Silly birther issue: Is Ted Cruz eligible to run for president? Absolutely. He was born the child of an American citizen. Will raising this issue damage his campaign. Absolutely. Of course, whatever diminishes his chances is okay by me.

This question first raised its head when Barry Goldwater ran for president in 1964. He was born in Arizona when it was a U.S. territory, as was his father. (Think Puerto Rico.)

“Nationals” of U.S. territories cannot be president or even vote in presidential elections. Barry Goldwater was eligible because his mother, Hattie Josephine Williams Goldwater, was born in Illinois. And because she was Episcopalian and raised her son as such (always an advantage), his father’s being Jewish was not mentioned, at a time when this point too could have been raised.

Didn’t hurt that he was a “Marlboro  Man.”

Being a handsome cowboy didn’t hurt this guy either:

In presidential campaigns, things that shouldn’t matter do.  It helps to be handsome and hurts to not be.

Of course, LBJ was elected anyway.  He was a cowboy.  Handsome, not so much.

Personally, I love the way Bernie looks.

And  don’t like the way Hillary looks.

I plan to focus on what should matter.