Next US President

[Von Pookie]

Heard a snippet on the radio this morning.

Guy goes up to a touch-screen and presses the option to vote Obama. Machine says "That's one vote for McCain!"
"No!" Says the voter and clicks twice.
"Two more votes for McCain!"
"No!" Says the voter and clicks three times
"Another three votes for President McCain!"

Denis

That was from last Sunday's Simpsons episode, actually. Treehouse of Horror *19* (sheesh, I feel old).

 

[SydneyGeek]

Kristy, thought I recognised the voice!

Simpsons or not, it looks at this stage like Obama's in.
Denis

 

[SydneyGeek]

Just wondering if someone could enlighten a confused Aussie... how can Obama have a landslide when he only got 52% of the vote?

Denis

 

[cornflakegirl]

Presumably the same way that Bush won when most people voted for the other guy?

 

[cornflakegirl]

(Just in case it was a serious question, here's an explanation of the Electoral College.)

 

[SydneyGeek]

Thanks Emma -- for both answers

Looking at the map on the link you provided, Obama won about half the States. He just managed to win the big ones, which is what made the difference.

Denis

 

[SteveO59L]

As Orwell (nearly) said


"All votes are equal, but some are more equal than others"

 

[cornflakegirl]

I always thought it was quite a mad system - but reading the explanation given of why one person one vote was rejected, it actually makes a lot more sense that it was the best system at the time.

 

[Jonmo1]

Yep, at a first impression, the elecoral college system looks very unfair. And many people look at it to mean that their vote doesn't really matter. But it does make sense. It is intended to give the small less populated states an equal voice to the larger more populated states.

Otherwise, a candidate could probably campaing in just a few heavily populated areas say New York, California and Texas. And would win more popular votes than a candidate who won Several small states like Hawaii, Utah, Rhode Island, New Mexico, Vermont, New Hampshire.

In reality it seems more fair that those two scenarios should be about equal.

 

[Long Nose]

I think "jitters" would be the word to describe America today.