US Democrats take the House
- Thread starter slaar
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kyser_soze
Hawking's Angry Eyebrow
OK, quick US legislative process 101...
The President has decided that all schools should be painted orange.
His staff write the bill.
It's presented to both houses of Congress
It then goes to the education (painting buildings subcommittee) committees.
They approve the bill, but disagree with the Pres' choice of orange, and insist that the bill is amended to allow for any shade of orange.
Congressman Puck from Buttfuck my Sister, Tennessee has a paint factory in his district and wants to ensure that they get a slice of this juicy federal contract, so makes a speech in the house, but essentially aimed at the ways&means committee (who decide WHERE the money will be spent) and Pres that this company are a swell bunch of guys and that they are developing an orange paint that reacts with sunlight to change colour through the day which would thus save the Fed loads of money buying lots of different shades of orange.
Several other Congressmen in both houses make similar requests/amendments.
The amended bill then goes back to the White House for the pres approval...unfortunately he doesn't like Sen Puck so strikes his request for funding from the bill. It then goes back to Congress.
By this time, Sen Puck has managed to get a llittle caucus of supporters, all of whom have companies with colour-changing paint in development. They make up enough of a group to kill the bill, so re-insert an amended amendment calling for even more money for research into these magic paints.
Pres realises his keynote bill will fail unless he compromises, so basically buys off enough of the bods in Sen Pucks caucus to get it through.
Both houses pass the bill
Pres is happy, and signs off on it
Bill becomes law.
The Ralph Nader School for pains in the ass object to having their school painted Orange, and sue under the First Amendment that a law saying what colour schools have to be is an infringement of civil rights.
Their local, district, regional and State courts pass it along to the Supreme Court who rule that, yes, the Federal Govt has no right to tell schools what colour to paint themselves.
And that, ladies and gents, is how a Bill is passed in the US...
The President has decided that all schools should be painted orange.
His staff write the bill.
It's presented to both houses of Congress
It then goes to the education (painting buildings subcommittee) committees.
They approve the bill, but disagree with the Pres' choice of orange, and insist that the bill is amended to allow for any shade of orange.
Congressman Puck from Buttfuck my Sister, Tennessee has a paint factory in his district and wants to ensure that they get a slice of this juicy federal contract, so makes a speech in the house, but essentially aimed at the ways&means committee (who decide WHERE the money will be spent) and Pres that this company are a swell bunch of guys and that they are developing an orange paint that reacts with sunlight to change colour through the day which would thus save the Fed loads of money buying lots of different shades of orange.
Several other Congressmen in both houses make similar requests/amendments.
The amended bill then goes back to the White House for the pres approval...unfortunately he doesn't like Sen Puck so strikes his request for funding from the bill. It then goes back to Congress.
By this time, Sen Puck has managed to get a llittle caucus of supporters, all of whom have companies with colour-changing paint in development. They make up enough of a group to kill the bill, so re-insert an amended amendment calling for even more money for research into these magic paints.
Pres realises his keynote bill will fail unless he compromises, so basically buys off enough of the bods in Sen Pucks caucus to get it through.
Both houses pass the bill
Pres is happy, and signs off on it
Bill becomes law.
The Ralph Nader School for pains in the ass object to having their school painted Orange, and sue under the First Amendment that a law saying what colour schools have to be is an infringement of civil rights.
Their local, district, regional and State courts pass it along to the Supreme Court who rule that, yes, the Federal Govt has no right to tell schools what colour to paint themselves.
And that, ladies and gents, is how a Bill is passed in the US...
Bob_the_lost
Elsewhere
I'm yet to see a decent game of tennis played by small change.
kyser_soze
Hawking's Angry Eyebrow
I'm actually quite happy I remembered all that from A-Level US Politics.
It's worth bearing in mind that this process is repeated at EVERY level of USG, all the way down to local copuncils with a Mayor etc - the triumvirate system exists at the Federal, State, Country and District level, and any legislation - be it the Fed Budget, or authorising the development of a new golf course (Jessie - remember the golf course debate in PoW, right at the end?
) - has to go through a similar process of approval.
And looking at it, it pisses me off a bit when people complain about the 'undemocratic' nature of US politics - you're looking at a nation where about 1/3 of state legislation is proposed and approved by citizens, that votes on pretty much every single appointment to public office at local and state level...it's also made me unbelievably angry what Cheney has manged to do to circumvent these processes thanks largely to a supine, GOP congress and a Democratic Party that has been pussyfied into silence for 6 years...grrrr...
It's worth bearing in mind that this process is repeated at EVERY level of USG, all the way down to local copuncils with a Mayor etc - the triumvirate system exists at the Federal, State, Country and District level, and any legislation - be it the Fed Budget, or authorising the development of a new golf course (Jessie - remember the golf course debate in PoW, right at the end?
) - has to go through a similar process of approval.And looking at it, it pisses me off a bit when people complain about the 'undemocratic' nature of US politics - you're looking at a nation where about 1/3 of state legislation is proposed and approved by citizens, that votes on pretty much every single appointment to public office at local and state level...it's also made me unbelievably angry what Cheney has manged to do to circumvent these processes thanks largely to a supine, GOP congress and a Democratic Party that has been pussyfied into silence for 6 years...grrrr...
>Socialist in the senate? now thats an interesting development. Not saying >he'll acheive anything, but just that he managed to get the votes to get >there is an impressive (and inspiring, considering its america) acheivement.
Actually, he's been winning statewide elections for over a decade, as Vermont only has one seat in Congress (due to its small population). An unheralded but deeply inspiring politician - his book 'Outsider In the House' is well worth reading.
Actually, there are now two members of the Progressive Caucus in the Senate now (Bernie Sanders and Sherrod Brown), up from nil before today, so thats got to be good.
Matt
P.S. Just found out that the city I am thinking of moving to in California elected a Green Party mayor yesterday! Must be an omen...
Actually, he's been winning statewide elections for over a decade, as Vermont only has one seat in Congress (due to its small population). An unheralded but deeply inspiring politician - his book 'Outsider In the House' is well worth reading.
Actually, there are now two members of the Progressive Caucus in the Senate now (Bernie Sanders and Sherrod Brown), up from nil before today, so thats got to be good.
Matt
P.S. Just found out that the city I am thinking of moving to in California elected a Green Party mayor yesterday! Must be an omen...
Ummmmmm.kyser_soze said:(Jessie - remember the golf course debate in PoW, right at the end?
Nope!
T'was probably a good couple of decades ago when I read it. And there's been far too many/much drugs/booze since then.
He's been popping into my head again over the last couple of years, mind you, the git. Been thinking I need to review the stuff I read and see what's new.
Was living in the US at the time and reading heaps of Tom Robbins too ('Another Roadside Attraction', 'Even Cowgirls Get The Blues', 'Etc'.).
Anyway, enough of this frivolous reminiscing *glances at clock - 2 1/2 hours 'til 'The West Wing'*......
What the fuck's happening in Montana?
Woof
undercover
Chopping up Armadillos
Thanks for that Kyser, explained at a level even I can understand!kyser_soze said:
Particularly enjoyed Puck from Butt Fuck being involved...
The thing that stirkes me as most incredible about US politics in all this is that they have the abilty to prevent themselves from possible impeachment (or whatever the term is for those in lesser positions than the prez) just by having their buddies in the right places.
I mean, the accusations that lead to impeachment are surely of the most serious nature, and for them to be seen by one person and not another beggars belief. That's politics for you I guess
.Is it time to start a new "Presidential Election" place your bets for the server-fund donation thread yet?
That cunt Bush cost me fifty quid last time.
This time I'll donate fifty quid if the Republicans win. (Need to save some money, been living way beyond budget since me mam and niece were out for a holiday, can't seem to shake it. )
Oh where, oh where is peebs when you need him?
Woof
That cunt Bush cost me fifty quid last time.
This time I'll donate fifty quid if the Republicans win. (Need to save some money, been living way beyond budget since me mam and niece were out for a holiday, can't seem to shake it.
)Oh where, oh where is peebs when you need him?
Woof
Let the skullduggery begin.Balbi said:News from Virginia --- the recount cant happen until votes are certified, on NOV 27TH!!! That's the earliest date according to Virginia State Law.
Those big money numbers in full.
Dem 1,170,564 to Rep 1,162,717 in VA.
Kaboomtish!
*notices a 'constitutional attourney' lurking around outside, handing out namecards*
Woof
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