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Tom Coburn calls for a national Constitutional Convention
washingtonexaminer.com ^ | AUGUST 22, 2013 AT 1:20 PM | By CHARLIE SPIERING

Posted on 08/22/2013 1:05:12 PM PDT by Red Badger

Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., explained to a town hall of his constituents that he wanted to call a national Constitutional Convention after reading Mark Levin’s new book, The Liberty Amendments.

“I used to have a great fear of constitutional conventions,” Coburn said according to the Tulsa World. “I have a great fear now of not having one.”

As the Tulsa World notes, a national convention is called by two-thirds of the state legislatures and is one of two ways the U.S. Constitution can be amended.

Coburn made his remarks in Muskogee, Okla.


TOPICS: Breaking News; Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Government; US: Oklahoma
KEYWORDS: concon; constitution; convention; oklahoma; tomcoburn
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To: berdie

Me too


141 posted on 08/22/2013 5:15:17 PM PDT by GeronL
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To: Red Badger

That’s the down side of a ConCon-—no rules/ no format. Levin makes great points and they ought to be considered straight-up and referred to the states by themselves——along with term limits and a ban on seniority rules in both the House and Senate.


142 posted on 08/22/2013 5:21:41 PM PDT by cherokee1 (skip the names---just kick the buttz)
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To: Vermont Lt

The Amendments Levin proposes are listed below. Currently reading the book. Just by the name of some of these I’m not sure about them, but he does have some persuasive arguments on the ones I’ve read.

Also - I read somewhere in the last couple days that someone has proposed the idea of getting delegate leaders from 38 states (3/4) to work out the details before the convention is called. Then, when the convention is called, they only propose what they have already agreed upon and have the 3/4 of the states ready to approve.

It’s also possible that they start with a couple amendments (repeal of the 16th and 17th) and then start addressing the other things in separate conventions. It’s not all or nothing.

I would like to add one that requires Congresspersons (and their staffs) to live under the laws they pass, cannot have a separate pension/retirement/health plan and that their pay is, at maximum, the average of pay in the US.

- Term Limits of Congress and Senator
- Repeal the 17th Amendment - senators selected by their state legislatures as originally envisioned
- Term Limits of Supreme Court Justices & Super Majority - - Congressional Override of Supreme Court Decisions
- Limit Federal Spending
- Tax Reform
- Limit the Federal Bureaucracy
- Promote Free Enterprise
- Protect Private Property
- Grant States Authority to Directly Amend the Constitution
- Grant State Authority to Check Congress
- Protect the Vote


143 posted on 08/22/2013 5:22:31 PM PDT by Larry - Moe and Curly (Loose lips sink ships.)
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To: Red Badger

Forgive me, but I thought Levin’s book was about NOT calling a Constitutional Convention. He’s argued for years that doing so invites all the leftists in to shred the Constitution. Levin isn’t calling for a convention. He’s calling for state legislatures to adopt amendments to the Constitution and then having the rest of the states - 3/4 of them - to ratify amendments concocted in state legislatures. Isn’t that right?

Coburn seems to be calling for the worse option - and outright convention. Which would be a disaster.


144 posted on 08/22/2013 5:24:38 PM PDT by antonico
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To: GeronL

Actually, they could nullify them too.


145 posted on 08/22/2013 5:25:18 PM PDT by EBH (The 'silent majority' is just as responsible for where this country is today as the screaming mob)
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To: antonico

Levin is calling for an Amendments Convention as specified in Article V.


146 posted on 08/22/2013 5:27:53 PM PDT by Publius (And so, night falls on civilization.)
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To: Publius

Convention might propose these amendments....

Congress Shall Pass No Law to abridge the freedom of beating creepy cracka’s

Congress shall pass no law forbidding the forced unemployment and starvation of those who blaspheme homosexuality


147 posted on 08/22/2013 5:34:27 PM PDT by GeronL
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To: RKBA Democrat

Add CO, NV and NM to the list (states with ‘rat control of the state legislature). And there’s even more if you go by states where Obama won the 2012 popular/electoral vote (add FL, IA, MI, NH, OH, PA, VA, and WI).


148 posted on 08/22/2013 5:39:13 PM PDT by Nero Germanicus
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To: Red Badger

I like Mark but he is finally catching up with some of those “back benchers” he likes to scream about. Mike Church has been talking about a Con Con for over 6 years on his radio program.

I guess Mike should have wrote a book and went on Ham-mity to get some recognition.


149 posted on 08/22/2013 5:48:03 PM PDT by eartick (Been to the line in the sand and liked it)
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To: Red Badger

I just got Mark Levin’s book, The Liberty Amendments, I haven’t read it yet, but as I understand it from listening to Mark, his idea is to use the state legislature’s power to amend the Constitution to get around rinos like Tom Coburn.

If Tom wants to help, he can work with the state legislators to make changes and claw back power to the people and the states, but we won’t allow him to be in charge or allow ourselves to be dependent on him. Tom and his fellow useless Republicans that refuse to fight are what put us where we are today!


150 posted on 08/22/2013 6:07:00 PM PDT by RJL (There's no greed like the greed of a liberal politician buying votes with your money.)
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To: Jane Long

I think Mr. Levin will do as he’s told.


151 posted on 08/22/2013 6:09:01 PM PDT by RKBA Democrat (Power disintegrates when people withdraw their obedience and support)
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To: Red Badger

The first one worked because all those in charge wanted to be free of the control of King George. Now though, half want the government to control everything, from how much you’re allowed to go to the bathroom, to how little you’re allowed to make (I’d’ve said how much, but that would imply the government would let you earn six figures. I have no doubt they don’t think you should earn that much). Then there’s our side, that doesn’t want to take action, because that would start off CWII.


152 posted on 08/22/2013 6:12:18 PM PDT by wastedyears (One nation, under wub. Saints Row IV)
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To: LibLieSlayer
Repealing the 16th now, while the "the iron is hot" is about the last possible chance there is of reigning in our out of control federal government, shy of a complete reset, blood in the streets, and marshal law.

It doesn't address the moral issues we face or foreign entanglements, but it would be a start.

153 posted on 08/22/2013 6:12:31 PM PDT by Errant
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To: Errant

It would be a fine start.


154 posted on 08/22/2013 6:17:40 PM PDT by LibLieSlayer (FROM MY COLD, DEAD HANDS!)
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To: Red Badger

If the GOP-e got to pick Senators, Texas would be represented by David Dewhurst, not Ted Cruz.


155 posted on 08/22/2013 6:18:34 PM PDT by a fool in paradise (America 2013 - STUCK ON STUPID)
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To: RKBA Democrat; Biggirl; smokingfrog; carriage_hill; GraceG; holdonnow
I think Mr. Levin will do as he’s told.

Oh, reallly??? And, just who is it that tells Mr Levin what to do?

156 posted on 08/22/2013 6:19:04 PM PDT by Jane Long (While Marxists continue the fundamental transformation of the USA, progressive RINOs stay silent.)
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To: RKBA Democrat
I can assure you of 100% failure if you refuse to even try. You seem happy to put all your energy into talking others out of action.

-PJ

157 posted on 08/22/2013 6:19:30 PM PDT by Political Junkie Too (If you are the Posterity of We the People, then you are a Natural Born Citizen.)
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To: RKBA Democrat

So what is your “doing something useful”?

If it involves sitting on your ass and complaining, or pretending like you are going to be part of some army with guns, then you have nothing.

You guys are free at any time to offer up your detailed plan.


158 posted on 08/22/2013 6:19:53 PM PDT by VanDeKoik
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To: The Cajun
Ain't hardly anybody left representing us to stop what's fixing to hit us, that's just a fact.

Completely agree. The hand writing is on the wall.

159 posted on 08/22/2013 6:21:09 PM PDT by Errant
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To: Repeal The 17th

“So let me see if I understand you.
You are not worried about a run away convention,
you just think it is all a big waste of time?”

I’m not worried about a runaway convention because I think the chances of getting a convention are slim, and the chances of getting 3/4 of the states to ratify anything a convention produces are about zero.

I don’t think it’s a waste of time to have people talk about the Constitution. As a method of securing needed conservative political change I think going for a Con Con or changes to the Constitution via amendment is flat out dumb. You’d achieve more positive change for this country by starting a vegetable garden. Plus you’ll get fresh tomatoes.


160 posted on 08/22/2013 6:26:45 PM PDT by RKBA Democrat (Power disintegrates when people withdraw their obedience and support)
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