So we're all a little stressed at this point. This election year has every American nearly at their wits end. Even for decided voters this election has been shocking and outraging. There is no doubt that the Election of 2016 will go down in history. It seems like many however are saying that this just has to be America's last year- that there is no way we can survive this one. But let's not forget- we've had some pretty insane stories come from Presidential races and Congress meetings. SO just to make you feel a little better about the fate of our nation I thought I'd remind you of 15 time American politics seemed like it just needed to be over.

1. Election of 1800

(image from mentalfloss.com)

Yep, America's very first real election and it was already going downhill. George Washington had just stepped down and a new leader had to be elected. The candidates were John Addams and Thomas Jefferson. Now, if you think that our Founding Fathers acted gracefully under pressure and that they surely refrained from petty mud-slinging you would be very poorly mistaken. Some of the first mud ever slung in politics was by Jefferson who called Addams a hermaphrodite. Maybe even better though was Addams retaliation which was telling voters that Jefferson was dead. Yes, really.

2. The Caning of Charles Sumner

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This right here is what the Congressional soap operas are made of. In one corner we have Charles Sumner an abolitionist and Republican Senator. In the other corner we have Preston Brooks a Democrat and pro-slavery advocate from South Carolina. Sumner makes a two day speech absolutely slamming the south for its pro-slavery beliefs and being particularly outspoken about a senator that happens to be a distant relative of Brook's. Brooks doesn't like what he hears and takes it all very personally. So what does he do? Preston Brooks grabs his gold tipped cane marches into the Senate and proceeds to be BEAT CHARLES SUMNER WITH HIS CANE ON THE FLOOR OF THE U.S. SENATE. Seriously, tell me that's not soap opera material.

3. A Filibuster Bedtime Story

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We all remember Ted Cruz right? The guy that is totally not the Zodiac Killer? Okay, well I fear that we remember him for all the wrong reasons. Get this, so in Congress a politician can use a filibuster to try and get legislation blocked. The rules are basically that as long as you are up there talking no one can stop you. You are unstoppable. Back in 2013 Senator Cruz performed a filibuster-like speech in an attempt to de-fund the Affordable Care Act. But while he's giving this speech he notices the time and decided TO READ HIS KIDS A BEDTIME STORY. No, for real. He says, "We have a rule at home that they get to pick the book. For whatever reason they don't pick Dr. Seuss' Green Eggs and Ham. But tonight girls you aren't here, so you don't get to pick the book. so I got to pick Green Eggs and H am and I love this story, so I'm going to read it to you." and the- yes- he read the entire 1960's Dr. Seuss's Green Eggs and Ham to the entire present Senate and to his daughters who were watching C-span.

PS

If you were curious his speech lasted 21 hours 18 minutes and 59 seconds.

4. The Man Who Refused to be Fired

(image from Wikipedia.com)

Edwin M. Stanton served as secretary of war under President Lincoln, and after his assassination he served under Andrew Johnson. Stanton clashed with Johnson at every turn. During Johnson's term Stanton vehemently criticized his reconstruction policy for the south. Johnson tried to fire him not once but twice! Stanton claimed that he had job security under the Tenure of Office Act that had recently passed. However Johnson attempted to bypass the act which resulted in Stanton completely barricading himself into his office and refusing to leave. Some people just cant take "no" as an answer.

5. LBJ... what even.

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I'm not even sure how to introduce this one other than by saying LBJ had a strange love affair with his own *ahem* member. I wish I was kidding. You know that one guy from high school that was determined to prove that he was he most *masculine*? LBJ took that to a while other level. There are reports of him urinating in the White House parking lot and showing off his package in the men's bathroom to any poor colleague who happened to come in. Perhaps the best part... he even had a name for it. JUMBO. I shit you not. This man was a real President of the United States.

PS

Oh my god why is he so close to that little man ho looks so uncomfortable. LBJ do you have no boundaries???

6. Jimmy Carter: America's sweetheart

(image from Wikipedia.com)

Jimmy Carter is one of the most adorable Presidents we've ever elected. Bless his heart he just did his best. But somehow almost every time the man tried to make something better he just made it all worse. The best example of this was probably the Camp David Accords. It was an agreement between Egypt and Israel that was supposed to bring some peace to the Middle East... supposed to. Carter being the doll that he is invited the both leaders to Camp David and personally mediated the agreement between the two countries. One can only imagine the successful smile on his face when the two leaders went back home-- and then the ways the smile must have faded when he found out that the Egyptian President was assassinated upon his arrival back home. Poor Jimmy Carter had the best of intentions but the Camp David Accords had outraged Islamic Jihadists in Egypt so they presently assassinate him. Poor Jimmy just wanted everyone to be friends.

7. President Hoover AKA the first "Thanks Obama"

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Americans have really hated some of their Presidents but Hoover might honestly take the cake. The public so harshly blamed Hoover for how awful the Great Depression was that they decided to name everything he had ruined after him. This resulted in countless symbols of poverty being called "hoover-insert thing here." Makeshift shanty town for the homeless? Hooverville. Blanket made out of old newspapers? Hooverblanket. Pockets so empty you wear them inside out? Hooverflags. Don't have any shoes just cardboard? Good news, you can make some rad Hooverleather cardboard shoes. Making a soup out of water and anything else you can find? Nope, not soup... Hooverstew. A car that has no windows or engine anymore and is pulled by a horse for means of transportation? You guessed it! Hooverwagon.

8. Aaron Burr the Emperor of Mexico

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If you've listened to the Hamilton soundtrack you're familiar with the name Aaron Burr. But you might not be familiar with his *maybe* attempt at becoming the new leader of Mexico. A weird and long story short, Burr aye have... attempted to raise money... to give to Mexican rebels... to stage a coup... and then make himself emperor of Mexico or new Spanish Texas... or whatever. Obviously losing the Presidency and Vice presidency did not sit well with Burr.

9. Monica. Freakin. Lewinsky.

(image from PBS.org)

Yeah, we all remember that one time the President became that one girl in your high school? You know, the girl who was all like, "Oral doesn't even like count as sex. I'm still totally at least half virgin because it basically isn't sex anyways. Doesn't even count." Yeah uh huh Mr. President.. whatever you say.

10. Everyone's Favorite Granddad

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Joe Biden, America's lovable, possibly-tipsy, grandpa who just says the darnedest things. There are a million possible examples of this but personally my favorite has to be from 2008 when Biden tried to thank State Senator Chuck Graham by asking him to stand for a moment of applause completely forgetting that Senator Graham IS IN A WHEELCHAIR AND CANNOT EVER STAND FOR ANYTHING. YES, SERIOUSLY.

So let's just all remember during this stressful time how strong America must be at this point. I mean yeah, Trump and Clinton may both be pretty terrifying but if we can withstand almost 300 years of all out senate brawls, political mud-slinging, the Hoover Depression, 21 hour filibusters, and even LBJ... what can't we do? So try not to panic too much. We got this.