The provision requiring a President be a natural born citizen is worth keeping for the sole reason it kept Gropenfool out of the oval office. We really should give Caleefornia back to Mexico. Texas too.

It's frightening how whacked my internal clock is. It seems like yesterday that Gerry Adams hair was black.

He would be assassinated at he airport upon arrival.

Listened all. Sense like this man has would not be welcome in the US of A.

grace - I know. It seems like just a few days ago he was the young, energetic star of Sinn Fein. Not so young anymore, but damned energetic still.

trig - you're probably right. Hell, his plane would probably be blown up by some "terrorist activity" by a mysterious missile fired just off the coast of the US.

I have two views on the "natural born" requirement. They are contradictory.

1) I have often noticed that in history, "converts" are the most gung ho, radical and chauvinistic (not as in male chauvinist, but as in the original meaning of chauvinistic, i.e., patriotic, nationalist, etc...). The Founding Fathers not born in America were the most pro-America, Christians who converted, like Paul, were the most zealous, Nazis who were not from Germany proper were the most virulently fascistic. When we look at the Roman Emperors, those after Augustus who didn't come from Italy were often the most pro-"Roman" and selfless on the behalf of the empire, whereas those who came from Italy proper, were very parochial and embroiled in palace court intrigue. It seems as if there is a general psychological principle at work here, one of compensation. When one is from afar, from without, when one is initially seen with suspicion as more like the "other" than the "us," one often goes to very great, sometimes even radically extreme lengths, to be seen as one of "us." This can happen for the benefit of the US, should we repeal the foreign born requirement.

b) That said, cosmpolitanism has more often been a tool for imperialism than homogeneity has been. In fact, the current American empire is based upon a polyglot fabric of multi-ethnic multinational corporations from across the globe, all of whose CEOs (many of whom are millionaire charismats) would thus be eligible to run for office. Just when we get a handle on controlling our own corporations, and our own wealthy, all the world's elite and all the world's companies would throw billions if not trillions into our elections, to try and tip them in their balance.

The historical Polish Kingdom, once the largest in Europe, was destroyed, because she gave all the crowned heads of Europe an electoral choice in choosing their king. Russia, Prussia, Austria, France, the Holy Roman Empire, Lithuania and the like all ripped and tore Poland assunder and within 150 years, it was a tiny hollow shell of its former glory.

When all is said and done, we should keep the "natural born" requirement. Our country is too influential in this world and far, far too many will try to influence it in the direction of their own corporate wealth and power, the interests of the American people notwithstanding.

As always RW, you apply crustal clear lolgic to a situation. Someday, you're going to have to take me up on becoming a teacher :-)

even if I can't spell crystal

I was all set to admonish you Bob but I could never do it as well as Rw just did. This is our culture we were born here. I don’t even think we could share it if we wanted to when you are born in a place you are bound to it in ways that cannot even be explained with words. When Saigon fell many of the Vietnamese who fled to America sickened and died because their ties to their land were severed.

I think we need to re-write the Constitution period. Bring back the Articles of Confederation.

Oh hell. I don't mind being admonished at all, especially when it's done so by the best I know. I was actually being a bit facetious when I created the title, but I like the responses anyway.

I just really like Gerry Adams, always have. He seems to be a man of his word and in politics, that's something to watch. I've kind of watched him since his appearance in the late 60s and 70s

I agree doc. I personally think the Constitution needs to be alive in that it morphs with the country. Besides, if we keep changing it, maybe the weasels who learn to manipulate it won't be able to keep up :-)

You know, if we just re-started the exact same Constitution that we have now, Adams could be eligible for the Presidency as long as he made sure to be a citizen of the US when the C. was (re-)ratified :D .