Election Quiz

N to the ZED is a self-fulfilling prophecy! When I write about something, it tends to come true. Yesterday, I told you about my American trivia skills. Today, the newspaper dedicated its entire quiz to American politics. I dominated at office "morning tea!" This is obviously an homage to Election Day, Tues Nov 4, which hasn't happened for you, but is almost over for me.

Now you have 2 ways to show your patriotism today: 1) vote; and 2) take the NZ quiz! The correct answers appear in the comments.

1. Who formally selects the US president and vice president?
2. Who comes from the city of Wasilla?
3. What was the middle name of President Richard M. Nixon?
4. What was the nationality of Barack Obama's father?
5. Which US political party abolished slavery?
6. What do the letters "DC" stand for in Washington DC?
7. Which US president pushed the economic reforms known as the New Deal?
8. The US Senate and House of Representatives are jointly known as what?
9. Which part of the US Constitution guarantees freedom of religion, speech, and the press?
10. What make of car is currently used as the official limousine of the US president?

Seeing that I've been an American my entire life, you'd think the Kiwis would shut up and listen to me. But no... the office creep gives me lots of trouble with question #1.

Me: It's the electoral college.
Him: I don't know... what about all that controversy about choosing between Obama and Hillary... you know... don't some votes count more than others? Blah, blah, blah.
Me: Superdelegates?
Him: Yes, that's it.
Me: That's different.
Him: Hmm... I'm not sure.
Me: That's about the nominees. The question is about the winner.
Him: I don't know....
Me: It's the electoral college.

This quiz was right up my alley, but it still gave me an inferiority complex. The Kiwis knew many of the answers. I doubt Americans would fare as well in a quiz about foreign politics. Also, the Kiwis expected me to supplement my answers. They weren't satisfied to learn that FDR started the New Deal; they wanted me to explain the New Deal. I haven't thought about this since the 11th grade.

Of course, quiz time ends with questions about how I'll vote tomorrow and jokes about the war on terror. I explain that I voted weeks ago. I've already told you that people constantly ask who I voted for, but they also want to know the nitty-gritty details of how I voted from abroad. Much of this interest stems from media reports that absentee ballots weren't counted in the 2000 Bush/Gore election.