WHATTA COINKYDINK

[rone]

Noted recording artist Orrin Hatch introduced a joint resolution to the Senate in July "that would allow anyone who has been a U.S. citizen for 20 years to run for president." While he proposed this before Ahnuld announced his intention to run for governor, you gotta wonder if it's outside the realm of possibility that people in the GOP already knew that he wanted to do it. Anyway... we're back to "Demolition Man": escapist fluff or chilling prophecy?

Comments

[blarglefiend.livejournal.com]

Gee, and there was me thinking "oh well, at least he can't follow in Reagan's footsteps...".

On the other hand, that whole "you must have been born in the USA to be President" thing does seem rather outdated to me. It's essentially saying that no matter how well or long you serve your adopted country you will *never* be "one of us". As a furriner who has from time to time considered emigration, it's not a happy shiny message to be receiving.

So, I guess I'm a bit conflicted.

(I care who becomes US President despite not living there for fairly obvious reasons.)

[mmcirvin.livejournal.com]

I'd actually like to see something like Hatch's proposed amendment happen; the native-born-citizen rule has always struck me as kind of un-American. It's a pity that it's a product of his desire to see a poor candidate become president.

Anyway, my guess is that Schwarzenegger's political career is going to be short and bumpy, unless he pulls off a miracle so astounding that he'll deserve to be president.

[ratphooey.livejournal.com]

Ugh.

[littleamerica.livejournal.com]

One of my co-workers, who happens to be Canadian, floated this prospect yesterday at lunch. I asked him if the possibility of a naturalized citizen becoming President made him more or less likely to drop his charade and become a U.S. citizen, thereby unifying his situation with his deep desires, or words to that effect.

"Less," he said.

In other words, the possibility that he himself could be President someday makes him less desirous of being a citizen.

[dr-memory.livejournal.com]

I am not a lawyer, but unless I am very mistaken, a joint resolution of Congress means exactly squat in this case. The native-born citizen requirement is part of the Constitution itself: overriding it takes an amendment or a constitutional convention.

[ronebofh.livejournal.com]

Right, it's just the first step of many. And i don't think that where one's born should affect what job one can have, per se. But the timing, as always, is amusing.

[fallenpegasus]

The joint resolution is the first necessary step of an Amendment. Next, the two houses have to agree on identical text (which they haven't done yet). Then they have to kick it to the States.

[boutell.livejournal.com]

I'm with blarglefiend. Print THAT on a T-Shirt.

Of course naturalized citizens should be allowed to run for President, but I hate to admit it, because the last time I remember having this conversation the man in question was Henry Kissinger. Double ew.

But then, now that I've mentioned HIM, Arnold seems like a step forward into a sweet new world of angels and puppies and free dope.

[kodi]

Yeah, that really does put it in perspective.