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#1 (permalink) |
Junkie
Location: Louisville, KY
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The Junior Senator from Illinois and the Lame Duck Session
Hello darlings-
I have a question about the process of government.... So from now until January 20th, the current government holds office. Moreover, President-Elect Obama will not constitutionally be the next President until the electoral college meets in December. The Pres-Elect is also still an elected Senator. So my question is, will Pres.-Elect Obama vote in a lame-duck session of Congress? I'm just kind of curious. I've not seen precedent for this in my lifetime, as only presidents to be elected in my lifetime came directly from executive positions. I know of no Constitutional restrictions. So, does anyone else know? Best, Sabrina
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"With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy." -Desiderata |
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#2 (permalink) |
Human
Administrator
Location: Chicago
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Until he becomes president, Obama is a senator and has all the abilities of such a position.
As president-elect, he will also have greater influence in how the rest of his Democratic colleagues vote.
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Le temps détruit tout "Musicians are the carriers and communicators of spirit in the most immediate sense." - Kurt Elling |
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#3 (permalink) |
Junkie
Location: Louisville, KY
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I figured as much...I just didn't know if it was frowned up because of the enormous incipient power he now holds.
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"With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy." -Desiderata |
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#4 (permalink) |
Darth Papa
Location: Yonder
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He said pretty clearly (though a bit between-the-lines) in his press conference today that until he's sworn in on 1/20/09, W is still the president, and Obama has no policy authority beyond his Senate seat. The thing I think he wanted to communicate without saying it is, this is still Bush's economy to deal with, and a lot can happen in two months.
He will be participating in the lame-duck session, as well as working with congress on his transition plan. |
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#5 (permalink) |
Location: Iceland
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I appreciate that Obama isn't trying to take over his new position too soon--he seems very respectful of giving Bush time to do whatever the hell he's going to do (kind of scary, actually) before he steps in.
On a sidenote, I've always found the term "lame duck" to be rather odd... looking it up on Wiki, apparently it has two possible roots. One in which President Cleveland started domesticating ducks (when he wasn't doing so well), and another from a duck that fails to keep up with its flock, making it an easier target. I would think a metaphor more along the lines of "hogtied" would be more appropriate for these situations, but I don't decide these things! ![]()
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And think not you can direct the course of Love; for Love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course. --Khalil Gibran |
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#7 (permalink) |
Super Agitator
Location: Just SW of Nowhere!!! In the good old US of A
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One thing you might take into consideration - he hasn't actually ever been a senator - he has been a presidential candidate, full time, fom the moment he got to Washington. If he doesn't pay any more attention to the representation of the people who elected and sent him to the senate in the beginning - it really doesn't matter.
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Life isn't always a bowl of cherries, sometimes it's more like a jar of Jalapenos --- what you say or do today might burn your ass tomorrow!!! |
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#9 (permalink) |
Lover - Protector - Teacher
Location: Seattle, WA
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It's a bit more than a twinge.
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"I'm typing on a computer of science, which is being sent by science wires to a little science server where you can access it. I'm not typing on a computer of philosophy or religion or whatever other thing you think can be used to understand the universe because they're a poor substitute in the role of understanding the universe which exists independent from ourselves." - Willravel |
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#10 (permalink) | |
You had me at hello
Location: DC/Coastal VA
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Quote:
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I think the Apocalypse is happening all around us. We go on eating desserts and watching TV. I know I do. I wish we were more capable of sustained passion and sustained resistance. We should be screaming and what we do is gossip. -Lydia Millet |
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#11 (permalink) |
Junkie
Location: Louisville, KY
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Not to mention Obama's overwhelming victory in Illinois....he won 62% of the vote in that state.
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"With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy." -Desiderata |
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#12 (permalink) | ||
Super Moderator
Location: essex ma
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where did that expression come from? these are the type of questions that can send me scurrying away into a burrow of obscure infotainment for minutes.....and many are the valuable minutes of my life that fritter themselves away because of this.
if you emphasize the word "duck": Quote:
Quote:
uncovering the remaining traces of English Duck Attachment Industry is a worthy task for archaeologists who otherwise would be traipsing about central asia looking for noah's ark and such. they should get on this. i think i'll write a letter. but first: huzzah! huzzah for the oed! say it yourself, now, to your monitor. you know you want to.
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a gramophone its corrugated trumpet silver handle spinning dog. such faithfulness it hear it make you sick. -kamau brathwaite Last edited by roachboy; 11-13-2008 at 11:42 AM.. |
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#13 (permalink) |
Location: Washington DC
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Oabam is resigning his Senate seat this weekend:
Obama will resign Senate seat Sunday | Clout Street - local political coverage Its now in the hands of the governor of IL who will have to fill the seat within 60 days. -----Added 13/11/2008 at 03 : 09 : 37----- rb...I did enjoy your duck fritter.
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"The perfect is the enemy of the good." ~ Voltaire Last edited by dc_dux; 11-13-2008 at 12:09 PM.. Reason: Automerged Doublepost |
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Tags |
duck, illinois, junior, lame, senator, session |
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