Posted on 06/26/2015 2:15:23 PM PDT by cotton1706
What would U.S. law be like without the Bill of Rights? Had a convention of the states not taken place in 1789, the Bill of rights would not exist. In the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s latest controversial decision on the Affordable Care Act, such a convention is one goal small-government supporters hope to meet.
Radio host and author Mark Levin has repeatedly advocated for a convention of the states. Now Levin has an ally in former U.S. senator Dr. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., well known in the Senate and blogosphere as the author of an annual report on wasted federal tax dollars.
The call made its way into the grassroots, with activists on social media advocating for a convention. More than 40,000 people follow the Convention of States feed on Twitter. On Facebook, the COS page has 348,000 supporters. States may also be keen on the idea, with 36 state legislatures introducing resolutions to hold a convention.
Coburn penned an opinion column in the May issue of the Ripon Forum magazine (print) to explain why he believes every presidential candidate should be asked a question during the campaigns: Do you support the Convention of the States?
If enough states act, a convention would be one means for reformers to rein in the reach of the federal government. Because the U.S. Constitution provides a means to hold one, doing so could help return the country to its roots of limited federal powers.
(Excerpt) Read more at conventionofstates.com ...
Twist several thousand years of traditional marriage. No really. Go ahead. Give it a shot.
I’m pretty much on the same page as you.
You meant to direct your post to thorvaldr in #16.
I am still mystified as to why anyone would think that the delegates to "this" group will be any more trustworthy than the congressmen we elect, the senators we elect, the governors we elect . . . .
The Concon allows the states to pick the delegates, but doesn't stipulate how. Let's just imagine, shall we, how the state of OH would pick it's conservative delegates. Oh, wait: they wouldn't be conservative. If the governor (Kasich) picks them, they would be GOPe with many Dems thrown in for "balance" and "fairness." If the GOPe Senate picks them---the same senate that imposed a special tax on those evil and dangerous tanning beds---no change. Same with the OH house or the OH Supreme Court.
"Well, the state would call it's own nominating convention." Really? How would that work. Who would chair that one . . . Kasich? DeWine? (who, BTW, is already slated as our next OH governor. You heard it right. The guy who couldn't hold his senate seat will be governor).
And how do you propose to get Democrats to sit home or sit on their hands while all this is going on? GOP is a minority in OH. But I'm sure that MOST of the states would be way more reliable than OH, right?
Yes, but if ANY Dem becomes the next President, there is literally no hope to restore this nation or to slow the spiral downwards...as we've seen, the "leaders" of the House and Senate are a bunch of RINOs. ONLY Presidential leadership like Reagan's, with a reasonably compliant Congress, can hope to reverse course. If that doesn't happen starting in 2016, you'll have several more left-wing Supremes appointed, and any good laws that manage to get passed after that will get trashed if the Lefties don't like them.
2016, do or die.
You do not define what a man or a woman is. It is too easy for courts to agree that people are what they want to be this morning - and that would circumvent the whole AMENDMENT XXX.
Since the SCOTUS has abandoned the constitution created by the states, there is no constitution and no state has to abide by any rule handed down by this court. They broke the contract. There isnt a union any longer.
can you name 38 states that would vote to ratify such an amendment?I suppose it would have to be the 38 states required to bring this boondogle forward in the first place...They're the ones proposing the amendments. Why wouldn't they ratify it?
Don't forget, all 50 states will be at the final table. It's just that it takes 3/4 of the states to agree to the article V convention.
There's nothing that says there will be states not allowed AND they will all have the right to offer amendments once the Article V convention is approved.
The discussions will be what to do about the (racist) American flag, global warming deniers and anti-gays
Clarifications will require clarifications. That's not the kind of amendment that will likely pass muster.I'm sorry you don't understand that clarifications means rewriting the amendment...but it has to be done with another amendment.
Just because you don't think it can be done, does not mean they won't/can't do it...Well unless you are in charge of what is or isn't "muster".
Marriage is not mentioned in the Constitution, so there is nothing proposed to twist. The method of choosing Senators is, before and after the 17th, and my draft repeal of the 17th.
Suppose that my draft repeal amendment is successfully proposed out of the convention. Does it pass textual muster? If ratified, on what grounds do you think it might be challenged? On what grounds do you anticipate Congress will ignore or bypass it?
-PJ
For those who think the Article V process is too risky, I ask, "What other options do you see?"
To summarize from a previous post by GraceG:
1. Elect More Republicans - Failed due to RINO/Uni-party confluence.
2. Article V Convention of States to propose Amendments - Needed to try to take power from the federal government back to the states and reel in the federal leviathan.
3. State Nullification - Last ditch effort to try to take power back from the federal monster, though by this point it may be too late.
4. State Secession - Could either end up peaceably like the breakup of the Czechoslovakia in 1993 or a brutal:
5. Civil War II like the first one.... The longer we wait on #2, the more likely #3, then #4 and finally #5. .
So, do we do nothing and just wait for # 5?
Quick review: We need 34 states to pass an application, then Congress shall, by law, call a Convention of States as soon as it receives applications from 2/3 of the State Legislatures. That's 34 states. (So far both legislative chambers of 4 States, {Alabama, Alaska, Florida and Georgia}, have completely passed their resolutions and 36 state legislative chambers or bodies have filed or passed resolutions.) Amendments are proposed and voted on at the convention. Each Amendment must be ratified by ¾ of the states in order to become part of the US Constitution. That’s 38 states.
“There are far more political and legal constraints on a runaway convention than on a runaway Congress.” - Robert Natelson
Most FReepers are aware of these links, but I post anyway for review and for people new to Article V. It is our responsibility to make Article V the most understood aspect of the US Constitution.
****Please see this summary video from Alabama first: Convention of States - Alabama Way to go Alabama! A great introduction!
Rep. Bill Taylor introduces a Convention of States
Convention of States Live! with Mike Farris
The Case for an Article V Convention. Great explanation of an Article V convention to the Massachusetts State Legislature.
**** Convention of States Lots of information here.
Call a Convention A call for a Convention of States
Missouri state senator delivers amazing testimony (video) Reasoned speech on why we need an Article V Convention.
Article V Project to Restore Liberty Another good source.
Convention of States model Resolution
A Summary of Mark Levin’s Proposed Amendments by Jacquerie
Chapter 1 of Mark Levin’s Book, The Liberty Amendments
Mark Levin, Constitution Article V, and the Liberty Amendments
Mark Levin: “The Liberty Amendments” - Complete Sean Hannity Special + other Links
List of Mark Levin You Tube Videos
Citizens for Self-Governance: Convention of States Project Youtube hub – Lots of educational videos here
Mark Levin Article V, Liberty Amendments youtube video hub
Three hour video of C-Span interview with Mark Levin
*** Mark Levin’s ALEC Speech, Dec 4, 2014
Gaining Steam? Nearly 100 Lawmakers Descend on Mount Vernon to Talk Convention of States The beginning.
Mark Levin’s “Liberty Amendments” Sean Hannity Special
We can fight the uniparty! States, the Natural Second Party by Jacquerie
Convention to Propose Amendments to the United States Constitution
The Other Way to Amend the Constitution: The Article V Constitutional Convention Amendment Process
Friends of Article V Convention Links
The Indiana Statute that will Govern their Delegates
Congress’ Present Duty to Call a Convention:
Congress’ Present Duty to Call a Convention. (Part I)
Congress’ Present Duty to Call a convention. (Part II)
Congress’ Present Duty to Call a Convention. (Part III)
Congress’ Present Duty to Call a Convention. (Part IV)
Congress’ Present Duty to Call a Convention. (Part V)
Congress’ Failure to Call an Amendments Convention. (Part VI)
Ulysses at the Mast: Democracy, Federalism, and the Sirens' Song of the Seventeenth Amendment by Jay Bybee. Repeal the 17th! Shorter Abstract here: Ulysses at the Mast, one page Abstract
****For those of you that still have doubts about the Article V process, please review: Responses To Convention Of States Opposition My initial concerns were resolved after reading these articles. My attitude now is Go For It!
Sarah Palin: Debunking the myths of a Convention of States
A Single-Subject Convention Addresses the “runaway convention” fear.
John Birch Society Denies Its History and Betrays Its Mission The original Birchers were for an Article V Convention.
Update: Convention of States by the numbers The current State count
Convention of States Gaining Momentum
Article V Handbook - for State Legislators An important resource.
**** State Legislators Article V Caucus State Legislators, Join up at this site!
Most State Legislatures are in session now. Send this list of links to your State Representatives and Senators here: Contact your State Legislators.
Sample Letter to state Representatives regarding the Convention of States Project and also, Talking Points.
Excellent Article V Letter to a State Assemblyman by Jacquerie
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." - Edmund Burke.
Let’s all work together to get this going!
Like General Lee, we're all going to have to get our blood up and work on this as much as we can.
Thank you
It only takes 34 states (2/3) to require the convention, but requires 38 states (3/4) to ratify any amendments. So you believe states like Texas would vote to ratify an amendment that would restrict 1st and 2nd amendment rights?
There's nothing that says there will be states not allowed AND they will all have the right to offer amendments once the Article V convention is approved.
Maybe. The states can either agree to specific topics in advance, or it can be open to any amendment. But they would still need to get a vote of 2/3 of the delegates for any proposal to even send it to the states for ratification.
You do know that each state will only get one vote at the convention, and that there are far more states with Republican legislatures than ones with Democrat legislatures, right? So under that scenario, how do you see the Democrats dominating the convention like that?
Are you okay, Art in Idaho? Are you comfortable?
With this SCOTUS, it would find any amendments by an Article 5 convention, unconstitutional. Would be a 5-4 vote. Name of the game is the same, according to the players.
I am not okay. I am uncomfortable. How about you?
Uncomfortable.
There is truly nothing to be done. Wait and abide.
Assuming that a *rewritten* 1st and 2nd amendment is successfully proposed out of the convention, "muster" means it cannot be willfully ignored or bypassed or challenged in court.
The constant argument here is that the government will ignore CoS amendments, so why bother? Would you not hold the same to be true of a liberal amendment curtailing the 1st or 2nd, in this case coming from the states or special interest groups?
Would you grant that the delegates to a CoS would know this, and take pains to not forward to the states any amendment that is not solid in its structure? To do so, something much more substantive than a clarification on a rewrite (not repeal) would be expected?
-PJ
So under that scenario, how do you see the Democrats dominating the convention like that?You put a lot of faith in Republicans. However, you're the only one that said anything about Democrats...Frankly I can't tell the difference.
I guess you think if a COS is called it's gonna be a done deal, YOU WIN!, before it even begins...
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