Should presidential campaign promises be enforceable?
 

In other words, are they verbal contracts?

Re: Should presidential campaign promises be enforceable?
 

They are. They're enforceable every four years. Ask Bush Sr.

Re: Should presidential campaign promises be enforceable?
 

[ QUOTE ]
In other words, are they verbal contracts?

[/ QUOTE ]

Nahhh. The best we can do is support candidates who we feel aren't influenced by special interest groups, and have strong records that shows they really believe what they say.

Re: Should presidential campaign promises be enforceable?
 

[ QUOTE ]
Nahhh. The best we can do is support candidates who we feel aren't influenced by special interest groups, and have strong records that shows they really believe what they say.

[/ QUOTE ]

In other words, the puppets that the cfr allows to run for office can say whatever thought-speak bs they want.

Ok. Thread over.

Re: Should presidential campaign promises be enforceable?
 

IMO a politician who lies to the people is guilty of treason, but that'll never happen. [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

Re: Should presidential campaign promises be enforceable?
 

Technically speaking, promises are not contracts. Consideration ( or something of value ) has to be exchanged for a contract, verbal or written, to be enforceable. Also verbal contracts have specific rules. Generally, a contract that extends for a period of over a year, must be in writing to be enforceable.

Comments based on 2 semesters of contract law that I took about 20 years ago.

Re: Should presidential campaign promises be enforceable?
 

Who's gonna do the enforcing?

Re: Should presidential campaign promises be enforceable?
 

[ QUOTE ]
Who's gonna do the enforcing?

[/ QUOTE ]

The same "people" that will have power once the government is gone.

Cody

Re: Should presidential campaign promises be enforceable?
 

wat a "people"?

Re: Should presidential campaign promises be enforceable?
 

[ QUOTE ]

Technically speaking, promises are not contracts. Consideration ( or something of value ) has to be exchanged for a contract, verbal or written, to be enforceable.

[/ QUOTE ]

What about votes? If I vote for politician A because he promises X (or an attempt to enact X) from my pov I am giving him my vote in exchange for his specific actions.

Re: Should presidential campaign promises be enforceable?
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

Technically speaking, promises are not contracts. Consideration ( or something of value ) has to be exchanged for a contract, verbal or written, to be enforceable.

[/ QUOTE ]

What about votes? If I vote for politician A because he promises X (or an attempt to enact X) from my pov I am giving him my vote in exchange for his specific actions.

[/ QUOTE ]

Wouldn't you have to be able to prove you voted for him?

Re: Should presidential campaign promises be enforceable?
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

Technically speaking, promises are not contracts. Consideration ( or something of value ) has to be exchanged for a contract, verbal or written, to be enforceable.

[/ QUOTE ]

What about votes? If I vote for politician A because he promises X (or an attempt to enact X) from my pov I am giving him my vote in exchange for his specific actions.

[/ QUOTE ]
yeah, still not a contract

Re: Should presidential campaign promises be enforceable?
 

[ QUOTE ]
They are. They're enforceable every four years. Ask Bush Sr.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is the correct answer. Anyone who doesn't take campaign rhetoric with a gigantic grain of salt is a fool. Even those things that a candidate genuinely believes and genuinely wants to do, some are simply out of their control and some the facts and circumstances change.

Re: Should presidential campaign promises be enforceable?
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
They are. They're enforceable every four years. Ask Bush Sr.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is the correct answer. Anyone who doesn't take campaign rhetoric with a gigantic grain of salt is a fool. Even those things that a candidate genuinely believes and genuinely wants to do, some are simply out of their control and some the facts and circumstances change.

[/ QUOTE ]

Luckily there are enough fools though right? I think the point is, those of us who ARE aware enough to entirely dismiss the stupid crap they say want some protection against all the idiots who arent. If they were enforceable the idiots would be making the right choices, even if for the wrong reasons or despite themselves.

Re: Should presidential campaign promises be enforceable?
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
They are. They're enforceable every four years. Ask Bush Sr.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is the correct answer. Anyone who doesn't take campaign rhetoric with a gigantic grain of salt is a fool. Even those things that a candidate genuinely believes and genuinely wants to do, some are simply out of their control and some the facts and circumstances change.

[/ QUOTE ]

Sounds like an awesome system you've got cooking there.

Re: Should presidential campaign promises be enforceable?
 

If you want enforceable campaign promises, you should just have ballot initiatives. And if you talk to someone from California, you'll find out that ballot initiatives suck. So, bad idea.

Re: Should presidential campaign promises be enforceable?
 

[ QUOTE ]
If you want enforceable campaign promises, you should just have ballot initiatives. And if you talk to someone from California, you'll find out that ballot initiatives suck. So, bad idea.

[/ QUOTE ]

Democracy sucks, got it.

Re: Should presidential campaign promises be enforceable?
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
They are. They're enforceable every four years. Ask Bush Sr.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is the correct answer. Anyone who doesn't take campaign rhetoric with a gigantic grain of salt is a fool. Even those things that a candidate genuinely believes and genuinely wants to do, some are simply out of their control and some the facts and circumstances change.

[/ QUOTE ]

Sounds like an awesome system you've got cooking there.

[/ QUOTE ]

If you don't like it you can spend a few years getting like-minded people on your side and after a few more years vote in representatives at the local, state, and federal levels who after many years of work will change the laws so that terms are shorter or campaign promises are enforceable. The system is perfect.

Re: Should presidential campaign promises be enforceable?
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
They are. They're enforceable every four years. Ask Bush Sr.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is the correct answer. Anyone who doesn't take campaign rhetoric with a gigantic grain of salt is a fool. Even those things that a candidate genuinely believes and genuinely wants to do, some are simply out of their control and some the facts and circumstances change.

[/ QUOTE ]

Sounds like an awesome system you've got cooking there.

[/ QUOTE ]

If you don't like it you can spend a few years getting like-minded people on your side and after a few more years vote in representatives at the local, state, and federal levels who after many years of work will change the laws so that terms are shorter or campaign promises are enforceable. The system is perfect.

[/ QUOTE ]

Overall, its actually a pretty good thing that system works slowly, which is as intended by the framers of the Constitution. Do you really want instant policy changes based on the inane idea of the week?

Re: Should presidential campaign promises be enforceable?
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
They are. They're enforceable every four years. Ask Bush Sr.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is the correct answer. Anyone who doesn't take campaign rhetoric with a gigantic grain of salt is a fool. Even those things that a candidate genuinely believes and genuinely wants to do, some are simply out of their control and some the facts and circumstances change.

[/ QUOTE ]

Sounds like an awesome system you've got cooking there.

[/ QUOTE ]

Are you proposing something where a candidate can't take into account changing circumstances or one where president's are given more power so that they can fulfill their promises?

Re: Should presidential campaign promises be enforceable?
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
They are. They're enforceable every four years. Ask Bush Sr.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is the correct answer. Anyone who doesn't take campaign rhetoric with a gigantic grain of salt is a fool. Even those things that a candidate genuinely believes and genuinely wants to do, some are simply out of their control and some the facts and circumstances change.

[/ QUOTE ]

Sounds like an awesome system you've got cooking there.

[/ QUOTE ]

Are you proposing something where a candidate can't take into account changing circumstances or one where president's are given more power so that they can fulfill their promises?

[/ QUOTE ]

Or, the ever popular third option: less promises. When I promise someone I will do something, I dont sit around and fret about how I've just limited myself to take future information into account or how I will need to usurp greater power (maybe pray or roll around in radioactive sludge?) in order to follow through. I simply make promises I know I can keep. Sometimes its even difficult to keep them.

There might even be more than 3 options, my imagination isnt that great, but there are certainly more than the dichotomous choice you've laid out here.

Re: Should presidential campaign promises be enforceable?
 

What are campaign promises have been made in speech this year? During all the debates I have watched nothing has been promise, just a lot of politicians saying they will do their best to accomplish X or Y.

Re: Should presidential campaign promises be enforceable?
 

Reminds me of an old debate about auditing the government according to their own regulations.

Re: Should presidential campaign promises be enforceable?
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
They are. They're enforceable every four years. Ask Bush Sr.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is the correct answer. Anyone who doesn't take campaign rhetoric with a gigantic grain of salt is a fool. Even those things that a candidate genuinely believes and genuinely wants to do, some are simply out of their control and some the facts and circumstances change.

[/ QUOTE ]

Sounds like an awesome system you've got cooking there.

[/ QUOTE ]

Are you proposing something where a candidate can't take into account changing circumstances or one where president's are given more power so that they can fulfill their promises?

[/ QUOTE ]

How about something where movie stars cocaine addict frat boys and career politicians don't get the power to make life or death decisions for millions or billions of people?

Re: Should presidential campaign promises be enforceable?
 

Not in the sense that people can sue the president in court for breach of contract. Global and national circumstances change. Those changes might require a leader who genuinely wanted to do one thing to end up doing another.

However, the free press has the job to shine a light on hypocrisy. And the electorate has the job to decide if any breach of promises are sufficiently unjustifiable to warrant voting for someone else in the next election.