So my son wants the governor of California to be president

[foxy]

He wants people from other countries to be able to be president here. I tried to tell him we should keep it in the U.S. but I couldn't put it in the right words to convince him.

Please help me find the right words to convince him he is 13 and in the 8th grade.

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Lavender Brown]

3. Jeez Louise

:wtf:

[foxy]

5. That was my reaction when he said it.

Now I just need advice of what to say to him about the thing about being from another country. And that we do not wish to make any exceptions because it could let in undesireables that could ruin our country more than * has already.

[foxy]

4. He actually is how did you know.

He thinks it would be cool if a movie star is president. Especially that one because he loves all of his movies too.

[progmom]

9. is this a joke?

[kick-ass-bob]

11. edited--good its gone now

self removed.

[JohnKleeb]

15. WTF are you talking about

I actually happen to agree with her kid but thats beside the point, special ed does not equal stupid.

[hfojvt]

2. I think Jerry Brown would make a good President.

What is he doing now anyway?
For me, it is not so much about not wanting an Austrian to be President. Probably there are alot of intelligent, compassionate Austrians who would do a great job. It is about having a boneheaded, muscle-bound idiot celebrity being President based on his qualification of saying "I'll be back" in movies and "girlie man" in SNL parodies.

[Spinzonner]

6. Mayor of Oakland, CA last I checked

How the flighty have fallen

[foxy]

10. It's the ones that wish to do us harm that I do not wish to...

come into our lives just to hurt us. And there is no way of knowing who is wanting to do good and who is wanting to do bad. So if we do not make any exceptions then we only have * to worry about.

[hfojvt]

17. Susanne Weinberger for President!

http://sociology.okstate.edu/faculty/vita/SusanneWeinberger_fall04.pdf

either that or Peter Fleissner

http://members.chello.at/gre/fleissner/

I will take a sociology prof over a bodybuilder any day.

[foxy]

21. Those may be xery good people but they will not be the only...

people trying out for the position.

[hfojvt]

36. Isn't it a sad commentary on our society though

that Arnold is a contender, or would be a contender, whereas a scholar is not.

[foxy]

37. I am not sure how smart swartzenager really is

He may be a genius for all I know. I still would not want him to be able to run.

[fudge stripe cookays]

7. Can you explain to him...

that that would make is possible for bad people from other countries to take charge?

Has he seen any of the anti-Bush movies (like F911) where they talk about how much foreign ownership there is of the U.S?

This is what he must understand. (Theoretically) If Germany had had such a rule, Hitler wouldn't have been able to take charge since he was Austrian.

FSC

[foxy]

19. I have tried this approach but he is young and tries not to listen.

He says I am dumb and nothing like that would happen.

[Telly Savalas]

106. And if the U.S. had a rule stating that...

only foreign born people can become president, Bush wouldn't have been able to take charge since he was native-born.

[foxy]

115. And why would the US even think of an idea like that?

If a frog had wings you know what would happen.

I think the if game isn't what we need here.

[Telly Savalas]

119. It's no less irrational than the xenophobia...

that's used to justify the native born president clause of the constitution. If it wasn't Hitler in Germany, it could have easily been someone else. The closest thing anybody gives to a credible reason why naturalized citizens shouldn't be president is that they'd betray our country. Well, quite a few native born presidents we've had in the last 50 years have been doing that already. If a particular individual who immigrates to the U.S. is such a risk to be a traitor, then why the fuck are we granting that person citizenship in the first place?

[Placebo]

8. Just tell him that you're proud of him for...

having already reached the political maturity of your average middle-aged republican male, at the age of 13, but that there's much more ahead for him that he has yet to accomplish or discover, so he is not to stop there. :hi:

[foxy]

He is slowly wanting to learn and actually listen about politics.

Hopefully he will go much farther with it and soon.

[CornField]

12. Does his school have a rival school?

If so, ask him how he would feel about the most popular kid at that other school moving into his class and being voted class president. Would this guy really have the best interests of his new school at heart?

[foxy]

16. I don't think he is interested in the politics at school...

He does not get involved with anything at school he almost doesn't get involved with his normal classes. And most of the kids pick on him for one reason or another. So I don't think that scenario would work. But I will try it and see if I am wrong, he does surprise me all of the time.

[ronnykmarshall]

13. He needs a time out.

Send him to "liberal camp" at once!

[foxy]

18. Wishful thinking. n/t

[JohnKleeb]

14. I dont support Arnold for president

but I do support as the current Conyers bill says to enable people after they've been citizens of the US for 20 years to run for president. The only reasons why the republicans are pushing that bill by Hatch in the Senate is because of Arnold, they think they can with him. Oh and to the first responder, I was in special ed when I was that age, special ed kids aren't stupid, just learn different. Guys if I was at work, I could find you the info and all that sorry.
Another thing, I don't think you guys understand the current bill. This bill will not enable non citizens to run, its much like how you have to live in the US for 7 and 10 years to run for the house and the senate after not being born here or living here. Most bills for this propose that the said person should be a citizen for 20 years around. Maybe its just me and the fact I know a lot of foreign born but people who have lived here their whole life mostly and love this country should be able to run. God I feel weird for being the only one to support this. Foxy, does he explicy say he wants Arnold to be president or does he just think that foreign born people should be able to run after being citizens for a certain amont of time, you really shouldnt worry if its the latter. If its the former, I dont really blame him, I am sure when I was 14, I would have thought it been a cool idea if Arnold ran, hey I was like most 14 year olds.

[Book Lover]

23. You're not the only one

Would Madeline Albright be a poor choice for President because of her birthplace? There are plenty of reasons to not want the freak of nature that runs the executive branch of my state to be president - being born in Austria is not one of them.

[JohnKleeb]

26. I was thinking more on the lines of Jennifer Granholm

about a good foreign born democrat who would make a great pres candidate. Yes, Arnold's problem isnt that hes Austrian, its that he's wholly unqualified for the job of president. Senators and Representives and Governors can be foreign born so why not presidents.

[foxy]

33. Still I say the reason I do not want foreign people to be president

Is because of the dangers of it. Yes I know that our own citixens if they became president could also want to do us harm but I would just feel better if it is one of our own that does it. I just feel safer with the knowledge that foreignors are not able to be president here.

[JohnKleeb]

34. I disagree

I understand where you're coming from, but he is first off entitled to his opinion. I think also knowing how much that my foreign born great grandparents loved this country, if they wanted to be able to run, I think they should be able to. I just think if a foreign born person can be in our congress or run our state houses, why not be president. I believe that provision of the constiution was meant as an anti british sentiment in the first place. I just think of the all the great contribuations foreign born people have made to this country, and think many of those are politicans are too, so I think they should. Feel free to disagree.

[A-Schwarzenegger]

38. I think all the Founding Fathers were foriegners.

Let's give foreigniers the benefit of the doubt.

[JohnKleeb]

39. no they were US Born

for the most part.

[A-Schwarzenegger]

41. I believe George Warshington was from Europe.

One of them I believe was from Europe or England.
Ben Franklin was from France and maintained a chateua there.
Nevertheless let's give foreighners a break here.
Nobody could help where they were born so let's not
hold where their mother was against them.

[JohnKleeb]

43. What aer you talking about?

Washington was born in Virginia. Franklin was born in Boston than went to Philly. I am defending foreigners. I think you're just being a smartass.

[A-Schwarzenegger]

44. You aer the one that said they were born in the US

"for the most part"!!? What part wasn't born in the US?
Smart ass eh? I think you're just being prejudice
against foreigner?s

[JohnKleeb]

45. I said for the most part the founding fathers were born in the US

We had a couple signers of the declaration of indepedence who were born in Scotland. I said you were being a smartass because its pretty much common knowledge that Washington was a Virginian by birth.

[A-Schwarzenegger]

47. Well you don't have to hurt my feelings just because

I didn't know the common knowledge. Foreigeurs
can't be Pres yet but we have feelings to. *Snirfle* *blows nose*

[JohnKleeb]

48. You're definely being a smartass, I can tell

Dont know what your point is.

[Darranar]

67. None of them were born in the US. The US didn't exist. n/t

[A-Schwarzenegger]

127. Heh.

[Darranar]

68. So you'd prefer a police state run by someone American-born...

to one run by someone foreign-born?

Why?

[foxy]

114. I just think that it would be safer.

If a foreigner were to be able to have that position then that person may try to implement their countries policies in our country. Or they may try and hand our country over to another one. I don't know exactly how to put it in words but I do think it to be a bad idea. IMHO.

:)

[Darranar]

122. Obviously, I do not. At the moment we do not have a very good record...

and really, the voters should be the ones deciding, not the Constitution.

[Coastie for Truth]

24. Don't know about Arnold - but any of you Great Lakes Staters

what is Jennifer's stand on naturalized citizens running. (I would vote for her before Arnold)

[foxy]

27. Sorry I am lost what exactly is naturalized citizens mean? n/t

[JohnKleeb]

30. people who come to this country

and get citizenship. My great grandparents on my mom's side were just that.

[JohnKleeb]

28. I am from Virginia, no clue

My point is that I think many of us here oppose it because of Arnold, and frankly I think thats a wrong stance. Conyers has a bill, I really wish I could find it.

[meow2u3]

20. Ground him until he sees the Gropenator is a Nazi!

Kidding on that grounding thing.....Point out that "moderate Republican" is code for a pro-choicer who's otherwise a right-wing extremist (fascist) .

[foxy]

25. My problem being is his papa is a nazi

And papa has helped raise him he is so confused how do I explain anything to him?

[LynneSin]

22. Tell him you'll cut off his allowance and ground him for life

if he doesn't agree with you

Personally, I see nothing wrong with allowing folks from other country who have been US citizens for "x" amount of years to run for president. However, I have a problem with passing this law in order to force the gropenator on me as president!

[JohnKleeb]

31. Thats why Hatch is doing it

The republicans would be adamantly opposed to this otherwise. It is for 20 years according to the John Conyers bill, I think some of us are assuming wrongly that anyone can come in and run, no you have to be a citizen for a amount of time.

[barb162]

29. for such an important position, a person should be born here

and be able to pronounce the words in the language properly. Tell him it is probably a very typical requirement in most countries. Tell him if he lived in Norway for five years, does that mean he should be able to run for Prez there? Would he know all there is needed in five years?

[foxy]

35. Thank you I think that is what I wanted to say and couldn't find the words

[barb162]

40. I hate to say this, but I started laughing at what I wrote about

being able to pronounce words properly. It's funny and not funny at all. What I meant to write was that without growing up in a culture and being imbued with that culture, we most likely can't understand it except as outsiders. (The fact is, too, Arnie can't even pronounce the letter "R" and if he can't do that....)

[A-Schwarzenegger]

42. Neither can Barbara Walters.

Do you want to stop her from being President to?

[barb162]

60. He has many other speech problems than just the letter "R"

but I didn't feel like writing several paragraphs

Baba pretty much limits herself to "R" and asking asinine questions like "If you could be a tree, what kind of tree would you be"

[Darranar]

65. Why?

Does being born in another country somehow make a person's brain less functional?

Does it make someone less moral?

Does it make someone less competent?

Judging by the records of the American-born male white Christians who have been president, perhaps change is actually necessary.

[DU GrovelBot]

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[ET Awful]

46. Just remind him what happened last time we let a California Governor

who used to be a b-grade actor become President.

[CO Liberal]

49. Tell Him....

...that when he's older and learns something, THEN he can have an opinion. Until then, he should listen to you because you know more than he does.

I've had it up to HERE with teenagers who think they have all the answers.

[dean_dem]

52. I truly hope you're being sarcastic.

You know how many ignorant Republicans told me I was too young to know what I was talking about when I was a politcally-informed teenager? That's the most popular insult of people who are getting owned by somebody half their age and twice as informed.

Have you had it up to here with teenagers who agree with you, or just the ones who don't?

[CO Liberal]

55. Too Many Teens Who Think They're "Politically-Informed"

...are actually politically ignorant.

Take the kid being talked about in this thread. Did he give a valid reason or display a logical thought process for allowing foreign citizens to be president? Or did he just think it Wolf be "cool" for "The Terminator" to be in the Oval Office? Unless we know, there's no way of knowing if he is politically astute of simply parroting what he's heard from others.

[dean_dem]

57. Yeah, same goes for middle-aged and older people too, you know.

Case in point: most teenagers are too young to vote, but Smirky got re-elected didn't he? Too many teenagers are ignorant because they spend too much time listening to their equally ignorant parents.

Age has nothing to do with it, and it's a cop-out to assume that it does.

BTW, not trying to attack you or anything. I'm just saying. :D

[pres2032]

58. i would hate having you as a father

if you told me my opinion doesn't count. You would have a seriously rebellious child on your hands faster than you could say "dr. phil"

[CO Liberal]

80. Wrong!!!

My dad was rather conservative. My sisters and I disagreed with him on many issues, but we learned to study issues, form opinions, and articulate them.

And neither of my two children are rebellious at all. They're 29 and 28, and both productive members of society. And they've learned to think for themselves, too.

No one's opinion automatically "counts". Especially teenagers. They have to learn critical thinking and reasloning, and many teenagers just don't have those skills.

[pres2032]

85. "especially teenagers?"

so you've already discounted their opinions. And we call republicans close-minded, wow. I don't know how to respond to your post. it's so arrogant, dare i say, elitist. wow.

and you call teenagers ignorant? i sure wouldn't want you in charge of anything.

[CO Liberal]

89. Based on a Few Teenagers I've Argued With Here at DU....

...it will be a long time before I consider them as equal to adults - if ever.

[pres2032]

91. well ok

but it may also be a long time till i ever engage you in conversation here again.

[CO Liberal]

92. That's Your Choice

[Darranar]

64. And too many people are contemptuous of teens who actually ARE...

politically informed.

Which is one reason a great many are not.

[CO Liberal]

81. But Like I Said Above....

...many teens who THINK they're politically informed actually don't know squat.

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

78. We... including yourself.

Don't be so quick to assume either way what the kid was thinking. Perhaps he did have a logical thought process and you do not know. Instead of asking the original poster further about the situation, you stormed in here assuming this kid was politically ignorant.

Maybe you have a valid reason.

[CO Liberal]

82. Because More Often Than Not....

...13-year-olds are more into video games than current events.

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

90. So much to say...

We're not robots, we're people. We all have individual interests (some just tend to display them more outwardly than others). If you'd wanted more information about this teenager, I'm sure you could have asked. Instead, you assumed he was just being ignorant.

If you yourself cared so much about ignorance, you would not have made the comment you did. Because it seems as though you're very ignorant in the way teenagers really are. No wonder so many of us just become disenfranchised with the way the government is run. No wonder nobody has an interest anymore. These are people who are stodgy, stiff, and essentially dead. In DC, there are corpses walking around in suits.

It isn't an excuse for being ignorant, but teenagers are constantly being shot down in schools for having opinions, they are constantly being pushed to follow social standards... you yourself have told me to be quiet, asked me if it's past my bedtime, etc. How does that encourage free thinking and opinions in today's youth? If you are doing that to every teenager that has an opinion (be it conservative or liberal), then you are part of the problem.

[CO Liberal]

100. As A Father Of Two and a Former Boy Scout Leader....

...I don't feel that I'm "very ignorant in the way teenagers really are". Actually, I'm probably a lot closer tot eh truth than a lot of people here want to admit - especially the younger ones.

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

111. Again, I say...

"You yourself have told me to be quiet, asked me if it's past my bedtime, etc. How does that encourage free thinking and opinions in today's youth? If you are doing that to every teenager that has an opinion (be it conservative or liberal), then you are part of the problem."

I don't think you've answered that part of my post.

[foxy]

117. I was wrong about the age of the child who asked but the teen...

Says the same thing about the situation, The only political information he gets is from his mostly nazi grandfather the same with the 10 yr old who asked the question. O except what they here from me about DU's information. Just wanted to fix that. Not much difference just added one to the situation.

Sorry if there was any problems while I was gone. :)

[Catholic Sensation]

93. and apparently ,because more often than not,......

...52-year-olds are more into bitching about things they know little about than current events.

[enigmatic]

96. Nothing Personal..

But I'll take Kleeb's poltical take on current events over yours any day, and it isn't even close.

[CO Liberal]

101. Kleeb's The Exception to the Rule

Most teens I've known don't seem to give a rat's ass about the world around them.

[Telly Savalas]

107. So if a 13 year old expresses interest in current events...

then instead of nurturing such interest, the best approach is to tell them to fuck off and get back with you when they're 30?

[name not needed]

112. Yes

We can't have them kids thinkin' for themselves, now can we?

:eyes:

[name not needed]

99. This is the reason people my age don't care.

Because we've been written off and told that we don't matter, just because we can't vote. What's the point of having an opinion if it's not worth a damn? Just what we need. Another cold, heartless white guy in his 50's to treat us like garbage.

[foxy]

116. I was mistaken on which of my kids said it. It was my 10 yr old

And yes he is politically ignorant as you say. He is just a kid listening to grownups talk and has decided to take the approach of the people leaning towards the idea of letting Arnold run for president.

[CO Liberal]

130. And Since That's The Case....

...it's your responsibility to point him in the right direction.

[latteromden]

69. You'd better be kidding me.

I've absolutely had it, too, with adults telling me that my opinion is not valid because I cannot vote. Also, promoting independent thinking is what we should be doing, not telling children to just listen to their parents and hold their opinions because "that's what their parents think." That's ridiculous.

Teenagers DON'T have all the answers. Don't be so arrogant to think you do, either.

[CO Liberal]

83. I Believe I Have More Answers....

...than the typical 13-year-old. I've lived 39 years longer, and have experienced more. Experience teaches far more than you can ever learn in a book.

[latteromden]

86. And some under 18 year olds have vast amounts of experience.

I guess it's pretty apparent that experience doesn't always teach you to be open-minded.

[CO Liberal]

87. Oh, I'm VERY Open-Minded

I just don't think that teenagers should automatically be treated on a par with adults. Especially a few that I've battled with here on DU who earned places on my "Ignore" list.

[latteromden]

88. This is not what I'd call open-minded:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=105&topic_id=2053240

Better stick me on your ignore list now, why go to trouble arguing with a 15 year old? It's good to know who really supports the principle of "children are our future" and who doesn't.

[Telly Savalas]

108. Tom Coburn (R-Ok) is older than a lot of people here...

does he have better answers than us?

[CO Liberal]

123. I'm Sure He Knows More Than Most 13-Year-Olds

It's just that since he's a Republican, he came to the wrong conclusions.

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

76. You know something?

I've had it up to HERE with middle aged men who think they have all the answers.

But that's just me.

[CO Liberal]

84. I May Not Have ALL The Answers....

...but I have a hell of a lot more than most teenagers.

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

125. That's debateable.

nt

[name not needed]

77. Thank you!

I never knew the Constitution only applied to cranky old men.

:eyes:

[Bouncy Ball]

98. Wow you're really nursing a serious grudge.

You've got a chip on your shoulder the size of Rhode Island. Must be fun carrying that around.

You know what I can't stand?

Adults who treat kids like crap because they're guilty of the crime of being younger than them.

It's too bad for you (not that you seem to care) but you are cutting yourself off to knowing some pretty neat people. I work with teenagers, every day, and I find that often they are far better company than adults can be. They bitch far less, for one. They tend to have a better attitude about things and they aren't all jaded and cynical yet. They usually have a wicked, sharp sense of humor and can see right past pretentiousness very easily.

And there is NOTHING, I repeat NOTHING, about you having been around sleeping, eating and farting several hundred or thousand more days than someone else that makes you MORE of an expert than them. Sure experience lends itself to knowledge, but you don't have to be a fucking SAGE or the Dalai Lama to post on DU! You just have to have some basic political knowledge and awareness of current events. Hell, to post in the lounge you don't even need that!

YOU might take a little lesson from yourself and add a bit of humility to your life. It would suit you well.

And congratulations. Since this isn't the first nasty little rant I've ever seen you engage in on teenagers, I think it's about time I made you the only person on my ignore list.

Huh. Yeah, you've got just TONS of wisdom alright. :eyes: If you did, you'd be wise enough to know age very rarely ever has much to do with it.

[CO Liberal]

102. I Have Enough Wisdom....

...to know that few children have it.

[enigmatic]

104. But not enough wisdom at how bitter you're coming off right now..

You have much to learn.

[CO Liberal]

120. I'll Make a Deal With You

Try living with constant pain from four herniated discs (like I do), and see if YOU don't come out sounding bitter some times.

[enigmatic]

121. Teens caused you to become bitter beacuse of your herniated discs?

You know, I'm willing to venture that if you polled everyone (including myself)on what kind of mental/physical problems they have and if they live with that pain everyday, I'd say that more then either you or I realize would asnwer in the affermative.

Everyone has problems. Everyone. It's how you deal w/ the problems that shows your character as a human being. If you become bitter and irrationally lash out at a specific group of people because of your mental/physical problems, you'll gain little sympathy. If you choose to make the best of your situation and show others that "this" is the way that you/they handle the problem, then people naturally react to that accordingly.

If you want to become bitter at "teens" because of your physical problems, be my guest. You're only hurting yourself, and shutting off a potential lifeline of friendship and empathy in the proccess. It's not worth it, IMO.

Peace.

[CO Liberal]

126. This is Bullshit

I'm not bitter at teens because of my physical pain. I'm bitter at people giving me crap over what I posted.

The truth as I see it is this: most 13-year-olds are quite ignorant of the world around them - they're more interested in sports, video games, or 13-year-olds of the opposite sex. That's why they have five more years of mandated schooling to go before they graduate high school. 17- and 18-year-olds may have more facts at their disposal fron five more years of schooling, but nothing equals the learning one gets through life.

And this will be the last post I will make on this thread. If anyone was offended by anything I posted, I invite you to put me on "Ignore" if another person's opinions offend you so much.

[fudge stripe cookays]

131. Bravo!

All this from a man wearing an elf costume!

[Dookus]

133. LOL

<--- hands Fudge Stripe the Dookus Award for Excellence in Posting

[CO Liberal]

134. If You MUST Know...

...it's a Robin Hood costume. I wore it the night The Princess and I met, so that picture has special meaning to me.

Yet another subject someone cares to comment on when they're ignorant of the facts.

[Name removed]

136. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[CO Liberal]

124. And I've Been Around Enough To Know....

...that very few 13-year-olds have wisdom. Sorry if that offends you, but that's the way I see it.

And if you decide to put me on "Ignore", then it's been nice talking to you.....

[DrGonzoLives]

50. Well, if he will protect us

from all those killer cyborgs from the future, he'll get my vote.

(Note: NOT REALLY, Jesus)

[A-Schwarzenegger]

54. Yeah, be careful.

You REALLY have to say NOT REALLY these daze.

D'oh!

[Deja Q]

51. Like China or India perhaps? The USA's current bedbuddies?

[fit4life]

53. Make him watch "Twins" or "Kindergarten Cop"

That should put an end to any hero worship.

[barb162]

73. talk to your son about how many hummers that jerk has; talk about

wasting gasoline!

[Dookus]

56. I don't want my Governor

to be President, but I agree with your son that the constitutional prohibition against foreign-born citizens becoming President is stupid and should be changed.

[barb162]

61. I think there is an age requirment too, hopefully for maturity

purposes and that the person gained some wisdom along the way . And the Founding Fathers did that for a reason just like the natural-born requirement.

[Dookus]

63. the founding fathers did a lot of things for a reason

that were wrong. Slavery was allowed, women couldn't vote, Senators weren't elected by the people, to name a few.

The foreign-born restriction might've made sense in a new-born republic, but it doesn't make sense today. It's bigotry, and should be done away with.

[barb162]

70. I agree with the FF did some things for the wrong reasons but

the foreign born restriction is right IMO. IT does make sense. (Could you be premier of China because you lived there 20 or so years, do you feel you would know enough about the country) There may have been some thought about foreign attachments/alliances when the FF made the restriction. In any case, I think we have enough talented people in this country not to need or want a foreign born individual as the prez.

[Dookus]

72. the issue is

we don't appoint Premiers here. We elect a President.

If the American people want to vote for a foreign-born leader, why shouldn't they be allowed to? Does it make ANY sense to prohibit Jennifer Granholm based on the fact she was born a few miles too far north? I don't think it does.

[barb162]

74. reread the foreign alliances/attachments bit again. I think the FF were

right on the mark on this issue as they were on so many others. The position is too important to risk a foreign born person on it. Back to Asia, if the Chinese were electing someone, do you actually think they wouldn't pick one of their own? As in, we can't find one out a billion to run this place? We have to look outside our own?

I won't be losing any sleep about foreign-born not being elected Prez. Getting back to Arnie, as I recall he wasn't even voting for years,pete's sake. To me he's a walking disgrace even as a guv.

[Dookus]

75. I don't think

there's a risk that Jennifer Granholm will secretly do Canada's bidding.

The restriction is archaic, bigoted and anti-democratic. We should be able to elect whomever we want.

China is not a nation of immigrants. The US is.

[barb162]

95. I think likewise on Granholm. For the same point on Arnie, I

wouldn't risk two cents of my money that he wouldn't sell out anyone, anything or this country to the highest bidder.
Don't agree with your next two sentences. Last sentence: when one looks at the natural born population here of a few hundred million, I think there will always be many excellent candidates and there is no need to go looking into the non-natural born citizens.

[Telly Savalas]

109. But folks like Bush and Reagan...

demonstrate that natural born citizen are more than willing to sell out our country.

Just because there are millions of qualified native borns doesn't mean we should exclude naturalized citizens. A U.S. citizen is a U.S. citizen.

[Darranar]

66. Agreed. It's a ridiculous prohibition...

being born in America does not magically grant a person wisdom.

[barb162]

71. "...magically grant a person wisdom." ??????

being born in (insert country) does not magically grant a person wisdom.

[Darranar]

79. Obviously not. That was my point. I think it was rather clear. n/t

[pres2032]

59. i don't want Arnold as president, but would love Madaline Albright

for president.

[Darranar]

62. Does he want the governor of California specifically to be president...

or does he just support those not born in the US being allowed to run for president?

[foxy]

118. He was just thinking about Arnold at this moment in time. n.t

[Catholic Sensation]

94. If it were Gov. Schwarzenegger (D - CA) and he had the same policies

he'd be loved on this board. He has an excellent environmental record, is pro choice, and pro gay rights, and liberal on drug policies. He's more liberal than Bill Clinton and most of the Democratic Party that's for sure.

But no, he's a Republican, so even if he's pro gay rights, pro choice, and excellent on the environment, fuck him because Democrats like Bill and Hillary Clinton are soooooo much better.

This is why I'm leaving the Democratic Party, it's no longer about a progressive agenda, it's only about the party.

[qnr]

103. Amazing, you make a statement condemning all members of the

Democratic Party, without contemplating the fact that you're making this blanket statement, about millions of people in the party ... based on a fraction of just (currently) over 100 replies on one message board that many Democrats have never even heard of.

[Sean Reynolds]

97. Eh, use Republican logic about terrorists.

If we let foreign people become president, that means bin Laden could run.

[tibbir]

105. I lived in the suburbs when my son was growing up

and he developed very conservative repukian views. I couldn't believe it. I think that kids in their early-mid teens still think in concrete terms and are very influenced by their peers. At your son's age, Arnold has a lot of appeal.

Anyway Travis is 20 now and, while not being a bleeding heart liberal like his mom, identifies himself as a democrat .

[EC]

110. Tell him movie heros are fiction

not real life...

or that if we change the Constitution to allow this that we could end up being a state of Mexico or Russia. All anyone would have to do is bring over enough voters and fix the vote.


I know to a kid it sounds cool to be able to say "Yeah, well The Terminator is Our President" but that what's cool isn't always what's good.

[foxy]

113. Thank you to everyone that posted it was very helpful. n/t

[NV Whino]

128. Can you exchange your son for a different model?

Seriously, ask him if he thinks he should be able to move to (where ever) and be president/king? Ask him if maybe there should be restrictions on the length of time the persn has been a resident? How long should the potential president have been a citizen? And shouldn't the president be able to speak flawless English since it is the language of the country?

Well, maybe that question wouldn't work.

[Guy Fawkes]

129. Please encourage him to form his own political views...

while at the same time making sure that he knows people should be elected for their views and practices, not their publicity. And think of it this way, at least he isn't backing (Zell) Miller or (Rick) Santorum...

[UrbScotty]

132. He is an envoronmentalist and favors stem cell research and gun control

Once you get past the accent, he's not as bad as Bush.

"Make no mistake," he'd still be one of the biggest idiots ever, but I'd take him over Bush almost any day.

[donheld]

135. This is why we don't let kids vote

It's bad enough we have to many idiot grown-ups voting.

Now That Alanis Morissette is a US citizen, If Ah-nuld can run for president so can Alanis :eyes::crazy:

[Moderator]

137. Locking

This has turned into a flame fest.