Panel wants Constitution amended in case of attacked

San Jose Mercury News ^ | Tuesday, June 03, 2003 | FRANK DAVIES - Knight Ridder Newspapers

[Willie Green]

WASHINGTON - The Constitution must be amended to ensure the continuity of government in case Congress is wiped out by a terrorist attack, a blue-ribbon bipartisan commission will recommend Wednesday.

If a Sept. 11-like attack destroyed Congress, the current system of holding special elections to fill vacancies in the House of Representatives would take too long - an average of four months, depending on the state - the panel found after a year-long study.

[Publius6961]

WASHINGTON - The Constitution must be amended to ensure the continuity of government in case Congress is wiped out by a terrorist attack, a blue-ribbon bipartisan commission will recommend Wednesday

I would rather amend the Constitution to eliminate its "universal application" to the whole world, including terrorists bent on destroying it.
An absurd premise never intended; Citizenship should be hard and arduous, and dropping babies in the U.S. should not continue to be the back door to rights superior to citizenship.

That, and the absolute right to seal our borders against all non-citizens any time we wish for as long as we wish.

Absent those changes, our country's slide to oblivion is relentless and ultimately final.

[Publius6961]

There isn't anything wrong with Consitutional amendments per se. It depends on what they are. An amendment to provide for continuity of government seems to be a reasonable amendment.

Not to me.

It makes sense to you to buy more life insurance instead of stronger locks, smoke detectors and making sure your car is safe?

This proposal is based totally on an admission of failure in the most essential role of an independent nation: the safety and protection of its citizens.

[Publius6961]

Just repeal the 17th Amendment and re-constitute state government's responsibility to name replacements to the Senate. Appoint proxies from a body of under-studies to the House where needed until the next general election. That should solve the problem nicely without everyone getting their panties in a wad.

Remarkable isn't it?
What a concept!

Sovereign and independent states taking care of business.

Fixing something that isn't broken.
To what end?

Not surprising in a society which has allowed itelf to be guided by mindless idealism, and, incidentally, apparently by the shallow end of the gene pool.

[Buckwheats]

Total BS. If Squeezy's for it, I'm against it. Is their anyway we could get Congress to take four YEARS off?

[Publius6961]

Today however it would be utter chaos since all mana flows from Washington.

Careful there...

You are making the unlikely scenario seem almost desireable.
Starting over more and more sounds like a good thing.

[nygoose]

I would like the interstate commerce clause to be changed to get the government back to its original intent

[Arkinsaw]

This proposal is based totally on an admission of failure in the most essential role of an independent nation: the safety and protection of its citizens.

I'm not sure what this has to do with providing for continuity in the event it did happen. I don't think we should just forget about making certain laws just because doing so indicates a potential failure. If that were the case we would have no murder laws because nobody really should be murdered and if a murder happens its a law enforcement failure. Makes no sense.

[Eastbound]

"Sovereign and independent states taking care of business."

That has a comforting ring to it. An idea whose time has come -- again.

[EBUCK]

...and the similarities to early 19XX Germany keep on coming....doens't anyone read their history anymore?

[PoorMuttly]

Yes, there would be Martial Law.

That pretty much settles the question. It would be the best way of dealing with an obviously military situation. We won't need to legislate pork for a long time thereafter...but we will need to stabilize the place...

...and pass the ammunition. Should be a colorful time.

[sport]

I agree.

[Lawgvr1955]

I would like the interstate commerce clause to be changed to get the government back to its original intent

An excellent idea. Its from the tortured reading of this clause that the feds have placed their nose in all aspects of our lives. I honestly believe that had the founding fathers foreseen the abuse of that clause (as well as the 2nd and 14th amendments) they would have written it more clearly.

[sweetliberty]

"Ordinary citizens could serve as representatives of our country as opposed to these people who seem to have been there their whole entire lives."

Wasn't that how it was supposed to be in the first place?

[Fiddlstix]

Leave The Constitution Alone!
(It's been butchered enough as it is)

[Fraulein]

I say: NO TO THE AMENDMENT!

A terrible idea, but no doubt the tyrants in Washington support it.