[dools007]

My impression is that although the Constitution requires American presidents to be NBCs, there is no formal mechanism in place to vet the candidates. In the past, I guess, candidates simply did not run who were not NBCs.

Expecting that kind of self-responsibility from Marxists is no different than expecting the immoral and amoral to have any respect for truth.

[etraveler13]

Actually, there are several mechanisms.
1. The DNC or the RNC must vet their candidates. I am sure that Independents or other parties must do the same.
2. Each Secretary of State must vet each candidate independently, before putting them on the individual State Ballots.
3. The Vice-President, before declaring the winning candidate in the Senate, must count Electoral Votes, verify that there are NO objections in the Senate. and THEN declare a victor.

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In this case, The DNC released 2 (Two) vetting statements and sent them to Different States. Signed by Nancy Pelosi, and headed by Howard Dean...ie. They did not vet him at all.
The SOS (Secretary of State) for each state took the statements from the DNC, and DID NOT vet independently.
Finally The Vice-President (Cheney), did NOT solicit objections from the senate, Per the Rules and Procedures he is required to follow, before tallying the electoral votes and delcaring a winner.

Three requirements, all of them done incorrectly, leading to the problem we have today.