Posted on 09/15/2004 7:14:08 PM PDT by wagglebee
Schwarzenegger for president in 2008? No, he's not eligible. Born in Austria, he's barred by the Constitution. But that would change under an amendment introduced Wednesday by a fellow California Republican.
Rep. Dana Rohrabacher's proposal would allow anyone who's been a U.S. citizen for 20 years to run for the nation's highest office. That would include Arnold Schwarzenegger bodybuilder, movie star and now governor of California.
Schwarzenegger, who became a citizen in 1983, has said he supports amending the Constitution so foreign-born citizens can run for president. But he's sidestepped questions about whether he might want to run, saying he's focused on governing California.
Rohrabacher said in an interview that Schwarzenegger was doing a great job as governor, but his real aim was to open up the presidential process. "We've got some talented people who might be able to help our country and provide some much-needed leadership, and there's no reason if they've been a citizen for over 20 years to exclude them," he said.
Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, has introduced similar legislation in the Senate.
In remarks prepared for the House floor, he suggested he really wanted to help a California congressman, and a Democrat at that.
"This is no ploy. I honestly believe that Tom Lantos should be able to seek the highest office in the land, just like any other elected official," he said.
Lantos, 76 and born in Hungary, said he saw no need to amend the Constitution.
"However, if the Austro-Hungarian Empire is re-established in the United States, I will invite Arnold Schwarzenegger to be my lieutenant," he said.
Constitutional amendments require passage by two-thirds of both the House and the Senate and then approval by three-fourths of the states.
NOT a good idea.
NOT a good idea.
I sincerely doubt this will ever happen...but...I've been wrong before.
me to.
I agree, the 'Rats would try to remove the restriction against serving more than two terms and then we might have to contend with BJ Klintoon all over again.
This is a bad idea. Arnold is a great guy, but he doesn't need to set a precedent by being Prez. The Constitutional assumption that a native-born American will have the home team's interest at heart is a good one. In these days of uncontrolled immigration and the failure of the melting pot, it may not be foolproof, but it shouldn't be lightly abandoned.
Wonder what Arnold promised Dana!
I'm referring to THIS component....
Another bad idea that won't do US any good, only harm. It has worked well enough for the past 215 (Dang! Math.) years. No need to change it now.
Two hundred years ago, the Federalists wanted to nominate Alexander Hamilton, who was born in the Caribbean, but had lived in America since long before the Declaration of Independence. Hamilton was clearly a Founding Father and even he accepted that under the Constitution, which he assisted in drafting as well as instrumental in securing passage of, he conceded that he could not be elected to the Presidency.
I have no doubts about it: It is a very bad idea. Piss on it.
Trying to get foriegners in as American Presidents, is stupid.
I was being polite, but I think it is a sh!++y idea!
I like Arnahold... but no way.
Its just another politician showing how out of touch he is with most Americans with regards to an aspect of immigration. Most Americans are opposed to this type of change.
One thing America will never have a shortage of is out of touch politicians!
BAD idea Dana. Let it drop.
Thanks for that info on Hamilton. It would seem he decided the rule was in the long term best interest of the country, even though his dedication was unquestioned. So must it be with Arnold. Its not as if there aren't many other very important leadership positions available to him and other immigrants.
I can't speak for the rest of the great unwashed, but I'm not going to vote for any RINO who signed a bill banning .50 caliber rifles.
Canadians for president. That's all I have to think about before I say this is a horrible idea.
If you believe it's a good idea, and want it to pass, there's ONE way to make it happen. Arnold publicy announces his support for the amendent, then says that he will NEVER seek, or acccept, a nomination fro Presidwent. This way, the "self-interest" perception is removed...
I would be pushing a marriage amendment before even considering this issue.
Heh -- Then we'd have an infinitely better chance of having Austria vote GOP ...
Ted Kennedy (S) Austria
I wouldn't be surprised if one or two of them aren't defeated--Bush landslide nationally notwithstanding.
Mr. Rorbacher : STOP NOW!
Heaven save us from Dana and Orin hatch's stupidity. I have lost SOOOOO much respect for Dana over this.
The Congressman is on the show in the morning at 8:30AM, you can listen and call at ktkz.com. I agree, this is very concerning and bothersome - we'll give it a whirl in the morning...IF...CBS News doesn't call for another 9AM press conference again.
The Congressman is on the show in the morning at 8:30AM, you can listen and call at ktkz.com. I agree, this is very concerning and bothersome - we'll give it a whirl in the morning...IF...CBS News doesn't call for another 9AM press conference again.
Mr. Rohrbacher, the situations that this can bring about are too big and too bad. So STOP NOW.
I thought we were CONSERVE-atives... The founding fathers had it right on this one. Screw Rorbacher. He's a Schwarzenegger suck-up, and he's dead wrong here.
I with you. It looks like it's time to get cranky again and start raising a fuss. This damn idiots.
Exactamundo. The Democrats would love for Jennifer Granholm to be eligible.
With you. Leave the Constitution alone.
How diplomatic.
My sentiments are:
THAT!
09/14/04: California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed a bill banning .50-caliber BMG rifles
"Reasonable", they say.
BTW, Orin Hatch (who shares this dangerously nutty idea with Dana R) is the same guy who ran for the Republican Nomination for President on the Principle of electing strict constructionist Judges to the Courts, ALL THE WHILE he has voted (as Senate Judiciary Chairman) to give a pass to leftist Clinton Judges. What a spineless, disgusting excuse for a "conservative".
I will never vote for someone who was NOT born in the good 'ol US of A. I don't care how good of a conservative he is.
Rorbacher is barking up the wrong tree. He should stop wasting time. If anything, pass a law mandating the immediate return of all illegal aliens to their country of origin as soon as they are arrested or caught.
Arnold won't even get my vote again for governor.
This is why I admire you :o)
It's not MY fault. I voted for McClintock!
But a Constitutional amendment definitely is.
I guess Rohrabacher doesn't realize what a slippery slope this would be, or doesn't care.
I planned to vote McClintock, but was even more worried that Bustamecha would get in....so I went with Arnold.
Let's get the gay ban on marriage amendment passed first, before we start allowing Islamic fundamentalist to run for President, or French, Austrian, or German actors.
Lantos shouldn't even be a Congressman!
Ain't no way this will happen, at least not yet. But face it folks, eventually it will. Pretty soon they will say illegal aliens should be allowed to be President!
Great guy he may be, but ask the lawful owners of .50BMGs in California if they'd want him as President. Then ask the lawful owners of such firearms in the other 49 states if they'd want him banning their guns? Great guy? That only counts when he's playing one in the movies. The Founding Fathers had a vision and a reason for setting things up they way they did. It should not be so casually disturbed. Especially not for a RINO like AHnold.
Say hello to President Granholm!
I hope the Dumbocrats prevail on this one...We don't need this RINO running for President. It's bad enough we're stuck with with a compassionate conservative intend on expanding government at the greatest rate since the 1960s.
Tom Lantos, boo. And nix the foreign president idea as well.
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