Tired of use-less Government intrusion in our everyday lifes? Here's what i Suggest we do about it!

October 13, 2006 | Dean Hiatt

[Congressman Billybob]

Absolute nonsense. There is no such thing as a national referendum. 24 states have that process, the rest do not. Per my prior comment, the only way a national initiative can be used is if it is installed in the Constitution by amendment.

I'm not sure that a national initiative is a good idea. Witness the regular special interest dog and pony shows in California over initiatives designed to give various special interests an entrenched position in the law. I do know that there are a couple of national organizations in D.C. dedicated to promoting the national initiative.

John / Billybob

[dcrider182]

So you're saying it is a usless effort, and there's nothing WE, the public, can do about it?

[nopardons]

What you called for is something that "might" work in a democracy, but we are a REPRESENTAIVE REPUBLIC and therefore MOB RULE doesn't work here.....thank GOD.

Yes, it is a useless effort, just as this is a useless, band wasting thread.

[dcrider182]

Wow.. i must say. you seem very mad at an idea..maybe you should ask yourself why? Why are you so opposed to giving the President the power of the Line Item Veto??? and why does that make you so angry i must ask?

[Congressman Billybob]

No, I'm not saying it is "a useless effort and nothing can be done about it." I AM saying that the method of getting the remedy has to obey the Constitution. And that means to use the state call method in Article V.

Congress will probably not pass a line item veto by 2/3rds of each House. On the other hand, it is possible to get 34 states (also 2/3rds) to demand the amendment and put teeth in their demand by calling for a limited constitutional convention if Congress fails to act.

I agree with what you seek. I merely pointed out that it is necessary, for us as conservatives, to obey the Constitution on the way to our goals.

John / Billybob

[Gordongekko909]

What worries me about the Line-Item Veto is some Dem president using it against a weak-kneed Republican Congressman or fifty. "Vote for Hillarycare or your earmark gets LIV'd." It could end up costing more than it saves in the hands of a Dem president.

[nopardons]

I am neither "angry" nor "made about the idea". I am simply pointing out to you the fallacy of your thread's position and your own incompetence at understanding how our government works. You replied to CongresmmanBillyBob's factual post, with shock and surprise. I was merely backing him up.

[The Spirit Of Allegiance]

"Wil dye tha furs dei."

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DEAR ABBY:
Is that a command for William to dye the animal pelts 'as unto the LORD?' -- CONFUSED IN CONNECTICUT

[The Spirit Of Allegiance]

"It started with not having the ability for Line-Item-Veto's"

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No, it started with having paid humble public servants that were neither humble nor truly serving the public--and a fickle, instant-gratification-desiring public...thousands of years ago. The Republic of Eden, or Plato's Republic, or something like that.... ;^)

Line Item Vetoes are useful--and depending on who has the power to use it--potentially excellent. But if we have a Republican Congress and Hillary steals the '08 Presidential election, the L.I.V. would be a very bad thing. It cuts two ways.

Welcome to FR.

[nopardons]

Yep............................

[Fido969]

Are you series?