My brother predicted last year that if George W. Bush was reelected, the GOP would immediately start pushing for repeal of the 22nd amendment — the one limiting presidents to two terms.

I scoffed, but it turns out the effort has already begun. On January 7, Congressman Jose E. Sarrano introduced a House Joint Resolution (http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=108_cong_bills&docid=f:hj11ih.txt.pdf) to do that very thing. But Mr. Serrano is no Bush supporter. He’s a liberal Democrat born in Puerto Rico who represents the Bronx. All I can figure is that he’s setting up Bill Clinton for a third term. Then maybe a fourth, a fifth?

The 22nd amendment was the work of Republicans terrified that another FDR would come along. But they stepped on their own, uh, shoestrings. Except for that amendment, the GOP probably could have stuffed Eisenhower and kept him in office till the moths got him — same thing with Reagan.

Peace.

To the naked eye, people might say, there is nothing wrong with a third term election, afterall, it is still an election and people have a say on who to put in office.

The real problem lies in the fact that a sitting president enjoys much more insight and benefits and power than other candidates, so with time, he'll eventually monopolize everything and will weaken all resistance....much like what happened in the middleeast.....limiting the terms to maximum two is an extremely important rule for democracy and for making sure that presidents don't invest a lot in the white house, like their kids for instance.

Do you actually think that the GOP will ever be able repeal the 22nd Amendment? :m:

i really dont understand that

here the paten goes (genrally) BIG shift to one side, gradual erosen of that, big swing the OTHER way

we have no limits

edit: GOD i need to work on my spelling

A family of Kings named Bush
play with armies like toys
they invade foreign lands
and as they expand
they appoint a ruling Viceroy.

Originally posted by hotsexyangelprincess
Do you actually think that the GOP will ever be able repeal the 22nd Amendment? :m:

It will be very difficult. It requires either a 2/3 vote in both houses of Congress, or a proposal from 2/3 of the states (34), to get the proposal for an amendment to repeal brought up for ratification. It would then require a 3/4 vote of the states (38) for ratification. It is not likely to happen. Only the 18th Amendment (prohibition) has ever been repealed (by the 21st amendment). As many times as people in the states have brought up repeal of the 16th Amendment (taxation), it has never been seriously brought up for vote in COngress.

Do you actually think that the GOP will ever be able repeal the 22nd Amendment? Please note: It is a Democrat, not a Republican.

:m: Peace.

Career politicians suck.

Originally posted by goofyfish
Please note: It is a Democrat, not a Republican.

:m: Peace.

You know Goofy, I'm a democrate, but the day that the US is so desperate to bring one of it's presidents from the shelf after they have served two terms, is "The day the music died". For god sake, there are millions of fine youth who make great politicians....let's pick one....I pick you goofy, if you're above 30 you'll qualify.

It has been tried before, several times. I don't think it would succeed. And I hope not.

No third terms unless you skip 4 years after the second. If anyone tried to make a direct 3rd term leagal he would be laughed out of washington. Plus nobody would vote for him again out of fear of the consequences.

The problem is incumbrance term limit limits this so thats why it needs to be in place.

I myself think a president should only have one term but that's me.

If the 22nd Amendment is repealed, it’s no longer a republic but a friendly dictatorship.

Originally posted by Hannibal
If the 22nd Amendment is repealed, it’s no longer a republic but a friendly dictatorship. How do you figure that? I think the 22nd Amendment is an improvement over having no limit at all, but hardly necessary. Our founding fathers sure didn't think so. Do you call the United States before 1964 or whenever it was created a dictatorship?

No third terms unless you skip 4 years after the second.

I don't think so. The way the 22nd reads 2 terms is it, unless you finished out the term of a president who left office less than 2 years into his term. Then you could only be elected to 1 more term. But I don't read the Constitution as allowing a gap between terms to break up the 2 terms rule.