Good point, states apply, they do not petition. And upon application of 2/3’s of the states applying, Congress must call a convention for proposing amendments.
Article V does not say states must submit applications WITH amendments attached, only that they apply to Congress and that Congress MUST call a convention for proposing amendments.
So Congress need not even know what amendments are proposed until states convene their convention=meeting, and even then states are not required to let their deliberations be made public although in all likelihood they will make them so.
Congress sits in a near year round convention. Any member may propose amendments at any time. Whack-job ideas go nowhere, and few receive the 2/3 vote necessary to be sent to the states.
A state convention is the extra-congressional equivalent means to the same end, and poses the same imaginary dangers.
Congressional demands for same subject applications is an illegal, unconstitutional attempt to defuse, stymie and deny us our Article V and God given rights.
In the big picture, I don't think the GOPE understand they could take a big step toward reconciliation with the conservative base if they do their duty and call for a convention.
If they continue on the present path, ignore us, and put up Mitt or Jeb in 2016, it will mean president Lizzie Warren or Lezzie Clinton in 2017.