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fandomhigh2006-04-14 11:26 am
professor-lyman.livejournal.com) wrote in fandomhigh2006-04-14 11:26 am
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US Government (Friday, April 14, 4th period)
Josh didn't look particularly happy today. Wonder why.
"Okay," he said, stalking around the room. "Today we get started talking about how you might go about getting elected to public office. Since you're in government class and not political campaigning--he smiled at Elizabeth--I'm not going to get into the real nitty gritty. You won't have to memorize campaign finance law or try to make sense of McCain-Feingold." He raised an eyebrow. "You do have to know that McCain-Feingold exists, though, so write that down."
"Next week we'll talk about the electoral college and what that means for presidential politics. For now, let's say you were trying to run for, um, the Senate. Say you're 30 years old already. What do you think you would need in order to run and win?"
He turned and scrawled "Money" and "Votes" on the board. "Seems ridiculously easy, but yeah, this is pretty much all you need." He paused, then wrote "Ideas" on the board as well. "Well, and a reason for the voters to choose you."
He winked at Elizabeth. "And to win? You need fifty percent plus 1 vote. Never waste your time trying to convince everyone to vote for you. Just convince more people than the other guy."
He sat down. "Questions?"
"Okay," he said, stalking around the room. "Today we get started talking about how you might go about getting elected to public office. Since you're in government class and not political campaigning--he smiled at Elizabeth--I'm not going to get into the real nitty gritty. You won't have to memorize campaign finance law or try to make sense of McCain-Feingold." He raised an eyebrow. "You do have to know that McCain-Feingold exists, though, so write that down."
"Next week we'll talk about the electoral college and what that means for presidential politics. For now, let's say you were trying to run for, um, the Senate. Say you're 30 years old already. What do you think you would need in order to run and win?"
He turned and scrawled "Money" and "Votes" on the board. "Seems ridiculously easy, but yeah, this is pretty much all you need." He paused, then wrote "Ideas" on the board as well. "Well, and a reason for the voters to choose you."
He winked at Elizabeth. "And to win? You need fifty percent plus 1 vote. Never waste your time trying to convince everyone to vote for you. Just convince more people than the other guy."
He sat down. "Questions?"