Will Bill Clinton be the next Senator from NY?

[CK_John]

I hope the Gov of NY appoints Bill to fill out the remainder of Hillary's term, after she becomes President.

Several ex presidents went back to server in the Congress. Do you think he would be open to such an offer?

[aquart]

1. No, the First Husband can't hold a job any more than the First Lady.

Collusion and favoritism and separation of powers and all that.

He also can't have a cabinet post.

HOWEVER, because husband and wife are of one flesh, he can be sent abroad on diplomatic missions and do real well.

[SaveElmer]

2. MIght be bad PR...but there is no restriction against it...nt

[jcrew2001]

34. Would it be a constitutional issue?

I still don't like the idea of Bill returning to govt based on the 22nd. If he becomes Senator - which he isn't interested in, it will severely affect the 3 branches of govt - and it Should prompt a supreme court hearing.

Besides - RFK jr will be appointed to the senate seat, and bloomberg will run against him.

[SaveElmer]

79. None at all...and I think you know that...nt

[CK_John]

4. Only by tradition, no legal question that I know of. n/t

[aquart]

23. Ask a lawyer about the legal implications.

There doesn't have to be a law against it. There are laws against undue influence. Against favoritism. Against...but George does all that. He just didn't appoint relatives.

[onenote]

25. I'm a lawyer and I see no legal implications.

Its not Hillary that would be appointing him. It would be the Governor.

[William769]

18. Hillary Clinton was a sitting U.S. Senator and First lady at the same time.

Hillary Clinton took the oath of office January 3, 2001.

Bill Clinton left office January 20, 2001.

With that said I don't believe Bill Clinton would want to be a U.S. Senator.

[aquart]

22. Wow. A 17-day overlap.

Try not to cling to it.

[William769]

24. Doesn't matter if it was one day.

Disproved your post & thats all that mattered to me in this thread.

[MonkeyFunk]

32. who cares if it was 17 days or 8 years?

If there were any prohibition against the First Spouse serving in the Senate, you can be damned sure it would've been raised during those 17 days.

Your assertion that he couldn't be Senator if she were President is just wrong.

[jcrew2001]

35. I think the Supreme Court would have gotten involved if someone cared

to object - but since Clinton was leaving office anyways, it would have been a waste of everyone's time - esp if the trial wouldn't be until after he left office. Besides, was Congress even in session during January, i don't recall any serious laws passing. The Republicans were in the majority anyways, so they could have barred Hillary from doing things, if they felt there was conflict. But with the GWB coming in, I'm sure it was a moot point for the congress to pursue, especially if they had bigger legislative goals to work on.

[MonkeyFunk]

41. No

there is no constitutional prohibition on a First Spouse being elected to office. None. Zero. zip. Nada.

[jcrew2001]

45. Well someone will bring it to the Supreme Court

cuz its their job to decide whether its a constitutional issue or not - plus they are all GOPers, I wonder how they'll vote?

[MonkeyFunk]

47. It would never get to the supreme court

because it would be thrown out of the lowest court that considered it.

You honestly don't think the Republicans would've tried this in 2000 against Hillary, if there were ANY chance that the constitution prohibited it?

you seem to find a lot of very strange things in the constitution. I'm wondering if your copy is a misprint.

[jcrew2001]

50. Why would the Supreme Court throw out a challenge of the 22nd amendment

That's their job - to figure out what is allowed and not allowed per the Constitution - that's their only job.

In 2000, the Supreme cout already decided in favor of Bush - I don't think anyone was going to push their luck and create more media agitation on the comparatively-minor Hillary/Senate issue.

They were lucky enough that GWB got the presidency. No need getting hurt if the decision back-fired.

But if there was a serious conflict in January 2000, then the GOP Congress would have censured Hillary to prevent the conflict of interest.

Bill was leaving office - so his departure was in the best interest of the republic. There would have been 2 solutions - either removing Hillary or removing Bill. That's it, no need to contest it further.

[MonkeyFunk]

53. Censured Hillary?

22nd amendment?

You have absolutely no clue whatsoever what you're talking about.

[William769]

58. Thank you.

I believe the majority of DU said the same thing in another stupid thread, The OP of that thread will remain nameless.

[jcrew2001]

61. no, i think it was just the hill-raisers

haha

[William769]

64. Just keep laughing at yourself.

The majority in that thread were not for Hillary and would be offended by your comment. But they see stupidity when it's staring them in the face, and they took the OP to the wood shed.

[jcrew2001]

60. The congress can censure anyone they want

it would have taken time though.

[MonkeyFunk]

65. Censure her for WHAT?!?!

Getting elected? How stupid.

[jcrew2001]

68. The GOP congress could do anything they want - if they saw it as a

problem, they would have either brought a case to the supreme court for a ruling; or they could have used rules and regulations to censure or limit her activities. Andy Johnson was impeached for dubious reasons, so the Congress can do whatever they want, doesn't mean it will work.

[MonkeyFunk]

69. You're just wrong

about so many things.

[jcrew2001]

71. There are many examples of Congress censure or disciplining members

do you think they wouldn't try it if it helped their cause?

[MonkeyFunk]

78. Yes

for actually DOING something.

Being elected is NOT something they'd censure a member over.

God, where do you GET your ideas?

[jcrew2001]

82. i'm sure they can make up a reason or conveniently find a reason

nt

[William769]

44. I'll give you credit for one thing, your consistent.

[jcrew2001]

46. The Supreme Court will be used to prevent Bill or Hillary from being elected

if you saw what happened in 2000, you'll know what the Supreme Court is capable of.

[William769]

52. Like I said, consistent.

[jcrew2001]

56. Let me refresh your memory - Bush got 5 votes, Gore got 4 votes

and Bush became president.

[William769]

57. What does that have to do with the price of tea in China?

[jcrew2001]

62. Well William - sometimes the Supreme Court steps in and

gives the election to the GOP, despite popular opinion to the contrary.

[SaveElmer]

3. Actually I think only one ex-pres served in Congress...

After their Presidential term...J.Q. Adams...

[CK_John]

6. I thought A Jackson served also, maybe not. n/t

[SaveElmer]

7. No...

Not post-Presidency...

He did serve in the Senate before...and hated it...

[BOSSHOG]

12. President Johnson (17th) returned to the senate after

serving as president.

[Capn Sunshine]

19. and after being impeached.

so there's THAT precedent

[SlipperySlope]

9. House, Senate, and Chief Justice

After their presidencies:

John Quincy Adams served in the House
Andrew Johnson served in the Senate
William Howard Taft was Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

So, there is certainly precedent for going on to serve in another part of the government.

[SaveElmer]

15. Forgot about Johnson...

Course he wasn't actually elected, but selected by the state Leg...

Taft I knew about...was restricting my comments to Congress...

[Freddie Stubbs]

5. Only two Presidents served in Congress after the White House

John Quincy Adams and Andrew Johnson.

[Recursion]

13. Tyler was elected to the CSA Congress

but that probably doesn't count.

Also, Taft served on the Supreme Court after his Presidency.

[question everything]

8. Why would he want to be one of 100,

be the junior senator who has to keep quiet and learn the rules of the games when he has spent all of his political life as being his own boss?

No, he'd rather continue to travel the world for worth causes, raise money and just have fun on his own terms.

[Deep13]

10. No, it will still be HRC.

Bu they can both watch as Fred Thompson is sworn in. We really suck at picking nominees. :(

[CK_John]

16. Na, Fred is auditioning for Cheney's gig. n/t

[dave_p]

11. Doubt it

Who cares?

2007 now. 2009 by then. It doesn't go backward.

[jobycom]

14. Why? He'd have more power being the president's main squeeze (in a legal sense...)

No telling who would really be squeezing who...

Spitzer would appoint someone who could win the seat on their own as an incumbent and serve two more terms, I would think. Bill would be running around the world trying to convince them that America had woken up from its nightmare and was receiving treatment for its personality disorder.

[William769]

17. self delete.

Posted in the wrong place.

[Red Zelda]

20. Cool

Then we could get Chelsea and Socks and Bill's car and ... C'MON! Can we please have new blood in this fucking government?????
No more Clinton. No more Bush. No more Roosevelt, Taft or Kennedy for that matter. Jay-sus.

[William769]

21. Heres a wild idea.

Lets leave it up to the voting public.

[lojasmo]

26. No. EOM

[TeamJordan23]

27. I'm hoping for RFK Jr.

There has some talk about taking that position.

[jcrew2001]

38. Hey i always talk about RFK Jr, he wants it and Cuomo's too young

and no one likes him, esp not his ex-wife. It'll be RFK Jr - time to figure out why the CIA killed his father and uncle.

[MonkeyFunk]

28. I doubt it

Andrew Cuomo would be a likely choice, though.

[AZBlue]

29. I'd rather see him as ambassador or to continue in a role like the one he has now.

He can do much more good in either of those positions.

[CK_John]

31. It would only be for her first term and take the spot light off him instead of haunting the W H. n/t

[ContraBass Black]

30. He has more exciting things to do with his life.

[jcrew2001]

33. I still think its pseudo-illegal for Bill to serve as First Husband

due to the intent of the 22nd Amendment. We either need to get rid of the 22nd amendment or bar Bill from the white house permanently. Or make Hillary ineligible to serve as president.

[tammywammy]

37. You can think that all you want, but it's still not true

[jcrew2001]

48. We'll see what the GOP supreme court decides

haha

[CK_John]

39. How about Senator from NY, if he promises to room with Schumer.

[jcrew2001]

42. It should go to RFK jr and again the Supreme Court will intervene and

prevent Bill from serving in the Congress if Hillary is president. There are too many conflict of issues, separation of branches - it would be a constitutional disaster, for Bill to grossly manipulate and destroy our govt in that fashion. But some people think we work better in a dictatorship, so maybe it will be a good thing if Bill is in control of the senate and Hillary in the white house.

[MonkeyFunk]

49. You believe a lot of funny things.

[jcrew2001]

51. Maybe you're scared that the Supreme Court will jump in

and stop it.

[MonkeyFunk]

54. Why would I be scared of that?

It has zero chance of happening, your bizarre beliefs to the contrary.

[jcrew2001]

59. Just like the voting machines in Ohio and Florida have zero chance of failure

But then again, you are a Hillary supporter, so "she should win by a landslide"

[MonkeyFunk]

66. I haven't yet chosen

my candidate, but Hillary Clinton is among the possibilities.

Nonetheless, the constitution has no prohibition whatsoever on the spouse of a President serving in the congress. That's why Hillary was allowed to be a Senator while also serving as first Lady in 2000.

[jcrew2001]

70. Why do you ignore the possibility that the Supreme Court can get involved

with anything it chooses to, despite popular opinion. In 2000, the Supreme Court gave the election to Bush, despite popular opinion.

if it was worthwhile to fight a court battle against Hillary in 2000, it would have been done - but it would have gotten a lot of negative press, so no one bothered. Besides Bill was leaving office, so the conflict of interest was minimal.

If a future scenario of a First Lady/Senator serving directly while her Husband is president - I would bet my house that someone will challenge it in the Supreme Court. First, (1) why would a first lady want to participate both in the 'executive branch' and serve in the senate. (2) The only rational explanation would be for the Executive branch to manipulate the Legislative Branch in an open and potentially un-constitutional way.

I'm believe that the Branches of Govt should have MORE separation of powers, and not less.

[MonkeyFunk]

72. Because

there is NO CONSTITUTIONAL PROHIBITION!!!!!

And I'm done having the asinine argument over the First Lady actually serving in the executive branch.

You're just so insanely, stupidly, unbelievably WRONG, and the fun has long since subsided.

[jcrew2001]

74. Yet you ignore the motive of the First Lady serving as a Senator

which would in fact enlarge the President's power over the Congress. Don't you think that would be a problem?

Its not the duties of the First Lady i'm concerned with, its the actual unwritten power that everyone should be concerned with.

If you think that the First lady has no official duty - then why do all the Hill-raisers explain that Hillary "served 8 years in the white house as co-president" - when by all official accounts, she did NOTHING, and accomplished NOTHING.

[CK_John]

77. What are you talking about?

[CK_John]

76. Your point 1 is less than truthful. These are separate people and currently

live mostly separate lives and have separate interests. Also, the SC doesn't select causes but only got the Fl case after an appealed state court ruling.

[jcrew2001]

80. But couldn't someone like the ACLU bring up

the case to the supreme court?

[draft_mario_cuomo]

36. Mario Cuomo should get the seat if HRC manages to win nt

[jcrew2001]

40. maybe he'll get supreme court - oh wait, he alrady turned that down

nt

[MonkeyFunk]

55. Mario is far too old

for that. His son would be a good choice, though.

[draft_mario_cuomo]

63. Is Andrew as progressive as Mario?

I don't know much about Andrew.

Mario's age could be an asset. Mario could serve out the remainder of the term and then allow an open primary to determine the "permanent", if you will, replacement for HRC's seat in 2012. If RFK Jr. or Andrew Cuomo gets the seat they will likely occupy it for 20-30 years. Should a governor decide who retains the seat for that long or should the voters?

[MonkeyFunk]

67. I saw Mario

say on TV at least 6 years ago that he was too old for politics.

[jcrew2001]

73. Maybe spitzer will just appoint himself

and let Andy have the governorship.

[ddeclue]

43. Why is Charles Schumer resigning?

:rofl:

It won't be because Hillary will be living in the White House...

:rofl:

[salin]

75. doubtful.

One has to go pretty far back in history to find a president who has gone on, after their presidential term(s) to serve in Congress. I can't imagine that he would be open to such an offer.

[jcrew2001]

81. Bill will be satisfied that his legacy will be First Husband

instead of 42nd president.