Free Republic

The 2014 midterm elections gave state Republicans their largest political majorities of the modern political era. In Governor races, the GOP picked up a net 2 states, against expectations of a 2-seat loss. The party also holds 68 of the nation’s 98 partisan legislative chambers, a grip on state government not seen since the 1920s. In only seven deeply blue states do Democrats control both the legislature and the Governor’s mansion. Republicans hold or share control in every other state. Conservatives rightfully worry that Republicans in Washington will pursue a modest agenda with their Congressional majorities, but the states provide...

For 100 years, the federal government has usurped powers not delegated to it in our Constitution. What should we do about it? Should we reclaim our existing Constitution and put an end to the usurpations? Or should we “modernize” the Constitution by changing it so as to delegate to the federal government the powers it has usurped – so as to legalize what is now unconstitutional? Mark Levin begins “The Liberty Amendments” by saying he doesn’t believe the Constitution requires “modernization through amendments”. But he then proposes a series of amendments, six of which modernize our Constitution to delegate to...

We have some bad news for American conservatives: The leaders of our party, the once Grand Old Party, are trying to figure out a way to win elections without us, and if or when they do, they will abandon us like yesterday’s trash. If you have any question about this, you need not look any further than this National Journal story from yesterday, reporting that former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush has “announced” on his Facebook page that he is “actively exploring” a presidential bid in 2016. Spoiler alert: Jeb Bush is not your dad’s conservative. We’re not sure if “actively...

A Yes-No Proposition- By: Larry Walker II -There are two Proposed Constitutional Amendments on Georgia’s ballot this November 4th. They are as follows:A. To prohibit an increase in the state income tax rate in effect January 1, 2015 (Senate Resolution 415). "Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended to prohibit the General Assembly from increasing the maximum state income tax rate?"B. Adding reckless driving penalties or fees to the brain and spinal injury trust fund (House Resolution 1183). "Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended to allow additional reckless driving penalties or fees to be added to the Brain and...

YES on 1, TN is #3 in out of state abortions. Why Yes on 1 Who We Are YES on 1 is a community-based outreach to raise awareness of the proposed pro-life constitutional amendment slated for public vote in 2014. Local committees in support of YES on 1 are being developed in communities, counties, churches and campuses across the state. Because of a radical 4-1 ruling by the Tennessee Supreme Court in 2000, Tennessee now boasts a broader right to abortion than that recognized by Roe v. Wade or the U.S. Constitution. Background Basic commonsense protections passed by the Tennessee...

I keep getting asked about this and people keep advocating it, so let's talk about it. The issue is a Constitutional Convention, with the expressed intent being to return the United States to its Constitutional Roots. Sounds like a good idea, yes? Well, it quite arguably is, if you'd like to see the government return to its Constitutional boundaries. The problem is that this "remedy" isn't a remedy and if it comes to pass what you want won't happen. I know this for a fact and, if you think about it, so do you. I know what you're going to...

 On this evening’s show, 5/23/2014, Mark Levin talked about the Great Compromise of the Convention of 1787, but he never mentioned how the apportionment of both taxation and representation became the moving parts of the Great Compromise. So, let me fill in the parts Mark Levin left out. During the framing of our existing Constitution the question of how each State would be represented in Congress became a matter of heated debate and deciding upon rules which fixed each State’s representation created an impasse during the Convention. On July 2nd of the Convention Sherman of Connecticut remarked: “We are now...

Isn’t it interesting to recall that on November 18, 2011 Mark Levin said he was “happy the balanced budget amendment didn't pass the House because it was a fraud”, and now Mark Levin promotes a fraudulent balanced budget amendment with one of his “liberty amendments” which would make it constitutional for Congress to not balance the annual budget? The two of sections of Mark’s fraudulent balanced budget amendment making it constitutional for Congress to not balance the annual budget are: SECTION 6: Congress may provide for a one-year suspension of one or more of the preceding sections in this Article...

  Mark Levin loves to TALK ABOUT SOCIALISM and how it attacks rights associated with property ownership, and how government force is used under socialism to take and then transfer the property of one group of individuals to another group selectively determined by those who hold political power. This transfer of property is primarily accomplished through a socialist tax on profits, gains, and other “incomes” which seeks out the most productive hard working citizens, taxes them, and then redistributes the property they have earned to those who enjoy riding in government’s free cheese wagon who are expected to return the favor...

SEE: Did Michigan just trigger 'constitutional convention'? Bid gains steam In the wake of the vote, California Republican Rep. Duncan Hunter pressed House Speaker John Boehner on Tuesday to determine whether the states just crossed the threshold for this kind of convention. Like Michigan lawmakers, Hunter's interest in the matter stems from a desire to push a balanced-budget amendment -- something that could potentially be done at a constitutional convention. If Duncan Hunter wants to balance the annual budget, then why does he not “push” for and demand the apportioned direct tax which is in our Constitution be used to...

WASHINGTON -- For nearly a decade, the National Rifle Association successfully blocked a bill in Washington state that would have required alleged domestic abusers to surrender their firearms after being served with a protective order. Only those actually convicted of felony domestic violence, the nation's largest gun lobby argued, should be made to forfeit their gun rights. This past year, the NRA changed its tune. As the bill, HB 1840, once again moved through the state legislature, the gun lobby made a backroom deal with lawmakers, agreeing to drop its public opposition to it in exchange for a few minor...

Even with Michigan recently becoming the 34th state to call for a Constitutional Convention, it's not at all certain that a rewrite of the nation's founding document is close at hand... Unless called to deal with a specific issue, some legal experts warn a "runaway" convention could create chaos. "Let's assume that we get Congress to call for a convention, and we are deliberating about one item. Maybe that would stick. But how can you be confident that once you open the door to a constitutional convention, even if for one narrow amendment, that it won't just become a runaway...

After my previous post on the Justice Stevens’s new book, I requested a review copy from the publisher, which I have now received. Here are his six proposed Amendments. I’ll avoid commenting until I read the entire book (a fairly breezy 133 pages, followed by the Constitution as it stands now, and a list of all JPS clerks). The “Anti-Commandeering Rule” (Amend the Supremacy Clause of Article VI) This Constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof; and all treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the United States,...

Check out his month's COS Project Scholarship Contest winners! The picture we posted is the Viral Award winner in the 12-17 age division. The Staff Choice winner in the 12-17 division --> http://ow.ly/tfe4C The Viral Award winner in the 18-22 age division --> http://ow.ly/tfeGL And the Staff Choice winner in the 18-22 age division --> http://ow.ly/tfdZ7

".............Reid’s tight control of the amendments process has become a point of contention in the debate over unemployment benefits, which he’d like to extend without providing funding for the program. After signaling that he would not allow any Republican amendments on a bill to temporarily extend the benefits, Reid appears to be backing down, however begrudgingly. “I am open to considering a reasonable number of relevant amendments to [the bill], if that’s what it takes to end Republican obstruction,” he said Monday on Twitter. Allowing a “reasonable number of relevant amendments” from the minority party has not always been considered...

U.S. border agents should have the authority to search laptop computers carried by news photographers and other travelers at international border crossings without reasonable suspicion, a federal judge in Brooklyn ruled this week. In a written decision on Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Edward Korman granted a government motion to dismiss a lawsuit filed by civil rights attorneys who claimed the practice was unconstitutional and sought to have it halted.

In Arkansas a class of sixth graders were asked to prune the Constitution and its amendments. Glenn Beck decried the notion of an outdated Constitution in his radio program. Like a true patriot he defended it, but he was wrong. The Constitution is outdated as are many of its amendments. Here are some amendments that need instant pruning or decapitation: The 16th amendment allowing the federal government to collect income tax. If that were abolished, so would Obamacare, according to Chief Justice John Roberts. The 17th amendment establishing the direct election of United States senators. The Founders were correct in...

I heard Mark Levin this evening once again encouraging the call for an Article V convention purportedly to restore our constitutionally limited system of government. What Mark Levin does not caution his listening audience about is, that “we the people”, ordinary productive American Citizens, would not be in charge of that convention. In fact, Mark Levin’s Article V Convention if called would be controlled by the very people who now cause our miseries which are the various state Legislatures and Governors who work in concert with our federal government to enslave and plunder the wealth which Americas businesses, industries and...

About a year ago two professors of law at Yale wrote an article titled Why (and how) to tax the super-rich which appeared in the LA Times. Mark Levin immediately responded to the article which proposed an annual “wealth tax” and identified Bruce Ackerman as a “Left wing disgusting professor at Yale Law as is Anne Alstott” ___ the two professors who wrote the article. I agree! But what I cannot understand is why Mark Levin now proposes to perpetuate a tax upon wealth under one of his “Liberty Amendments”, especially when our founding fathers rejected an unrestrained tax upon...

In one of Mark Levin's Liberty Amendments he promotes keeping alive taxes calculated from profits, gains and other incomes. If one wants to judge the motives and character of those who advocate changes to our Constitution, there are two specific issues which give us a clue: (a) the manner in which Congress fills our national treasury; and (b), what our nation uses for “legal tender”. In other words, “its all about the Benjamins”. So, let us take a look at issue (a) and ask ourselves why does Mark Levin offer to perpetuate taxes calculated from profits, gains and incomes which...