The US Does NOT Recognize the Legitimacy of Honduras' Constitution

LA Times/The Lid ^ | 7/10/09 | The Lid

[Shellybenoit]

While he was getting lectured by Vladimir Putin, Prime Minister of Russia, he took the time to give a speech that totally ignored the Constitution of Honduras.

“America supports now the restoration of the democratically-elected President of Honduras, even though he has strongly opposed American policies,” the president told graduate students at the commencement ceremony of Moscow’s New Economic School. “We do so not because we agree with him. We do so because we respect the universal principle that people should choose their own leaders, whether they are leaders we agree with or not. “

I wonder if the President or anyone at the State Department has ever read the Constitution of Honduras:

The Honduran Constitution may be amended in any way except three. No amendment can ever change (1) the country's borders, (2) the rules that limit a president to a single four-year term and (3) the requirement that presidential administrations must "succeed one another" in a "republican form of government."

In addition, Article 239 specifically states that any president who so much as proposes the permissibility of reelection "shall cease forthwith" in his duties, and Article 4 provides that any "infraction" of the succession rules constitutes treason

[HighlyOpinionated]

0bama doesn’t read OUR Constitution, why would he read Honduras’?

[Secret Agent Man]

Barack the magic moron.

Umm, the legislature and the court down there said he was acting unconstitutionally. They are reps of the people of Honduras, as well as Hondurans themselves.

The military removed him in accordance with the legislature and court findings. The military folks themselves are Hondurans.

The president is not above the constitution regardless if he was elected. He forfeited his right to be president when he blatantly said he intended to ignore and violate the constitution and would illegally try to change it.

Barack is a dangerous person to be in our top office. If this doesn’t prove it you’re blind.

[Vigilanteman]

Article 239 was, I suspect, specifically instituted because Honduras saw the cults of personality and "presidents for life" so prevalent in the region and wished to avoid a similar scenario.

When their president thumbed his nose at the rule of law, the legislature and supreme court did exactly as the constitution compelled them to do. Thus, rather than siding with a carefully considered constitution, ObaMao chooses to side with the dictator wannabe.

Of course, ObaMao has no respect for our constitution either, so why should he be expected to respect the constitution of another country?

[Texas Fossil]

Thanks once again for a very good analysis. Spot-on.

Up to your usual great standards.

[pennyfarmer]

Constitution does not mean the same thing to Democrats as it does to the rest of the world.

Democrats believe that it is merely a guideline that can change depending on the benefits it gives the far left of the party. If it does not benefit the far left then it is old and outdated. Usually it is so outdated that they propose its total dissolution and a forming of a socialist democracy that is only democratic as long as they are in power. If the societal tide changes against them then no amount of corruption is too low to keep the power.

[Vn_survivor_67-68]

“We do so not because we agree with him. We do so because we respect the universal principle that people should choose their own leaders, whether they are leaders we agree with or not. “

Wow!....talk about padding his own nest for potential/likely “eventualities”....

[the invisib1e hand]

hmm. didn’t john semmens almost satire something like this a week ago>

[easttennesseejohn]

So much for not interfering in the internal aspects of another sovergin nation. What is Senior Lecturer in Constitutional law trying to do tother than support another Marxist wannabe? Is this a “brillant” analysis of thying to develop situational constitutionality, like the libs situational ethics/morality? Honduras shouild tell him to read and folllow his own Constitution for a change, for example the 5th Amendment when it came to debtors and shareholders’ rights when he, without any real court test or approval, took over 2 auto companies, overturning, without challenge, 150 years or so of established bankruptcy law on his way to build a “workers’ paradise”. Moron.

[Gatún(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer)]

“Barack is a dangerous person to be in our top office. If this doesn’t prove it you’re blind.”

He is also hard of hearing. Honduras told him to go to hell a few days back. And that was after he was called an idiot/moron.

[Girlene]

Good analyais. Obama cannot claim ignorance of the Honduran constitution and what Zelaya was doing to thwart the rule of law. According to the Wall Street Journal, Obama and the State Department were in contact with Honduran officials. They knew what was going on. This is about Honduras thwarting Obama's wishes. That is a no-no in Obamaland.

[sniper63]

"We do so because we respect the universal principle that people should choose their own leaders,"

Does this buffon actually listen to what he says? He is a walking, talking contradiction.....

[3niner]

In addition, Article 239 specifically states that any president who so much as proposes the permissibility of reelection "shall cease forthwith" in his duties, and Article 4 provides that any "infraction" of the succession rules constitutes treason

We should amend our constitution to include something like this, and include Congress while we're at it.

[TigersEye]

Skip the State Run Media. Find your own news.

Will Obama blackmail Honduras into installing a bullying would-be dictator? Hans Bader

Wrong Again Oliver North

Honduras Defends Its Democracy

Honduras Crisis: Zelaya Is A Threat To Our Democracy

Coup Rocks Honduras

Coup in Honduras - Correction: This is NOT a coup

Honduras Natives Say Democracy Preserved

Massive *Anti-CNN*/Anti-Chavez Demonstrations Erupt in Honduras (GOTTA SEE VIDEO!!)

Supporters of Zelaya.

Supporters of Honduras' President Manuel Zelaya shout slogans outside the presidential residence in Tegucigalpa, Thursday, June 25, 2009. President Zelaya's attempt to hold a referendum Sunday on changing the constitution has pitted him against the country's top courts, the attorney general, military leaders and even his own party, all of whom argue the vote is illegal.(Photo/Fernando Antonio)

Zelaya's supporters march in the streets of Tegucigalpa. Zelaya insists on returning to Honduras to finish out the last six months of his term; the new president, Roberto Micheletti, says Zelaya will be arrested if he sets foot in the country. July 3, 2009 LA Times

Supporters of Honduran rule of law.

Demonstrators opposed to Honduras President Manuel Zelaya, protest in Tegucigalpa, Friday, June 26, 2009. President Manuel Zelaya is promoting a Sunday referendum on constitutional changes that has plunged the country into crisis by setting the president at odds with the military, the courts and the legislature that have branded the vote illegal.

A man holds a constitution of Honduras as demonstrators opposed to Honduras President Manuel Zelaya, protest in Tegucigalpa, Friday, June 26, 2009. President Manuel Zelaya is promoting a Sunday referendum on constitutional changes that has plunged the country into crisis by setting the president at odds with the military, the courts and the legislature that have branded the vote illegal. (Photo/Esteban Felix)

Students wearing gags on their mouths protest against Honduras President Manuel Zelaya outside the Venezuelan embassy in Tegucigalpa, Thursday, June 25, 2009. President Zelaya's attempt to hold a referendum on reforming the constitution has pitted him against the country's top courts, the attorney general, military leaders and even his own party, all of whom argue the vote is illegal. (Photo/Fernando Antonio)

Pro-Honduran government supporters in the small town of Choluteca, Honduras Today, July 1, 2009,

This is a picture from a demonstration in support of Honduran democracy and the government of President Michelleti who has defied the OAS and has said there is no chance that the Chavez stooge, former President Zelaya will return. (Picture courtesy of Gateway Pundit )

0bama was helping Chavez orchestrate this attempted takeover by Zelaya.

• WSJ Update: Obama Worked To Prevent Ouster of (Marxist) Honduras President

• Coups, interference, and the shifting standards of Obama; Update: Coup or ‘military impeachment’?

The U.S. State Dept has basically announced that they are an organ of international communism.

State Department Daily Briefing - July 6, 2009

[TigersEye]

"We do so because we respect the universal principle that people should choose their own leaders, therefore I have instructed Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, to lead the effort to force Honduras to take "Mel" Zelaya back."

[John Semmens]

Semi-News — A Satirical Look at Recent News

Obama Meddles in Honduras

By John Semmens

After insisting that it is not the United States’ place to meddle in the internal affairs of other nations in the case of Iran, US President Barack Obama demanded that Honduras restore Manuel Zelaya to the presidency of that country. Zelaya was removed from office by order of the country’s supreme court with the concurrence of the legislature when he attempted to illegally implement a proposed amendment to the nation’s constitution.

According to the Honduran constitution, Zelaya was to be barred from reelection by its term-limit provision. Rather than seek to amend the constitution through methods specified in the document, Zelaya called for an emergency referendum to abolish the term-limit clause.

President Obama rejected the Honduran government’s action in ousting Zelaya. “What’s at stake here is the very concept of democracy itself,” Obama argued. “Zelaya is the duly elected leader of Honduras. Removing him for, of all things, attempting to ascertain the will of the people in regard to his continuation in office beyond the current term, contravenes democracy.”

Obama also dismissed the Honduran government’s argument that its action followed constitutional procedures. “A rigid adherence to a piece of paper cannot supplant the will of the people,” Obama asserted. “We must not put form over substance. A true constitution is a living document with the flexibility to adapt to evolving contingencies. Should a president be penalized for appreciating this need for flexibility? Would Americans tolerate their president being removed from office for requesting a similar referendum on our term limits?”

http://azconserv1.wordpress.com/2009/07/04/obama-meddles-in-honduras/

[the invisib1e hand]

art imitating nature, or vice versa?