Conservative lawmakers weigh bid to call for constitutional convention

Washington Post ^ | April 4, 2015 | Reid Wilson

[RC one]

Conservative state legislators frustrated with the gridlock in Washington are increasingly turning to a plan to call a convention to consider a new amendment to the U.S. Constitution — an event that would be unprecedented in American history and one that could, some opponents predict, lead to complete political chaos.

Legislators in 27 states have passed applications for a convention to pass a balanced budget amendment. Proponents of a balanced budget requirement are planning to push for new applications in nine other states where Republicans control both chambers of the legislature.

If those applications pass in seven of the nine targeted states, it would bring the number of applications up to 34, meeting the two-thirds requirement under Article V of the Constitution to force Congress to call a convention.

[RC one]

I think it's time to talk about more than a balanced budget amendment.

[John Valentine]

It is a marvel to me how abjectly uninformed so-called journalists in the MSM actually are. There is so much misinformation and misunderstanding in here that I wouldn’t know where to start.

I think it has to be intentional.

[CharlesOConnell]

What diff on the part of Sen. GOP leadership holding itself where its manhood used to be after losing it in the Bubba Clinton Impeachment which it impeded. David Schippers SELLOUT

[Pontiac]

I think it has to be intentional.

You underestimate how lazy people can be.

You overestimate the quality of higher education.

And you overestimate the curiosity of so called journalist.

[Pontiac]

“This is by far the most dangerous thing in the country today,” said Fred Wertheimer, who heads the campaign finance advocacy group Democracy 21. “If we ever got [to a convention], this would create a constitutional crisis unlike anything we’ve seen in our lifetimes.”

Well obviously Fred is a uniformed about this guy Barak Obama.

This President with his pen and his phone that is wielding dictatorial power not granted him by the Constitution.

[Hostage]

It is not a Constitutional Convention or Con-con. It’s a CONVENTION OF STATES.

And quoting Mark Levin, what is a ‘Convention’? It’s simply a MEETING.

For what purpose? For overturning the Constitution? No! For proposing amendments.

Can there ever be a ‘Runaway Convention’? No! It takes 3/4’s of or 38 States to ratify a constitutional amendment.

[Jacquerie]

Article V ping!

[Jacquerie]

Here's a whopper from the source:

How many delegates each state would receive, the rules under which a convention would operate and who would set the agenda would be left up to Congress.

Sorry pal, congress's duty is to call the convention and subsequent mode of ratification. That's all. Congress will have zero input as to delegates, parliamentary rules, and subject matter of the convention.

More fear mongering follows. A convention might see fit to reinstate slavery! WaPo reveals the Beltway attitude toward the fifty provinces. See, its the states that are wild and prone to societal destruction, not Obama and his Amish DOJ:

More extreme scenarios envision delegates revisiting the 13th Amendment, which banned slavery, or inserting corporate giveaways into the Constitution.

Our once republican institutions have been corrupted from their designed purposes. The House doesn't represent the people. The Senate doesn't represent the states. El Presidente has more in common with banana republic tyrants that he does with any of our early chief executives.

Isn't it clear that elections alone cannot, and obviously have not served the only legitimate purpose of government, which is to secure our rights?

We must renew, restore, reclaim our republic. Those who profit so well from the existing corrupt system are incapable and uninterested in changing the status quo.

[Rumplemeyer]

The idea seems to scare the bejabbers out of the MSM, therefor it must be a good idea.

Let the games begin.

[Travis McGee]

Mark Levine argues it can’t happen, but in my 3rd novel “Foreign Enemies And Traitors,” a runaway con-con in Philly leads to the “economic justice amendment” and the “freedom from gun violence amendment.” Half of the country rejects the validity of the “kangaroo convention, and CW2 results. This link excerpts the con-con segment of the novel.

http://enemiesforeignanddomestic.com/index.php?page=fesp

[Travis McGee]

The Congress, whenever two thirds of both houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to this Constitution, or, on the application of the legislatures of two thirds of the several states, shall call a convention for proposing amendments, which, in either case, shall be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of this Constitution, when ratified by the legislatures of three fourths of the several states, or by conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other mode of ratification may be proposed by the Congress;

[Travis McGee]

What makes you think that Levine’s version is the only possibility?

The Congress, whenever two thirds of both houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to this Constitution,

when ratified by the legislatures of three fourths of the several states, or by conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other mode of ratification may be proposed by the Congress;

Congress would hijack the entire process, the MSM would fully support their interpretation.

[Tonytitan]

More extreme scenarios envision delegates revisiting the 13th Amendment, which banned slavery, or inserting corporate giveaways into the Constitution.

I think they're more scared of what would happen if a convention was held and concluded and these issues never came up.

[Tonytitan]

Congress would hijack the entire process

They could throw a monkey wrench into the whole process by declaring that they would not recognize/authorize a ratification process. Who would force them to do so? The courts? How would that not be a Constitutional crisis?

This is, of course, an unlikely option but I wouldn't put anything past this Congress.

[Balding_Eagle]

Can there ever be a ‘Runaway Convention’? No! It takes 3/4’s of or 38 States to ratify a constitutional amendment.

75%? Huh.

Less than 2% of the population is controlling the homosexual agenda in 85% of the statehouses.

[Travis McGee]

My only solid prediction is that any Article V outcome would be rejected by half of the nation, leading to a CW.

[don-o]

"...A Republic, if you can keep it"

Keeping it requires a store of virtue and wisdom in the people. The question is, How much of that is left?

Does the red represent wisdom and virtue? I do not know.

Is the majority of the people as corrupted as our governmental institutions?

[Travis McGee]

I hope that people will read this story.

Short version: Idiocracy "wins," and then civilization collapses.

A civilization based on freedom that is able to endure over the long term is like a carefully crafted grandfather clock, created with knowledge built up over many centuries. The ten commandments, the bible etc. provide a blueprint. Today, we take the existence of our affluent society for granted, and fools insist that we can randomly substitute parts inside of the workings of the clock to make it more "fair" or whatnot. The result will be the failure of the clock, and of our civilization.

I hope folks will take time to read Alas, Brave New Babylon.

Click the pic to the full-text Free Republic thread.

Alas, Brave New Babylon 60-second Youtube trailer

[don-o]

I've read it and no argument from me. btw, I had pasted in a red / blue 2012 map by county that did not show in my post. Try again.

[Travis McGee]

That is a handy map for "where not to live if you want to survive an economic collapse."