Which of the following records will the 2012 election break?

[Donerail]

Number of people as a % that actually turnout. The Presidential Election turnout % wise has been up every year since 1992. The Presidential Election nowadays is an event like the Super Bowl!

One thing foreigners tell me about their impression of American presidential elections is what a spectacle they are. Yeah, Europe beats us in turnout, but no election anywhere has the same amount of sheer entertainment and spectacle a US presidential election has. Our campaign season lasts almost an entire year while many European campaigns will last less than a month. And the money both parties spend is unheard of in most other countries. 50-60% of Americans may vote but you can bet that 100% of us are forcibly exposed to the elections whether we like it or not.

Not sure if I'm proud of ashamed of this.

It sure looks like a giant waste of resources to us outsiders. What possible reasons could there be to be proud of it? (honestly curious)
To me the whole point of campaigns is to get people to vote (for your candidate obviously) and given the low US turnout, the extremely long and costly campaigns and all the showmanship involved in them seems almost counterproductive. Would the turnout even be significantly lower with a short euro-style 4 week campaign?

As you may or may not know, Americans tend to be proud of things people from any other country would be ashamed of. It's the "I'm American f*** you" attitude. For instance, we have an unnatural attachment to inhuman portions of greasy, cholesterol laden foods. A lot of Americans are proud of the amount of people we execute on death row. Remember Rick Perry at the GOP debate last fall? And we subsidize the exorbitant lifestyles of worthless socialites like Kim Kardashian by watching their reality shows and even buying god awful merchandise they slapped their name onto.

And as much as people complain about mud slinging in presidential elections, we can't get enough.

On Kim Kardashian, I'm sick of her. When I am in the check out line at Target or Shoprite I see her face or her sisters face on every magazine.

Your right though I want to eat what I want to eat and I am not obese or fat either from my eating habits!

By the way other countries treat their women like its the 1800's with stuff like Sharia Law. Women can't wear shorts in some countries. I have heard they can't drive a car either in some countries. So don't you think those countries should be ashamed of the way they treat their woman?

...What?

He said he eats what he wants to eat and is ashamed that other countries make their women consume specific 1800s dietary items, such as cars and shorts, which they can eat in America and not become obese/fat. Also, Kim Kardashian is sick, according to the "Sharia Law" magazine at Target (or Shoprite).

[Donerail]

Ok, ok, I'm getting off topic. My point is that while I recognize our shortcomings, it just pisses me off when Europeans try to bring them up. Their clucking disapproval is just so smug and insincere. Like deep down, they're so happy that they can still feel superior to us.

Don't know if you saw the window thread over in FC, but it's almost exactly what you're talking about here. Its basic premise is:

"Look at these silly Americans! They use windows that go UPWARDS and DOWNWARDS (caps in original), instead of swinging inside like our sophisticated windows. They don't even have any 'gekippt'. When you open an American window, it is only 50% open and you have to bend your head to stick it out a window. Their windows are really pointless, much like having separate water faucets and other silly things Americans do."