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Question from a Limey: Is it possible that an ex-President of the USA could...

Posted on 10/19/2004 1:51:58 AM PDT by BritishBulldog

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To: BritishBulldog

It has happened several times:


John Quincy Adams was elected to the House of Representatives (where he later collapsed and died) after being President.

President William Howard Taft was later made Chief Justice of the United States by President Harding.

President John Tyler later became a member of the Confederate House of Representatives.

Grover Cleveland was the only President to leave the White House and return for a second term four years later.

President Andrew Johnson was elected to Congress after being President.

John Calhoun served as VP under John Quincy Adams and then Andrew Jackson. He resigned as Vice President to accept a Senate seat from his home state.

Levi Morton served as VP under Benjamin Harrison, and was later elected Governor of New York (I think it's New York.)


21 posted on 10/19/2004 2:27:06 AM PDT by Jaysun (HAVE YOU GIVEN ALL YOU CAN TO RALPH NADER??????)
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To: conservative in nyc

"Chief Justice Bill Clinton has an even more awful ring to it."

Since he was disbarred as a lawyer in Arkansas, I don't think we will have to fear that happening. Or maybe we do if a crazy like Kerry gets into office.


22 posted on 10/19/2004 2:27:25 AM PDT by LArighty
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To: Reo; BritishBulldog
John Quincy Adams served as a Congressman after serving as President

That was way back in the 1830s, FYI.
23 posted on 10/19/2004 2:29:00 AM PDT by conservative in nyc
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To: narses; conservative in nyc; hlmencken3; Reo; dyed_in_the_wool
This might be interesting to you.
24 posted on 10/19/2004 2:32:04 AM PDT by Jaysun (HAVE YOU GIVEN ALL YOU CAN TO RALPH NADER??????)
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To: narses; conservative in nyc; hlmencken3; Reo; dyed_in_the_wool
.

OOPS! I LINKED TO THE WRONG COMMENT Sorry. Here it is.
25 posted on 10/19/2004 2:34:17 AM PDT by Jaysun (HAVE YOU GIVEN ALL YOU CAN TO RALPH NADER??????)
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To: BritishBulldog
Also, why do you have this rule about serving only two terms?

It has to do with personal and party power. The fear is that he and his party will build such a following of appointed officials and elected people who are beholden to him that he may be tempted to refuse to leave, and try to take over government entirely. Dictator, or king?

In the UK all of the top government officials, the Ministers in the Cabinet, are elected members of Parliament. Thus, their own positions are unstable enough for them to be a natural check on the Prime Minister.

In the USA, however, the President appoints his own cabinet, and just has to get the Senate to agree to them. Thus there is more potential for abuse if a President remains in office for to long.

26 posted on 10/19/2004 2:36:51 AM PDT by jimtorr
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To: coconutt2000

I think the grooming proccess for Rudy Gulianni starts around the same time


27 posted on 10/19/2004 3:05:01 AM PDT by Nathan Zachary
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To: BritishBulldog

Sure he could, but it would be a cut in pay.

Once President, any lower office, without all the perks and the people who just dont respect your lower office and the hassles that would cause, why work?

Plus, as ex-president, you can get over $100,000 for just giving a speech, why work? Just give 3 or 4 speeches a year.


28 posted on 10/19/2004 3:14:29 AM PDT by RaceBannon (KERRY FLED . . . WHILE GOOD MEN BLED!!)
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To: BritishBulldog

A former President may run for another elected office, except for the Vice-Presidency.

It happened at least once: John Quincy Adams ran for US Congressional office and won, after having served as President.

He continued to get re-elected until his death, which occurred during a session of the House of Representatives shortly after he collapsed there, at his desk. His sole purpose, he stated, in serving in the House was to secure the abolition of slavery.

He tied the House in knots so effectively with his persistent, powerful speeches and procedural tactics, that a rule was passed forbidding the issue to be debated.

But he was respected by those who opposed his policy. He was instrumental in the growth of the idea that owning slaves was antithetical to our God given, inalienable rights stated in the Declaration of Independence, the document upon which America was founded, even though slavery was legal.


29 posted on 10/19/2004 3:16:05 AM PDT by Radtechtravel
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To: konaice
"Ooops, I mean the only thing they CAN'T do is succeed themself twice."

Well technically they can succeed themselves twice but only under special circumstances.

If they have served a partial term that is less than two years(think Ford replacing Nixon or LBJ succeeding Kennedy.) then they can serve two normal terms as well. If however they serve over two years in a partial term then they get only one shot at re-election.

30 posted on 10/19/2004 3:26:50 AM PDT by Mad Dawgg (French: old Europe word meaning surrender)
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To: CalmCorrectConservPatriotCCCP; All

You know what would be a lot of fun though...Bill Clinton gets elected to the UN presidency, then congress cuts off UN funds due to the oil for food scandal and other sorts of corruption...hee hee.


31 posted on 10/19/2004 5:30:50 AM PDT by mdmathis6 (The Democrats must be defeated in 2004)
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To: BritishBulldog
"..why do you have this rule about serving only two terms? Seems a bit daft.."

Well, that is daft, now that you have brought it up. That is why true conservatives (standing by the Constitution) do not advocate "term limits". The Republicans of many years ago were literally at their wit's end when they passed term limits for President. Lately, some neo-cons have attempted the same thing for members of Congress.

A far better approach is to educate the voters as to what is going on in Congress, and then they themselves will hold their representative's feet to the fire, and hold them accountable for the votes in Congress. The "term limits" idea is greatly flawed in its fundamentals, and should never see the light of day.

In a term-limited Congress, there would be absolutely no need for any politician to adhere to his constituencies' wishes, as he would not ever need to face their displeasure in the polls. The result would be even more irresponsible, unconstitutional, and repressive bills passed in Congress. It would literally create a runaway Socialist government with no limits.

32 posted on 10/19/2004 5:59:46 AM PDT by Designer (Sysiphus Sr. to Junior; "It was uphill, all the way, both ways!")
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To: LArighty
"Since he was disbarred as a lawyer in Arkansas.."

What makes you think a nominee has to be a lawyer?

I seem to recall Earl Warren was not an attorney. Probably our most destructive Supreme Court, ever.

33 posted on 10/19/2004 6:05:43 AM PDT by Designer (Sysiphus Sr. to Junior; "It was uphill, all the way, both ways!")
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To: konaice
They certainly can, but with a pention for life, who needs the hassel?

Are you from around here? It's "pension" and "hassle."

The only thing they can do is succeed themselves twice to the presidency.

No, they can succeed themselves once.
34 posted on 10/19/2004 6:09:04 AM PDT by aruanan
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To: BritishBulldog

We Texans are hoping that when "W" finishes FOUR MORE YEARS that he will come back to Texas, lead us in seceding from the dimocrat socialist union after which, we crown him King of the Republic of Texas.


35 posted on 10/19/2004 12:18:15 PM PDT by daybreakcoming ("The American press is all about lies! All they tell is lies, lies and more lies!",,,,,,Baghdad Bob)
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To: BritishBulldog
Is there any reason why an ex President couldn't run for Mayor of New York or Governor of a state or for the Senate and has it ever happened?

It's happened several times, but not recently. John Quincy Adams was president from 1824 to 1828, and then was elected to the House of Representatives in 1830. He served there until his death in 1848. John Tyler served in the confederate congress for a year before he died. William Howard Taft was appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Other presidents, like Roosevelt and Van Buren ran on third part tickets but lost.

36 posted on 10/19/2004 12:32:45 PM PDT by Non-Sequitur (Jefferson Davis - the first 'selected, not elected' president.)
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To: BritishBulldog
"Also, why do you have this rule about serving only two terms? Seems a bit daft if you've got a really good President who's popular & doing well to have to retire him and take on an new guy."

Because its just as likely that tyrants and scoundrels will be the ones retaining office by crooked means.

It also stems from the American belief that government Of the people By the people, For the people, rather than government by the elite.

No president is indispensable, and there is a wealth of talent that can be up to the task. We view our leaders as citizens, not Kings. Its a totally different mind set.

8 years is enough, we are not interested in having a Fidel Castro be president for life by a 99% vote every 5 years. All kinds of temptation to rig elections is bypassed by the simple expedient of forcing new leaders every 8 years.

New Ideas require new blood, we are not into dynasties here (which will make it hard for Jeb Bush to run for president, even though he has shown himself a capable administrator).

Had there not been a war on, even Roosevelt would not have been elected 4 times. We are reluctant to change administrations midstream.

Turning the question around: What evidence do you have that allowing endless reelection of the same tired hacks has served any country well? Even your own?
37 posted on 10/19/2004 12:56:53 PM PDT by konaice
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To: LArighty

Brown has done mighty things in Oakland. I hate to say it, but he has.


38 posted on 10/19/2004 12:58:06 PM PDT by RinaseaofDs (The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money.)
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To: BritishBulldog

Hubert Humphrey (Vice-President under Lyndon Johnson) became a US Senator after finishing his term as VP.


39 posted on 10/19/2004 12:59:11 PM PDT by kidd
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To: BritishBulldog

Check out John Quincy Adams....after president I think he became a congresscritter.


40 posted on 10/19/2004 12:59:42 PM PDT by shield (The Greatest Scientific Discoveries of the Century Reveal God!!!! by Dr. H. Ross, Astrophysicist)
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