Spaceman-Turned-Politician Can Call Himself 'Astronaut' On Ballot

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Spaceman-Turned-Politician Can Call Himself 'Astronaut' On Ballot

Posted by timothy on Thursday April 5, 2012 @03:27AM from the well-would-you-call-yourself-a-politician? dept.

New submitter si622test1 writes "A judge has determined that the ex-astronaut-turned-politician who was sued by California Republicans for putting 'astronaut' as his occupation while running for Congress will be allowed to do so, saying that Hernandez is an astronaut for 'more than the time spent riding a rocket.'"

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Astronaut Jose Hernandez congressional candidate by voidmstr · 2012-04-05 03:30 · Score: 4, Funny

We wrote him a song (music video) http://pocho.com/this-is-ground-control-to-major-juan-song-for-a-latino-astronaut/

--
we come in peace for all online
Hmmm by SJHillman · 2012-04-05 03:31 · Score: 2

Misread the name of his opponent as Jeff Dahmer at first. That would have been an interesting race.
1. Re:Hmmm by Endo13 · 2012-04-05 03:34 · Score: 2
  
  I misread it as Jeff Dunham at first, which would also have been interesting.
  On topic, I'm glad this guy won this case. I'm not a democrat, but I have high respect for astronauts, whether current or former, and I support his right to use that as his occupation if he wishes.
  
  --
  There is no -1 Disagree mod. Slashdot.org/faq defines mod options. USE IT.
2. Re:Hmmm by iamhassi · 2012-04-05 03:44 · Score: 1
  
  Yeah, I'm not sure why they were fighting it in the first place. Did they want him to put retired astronaut? I could see that, but to say he wasn't a astronaut at all is wrong.
  
  --
  my karma will be here long after I'm gone
3. Re:Hmmm by compro01 · 2012-04-05 03:55 · Score: 1
  
  They might've wanted him listed as "engineer". Would stand out less.
  
  --
  upon the advice of my lawyer, i have no sig at this time
4. Re:Hmmm by nschubach · 2012-04-05 04:03 · Score: 1
  
  I'm sure that's what it is. If you put an exotic title on the ballot, I'm sure more people would vote for you by title alone.
  
  --
  Every time I start to have faith in humanity, I ruin it by driving to work between 7 and 8 am.
5. Re:Hmmm by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-05 05:20 · Score: 1
  
  Shows how both parties are aware just how ignorant the voters can be sometimes, "oh I'll just vote for the astronaut". I have no issue with using the title after leaving NASA though, however if he'd been gone for decades 'former' or 'retired' might be in order but it's not worth the attention and a court battle in view, sounds like it was indeed where his last paychecks were coming from.
  Funny though the guy wants to go from one of the most respected jobs in the US to running for one of the least respected jobs.
6. Re:Hmmm by icebike · 2012-04-05 05:34 · Score: 1
  
  I'm glad this guy won this case. I'm not a democrat, but I have high respect for astronauts, whether current or former, and I support his right to use that as his occupation if he wishes.
  How could it possibly NOT have won?
  After all, Judges are called Judges long after they retire, Senators are called senator for life. All without even bothering with the word "former". Seems like only the Military seem to have the decency to add "Ret." after their name and rank upon retirement.
  
  --
  Sig Battery depleted. Reverting to safe mode.
7. Re:Hmmm by Quiet_Desperation · 2012-04-05 05:39 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  Except that Dahmer is dead and cannot run for office. This is California, not Chicago.
8. Re:Hmmm by luis_a_espinal · 2012-04-05 06:03 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  Shows how both parties are aware just how ignorant the voters can be sometimes, "oh I'll just vote for the astronaut". I have no issue with using the title after leaving NASA though, however if he'd been gone for decades 'former' or 'retired' might be in order but it's not worth the attention and a court battle in view, sounds like it was indeed where his last paychecks were coming from.
  Funny though the guy wants to go from one of the most respected jobs in the US to running for one of the least respected jobs.
  Maybe because he cares and wants to make a difference? We need more like them, and us not having enough of them is really not funny at all. The lack of scientists, engineers and technocrats in our ruling halls of power is a sad indictment of not only our government institutions, but of society as a whole.
9. Re:Hmmm by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-05 06:10 · Score: 0
  
  Many people agree with you, which is exactly why the neo-cons are fighting this.
  Normally an election is about one scum vs. another.
  Now, it is about one scum vs. an astronaut.
  Who are you going to vote for?
10. Re:Hmmm by spire3661 · 2012-04-05 06:12 · Score: 2
  
  And all of those are wrong. We have strong reasons for disallowing of titles in this country. YOu are not supposed to call a non-active Senator, Senator, its not a lifetime title. Newt is no longer Mr. Speaker.
  
  --
  Good-bye
11. Re:Hmmm by tophermeyer · 2012-04-05 06:58 · Score: 1
  
  I was in full agreement with icebike until you said:
  
  We have strong reasons for disallowing of titles in this country.
  And I found that point to be very powerful. We can hardly call ourselves an egalitarian society while we allow people to rack up titles from roles they no longer fill. In my mind I'm wondering what it could have looked like if Colin Powell had made a run for President back in the day, and people started referring to him as President-General.
  I think the only title we really ought to allow people to keep is Mr. President. And even then because it's so rare for those guys to seek a lower office; ex-Presidents usually fill their time with speaking tours and an occasional foreign diplomacy mission.
12. Re:Hmmm by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-05 07:03 · Score: 1
  
  Maybe you could speak to your party leaders and remind them that while there are many reasons you chose to become a republican; "I like being associated with blowhard ***holes" was not one of the reasons. Please straighten up.
13. Re:Hmmm by RenderSeven · 2012-04-05 07:13 · Score: 1
  
  Thats about the most level-headed and insightful thing Ive read today. Too bad youre an AC and no one will read it.
14. Re:Hmmm by icebike · 2012-04-05 07:54 · Score: 2
  
  These are not titles, and certainly not entitlements.
  Senator, General, Admiral, Judge, are simply a Rank, or Job Description. They differ from Duke, Count, King, in that they are something you EARN, by bullet, ballot, study, or just hard work. One's contribution to society via these professions are simply recognized as an honorarium. These are utterly different than titles in the British sense.
  
  --
  Sig Battery depleted. Reverting to safe mode.
15. Re:Hmmm by spire3661 · 2012-04-05 11:22 · Score: 1
  
  The key part you are missing is that most 'British' titles WERE earned, often at the tip of a sword. It is the descendants to whom the titles were passed that did nothing to earn them where the true evil of titles begins. It is not a far jump to go from lifetime titles for a temporary job to passing those titles to their descendants. To be quite frank, Senator is not that 'lofty' of a position, certainly not enough to be titled for life.
  
  --
  Good-bye
16. Re:Hmmm by icebike · 2012-04-05 11:36 · Score: 1
  
  It is not a far jump to go from lifetime titles for a temporary job to passing those titles to their descendants.
  Write back when a Senator or General's offspring is free to use the title. Till then, you have vastly misstated the issue.
  Most British (as well as continental) titles, Duke, Lord, etc. were always handed down via linage or marriage, and they in historic times the had real power, as the Kings representative. Knights (Sir) are about the only title that was earned on the battle field, and it came with virtually no privilege.
  
  --
  Sig Battery depleted. Reverting to safe mode.
17. Re:Hmmm by Ol+Olsoc · 2012-04-05 12:11 · Score: 1
  
  We can hardly call ourselves an egalitarian society while we allow people to rack up titles from roles they no longer fill.In my mind I'm wondering what it could have looked like if Colin Powell had made a run for President back in the day, and people started referring to him as President-General.
  Severe logic fail.
  FIrst off, there isn't much relationship between a general and an astronaut. A general is a rank, "Astronaut" is a job.
  Your logic in action:
  I retired after being computer support, Photographer, videographer, a electronic technician and first a lifeguard.
  But I am retired, so if i run for office, the Republicans would sue me because since I'm retired, I cannot use titles that I used to be. And before you even try to refute that, here is a quote from TFA:
  Allowing a candidate out of nowhere to use the profession of 'astronaut' when he hasn’t served in that profession recently is akin to allowing someone to use a title of 'sailor' when they no longer own or operate a ship," California GOP spokeswoman Jennifer Kerns said in a statement, according to the Times.
  There it is. According to the Republican party, if I mentioned any of my professions, I would be "out of nowhere" doing this.
  The man is an astronaut, and their excuse is disingenuous. The real reason is that being an astronaut carries weight. Just like a service veteran does. Should retired soldiers be forbidden from mentioning their service?
  
  --
  The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
18. Re:Hmmm by Ol+Olsoc · 2012-04-05 12:13 · Score: 1
  
  Maybe you could speak to your party leaders and remind them that while there are many reasons you chose to become a republican; "I like being associated with blowhard ***holes" was not one of the reasons. Please straighten up.
  Arrrgh! And I'm out of mod points!
  
  --
  The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
19. Re:Hmmm by tqk · 2012-04-06 04:02 · Score: 1
  
  The lack of scientists, engineers and technocrats in our ruling halls of power is a sad indictment of not only our government institutions, but of society as a whole.
  Right !@#$ing on!
  Get rid of the Lamar Smiths, please! Bring back the Jimmy Stewarts already.
  
  --
  "Tongue tied and twisted, just an Earth bound misfit ..." -- Pink Floyd.
20. Re:Hmmm by tqk · 2012-04-06 04:28 · Score: 1
  
  Maybe you could speak to your party leaders and remind them that while there are many reasons you chose to become a republican; "I like being associated with blowhard ***holes" was not one of the reasons.
  Thats about the most level-headed and insightful thing I've read today. Too bad youre an AC and no one will read it.
  Some of us do have the patience to read at -1 (as is suggested by the management). Nothing gets by us. :-)
  And (on-topic) you can list my profession as Samurai. It is my honour to serve.
  
  --
  "Tongue tied and twisted, just an Earth bound misfit ..." -- Pink Floyd.
21. Re:Hmmm by tqk · 2012-04-06 04:49 · Score: 1
  
  Except that Dahmer is dead and cannot run for office.
  Shivved in a prison shower. What a fitting end that was.
  
  --
  "Tongue tied and twisted, just an Earth bound misfit ..." -- Pink Floyd.
the astronaut party and the space-cadet party by TheGratefulNet · 2012-04-05 03:31 · Score: 3, Interesting

which are you going to vote for?
shameful what the republicans stoop to. I know both parties are scum but the repubs just seem to redefine what scum means.
fight any way you can, right? do whatever you can to win.
this is the US, in a nutshell.

--

--
"It is now safe to switch off your computer."
1. Re:the astronaut party and the space-cadet party by sycodon · 2012-04-05 03:37 · Score: 4, Interesting
  
  Yeah!
  Next thing ya know, they will be spilling the court sealed details of their opponents divorce records or something.
  
  --
  When Fascism comes to America, it will call itself Anti-Fascism, and tell you to give up your guns.
2. Re:the astronaut party and the space-cadet party by linear+a · 2012-04-05 03:42 · Score: 1
  
  Indeed. More effective at being scum.
3. Re:the astronaut party and the space-cadet party by ColdWetDog · 2012-04-05 03:53 · Score: 2
  
  And it's likely to backfire on the Republicans. You've just given him a bunch of perfectly free publicity of the worst sort - your opponent comes off as the good guy. Likely a significant fraction of the voting population would never had cottoned on to the fact that he is / was an astronaut. Now everybody knows. And if there is a generic hero in the 21st Century, it's got to be astronauts.
  Even if you don't really care about NASA and space exploration, astronauts still have a pretty good (albeit not totally unblemished) reputation.
  Nice work, bozos.
  
  --
  Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
4. Re:the astronaut party and the space-cadet party by Dishevel · 2012-04-05 04:03 · Score: 1
  
  I agree with you mostly.
  Although there are limits I would say.
  Some career politician who did 4 years in the Army 25 years ago should not be able to put Soldier as his occupation.
  But if you were flying in space in the last few years. I think you can put astronaut as your occupation.
  Although in a few years when he runs again if he is just doing political stuff I do not think he should be able to use Astronaut as his occupation.
  He can though list it as a previous job.
  
  --
  Why is it so hard to only have politicians for a few years, then have them go away?
5. Re:the astronaut party and the space-cadet party by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-05 04:06 · Score: 1
  
  Remember, they're TRUE AMERICAN HEROES(tm) (pause for patriotic music and flag-waving background)! Unless they're running for the other party, then they're clearly not Real Americans.
  Even worse, I heard this was done with the help of science! Once God has made space ready for us, we will be delivered there with the other true believers, not with a blasphemous rocket.
6. Re:the astronaut party and the space-cadet party by everett · 2012-04-05 04:24 · Score: 1
  
  Regarding your Army analogy, see Eisenhower.
  
  --
  Sig withheld to protect the innocent.
7. Re:the astronaut party and the space-cadet party by jdgeorge · 2012-04-05 04:37 · Score: 1
  
  Regarding your Army analogy, see Eisenhower.
  My short-term memory goes back far enough to recall John McCain.
8. Re:the astronaut party and the space-cadet party by Phreakiture · 2012-04-05 04:57 · Score: 2
  
  Per Wikipedia (usual disclaimers go here), Eisenhower's years of service in the Army were continuous up to the year of his inauguration, and resumed when he left office.
  Anybody know different?
  
  --
  www.wavefront-av.com
9. Re:the astronaut party and the space-cadet party by dan828 · 2012-04-05 05:00 · Score: 0
  
  Hey, it's California, which is pretty close to being single party rule. Republicans are trying anything to get a little bit of say in the government. Districts out in the central valley, like this one, are the only places they even have a chance to elect some one.
10. Re:the astronaut party and the space-cadet party by CrimsonAvenger · 2012-04-05 05:07 · Score: 3, Informative
  
  This is correct. Eisenhower was a soldier from 1915 till his inauguration, and became a General again upon leaving the White House.
  
  --
  
  "I do not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it"
11. Re:the astronaut party and the space-cadet party by scot4875 · 2012-04-05 06:39 · Score: 2
  
  Very nearly anyone can get into the army. Listing "soldier" as an occupation isn't very impressive, and it can be downright misleading for someone who barely spent any time doing it.
  Only the very best of the very best get to be astronauts. The dude earned the title and can list it wherever he pleases, regardless of what he's spent the previous decade(s) doing.
  --Jeremy
  
  --
  Jesus was a liberal
12. Re:the astronaut party and the space-cadet party by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-05 07:39 · Score: 0
  
  Very nearly anyone can get into the army. Listing "soldier" as an occupation isn't very impressive, and it can be downright misleading for someone who barely spent any time doing it.
  --Jeremy
  Not true really. Lots of people who are otherwise qualified to enlist, don't pass basic training. There are a variety of reasons, but the biggest one is mental toughness. They can't handle the stress. When I went through it, approximately one quarter dropped out within the first few days. Some others had mental break downs within a few weeks. Everyone after that who dropped out were for physical reasons like a fractured hip from all the marching, which happens more that you would think. So knowing that someone was a soldier may not tell you how educated someone is, but it shows you that they're made of tougher stuff than the average human, both mentally and physically. I for one, think that's impressive even if it was 40 years ago.
  Beyond that, I agree with what you said.
13. Re:the astronaut party and the space-cadet party by Darinbob · 2012-04-05 08:10 · Score: 2
  
  These are California Republicans. They know they have no chance of winning the state but they do have a chance in the central valley where Hernandez is running. These CA guys have a habit of declaring that they lost the election because of voter fraud, immigrants voting illegally, and so forth. They do like to point out the letter of the law in election cases.
  In this example there is a law that says something to the effect that you list your profession from the year before filing for an election. Hernandez left NASA over a year ago. So the question is whether or not "astronaut" can be listed if he's not employed as one. It's a tricky call at times. But there are people who run for a second term in office that list "educator" as their occupation on the ballot despite not having been a teacher for a couple years. So there's the idea of whether something is just your job versus your vocation.
14. Re:the astronaut party and the space-cadet party by Helpadingoatemybaby · 2012-04-05 08:39 · Score: 1
  
  That *would* be sleazy -- unless, of course, it's from one of these sanctity-of-marriage assholes.
  
  --
  The baby's fine -- please stop sending business cards.
15. Re:the astronaut party and the space-cadet party by rocket+rancher · 2012-04-05 11:46 · Score: 1
  
  And it's likely to backfire on the Republicans. You've just given him a bunch of perfectly free publicity of the worst sort - your opponent comes off as the good guy. Likely a significant fraction of the voting population would never had cottoned on to the fact that he is / was an astronaut. Now everybody knows. And if there is a generic hero in the 21st Century, it's got to be astronauts.
  Even if you don't really care about NASA and space exploration, astronauts still have a pretty good (albeit not totally unblemished) reputation.
  Nice work, bozos.
  Hmmm. Generic hero for the 21st century? The one astronaut I can think of who went into politics is forever linked with various financial scams, one of which was quite major. Not sure I'd want to remind people of the link between astronauts and scams. Senator and former astronaut John Glenn provided us with a couple financial scandals that, at least for *this* voter, pretty much tarnished astronauts' squeeky-clean image forever. Glenn's failed bid for the vice presidency left over $3M dollars owed to contributors, a debt that he dodged for over twenty years. But that was small potatoes, compared to the other. Glenn was also a member of the Keating Five, a group of US senators who helped an S&L owner named Keating scam thousands and thousands of people out of their life savings by putting pressure on S&L regulators to back off on investigations of Keating's business practices, in return for financial contributions to their election campaigns.
16. Re:the astronaut party and the space-cadet party by Dishevel · 2012-04-05 12:04 · Score: 1
  
  You can always list it as a previous job. But some guy who was an astronaut 15 years ago and has spent the last 10 years as an office manager for an aerospace company should not list astronaut as his occupation.
  
  --
  Why is it so hard to only have politicians for a few years, then have them go away?
17. Re:the astronaut party and the space-cadet party by Ol+Olsoc · 2012-04-05 12:25 · Score: 2
  
  John Glenn provided us with a couple financial scandals that, at least for *this* voter, pretty much tarnished astronauts' squeeky-clean image forever.
  Wait - What? Do you have a newsletter I can subscribe to? Since John Glenn had some part in something, it flows backwards, and now all astronauts are likewise guilty?
  I guess you believe that all Republicans are members of the KKK then since Edward Jackson, the Governor of Indiana, was?
  Of course they aren't. But when you try to extrapolate backwards you get weird inconsistencies. Try figuring out th eperson rather than saying "Astronauts are bad".
  
  --
  The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
18. Re:the astronaut party and the space-cadet party by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-05 17:36 · Score: 0
  
  I think you would just put your current occupation for your occupation. If he's not currently working for the space agency, he's not an astronaut. He used to be an astronaut, that's nice. It still doesn't make sense though.
19. Re:the astronaut party and the space-cadet party by Dishevel · 2012-04-06 02:27 · Score: 1
  
  On the whole I agree. That is what his republican opposition was complaining about.
  That he was using a past job to garner more votes.
  Politician A: Lawyer
  Politician B: Astronaut
  Politician C: Farmer
  Who are you going to vote for?
  But, for astronauts I will give a couple of years to be able to put Astronaut as occupation. Even though technically he is not currently employed as an astronaut.
  And I 100% agree that he is manipulating people for votes.
  
  --
  Why is it so hard to only have politicians for a few years, then have them go away?
20. Re:the astronaut party and the space-cadet party by SkimTony · 2012-04-06 02:28 · Score: 1
  
  But, Newt knows all about the sanctity of marriage! He's been married three times!
21. Re:the astronaut party and the space-cadet party by SkimTony · 2012-04-06 03:55 · Score: 1
  
  Arguably, anyone can enlist, but I doubt that many people list "Private" or "Specialist" for titles. However, if you put in the time and effort to make Sergeant, you can probably hang on to that. Likewise for COs, attaining the rank of Captain or Major is a pretty serious accomplishment.
22. Re:the astronaut party and the space-cadet party by tqk · 2012-04-06 04:52 · Score: 1
  
  shameful what the republicans stoop to. I know both parties are scum but the repubs just seem to redefine what scum means.
  Oh come on! You haven't been bothering to listen to your Secretary of State recently?
  
  --
  "Tongue tied and twisted, just an Earth bound misfit ..." -- Pink Floyd.
23. Re:the astronaut party and the space-cadet party by tqk · 2012-04-06 04:57 · Score: 1
  
  But, Newt knows all about the sanctity of marriage! He's been married three times!
  ... and cheated on all three. True to form.
  If he does that to his wives, what's he going to do to his electorate?
  No, I don't expect better from the alternatives.
  
  --
  "Tongue tied and twisted, just an Earth bound misfit ..." -- Pink Floyd.
I think of astronaut as a formal title by sandytaru · 2012-04-05 03:32 · Score: 5, Insightful

It's more than just an occupation. You can say "I used to be an accountant" but, like being a Senator or a Congressman or the President, you've earned that title for the rest of your life.

--
Occasionally living proof of the Ballmer peak.
1. Re:I think of astronaut as a formal title by SJHillman · 2012-04-05 03:35 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  In that case, I want to be Paper Delivery Guy Clerk's Assistant Dishwasher Warehouse Delivery Guy Resident Assistant Network Intern Network Consultant Steve!
  I think I earned it. I was a damned good dishwasher.
2. Re:I think of astronaut as a formal title by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-05 03:43 · Score: 0
  
  It's more than just an occupation. You can say "I used to be an accountant" but, like being a Senator or a Congressman or the President, you've earned that title for the rest of your life.
  I would have thought it's the other way around - "accountant" is generally a qualification, or at least shorthand for one like CPA, ACA, ACCA etc. Most people don't stop being accountants regardless of what work they subsequently do. Similar with engineer, if you really are an engineer, or a doctor etc. Astronaut sounds much more like a job description than that.
  I agree that people can't, and shouldn't be able to, easily escape the stigma of being a politician though - that sort of thing sticks.
3. Re:I think of astronaut as a formal title by Surt · 2012-04-05 03:43 · Score: 1
  
  I kind of wonder what the legal requirements are ... I mean, I'm an astronaut. That's my one and only desired career. Sure, they won't take me in the space program because I have glasses, but I'm actively pursuing change in that policy. I write code on the side to pay the bills while I work on my real career.
  
  --
  "Who is the Journal of Quantum Physics going to believe?" --Stephen Hawking
4. Re:I think of astronaut as a formal title by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-05 03:43 · Score: 0
  
  You forgot Blackboard Monitor. It may be important to break a tie.
5. Re:I think of astronaut as a formal title by Analog+Penguin · 2012-04-05 03:45 · Score: 2
  
  Well, the fact that Hernandez has actually worked as an astronaut and been to space would be one thing that differentiates him from you.
6. Re:I think of astronaut as a formal title by AngryDeuce · 2012-04-05 03:45 · Score: 1
  
  Go for it! I mean, do we really need to regulate job titles now? If so, resumes are about to get a lot less colorful...
7. Re:I think of astronaut as a formal title by sribe · 2012-04-05 03:49 · Score: 1
  
  It's more than just an occupation. You can say "I used to be an accountant" but, like being a Senator or a Congressman or the President, you've earned that title for the rest of your life.
  Well, in the USA, "President" is NOT a title that one carries for life. This has been accepted practice since the very first president, and the ONLY ex-president who refused to accept the loss of the title was Richard Nixon. All other presidents have been content to be referred to as "former president...", in fact, George Bush Sr was known to be quite insistent, and correct journalists on occasion--contemporaneously with Nixon having a hissy fit about being addressed as "Mr. Nixon".
8. Re:I think of astronaut as a formal title by PolygamousRanchKid+ · 2012-04-05 03:57 · Score: 1
  
  . . . like being a Senator or a Congressman or the President . . .
  
  Please, please . . . do not compare the profession of astronaut with that of a politician.
  Not even in an abstract analogy.
  I mean, the US astronauts have enough problems, with their space program being outspaced and all . . .
  
  --
  Schroedinger's Brexit: The UK is both in and out of the EU at the same time!
9. Re:I think of astronaut as a formal title by Lumpy · 2012-04-05 04:04 · Score: 1
  
  Pay the russians to fly you to the ISS and you will be a legitimate astronaut.
  You can buy that title.
  
  --
  Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
10. Re:I think of astronaut as a formal title by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-05 04:09 · Score: 0
  
  Even if it's a title, as far as I understand from summary, they asked for "occupation", not "title". As in "stuff you are doing RIGHT NOW".
11. Re:I think of astronaut as a formal title by Adriax · 2012-04-05 04:09 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  But admitting he was a destroyer of words would kill his polls in Überwald.
  
  --
  I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every minute of it!
12. Re:I think of astronaut as a formal title by fermion · 2012-04-05 04:17 · Score: 4, Interesting
  
  Put this in context. Most people choose what they call themselves. As long as they did so professionally, it seems to be ok. For instance, Reagan was considered an actor, although his his profession prior to politics was to organize acting labor against the studios.
  Romney has been a politician for nearly 15 years but he still calls himself a job creator and businessman. Maybe the best business to be in politics.
  Carly Fiorina has not been the CEO of anything in years, yet she is still considered an business executive more than a politician. Sarah Palin did not even complete one term as Governor before quitting, and she is called Governor.
  This is a guy who has been into space, something that only maybe 500 people have done. He is an astronaut. Saying he isn't is sign of desperation.
  
  --
  "She's a scientist and a lesbian. She's not going to let it slide." Orphan Black
13. Re:I think of astronaut as a formal title by necro81 · 2012-04-05 04:17 · Score: 1
  
  Or, to add to your list of persistent titles, military officer ranks: Colonel, Admiral, General, etc. Even once they retire, they are still entitled to refer to themselves, or be referred to as, "General So-And-So." They can put it on their tombstone, if they choose. Although NASA is a civilian agency, it has a long history of sourcing the astronaut corps from the military, and "astronaut" is viewed as a quasi-military title.
14. Re:I think of astronaut as a formal title by lars_stefan_axelsson · 2012-04-05 04:20 · Score: 1
  
  Pay the russians to fly you to the ISS and you will be a legitimate astronaut.
  No you'd be a cosmonaut. Which is a title I guess might not go too well on a US ballot. ;-)
  
  --
  Stefan Axelsson
15. Re:I think of astronaut as a formal title by chrb · 2012-04-05 04:27 · Score: 1
  
  Occupation does not necessarily mean "stuff you are doing right now". It can also be used in context to mean the same as "career", "profession", "vocation" etc.
  e.g. You could be unemployed, and when asked your occupation, answer "software developer" and it would be a valid response, particularly when your occupation involves prolonged training and a formal qualification.
16. Re:I think of astronaut as a formal title by lars_stefan_axelsson · 2012-04-05 04:29 · Score: 1
  
  Or, to add to your list of persistent titles, military officer ranks: Colonel, Admiral, General, etc. Even once they retire, they are still entitled to refer to themselves, or be referred to as, "General So-And-So."
  Technically, a commissioned officer is a commissioned officer as long as they don't resign their commission. This is whether they're paid by the military or not. As long as they retain their commissioned they're entitled to the rank. If they do resign their commission (which is unusual) they technically also lose their rank and title.
  NCOs lose it when they quit though. Being NCOs.
  
  --
  Stefan Axelsson
17. Re:I think of astronaut as a formal title by Daniel+Dvorkin · 2012-04-05 04:31 · Score: 1
  
  But IOKIYAR. Always remember, IOKIYAR.
  
  --
  The correlation between ignorance of statistics and using "correlation is not causation" as an argument is close to 1.
18. Re:I think of astronaut as a formal title by QuantumLeaper · 2012-04-05 04:33 · Score: 1
  
  20/100 or better vision but they have to be correctable to 20/20 that is to be a Commander or Pilot and it easier for a Mission Specialist, you need 20/200 or better but again it as to be correctable to 20/20 get into the as a Astronaut program. Here are the requirements from 2004... http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/postsecondary/features/F_Astronaut_Requirements.html
  I couldn't find anything more recent.
  Also to get your Astronaut wings, you need to go up 80km (50mi) in the US, if you want Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI) to recognize it, you need to go up 100km (62mi).
  The only really difference is 6 more X-15 pilots get their wings under the US rules.
19. Re:I think of astronaut as a formal title by Chris+Burke · 2012-04-05 04:39 · Score: 1
  
  We regulate quite a few of them. I can't technically call myself an engineer in my state even though I am one and employers don't really care that I don't have the legal title. Lawyer, dentist, M.D., dietitian, and others are protected nationwide and for damn good reason imo.
  Paper boy? Shit, if you want that title then I don't even care if you've ever slung a rolled up piece of bird cage liner into the mud before.
  
  --
  
  The enemies of Democracy are
20. Re:I think of astronaut as a formal title by tqk · 2012-04-05 04:47 · Score: 1
  
  You can say "I used to be an accountant" ...
  I take great pride in having failed miserably the accounting module in my programming course. It meant I'd never have to use Cobol.
  I can't believe someone actually sued someone else over this. Holy !@#$, you Yanquis are nuts. :-O
  ["There are, in fact, girls on the Internet. And some of them program better than you." I'll put my perl up against yours any day (and you can fit all the double entendres you want to in there. :-)]
  
  --
  "Tongue tied and twisted, just an Earth bound misfit ..." -- Pink Floyd.
21. Re:I think of astronaut as a formal title by tqk · 2012-04-05 04:53 · Score: 1
  
  Go for it! I mean, do we really need to regulate job titles now? If so, resumes are about to get a lot less colorful...
  We have laws prohibiting false advertising. I think resumes that told the truth would be an improvement.
  
  --
  "Tongue tied and twisted, just an Earth bound misfit ..." -- Pink Floyd.
22. Re:I think of astronaut as a formal title by tqk · 2012-04-05 04:59 · Score: 2
  
  Pay the russians to fly you to the ISS and you will be a legitimate astronaut.
  You can buy that title.
  There's "astronauts", and then there's "The Right Stuff." You can buy the former, but not the latter.
  
  --
  "Tongue tied and twisted, just an Earth bound misfit ..." -- Pink Floyd.
23. Re:I think of astronaut as a formal title by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-05 05:13 · Score: 0
  
  Explain how that's any different from a NASA 'astronaut'
24. Re:I think of astronaut as a formal title by Surt · 2012-04-05 05:22 · Score: 1
  
  Right, but also from a significant number of people in the astronaut corps, who would all have a hard time coming up with any other job title.
  
  --
  "Who is the Journal of Quantum Physics going to believe?" --Stephen Hawking
25. Re:I think of astronaut as a formal title by s73v3r · 2012-04-05 05:24 · Score: 1
  
  In the legal sense, Engineer, or Professional Engineer, has a specific meaning, and that's why you can't go around calling yourself that, even though you have studied some form of engineering. Engineers are usually the ones who have to sign off on a project, and legally that means that they have examined everything, and have found it to be meeting standards, and that the calculations show that it will actually work. And they're also held responsible for that.
26. Re:I think of astronaut as a formal title by s73v3r · 2012-04-05 05:25 · Score: 1
  
  But then what would recruiters do?
27. Re:I think of astronaut as a formal title by s73v3r · 2012-04-05 05:26 · Score: 1
  
  Correctable how? Contacts? Glasses? Laser surgery?
28. Re:I think of astronaut as a formal title by s73v3r · 2012-04-05 05:29 · Score: 1
  
  Carly Fiorina has not been the CEO of anything in years, yet she is still considered an business executive more than a politician.
  That's probably because she hasn't actually won anything politically.
29. Re:I think of astronaut as a formal title by lars_stefan_axelsson · 2012-04-05 05:40 · Score: 1
  
  Wooosh!
  
  --
  Stefan Axelsson
30. Re:I think of astronaut as a formal title by SJHillman · 2012-04-05 05:43 · Score: 2
  
  My college psych professor mentioned that even though he had a doctorate in psychology, he isn't legally allowed to call himself Dr. in NY state, but he can in some other states. Of course, we all called him Dr. Bob anyway. Best part about his class was virtual lab rats - no PETA to worry about so you could shock the living hell out of them.
31. Re:I think of astronaut as a formal title by tqk · 2012-04-05 05:49 · Score: 1
  
  We have laws prohibiting false advertising. I think resumes that told the truth would be an improvement.
  But then what would recruiters do?
  I actually know three recruiters who were useful (competent) in the past, but I've met a lot more who'd be performing a service to humanity by jumping into the nearest volcano. "No, you may not re-work my resume! It already says what I want it to say, and I don't much care what *you* want it to say. If your client can't read, it'll be his loss."
  
  --
  "Tongue tied and twisted, just an Earth bound misfit ..." -- Pink Floyd.
32. Re:I think of astronaut as a formal title by Chris+Burke · 2012-04-05 06:12 · Score: 1
  
  Right, which is why it only matters for engineering professions where there are legal consequences for failure, rather than just marketplace consequences. Civil engineering in particular is a field where it matters.
  
  --
  
  The enemies of Democracy are
33. Re:I think of astronaut as a formal title by spire3661 · 2012-04-05 06:15 · Score: 1
  
  Senator and congressmen are not lifetime titles, even the Mr. President is dubious and in no way are they official titles. We do not have landed gentry titles in this country for a reason.
  
  --
  Good-bye
34. Re:I think of astronaut as a formal title by spire3661 · 2012-04-05 06:20 · Score: 1
  
  Clearly you didnt grow up during the cold war.
  
  --
  Good-bye
35. Re:I think of astronaut as a formal title by forkfail · 2012-04-05 06:31 · Score: 1
  
  We do not have landed gentry titles in this country for a reason.
  But we do have a landed gentry. They were just smart enough to take the targets off their backs.
  
  --
  Check your premises.
36. Re:I think of astronaut as a formal title by Jah-Wren+Ryel · 2012-04-05 06:54 · Score: 1
  
  Carly Fiorina has not been the CEO of anything in years, yet she is still considered an business executive more than a politician.
  To be fair, if you haven't actually held office, are you really a politician or just a candidate?
  
  --
  When information is power, privacy is freedom.
37. Re:I think of astronaut as a formal title by lightknight · 2012-04-05 08:04 · Score: 1
  
  "And that is how we found a shockingly high prevalence for misanthropy among the Psychology students." -> Dr. Bob
  
  --
  I am John Hurt.
38. Re:I think of astronaut as a formal title by sjbe · 2012-04-05 08:14 · Score: 1
  
  Carly Fiorina has not been the CEO of anything in years, yet she is still considered an business executive more than a politician.
  And no one calls her CEO of Hewlett Packard anymore either. What's your point?
  
  Sarah Palin did not even complete one term as Governor before quitting, and she is called Governor.
  
  Not by me she isn't. She left the title when she left the job. Calling someone governor who isn't one presently doesn't make much sense.
  
  This is a guy who has been into space, something that only maybe 500 people have done. He is an astronaut. Saying he isn't is sign of desperation.
  He WAS an astronaut. Once you leave the job you leave the title too. John Glen WAS an astronaut, then he WAS a senator and now he is a retired astronaut and a retired senator. If you call him by either title now you are just kissing up.
39. Re:I think of astronaut as a formal title by Darinbob · 2012-04-05 08:16 · Score: 1
  
  When I run for office I will list my occupation as "WB-1074".
40. Re:I think of astronaut as a formal title by Darinbob · 2012-04-05 08:18 · Score: 1
  
  White-out on the application form.
41. Re:I think of astronaut as a formal title by the_B0fh · 2012-04-05 08:20 · Score: 1
  
  the letters "cosmo".
42. Re:I think of astronaut as a formal title by R3d+M3rcury · 2012-04-05 10:54 · Score: 1
  Actually, if I remember my NASA politics correctly, the Space Shuttles had three classes:
  
  Astronauts: These were the "commanders" and "pilots" who flew the plane and made decisions about the mission.
  Mission Specialist: Someone who had a specific job to do up there.
  Payload Specialist: Someone who knew something about a particular payload being sent aloft--usually, themselves. John Glenn, Jake Garn, Salman Abdulaziz Al-Saud, and Christa McAuliffe were Payload Specialists on various Shuttles.
  "Payload Specialists" were absolutely not considered to be "astronauts."
43. Re:I think of astronaut as a formal title by tqk · 2012-04-05 16:07 · Score: 1
  
  Payload Specialist:
  aka "passenger".
  Glenn was an astronaut. Not Senator Glenn, but pilot Glenn.
  
  --
  "Tongue tied and twisted, just an Earth bound misfit ..." -- Pink Floyd.
44. Re:I think of astronaut as a formal title by FatLittleMonkey · 2012-04-05 17:02 · Score: 1
  
  Not laser surgery. You will not be allowed to fly if you've had Lasik. Something to do with the fluid shift that occurs in micro-g.
  
  --
  Science is all about firing a drunk pig out of a cannon just to see what happens.
45. Re:I think of astronaut as a formal title by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-06 03:57 · Score: 0
  
  :D I like that phrase!
  "Now, I am become Vimes, destroyer of words."
46. Re:I think of astronaut as a formal title by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-06 04:26 · Score: 0
  
  Well that is true, just like the title "pedophile" and sex offender" are lifetime badges. As for me, I'm happy to be known as "That Asshole" .. for the rest of my life ... since three wives and numerous semem-receptacle bitches have bestowed THAT title on me.
47. Re:I think of astronaut as a formal title by ciurana · 2012-04-06 06:34 · Score: 1
  
  Hi Surt!
  FYI - unless your vision isn't correctable to 20/20 via glasses or contacts, eyesight isn't an impediment for becoming a non-piloting astronaut (you can become a mission or payload specialist, EVA specialist, and so on). If you really want to become an astronaut, keep your eyes open on the http://www.usajobs.gov/ site. They open astronaut candidate vacancies every 3 - 5 years.
  I know about the glasses because my application is under consideration. Here's what NASA replied:
  
  Eyeglasses and contacts are permitted. I would not recommend having any type of surgery solely for the purpose of being eligible for the Astronaut Candidate Program.
  The refractive surgical procedures of the eye, PRK and LASIK, is allowed, providing at least 1 year has passed since the date of the procedure with no permanent adverse after effects. For those applicants under final consideration, an operative report on the surgical procedure will be requested. We anticipate completing review of the applications to determine the highly qualified applicants in July 2012 so the surgery must have been performed no later than July 31, 2011.
  For additional information regarding the medical standards, please contact our Flight Medicine Office.
  So... good luck with your application!
  
  --
  http://eugeneciurana.com | http://ciurana.eu
48. Re:I think of astronaut as a formal title by ciurana · 2012-04-06 07:00 · Score: 1
  
  Howdy - astronaut candidate here.
  Contacts or glasses. Laser surgery is only admissible if it was done over a year before the final job interviews take place *and* you had no side-effects from it.
  I mentioned that here, earlier in this thread: http://politics.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=2768227&cid=39600169
  Cheers!
  
  --
  http://eugeneciurana.com | http://ciurana.eu
49. Re:I think of astronaut as a formal title by ciurana · 2012-04-06 07:06 · Score: 1
  
  Dammit - I meant "astronaut candidate applicant" - my bad. Cheers!
  
  --
  http://eugeneciurana.com | http://ciurana.eu
Taxpayer money by din0 · 2012-04-05 03:34 · Score: 1

Glad we have good reasons to spend it on judgments like this.
1. Re:Taxpayer money by Drummergeek0 · 2012-04-05 03:46 · Score: 1
  
  To be fair, it was the party that sued, not the state. So, in theory, tax payer money was not involved.
  
  --
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution
2. Re:Taxpayer money by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-05 03:48 · Score: 0
  
  Unless the Republican party paid 100% of the costs to run the court for this joke of a lawsuit, then yes, taxpayer money was wasted.
3. Re:Taxpayer money by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-05 03:49 · Score: 0
  
  Yeah, because it's not like the taxpayers pay the judge, or for the computers to schedule things, or assistants that help handle cases or anything. Tax payer money was certainly involved.
4. Re:Taxpayer money by Monchanger · 2012-04-05 03:51 · Score: 0
  
  And your answer to this supposed problem you raise, Mr. Cynic, would be... what?
  Raise court fees from people who raise an issue with the election system?
  Fine, or throw people in jail if the judge happens to rule against them?
  Solve disputes the old fashioned way, in the Colosseum?
  Way bigger a problem than the money spent on this minor lawsuit, is that we have taxpayers who are useless asshats who can only complain when taxes aren't spent on them personally, but couldn't be bothered to spend a minute to come up with a better idea.
5. Re:Taxpayer money by Eponymous+Hero · 2012-04-05 03:56 · Score: 1
  
  spoken like a true repub
  
  --
  insensitive clod overlords obligatory xkcd car analogy russian reversals whoosh pedant fanbois ftfy in 3...2...1..PROFIT
6. Re:Taxpayer money by Lumpy · 2012-04-05 04:06 · Score: 1
  
  Step 1 - imprison all politicians.
  Step 2 - there is no step 2, everything was solved at step 1
  
  --
  Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
7. Re:Taxpayer money by Desler · 2012-04-05 04:11 · Score: 1
  
  The court system is funded by taxpayer money, moron.
8. Re:Taxpayer money by Chris+Burke · 2012-04-05 04:42 · Score: 1
  
  You sure Step 2 isn't "set off the halon fire suppression system in the prison" or similar?
  
  --
  
  The enemies of Democracy are
9. Re:Taxpayer money by Monchanger · 2012-04-05 04:46 · Score: 1
  
  I stand corrected. The biggest problem is opinionated idiots. Thanks for pointing that out.
10. Re:Taxpayer money by Drummergeek0 · 2012-04-05 05:05 · Score: 1
  
  Yes, but the court system deals with frivolous cases on a daily basis which means that this one isn't special.
  
  --
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution
11. Re:Taxpayer money by Drummergeek0 · 2012-04-05 05:38 · Score: 1
  
  Except I am not repub. So you fail.
  
  --
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution
12. Re:Taxpayer money by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-05 06:02 · Score: 0
  
  So we agree that politicians are the biggest problem? Good to know.
13. Re:Taxpayer money by Desler · 2012-04-05 06:10 · Score: 1
  
  No, it's not special, I'm not sure what that has to do with anything anyway, but it was still a waste of taxpayer money by the supposed party of 'fiscal conservatives'.
14. Re:Taxpayer money by the_B0fh · 2012-04-05 08:26 · Score: 1
  
  And which part of dealing with frivolous cases is free or does not involve tax payer money, which was your assertion? Quit backpedalling. You were caught making a stupid statement, admit it and move on, instead of doubling down and showing us what a desperate idiot you are.
Isn't that just nitpicking??? by mark-t · 2012-04-05 03:34 · Score: 4, Informative

I mean, if I do job X, oh... say, teaching, as a career and then resign to take up other interests, that doesn't mean I suddenly can't say that I'm a teacher when people ask me what I do for a living. My past careers are almost as much a part of who I am today as the one I'm in now.
Okay... maybe technically, it really should say "former austronaut", but like I said... I think that's just nitpicking at a detail that's entirely irrelevant.

--
File under 'M' for 'Manic ranting'
1. Re:Isn't that just nitpicking??? by pympdaddyc · 2012-04-05 03:37 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  I think that's just nitpicking at a detail that's entirely irrelevant.
  Welcome to politics!
2. Re:Isn't that just nitpicking??? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-05 03:43 · Score: 0
  
  Why do regressive Republicans -- the American Taliban -- hate astronauts?
  All I can say is, go Obama, 2012
3. Re:Isn't that just nitpicking??? by Alomex · 2012-04-05 04:21 · Score: 1
  
  This is in no way a predetermined part of politics.
  This only works because we have gotten used to it and we let them get away with it. In many other countries when opponents nit pick like this they tend to get punished in the polls so it is a lot less common.
4. Re:Isn't that just nitpicking??? by TheSeventh · 2012-04-05 04:22 · Score: 1
  
  Well, it's not like anything would think he's running for office from space, so I doubt "former" is needed. Whichever idiot California Republican came up with the idea to sue should be booted out of the party and the state.
  
  Should he also be allowed to call himself 'Scientist' and 'Engineer', or 'College Grad'?
  
  Someone should tell the Republicans about the Streisand Effect. On second thought, no, nobody should tell them. It's better if they don't know.
  
  --
  Just because you're paranoid, it doesn't mean that they're not out to get you.
5. Re:Isn't that just nitpicking??? by osu-neko · 2012-04-05 04:58 · Score: 1
  
  Someone should tell the Republicans about the Streisand Effect. On second thought, no, nobody should tell them. It's better if they don't know.
  Heh, yeah, TFA makes the same point:
  
  The publicity the case has generated cannot please the California GOP, which was likely seeking to minimize the sway Hernandez' astronaut background might hold in the voting booth, said space history expert Robert Pearlman, editor of SPACE.com sister site collectSPACE.com.
  "This had everything to do with using 'astronaut' as a political advantage," Pearlman told SPACE.com. "If you didn't know he was an astronaut before, you probably do now."
  
  --
  "Convictions are more dangerous enemies of truth than lies."
6. Re:Isn't that just nitpicking??? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-05 05:04 · Score: 0
  
  Personally, I'd like to see some ex-politician-turned-astronauts. With a reduced NASA budget. Life support systems in particular.
7. Re:Isn't that just nitpicking??? by UnknowingFool · 2012-04-05 05:58 · Score: 1
  
  As someone else pointed out, some people have to quit their jobs to run for office so technically, they would have to list themselves as "Campaigner". Even then that's not totally accurate as they don't receive wages so "Unemployed" should be used. Also Mr. Hernandez was an astronaut until Jan 2011 so he isn't listing something he did many careers ago.
  
  --
  Well, there's spam egg sausage and spam, that's not got much spam in it.
8. Re:Isn't that just nitpicking??? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-05 06:32 · Score: 0
  
  I mean, if I do job X, oh... say, teaching, as a career and then resign to take up other interests, that doesn't mean I suddenly can't say that I'm a teacher when people ask me what I do for a living. My past careers are almost as much a part of who I am today as the one I'm in now.
  Okay... maybe technically, it really should say "former austronaut", but like I said... I think that's just nitpicking at a detail that's entirely irrelevant.
  It's not like this was the first time. I seem to recall the press reporting on "Astronaut John Glenn, the Senator from Ohio..." a few times.
9. Re:Isn't that just nitpicking??? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-05 09:32 · Score: 0
  
  It's relevant because other candidates are not allowed to put teacher, if they haven't received a paycheck in a teaching position within the last 6 months. This isn't a question of what his job history is, it's what his current job is, and apparently if you where ever an astronaut, then you are forever an astronaut.
10. Re:Isn't that just nitpicking??? by mark-t · 2012-04-05 10:21 · Score: 1
  
  I wasn't talking about job history, I was talking about who a person *IS*. There are some careers that just become a part of who you are, almost defining you as a person. Teaching is one of those professions, IMO... especially if one has been doing it for a long time. I'd dare say that astronaut is another.
  
  --
  File under 'M' for 'Manic ranting'
11. Re:Isn't that just nitpicking??? by Tassach · 2012-04-05 11:05 · Score: 2
  
  This is in no way a predetermined part of politics.
  Politics is about getting and retaining power. Anything that helps achieve this goal is by definition part of politics. Attacking your opponent is definitely a core element of the political process.
  Sure, we can think about a utopian fantasy world where all politicians act for the public good, base policy on factual information and rational thought, eschew fallacious reasoning, Unfortunately, we live in the real world where fallacious arguments, propaganda, and outright lies are an indelible part of politics because they are highly effective tools for persuading/controlling people.
  
  --
  Why is it that the proponents of "one nation under God" are so eager to get rid of "liberty and justice for all"?
12. Re:Isn't that just nitpicking??? by Alomex · 2012-04-05 12:07 · Score: 1
  
  By your argument shooting your opponent is just politics, so how come people don't do it?
  The answer is, of course, that it wouldn't work, not just because it is illegal but also because people generally disapprove of such moves.
  Somehow in the USA it has become acceptable for candidates to tell outright lies and for the press not to call them on it. Watch a BBC interview with one of their local politicians to see how differently they react to a politician telling a whopper. They forcibly and knowledgeably challenge the politician.
  In contrast the NYT had, until recently, a policy that nothing said by a politician could be called a falsehood, no matter how detached from reality it was.
  My point is that we, as a society, set the rules.
  Another example, not long ago the political obstructionism shown by Republican representatives would have meant a sure loss in the elections. Now we think its par for the course. Who makes that decision? we do.
13. Re:Isn't that just nitpicking??? by cusco · 2012-04-05 16:47 · Score: 1
  
  The answer is, of course, that it wouldn't work
  
  Ashcroft pretty much proved that, when he lost to a dead guy, the late Mel Carnahan.(small plane, wooded area).
  
  --
  "Think about how stupid the average person is. Now, realise that half of them are dumber than that." - George Carlin
Pretty Simple by cirby · 2012-04-05 03:35 · Score: 1

If he's got the astronaut wings, then he's an astronaut.
Now, if he's no longer in the program, then he should list it on his resume and not under current occupation, but that's not really too big of a deal.
If the race is so close that being an astronaut would get him enough votes to make a difference, there are other issues they should probably go after first.
1. Re:Pretty Simple by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-05 03:46 · Score: 0
  
  Actually, that's exactly what you can't say, because you are not a teacher any more, you resigned remember? You don't teach in a class, you don't have students, you are not to be called a teacher. It's simple as that, are you really that thick?
2. Re:Pretty Simple by UnknowingFool · 2012-04-05 04:20 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  According to NASA, he last flew in 2009 and left NASA in January 2011 which is fairly recent. Incidentally, what does NASA call people who went through training but had not yet been in space? I think NASA called then astronauts as well. I don't see why the Republicans or anyone should care that much about it. We still call Neil Armstrong an astronaut and he hasn't been to space in the last several decades.
  
  --
  Well, there's spam egg sausage and spam, that's not got much spam in it.
3. Re:Pretty Simple by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-05 04:39 · Score: 1
  
  You replied to the wrong poster....are you really that thick?
4. Re:Pretty Simple by ciurana · 2012-04-06 07:03 · Score: 1
  
  The title is "astronaut candidate".
  You undergo about 2 years of training, and then you may become eligible to participate in a space mission.
  As soon as you fly in a mission you earn the title of "astronaut" followed by "pilot", "EVA specialist", "payload specialist", or "mission specialist", depending on what you were doing.
  Cheers!
  
  --
  http://eugeneciurana.com | http://ciurana.eu
On the ballot by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-05 03:37 · Score: 4, Funny

What the Republicans really wanted to put on the ballot was, "Uppity Brown Guy who will date your daughter and raise your taxes".
1. Re:On the ballot by Chris+Burke · 2012-04-05 04:34 · Score: 2
  
  I can see why they sued then, 'cus if he gets to put "Astronaut who will date your daughter" on the ballot they wouldn't have a fuckin' chance!
  
  --
  
  The enemies of Democracy are
Next he should run for cow boy. by Kenja · 2012-04-05 03:39 · Score: 1

And then fire man.

--

"Have you ever thought about just turning off the TV, sitting down with your kids, and hitting them?"
Laughable by jmDev · 2012-04-05 03:40 · Score: 1

It's amazing what you can actually sue for today.
I am an astronaut too... by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-05 03:40 · Score: 0

I grew up riding rockets outside of K-Mart :p
1. Re:I am an astronaut too... by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-05 03:47 · Score: 0
  
  What a coincidence, your mom grew up riding "rockets" outside of K-Mart, too!
2. Re:I am an astronaut too... by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-05 04:05 · Score: 0
  
  That's how he was conceived! Nigga Tyrone forgot his condoms that day.
Inadvertent Steisand Effect by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-05 03:43 · Score: 5, Insightful

Congrats, California GOP. If voters didn't know the Democratic candidate was a former astronaut, they certainly do now.
The cache by ch-chuck · 2012-04-05 03:44 · Score: 1

I remember the time Space Head Dan Quayle referred to someone as a 'Fellow Astronaut'.

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try { do() || do_not(); } catch (JediException err) { yoda(err); }
Ridiculous by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-05 03:48 · Score: 1

So the point of the California republicans was that you could only list professions that you currently hold? Wouldn't every single person running for congress then have to list themselves only as "Campaigner"?
1. Re:Ridiculous by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-05 04:19 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  They could list themselves as "assive masshole", "corporate butt-whore", and such titles as well.
good grief by Thud457 · 2012-04-05 03:55 · Score: 3, Insightful

What a bunch of petty goddamned assholes.
Why don't you spend some effort actually trying to help the country instead of yourselves?

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the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
1. Re:good grief by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-05 04:28 · Score: 0
  
  Action makes people hate you. You do things they don't like. But smearing somebody not on your "team"? That gets you votes.
2. Re:good grief by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-05 06:26 · Score: 0
  
  Any sufficiently large organization eventually believes that it's the only one that can actually fix things and that it's everyone else that's the problem. Just change the laws so that anyone who holds office has to die at the end of their term. Should keep most of the selfish pricks out.
3. Re:good grief by Darinbob · 2012-04-05 08:26 · Score: 1
  
  You must be new to politics.
By the same logic by docilespelunker · 2012-04-05 03:55 · Score: 0

By the same logic I can call myself a toddler.
1. Re:By the same logic by fredrated · 2012-04-05 04:03 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  By the same logic I can call myself a toddler.
  If that was your profession, go for it.
30 Rock by mp.dubya · 2012-04-05 04:00 · Score: 1

This is good news for Liz; she can now vote for her imaginary boyfriend, Astronaut Mike Dexter
Re:Astronaut Jose Hernandez congressional candidat by k6mfw · 2012-04-05 04:03 · Score: 1

I wonder if there are those that bring up this character from the 20th century, Jose Jimenez. Real popular back then, and resurrected by Scott Glenn in the movie, The Right Stuff (which no comedian will dare nowadays)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncBSOyte6lA
And speaking of Streisand Effect (nobody knew of this election before this whole "title" fiasco), could extra publicity increase awareness so in future Hernandez can win governor position? (I don't think Calif ever had a latino governor).

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mfwright@batnet.com
Incorrect by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-05 04:09 · Score: 0

Of the 3 you mentioned, only "President" is recognized as a "Title for Life". All others are always, "Former ....". It is inappropriate and incorrect to refer to a non-sitting congressman (congressperson/congressional representative) or senator as "Senator/Conrgress(man|person)". U.S. is not an aristocracy and titles are not granted for life nor can they be inherited.
1. Re:Incorrect by eternaldoctorwho · 2012-04-05 04:46 · Score: 1
  
  U.S. is not an aristocracy and titles are not granted for life nor can they be inherited.
  You may want to check with the Bush family on that - specifically H.W. and W.
2. Re:Incorrect by lightknight · 2012-04-05 08:11 · Score: 1
  
  Perhaps not, but apparently fiefdoms can be granted for life, and inherited.
  
  --
  I am John Hurt.
Incorrect. by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-05 04:11 · Score: 0

You have it backwards. Only "President" is recognized as an appropriate title for an office holder (and only the President of the U.S.) after they are no longer in office. Referring to President Nixon, President Carter, President Reagan, President Bush, President Clinton, President Bush are all correct. Referring to any other office holder by their title once no longer in office is incorrect.
1. Re:Incorrect. by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-05 04:21 · Score: 0
  
  It may be incorrect, but it is common with elected officials like governors, senators, and congressmen. Look at the dumbasses that still refer to Sarah Palin as "Governor Palin" even though she resigned that office a long time ago to reap the benefits of her fame.
2. Re:Incorrect. by jdgeorge · 2012-04-05 04:53 · Score: 2
  
  Actually, not so. According to the guardians of American social protocol, the form of address "President Lastname or Mister President" is reserved for the current president.
  As a side note, there are a couple of interesting notes about the title in Wikipedia.
Why Is Occupation Even Listed? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-05 04:17 · Score: 0

Why is someone's occupation listed on the ballot? What is the point?
Where I vote - Ohio - it just shows the name. Any other states do this?
What other (irrelevant, IMO) info is listed on California's ballots?
Exclusive club by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-05 04:17 · Score: 0

There's only about 500 people in history who have ever flown in space. Astronaut is a title that is difficult to earn, extremely rare and not one that should be dismissed once you're no longer in the program.
1. Re:Exclusive club by schwit1 · 2012-04-05 04:27 · Score: 0
  
  Are they looking to minimize his achievements or ensure the accuracy of his current occupation? Sounds like both.
  He's not an astronaut but was one. His occupation should reflect what he does now. His resume should reflect his accomplishments.
2. Re:Exclusive club by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-05 08:25 · Score: 0
  
  Depends on what this means in the context of California law.
  Since I don't know why it would be a legal matter or one for the ballot, but apparently it is in California. So what's their standard? Do they expect it to reflect past career history, or just what you did the instant before you opened your campaign?
  I'd say that as information on the ballots, it is more of a resume than anything else, making it appropriate to list.
Spaceman? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-05 04:23 · Score: 0

Dr. Leo Spaceman can call himself anything.
We don't need government regulation for everything by F69631 · 2012-04-05 04:29 · Score: 1

You seem to think that the only way to reduce ridiculous lawsuits is through raising the fees or creating punishments. However, there is also another way: Cultural change. People aren't forced to do everything they're allowed to do. A political party could actually choose not to file frivolous lawsuits even if they're allowed to do so... And if they do, people should be able to complain about that without someone coming up with the silly straw man of "What? You want to abolish the legal system?!"...
Re:We don't need government regulation for everyth by Monchanger · 2012-04-05 04:44 · Score: 0

Did you really think my over-the-top hyperbole was a serious discussion of practical solutions? It wasn't meant to be. Sorry if that confused you to the point where you felt the need to devise your own straw man.
Best of luck wishing for a better world where things just sort themselves out. That's definitely practical, and so very likely.
Heard him speak, seemed like a good guy by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-05 05:24 · Score: 0

I had the pleasure of hearing him speak last year - he was really inspiring - mostly to me because of the age at which he was accepted into the program (42), and the fact that he worked in the fields as a temporary migrant laborer until he was 12. Pretty awesome, and I wish I could vote for him. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/José_Hernández_(astronaut)
Queen of Pointless Analogies by Anita+Coney · 2012-04-05 05:47 · Score: 1

"Allowing a candidate out of nowhere to use the profession of 'astronaut' when he hasn’t served in that profession recently is akin to allowing someone to use a title of 'sailor' when they no longer own or operate a ship,"
- California GOP spokeswoman Jennifer Kerns
Yes it is. What's your point?

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If someone says he and his monkey have nothing to hide, they almost certainly do.
1. Re:Queen of Pointless Analogies by forkfail · 2012-04-05 06:35 · Score: 1
  
  You note that she says "own or operate a ship" - not "crews".
  I guess to her, someone who works on a ship is either an officer or owner - or a galley slave.
  
  --
  Check your premises.
What morons by grasshoppa · 2012-04-05 05:52 · Score: 1

Did no one tell them about the Streisand effect? Did no one do a risk analysis of the likely outcome of such a fight?
With a decision making process so flawed, they deserve to lose this race.

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Mod me down with all of your hatred and your journey towards the dark side will be complete!
Political Thoughts by boyfaceddog · 2012-04-05 06:17 · Score: 2

"Allowing a candidate out of nowhere to use the profession of 'astronaut' when he hasn’t served in that profession recently is akin to allowing someone to use a title of 'sailor' when they no longer own or operate a ship," California GOP spokeswoman Jennifer Kerns said in a statement, according to the Times.
Most people who call themselves 'sailor' don't own or operate a ship. I mean, I know what he thinks he's saying, but my gawd does this come off as arrogant and elitist. Do these guys eve listen to themselves?

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Here will be an old abusing of God's patience and the king's English.
1. Re:Political Thoughts by forkfail · 2012-04-05 06:39 · Score: 1
  
  We're talking about the party that came up with the Ownership Society here.
  Captain - or galley slave.
  Owner - or owned.
  
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  Check your premises.
2. Re:Political Thoughts by geekoid · 2012-04-05 08:58 · Score: 1
  
  Well as they base more and more opinion and uniformed ';gut feeling's we will continue to see more and more of these stupid statements.
  
  --
  The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
Republicans do not believe "space" exists by Al+in+SoCal · 2012-04-05 06:37 · Score: 3, Funny

It's more heresy from the Godless heathen Democrats and their witches brew called "science".
1. Re:Republicans do not believe "space" exists by pommiekiwifruit · 2012-04-05 14:33 · Score: 1
  
  It seems funny that "Pirates! In an adventure with Scientists!" had to be renamed for the US release since Science is seen as some sort of swear word over there. And that the BBC documentary "Frozen Planet" had to have its seventh episode withheld from some areas since it mentions climate change, and the other episodes dubbed over.
Formal titles are only for the duration of the job by sjbe · 2012-04-05 08:09 · Score: 1

It's more than just an occupation. You can say "I used to be an accountant" but, like being a Senator or a Congressman or the President, you've earned that title for the rest of your life.
Hogwash. When they leave office they are no longer a senator or a congressman or a president. Someone else has that job now and they are no longer entitled to it. I actually am a certified accountant but if I wasn't actively practicing I wouldn't call myself one. I would have no problem calling someone a Former Senator but they lose the job title when they lose the job.
If the guy was actively working as an astronaut (even if just on ground stuff and never going back to space) I have no problem with him calling himself one. If he had retired from that job his new job title is retired astronaut or former astronaut or whatever else he is actively doing at the time.
The reverse is also true by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-05 08:43 · Score: 0

By the same token, astronauts shouldn't be defined solely by being astronauts if they later switch careers:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFwJgXwFE-E
Oh republicans by geekoid · 2012-04-05 08:57 · Score: 1

how you have totally lost your ways.

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The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
Astronaut != Incorruptible by rocket+rancher · 2012-04-05 11:21 · Score: 0

Being an astronaut does not automatically make you a saint. Just ask the people who were bilked out of $3M in campaign contributions in Senator (and former astronaut) John Glenn's failed bid for the vice-presidency. Or better yet, ask any of the thousands of members of Lincoln Savings and Loan who were scammed out of their life savings by Senator (and former astronaut) John Glenn and his buddies in the Keating Five.
Re:Astronaut Jose Hernandez congressional candidat by voidmstr · 2012-04-06 03:03 · Score: 1

We set up an entire @Astro_Jose section http://pocho.com/tag/jose-hernandez/

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we come in peace for all online
Re:Astronaut Jose Hernandez congressional candidat by RockDoctor · 2012-04-06 13:15 · Score: 1

(I don't think Calif ever had a latino governor).
I'm sure that the California branch of the KKK will not let that happen.

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Birds are not dinosaur descendants;birds are dinosaurs, for all useful meanings of "birds", "are" and "dinosaurs"