Well intentioned Article V advocates must guard against unwittingly becoming pawns of radical persons. The radical I speak of Larry J. Sabato of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia.
Sabato came to my attention after investigating a series of articles which appeared in late March touting Jeb Bush. These articles all originated with the prognostications of Sabato. I wanted to see if there was any connection between Bush and Sabato. I did not find any, but did find quite a lot of other interesting information about Sabato.
Who is Larry J. Sabato?
He wants a Constitutional Convention (his words) to, among other things:
* Appoint all former presidents and vice presidents to the new office of “National Senator”
* Lengthen the terms of representatives from two years to three years, and set Senate terms to coincide with all presidential elections so the Senate would be elected at the same time as the President. (say good by to diffused power)
* Universal national service
See his book “A More Perfect Constitution”
See also his video from Nov 5, 2007, captioned:
“This is my introduction to the National Constitutional Convention, held on October 19, 2007 in Washington, DC. The event featured past vice-presidential nominee Geraldine Ferraro, Justice Samuel Alito, and former Senator and presidential candidate Bob Dole, along with a myriad of constitutional and political experts. We discussed the possibility of calling a second Constitutional Convention and what changes are needed to fix our broken system of government.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjTd9wrYvwM
As both the book and the video make clear, Sabato envisions this under Article V.
He has labored to prepare the ground for his radical seed by conducting a National Youth Leadership Initiative where students engage in a mock Constitutional Convention. This is conducted by The Center for Politics, which he founded, http://www.amoreperfectconstitution.com/youth_leadership_initiative.htm
Sabato is very well connected and has the prestige of the University of Virginia behind him. He should not be underestimated.
Article V advocates need to know who they allying themselves with.
It is a smear, a gratuitous insult for you to accuse me of an alliance with him.
“... He wants a Constitutional Convention (his words) ...
... Article V advocates need to know who they allying themselves with ...”
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Both you and Larry Sabato can bite me.
Went to school with Sabato, Jr. High or High School don’t recall exactly, maybe both. He was an OK fellow at the time. I wouldn’t worry too much about his positions. Even if he was able to get something through the Convention of States, it would still have to be ratified. And I for one don’t want to see expresidents or any other government operative do anything but go away and shut up. I doubt I am alone in that. So, I am not a bit worried about his suggestions. I want to eliminate the ability of the congress to tax at all. This includes repeal of the sixteenth amendment, eliminanation of all forms of taxation nation wide, imposition of a national sales tax at a rate of 15% or so. States will be able to impose a state sales tax to fund their governments but that is all. No other forms of taxation allowed. Some may call that a radical position. But I don’t. Regardless, my proposal would have to be approved by the CoS and ratified by the states. Same as any other proposal. There is plenty of protection against any run away proposals or the somewhat silly proposals of Mr. Sabato. I am not a. It fearful of any CoS.
I wouldn’t worry about it