. Both SWMBO and I just switch stations when the political poop starts.

Gregoryq,
I don't know if you have access to the TV program "NOVA" which is shown on our PBS or Public Broadcasting Stations. Several years ago they produced a biographical look at Galileo. If there ever was a screaming message for the need of the separation of church and state, that was it!

Unfortunately our constitution requires that the government not interfere in the matters of the church BUT NOT THE REVERSE.

Obama picked Biden

Obama Binden - Osama bin Laden

Just need an S, L and A... which you can find in Sara Palin...

I find this strangely humorous.

The hollowmen. Just as funny as yes minister, only more australian....

i dont understand the american system at all

i just dont know why they cant have a 6 wk election campaign like all other countrys and get it over and done with and this electing the president instead of the party seems pointless
electing their president is just so long winded ?
and anyway not everyone has to vote there so really he is not representing the whole country is he ?

Originally Posted by dzcook

i dont understand the american system at all

i just dont know why they cant have a 6 wk election campaign like all other countrys and get it over and done with and this electing the president instead of the party seems pointless
electing their president is just so long winded ?
and anyway not everyone has to vote there so really he is not representing the whole country is he ?

Australia is one of the few (only?) democracies that requires voting by law. Failing to vote is a choice too, just like ignorance. Both have their downsides.

Also, do you think the leader of a country is really best chosen in back room somewhere? Really? I wonder how the voters of NSW feel about that? Or the UK for that matter.

While I find many aspects of the US perplexing, I think the three arms of government idea pretty good in theory, and often so in practice.

To be honest I read that article and one thing came to mind. If I changed only a few words you'd think he was talking about Australia - hansonism comes to mind. I'm at a loss to understand the American obsession. And why is it those that have a definite leftest (liberal minded... whatever label you want) leaning are often heavy on insults and few on facts when they criticize others that disagree with their philosophies.

Originally Posted by gregoryq

Australia is one of the few (only?) democracies that requires voting by law.

Actually you are only required to attend a polling booth and have your attendance noted by being crossed of the roll.

Actual voting is optional and not compulsory. You can elect to vote or not to vote as you wish, once your attendance is noted.


Peter.

Originally Posted by gregoryq

That's because Eisenhower had Sherman Adams as his Chief of Staff. I had the occasion to meet him once in the sixties (I think I was 15). He was an intense son of a bitch even after being diminished by scandal. There used to be a joke in D.C. about Eisenhower dying and Nixon becoming president. The punch line was "Never mind that, what if Sherman Adams dies and Eisenhower becomes President!".

IIRC, Sherman Adams had a pretty good mop on top during the Eisenhower administration; probably thinning somewhat when you met him.

Another DC joke around 1973 had a setup concerning a man who awoke from a 20-year sleep (a la Rip van Winkle from [Washington Irving's Legend] of Sleepy Hollow). The man's first question was, "How is President Eisenhower?" He was told that Eisenhower had died. He replied, "Oh NO! Richard Nixon is President!"

"System?" What system

Joe