dChan - Q Origins Project Archive

Ocasio-Cortez Claims Republicans Passed Term Limits To Prevent FDR From Running Again https://trib.al/FQqp8CW

Constitutional amendments are not simply passed by Congress—they must be ratified by a super-majority of the states as well. Given that Truman (the Democratic incumbent at the time, and FDR's VP) was reelected, it's absurd to think that 3/4 of the states voted for an amendment for the purpose of snubbing or reviling FDR.

George Washington could have been King in America—maybe literally, but certainly practically-speaking, in the sense that the presidency was his for as long as he wanted it (and had he wished to name his own successor, he probably could have done that too, and been given his wish). However, taking after his hero, Cincinnatus, he served for as long as he felt his country needed him (two terms), and then stepped down.

Since then, until FDR, only one man dared to flout that tradition and run for a third term—Ulysses S. Grant—and he was denied nomination by his own party. (Theodore Roosevelt also tried to serve a third term, but it was only the second time he had run for office—his first term was after McKinley was assassinated.)

So, everyone in America just assumed a two-term limit already—but FDR, riding high on public opinion and the sort of "this is a new era, and old rules are no longer appropriate" sentiment that characterized his entire policy, decided that a third, and even fourth term were a good idea.

FDR himself was too much of a political juggernaut to stop in the elections, but precisely because of that, his fourth term shocked the country into action—realizing that he had become, essentially, King of America, deposed (like a king) only by his own death. This was entirely inconsistent with American values and philosophies, so the country acted to ensure it could never happen again.

https://www.quora.com/Why-did-the-U-S-pass-a-two-term-limit-on-Presidents-after-FDR-What-drove-this