Bill Clinton Eyes Repeal of 22nd Amendment (posted 5/29/03)

Newsmax.com ^ | 05-29-03 | Newsmax

[Theodore R.]

Clinton Eyes 22nd Amendment Repeal - Again

For the second time since he left the White House, ex-president Bill Clinton has engaged in open speculation about repealing the 22nd Amendment barring presidents from seeking a third term.

"I think since people are living much longer ... the 22nd Amendment should probably be modified to say two consecutive terms instead of two terms for a lifetime," Clinton told an audience at Boston's John F. Kennedy Presidential Library on Wednesday.

"There may come a time when we elect a president at age 45 or 50, and then 20 years later the country comes up against the same kind of problems the president faced before," he said, according to a Reuters report. "People would like to bring that man or woman back but they would have no way to do so."

In Sept. 2001, Clinton told reporters in Las Vegas that "some constitutional experts think it is possible" that he could run for a third term regardless of the 22nd Amendment prohibition.

"I would probably do well," he added, in comments picked up by the Las Vegas Weekly. Clinton said he thought he could have won a third term based on what he said was his 65 percent job approval rating when he left office.

"Clinton had obviously researched the subject," the paper observed, reporting that he spoke "for five minutes about constitutional law and academic studies about the prospect" of revising the 22nd Amendment.

Others have suggested that the best way for Clinton to win a third term would be to have him run as Mrs. Clinton's vice president, then "inherit" the Oval Office upon her death.

"The other day, someone lofted a weird proposition that bears thinking about," Clinton friendly gossip columnist Liz Smith mused last May.

"This scenario posited that Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton would eventually run for president and her vice presidential candidate would be Bill Clinton." Smith said the hypothetical pairing raised "an interesting constitutional question. Should the hypothetical President Hillary die in office, would her husband be allowed to ascend to the Oval Office again?

"Several smarties I know say it would be "legally possible," the gossip maven claimed.

Removing Hillary from the picture is a popular theme with some of the ex-president's biggest supporters.

In his 1995 movie tribute to the Clinton presidency, "An American President," director Rob Reiner has the Hillary character die before the action begins, allowing Bill [Michael Douglas] to frolic in the White House with environmental lobbyist [Annette Benning] unencumbered by adultery issues.

[Theodore R.]

On C-SPAN this morning, a call-in segment asked people either to endorse or to condemn the 22nd Amendment. Many of the callers were supporters of former President Bill Clinton. Virtually all said that they wanted to repeal the 22nd Amendment -- but only if "their bill" could "get back in there." Moderates said they wanted to modify the amendment so that a president could serve 8 years, sit out four, then come back for 8 more. That is the provision used for the Louisiana governorship.

[ClearCase_guy]

Let's watch as W gets easily elected to a second term. Let's watch his second term be a huge success. Let's watch as the Dems stop talking about allowing a third term.

[Theodore R.]

I posted this twice. The first "posting" did not appear to work, but it went through. Sorry. Can the moderator remove one post and consolidate the comments onto one?

[Jeff Head]

Clinton is missing the power, badly. He is so pathetically transparent.

God protect us from individuals like this and the evil behind them. God grant that we can always stand against such evil.

Jeff

[linn37]

I don't think it needs changed,but its funny to see Clinton think that he can win another term.

[HankReardon]

Why did the Democrats never have the courage to denounce this man? They still don't. After all the problems this "man" left this nation that so many have fought and died for, he must be absolutely shameless to be able to act like there's not a thing wrong with him.

[Alberta's Child]

I came across an interesting story just before Election Day 2000 that received almost no attention. Some polling group conducted a poll to see how Bill Clinton would have fared against George W. Bush in the 2000 election -- Not only would Clinton have lost to George W. Bush, but he would have lost to former President George H. W. Bush, too!

[Noumenon]

Should this ever come to pass, Romanian term limits will be the order of the day.

[LurkedLongEnough]

This is scary - Ron Kuby on WABC New York talk radio mentioned that Bill Clinton could become President again without being elected. Here's the scenario: Hillary for Pres, Bill as her running mate, they win, she steps down. This would circumvent the 22nd amendment anyway.

[Vinnie_Vidi_Vici]

you are incorrect! You cannot be elected Vice-president if you do not meet the eligibility requirements for president. Since Clinton has already served 2 terms, he cannot reun for Vice-President.

[Faraday]

The 22nd Amendment was passed because the Democrats were concerned that Dwight Eisenhower would win a third and perhaps a fourth term, as FDR had. Running Bill Clinton for a third term would be the equivalent of firing on Fort Sumter.

[NEPA]

"This scenario posited that Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton would eventually run for president and her vice presidential candidate would be Bill Clinton." Smith said the hypothetical pairing raised "an interesting constitutional question. Should the hypothetical President Hillary die in office, would her husband be allowed to ascend to the Oval Office again?

"Several smarties I know say it would be "legally possible," the gossip maven claimed.

I thought to run as VP a person had to be qualified to be Pres., which under the 22nd Amend., Bill isn't.

[goldstategop]

Lissen up... its all about HIM.

[StoneColdTaxHater]

Of course Der Schlickmeister wants it repealed. He can't live without the limelight or without being in a psoition of power. He seriously believes it is his birthright or something.

[Starboard]

Clinton is missing the power, badly. He is so pathetically transparent.

Yes, he clearly wants another chance to redeem himself after squandering eight years in office. Bush's substantial accomplishments and high popularity must be grating on him every day. IMO a second bid for power would fail miserably. There's been a political sea change since 911 and we now live in a world that requires real leadership.

[Sunshine Sister]

Hehehehehe! You got that right!

[Bluntpoint]

Last line of XII Amendment:


"But no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States."

[usapatriot28]

You cannot be elected Vice-president if you do not meet the eligibility requirements for president. Since Clinton has already served 2 terms, he cannot reun for Vice-President.

Wrong! The 22nd Amendment does not preclude a 2 term President from become President again. It merely prevents their election and does nothing to remove their eligiblity to serve as President.

Amendment XXII
Section 1. No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once. ...

[Michael.SF.]

Hillary for Pres, Bill as her running mate, they win, she steps down.

Absolutely no way on God's good earth would that, that.........female, step down and give anything away. Once she is in power, anything could happen:

[Bluntpoint]

Wrong. Read post above concerning XII amendment.