Can it be? I simply cannot believe it
After being notified of a movement that has started in the grass roots, but has spread like wildfire from there, a question has come to my mind. I am asking myself - Is it possible to be President of the United States while living outside the country?
Check this video:
I mean, if my country needs me, what can I say, how could I turn it down? Yet, honestly, I do not want to go back and live in the United States again. I love living in the Philippines, and it would be hard for me to leave.
Leave a comment and let me know two things:
1. Can I still live in the Philippines if I accept the honor?
2. Do I have your support if I decide to make the run a reality?
There was so much debate about my post on Friday about Transportation Fares, I figure that a lot of people must have decided that I had the economic know-how to straighten out the economy and get things moving again. I am honored with such a reaction!
Great job Bob. Very funny and realistic. You got my vote for creativity. Amazing the things you can do with graphics. Now can we do something with money. I’m running a little short so I am thinking maybe you can drum some up for me with your graphica department. Do that and I’ll carry you to the Presidency myself. LOL
That is awesome! Good stuff!
Hi Richard Wicky - yes, I thought I was also very funny. Actually, I didn’t really do it myself. There’s just a website where you can go enter your name and the video is mass-produced. I actually found out about it from fellow columnist John Grant, he had e-mailed me a link to a video like that that he made about himself. Yes, computers are indeed amazing.
Hi Kerry - yes, I thought it was good for a laugh. I guess this week. I’ll make my column a little bit light on Monday morning!
hello bob
i think u could return to davao after you make your campain run,
i know you would have my support if you run for president,hmmmm need a finance advisor?? hahahaha
salamat bob
Hi Ron W - actually, come to think about it, I have no doubt that I can return home to Davao. After I get off the plane and announce my candidacy, once everybody finishes laughing I can just get back on that same plane and go home!
Hello Bob,
Who says you have to move, when you are president just get Airforce1 to pick up once a week. When you do your speach to the nation just make sure you have a picture of the White House garden behind you, make sure your speaches are not too long as it may give away the secret service agent has not moved for sometime.
Enjoyed the clip and thought it was well done.
It would be good to do a column on the lighter side of life in the Philippines.
Steven
Hi Ellen -
Hi Steven - maybe I could just proclaim Mindanao as the 51st state and be done with it!
What a stunning idea, maybe I should run in SA, or change citizenship, then I can be on your admin staff, given my talent for spelling I would be great???
One of the elections in SA a party registered as the “party party” they promised bigger parties etc. Was really silly. But they did get votes?
Very good start to the week. Have fun
Hi Carolynn - Work on your spelling, Carolynn - I’m planning to put you in as the Secretary of Education!
Seriously, you should not worry about your spelling… it is fine!
You have my vote, Bob. There’s nothing in the Constitution that prevents this (and you know I am a strict constructionist) and every president since Eisenhower’s time has had his “alternative White House” in some out of the way place that costs the tax payer’s a fortune to fly him back and forth from continuously, catering to his every whim, so why not?
You are eminently more qualified than either of the current front runners (you have both held a job in the real world and more importantly been an entrepreneur who has succeeded) which puts you in a class by yourself.
Save me a cabinet post, buddy. I want Secretary of Education. I’ll spend the first term going ’round the country and firing all teachers who can’t answer the question, “Quick, name a country that starts with a ‘U’” … when we fill the slots of all the ones fired you’ll have good fodder for the second term … “No other president has created as many professional-level jobs than I have”
Hi Dave Starr - Oh boy, this politics stuff ain’t no fun!
I just promised Sec of Education to Carolynn. She’s from South Africa - do you think that’s OK? Heck, if you are the President, I guess anything’s OK! So, the Sec of Education is already taken, Dave. How about a Seat on the Supreme Court? You know, I haven’t announced my Vice Presidential candidate yet!
Of course, the 32nd Vice President of the United States, John Nance Garner is famous for a quote: “The Vice Presidency is worth as much as a bucket of warm spit.” You better scrap those Vice Presidential thoughts, Dave!
Great stuff Bob
Obama said he was going to visit all 57 states, maybe you’re living in one of his extra 7 states and don’t know it.
Hi Lonnie - Ha ha… I didn’t know that he said that! Let’s see… he is in Afghanistan right now, or did he leave already? Do you think they are one of the “57″?
If you give the Irish a vote there Bob, you can count on mine
Hi Jack - You know that I am of Irish heritage, so why not? Ha ha… only one problem I have to figure out. How can I institute Irish voting before I get elected? Save your vote for my second term!
Hi Bob - I happen to know of a White House that you could use. Real close by. Needs a little repair. A few issues with ownership and all, but hardly ever used. I’m sure you could work something out.
I’d be interested in being an Ambassador to the Philippines (maybe I can get to Samal a little quicker than originally thought). That’s a pretty important post, isn’t it?
Hi Randy C - hey, that’s a good idea, I forgot about the White House on Samal! Ambassador to the Philippines? You want that? You got it. I’m going to fill you name in.
I just had a vision of the white house with barbeque stalls and halo-halo venders out the front
. Also if you think Feyma has a lot of relatives now, imagine how many more would come out of the woodwork if you were president 
Best of luck to you, you have my vote, but somehow I don’t think my Aussie vote would count
Hi anthony - I never thought about the family situation, with relatives coming out of the woodwork! oh….. what will I do?
Now, this is serious….. no joke - Did you know that the head chef at the White House is a Filipina? It’s true! She took over during George Bush’s term. I wouldn’t doubt that Halo Halo has indeed been served at the White House! Of course, it would be some real upscale halo halo, though!
Hi Bob,
You can give Dave the Sec of education. I have just spent the morning at Davoa Medical Centre (trying to volunteer) so I think I now qualify as the sec for Health and Development. Will have my certificate printed up later when I go shopping.
THose voting for “MINDANAO BOB” say I. Are you looking a Secretery of Confusion? I am well qualified.
Just think what would do for the local econmomy.
Instead of having Camp David you have Camp Davao. Have several armour plated jeepnies with airconditioning and a onboard liquor bar. Areas of improvement need to be suspension and softer seats, you know what politicions are like, you have to keep the seats soft for their brains.
Steven
With todays instant world communications as it is you really could run nearly anything from anywhere. You would probably save the taxpayers millions by running the country from your home in Mindanao too !
One thing for sure, any information or advice I have recieved from Bob Martin has always had the highest degree of accuracy so I would have to say Yes I would vote for Bob Martin For President ! Go for it Mindanao Bob !
Hello Bob,
Great job on the video, for a few minutes there,you had me hook , line and sinker. Say , where can I get a hold of some bumper stickers?
Hi Carolynn - OK, Secretary of Health and Human Services. It’s yours!
Hi Steven - Secretary of Confusion? That will be a new cabinet post! Camp Davao? I like the sound!
Hi Bob New York - I’m going to make you my Press Secretary, Bob. You are good at issuing releases of information and such, and your video slide shows are great too!
Hi Julius - For a bumper sticker, just send a campaign contribution of $49.99.
If I must, i will throw my hat into the ring also. I’m volunteering for Secretary of the Interior, which takes care of everything outdoors.
With you as POTUS we’re a winning team.
Hi Hudson - You’re right, we are putting together a winning team! Watch out McCain and Obama!
Hey Bob you would mind providing that link. I have a close relative that needs an uplift and doing something like this for him would be just the ticket. thanks
Hi Richard Wicky - No problem, check here:
http://www.news3online.com/spread.php
you don’t need to assign me a cabinet seat, bob.
but i’d love it if you can exempt this citizen from paying taxes. that would be great. thanks in advance
by the way, does feyma already know about this? many a potential candidate have pulled out of the race because the spouse said no. remember, behind every great man…
Hi macky - I was really planning to put you into a slot having to do with Arts and Entertainment! But, if you don’t want the job, what can I say?
Feyma… well… I guess she knows!
Thanks for the post Bob, I have a friend here this evening and she asks,,, are we going to have an official “last supper” above the dining table?
Hi Carolynn - Sounds good to me!
Hi Bob
I think your campaign is the answer to my prayers because I don’t think I can in my heart vote for either of the candidates.
Hi Bob-Even as a non US citizen who has had the honour of buying the new presidential candidate and his first lady dinner he! he!, I would like to be your secretary for stopping wars.For once you would have a person who would go around the world telling the other heads of state fight if you may we in the US will have nothing to do with it.We would continue to make the bullets but someone else can fire them for a change.How does that seem to you.
Regards to Mr “Nearly” President.
Jim.
Hi Bob!
How many pairs of shoes does the first lady going to need? Maybe it’s time to invest on a shoe business, folks, I’d like to in partnership on this venture.
Cheers,
First Lady’s personal shopper
Hi Bob:
Actually you all missed a rather obscure law that states that any person that holds the USA presidency has to have lived in the State continuously for the past 10 years. So Bob,,,,it would seem that you are disqualified before you start.
If you all read this far then I have a bridge that I would like to sell you that runs from Cebu City to Mactan Island.
Bob,
I see no better time to “outsource” the Presidency and run the office remotely.
That’s keeping up with the times of globalization and the age of telecommuting.
It seems then that the first order of business is to improve the internet infrastructure in the Philippines so you can have cabinet meetings online. You’ll also have to allow virtual tours of the “Pacific White House.”
On a more somber note, you will probably have to be paid less because it does not take as much to live in Mindanao than it does in Washington D.C.
Best Regards,
US Filipina reader
Hi Dan Mihaliak - I certainly know the feeling on that Dan. Is it just me or do our choices get worse and worse every election?
Hi jim - well, some wars are worth fighting, but a lot could be avoided, and you’re the right guy for that!
Hi MarcelinaWW - oh my, I didn’t think about the shoe connection. Should I make it that all shoes must be imported from the Philippines?
Hi Wayne A. Derby - I’ve never heard of that law before. So General Eisenhower didn’t qualify?
Hi ecstasy - everything your comment was sounding pretty good there. I liked the part about the Pacific White House. Unfortunately, things took a road downturn when you mentioned paid less!
Sorry I won’t have a Cabinet post for you this time. 
Hi Bob:
Another obscure historical fact. Eisenhower returned every 12 to 18 months to brief FDR and Truman. In addition to that military personnel are exempt from this law.
You sure you don’t want to by that bridge Bob????
Hi Wayne A. Derby - Firstly, this whole thing is just a joke anyway. I’m pretty sure you understand that.
Secondly, I just did a search of the requirements to be President, and there is only one mention of a residency requirement:
“Finally, one must live in the United States for at least 14 years to be president, in addition to being a natural-born citizen. The Constitution is vague on this point. For example, it does not make clear whether those 14 years need to be consecutive or what the precise definition of residency is. So far, however, this requirement has not been challenged.”
So, it appears that you do not need to be a resident immediately before becoming President (or even while President). I have lived more than 14 years in the USA, so I guess I would qualify!
Hi Bob - Thanks for the offer on Arts & Entertainment. But, I’m afraid I’d be no good. Sounds like a real job & my mantra nowadays is to avoid anything close to a day job as long as I can.
Besides, I work weird hours.
Still, I’d be honored to do your presidential portrait. I’ll make sure to give you that regal pose (with a bowl of durian beside you — to explain the wide grin).
Hi macky - I understand. My mantra is the same as yours, so being President is something I’m going to have to delegate!
Hi Bob:
I guess my humor is to New England (Dry). It was obvious that it was a joke and I was trying to play along with coming up with some of the most ridiculously “laws” I could think of, and to top it off I tried to make it obvious again by offering to Sell you the Mactan (Brooklyn) bridge, which I obviously do not own.
In away I suppose my joke worked because I got you going enough to look it up.
One true law You have to be born here . Arnold can not be Prez.
Hi Wayne A. Derby -
Indeed, you got me back on that one!