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[Sheb]

Well, they are (or rather were before devolving into kleptocracy) left-wing in the sense that the state was intervening a lot in the economy and owned large chunk of it.

[MetalSlimeHunt]

Sure, that manages to be economically left-wing, sort of, but there was never any social liberalism in Saudi Arabia. Also, at the end of the day far-left and far-right economic policies start to look similar as they grow in extremism (see Horseshoe Political Theory).

The monarchy owns most of the economy because it is an absolutist institution, not because it is left-wing in any real sense.

[GreatJustice]

I think it's a bit erroneous to define right wing and left wing as "democratic" and "undemocratic", as you seem to be doing. Most of the countries in the Middle East besides the likes of Saudi Arabia or the UAE were originally, and to a certain extent are today, pretty left wing, thanks to all the Arab Nationalist/Socialist groups like the Ba'ath Party. Being right wing generally means that you either support a social hierarchy or social inequality, left wing meaning the opposite.

We're not. Social inequality is extremely high in the middle east, and I can't believe you'd even entertain the idea that Saudi Arabia is left wing. It's an absolute monarchy with strong belief in Islamisim in general and Wahhabi Islam in particular. They have ultra-powerful religious police and women can't drive or be outdoors if not accompanied by an appropriate man. It's one of the most socially hierarchical places in the world.

Depends on your definition of left wing. They're an absolute monarchy, but the government basically runs the economy and everyone in the country gets a pile of cash from the country's oil revenues as welfare.

[MetalSlimeHunt]

And yet the vast majority of Saudis are in poverty. So much for that economic equality.

[MonkeyHead]

That is a kind of economic equality, just not a good kind.

[Owlbread]

I actually never said that Saudi Arabia was left wing. I said that the majority of countries in the middle east besides countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE were left wing in some shape or form. You have misread my post, MetalSlimeHunt.

That said, liberalism ranks highly in the USA, but that in itself is a centrist ideology.

Again, you are being Eurocentric in your analysis of this.

Actually, I'm trying to take the world view into account, not Europe's or America's alone.

[MetalSlimeHunt]

Very well, but the social and economic equality of these supposedly left-wing nations in the Middle East and Africa are still low, regardless of their rhetoric.

Also, it is kind of debate ending to write the majority of your post after I have already responded to it.

[Owlbread]

Very well, but the social and economic equality of these supposedly left-wing nations in the Middle East and Africa are still low, regardless of their rhetoric.

Also, it is kind of debate ending to write the majority of your post after I have already responded to it.

Good sir, when I was writing that post I had no idea people had already responded to it, otherwise I would have put it in a seperate post. People responded while I was still typing it. I felt I had to clarify myself, so I did.

[Helgoland]

Depends on your definition of left wing.

Could we just leave it at that?

[EveryZig]

One can only be president for 10 years. Which means that if you take over for someone for 3 years and get re-elected, you're up to 7. You can't fit in another 4 years, so you can't run.

What happens if you serve two term of president (for a full 8 years), you are elected vice president, and something happens to the new president?

[MetalSlimeHunt]

The Speaker of the House becomes President.

[Heron TSG]

Unfortunately, MetalSlimeHunt speaks the truth.

(We're a heartbeat away from a Joe Biden presidency, two from a Boehner presidency.)

[Osmosis Jones]

The Speaker of the House becomes President.

Even if there is less than 2 years left on the term?

[MetalSlimeHunt]

The Speaker of the House becomes President.

Even if there is less than 2 years left on the term?

Then shit will go down and the Supreme Court will likely decide if the Vice President or Speaker becomes President.

This doesn't have much chance of ever happening though. There is little reason to run for Vice President when you've already been President.

[Mego]

The Speaker of the House becomes President.

Even if there is less than 2 years left on the term?

Then shit will go down and the Supreme Court will likely decide if the Vice President or Speaker becomes President.

This doesn't have much chance of ever happening though. There is little reason to run for Vice President when you've already been President.

This is an interesting read. Lots of attempts to directly win the Presidency after failing to get reelected for a second term in succession, but none for Vice. It's also cool that J.Q. Adams served in the House and Johnson served in the Senate, both after being President. However, Taft is the coolest out of the list in my opinion, for becoming Chief Justice after being President. The man was the head of two of the three branches of the US government during his life.

Johnson also ran for Senate while he was President and lost. That says a lot about how people thought of him by the end of his term. J.Q. Adams ran for Governor of Massachusetts and lost while he was a US Representative. It'd be interesting to see how that would've worked out if he had won. Was he crazy enough to try to do both? Would he be allowed to?