In Paradise Lost, John Milton paints a word picture of Satan being cast into Hell. The fallen angel, in making his choice of eternal rebellion, declares, “Better to reign in hell than […]
You Can Reign in Hell (Michigan)
Colorado’s Constitution Requires Voters to Approve Nuclear Explosions
It’s probably safe to say that you wouldn’t want a nuclear explosion in your backyard. All things being equal, you likely would prefer that your neighborhood remain free of nuclear fallout. Would […]
A Silly Candidate With a Silly Name for Silly Times
Most candidates for political office have lofty goals for the betterment of society. They put themselves through the ordeal of a campaign with aspirations of influencing policy and making a difference. John […]
How a Stolen Election Propelled LBJ to the White House
A hotly-contested election. Polling data says the outcome is too close to predict. As the polls close, one of the candidates seems to have won. Shortly thereafter, votes are “discovered” for the […]
That Time a Prime Minister Got Drunk and Called a National Election
As a public service, we at Commonplace Fun Facts remind our readers that there are a lot of good reasons to avoid alcohol. It is detrimental to your health, is addictive, impairs […]
Saddam Hussein Used ‘I Will Always Love You’ As His Campaign Theme Song
Political campaigns and popular music seem to go together. Whether it is “Happy Days Are Here Again” in Franklin D. Roosevelt’s 1932 campaign, John F. Kennedy’s use of “High Hopes” in 1960, […]
Getting Votes Through Hypnosis
Political campaigns are notorious for accusations about opposing candidates. More than one politician has accused the opposing candidate of brainwashing his or her supporters. As far as we have been able to […]
Police Arrest Coconut On Suspicion of Election Tampering
The integrity of democracy requires decisive action to prevent voter fraud. When Maldivian police received reports of possible election tampering, they rushed to the scene and took the suspect into custody. The […]
It is Illegal to Resign from the British Parliament
Those who hold national elected office typically consider it a high honor, difficult to achieve, and easy to lose. This has not always been the case. Evidence of this can be seen […]
What Happens When a Presidential Candidate Dies During the Election Process?
A colleague of ours recently asked what would happen if one of the candidates for President happened to die during the election process. She said, “I pray it doesn’t happen, but after […]
A Crazy, Messed Up, Fraudulent, Stolen Election — (Not the One You’re Thinking Of)
The Presidential election was an absolute mess. After a long, nasty, contentious campaign, the voting was over, but the outcome was far from clear. Both sides claimed victory. The Democrats pointed to […]
When Does the Winner of the Election Become the President-elect?
The title “President-elect” is not found in the U.S. Constitution. It is a designation given to the person who has officially been elected to office but has not yet assumed the office. […]
Whose Vote Counts the Most?
“The people who cast the votes decide nothing. The people who count the votes decide everything.” — Joseph Stalin
How About An Election Where You Can Vote for “None of the Above”?
In the 2007 Australian federal election, Geoff Richardson changed his full name to “Of The Above None,” running for the seat of Gilmore. His name thus appeared on the ballot as “NONE, […]
Pigs, Politicians, Elections, and Executions
Author Orson Scott Card summed up the shortsightedness of much of the electorate. He said, “If pigs could vote, the man with the slop bucket would be elected swineherd every time, no […]
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