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Joe BidenCongratulations to our presumptive Democratic nominee, Joe Biden!
 

TexasBushwhacker

(20,209 posts)
Thu Dec 19, 2019, 09:52 PM Dec 2019

I'm not a Constitutional scholar, and apparently Tom Steyer isn't either

One of his commercials is about TERM LIMITS, like it's some new idea. Of course, terms for members of Congress and the President are established in the Constitution and changing the would require a Constitutional Amendment, which starts where? IN CONGRESS! I hope he brings it up in the debate tonight so someone can educate him.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
15 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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I'm not a Constitutional scholar, and apparently Tom Steyer isn't either (Original Post) TexasBushwhacker Dec 2019 OP
Maybe states can limit terms of their Senators without a constitutional amendment? pwb Dec 2019 #1
No, they can't. marybourg Dec 2019 #4
It is called a primary. pwb Dec 2019 #6
States can't limit entry to primaries, nor determine who wins them. marybourg Dec 2019 #9
States can do it for their own legislators. The Velveteen Ocelot Dec 2019 #7
The President wasn't limited until 1947 TexasBushwhacker Dec 2019 #8
Term limits are not kosher Gothmog Dec 2019 #2
I remember George HW Bush calling for term limits in his re-election speech at the RNC Otto Lidenbrock Dec 2019 #3
When I saw his ad I went *wait, what?* The Velveteen Ocelot Dec 2019 #5
dear tom steyer, term limits no pelosi, no cummings, no dingell, no teddy kennedy, mopinko Dec 2019 #10
And plenty of Jeff Van Drews, Debbie Leskos, and Matt Gaetz StarfishSaver Dec 2019 #14
Term limits are a right-wing fever dream. TomSlick Dec 2019 #11
Yes, they are. The Velveteen Ocelot Dec 2019 #12
Interesting article, thanks. TomSlick Dec 2019 #13
3 Words: Nancy D'Alessandro Pelosi StarfishSaver Dec 2019 #15
 

pwb

(11,287 posts)
1. Maybe states can limit terms of their Senators without a constitutional amendment?
Thu Dec 19, 2019, 10:04 PM
Dec 2019

And congress ? The constitution limits the president to two terms others only need reelection every two and four years.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

marybourg

(12,633 posts)
4. No, they can't.
Thu Dec 19, 2019, 10:07 PM
Dec 2019
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

pwb

(11,287 posts)
6. It is called a primary.
Thu Dec 19, 2019, 10:12 PM
Dec 2019

.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

marybourg

(12,633 posts)
9. States can't limit entry to primaries, nor determine who wins them.
Thu Dec 19, 2019, 10:17 PM
Dec 2019

Only voters can do that.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

The Velveteen Ocelot

(115,806 posts)
7. States can do it for their own legislators.
Thu Dec 19, 2019, 10:13 PM
Dec 2019
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

TexasBushwhacker

(20,209 posts)
8. The President wasn't limited until 1947
Thu Dec 19, 2019, 10:14 PM
Dec 2019

After FDR dropped dead at the beginning of his 4th term, the 22nd Amendment was passed limiting the President to being elected only twice.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Gothmog

(145,481 posts)
2. Term limits are not kosher
Thu Dec 19, 2019, 10:04 PM
Dec 2019

You will need a constitutional amendment

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Otto Lidenbrock

(581 posts)
3. I remember George HW Bush calling for term limits in his re-election speech at the RNC
Thu Dec 19, 2019, 10:06 PM
Dec 2019
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

The Velveteen Ocelot

(115,806 posts)
5. When I saw his ad I went *wait, what?*
Thu Dec 19, 2019, 10:07 PM
Dec 2019

Term limits on members of Congress can't be imposed without a Constitutional amendment. I'd also note that term limits are a favorite notion of the conservative Heritage Foundation and the National Review and the libertarian Cato Institute. The liberal Brookings Institute argues against them: https://www.brookings.edu/blog/fixgov/2018/01/18/five-reasons-to-oppose-congressional-term-limits/

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

mopinko

(70,179 posts)
10. dear tom steyer, term limits no pelosi, no cummings, no dingell, no teddy kennedy,
Thu Dec 19, 2019, 10:21 PM
Dec 2019

who wants to add to the list?

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

StarfishSaver

(18,486 posts)
14. And plenty of Jeff Van Drews, Debbie Leskos, and Matt Gaetz
Thu Dec 19, 2019, 11:14 PM
Dec 2019
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

TomSlick

(11,107 posts)
11. Term limits are a right-wing fever dream.
Thu Dec 19, 2019, 10:33 PM
Dec 2019

Term limits would not only require a constitutional amendment, they would be bad policy. The purpose of term limits is to limit for whom people can vote. If a voter is pleased with the work of their elected representative, they ought to be allowed to vote for that representative's re-election. Does Steyer really think the country would be better off if Steny Hoyer and Jim Clyburn were not in the House of Representatives?

We have tried term limits. Term limits at the state level have resulted in the increase of the power of lobbyist. By the time a state legislator or governor learns the job, s/he term limited out of office. Short-term elected officials either must rely on the advice of lobbyist and are easily bamboozled by them. On the federal level, as a result of Twenty-Second Amendment, instead of a third term for President Obama, we got Trump. The track record for the idea of term limits isn't good.

Promoting term limits causes me to question Steyer's understand of the issue and his judgment.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

TomSlick

(11,107 posts)
13. Interesting article, thanks.
Thu Dec 19, 2019, 10:54 PM
Dec 2019
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

StarfishSaver

(18,486 posts)
15. 3 Words: Nancy D'Alessandro Pelosi
Thu Dec 19, 2019, 11:15 PM
Dec 2019
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
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