Friday, May 24, 2013
Friday, May 24, 2013

The case for term limits

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19 comments

The case for term limits

POSTED: Tuesday, January 3, 2012, 5:13 PM

 

Any student of politics knows that third terms are always murder, and fourth terms -- to the rare extent that they happen -- are even deadlier. I learned this living and working in New York in the late 1980s and early 1990s, when first New York Mayor Ed Koch and then New York Gov. Mario Cuomo went from life of the party to the annoying 2 a.m. guest who refuses to leave, the second each began their third four-year term in office. Yes, you (and when I say you, I'm not referring to the typical Attytood commenter) could invoke the case of FDR,  but he needed a world war to keep his job in 1940 and 1944....a tad extreme if you ask me. Even the holy institution of marriage has "a seven year itch," when the whispered (or coughed) sweet nothings (like..."I need to do a better job," or "Time's yours") become annoying as hell, and you start asking why he always forgets to put the toilet seat down or how much time is remaining in the first half.

Without further ado, the greatest case for term limits in American history.

(Original image here)

Will Bunch @ 5:13 PM  Permalink | 19 comments
19 comments
Comments  (19)
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:35 PM, 01/06/2012
    “"You're moderator is a moron." Hamster, don't ever change. "Your" the unintentional comedy gift that keeps on giving.”
    I’m glad that I amused you, bats. Something tells me you need it. I hope I can bring you more joy in your life in the future. I’m sure I speak for many here :)
    Hamlet
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:29 PM, 01/04/2012
    Not a chance is Reid anywhere near the greatest case for term limits in American history - it was clearly Matt Millen, possibly the worst NFL of GM of all time, who impossibly held his position for 8 long years.
    stlinquirer
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:31 AM, 01/04/2012
    Hamlet did the ghost tell you to insult the moderator or is it part of your attempt to be Will?
    Fisher
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:31 AM, 01/04/2012
    Hamlet did the ghost tell you to insult the moderator or is it part of your attempt to be Will?
    Fisher
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:23 PM, 01/03/2012
    Maybe the term-limit thing is why I like Sen. Gillibrand so much more than Sen. Schumer--but on the other hand, I was delighted that Sen. Boxer got re-elected for a third term, but maybe she will become stale during this term.
    Archimedes
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:35 PM, 01/05/2012
    //I was delighted that Sen. Boxer got re-elected for a third term,but maybe she will become stale during this term.///

    What do you mean "maybe?" She came in stale.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:21 PM, 01/03/2012
    One last thing. I still think the most magical sports event of the last ten years was Tony Romo fumbling that field goal snap.
    SteveMG
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:34 PM, 01/05/2012
    AGREED! Talk about Epic Fail.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:19 PM, 01/03/2012
    If you get a chance, check out the Dallas newspapers! I actually miss the little ball of hate, who now works for Fox SPorts, because she really had a thing for JJ, Coach Cupcake, and the Red Headed Genius.
    SteveMG
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:16 PM, 01/03/2012
    I oppose term limits. Vote the bums out if you don't like them. Regarding Reid, he's the best coach the Eagles' ever had. The spoiled fans are just pouting, clamoring for a celebrity coach like Jon Gruden, who took a great team and ran it into the ground, and now is happily enjoying himself off of the playing field, or Bill Cowher, who needed 14 years and a lot of help from the refs to win his first Super Bowl. So the Eagles underperformed this year. It happens, even to the best franchises. The fans never appreciate when the team overachieves.
    SteveMG
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:14 PM, 01/03/2012
    Five NFC Championships, one Super Bowl (4th and 28, eh?) which was lost by 3. I love Andy Reid! (BTW, *your* moderator is a moron, sorry)
    Hamlet
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:41 PM, 01/03/2012
    Will, I was the only one to comment on the return of Andy Reid and it was blocked. You're moderator is a moron.
    Hamlet
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:28 PM, 01/03/2012
    Bunch, did it ever occur to you that now's about the right time to hang it up, hand over the reins to Attytood to some fresh blood? You know, maybe someone with a little more "fire in the belly", who can move beyond your tired, old, ponderous, discredited leftist themes? Maybe Attytood could be hosted by someone who is a little closer to the real people, a little more grounded and insightful? Maybe you should step away for a while, in favor of someone who is't full of hatred for Asian Americans? Someone who can create content with some purpose other than trying to sell their 100th copy of a fraudulent paperback with a specious thesis?

    Face it Bunch, if this post of yours doesn't demand that you look in the mirror and acknowledge that your time has certainly passed, if it ever came at all, then you have no self awareness at all.
    Mr. Smith
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:08 PM, 01/03/2012
    "but he needed a world war to keep his job in 1940 and 1944...." . . . Ironically he ran in 1940 promising to stay out of the war. He'd nearly decided to keep with the two-term tradition, but the notion that an inexperienced Willkie could become all that stood between Hitler and western civilization convinced him he had to run again.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:36 PM, 01/03/2012
    Plus a Ron Bennington quote in the comments. My faith in humanity is gaining steam again.

    What's wrong with term limits, genius?
    wokmaster
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:25 PM, 01/03/2012
    Awesome. Plus a Ron Bennington quote in the comments. My faith in humanity is gaining steam again.

    But unfortunately, fans will continue to buy merch, buy tickets, buy anything with an Eagle on it so Lurie will never be forced to rid this city of the Great Bore who perfected the art of being just good enough to keep his job. Go Eagles!!!!!!! Yawn.
    phillyjeffsr
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:22 PM, 01/03/2012
    2 terms for a Senator, 3 terms for a Representative, 10 years for a Suprme Court Justice would be progress.
    wokmaster
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:32 PM, 01/05/2012
    I'm OK with Supreme Court Justices serving for a longer time. Honestly I think that has worked rather well.

    2 terms for a senator, agreed. 3 for a rep would only be six years total (compared to 12 years for a senator). Maybe that could be bumped up a little bit.

    But I think we can all agree, the idea of being a lifetime politician has got to go.


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About this blog
Will Bunch, a senior writer at the Philadelphia Daily News, blogs about his obsessions, including national and local politics and world affairs, the media, pop music, the Philadelphia Phillies, soccer and other sports, not necessarily in that order.

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