Let's Close the Process Even More!

[paft.livejournal.com]

Closing the Process

Mitt Romney campaigning in Las Vegas: I was speaking with one of these business owners who owns a couple of restaurants in town and he said 'You know I'd like to change the Constitution, I'm not sure I can do it,' he said. 'I'd like to have a provision in the Constitution that in addition to the age of the president and the citizenship of the president and the birthplace of the president being set by the Constitution, I'd like it also to say that the president has to spend at least three years working in business before he could become president of the United States.'

As Think Progress has pointed out, this would have prevented Dwight D.Eisenhower and Theodore Roosevelt from running for president.

Meanwhile, in Florida, eligible voters, including a 91-year-old WW II vet, are being merrily removed from the voting rolls on the grounds that they aren’t Americans. That’s A-Okay with Governor Scott. They’re going to keep adding names to that list of “ineligible” voters. Any American who doesn’t fill out the paperwork in time, or whose letter is misdirected, or whose appeals process isn’t completed before the election, or whose reinstatement is (oopsie!) not processed properly, plainly doesn’t deserve to vote.

Many Republicans have responded to the election and popularity of our first black president by rejecting the entire concept of an open political process.

Crossposted from Thoughtcrimes

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Comments

[telemann.livejournal.com]

Isn't Florida in violation of Federal statutes, because you're not allowed to make changes 90 days prior to a Federal election (to give voters removed a chance to find out what happened and make any corrections or appeals), since there will be a primary before that 90 day waiting period is over, isn't this a violation? And if so, why hasn't the Justice Dept stepped in?

[rimpala.livejournal.com]

All very good questions, the Florida state government as a lot to answer for...

[gunslnger.livejournal.com]

I don't think the Justice Dept. has done anything right in at least 4 years now...

[dexeron.livejournal.com]

I, for one, welcome our new business-savvy overlords landed gentry.

Re: the voting rolls business: cue the victim blaming in 3... 2... 1...

[soliloquy76.livejournal.com]

Let's also require military service of at least 4 years. Actual service, not the kind that GWB supposedly had. Also, let's increase the minimum age from 35 to 50. Another requirement is that you cannot be worth more than $1 million. The President has to identify with the common man, right?

Also, they have to be a white, christian male with at least a 9" penis.

[telemann.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but circumcised or uncircumcised?

[dexeron.livejournal.com]

[rimpala.livejournal.com]

No they have to be a discordian with dual male and female characteristics, with at least a 9'' penis and at least double-d cup

We have the technology

[underlankers.livejournal.com]

Oh those Optimates, wanting to make the Republic purely of the rich, by the rich, for the rich, lest oligarchy perish from the Earth.

[mahnmut.livejournal.com]

It's how the Founding Fathers intended it. Only, they were misundaztood!

[the-rukh.livejournal.com]

The US is not a business.

[sophia-sadek.livejournal.com]

Tell that to Kellog, Brown, and Root.

[musicpsych.livejournal.com]

This. If Romney doesn't understand this, then we'd be in trouble if he gets elected.

[gunslnger.livejournal.com]

But the government does regulate business, so your statement is nonsensical.

Note that I'm not agreeing with the sentiment in the OP, just disputing that your statement refutes it.

[oportet.livejournal.com]

..they'll need to repeal this pesky law before we get to a Jindal vs. Warner in 2016.

[sophia-sadek.livejournal.com]

Mitt's business owner friend sounds a bit like a hard-core Marxist who insists that a capitalist system is government of the bourgeois, by the bourgeois, for the bourgeois.

I'd like to see a requirement in the Constitution that a presidential candidate has to have served in the private sector in a predatory role of consolidating and dismantling businesses. That way, only people like Mitt could qualify.

[badlydrawnjeff.livejournal.com]

As Think Progress has pointed out, this would have prevented Dwight D.Eisenhower and Theodore Roosevelt from running for president.

Well, then, thank goodness we're so worried about a process the President has no role in!

Meanwhile, in Florida, eligible voters, including a 91-year-old WW II vet, are being merrily removed from the voting rolls on the grounds that they aren’t Americans.

No, they're not. They're being removed on the grounds that they're not eligible voters, and that's okay because they have plenty of time to appeal. Just like every other time.

[paft.livejournal.com]

BDJ: Well, then, thank goodness we're so worried about a process the President has no role in!

The president has nothing to do with his eligibility for running for president?

How does that work?

BDJ: They're being removed on the grounds that they're not eligible voters, and that's okay because they have plenty of time to appeal. Just like every other time.

...presuming the notices actually got to everyone whose eligibility is being questioned which, given the inaccuracy of the list, is pretty doubtful. And presuming that all the hearings will be held and settled promptly.

Your premise suddenly seems to be, "If the gubmint does it, it okay."

[rimpala.livejournal.com]

Voting restrictions: Because people can't trust people to make the right decisions.

Here's a proposal, lets just become a damn dictatorship then you don't have to worry about presidents that weren't in business or votes from demographics you don't like :p

[telemann.livejournal.com]

Rick Scott, he has the worst poll stats of any sitting governor right now. Hell, he wishes he had Obama's numbers ;) Unfortunately Florida doesn't allow for a recall of their governor.

[fizzyland.livejournal.com]

Let me say this: I fundamentally distrust anyone who says they want to change the Constitution, especially when it's a half-baked idea like this.

Edit: Unless they want to get rid of the Electoral College, in which case, let's talk.

[luvdovz.livejournal.com]

OH NO SOSHULIZM!

You want to become like.... GASP... Erap!?

[meus-ovatio.livejournal.com]

I've been working in business since 15.

[theplanfailed.livejournal.com]

Funny. Does the guy mean as a business owner? Beacus I've worked in the business sector. Low paying jobs. But still.
And...erm...That's just stupid. That bit there at the bottom with people being abritrarily kicked off the balot. Who the hell do those idiots think they ares? They can't deny a person the right to run for President of the USA. All they have to be is 35 and an American born citizen. If they can prove that, than what the big deal? And, Obama proved it. I believe him.

Idiots. The lot of them. *head desk*

[musicpsych.livejournal.com]

I probably shouldn't waste time mulling stupid thoughts, but "3 years working in business" is too vague. Is that shift manager at McDonald's? CEO of a not-for-profit? Admin Assistant for a Fortune 500 company? Accountant for a public school district? Is that owning a business that doesn't turn a profit and you spend less than 10 hours per week at?

[geezer-also.livejournal.com]

The last sounds like my business, unfortunately it wasn't meant not to turn a profit :( (and I'm still putting in way more than 10 hours a week)(but I know the economy is getting better I heard it on the news)

[mahnmut.livejournal.com]

His big mistake is that he seems to believe that running a nation is like running a company. (Or more likely, he just says it because that's what his voters expect him to say).

[allhatnocattle.livejournal.com]

Because the nation is a company. Sounds like business is booming too.

[eracerhead.livejournal.com]

IOW: A presidential requirement should be something that aligns perfectly with my particular situation, because my particular situation is unequivocal proof that I make better decisions than you.

That people will agree with him is a perfect example of the inveterate nature of how class/race privilege works in American society. Romney should be the poster boy for this.