# Politics & Elections **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/politics-elections/22.md?page=264 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 265 --- ## [What happens when a candidate dies before a recount?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-when-a-candidate-dies-before-a-recount/688311)
**Author:** [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [June 10, 2014, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-when-a-candidate-dies-before-a-recount/688311 "2014-06-10T20:27:01Z")
I have been casually following Clay Aiken’s run for congress because frankly I want to see if he breaks into song. Apparently there was a virtual tie in the democratic primary and they are set for a recount. However, h… --- ## [Clay Aiken's Campaign for North Carolina's Second Congressional District seat.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clay-aikens-campaign-for-north-carolinas-second-congressional-district-seat/688314)
**Author:** [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [June 10, 2014, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clay-aikens-campaign-for-north-carolinas-second-congressional-district-seat/688314 "2014-06-10T20:23:48Z")
Opponent dies while they were still counting the votes. That has to be a first. Aiken had a slim 369 vote lead. I would have expected a run off but the news hasn’t reported plans for one. Doesn’t matter now. Aiken still… --- ## [California gubernatorial election 2014](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-gubernatorial-election-2014/690139)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [June 9, 2014, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-gubernatorial-election-2014/690139 "2014-06-09T19:42:27Z")
Jerry Brown v. Some Other Guy. There’s no suspense here, is there? Brown seems to have it in the bag. And he seems to deserve it, too. --- ## [Newark by-election](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newark-by-election/687821)
**Author:** [@blindboyard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blindboyard)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [June 9, 2014, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newark-by-election/687821 "2014-06-09T16:47:55Z")
Farage has ruled himself out. Living in the constituency I’ve only come across the Tory, who has been sending out letters and bothering people in the town centre. I didn’t particularly like the last MP, Patrick Mercer,… --- ## [How many vote Republican despite, not because of, fiscal issues?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-vote-republican-despite-not-because-of-fiscal-issues/686873)
**Author:** [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [June 6, 2014, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-vote-republican-despite-not-because-of-fiscal-issues/686873 "2014-06-06T16:25:56Z")
I know that there are people who vote for the GOP despite the party’s stand on social issues. But how often does the opposite occur? Gary Bauer is the head of American Values, a socially conservative non-profit: “Amer… --- ## [In the Georgia Senate race, David Perdue makes babies cry](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-georgia-senate-race-david-perdue-makes-babies-cry/685549)
**Author:** [@yellowjacketcoder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowjacketcoder)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [June 5, 2014, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-georgia-senate-race-david-perdue-makes-babies-cry/685549 "2014-06-05T15:49:14Z")
Despite being 7 months away, the senate race is Georgia is already heating up. On the Democratic side, which is not going to win anyway since this is the deep South, Michelle Nunn is comfortably in the lead on a platfor… --- ## [June 3 Primary Election Results](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/june-3-primary-election-results/689993)
**Author:** [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [June 4, 2014, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/june-3-primary-election-results/689993 "2014-06-04T06:24:13Z")
In Iowa Joni Ernst won the Republican primary. She wants to abolish the Department of Education and the EPA. Iowa is a fairly centrist state and it hard to see how these positions could result in her winning the general … --- ## [In Illinois, The Major Parties are Required to Gather 5,000 Nominating Petition Signatures](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-illinois-the-major-parties-are-required-to-gather-5-000-nominating-petition-signatures/689752)
**Author:** [@deacon\_troll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deacon_troll)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [June 4, 2014, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-illinois-the-major-parties-are-required-to-gather-5-000-nominating-petition-signatures/689752 "2014-06-04T00:50:55Z")
The minor parties and independent candidates are required to gather 25,000 signatures. (Which is really 50,000, since the signatures will be challenged, and few voters carry their ID cards with them, and many give outdat… --- ## [SDMB Retrospective US Presidential Elections 1948](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-retrospective-us-presidential-elections-1948/687690)
**Author:** [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [June 3, 2014, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-retrospective-us-presidential-elections-1948/687690 "2014-06-03T11:00:15Z")
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United\_States\_presidential\_election,\_1948 Needless to say, I’d have voted for Harry Truman, one of the best Presidents to ever occupy the White House and recognized the necessity of both a s… --- ## [Idea: Politician Deduction For Not Voting](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idea-politician-deduction-for-not-voting/689192)
**Author:** [@2sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2sense)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [May 27, 2014, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idea-politician-deduction-for-not-voting/689192 "2014-05-27T16:45:46Z")
I came late to Honesty’s thread and what needs to be said has already been said. But it did spawn an idea that I didn’t want to hijack her thread for. I think the problem is not that people don’t have enough incentive to… --- ## [Which person on the other side of the aisle would you vote for?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-person-on-the-other-side-of-the-aisle-would-you-vote-for/688313)
**Author:** [@Askthepizzaguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askthepizzaguy)\ **Replies:** 94\ **Last updated:** [May 20, 2014, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-person-on-the-other-side-of-the-aisle-would-you-vote-for/688313 "2014-05-20T21:57:31Z")
Which person on the other side of the aisle would you vote for? Liberal / Leans Democratic here. If Jeb Bush ® runs for President against a weak (D) candidate, I’d end up voting for Jeb Bush. Pretend I’m not allowed to… --- ## [Can politics be studied scientifically?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-politics-be-studied-scientifically/686209)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 72\ **Last updated:** [May 14, 2014, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-politics-be-studied-scientifically/686209 "2014-05-14T15:25:38Z")
A Daily Kos headline caught my eye: Too Important for Clever Titles – Scientific Study Says We Are an Oligarchy Now, the contents of this Princeton study can be debated, but I’m kind of more interested in the very conce… --- ## [Well, I guess we better talk about Jeb Bush.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-i-guess-we-better-talk-about-jeb-bush/684981)
**Author:** [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Replies:** 120\ **Last updated:** [May 13, 2014, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-i-guess-we-better-talk-about-jeb-bush/684981 "2014-05-13T00:41:52Z")
It’s looking more and more likely that Jeb Bush is interested in making a presidential run, so maybe we should start looking at him. I don’t know much about him, other than who his brother is. Was he a good governor? … --- ## [SDMB Retrospective US Presidential Elections 1386](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-retrospective-us-presidential-elections-1386/687689)
**Author:** [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [May 11, 2014, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-retrospective-us-presidential-elections-1386/687689 "2014-05-11T02:04:58Z")
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United\_States\_presidential\_election,\_1836 I’d have voted for whoever was the Whig candidate in my state. Should read 1836 needless to say --- ## [Nebraska Goobernatorial Hopeful](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nebraska-goobernatorial-hopeful/686871)
**Author:** [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [May 10, 2014, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nebraska-goobernatorial-hopeful/686871 "2014-05-10T03:42:31Z")
I find thisPete Ricketts campaign commercialinteresting: he has 30 seconds to make his case, and the only thing he says, besides not believing in negative attack ads (bold!) is that he doesn’t support amnesty- “never hav… --- ## [Clinton and DOMA](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-and-doma/687082)
**Author:** [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Replies:** 49\ **Last updated:** [May 6, 2014, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-and-doma/687082 "2014-05-06T18:59:24Z")
Did Clinton sign DOMA because he knew a veto would be overridden? Given his change of heart on the issue, this explanation seems plausible. --- ## [Alternate history: LBJ wins in 1968!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternate-history-lbj-wins-in-1968/686713)
**Author:** [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Replies:** 95\ **Last updated:** [May 3, 2014, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternate-history-lbj-wins-in-1968/686713 "2014-05-03T16:32:28Z")
The 1944 thread is starting to get off topic, so I figured I’d start a new thread on the subject of LBJ staying out of Vietnam. So in this alternate history LBJ stays out of Vietnam, runs in 1968, and wins. What changes… --- ## [Syria election June 2014](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/syria-election-june-2014/687311)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [May 2, 2014, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/syria-election-june-2014/687311 "2014-05-02T00:44:34Z")
President Bashar al-Assad announces he will run for re-election in June. I understand Bashar al-Assad is favored to win, but some pundits are confident that Bashar al-Assad will hand him a big surprise. --- ## [Iraq parliamentary election 04/30/14](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iraq-parliamentary-election-04-30-14/687308)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [April 29, 2014, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iraq-parliamentary-election-04-30-14/687308 "2014-04-29T20:33:53Z")
Iraqi parliamentary election, 2014. Heard this discussed on NPR today – there’s still factions who might boycott (or try to force others to), and the government is desperate for the legitimacy a big turnout would confer… --- ## [SDMB Retrospective US Presidential Elections 1944](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-retrospective-us-presidential-elections-1944/686475)
**Author:** [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [April 25, 2014, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-retrospective-us-presidential-elections-1944/686475 "2014-04-25T15:08:38Z")
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United\_States\_presidential\_election,\_1944 Voted for President Roosevelt once again to win the war abroad and continue the New Deal at home. --- ## [SDMB Retrospective US Presidential Elections 1832](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-retrospective-us-presidential-elections-1832/686474)
**Author:** [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [April 25, 2014, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-retrospective-us-presidential-elections-1832/686474 "2014-04-25T01:35:15Z")
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1832\_US\_presidential\_election Voting for Clay this time. --- ## [SDMB Retrospective US Presidential Elections 1936](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-retrospective-us-presidential-elections-1936/685227)
**Author:** [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [April 24, 2014, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-retrospective-us-presidential-elections-1936/685227 "2014-04-24T01:59:09Z")
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United\_States\_presidential\_election,\_1936 I’d have voted for FDR again obviously. --- ## [Maine US Senate race: Shenna Bellows vs. Susan Collins (Incumbent)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maine-us-senate-race-shenna-bellows-vs-susan-collins-incumbent/685565)
**Author:** [@Linden\_Arden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linden_Arden)\ **Replies:** 41\ **Last updated:** [April 22, 2014, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maine-us-senate-race-shenna-bellows-vs-susan-collins-incumbent/685565 "2014-04-22T14:16:15Z")
Ms. Bellows is an eight-year former executive director of the Maine ACLU and has somewhat of a libertarian streak. The GOP incumbent is running for her fourth term. This could be a surprise pickup opportunity for Dem… --- ## [Eric Holder kills it: You don't want to go there, buddy.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eric-holder-kills-it-you-dont-want-to-go-there-buddy/686251)
**Author:** [@Honesty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honesty)\ **Replies:** 93\ **Last updated:** [April 22, 2014, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eric-holder-kills-it-you-dont-want-to-go-there-buddy/686251 "2014-04-22T00:55:49Z")
I am surprised this\* hasn’t been posted. I love when he wags and shakes his finger at the Congressman Gohmert. His facial expression was pure delight. I only wish Obama would be this forceful in confronting Republicans… --- ## [SDMB Retrospective US Presidential Elections 1828](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-retrospective-us-presidential-elections-1828/685925)
**Author:** [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [April 22, 2014, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-retrospective-us-presidential-elections-1828/685925 "2014-04-22T00:38:01Z")
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United\_States\_presidential\_election,\_1828 I’d have voted for JQ Adams again. --- ## [Could the Dems win the white-working-class vote by getting more aggressively progressive?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-the-dems-win-the-white-working-class-vote-by-getting-more-aggressively-progressive/685747)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 109\ **Last updated:** [April 17, 2014, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-the-dems-win-the-white-working-class-vote-by-getting-more-aggressively-progressive/685747 "2014-04-17T20:15:08Z")
That is the thesis of this article. It seems to go against the conventional wisdom, but: Most members of the white working class also support a higher minimum wage, Social Security and oppose “free trade” deals with m… --- ## [Senator King (I) might cross the aisle in November](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-king-i-might-cross-the-aisle-in-november/685861)
**Author:** [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [April 17, 2014, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-king-i-might-cross-the-aisle-in-november/685861 "2014-04-17T11:42:43Z")
Maine Senator Angus King, an independent who caucuses with the Democrats, is considering changing his allegiance to the Republicans if they win a majority in November. (Story here.) This is apparently due to his belief t… --- ## [SCOTUS strikes down aggregate campaign donation limits](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotus-strikes-down-aggregate-campaign-donation-limits/685168)
**Author:** [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Replies:** 207\ **Last updated:** [April 13, 2014, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotus-strikes-down-aggregate-campaign-donation-limits/685168 "2014-04-13T00:40:03Z")
In a ruling (pdf link) released in McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission on April 2, 2014 the Supreme Court struck down aggregate limits on campaign donations. Prior to this ruling there was a limit of about $123,00… --- ## [Paul Ryan steals lunch (story)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-steals-lunch-story/683111)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 264\ **Last updated:** [April 7, 2014, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-steals-lunch-story/683111 "2014-04-07T19:22:57Z")
This is really MPSIMS, but since it’s about a political figure I suspect it would be moved from there. Paul Ryan, speaking at CPAC, said: He implied in his speech that ‘Free school lunches mean poor parents don’t care… --- ## [GOP TP wing seems to be doubling down on being even more extreme - Successful long term strategy?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-tp-wing-seems-to-be-doubling-down-on-being-even-more-extreme-successful-long-term-strategy/680302)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 304\ **Last updated:** [April 7, 2014, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-tp-wing-seems-to-be-doubling-down-on-being-even-more-extreme-successful-long-term-strategy/680302 "2014-04-07T17:08:53Z")
Relative to it’s absolute numbers the Tea Party GOP win has been unusually successful in leveraging its power within the Republican Party locally and nationally even if it has not gotten the legislative results it wanted… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/politics-elections/22.md?page=263) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/politics-elections/22.md?page=265)