The Unequal Presidency?

Article II Section 1 clause 5 "No person except a natural-born citizen or a citizen of the United States at he time of the Adoption of this Constituion shall be eligilbel to the office of the Presidency"
Let me see if I understand this clause correctly: Naturalized citizens like Albert Einstien cannot run for the presidency. But I could because I myself am not a naturalized citizen. Naturalized citizens can't but thier descendants can?
On the one hand I can understand the concern about Foriegn governments trying to take control or have undue influence. But really, if somone wants to be the President (or becomes the President) don't they have to swear to uphold the constitution and in general "support/take care of" the US? Then in my mind, being influenced by a foreign power would be going against that oath. So I am leaning towards allowing Naturalized citizens the opportunity.
But! People might also be uncomfortable if the person in question has not been here in the US for "long enough to understand the way the US works" . Maybe there could be a minimum amount of years a naturalized citizen would have to have been here in the US inorder to run for the Presidency.

MY Presidental Pardons

Well I know I would not pardon a turkey like Govenor Palin.
First would I use it? (If so who would be pardoned?) If I were president I would use the pardons only in the most extreme situations. (So I'd probably use it less than our current president has) What does extreme situation mean to me? I don't really know off the top of my head.
Tax evasion would not be excused especially considering the economical downturn.
But on the other hand, as Carley brought up in class: having those people in jail puts more economic strain on the taxpayers. So pardons help the economic downturn in some cases?
Then when I think about some of the recent pardons dealing with drugs, those people probably were just trying to get money for themselves or thier families and weren't getting enough through thier jobs. So could there be a way for those people to end up in a working type enviroment after they are pardoned? (so that they could stay out of trouble?)
So maybe I would pardon drug dealers with families on the outside... could I add the condition of them somehow getting a job or at least attempting to? probably not.....
But lets say a case of murder was brought up... I would have to see EVERYTHING before deciding a pardon....
This is a really difficult question.....Maybe it would be better to have a comittee set up to deal with pardons....But then who can't be baised about the crimes and will that take too much time?

Most Important Helper

Who is the most important helper to the president?
Right now I would say economic advisors are going to be the most important. I mean given the economic now titled "Crisis" we are facing all other problems fall to the wayside. Think about it...if people are not able to keep thier jobs or earn money then they can't support the troops abroad, they will have a hard time sending thier kids to school and college, they can't help people here in America after a natural distaster because they don't have the money or other resources to help. So I predict that our next president will be looking inward, to stablize the country as he starts his term.

McCain cedes defeat

I am listening to his speech after many people today told me that his speech was amazing. I am amazed...why couldn't he have spoken this way the entire campaign? It is very eloquent and moving. It is of course honorable, and most impressively speaking to the goal ahead of bringing our nation together. That shows, I think a great deal of patriotism to say "ok I lost, now lets move foreward and do our best for our country under the leader we now have."
I dislike the crowd. They keep booing about Obama & Biden commentary that McCain makes...his comments are good for crying out loud! And get over it, you voted you tried, follow McCain's example and move foreward.
But, I am very happy to see that McCain has the honor and humilty to cede defeat and not draw this out into a hinderance for the country. As I said before, that was an amazing speech. I actually listened to all of it (gasp) there's a surprise right?
So, I for one want to follow McCain's example. It's the future we are heading to, lets look that way.