The founders intent is clear. They did not want foreign kings or dictators to be able to claim that they were the legitimate president od the United States. Anyone that would argue that people like McCain who was born abroad to American parents who were serving their country would be laughed out of the room.

I know that many people like the idea of "President Schwarzeneggar" but the exemption should stand not because I think Arnold would be a horrible or dictatorial president and I think that, win or lose, he would have an interesting campaign.

The reason that Arnold should not be allowed to run is the precedent it would set that might allow the very scenario the founders were trying to avoid.

Sorry Arnold. You are the Governator of California and, in my opinion you've done a pretty good job (for a Republican) but you shouldn't be allowed a shot at the presidency. It's nothing personal.

I think the "natural born" requirement and the age requirement should be merged: only people who have been American citizens for 35 years should be eligible to be president.

If someone has been a citizen for 35 years, this nullifies the chance that such a person would or could be a foreign king or dictator.

Such a change would effectively give people who became naturalized citizens as small children the same opportunity as natural born citizens. Since citizens in this category are raised in and imbued with the same American values as natural born citizens, it's only right that they should have the same opportunity.

As for Arnold, he would be eligible under this rule in 2018, or just in time for the 2020 presidential election. Unfortunately for him, he would be 73 at that time.

Harrison Otis,

I like your idea. The 35 years of citizenship would seem to nullify any possibility of a takeover by a foreign despot. I don't know if it's worth Congress debating this issue when we have so many other more important issues to address.

Plus I don't know if we could get 2/3 of the states to vote for it either but who knows?

As for Arnold though? He would be pretty old but then so is McCain.

Yes, but there's another facet to this. Suppose someone was born in Albania, then came to the US, had a political career, and was elected President. His/her parents and many relatives were still living in Albania. Well, then there's a military coup in Albania, and a dictator is installed. He starts making anti-US threats. He claims to have a nuke. The President having family in Albania--and being from there--could certainly impact his/her ability to react in this situation.

Okay, yes, this is a farfetched scenario, but there are all sorts of ways someone born (and possibly raised) in another country might--deliberately or inadvertently--show favoritism to that country: economically, militarily... . I'm not saying this ought to necessitate maintaining the barrier on a foreign-born President, but it is something to think about.