Coburn: Convention of States Needed Because Washington Will Never Fix Itself

cnsnews.com ^ | March 5, 2015 | Barbara Hollingsworth

[Art in Idaho]

“I am not content to put myself in the hands of one prez, nine blackrobes, and 535 congressmen from a distant, mentally detached, and oblivious, Rome like city-state.” - Jacquerie

[Fungi]

Go. Let’s see what happens.

[Java4Jay]

ping

[Art in Idaho]

Links and quick review: We need 34 states to pass an application, then Congress shall, by law, call a Convention of States as soon as it receives applications from 2/3 of the State Legislatures. That's 34 states. We now have 30 working on it. Amendments are proposed and voted on at the convention. Each Amendment must be ratified by ¾ of the states in order to become part of the US Constitution. That’s 38 states. “There are far more political and legal constraints on a runaway convention than on a runaway Congress.” Robert Natelson

It is our responsibility to make Article V the most understood aspect of the US Constitution.

Please see this summary video from Alabama first: Convention of States - Alabama Way to go Alabama! A great introduction!

Rep. Bill Taylor introduces a Convention of States

The Case for an Article V Convention. Great explanation of an Article V convention to the Massachusetts State Legislature.

Convention of States Lots of information here.

Call a Convention A call for a Convention of States

Article V Project to Restore Liberty Another good source.

Convention of States model Resolution

A Summary of Mark Levin’s Proposed Amendments by Jacquerie

Chapter 1 of Mark Levin’s Book, The Liberty Amendments

Mark Levin, Constitution Article V, and the Liberty Amendments

Mark Levin: “The Liberty Amendments” - Complete Sean Hannity Special + other Links

List of Mark Levin You Tube Videos

Mark Levin Article V, Liberty Amendments youtube video hub

Three hour video of C-Span interview with Mark Levin

Mark Levin’s ALEC Speech, Dec 4, 2014

Gaining Steam? Nearly 100 Lawmakers Descend on Mount Vernon to Talk Convention of States The beginning.

Mark Levin’s “Liberty Amendments” Sean Hannity Special

States, the Natural Second Party by Jacquerie

Convention to Propose Amendments to the United States Constitution

The Other Way to Amend the Constitution: The Article V Constitutional Convention Amendment Process

Amendment Booklet.pdf

Friends of Article V Convention Links

Congress’ Present Duty to Call a Convention:

Congress’ Present Duty to Call a Convention. (Part I)

Congress’ Present Duty to Call a convention. (Part II)

Congress’ Present Duty to Call a Convention. (Part III)

Congress’ Present Duty to Call a Convention. (Part IV)

Congress’ Present Duty to Call a Convention. (Part V)

Congress’ Failure to Call an Amendments Convention. (Part VI)

Ulysses at the Mast: Democracy, Federalism, and the Sirens' Song of the Seventeenth Amendment by Jay Bybee. Repeal the 17th. Shorter Abstract here: Ulysses at the Mast, one page Abstract

Article V Handbook - for State Legislators An important resource.

State Legislators Article V Caucus State Legislators, Join up at this site!

Most State Legislatures are in session now. Send this list of links to your State Representatives and Senators here: Contact your State Legislators.

Sample Letter to state Representatives regarding the Convention of States Project and also, Talking Points.

Excellent Article V Letter to a State Assemblyman by Jacquerie

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." - Edmund Burke.

Let’s all work together to get this going.

[Jim Robinson]

I’m in.

[freedom6178]

[Two dozen other states are also considering that option.]

I wonder which ones?

[SaveFerris]

“Three thousand businesses closed last year”

Only 60 per state not including D.C.? I find it hard to believe the number isn’t quite a bit higher than that.

Must not be including small businesses and locations of chains.

[MaxMax]

The purpose of the convention will be to rein-in a federal “leviathan”
that he says has overstepped its constitutional bounds.

I'm unclear about what the plans are for this convention. All I've been hearing
is Convention without any fundamentals of which actions are to be taken to reign
in the Feds. The point of promoting is to sell it to the public, or is this another
snow job "Pass it to see what's in it" composition.

Are any of the leaders talking about the specifics? If this isn't clear then the
Constitution could be smashed into fragments so small nobody would recognize America.

When impeaching a POTUS the case must be made clear and sold to the public.
I'm not seeing this at all.

[MaxMax]

Oh, and what is really scary about this Convention is how the Republicans are Governing
right now as we discuss this. They are absolutely not to be trusted with any form of
change to our Constitution. My God, this is the wrong time for this.

[nathanbedford]

They are absolutely not to be trusted with any form of change to our Constitution

That's the beauty of Article V, "they" will not be involved in any substantive way with any form of change to our Constitution.

[Nextrush]

Tom Coburn sounded like one of the good guys when he first went into the House and then the Senate.

My problem is that when Obamacare became law Coburn’s response was to advocate for a more market friendly version of Obamacare, for amending Obamacare not eliminating it.

Coburn wanted Romneycare, in other words.

“Heath Care Reform” was needed to pump more cash into an ailing industry by making everyone buy private medical insurance in a government regulated market. The alternative is taxation to pay for Medicaid for the poor which is expanded under Obamacare administered by private insurance companies again.

OBAMACARE LIKE ROMNEYCARE IS A BAILOUT FOR HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANIES AND BIG HOSPITAL GROUPS, THE PHARMA INDUSTRY ETC.

You have to wonder about people like Coburn.

Will an A 5 convention reverse Amnesty, Obamacare, Common Core or even Gay Marriage or is it just a diversion to keep us from forming a third political party?????

[MaxMax]

From the article: to diminish the power of the federal government.

This soft language is what I'm concerned about. No facts on how they mean to justify
this convention without giving us the point of it.

Maybe somebody will clarify this, but if the casual Freeper like myself
doesn't know, I can only imagine how much in the dark Americans are.

I think we're being sold down the road on this. By now we should all know
what is being planned, and their case laid out perfectly. This is not the case.

They're not worried about a third party, if anything they're worried about
True Patriotic Americans taking back the GOP. The last election was the shot
across the bow, imo. And they got the message but they're fighting back.

[MaxMax]

Do you mean Boehner, McSenator and Obama? I’ll need to read up on Article V.

[nathanbedford]

Do you mean Boehner, McSenator and Obama?

Perzactamente.

[Nextrush]

And they hold a lot of cards including people whose words you believe to be sincerely conservative-patriotic.

I guess 95 percent of elected officials in the GOP are not on our side with many emotional speechmaking fakers in the ranks.....

Fox News is the GOPe network of record using conservative guests as shills alongside the RINO guests like Peter King, Lindsay Graham etc. etc.

There are websites, talk hosts etc. that are not sincere, using a conservative message for selfish reasons or to fool people for the GOPe.

[Deagle]

He is right, but who is going to do anything about it?

[MaxMax]

Same as atheists becoming preachers.

[Jacquerie]

Article V ping!

[WhiskeyX]

Note: such a convention of states could prove to be a two edged sword if and when the Democrats and RINOs subvert the process and enable people like this:

Obama Supporters Petition to Repeal the FIRST AMENDMENT Seriously! Watch!(Mark Dice)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKCCzMhWz6s

[Jacquerie]

From the column: "Politicians there care about the next election, not the next generation." So true, yes? Like anyone else, they want to keep their jobs. Isn't it unreasonable to expect them to do that which is against human nature, to take actions which threaten their livelihood? For 102 years, both congressmen and senators have been popularly derived, and to keep their jobs they must appeal to the people.

The Framers never considered two popular houses in congress, for they knew, and designed the constitution around, separation of interests. A wild and crazy House of Reps representing the mass of the people was to be countered by a distinct interest, that of the states. Their wisdom is reflected in history, for the government was pretty well kept in its constitutional box before the 17th amendment.

Therefore, to restore our FreeRepublic, we must acknowledge our mistake, return to congress an interest distinct from the people and refederalize the government.

Now, back to your concern. When a convention is looked at through the prism of political parties, I agree the sight is less than comforting. The media and culture have largely trained us to ignore government and focus entirely on politics, which is the way men use the instruments of power.

Since the states have interests distinct from those of Washington DC, and wouldn't be calling for a convention if they didn't, I believe the influence of party at a convention will be minimal. The states will bind their delegates with detailed commissions which define and limit their authority. Delegates (not representatives) from the states will be serious men and women who will know the gravity of their task, and they will rise to the occasion. There is no higher honor among statesmen than that of lawgiver.

They will be in convention to reform government, which is composed of the formal institutions and procedures that constitute the framework of legal authority. That means the structure of the government must restored to one of federalism, and I think the delegates will do just that.

Oh, and since Obama is a full-fledged tyrant, there is absolutely nothing to lose. We The People have a God and Constitutionally given right to frame our government. History will not look well upon an enslaved people who had the right power to restore freedom and did nothing about it.