Inauguration

Well, if there really were 3 million to 5 million illegal votes cast, then it would surely affect more than just the Presidential election. Every politician up and down the ballot was affected-- governors, Senators, mayors, all of them received a few of those 3 to 5 million votes. (FYI Trump's own lawyers insist there was no voter fraud on a grand scale.)

I typically disagree with Erick Erickson but he makes a crucial point: can 3 million people really be trusted to keep a secret?

I doubt it.

How about a constitutional amendment barring any person without any kind of elected government office from holding the presidency?

In the meantime, both major parties should agree that any candidate for the presidency in their primary/caucus process, must have held an elected government office at any level at least once. This would include such things as city council or country commissioner all the way up to state governor, House of Representatives or U.S. Senate.

By my count from FDR onwards, this would have disqualified only Eisenhower and the orange Golden Boy.

The intent is precisely to bar disasters-in-the-making like the orange man, but also to insure a bare minimum of actual, hands-on political experience.

Quote: Nareed

In the meantime, both major parties should agree that any candidate for the presidency in their primary/caucus process, must have held an elected government office at any level at least once. This would include such things as city council or country commissioner all the way up to state governor, House of Representatives or U.S. Senate.

While Trump's lack of experience is appalling, I think it's more appalling that he didn't release his tax returns. The Democratic Party should immediately enact a policy that starting in 2020, no Presidential candidate may receive the Democratic nomination without releasing their tax returns. If the GOP refuses to follow suit, so be it.

Quote: reno

While Trump's lack of experience is appalling, I think it's more appalling that he didn't release his tax returns. The Democratic Party should immediately enact a policy that starting in 2020, no Presidential candidate may receive the Democratic nomination without releasing their tax returns. If the GOP refuses to follow suit, so be it.

Was Obama's lack of experience as appalling? Obama had far less experience as Trump when he was elected. Voting "present" is not experience.

Quote: reno

While Trump's lack of experience is appalling, I think it's more appalling that he didn't release his tax returns.

I think it's most appalling he pledged to release them pending an audit, and didn't. Someone who tells you they are hiding something, are usually hiding something really, really bad.

Quote:

The Democratic Party should immediately enact a policy that starting in 2020, no Presidential candidate may receive the Democratic nomination without releasing their tax returns. If the GOP refuses to follow suit, so be it.

That's a good idea. It's so good, the chances it will be adopted are essentially nil.

It's not like the GOP or Golden Boy are the only people who dread transparency.

Quote: Nareed

That's a good idea. It's so good, the chances it will be adopted are essentially nil.

It's not like the GOP or Golden Boy are the only people who dread transparency.

Every Presidential candidate since Nixon has released their tax return, so in theory writing this requirement into the bylaws shouldn't be too controversial within the Democrat Party. (Especially since it puts the GOP in an awkward position in 2020. Trump will never ever ever release his tax returns, period.)

But Nareed, your point is valid: the Dems hate transparency, too.

Quote: reno

Every Presidential candidate since Nixon has released their tax return, so in theory writing this requirement into the bylaws shouldn't be too controversial within the Democrat Party. (Especially since it puts the GOP in an awkward position in 2020. Trump will never ever ever release his tax returns, period.)

But Nareed, your point is valid: the Dems hate transparency, too.

This is one issue where I agree with conservatives
All the past Presidents have released taxes because they thought it would help them get elected
Its a sign of honesty
It saddens me that Trump was elected without releasing his returns
Would I like to see him release the returns, of course.
But I don't want it to be a requirement to run for President

I remember talking to birthers at a Paul Ryan rally 4 1/2 years ago
My argument was let the American People decide if Obama should be President despite birthers weak proof
My argument stands, let the American people decide if Trump should be President despite him not releasing his taxes.

Quote: terapined

My argument stands, let the American people decide if Trump should be President despite him not releasing his taxes.

They did decide.

Quote: reno

Every Presidential candidate since Nixon has released their tax return, so in theory writing this requirement into the bylaws shouldn't be too controversial within the Democrat Party. (Especially since it puts the GOP in an awkward position in 2020. Trump will never ever ever release his tax returns, period.)

But Nareed, your point is valid: the Dems hate transparency, too.

There are two ways to look at it:

1) It wasn't a factor in 2016, how much of factor will it be in 2020?

2) Who knows what our candidate will want to hide in 2020.

So the Democrats won't pass such a rule.

BTW, Point 1) is wrong. Suppose the Dem candidate in 2020 doesn't release their tax returns. The fanboys, stoked by the Golden boy, will raise such a hue and cry and tear their vestments, that you'll think the Dem candidate beats up puppies with dead kittens prior to cooking babies for breakfast. And in the next breath they'll defend the orange man's continuing refusal to release his tax returns.

Quote: AZDuffman

They did decide.

I agree with you and conservatives on this issue
I look at each issue independently
Most times I side with libs
Sometimes I side with conservatives
I use my noggin :-)