I was just wondering, besides being 45 and a natural born citizen, what else are the requirements to run for prez? (besides money) Looks like some one could do it on the net and not need much money. any in put here? Hey y2k is coming down and all the canidates are not appealing to me? HELP!!!!!

-- Sandy (rstyree@overland.net), October 03, 1999

Answers

Got cigars?

-- Y2KGardener (gardens@bigisland.net), October 03, 1999.

I thought it was only 35 and not a felon a natural born citizen of the U.S.

-- David Lee Roth (Diver Down@Van Halen.ou812), October 03, 1999.

Jesse Ventura for President

-- a (a@a.a), October 03, 1999.

well david, don't know for sure about the 35 stuff, loaned my history books to the kiddo so can't look it up, and to puter stupid to do it here on the net but my real ? is what else you got to have besides money to run for prez? do you have to sign up or do you gotta get a license??? surely there is something else...

-- sandy (rstyree@overland.net), October 03, 1999.

I do think Ventura will have a shot. At least he can't be totally manipulated by public opinion.

-- Mara Wayne (MaraWayne@aol.com), October 03, 1999.

Article II, Section 1, Clause 5:

"No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any Person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States."

http:// www.law.emory.edu/FEDERAL/usconst.html

-- pshannon (pshannon@inch.com), October 03, 1999.

thanks all and pshannon for the info ...BUT...if that is all required why not someone over the net run for prez, does that mean my dog can run in dog years or does it have to be human years?

-- sandy (rstyree@overland.net), October 03, 1999.

You all saw the letter that Roleigh Martin sent to Ventura about two months ago. I haven't heard anything from Ventura, so he is being perfectly politically correct on Y2K. Besides, he doesn't have CFR credentials.

-- dave (wootendave@hotmail.com), October 03, 1999.

Sandy,

As far as tangible requirements it's age 35, not a convicted felon and natural born U.S. citizen. However, it's those "intangibles" that usually decide who just gets to run, and who actually gets the job.

Let's see now, there's the ability to make people believe that you "feel their pain" (Can you say "Clinton/Gore"?). Then there's that oily salesmanship that enables you to sell ice water to eskimos (Can you say "George W. Bush"?). Don't forget being enough of a quick change artist to make the "inside the beltwayers" believe that you're just one of the gang, while giving the impression to the voting public that you are a "Washington outsider"(Can you say "Pat Buchanan"?).

Of course, lot's of money helps (Heeeeeeeeeeere's Donald!). You can get a lot of mileage out of being an elitist who knows how to play the "all American Boy" (Mr. Bradely, if you please!), but does that top being able to tell stories of heroic deeds done long ago and far away, even if there's little in between (John McCain, take a bow!)?

Of course, then there's good old honesty (That would be.....ummmmmm......that would be....uhhhhh, wait....don't tell me.....I know there's an example....just let me think for a minute...ummmmm...oh, hell. I give up. Can anyone think of somebody?).

-- Bokonon (bok0non@my-Deja.com), October 03, 1999.

Honest? How about Helen Chenoweth, or Ron Paul?

-- Betty Alice (Barn266@aol.com), October 03, 1999.

http://cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1999/10/03/ventura/

At least he's honest.

-- Wm McBride (mcbri29@attglobal.net), October 03, 1999.

yes... ron paul would be great..BUT have we gone so far down that he would do any good, I know he would try but it is hard to beat the system that is entreanched. Somethimes I think my dog would make a good prez... just pee around your territory and bark when someone infringes on it

-- sandy (rstyree@overland.net), October 03, 1999.

Pardon, Bokonon, but go back and read. Convicted of felony is NOT a bar, per the constitution. Now, if it has been enacted elsewhere, I'd be interested in the U.S.C. citation.

Chuck

-- Chuck, a night driver (rienzoo@en.com), October 03, 1999.

Take another look at John McCain - www.mccain2000.com

He has served multiple terms in the House and Senate, earning a very good reputation in conservative Arizona, stands on the correct side of issues and has a past history of working for reform of the political campaign financing (plus pork barrel spending). Before you lump him with the rest, look a little more. Watch him when he speaks, listen to him answer questions directly. I am becoming more and more convinced he is the right one.

-- Kristi (securxsys@cs.com), October 03, 1999.

Yeah, but that Keating thing is gonna blow up in McCain's face. Also his drinking and womanizing when he was younger.

Chuck, I can't find any reference to a felony conviction barring one from being president.

Dogs running for prez have to count their age in people years. Not likely to happen.

Woof, woof, woof, woof, woof, woof, woof, woof, woof, woof, woof, woof...

(to the tune of "Hail to the Chief.")

-- pshannon (pshannon@inch.com), October 03, 1999.

Funny, "a", Ventura for president. Hey I hear he's already got an endorsement from the POA, Prostitutes of America.

-- Buster Collins (BustrCollins@aol.com), October 03, 1999.

Yeah,

I was worried about the Keating incident as well but it seems pretty well established that if he was "guilty" of any wrongdoing, it was definitely decided that he was very much the least guilty. Drinking and womanizing in his past..... sigh..... at least he has a recent track record (many years) with no trouble. Of course if you are wanting someone with a Boy Scout biography, I am sure we could vote for Al Gore - what a prize!

I do understand your cynicism, I believe we need to be able to look at McCain realistically, research his voting history from the House and Senate, judge for yourself. At this time I sure don't see anyone more qualified or likely to do a more sincere effort for what is right.

-- Kristi (securxsys@cs.com), October 03, 1999.

Gee, thinking as if there will even BE an election. Hmmmmmmm.

*OCTOBER 1999*

-- Will continue (farming@home.com), October 03, 1999.

Actually, I'm more interested in running from the presidency than running for it.

-- cody varian (cody@y2ksurvive.com), October 03, 1999.

Thanks cody! What a classic, ROTFLMAO. Sheeeeeeese.

-- Will continue (farming@home.com), October 03, 1999.

I like McCain too, even though I despise most Republicans, he doesn't seem to fit into their standard mold. Hey, since our media and society seem to have such a huge hangup about "womanizing", what do you think we will do when a woman becomes president? I guess then we'll probably start checking medical records and tear them to shreads if they've ever had an abortion. Undoubtedly they will think of some kind of personal issue to attack them on!

-- @ (@@@.@), October 04, 1999.

PMS.

-- Will continue (farming@home.com), October 04, 1999.

LOL Will! Is there such a thing as "manizing", or do they just call that being slutty? I guess we will probably judge our women candidates by the style of their clothes, makeup, stores they shop at, how much debt they ran up on their credit cards, ya know, important stuff to know about our president.

-- @ (@@@.@), October 04, 1999.

well, have no idea what the counterpart for slut is... looked in the dictionary wrote by men and a slut is definatetly a woman.BUT right above slut is slushy... sounds like the prez to me...so from what i understand most anyone can run for prez but what happens if some unknown gets the popular vote what happens then in the electoral college?

-- sandy (rstyree@overland.net), October 04, 1999.

Most likely when she displays strength & leadership qualities they will just call her a bit**. Hope she wears it as a badge of honor. Just please don't let it be Hillary (fingers crossed).

-- Deborah (infowars@yahoo.com), October 04, 1999.

Hi Deborah! You're quite the late-nighter for Chicagoan (gonian?)!

Hey, Ed was asking you a question earlier over at this thread:

more humor from cinci

-- @ (@@@.@), October 04, 1999.

Thanks @ I didn't see it.

-- Deborah (infowars@yahoo.com), October 04, 1999.

Wow, life continues to surprise. Here I thought the temperature would get turned up on my remark about Buchanan, and here it turns out I take heat for the comment about McCain. Interesting.

For the record, I think McCain is the most decent of the lot, that has surfaced, so far. My comments were more in reference to the perceptions of "Joe and Jane Average" than they were at any in-depth political commentary (See below disclaimer).

Chuck,

(Here's the disclaimer)The post was intended as humor (Har, har, har), and not intended as a serious piece, on which people can base serious life decisions. Had the post been deeply researched and intended as "political education", it would have been done as a separate thread and given a title such as "You Must Read This!" My apologies for neglecting the disclaimer, at the time of posting.

Sheesh...

-- Bokonon (bok0non@my-Deja.com), October 04, 1999.

Sandy,

As I understand it, if you were not a registered candidate with some party and the electors didn't vote you in, you will not win - even with the popular vote. Sorry I don't have the exact URL but look up Electoral College (they have a website) or the California Secretary of State (or your states - look in the phone book or search). Those are the two sources I used to learn the bit that I know now.

When I began my search for election info I was pretty much convinced that we needed to do away with the electoral college system - after reading a bit, including the original Federalist Papers (a good explanation of the constitution- where this process was formed) I am now not sure which way is best. But I know one thing, I will continue to read and learn about it. Good luck!

P.S. Thanks to others who are considering McCain - remember that if we want him as a nominee then we must register Republican (at least for the primary) so that the party will even consider our votes when choosing the party candidate!!!! You can then change your party (I have been "declared to state" for years). Lots of folks don't realize this is still necessary.

Calif. recently voted in an "open primary" but this only confuses the next primary election - people must still be registered within the party they wish to vote for, to have their vote matter to the party choosing the candidate. Sorry to ramble on but about 99% of fellow Californians are not aware of this and think they can "help" a candidate in the primary by voting, even if out of party - they are wrong. E-mail me if you need more details - I promise I won't laugh at "dumb" questions - been there, done that (still doing at times!).

-- Kristi (securxsys@cs.com), October 04, 1999.

Oooooops! "Declined to state".

Bokonon, no problem :)

I certainly feel there is a need for some good basic voting information and education - I will be first in line saying "I don't know!". I do believe there is a system that can work, we have just gradually been allowed to "dumb down" about it, rendering us impotent about choosing our leaders and deciding issues. The cynical side of me believes that the "powers that be" like it this way, they can run the show and we don't know how to change it. LEARN, LEARN and learn some more - I never dreamed I would find the election and voting process interesting but now I realize we do have strength - in numbers. We just need to learn how it works and then VOTE.

Remember that most states require you to register BEFORE the election (Calif. 29 days prior). If we want any "underdog" (or maverick) to be able to even make it to the general election this fall, we must learn and spread the word in time for the primary elections this spring in order to give them even a chance. (stepping off soap box now, quietly....)

-- Kristi (securxsys@cs.com), October 04, 1999.

Actually, I think McCain is all right, for a Republocrat. Frankly, I don't know that I particularly trust ANY man who did not booze it up a little and chase a few skirts when he was young. It makes for a better rounded person, in my opinion, and it's only natural for young guys to want a little nookie :-)

But, let's not forget that McCain may be one of the people who did the most to hamper Y2K remediation, by sponsoring the litigation bill. I think that, while a trillion dollars in litigation would certainly be a drag, and should be discouraged, the bill may have given corps a little too much breathing room, encouraging the FoF mindset. This shows where his priorities really lie. As someone suggested on another thread, it may be time to vote for "None of the Above."

-- pshannon (pshannon@inch.com), October 04, 1999.

Sure, if the Blair Witch could become such a pop hit via Internet marketing, why not a Prez?

Approaching the Witching Hour & Warlock ... who's Y2K-alert and waiting in the wings?

-- Ashton & Leska in Cascadia (allaha@earthlink.net), October 04, 1999.

Grateful Slave Essay

http://home.onestop.net/nomad/2ndWeb_Page.html

-- Donna (moment@pacbell.net), October 04, 1999.

Donna,

Thanks for the link - I enjoyed it.

Here another couple of quotes along these lines:

John Adams, 2nd president of the United States: Liberty cannot be preserved without a general knowledge among the people.

and

Martin Bormann, German Nazi Leader: Education is a danger...At best an education which produces useful coolies for us is admissable. Every educated person is a future enemy.

Learn, study, learn, vote.

-- Kristi (securxsys@cs.com), October 04, 1999.

Pat Paulson, the little skinny guy with the long face who got beat up every week in "Laugh-In" ran for every presidential election since the 60's. His last campaign before he died, 1996, was done entirely on the internet. I can't remember what his party was, or what the platform was, but he always managed a few thousand votes (mostly in protest, I think).

I think you have to have a minimum number of signatures to get listed on some states' primaries (whether that's for a party or an individual, I don't know)

-- rob minor (rbminor@hotmail.com), October 04, 1999.

thanks everyone for your input on the subject...but i still think we are in dire straits as a nation we have a sociopath as prez... we need help we need HELP

George Washington said"Government is not reason; it is not eloquence; it is FORCE! Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a Fearful master"

-- sandy (rstyree@overland.net), October 04, 1999.

Sandy,

If you think Clinton is a sociopath you should have seen the Reagan and Bush years! (guess you were probably too busy in junior high to notice)

-- @ (@@@.@), October 04, 1999.

@,

Yes, the last twenty years sorta makes a person nostalgic for those years, that we formerly thought of as a 7 year expanse of bland nothingness, that were the Ford/Carter Years.

-- Bokonon (bok0non@my-Deja.com), October 04, 1999.

Yeah, the laid back 70's, those were the days. American cars, best decade of Rock n' Roll ever, Columbian for $10 an ounce, no Yuppies, no AIDS. Greedy yuppies screwed it all up.

-- @ (@@@.@), October 04, 1999.