Lord Buckethead

[Aragorn243]

I know we aren't supposed to talk politics here but I hope this is allowed. Will someone from the UK please explain Lord Buckethead to me.

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[browningautorifle]

http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/lord-buckethead

[Aragorn243]

I found out most of that last night when researching. Frankly I was sitting here minding my own business watching an HBO movie. The movie ended and a comedy news show came on next and I was too lazy to reach two feet beside my recliner to change the channel. Besides, the guy was kind of amusing. Anyway, he starts talking about this Lord Buckethead and showing videos of the guy with politicians in the UK and I'm thinking the photoshop and editing of these photos and videos is pretty good. So the bizarre thought that his might be real crossed my mind and I researched the fellow. IT'S IS FREAKING REAL. And I guess that's what I don't understand and what I need an explanation of. Some odd tradition to interject comedy into the political process just doesn't make a lot of sense. It just looks like they give the guy serious consideration. I mean he's sitting there with all the other candidates and they are looking at him while he talks. Although there was a shot of the current Prime Minister rolling her eyes. I thought the guy was the black night from Monty Python but no, some other movie I never heard of but may now have to try and find.

[Flying10uk]

When we have our elections in the U.K. for a given seat there will be the "normal mainstream" Party Candidates such as the candidates for the Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrat Parties and so on but there may also be other candidates for that seat who have decided that they fancy their chances of winning. If other Candidates don't represent a recognised political party they are able to stand as an "Independent" candidate if the person is taking the the Election seriously. This may sound odd to people outside of the U.K. but you don't have to take the election seriously to be eligible to stand as a candidate for a given seat although there are certain rules and regulations that you have to comply with. In U.K. elections it is quite common to have candidates for a given seat representing all sorts of weird and wonderful sounding Party names. Probably the best known is "The Monster Raving Looney Party" and another was/is "Lord Sutch". When it comes to actually announcing the result for a seat where there has been an "Alternative Candidate", these candidates can usually be relied upon to add a little colour to the proceedings. What can be surprising is how many votes an oddball candidate can actually get.

[Aragorn243]

OK I was following you for a bit but you first said they can stand if they are taking the election seriously and they said they don't have to take the election seriously.

Mickey Mouse is a favorite write in candidate for office in the US but Mickey Mouse never sits at a table with the other candidates.

[Flying10uk]

OK I was following you for a bit but you first said they can stand if they are taking the election seriously and they said they don't have to take the election seriously.

Yes, you sometimes have 2 groups of people standing in U.K. Elections, the group of people taking the election seriously and another group of people not taking the election seriously. I was referring to 2 groups of people those taking the election seriously and those not. We are so use to the oddball candidates at election time in the U.K. that most people here probably regard it as normal.

The "normal" thing to do when you wish to take part in an election but don't wish to represent any particular party but wish to take the election seriously is stand as an independent. Obviously not many people are going to take you seriously if you state that you belong to the "Nut Case Party" but you may still find that a few people will still vote for you when the ballot papers are counted.

[WarPig1976]

Yes, you sometimes have 2 groups of people standing in U.K. Elections, the group of people taking the election seriously and another group of people not taking the election seriously. I was referring to 2 groups of people those taking the election seriously and those not. We are so use to the oddball candidates at election time in the U.K. that most people here probably regard it as normal.

The "normal" thing to do when you wish to take part in an election but don't wish to represent any particular party but wish to take the election seriously is stand as an independent. Obviously not many people are going to take you seriously if you state that you belong to the "Nut Case Party" but you may still find that a few people will still vote for you when the ballot papers are counted.

^^^^Reason #76-1812.2 we booted out the British..^^^^

[Flying10uk]

Do other countries have much in the way of Comical or Oddball Candidates putting themselves up for election or is it mainly a British thing? I appreciate that the notion may sound strange to people outside of the U.K. but here it something that people are use to and it is not unusual to see an oddly dressed Candidate standing next to the mainstream Candidates when the results are announced.

[Aragorn243]

In the US, no. It is a fairly involved process to get on the ballot which rules out any oddball candidate of getting on the ballot. The only way an oddball candidate can get votes is by running a write in campaign. You can vote for anyone by writing his name on your ballot but the name must be exactly correct. If it is misspelled, it won't count.

I don't know the details but to get on the ballot you must first create a petition to be placed on the ballot, you must then go around your district to get a certain number of signatures on the petition. This can be substituted by a nomination process for major candidates at the party level but the party itself must be established in some form probably by either getting a certain number of votes in the previous election which keeps the party active, or by getting petitions signed again.

[WarPig1976]

Oh no, we do have goofballs!!! I consider myself well versed in U.S politics but hadn't a clue about these people as I suspect most don't.
2016 Presidential Candidates (Presidency 2016)


Reason #76-1812.2 is hence forth revised to read> "Because the British pronounce Aluminum funny."