#xkcd 2875

[todays-xkcd]

It wasn't originally constitutionally required, but presidents who served two terms have traditionally followed George Washington's example and gotten false teeth.

2024 [Explained]

Transcript Under the Cut

[Ponytail and Cueball are walking.] Ponytail: So this is 2024. Cueball: Guess it's an election year now. Ponytail: Again? Man, those just keep happening, huh?

[Ponytail and Cueball now standing.] Ponytail: Who's the president these days, anyway? Is it still Obama? Cueball: What? No? he hasn't been... How do you not...

[Ponytail and Cueball still standing.] Ponytail: Darn, I liked him. Is he running this time? Cueball: No, he's not allowed to. Ponytail: He's not? Why? Cueball: Constitution.

[Ponytail checks her smartphone.] Phone: Amendment 22 Phone: No person shall be elected to the office of the president more than twice Ponytail: What?? C'mon...

[Ponytail talking to Cueball.] Ponytail: Don't all your cells get replaced every seven years, Ship of Theseus-style? Is he even the same person? Ponytail: Maybe "no person shall be elected more than twice" isn't a prohibition, it's more of an observation, like "you can't step in the same river twice."

[Zoom in on Cueball.] Cueball: Isn't the cell thing a myth? Cueball: I think tooth enamel has a turnover half-life of 30+ years. His teeth molecules are probably the same.

[Ponytail heads off with a finger raised.] Ponytail: So if Obama just gets false teeth, he can run again! I need to talk to a dentist and a lawyer! Cueball: The Supreme Court is about to vote 9-0 to block your number.