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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: cotton1706

I would rather not call a constitutional convention because it opens the door to political skulduggery by those who would like to destroy our country. And with the weak kneed-ed Republicans afraid of their shadow it could turn into a disaster.


41 posted on 08/22/2013 1:36:38 PM PDT by ANGGAPO (Layte Gulf Beach Club)
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To: Errant

The GOP does not control Congress in reality. In reality the Congress abdicated its powers to the executive branch


42 posted on 08/22/2013 1:37:36 PM PDT by GeronL
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To: 0.E.O

And it would be, in many cases, those idiots from the state level. The only thing this would accomplish in my state (Mass) is that they would be out of state for a while.


43 posted on 08/22/2013 1:38:44 PM PDT by Vermont Lt (Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? Who will watch the watchers?)
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To: cotton1706
We must bypass them

Who is "We", we are going to end up with proposed amendments from leftists who will probably dominate the Convention.

44 posted on 08/22/2013 1:38:52 PM PDT by GeronL
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To: Errant

“No, the State’s start the process”

The states can call for a convention. They may not submit an amendment to the other states for ratification. Amendments must come from the Congress or a convention. That’s what I meant.


45 posted on 08/22/2013 1:39:17 PM PDT by cotton1706
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To: cotton1706; GeronL
How to Call a Convention

Article V of the Constitution gives the states the power to call for a Constitutional Convention. To do so, two-thirds of the states—34 out of 50 state legislatures—must pass an application calling for a Convention. If enough states pass this simple resolution, then Congress must call a Convention so that states can propose amendments to the Constitution.

The application states must pass does not need to provide a reason for the Convention—states can call a Convention for any reason. However, there is no guarantee the Convention will address the complaints of the states, as delegates at the Convention may introduece and pass whatever Amendments they see fit. (States may try to remedy this by electing their delegates to the Convention.)

Any amendments that come out of the convention have to be ratified by the legislatures of, or by conventions in, at least three-quarters of the states to become part of the Constitution of the United States.

http://www.callaconvention.org/resolution.php

46 posted on 08/22/2013 1:40:04 PM PDT by Errant
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To: GeronL

“Who is “We”, we are going to end up with proposed amendments from leftists who will probably dominate the Convention.”

“we” as in the people. And the if the leftists propose a number of worthless amendments, they will never get through three-fourths of the legislaturs and will expire.


47 posted on 08/22/2013 1:40:32 PM PDT by cotton1706
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To: Georgia Girl 2

Yep. Think of the consequences to the 1st, 2nd, 4th and 10th to name a few if the Dems got their way.


48 posted on 08/22/2013 1:40:43 PM PDT by matt04
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To: Errant

passed in how many years? 10?

Trayvon Martin amendment to legalize black on white beat downs as a reparation for slavery

An amendment to provide free housing and medical care to all Democrats?


49 posted on 08/22/2013 1:42:18 PM PDT by GeronL
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To: ANGGAPO

“I would rather not call a constitutional convention because it opens the door to political skulduggery”

This too is nothing new. At the original convention, Patrick Henry adamantly refused to be a delegate because he “smelt a rat!”


50 posted on 08/22/2013 1:42:21 PM PDT by cotton1706
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To: matt04

The amendments that are ignored now


51 posted on 08/22/2013 1:42:50 PM PDT by GeronL
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To: Red Badger

Does Stalin get a vote?


52 posted on 08/22/2013 1:43:35 PM PDT by cornelis
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To: Publius

I say they don’t have ANY at all. The whole purpose of the convention clause is to bypass a future Congress that is out of control, such as we now have. The Founders were not stupid.......


53 posted on 08/22/2013 1:45:10 PM PDT by Red Badger
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To: Red Badger

The republicans currently control 56 legislative chambers and in 26 states the republicans control both houses.


54 posted on 08/22/2013 1:47:28 PM PDT by cotton1706
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To: GeronL
To do so, two-thirds of the states—34 out of 50 state legislatures—must pass an application calling for a Convention.

The application should specify for the sole purpose of repealing the 16th Amendment.

55 posted on 08/22/2013 1:48:42 PM PDT by Errant
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To: Red Badger
I say they don’t have ANY at all.

That's your opinion, and opinions are like -- ahem! -- rectums in that everybody has one. Congress believes it has a role, the Supreme Court may believe Congress has a role, and the ruling class certainly believes that Congress has a role.

Before you work yourself into a lather, print off and read those reference documents I provided. You'll see just how many gray areas there are in the amendatory process, and how your assumptions may not be valid.

56 posted on 08/22/2013 1:48:47 PM PDT by Publius (And so, night falls on civilization.)
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To: GeronL; The Cajun
passed in how many years? 10?

Yeah, we need to hurry - we're lucky if we have 10 months.

57 posted on 08/22/2013 1:51:09 PM PDT by Errant
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To: cotton1706
The members of the original convention and the state convetion were the politicians of the day (a much wiser lot, mind you). There will definitely be politics involved in choosing the delegates, as there was then. It will be battled out in the legislative chambers. This is how we do things in republican governments.

I look at Congress and I look at the legislatures and I don't see any Madisons or Washingtons or Franklins or Hamiltons or Shermans or any of the quality of leaders that gave us this magnificent document to begin with. I see hacks and egoists and boobs and snake-oil salesmen. God help anyone who has to live under the kind of Constitution they would come up with.

58 posted on 08/22/2013 1:53:47 PM PDT by 0.E.O
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To: Publius
Congress believes it has a role

Congress believes it has a role in everything.

the Supreme Court may believe Congress has a role

They shouldn't even be involved in the process.

and the ruling class certainly believes that Congress has a role.

That's who we are trying to get rid of!..........

59 posted on 08/22/2013 1:55:47 PM PDT by Red Badger
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To: Errant

I would hope


60 posted on 08/22/2013 1:56:12 PM PDT by GeronL
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