Arnold for President? At Least One Hurdle May Fall

Los Angeles Times ^ | July 21, 2003 | Patt Morrison:

[AuH2ORepublican]

So Cal Rocket is correct, all persons who are U.S. citizens at birth may be president (so long as they meet the other qualifications, such as age and residency).

While no U.S. president has ever been born abroad, former Michigan Governor George Romney (father of current Mass. Governor Mitt Romney) was born in Chihuahua, Mexico to American parents (they were Mormon missionaries), and he ran in the GOP presidential primaries in 1968. Among those who have run for President while being born in a U.S. territory (not a state) is Barry Goldwater, born in Arizona 3 years before it became a state. A Vice President, Richard Johnson, was born in Kentucky 12 years before it became a state.

Alexander Hamilton was not an American at birth, since he was born in Nevis of British parents. But Hamilton could have run for President had he wished to do so, since the Constitution says that the President must be a natural-born citizen or a U.S. citizen *at the time of adoption of the Constitution*.

[CardCarryingMember.VastRightWC]

The life tenure for federal judges is a legislative mandate, not a constitutional one.

I always thought it was lifetime tenure unless they were impeached and removed. The Constitution says in Article III Section 1 ---

"....... The Judges, both of the supreme and inferior Courts, shall hold their Offices during good Behavior, ...."

Is there something in an amendment that overrides this? Or can the definition of "good Behavior" be modified by Congress to include term limits?

[CardCarryingMember.VastRightWC]

Why? Not that there will be a constitutional amend anyway. Nobody is about to adopt the 1948 UN Human Rights statement, so what else is there of such importance as to require a constitutional amendment? Not judges, that's for sure.

Here's why - because the judiciary was assumed to be "above politics" by the founding fathers - or at least much farther above politics than the other two branches of govt. But the last 50 years have seen the politicization of the judiciary to a tremendous extent, accompanied by flagrant "legislating from the bench" on a massive scale. If they are going to play politics, they need accountability - much more accountability than the only means that now exists to remove them - i.e. a huge trial and a 2/3rds vote for conviction in the Senate. If judges legislate, then they need the same accountability that our legislators have.

How would you like if all American citizens were represented in Congress by someone who was there for life unless impeached and removed by a 2/3 vote? Is that the kind of accountability you want from people who write the laws you live under?

[RightWhale]

How would you like if all American citizens were represented in Congress by someone who was there for life

That's nearly the case now. Sure, sometimes they lift up the powdered wig and place another old boy underneath. Change takes time, generations. Once in a while you get lucky and get Reagan, but usually it's another of the same fraternity. Or sorority or society. Change? Sure.

[Iwo Jima]

I believe that the term of office, just like the jurisdiction and even the existence of inferior courts, can be defined by Congress. (It is possible that the Supreme Court may be different.) At least this is how Rep. Culberson views the issue.

Let's give it a try, anyway!