What a Ted Cruz victory would mean (1 Viewer)

[SaintsInDome2006]

Cruz has foreign ideas.

And a funny sounding name.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

Ok. Let's get off where someone was born to get back to discussing the dangerous, unfounded rantings of Ted Cruz.

meh, too easy.

You'd think. And yet, here we are.

I'm going to say adding the height of hypocrisy layered on top of the kookiness is worth a mention.

 

[timschochet]

I'd vote for Jose Cruz. Big fan when I was a kid, even though he played for the Astros and they were rivals of the Dodgers.

 

[timschochet]

I was going to write that I'd vote for Victor Cruz, but no I can't really do that. I might even have to vote for Ted Cruz before I'd vote for Victor Cruz.

 

[quickhands]

1.5 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.

That's pretty damn clear to me.

Cruz had to be a natural born Citizen or be like 250 years old.

I realize the law is against me here (what's new, but then there has never been any official court decision), but the way I read it, you can either be this:

1. "a natural born Citizen" - naturally born means being born within the country or its territories (otherwise what's the point of putting it this way, just say "citizen")

- or this -

2. "a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution" (impossible).

When did he become a citizen?

 

[Insomniac]

I don't know what all the fuss is about Teddy. He's Canadian,can't run for President. All the Birthers would be demanding to see his proof. Wouldn't they?

Renounced his Canadian citizenship (or said he would) and is eligible to run for Pres.since his mother was a US citizen.

For whatever reason, this just became official:

... The tea party favorite announced last summer that he would takes steps to renounce his Canadian citizenship after the Dallas Morning News pointed out that he probably remained a citizen there by virtue of his birth.

As of May 14, Cruz was no longer a Canadian citizen.

His spokeswoman on Tuesday passed along a document from the Canadian government certifying that he ceased to be a citizen last month.

Cruz was born in Canada in 1970, to an American mother and Cuban father. Because of his mother's nationality, Cruz instantly became a U.S. citizen.

So that's the end of it, right? Well, not quite. The debate about whether Cruz can run for president because it's not 100 percent clear that he's a "natural-born citizen" will likely rage on.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/06/10/ted-cruz-officially-gives-up-his-canadian-citizenship/

I do not get this at all.

As I understand it to be president you have to be born in the USA. Maybe there could be an exception for someone born on a military base, or at an embassy or in a territory, like McCain.

No way Cruz should be allowed to be or run for president.

I see no reason Cruz (or anyone in a similar situation) shouldn't be allowed to run for president. He was a US citizen at birth. I would agree with you about Arnold Schwarzenegger for instance.

Ok this makes total sense.

But then why was the argument (for like ever) over what Obama's certificate said. Even if his BC said Canada, Kenya, Indonesia, Paris France, whatever was dreamed of happening, then he could have still been president under this view because his mother was a US citizen and thus so was he.

No?

There are 3 reasons that the birthers didn't buy this for Obama

1. He's Black.

2. He's a Democrat.

worst of all

3. He's a Black Democrat!

 

[Koya]

Why do I have the (very strong) feeling that had we been drafting soldiers, Cruz would have been the first to run to Canada? I wish I were kidding or just being mean spirited, but he seems that type to me.

If I'm mistaken in that he has shown true bravery, valor or risk of himself for the better of others please let me know. Just get the skeeviest feeling from Cruz.

 

[Gopher State]

The GOP have no hope, all you need to know is HILLARY

 

[joffer]

Don't care where he was born, he's a loon.

 

[Porkchop Sandwich]

I was going to write that I'd vote for Victor Cruz, but no I can't really do that. I might even have to vote for Ted Cruz before I'd vote for Victor Cruz.

Pablo Cruise?

 

[Koya]

Don't care where he was born, he's a loon.

That should be the discussion.

FWIW, I'd EASILY vote Victor Cruz ahead of him.

 

[joffer]

This whack job is most likely going to be the next chair of the subcommittee on Space and Science :(

 

[roadkill1292]

Don't care where he was born, he's a loon.

That should be the discussion.

FWIW, I'd EASILY vote Victor Cruz ahead of him.

I dunno, I think the country is ready to elect a loon president, I just don't think it's ready to elect a latino loon president.

 

[Raider Nation]

Ted Cruz to announce presidential bid Monday

 

[Mister CIA]

Ted Cruz to announce presidential bid Monday

Clearly he has no shot, but on the bright side his campaign will permit millions of $$$ to exchange hands.

 

[Mr. Retukes]

Sometimes I wonder if the Republicans pay people like Ted Cruz to run for President so it splits up the crazy vote.

 

[joffer]

If I had to grow up with a dad like that, I'd probably be a loon too.

 

[Johnnymac]

This guy belongs in a psych ward. How do we elect people like this?

 

[popsecret]

This guy belongs in a psych ward. How do we elect people like this?

Lmao.

The media brainwashing has clearly gotten to JohnnyMac.

Hey Mac, tell us about how rush limbaugh is crazy too, or any conservative for that matter.

Btw Obama was elected twice. Why did you vote for him twice johnnymac? That is nuts!

 

[Todd Andrews]

This guy belongs in a psych ward. How do we elect people like this?

Lmao.

The media brainwashing has clearly gotten to JohnnyMac.

Hey Mac, tell us about how rush limbaugh is crazy too, or any conservative for that matter.

Btw Obama was elected twice. Why did you vote for him twice johnnymac? That is nuts!

popsecret, it is well known that most Republican/conservative men are not crazy, but that they are repressed latent homosexuals. Which is fine but very sad. They spend so much time thinking about boys kissing, holding hands, cuddling, getting married, etc., that they have to write laws to keep their own deep dark shame hidden from the world. They spend their time ranting about gay people getting married while secretly foottapping their wide stances through the sad men's rooms of airports and the FFA. You should think very HARD about that, take a LONG look in the mirror, and try not to be THICK about what you see and feel, and maybe realize that even someone like **** Cheney believes that gays should have equal rights.

 

[popsecret]

This guy belongs in a psych ward. How do we elect people like this?

Lmao.

The media brainwashing has clearly gotten to JohnnyMac.

Hey Mac, tell us about how rush limbaugh is crazy too, or any conservative for that matter.

Btw Obama was elected twice. Why did you vote for him twice johnnymac? That is nuts!

popsecret, it is well known that most Republican/conservative men are not crazy, but that they are repressed latent homosexuals. Which is fine but very sad. They spend so much time thinking about boys kissing, holding hands, cuddling, getting married, etc., that they have to write laws to keep their own deep dark shame hidden from the world. They spend their time ranting about gay people getting married while secretly foottapping their wide stances through the sad men's rooms of airports and the FFA. You should think very HARD about that, take a LONG look in the mirror, and try not to be THICK about what you see and feel, and maybe realize that even someone like **** Cheney believes that gays should have equal rights.

stopped reading after that

Most people aren't homosexuals and that goes for conservative men too.

 

[Todd Andrews]

This guy belongs in a psych ward. How do we elect people like this?

Lmao.

The media brainwashing has clearly gotten to JohnnyMac.

Hey Mac, tell us about how rush limbaugh is crazy too, or any conservative for that matter.

Btw Obama was elected twice. Why did you vote for him twice johnnymac? That is nuts!

popsecret, it is well known that most Republican/conservative men are not crazy, but that they are repressed latent homosexuals. Which is fine but very sad. They spend so much time thinking about boys kissing, holding hands, cuddling, getting married, etc., that they have to write laws to keep their own deep dark shame hidden from the world. They spend their time ranting about gay people getting married while secretly foottapping their wide stances through the sad men's rooms of airports and the FFA. You should think very HARD about that, take a LONG look in the mirror, and try not to be THICK about what you see and feel, and maybe realize that even someone like **** Cheney believes that gays should have equal rights.

stopped reading after that

Most people aren't homosexuals and that goes for conservative men too.

I bet you did, nancy.

 

[Smack Tripper]

Maybe this has been covered but wasn't be born in canada? How is he eligible?

 

[Koya]

Maybe this has been covered but wasn't be born in canada? How is he eligible?

The transitive value of America's hat.

 

[Jack White]

Ted Cruz is an honest, honorable, intelligent leader of men and would make a fine president.

 

[SHIZNITTTT]

Canada/Kenya I don't get it? IF having an American parent makes you eligible why all the hoopla over Obama and those crazy birthers?

 

[FlapJacks]

Canada/Kenya I don't get it? IF having an American parent makes you eligible why all the hoopla over Obama and those crazy birthers?

Per the laws on the books at the time, Obamas mother wouldn't have been old enough to confer citizenship on her child...

 

[Johnnymac]

This guy belongs in a psych ward. How do we elect people like this?

Lmao.

The media brainwashing has clearly gotten to JohnnyMac.

Hey Mac, tell us about how rush limbaugh is crazy too, or any conservative for that matter.

Btw Obama was elected twice. Why did you vote for him twice johnnymac? That is nuts!

What media brainwashing are you referring to? Perhaps I should tune in to Fox news because they dont do any of that sort of thing. Yes, I voted for Obama. Perhaps you would like to explain why that is so awful.

 

[badmojo1006]

Ted Cruz is an honest, honorable, intelligent leader of men and would make a fine president.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

Canada/Kenya I don't get it? IF having an American parent makes you eligible why all the hoopla over Obama and those crazy birthers?

Per the laws on the books at the time, Obamas mother wouldn't have been old enough to confer citizenship on her child...

This never made any sense, federal laws don't override the Constitution. If you're natural born because that means you are born inside the USA so Cruz is not eligible. If natural born means having a US parent even if you're born in France then that means even a Frenchman can be president. I think we can all agree that this means that Schwarzenegger cannot be president and we're all glad about that.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

It really cracks me up that there are Republicans/conservatives who would support blocking Obama becoming/being president if the birth certificate had confirmed their suspicions and yet will support Cruz on the same basis.

And it cracks me up that there are Democrats/liberals/progressives who decried political operatives who used the Kenyan birth idea but they will support Hillary Clinton who is hand in glove tied up with Sidney Blumenthal who first floated it during the Democratic primaries 2007-08.

 

[SeveredHorseHeads]

Ted Cruz is an honest, honorable, intelligent leader of men and would make a fine president.

 

[bigbottom]

Canada/Kenya I don't get it? IF having an American parent makes you eligible why all the hoopla over Obama and those crazy birthers?

Per the laws on the books at the time, Obamas mother wouldn't have been old enough to confer citizenship on her child...

This never made any sense, federal laws don't override the Constitution. If you're natural born because that means you are born inside the USA so Cruz is not eligible. If natural born means having a US parent even if you're born in France then that means even a Frenchman can be president. I think we can all agree that this means that Schwarzenegger cannot be president and we're all glad about that.

If natural born citizen means that you are a citizen at birth pursuant to applicable law, then it makes complete sense. McCain was born in the Panama Canal Zone. He was a nevertheless a citizen at birth and thus a natural born citizen by the generally accepted (though not exclusive) interpretation of the phrase.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

At least you can say McCain was born on US territory, which the PCZ was.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

You have to say this is funny, the Obama debate raged on for what 4 years and here is a guy running for president we KNOW was born outside the country and it's 'whoops never mind nothing to see here.'

 

[Jack White]

Who cares where your next king was born?

Does that have any bearing whatsoever on what (s)he will do once in power?

 

[Mr. Retukes]

Canada/Kenya I don't get it? IF having an American parent makes you eligible why all the hoopla over Obama and those crazy birthers?

Per the laws on the books at the time, Obamas mother wouldn't have been old enough to confer citizenship on her child...

This never made any sense, federal laws don't override the Constitution. If you're natural born because that means you are born inside the USA so Cruz is not eligible. If natural born means having a US parent even if you're born in France then that means even a Frenchman can be president. I think we can all agree that this means that Schwarzenegger cannot be president and we're all glad about that.

The problem is that the Constitution did not define what "natural born" meant.

 

[Johnnymac]

Who cares where your next king was born?

Does that have any bearing whatsoever on what (s)he will do once in power?

If his name is Barack Obama, apparently it does matter.

 

[Mr. Retukes]

Canada/Kenya I don't get it? IF having an American parent makes you eligible why all the hoopla over Obama and those crazy birthers?

Per the laws on the books at the time, Obamas mother wouldn't have been old enough to confer citizenship on her child...

This never made any sense, federal laws don't override the Constitution. If you're natural born because that means you are born inside the USA so Cruz is not eligible. If natural born means having a US parent even if you're born in France then that means even a Frenchman can be president. I think we can all agree that this means that Schwarzenegger cannot be president and we're all glad about that.

If natural born citizen means that you are a citizen at birth pursuant to applicable law, then it makes complete sense. McCain was born in the Panama Canal Zone. He was a nevertheless a citizen at birth and thus a natural born citizen by the generally accepted (though not exclusive) interpretation of the phrase.

This law professor argues that McCain was not a "natural born citizen" based on the laws that existed in 1936.

 

[cstu]

Canada/Kenya I don't get it? IF having an American parent makes you eligible why all the hoopla over Obama and those crazy birthers?

Per the laws on the books at the time, Obamas mother wouldn't have been old enough to confer citizenship on her child...

This never made any sense, federal laws don't override the Constitution. If you're natural born because that means you are born inside the USA so Cruz is not eligible. If natural born means having a US parent even if you're born in France then that means even a Frenchman can be president. I think we can all agree that this means that Schwarzenegger cannot be president and we're all glad about that.

If natural born citizen means that you are a citizen at birth pursuant to applicable law, then it makes complete sense. McCain was born in the Panama Canal Zone. He was a nevertheless a citizen at birth and thus a natural born citizen by the generally accepted (though not exclusive) interpretation of the phrase.

'Natural born' was never clearly defined in the Constitution.

The Naturalization Act of 1790 defined it "The Naturalization Act of 1790 stated that "the children of citizens of the United States, that may be born beyond sea, or out of the limits of the United States, shall be considered as natural born citizens: Provided, That the right of citizenship shall not descend to persons whose fathers have never been resident in the United States."

In 1904, Frederick van Dyne (1861–1915), the Assistant Solicitor of the US Department of State (1900–1907) (and subsequently a diplomat), published a textbook, Citizenship of the United States, in which he said: "There is no uniform rule of international law covering the subject of citizenship. Every nation determines for itself who shall, and who shall not, be its citizens.... By the law of the United States, citizenship depends, generally, on the place of birth; nevertheless the children of citizens, born out of the jurisdiction of the United States, are also citizens...."

Ronald Rotunda, Professor of Law at Chapman University, has remarked "There's [sic] some people who say that both parents need to be citizens. That's never been the law."[51] As a further example, in an unpublished New York decision, Strunk v. N.Y. State Board of Elections (Kings Cnty Supreme Ct., April 11, 2012) 35 Misc.3d 1208(A), 2012 N.Y. Slip Op. 50614(U), 950 N.Y.S.2d 722 (table), 2012 N.Y.Misc. LEXIS 1635, 2012 WL 1205117, the pro se plaintiff challenged Obama's presence on the presidential ballot, based on his own interpretation that "natural born citizen" required the president "to have been born on United States soil and have two United States born parents." (emphasis added) To which the Court responded, " Article II, section 1, clause 5 does not state this. No legal authority has ever stated that the Natural Born Citizen clause means what plaintiff Strunk claims it says. .... Morever, President Obama is the sixth U.S. President to have had one or both of his parents not born on U.S. soil." [listing Andrew Jackson, James Buchanan, Chester A. Arthur, Woodrow Wilson, and Herbert Hoover].[52]

Jackson - both parents born in Ireland and only in U.S. for two years before his birth.

Buchanan - his family emigrated a decade to the U.S. a decade before his birth.

Arthur - father born in Ireland and moved to the U.S. five years before his birth. Arthur apparently lied about his father's citizenship.

Wilson - mother born in England and family moved to Canada when she was 9.

Hoover - mother born in Canada.

 

[bigbottom]

You have to say this is funny, the Obama debate raged on for what 4 years and here is a guy running for president we KNOW was born outside the country and it's 'whoops never mind nothing to see here.'

Cruz was a U.S. Citizen at birth. If Obama had been born in Kenya, he wouldn't have been.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

You have to say this is funny, the Obama debate raged on for what 4 years and here is a guy running for president we KNOW was born outside the country and it's 'whoops never mind nothing to see here.'

Cruz was a U.S. Citizen at birth. If Obama had been born in Kenya, he wouldn't have been.

If you use the Cruz Rule, why wouldn't Obama have been a US citizen? His mother was American.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

Canada/Kenya I don't get it? IF having an American parent makes you eligible why all the hoopla over Obama and those crazy birthers?

Per the laws on the books at the time, Obamas mother wouldn't have been old enough to confer citizenship on her child...

This never made any sense, federal laws don't override the Constitution. If you're natural born because that means you are born inside the USA so Cruz is not eligible. If natural born means having a US parent even if you're born in France then that means even a Frenchman can be president. I think we can all agree that this means that Schwarzenegger cannot be president and we're all glad about that.

If natural born citizen means that you are a citizen at birth pursuant to applicable law, then it makes complete sense. McCain was born in the Panama Canal Zone. He was a nevertheless a citizen at birth and thus a natural born citizen by the generally accepted (though not exclusive) interpretation of the phrase.

'Natural born' was never clearly defined in the Constitution.

The Naturalization Act of 1790 defined it "The Naturalization Act of 1790 stated that "the children of citizens of the United States, that may be born beyond sea, or out of the limits of the United States, shall be considered as natural born citizens: Provided, That the right of citizenship shall not descend to persons whose fathers have never been resident in the United States."

In 1904, Frederick van Dyne (1861–1915), the Assistant Solicitor of the US Department of State (1900–1907) (and subsequently a diplomat), published a textbook, Citizenship of the United States, in which he said: "There is no uniform rule of international law covering the subject of citizenship. Every nation determines for itself who shall, and who shall not, be its citizens.... By the law of the United States, citizenship depends, generally, on the place of birth; nevertheless the children of citizens, born out of the jurisdiction of the United States, are also citizens...."

Ronald Rotunda, Professor of Law at Chapman University, has remarked "There's [sic] some people who say that both parents need to be citizens. That's never been the law."[51] As a further example, in an unpublished New York decision, Strunk v. N.Y. State Board of Elections (Kings Cnty Supreme Ct., April 11, 2012) 35 Misc.3d 1208(A), 2012 N.Y. Slip Op. 50614(U), 950 N.Y.S.2d 722 (table), 2012 N.Y.Misc. LEXIS 1635, 2012 WL 1205117, the pro se plaintiff challenged Obama's presence on the presidential ballot, based on his own interpretation that "natural born citizen" required the president "to have been born on United States soil and have two United States born parents." (emphasis added) To which the Court responded, " Article II, section 1, clause 5 does not state this. No legal authority has ever stated that the Natural Born Citizen clause means what plaintiff Strunk claims it says. .... Morever, President Obama is the sixth U.S. President to have had one or both of his parents not born on U.S. soil." [listing Andrew Jackson, James Buchanan, Chester A. Arthur, Woodrow Wilson, and Herbert Hoover].[52]

Jackson - both parents born in Ireland and only in U.S. for two years before his birth.

Buchanan - his family emigrated a decade to the U.S. a decade before his birth.

Arthur - father born in Ireland and moved to the U.S. five years before his birth. Arthur apparently lied about his father's citizenship.

Wilson - mother born in England and family moved to Canada when she was 9.

Hoover - mother born in Canada.

Arthur was the one I know, he was born on the Canadian border.

 

[bigbottom]

You have to say this is funny, the Obama debate raged on for what 4 years and here is a guy running for president we KNOW was born outside the country and it's 'whoops never mind nothing to see here.'

Cruz was a U.S. Citizen at birth. If Obama had been born in Kenya, he wouldn't have been.

If you use the Cruz Rule, why wouldn't Obama have been a US citizen? His mother was American.

Under the law in effect at the time, she wasn't old enough to confer citizenship on a child born abroad to a non-citizen father.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

You have to say this is funny, the Obama debate raged on for what 4 years and here is a guy running for president we KNOW was born outside the country and it's 'whoops never mind nothing to see here.'

Cruz was a U.S. Citizen at birth. If Obama had been born in Kenya, he wouldn't have been.

If you use the Cruz Rule, why wouldn't Obama have been a US citizen? His mother was American.

Under the law in effect at the time, she wasn't old enough to confer citizenship on a child born abroad to a non-citizen father.

All Presidents since and including Martin Van Buren were born in the United States subsequent to the Declaration of Inde[p.434]pendence. The only issue with regard to the qualifications set out in this clause, which appears to be susceptible of argument, is whether a child born abroad of American parents is “a natural born citizen” in the sense of the clause. Such a child is a citizen as a consequence of statute.94 Whatever the term “natural born” means, it no doubt does not include a person who is “naturalized.” Thus, the answer to the question might be seen to turn on the interpretation of the first sentence of the first section of the Fourteenth Amendment, providing that “[a]ll persons born or naturalized in the United States” are citizens.95 Significantly, however, Congress, in which a number of Framers sat, provided in the Naturalization act of 1790 that “the children of citizens of the United States, that may be born beyond the sea, . . . shall be considered as natural born citizens. . . .”96 This phrasing followed the literal terms of British statutes, beginning in 1350, under which persons born abroad, whose parents were both British subjects, would enjoy the same rights of inheritance as those born in England; beginning with laws in 1709 and 1731, these statutes expressly provided that such persons were natural–born subjects of the crown.

https://www.law.cornell.edu/anncon/html/art2frag5_user.html#art2_sec1cl5

I don't think Congress gets to go around defining and redefining what is Free Speech. It would have been ridiculous to exclude Obama as not NB just because his mother was say 20 and not 21 at the time.

 

[bigbottom]

You have to say this is funny, the Obama debate raged on for what 4 years and here is a guy running for president we KNOW was born outside the country and it's 'whoops never mind nothing to see here.'

Cruz was a U.S. Citizen at birth. If Obama had been born in Kenya, he wouldn't have been.

If you use the Cruz Rule, why wouldn't Obama have been a US citizen? His mother was American.

Under the law in effect at the time, she wasn't old enough to confer citizenship on a child born abroad to a non-citizen father.

All Presidents since and including Martin Van Buren were born in the United States subsequent to the Declaration of Inde[p.434]pendence. The only issue with regard to the qualifications set out in this clause, which appears to be susceptible of argument, is whether a child born abroad of American parents is a natural born citizen in the sense of the clause. Such a child is a citizen as a consequence of statute.94 Whatever the term natural born means, it no doubt does not include a person who is naturalized. Thus, the answer to the question might be seen to turn on the interpretation of the first sentence of the first section of the Fourteenth Amendment, providing that [a]ll persons born or naturalized in the United States are citizens.95 Significantly, however, Congress, in which a number of Framers sat, provided in the Naturalization act of 1790 that the children of citizens of the United States, that may be born beyond the sea, . . . shall be considered as natural born citizens. . . .96 This phrasing followed the literal terms of British statutes, beginning in 1350, under which persons born abroad, whose parents were both British subjects, would enjoy the same rights of inheritance as those born in England; beginning with laws in 1709 and 1731, these statutes expressly provided that such persons were naturalborn subjects of the crown.

https://www.law.cornell.edu/anncon/html/art2frag5_user.html#art2_sec1cl5

I don't think Congress gets to go around defining and redefining what is Free Speech. It would have been ridiculous to exclude Obama as not NB just because his mother was say 20 and not 21 at the time.

I think you're conflating two separate issues. One is what it means to be a "natural born" citizen, and the second is what it takes be a U.S. Citizen at the time of birth. Many, if not most, take the position that being a natural born citizen means being a U.S. citizen at the time of birth, though there is certainly debate on that point. Assuming that is the case (and I expressly made this assumption in my post above), the laws on the books as to what it takes to be a U.S. citizen at birth becomes very relevant. Under the laws in effect at the time Barack Obama would not have been a U.S. citizen at birth had he been born in Kenya. Had he been born in Kenya, it wouldn't have been ridiculous at all to suggest that he was ineligible for the presidency. On the other hand, under the laws in effect at the time, Cruz was a U.S. citizen at the time of his birth, even though he was born in Canada. That was the point I was making with respect to the two situations between Cruz and Obama, which are legally distinct (even assuming both were born abroad).

 

[SHIZNITTTT]

So can Obama be President?

 

[bentley]

Ted Cruz, Jeb Bush AND Rick Perry running are making the political reporters down here giddy with excitement.

 

[rascal]

I'm a registered replican, although i would have dropped that if I wasn't too lazy to do so, and the idea of Cruz as president scares the #### out of me. I'd seriously contemplate moving to a foreign country and ride out the storm. He will make bush look awesome.

 

[FlapJacks]

Canada/Kenya I don't get it? IF having an American parent makes you eligible why all the hoopla over Obama and those crazy birthers?

Per the laws on the books at the time, Obamas mother wouldn't have been old enough to confer citizenship on her child...

This never made any sense, federal laws don't override the Constitution. If you're natural born because that means you are born inside the USA so Cruz is not eligible. If natural born means having a US parent even if you're born in France then that means even a Frenchman can be president. I think we can all agree that this means that Schwarzenegger cannot be president and we're all glad about that.

McCain was born in Panama....

Natural born is not tightly defined, but the understanding is that it means being birn a citizen, as opposed to being born the citizen of another country and then emigrating here