I think the time is right for a Constitutional amendment.

[UrbScotty]

Not one that prevents flag burning, but another one that has been brought up every now and then.

The fact that I was born a constituent of Jesse Helms is no point of pride for me (though less than a year later I moved to a state governed by Jim Blanchard and represented by Don Riegle and Carl Levin). If I could choose where I was born, I would have preferred to have been born in Michigan.

But, obviously, I had no control over my place of birth. Nor do any of us, including Governor Jennifer Granholm.

As it is currently written, the Constitution allows someone as dumb as GWB to become President, while preventing a number of good people from becoming Chief Executive, including Granholm. Michigander/Michiganian or not, couldn't we all agree that Granholm would make a better President than practically any Republican?

I don’t see any reason why people who weren’t born in the US should be prohibited from running, when, quite frankly, they could not control the fact that they were not natural-born Americans.

Of course, when people think about such an amendment, they might think of Der Groper. Heck, even if he was popular, would the Repubs nominate him? He’s pro-stem cell research, pro-gun control, pro-choice, and pro-environment. Repubs would go crazy!

Of course, if he were nominated, think of the schism it would cause within their party. How many right wingers would vote Libertarian? I personally know of at least one.

[Dr Ron]

1. Don't follow one part of your post

I certainly agree than Granholm would make a better President than many of the other possibilities. I've used her as an example when there have been comments about ammending the Constitution for Arnold.

There's one point in your post I'm not following. I agree that many Republicans such as the religious right would be anti-Arnold. However I don't see why this would cause Republicans to vote Libertarian. For Republicans who might normally be torn between Republicans and Libertarians, I would think that Arnold would be preferable to the social conservatives. Socially conservatives who oppose Arnold would probably find far more to object to among the Libertarians than from Arnold.

[UrbScotty]

3. Would the "religious" right vote for a baby-killer like Arnold?

Think about it. Maybe they wouldn't vote libertarian, but how vcould they vote for Ah-nuld?

[Dr Ron]

6. Agree many will refuse to vote for Arnold

I see them as more likely to sit out the election, or perhaps vote for another third party. I don't see them voting for Libertarians, who are generally for abortion rights (and many other things which socially conservative Republicans do not support).

[Zan_of_Texas]

2. What's the minimum age to be president? 35?

Okay. I'd go for a constitutional amendment that said that anyone who has spent that number of years living in the US could qualify. So, if you were born elsewhere, moved here when you were 10, and are now 45, you qualify.

But, frankly, with the Constitution Shredders in control, I don't think it matters.

As Bill Moyers said on Democracy Now today, he fears our democracy itself is in danger. (Listen -- good show today -- especially the last 15 minutes -- www.democracynow.org -- June 22).

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

9. I think embryos should be able to run since they will soon have more

rights than the hosts they feed off.

[htuttle]

4. I think this is the worst time in 50 years to screw with the 22nd Amend.

The 22nd Amendment is also what limits a president to 2 terms.

I've also thought that the drive to allow Ahnold to run for president was a stealth attempt to allow Bush to be elected in perpetuity.

I do not trust our government to make ANY changes to the Constitution right now. Ask me again in 20 years.

[UrbScotty]

5. This has nothing to do with Amdt. XXII

The ban on non-natural-born Americans running for President has been in effect since the Constitution was written. The 22nd Amendment simply banned third terms.

[DavidDvorkin]

7. Well said

I've made the same argument at various times on DU and on some left-wing listservs. All too often, the response is foaming-at-the-mouth xenophobia.

[UrbScotty]

8. Actually, I think it's Arnold-phobia.

:eyes:

[DavidDvorkin]

10. Well, I have that, too

But I'm willing to make it legal for him to run in order to eliminate that obnoxious provision in the Constitution.

[UrbScotty]

17. I have a little bit, too.

OTOH, a run by Der Groper would be both funny and scary, unlike a Jeb run, which would only be scary.

[rhett o rick]

11. My Constitutional amendment would require IQ's higher than 80 for Prez

nt

[salin]

13. and prevent business "leaders" who run several companies financially

into the ground from ever being elected.

[UrbScotty]

14. Iheard that Bush's was around 100, though.

Of course that could be Fox News talking.

[rhett o rick]

16. If it is, Howard Baker fixed it for him. nt

[Vickers]

12. "allows someone as dumb as GWB to become President"

:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

I think if you are eligible to join the US military, you should be eligible to run for President.

[UrbScotty]

15. Come to think of it...

Let's make military service mandatory if you're going to be President.