This week, a review of some of the more hilarious votes cast in the 2006 Indiana University Student Association (IUSA) election. These, by the way, are completely true:
Perhaps the most striking vote came not for a particular person, but for an insult or action concerning IUSA. Editorial concerns prevent the printing of the full vote, but let’s just say it rhymes with buck, starts with “f” and ends with “uck.” Why anyone would vote for “Firetruck IUSA” is beyond me. Then again, someone did cast a vote for “Ugg Boots.” Considering the visibility of Uggs on campus, however, they probably would have done a pretty good job.
A couple votes came in respectively for “Douchewad McGee” and “Poophead McGee.” The McGee family was certainly well represented. “Anne Coulter” (sic) – the conservative pundit -- also garnered a vote. Coulter (say various fake sources) was actually born with the last name McGee. Ironic.
Candy even seems to have made its way into the ballot box with a vote for “M & M.” Skittles, however, were passed over for a vote, and for good reason. Those fruity and flamboyant rainbow delights have no mind for governance. They’re also not allowed to adopt children or get married, which makes conservative Christians very happy.
Political leaders –former and current – received votes when ballots were cast for “Dick Cheney,” “Jimmy Carter” and “Al Gore,” none of which, unfortunately, received enough support to win. Perhaps this is good. Shotguns aren’t allowed on campus, so that disqualifies Cheney. Carter would just bring trouble, and the last thing we need is Iranians taking students hostage in the IMU. Gore probably would have done alright, however. Plus, he’s not doing anything particularly important at the moment.
Former Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin even got support – good thing they preserved his body. And someone even voted for “The Mexican Government.” One wonders if they’d won, would the Minutemen allow them in the country?
There were some senseless votes for “Your Mother” and “My Dad.” Put these together and you get a composite vote for “One Steamy Affair.”
Some freedom-haters even cast votes for “Osama bin-Laden” and former Cambodian psychopath “Pol Pot.” Have no fear; these were counterbalanced by plentiful votes for “Chuck Norris” and even one for “Mr. T.” Norris and T could certainly have kept the order if needed.
Last, there were 4505 votes cast for the “Hoosier” candidates, the party that went on to claim the executive offices. Depending on your opinion of the current administration, this may have been the best, or worst, vote of all.
Just remember, student government is your voice. Your opinion is treasured and valued. If you disapprove of the way you’re represented, don’t hesitate to contact IUSA and tell them: “Hey, Firetruck You!”
Don't forget to check out The Leading Edge every Tuesday in the Indiana Daily Student.
For WIUX News and The Leadingham Edge, I'm Scott Leadingham.
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
Saturday, February 10, 2007
IU Smoking and the Presidential 20 year curse
This week on the Leading Edge, it’s politics as usual.
There’s been a lot of talk around the Indiana University campus this week surrounding a somewhat controversial decision from President Herbert to ban smoking. Granted there is still time for resounding debate on the topic, but one has to wonder: will there be any special exceptions? Perhaps. That is if the university administration operates anything like the United States Congress.
There’s an old image about politicians, especially those in Washington, D.C., that most of their jobs are done by making inside deals in smoke-filled rooms. There’s a reason the smoke-filled rooms cliché stands: because it’s true. At least it was until reform-minded Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi came to town. Several weeks ago, the California Democrat put a stop to a practice that members of Congress had enjoyed for, well, as long as they’ve been around. Smoking was recently banned inside the Capital’s Speaker’s Lounge, the last refuge for legislators. What’s funny is not the fact that smoking had been allowed in various parts of the Capital for so long, but that it had been outlawed by law in all other federal buildings. That’s the nice thing about making the rules: you don’t have to follow them if you have the power to exempt yourself. And that’s exactly what Congress did, and does…frequently. Certain family and medical leave act provisions guarding maternity leave do not apply to Congress, but maybe that’s because most of them are way past child-rearing age. Oh, and don’t forget the fact that handguns are prohibited in Washington, D.C., except for members of Congress. (Which begs the question: Does Indiana Senator Richard Lugar carry a Lugar pistol with him to the floor of the Senate? But, I digress.)
With the new ban from Pelosi, legislators will have to brave the cold winter air of the nation’s capital if they still want to grab a puff, or, they can retreat back to their office buildings across the street, where smoking is still allowed, and doesn’t show any sign of letting up.
We still have until at least October 1st to light up on the IU campus. At that time, a more definite policy decision will be made by the university administration. Let’s hope that if they do decide on an outright smoking ban, they’ll apply it to everyone…including themselves. Otherwise, there might be a lot of students showing up at Bryan House, the president’s residence, to shoot the breeze and, what the heck, take a few puffs.
Now on to a quick question from one of our listeners:
Someone asked me about the origins of a presidential folklore phenomenon known as the 20 year curse. The best that I can find is that it’s mostly conjecture, at least in the origin of the story.
As the tale goes, Chief Tecumseh of the Shawnee Indians placed an ominous curse on then General William Henry Harrison for his treatment of the tribe during the Battle of Tippecanoe. Allegedly, Tecumseh prophesized that Harrison would go on to become president, die in office, and that every president elected in 20 year intervals would meet the same grave fate while in office. Well, the prophesy certainly has it’s weak points, and can’t truly be confirmed, but something is going on in the 20 year cycle.
Harrison was elected in 1840 and died of pneumonia a month after taking office. Twenty years later, Abram Lincoln was elected president and assassinated in 1865. The election of 1880 brought James Garfield into office, but he, too, was assassinated. The turn of the century saw the election of William McKinley in 1900, who was assassinated. In 1920 Warren Harding was elected, but died of food poisoning while in office. Twenty years later came Franklin Roosevelt, elected (well, actually reelected) in 1940. He, too, died in office. John F. Kennedy claimed the presidency in 1960, and was assassinated in 1963. Lastly -- and here’s where the story begins to break down -- 1980 saw the election of Ronald Reagan. Reagan, of course, didn’t die, although he very nearly did when his would-be assassin’s bullet missed his heart by a mere inch. Some also say that Reagan developed alzheimer’s while in office, a condition that eventually led to this passing. However, the fact remains that Reagan lived out his days without dying in office.
So, is the curse truly broken?…well, we might have to wait until January of 2009 to find out. George W. Bush was elected in 2000, and as the story goes, the person elected in that year will meet their demise while in office. All signs point to Bush having a darn good bill of health, so, barring any bullets or polonium radiation poisoning from Russia, it seems that this “20 year curse” might meet its own death in the very near future. The fictional movie “Death of a President” was released in 2006 and portrayed the assassination of Bush. For Bush’s sake (and the country’s) let’s hope this is as close as we come to the prophecy being fulfilled.
The Leading Edge returns on WIUX 100.3 FM on February 21. If you have a political question or comment, send it to sleading@indiana.edu. You can also check out the more lighthearted version of the Leading Edge every Tuesday in the Indiana Daily Student..
Until next time, happy politics.
For WIUX News and The Leading Edge, I’m Scott Leadingham
There’s been a lot of talk around the Indiana University campus this week surrounding a somewhat controversial decision from President Herbert to ban smoking. Granted there is still time for resounding debate on the topic, but one has to wonder: will there be any special exceptions? Perhaps. That is if the university administration operates anything like the United States Congress.
There’s an old image about politicians, especially those in Washington, D.C., that most of their jobs are done by making inside deals in smoke-filled rooms. There’s a reason the smoke-filled rooms cliché stands: because it’s true. At least it was until reform-minded Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi came to town. Several weeks ago, the California Democrat put a stop to a practice that members of Congress had enjoyed for, well, as long as they’ve been around. Smoking was recently banned inside the Capital’s Speaker’s Lounge, the last refuge for legislators. What’s funny is not the fact that smoking had been allowed in various parts of the Capital for so long, but that it had been outlawed by law in all other federal buildings. That’s the nice thing about making the rules: you don’t have to follow them if you have the power to exempt yourself. And that’s exactly what Congress did, and does…frequently. Certain family and medical leave act provisions guarding maternity leave do not apply to Congress, but maybe that’s because most of them are way past child-rearing age. Oh, and don’t forget the fact that handguns are prohibited in Washington, D.C., except for members of Congress. (Which begs the question: Does Indiana Senator Richard Lugar carry a Lugar pistol with him to the floor of the Senate? But, I digress.)
With the new ban from Pelosi, legislators will have to brave the cold winter air of the nation’s capital if they still want to grab a puff, or, they can retreat back to their office buildings across the street, where smoking is still allowed, and doesn’t show any sign of letting up.
We still have until at least October 1st to light up on the IU campus. At that time, a more definite policy decision will be made by the university administration. Let’s hope that if they do decide on an outright smoking ban, they’ll apply it to everyone…including themselves. Otherwise, there might be a lot of students showing up at Bryan House, the president’s residence, to shoot the breeze and, what the heck, take a few puffs.
Now on to a quick question from one of our listeners:
Someone asked me about the origins of a presidential folklore phenomenon known as the 20 year curse. The best that I can find is that it’s mostly conjecture, at least in the origin of the story.
As the tale goes, Chief Tecumseh of the Shawnee Indians placed an ominous curse on then General William Henry Harrison for his treatment of the tribe during the Battle of Tippecanoe. Allegedly, Tecumseh prophesized that Harrison would go on to become president, die in office, and that every president elected in 20 year intervals would meet the same grave fate while in office. Well, the prophesy certainly has it’s weak points, and can’t truly be confirmed, but something is going on in the 20 year cycle.
Harrison was elected in 1840 and died of pneumonia a month after taking office. Twenty years later, Abram Lincoln was elected president and assassinated in 1865. The election of 1880 brought James Garfield into office, but he, too, was assassinated. The turn of the century saw the election of William McKinley in 1900, who was assassinated. In 1920 Warren Harding was elected, but died of food poisoning while in office. Twenty years later came Franklin Roosevelt, elected (well, actually reelected) in 1940. He, too, died in office. John F. Kennedy claimed the presidency in 1960, and was assassinated in 1963. Lastly -- and here’s where the story begins to break down -- 1980 saw the election of Ronald Reagan. Reagan, of course, didn’t die, although he very nearly did when his would-be assassin’s bullet missed his heart by a mere inch. Some also say that Reagan developed alzheimer’s while in office, a condition that eventually led to this passing. However, the fact remains that Reagan lived out his days without dying in office.
So, is the curse truly broken?…well, we might have to wait until January of 2009 to find out. George W. Bush was elected in 2000, and as the story goes, the person elected in that year will meet their demise while in office. All signs point to Bush having a darn good bill of health, so, barring any bullets or polonium radiation poisoning from Russia, it seems that this “20 year curse” might meet its own death in the very near future. The fictional movie “Death of a President” was released in 2006 and portrayed the assassination of Bush. For Bush’s sake (and the country’s) let’s hope this is as close as we come to the prophecy being fulfilled.
The Leading Edge returns on WIUX 100.3 FM on February 21. If you have a political question or comment, send it to sleading@indiana.edu. You can also check out the more lighthearted version of the Leading Edge every Tuesday in the Indiana Daily Student..
Until next time, happy politics.
For WIUX News and The Leading Edge, I’m Scott Leadingham
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