Constitutional engineering nap

10.05.2004

Another sleepy Tuesday morning. I figure a nap's in order. Or maybe curl up in bed w/ The Architecture of Democracy, the book digest of the Constitutional Design 2000 conference I attended at Notre Dame. The whole event was like the superstars of constitutional engineering. The highlight? Probably watching Giovanni Sartori's ego assail Arend Lijphart. Or sharing a smoke w/ Juan Linz. Biggest disappointment? Robert Dahl couldn't attend, so I've yet to meet my biggest political science idol.

Tonight's also the big Cheney-Edwards vice presidential debate. Should be more interesting than last week's debate, but not sure it'll mean much. And I would've much preferred a Condi-Edwards debate. How much fun would that match-up have been?

Slate is running an electoral college predictor, and it currently has Bush up 348-190. The Electoral Vote 2004 website (run by a Kerry supporter) has Bush up 321-200. And Michigan's again a dead heat (46-46). Slate has Bush up in Michigan 50-48 — though I think the state'll vote Kerry in the end.

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UPDATE 1: Proving we do indeed live in a sci-fi reality, there's a campaign (House, Senate) to amend the constitution to allow foreign-born citizens (ahem, Arnold Schwarzenneger) to run for president. They have a website. Now go out & rent Demolition Man.

UPDATE 2: OK. This is scary. It's the second report of someone firing shots at a local GOP office. And here I thought hate wasn't a family value.

Posted by Miguel at 02:59 PM

Comments

it would be cool if we could pick people and make them debate on live TV. it could be a new reality show... like we don't have enough of those..

Posted by: Sam at October 5, 2004 03:38 PM

It's too bad presidential politics involves two very predictable stages.

A) A long, cluttered primary campaign where voters end up settling for the least-objectionable candidate. Basically, the last man standing after all the bozos throw money & mud at each other.

B) A long, tedious post-primary campaign where parties try to convince voters that their candidate was the obvious primary winner & the magical solution to all our problems.

Posted by: Miguel [TypeKey Profile Page] at October 5, 2004 05:11 PM

Re Update #2:

I've heard about the Republican office shooting. Crazy fucks. American goddamn Taliban.

Posted by: T'su Rii [TypeKey Profile Page] at October 5, 2004 08:35 PM

Does that mean I could become president of the United States???? :)

Posted by: Melli at October 5, 2004 10:15 PM

Yes. And me, too! If the amendment passes.

Posted by: Miguel [TypeKey Profile Page] at October 5, 2004 10:20 PM

Well, me not yet, because I am not a citizen yet (and do not intend to become one) but your chances have certainly increased.

Anyways, thanks for posting it. I teach on constitutions tomorrow. And that might just be the last discussion piece I need.

Posted by: Melli at October 5, 2004 10:33 PM