Can someone explain the US election process to me...

[bathseagull]

...in no more than 100 words?

I don't get it

 

[Robot Chicken]

At the moment the two parties (Republicans and Democrats) are selecting their nominees for the Presidential election.

John McCain is the favourite for the Republican nomination. The Democrats will be choosing between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, but it's too close to call at the moment.

The nonsense going on at the moment with primaries and caucuses is merely to choose the nominees. There are party conventions later where the nominee will officially be chosen but I won't go into that.

That's it in a nutshell.

 

[beorhthelm]

think of the current goings on as the election of Labour leader and Tory leader. Each party is sound out its party members for who they want to represent them in the forthcoming national presidential election.

one reason its so drawn out is that the system was formed way back in the 1700 when you literally took weeks to arrange a vote and then send your local representives off to the summer convention. They could do the whole thing in a wek end now of course, but each state wants to have its day with the candidates touring and sucking up.

 

[fatbadger]

Well, you might want to add a discussion of the electoral college system, as well, otherwise the actual election won't make any sense.

I can't be bothered. It's a shit system.

Look it up on wikipedia if you really want to know.

 

[Norman Potting]

As I think "That was the week that was" succinctly put it many years ago.

"In the USA there are two parties. There are the Democrats, who are the equivalent of the British Conservative party. There are also the Republicans, who are the equivalent of the British Conservative party"

 

[Robot Chicken]

There are also minor parties as well:
The Green Party
Constitution Party
Libertarian Party
Prohibition Party
Socialist Party
Socialist Workers Party
Unity08 Party

plus 20 or so independents

 

[bathseagull]

Thank you.

It all seems very long-winded and self obsessed to me. Oh yeah, its American...

 

[REDLAND]

Thank you.

It all seems very long-winded and self obsessed to me. Oh yeah, its American...

Still at least they understand it ..

 

[bathseagull]

Still at least they understand it ..

Good point.

No, I get it - it's not actually that different to here i s'pose

 

[REDLAND]

Good point.

No, I get it - it's not actually that different to here i s'pose

apart from the sheer amounts of money involved, which seeing the 'pickle' their economy is in clearly should be better spent else where..

ex residents of New Orleans would clearly back me up here !!!

 

[TSB]

http://www.northstandchat.biz/showthread.php?t=118628

For all your US normation needs.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

It's the opposite of The Weakest Link.

A bunch of people get asked lots of difficult questions. At the end of each round, they get rid of the smartest person. Eventually they are left with the dumbest, who gets to be president.

 

[Porky]

There must be a lot of money to be made somewhere, as it's been going on for about a year now, and has nine months to go before the election.
I have been over this side of the Pond for 52 years and only in the last couple of days have heard of the term "Super Delegate"
If you askes ten U.S. citizens to explain the Electoral System, I doubt if more than three of them could.
Then again, no rank and file members of the Labour Party had anything to say in appointing your current P.M.

 

[The Large One]

There must be a lot of money to be made somewhere, as it's been going on for about a year now, and has nine months to go before the election.
I have been over this side of the Pond for 52 years and only in the last couple of days have heard of the term "Super Delegate"
If you askes ten U.S. citizens to explain the Electoral System, I doubt if more than three of them could.
Then again, no rank and file members of the Labour Party had anything to say in appointing your current P.M.

That's a bit cynical. It's only because he stood unopposed.

 

[JJ McClure]

Just watch the West Wing, and not only will it help explain US politics but you'll also have the benefit of watching one of the best TV shows ever made.

 

[Rookie]

the American system is quite easy once you get head round it, but its just very long winded mainly as has already been said due to the size of the country and when it was all set up.
Quite similar to the election of a party leader over here when you think about it

 

[London Calling]

don't forget less than a half of American citizens who are of voting age actually have registered and are eligible to vote.

it really is one of the most undemocratic systems in the world.

 

[supaseagull]

It's the opposite of The Weakest Link.

A bunch of people get asked lots of difficult questions. At the end of each round, they get rid of the smartest person. Eventually they are left with the dumbest, who gets to be president.

Lord B, considering how positive your Falmer posts have been of late, that's a bit cynical isn't it?

 

[Le Premier Cru]

As I think "That was the week that was" succinctly put it many years ago.

"In the USA there are two parties. There are the Democrats, who are the equivalent of the British Conservative party. There are also the Republicans, who are the equivalent of the British Conservative party"

A bit like here, then. Two parties, each the equivalent of the British Conservative Party.

 

[readingstockport]

US election process is basically

A bunch of thick wankers chose between 2 other wankers which one of them is going to get to f*** up the world for the next 4 years.