[Straya]

Righto, whilst I must profess to being a dirty foreigner I did think that a basic tenant of the US electoral system was that you had to have been born in the US to become president.

So can someone explain to me why this newspaper article is talking about Arnie as "leaving the governor's mansion in 2010 to stand for a US Senate seat, an ideal platform for a presidential tilt."

Its an Aussie paper, but usually reputable and the way I read it suggests that the idea was put to David Bradley of the Hoover institute who you would think might have an idea about such things and he doesn't discount it out of hand.

So is this just a silly mistake or am I missing some recent developments and Arnie is indeed able to run for pres?

 

[Samirol]

A poll in September showed that his approval rating is 38% with 70% saying that the state is going in the wrong direction.

I think what he means is going in for a VP slot.

 

[stevew]

I wish he would go down from a head shot.

 

[jimmydean]

Arnie isn't the sharpest tool, either.

Val Kilmer 2016!

 

[dante]

A poll in September showed that his approval rating is 38% with 70% saying that the state is going in the wrong direction.

I think what he means is going in for a VP slot.

VPs have the same qualifications as President... Sorry Arnie. lthumbsdown:

 

[splat]

Arnie can Not be president or Vice president. Senator Yes. Short of an amendment to the constitution, and I don't see that happening anytime soon he can not become president.

 

[JRogers]

Arnie can Not be president or Vice president. Senator Yes. Short of an amendment to the constitution, and I don't see that happening anytime soon he can not become president.

While I don't see it happening soon due to other more pressing issues at the moment, it isn't outside the realm of possibility in the future. I mean, it is kind of a stupid rule anyway...

 

[Samirol]

VPs have the same qualifications as President... Sorry Arnie. lthumbsdown:

Oops, you're right.

 

[$tinkle]

[not to be mistaken for ten minutes of goodness]

 

[ohio]

We should abolish the native birth requirement. Not for Arnie, specifically, but in general.

edit: natIVE. c-sections are already allowed, I believe.

 

[$tinkle]

why??

 

[jimmydean]

why??

It seems a little outdated, but at the same time is also seems like a solid requirement for who should lead.

Then again Obama's birth certificate is fake as he was actually born in Kenya, so maybe tossing it out isn't a bad idea.

 

[ohio]

why??

I can't think of anyone I would expect to be more loyal to the country or more indicative of the American dream than an immigrant that arrives here with nothing and rises to a position where they can run for presidency, to say nothing of the tens of thousands who arrive here as infants and toddlers, whether through adoption or their parents' immigration.

If, ultimately, we don't trust someone's loyalties, it should be up to the electorate to judge that. I think the rule is asinine and hasn't been relevant for 200 years.

Then again, there's Peru

 

[JRogers]

I can't think of anyone I would expect to be more loyal to the country or more indicative of the American dream than an immigrant that arrives here with nothing and rises to a position where they can run for presidency, to say nothing of the tens of thousands who arrive here as infants and toddlers, whether through adoption or their parents' immigration.

If, ultimately, we don't trust someone's loyalties, it should be up to the electorate to judge that. I think the rule is asinine and hasn't been relevant for 200 years.

Then again, there's Peru

Exactly. America is a land of immigrants and, supposedly, holds the values of freedom and opportunity above nearly all else. It is a country built on immigrants that came here, made it their home and became Americans, but were not born Americans. Today, this rule strikes me as more xenophobic than anything else.

 

[Samirol]

Exactly. America is a land of immigrants and, supposedly, holds the values of freedom and opportunity above nearly all else. It is a country built on immigrants that came here, made it their home and became Americans, but were not born Americans. Today, this rule strikes me as more xenophobic than anything else.

A joke in one of my history classes is that it was done to keep Alexander Hamilton from ever being President, since he was so power hungry

 

[splat]

A joke in one of my history classes is that it was done to keep Alexander Hamilton from ever being President, since he was so power hungry

Actually , there is an exception to that rule , just so Alexander Hamilton could be come president, but Arron Burr took care of that.

No person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any Person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty-five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States.

that loop hole was put in for Hamilton, and the 14 year requiremnt was to so it was before 1776.

 

[$tinkle]

i think denjen was going for this:

 

[denjen]

Yes thank you