Governor's views on social issues could doom AmendforArnold movement

modbee ^ | 11-21-04

[LouAvul]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Lissa Morgenthaler-Jones, a 47-year-old Silicon Valley money manager, wasn't prepared to think much of Arnold Schwarzenegger when she met him at a fund-raiser two years ago.

"I thought, 'Austrian meatball,'" she said. "But then five minutes after I met him, I thought, 'You could go all the way to the White House.'"

Morgenthaler-Jones signed on with Schwarzenegger's gubernatorial campaign during last year's recall and served on his finance committee.

A year after that historic election, she thinks the governor's office doesn't seem large enough for what she calls "Arnold Power."

Morgenthaler-Jones last week launched www.AmendforArnold.com, a campaign promoting a constitutional amendment to allow foreign-born citizens to run for president.

Schwarzenegger became an American citizen in 1983, 15 years after he immigrated to the United States from Austria. The governor has said he'd consider running for president if such an amendment passed but also taken pains to say it shouldn't be created specifically for him.

But most observers say Schwarzenegger and his vast popularity are the only reason the idea is being floated. Four bills seeking a Constitutional amendment already have been introduced in Congress.

............

Some Schwarzenegger critics have already have pounced.

On Thursday, an Austin, Texas, talk radio host launched Americans Against Arnold and an affiliated Web site dedicated to defeating the amendment movement.

Its Web site, www.arnoldexposed.com said the group is taking "defensive measures against Arnold Schwarzenegger's blitzkrieg attack on the Constitution because we love America and believe that the Founding Fathers were right: only someone born in America should be able to be President."

[LouAvul]

The man outlawed a rifle that has never been used in a crime, viz., the 50 BMG. I, for one, would never endorse an anti-gunner in any way, shape, or form.

[sinanju]

Just keep in mind: an amendment that would allow Arnold to run for prez would also allow a good many others.

SOROS IN '08!?

[Wally_Kalbacken]

Not to mention - this could be called and Amend for Granholm Amendment. I don't think Arnold could make it all the way - and I'd rather not open the door for some less desireables.

[.38sw]

A year after that historic election, she thinks the governor's office doesn't seem large enough for what she calls "Arnold Power."

snip

But most observers say Schwarzenegger and his vast popularity are the only reason the idea is being floated. Four bills seeking a Constitutional amendment already have been introduced in Congress.

The cult of personality. I don't like this idea of amending the constitution because of one person's popularity. He's only been governor for one year, and we have people jumping on the "Arnold for President" bandwagon. Please. Do we need a socially liberal gun-grabber in the White House? And remember that he is married to a Kennedy. Look at the appointments in his administration, and ask yourself if these are the types of people whose views you want in high positions at the national level.

[lotusblos]

Pushing Arnold for President before he proves himself as Governor of California is definitely putting the horse before the cart. Then, even if he does a great job as Governor, amending the constitution is a pretty big deal just to give one man an opportunity to run. I sure wouldn't vote for it.

[CasearianDaoist]

There is not "Amend for Arnold movement." Nothing of the sort will ever happen. I wish him well, bit he is at his apogee right now. Thanks, you were a great help, but no thanks. Stay out in CA and try to clean up that mess and turn around the redistricting. That would be a big help

[G.Mason]

Lissa Morgenthaler-Jones ..."I thought, 'Austrian meatball,'" she said. "But then five minutes after I met him, I thought, 'You could go all the way to the White House.'"

Is this like the reverse of a bimbo that says I wat to have sex with you and "5 minutes" later says you're raping me?

BTW ... Are hyphenated name bearers suseptable to these quirks of mind by genetics alone, or is there a need for the ingesting of mind altering substances and the chanting of some kind of mantra?

[Leonard210]

Governor's views on social issues could doom AmendforArnold movement

It was doomed before it began. No one in the red parts of California has any desire to amend the Constitution so Arnold can run for President. It's a silly campaign. I can only guess that it's being pushed by the left in both parties because they believe that Arnold's enormous personal likability will override his negatives on social issues.

I, for one, would prefer a socially leftist Republican over a socially conservative Democrat because the Democrat's tendency is socialist/communist. His ear is tuned to the radical left whereas a socially liberal Republican has a Capitalist ear and is more likely to listen to voices in that camp. Before we left Illinois, we sat on our hands and allowed Charles Percy, a socially liberal Republican, to be defeated by Paul Simon, a true leftist in the most extreme sense of the word. The thinking at the time was that we could turn around and support a "true" conservative the next time around. It never happened. Simon reigned in the Senate until HE decided to retire. It must also be remembered that somewhere along the line, Ronald Regan's political position on abortion changed, and while he didn't have any more success legislatively than any other Republican on the issue, can anyone suggest that he was unfit for the Governors office prior to that change?

So, change the Constitution for Arnold? It won't happen. But while we may not have a social conservative in Sacramento, we also do not have a radical socialist either.

[snowtigger]

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it" This old saying fits. Our Constitution has worked pretty well up to now. Any attempt to change it should be met with skepticism. Thank God the framers made change so cumbersome.

The chances of this passing both the House and Senate by a 2/3 majority are so small as to be non-existant. If, by some miracle, it were to get the votes, it would still have to be ratified by 3/4 of the states.

This will keep this, and most other hare-brained ideas from ever getting off the ground. Smart men, weren't they?