[TBP]

The Extreme Court has no respect for the Constitution.

[TBP]

It is through the Article V state convention amendment process that We the People can exert our sovereign authority to not only repeal the 16th and 17th Amendments...

The court would probably find such an action unconstitutional.

[zeestephen]

I have never understood the Conservative obsession with the 17th Amendment - direct election of Senators.

I would enjoy seeing some well informed speculation from Free Republic commenters about which current or historical politicians would - or would not - have become Senators under the current election rules, or, by vote of a state Legislature.

For instance - Lincoln lost the 1858 Senate election by vote of the Illinois state Legislature. It is quite possible Lincoln would have won a popular election in Illinois.

For instance - I think Ted Cruz would have had a very difficult time being elected by the Texas Legislature