Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Panel wants Constitution amended in case of attacked
San Jose Mercury News ^ | Tuesday, June 03, 2003 | FRANK DAVIES - Knight Ridder Newspapers

Posted on 06/03/2003 5:47:07 PM PDT by Willie Green

Edited on 04/13/2004 3:31:20 AM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]

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.


(Excerpt) Read more at bayarea.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: continuityofgovtcomm; doomsdayscenario; tinfoilmagnet
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-55 next last

1 posted on 06/03/2003 5:47:07 PM PDT by Willie Green
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Willie Green
DONT *^#! WITH THE CONSTITUTION

2 posted on 06/03/2003 5:53:47 PM PDT by ATOMIC_PUNK (^^^Gauranteed^^^...*** If it breaks in half you get to keep both halves***)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Willie Green
Former slave masters who want to tighten current slave masters rule.
3 posted on 06/03/2003 6:00:02 PM PDT by dts32041 ("The avalanche has started. It is too late for the pebbles to vote.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Willie Green
Former slave masters who want to tighten current slave masters rule.
4 posted on 06/03/2003 6:00:02 PM PDT by dts32041 ("The avalanche has started. It is too late for the pebbles to vote.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Willie Green
'sounds like a good idea to me, Dr. Strangelove.
5 posted on 06/03/2003 6:01:19 PM PDT by PoorMuttly (O.P.E.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Willie Green
Makes sense to me...
6 posted on 06/03/2003 6:02:37 PM PDT by Drango (A liberal's compassion is limited only by the size of someone else's wallet.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ATOMIC_PUNK
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.

I'm more concerned about stupid amendments such as flag burning and ERA. I would be very concerned about amendments to end the term limits on the President or change the electoral college.

In fact, I would like the *^#! with the Constitution to remove the popular election of Senators and the income tax. Some *^#!ing with the Constitution would be a good thing.
7 posted on 06/03/2003 6:03:04 PM PDT by Arkinsaw
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Drango
I don't like it, it sounds like a scheme they've cooked up to keep the current two party system in place no matter what happens. As long as we have a leader in place, pres or vice pres, we'll be just fine. Do they really think they are that freakin important and they would even be effective in a crisis situation?
8 posted on 06/03/2003 6:06:16 PM PDT by RockyMtnMan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Willie Green
If they all got wiped out then we could just start over. Ordinary citizens could serve as representatives of our country as opposed to these people who seem to have been there their whole entire lives. There is something wrong with the fact that a President can only serve two terms but these Congress people can serve seemingly FOREVER.
9 posted on 06/03/2003 6:12:34 PM PDT by vikingcelt
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Willie Green
Here's a better idea. If the current occupants of the Congress are annihilated, THE PEOPLE can set up a new Congress. Even better, if all the current occupants of federal office are wiped out, THE PEOPLE could set up a NEW GOVERNMENT--and this new one could operate according to--what's actually in the Constitution!
10 posted on 06/03/2003 6:12:50 PM PDT by Arthur McGowan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RockyMtnMan; PoorMuttly; Drango; Arkinsaw
This amendment doesn't sound like a bad idea.
But I'd support it IF AND ONLY IF it also contained a clause imposing Term Limits on the Congresscritters.
11 posted on 06/03/2003 6:15:17 PM PDT by Willie Green (yawn)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: RockyMtnMan
This is a non-starter in my humble opinion. If there were an attack like that on the center of government, I imagine the surviving chief executive would declare martial law. There would be plenty of times for elections as the government wouldn't lift martial law for some time.
12 posted on 06/03/2003 6:17:20 PM PDT by Lawgvr1955 (Hypocrisy!! Thy name is Government.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: RockyMtnMan
I don't like it, it sounds like a scheme they've cooked up to keep the current two party system in place no matter what happens. As long as we have a leader in place, pres or vice pres, we'll be just fine. Do they really think they are that freakin important and they would even be effective in a crisis situation?

What would prevent the people who would be responsible for leadership if something happened to Congress, from making something happen to Congress?

13 posted on 06/03/2003 6:18:06 PM PDT by supercat (TAG--you're it!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Willie Green
"Congress shall have the power to regulate by law the filling of vacancies that may occur in the House of Representatives and Senate in the event that a substantial number of members are killed or incapacitated."

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.

14 posted on 06/03/2003 6:23:42 PM PDT by Eastbound
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Willie Green
"Congress shall have the power to regulate by law the filling of vacancies that may occur in the House of Representatives and Senate in the event that a substantial number of members are killed or incapacitated."

So we're afraid of a terrorist attack against Congress, so we'll give Congress the authority to appoint replacements?

That makes no sense. It seems like more of an attempt to usurp the Right of states to choose their own representation.

15 posted on 06/03/2003 6:27:07 PM PDT by Mulder (Live Free or die)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Arthur McGowan
Even better, if all the current occupants of federal office are wiped out, THE PEOPLE could set up a NEW GOVERNMENT--and this new one could operate according to--what's actually in the Constitution!

That's probably the biggest reason the Soviets never launched a pre-emptive strike.

16 posted on 06/03/2003 6:28:51 PM PDT by Mulder (Live Free or die)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Eastbound
And/or suspend all new House Bills until a special election can be held. The country isn't going to evaporate if the House takes an extended vacation.
17 posted on 06/03/2003 6:30:33 PM PDT by Eastbound
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: Willie Green
"...the nation could have no functioning Congress in a time of great crisis."

A non-functioning Congress is something we've been putting up with for some time, and it's good thing. The less time they have to think about how to screw with our lives the better.

Seriously, should such an event occur, the military would step up to the plate. They would still be controlled by a civilian, the President. I'm comfortable with that.

This is a bad idea folks. As proof I offer the fact that Tom Foley and Donna Shalala are for it.

18 posted on 06/03/2003 6:31:27 PM PDT by yooper
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Willie Green
Gosh, just think, if that happened we would be left with 50 functioning State governments. Well maybe in the early history of this country the states would have carried on and restaffed the limited (by compairson) federal positions.

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

19 posted on 06/03/2003 6:32:56 PM PDT by fightu4it
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Willie Green
"Congress shall have the power to regulate by law the filling of vacancies that may occur in the House of Representatives and Senate in the event that a substantial number of members are killed or incapacitated."

      So we need another Amendment extending the power of the FedGov, and reducing the power of the states, so that the FedGov can increase its regulation of the American People? .

      I don't think so.

      Congressmen die from time to time, and they appear to be replaced, without any help from DC.
20 posted on 06/03/2003 6:36:33 PM PDT by Celtman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-55 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson