During much of our history, the two-term presidential limit was a matter of tradition, and not universally followed. A few presidents tried for a third term, but failed.

FDR, the first of the true “god-king” presidents, won not only a third term, but a fourth.

The 22nd Amendment was instituted and passed after FDR died. It did not apply to Truman, but he chose not to run for a third term. I doubt he would have won if he had. His approval ratings stunk at the time.

Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if FDR’s health had been better. He was only 63 when he died. He would have 66 in 1948, 70 in 1950, 74 in 1954.

Thank God for the 22nd. There is way too much “fueherlust” in this country in this day and age.

Depending upon your level of self-assurance, the idea of a figurehead is either preposterous or comforting. I seriously believe the founding fathers understood there were lots of idiots our their and a democracy would eventually lead to tyranny. So instead they create a republic and create three branches to keep them all in check.

So a President was just another check. His real position is to thwart popular will, because popular will is often self-destructive, because of the high levels of idiocy found in the masses and mobs.

The four year term was brilliant, though. It keeps the figurehead changing. One look at Chavez and Venezuela or Castro and Cuba to see what happens when you let the cult of personality prevail. Or the history of the Soviet Union where dictators had life terms.

Those who espouse equality for all and pretend this is a good thing are your dictators and tyrants.

But you know this already.

The point is the unhealthy obsession with a leader, something I’ve pointed out before. This kind of thinking has never ended well.

I would love to live in a country where the president is mostly a figurehead. Kind of like the Queen of England or something. I don’t even like Republicans having the kind of power the executive branch has now.