Can Santorum win?

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by nikimcbee

No. He just quit.
http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/201...-announcement/

I remember a refrain from Porgy and Bess: "He's gone gone gone gone gone gone gone."



http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-17671077

[geetrue]

Okay, so he quit ... I went out on a limb, but my God is a pun artist.

Santorum still won because he said Obama would make a better president than Romney.

All Obama has to do now is run all the wishy washy, flip flopping quotes and statements that Romney has made.

If Obama wins start digging

[soopaman2]

Mc Cain is a great example Vienna.

I listened to him for years on Don Imus' show, before Sharpton got to him and emasculated him(Imus), and he always seemed more understanding and willing to work for the common good.
When the establishment got there hands on him in 2008 and began to mold him in the "proper conservative" image, he lost himself alot of the independant voters. Palin was simply a response to the democratic popularity of Hilary, and a nail in the coffin for many "swing voters" like myself who votes for the best available, rather than based on a consonant by the name.

It is a shame, I have an immense amount of respect for Mr. McCain, for his stellar war record, and as a senator who was willing to work across the aisle for the greater good.

Bush Jr is actually considered moderate compared to the current GOP field. He at least had a human aura about him.

This smashing is not only reserved to the GOP mind you.

The main problem is, that the "party leaders" who are simply leaders and not elected by us, yet dictate the proper ideology for all the monkeys who bear the mark of D or R.

Be something other than us (like a wretched independant, or tree humping green partier) and we will bury you, with our Wall Street, big Pharma, and Monsanto funded PACS.

I am voting for a constitutional convention.

Can I still say that? I'll e-mail from Guantanimo.

[Penguin]

Sanatorium is out of the race?
A good day for the US, a sad day for all comedians and cartoonists, worldwide...



Looks like I won't get an answer to this question soon:
Can the SCOTUS deny someone becoming POTUS because he's unconstitutional?

[Rockstar]

Originally Posted by Penguin

Sanatorium is out of the race?
A good day for the US, a sad day for all comedians and cartoonists, worldwide...



Looks like I won't get an answer to this question soon:
Can the SCOTUS deny someone becoming POTUS because he's unconstitutional?

Abe Lincoln was from Iran?



.

[August]

Originally Posted by Penguin

Looks like I won't get an answer to this question soon:
Can the SCOTUS deny someone becoming POTUS because he's unconstitutional?

What do you mean by unconstitutional? Not being qualified to serve or by his subsequent actions?

[mookiemookie]

The lesson learned here is that God really stinks at handicapping presidential primaries.

[August]

Originally Posted by mookiemookie

The lesson learned here is that God really stinks at handicapping presidential primaries.

That's your take away?

[mookiemookie]

Originally Posted by August

That's your take away?

[Buddahaid]

I have the right to call my boss a child molesting big dick in public. Would he be wrong for firing me?

[Platapus]

Originally Posted by Penguin

Looks like I won't get an answer to this question soon:
Can the SCOTUS deny someone becoming POTUS because he's unconstitutional?

Your question is not worded very clear. How can a person be "unconstitutional"?

Each candidate for President has to originally register with their individual state board of elections. It is the state board that establishes eligibility for that election. Challenges for eligibility go back to the specific state board of elections. The FEC focuses on financial matters, not eligibility matters.

I am not aware of any circumstance where a candidate's eligibility would ever get to the Supreme Court of the United States.

The SCotUS only has original jurisdiction in accordance to 28 USC section 1251 and focuses primarily with disagreements between states.

After a person is elected President, the they can only be removed through Impeachment by the House and conviction by the Senate. The Supreme Court (specifically the Chief Justice) only gets involved if the impeachment is against the President. The rest of the Justices are not involved.

Does any of this answer your question? If not, could you please be a little more specific. I will be glad to get the answer back to you.

[Platapus]

Originally Posted by Buddahaid

I have the right to call my boss a child molesting big dick in public. Would he be wrong for firing me?

I don't know whether it would be right or wrong for him to fire you, but whether it is legal depends on the state. If you are in what is known as a "at-will employment" state, yes he can legally fire you. If you don't live in one of those states, it would be up to the specific legislation of that state.

[Penguin]

Originally Posted by Platapus

Your question is not worded very clear. How can a person be "unconstitutional"?

Each candidate for President has to originally register with their individual state board of elections. It is the state board that establishes eligibility for that election. Challenges for eligibility go back to the specific state board of elections. The FEC focuses on financial matters, not eligibility matters.

I am not aware of any circumstance where a candidate's eligibility would ever get to the Supreme Court of the United States.

The SCotUS only has original jurisdiction in accordance to 28 USC section 1251 and focuses primarily with disagreements between states.

After a person is elected President, the they can only be removed through Impeachment by the House and conviction by the Senate. The Supreme Court (specifically the Chief Justice) only gets involved if the impeachment is against the President. The rest of the Justices are not involved.

Does any of this answer your question? If not, could you please be a little more specific. I will be glad to get the answer back to you.

My question was a lame joke attempt, referring to Santorum's urge to attack the separation between religion and state. So if he had the chance to act out on this, he would attempt to violate fundamental constitutional principles (or in this case violate the Bill Of Rights)

In the German constitution, the first paragraphs enjoy a special protection and are not eligible to be changed (basically the paragraphs concerning basic human rights, but also the separation of power). Due to the German history, there is also a right of resistance against any entity that tries to change that. So in this case, the German head of the state could be impeached.

Thanks for your extensive answer though.
As you encouraged me to ask: What would be the role of the Chief Justice in the case of an impeachment? And could the state board deny someone to become eligible as the President when for example he runs on the platform to abolish the Congress and establish a dictatorship?

[August]

Originally Posted by Penguin

What would be the role of the Chief Justice in the case of an impeachment?

I can answer this one. The Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court presides over the impeachment trial which is held by the US Senate and prosecuted by the House of Representatives.

[Platapus]

Originally Posted by Penguin

What would be the role of the Chief Justice in the case of an impeachment? And could the state board deny someone to become eligible as the President when for example he runs on the platform to abolish the Congress and establish a dictatorship?

Excellent questions.

1. The chief justice would preside over the trial (senate) portion of the impeachment process. This relieves the Vice President (the President of the Senate) from an uncomfortable position.

2. Your second question is one near and dear to me as I actually wrote a paper on that in my doctorate studies.

Article 2 of the constitution lists the qualifications for president. The eligible candidate for President can campaign on what ever platform he or she chooses. There is nothing preventing a POTUS candidate from running on a platform of abolishing the constitution. It would be a dumb thing to do but legal. Presidential candidates still maintain their first amendment rights.

When the candidate actually becomes President, he or she has to swear an oath verbally, and in writing,

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

Only if the President actually commits a "high crime or misdemeanor" can he or she be removed from office. Since the President is not granted power to abolish the Constitution (actually no one has that authority, only congress has the power to append), any action the President would take to abolish the constitution would be considered a crime and he or she would be prevented from doing it.

So, no, a State Board of Elections can not deny eligibility due to a platform. A Candidate can run on any platform he or she wants and their platform can be as insane as they choose it to be. It is actions, after he or she becomes president that they are legally accountable for.

This is why in Presidential elections, when ever a candidate says "if I am elected I will change X". The first question the voter needs to ask is: Does the President have the authority to actually change X? If not, then most likely what the candidate really should say is "if you elect me, I will ask congress to change X or ask congress to give me the authority to change X". Most likely congress won't do that.

This is one of the reasons Ron Paul would not work out as President. Sure he wants to change a lot, but as President he does not have the authority to implement many of his desired changes. No. Dr. Paul, if elected, would have to persuade congress to implement the changes he wants.

This is why, in my opinion, the number one qualification for President is the demonstrated ability to "make the deal" with congress. Without congressional support, the POTUS is SOL on a great many issues.