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For a couple of years, specifically 2010 and 2011, far-right activists pushed a muddled constitutional message. On the one hand, conservatives claimed to be the true, unyielding champions of the Constitution and all it represents. On the other, these same conservatives said the Constitution needed to undergo major changes to bring it more in line with the right's expectations. This never really made sense, but we apparently weren't supposed to note.
As a practical matter, the latter goal of giving the Constitution a touch-up led to some fairly radical proposals. Conservative Republican lawmakers and candidates, for example, said they might want to scrap at least one part of the 14th Amendment. The right also hoped to "restore" the "original" 13th Amendment. A variety of conservatives, including Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R), said the 16th Amendment should also probably be removed from the Constitution, too.
And for quite a while, the right seemed especially animated by the idea of repealing the 17th Amendment -- the one that lets Americans choose their own U.S. senators -- so much that it became "part of the Tea Party orthodoxy." Dave Weigel noted yesterday that this idea hasn't completely faded, at least not yet.
Georgia's legislature, now run by a Republican supermajority, has inched ahead on a resolution endorsing the repeal of the 17th Amendment. Honestly, I thought that fad died out sometime in 2011, but it's easy to forget that the 2012 election firmed up Republican control in red states, and that ideas like this have empowered sponsors. [...]
If state legislatures were re-empowered to pick senators, there'd be no nettlesome Democrats from North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Alaska, Louisiana, Arkansas, Florida, Ohio, Indiana, or Michigan. The only states with Republican senators who wouldn't be there under the legislative-election system are New Hampshire and Maine. So, yes, this would make it easier to undo a few things.
Efforts to repeal the 17th Amendment will probably be about as successful in the near future as they were in the recent past, though it's disconcerting that the efforts are ongoing.
Regardless, I still find it rather remarkable that those who celebrate "freedom" the loudest also hope to transfer power away from the American electorate when it comes to electing members of the Senate.
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"Regardless, I still find it rather remarkable that those who celebrate "freedom" the loudest also hope to transfer power away from the American electorate when it comes to electing members of the Senate."
That's the authoritarian mindset.
also a mindset of deceivers and thieves and oppressors and other such despotic tyrants. The constitution is not here to train people to be good thru any manner of worship - it is supposed to be a prescriptive antidote against the effects of never ending evil doers who are always popping up to abuse populations.
joseph
You make no sense whatsoever. Please speak English.
They want to take away the power to elect the wrong people to the Senate. And since they know they're a dying-out minority themselves, they have to reinstitute Jim Crow to preserve the survival of White Morons.
yep.
Some Democrats, of course, have proposed amending the Constitution, too--more by adding new amendments as opposed to repealing them--and in ways like getting rid of endless campaign financing, defining that a corporation is not a "person" for legal purposes... So when you add in that side of the picture, the division between Republicans as anti-populists and the Democrats as populists becomes even more pronounced.
capitalism is for business, socialism is for people. any other way is the end of what works.
"... I still find it rather remarkable that those who celebrate "freedom" the loudest also hope to transfer power away from the American electorate when it..."
Don't be surprised, it's like someone once said "power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely". The GOTP have been in power for too long, they've sold themselves out to the Oligarchy and have stopped even listening to "WE the PEOPLE". At this point they will and are doing whatever it takes to retain that power. They have bloviating bobble heads, pundits and enough corporate owned media to reinforce their positions and to keep the sheeple docile and distracted.
That they now want to "change" the parts of the Constitution that they don't like shouldn't be a surprise, I mean they've changed/negated/don't pay attention to those parts of that Bible that they keep thumping up and down on either. Remember the GOTP are the party of hypocrisy & demented values and they will do whatever they have to do to ensure their power structure. As patriots our jobs is to ensure that they be voted out of public office!
it is the steady march of the repooper band of thieves who want for themselves because they figure like bashar al-assad, they can get away with it. they are a viral disease, a cancer upon what is good, and the u.s. needs an antidote against their thieving killer mentality of branding all others as expendable.
Can't we just have a national referendum on stupidity and tell the GOP to shut the hell up and go away?
now you're thinking. they can be rated and scored. THAT WILL HAPPEN, SOON.
An entire story about amendments and no mention of the 2nd one? HA!
There's plenty of space dedicated to that antiquated, reinterpreted, holiest-of-holies thing elsewhere.
they are actually going to modify that one to make bearing arms mandatory...
A state legislature can not repel an amendment of the United States Constitution. To repel an amendment if must go through both Federal Houses with 2/3 majority vote. Then it must be ratified by 3/4 of the states. That's what happened when the 18th Amendment was repealed. It took another amendment yo nullify the 18th Amendment. These people are dolts.
and there are so many of them. brainless twits that think they can think, or not. to think, or not to think, that was the question, to be asked, and dismissed, as questionable, by a sea of purely driven maddnessaurs defending against all others who dare to question.
Article V of the US Constitution:
Bolding mine. The repeal the 17th Amendment crazies are wanting to go via the second route outlined above, the calling of a constitutional convention.
"The repeal the 17th Amendment crazies are wanting to go via the second route outlined above, the calling of a constitutional convention"
So they want the way that really has a snowball's chance in hell happening. I see a real lack of understanding about reality here.
I think that's one of the key job requirements for a Republican politician. If they gave a wet slap about reality, what the hell would they be doing in the GOP?
So much for taking an oath to uphold the Constitution.
They only want to uphold the parts they like, or that have been reinterpreted the way they favor.
more like holding up the constitution...at gun point
isn't that sadly and pathetically and horrifyingly hilarious. look at it this way... a computer, an operating system becomes corrupted and ruined when a virus takes over which virus gained entry within a trojan horse. not so much different that flag waving neocons calling themselves christians and all painted up with the color of trojan to get elected then once on the inside...
The tea party loves America...if only it...
I think it has a lot to do with their dislike of public education and U.S. History. No problem though since Texas is rewriting history and civics and science nd all that highbrow stuff.
dislike of public education? they revile thought and creativeity and instead prefer that their children be trained and indoctrinated the same way that talibanners to. REFOOLICON TALIBAN.
So, let me get this straight. Republicans gerrymander Congressional districts to ensure electoral majorities in the House. Then Republicans in several "toss-up" states, where they currently hold majorities, try to change how that state allots its' electoral votes. Meanwhile, wherever possible, they also redistrict their states to do the same to ensure Republican majorities in the legislature.
Then these same Republicans restart a campaign to repeal the 17th Amendment and return the selection of Federal Senators to the state legislatures. Where they now have a majority until at least 2020? Got it.
(the rest of my comment isn't fit to print)
can you think of a better way to conquer a population to rule over it without having to have an armed rebellion? General Smedley Butler wouldn't let them, so they had to come up with a different plan.
OO_RAHH!! Old Chesty is rolling too. Listen folks, I look at government as nothing but a business, with CEO's who are pure capitalists in the worst way. If they cannot keep a balanced budget, provide capital and strategies for future growth, enforce the right policies (hint hint...Constitution), and all the while keeping an employee (tax payer) happy...meaning able to pay bills and save for retirement, THEY NEED TO BE TERMINATED. But why doesn't this happen? Because they have laws in place to protect this from happening. IT IS TIME AMERICAN CITIZENS to keep this fire from burning out of control, which it already is.
I vote to have a governance OF THE PEOPLE that will see to it that the non hackers in Washington are removed and replaced with "honest" folks helping this great nation. What say we?? Read the Constitution and tell me one (valid) reason this would not work. They (think) that once they are in office, after telling all of their lies to get there, they are now elitists and the rest of their lives they will have pure romance with luxury ticket items and personal guards, etc., all paid for by you. It sickens me, and it should you. But oh no, you will sit there on that fancy leather sofa clicking on the remote and yawning because you don't care right? You best get your act in order, stand tall, believe in your country and what it (used) to stand for, and protect the American Dream, and your children's dreams.
I am not a social media guru, nor do I know enough about our technologies we have today, to get every American involved without having to pay millions for TV ads to better inform and organize. If someone out there would help organize a command post, and in line with our Constitution, I will be the first member to join and would contribute whatever I could to help. The objective? Remove the bull@!$%# from Washington.
Semper Fi
It has been said (approximately) that "When Fascism comes to America it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross." But it isn't when, it happened some time ago, and these people will not stop until the corporatocracy fully owns this country and we are little more than a third-world society.
they can stopped them dead in their tracks by nationalizing the country's resources and taking public ownership of life support services. plenty of room for capitalism add-ons. Hugo Chavez did it. Capitalism that infringes upon human life is not capitalism, it's monsterism. and it is a viscious disease held by the greedy and the selfish monsters who are willing to kill for profits.
People who used to be a majority, and who believed they would always be a majority, now have to hold on to power any way they can.
what they majority has to do is to make illegal that effort by elected officials to subvert the constitution and public gains. once you charge these types and jail them for crimes against the public, you win.
get busy. propose laws and throw the thieves of public resources into prison where they can fend for themselves.
Remember after the 2010 election, Republicans insisted that the Constitution be read out loud to all members of Congress. My theory has been that they wanted it read one more time before they bid it a fond farewell and ripped it to shreds.
...and to Futurepres2016 who said:
The second amendment isn't the only amendment to the Constitution. There are 27 of them.
The one I'd like revise right away is the 27th, which "Prevents laws affecting Congressional salary from taking effect until the beginning of the next session of Congress." I would change it so congressional salaries are determined by the prevailing minimum wage. So, if the minimum wage goes up by 2%, congressional salaries could rise by 2% (no more no less). If not, they stay as is.
lmao! dont tell them, it will boggle their mind and only confuse them. after all, the complexities of what works is a whole lot of difficult for people who want to just give orders and take what they want. sharing? too complicated for the criminal thieving minds of pimed out repuber anything-for-money w....
This is no different than what far right "Christians" (and aren't most of them one and the same with the tea partiers?) have done to their religion - pick and choose which of the Old Testament laws they wish to follow and never mind the rest.
I am no expert--
I was taught that almost all of the "laws" of the Old Testament no longer applied.
That was the Old Covenant and Jesus had brought a New Covenant.
steve fitt: Well, EXACTLY! But try and tell that to the fundies!
ditto.
steve fitt-3304217
The truth is the OT speaks of Jesus' early teaching to the Jews before he came down to earth in the flesh to die for our sins.
I'm not an expert, but I think the Bible Old, New Testaments, is not the document these people pledge to support and defend.
The religion/Bible debate is in the First Amendment. But it cannot specify laws from Bible. I am surprised some of these folks are not pushing to repeal that, but then they couldn't try to claim religious persecution.
True, people do pick and choose Bible verses and Constitution bits and bits of Amendments.
But yeah, there is no uproar from the people asking for repealing any Amendments, but they still try anyway. It's definitely an odd way of interpreting their oath:
http://uspolitics.about.com/od/usgovernment/a/oaths_of_office_4.htm
But consider the whole reason for the way it was originally set up in the Constitution -- the PEOPLE'S voice would be heard through the House of Representatives, the Senate was supposed to champion the interests of the individual STATES, who were all on equal footing. The politics of it all didn't work out very well, so now we just have popular election of Senators, where all the people in Delaware or Wyoming elect two Senate representatives just like California. These Senators are beholden only to the voters of the state. Presumably this is somewhat equivalent to looking after the state's interests.
Here's an idea, let's APPORTION the Senators to the states like we do Representatives. Everyone gets at least ONE Senator, but 28 states will get ONLY one. 11 other states will keep their two (AZ, CO, IN, MD, MA, MN, MO, TN, VA, and WI) while the other 11 get MORE THAN TWO. Three each for GA, NJ, NC, MI, and OH. Four for IL and PA. Five for FL and NY. Seven for Texas and ten for California.
what! and scare the bejesus out of the repoops? they would have heart attacks en'masse and want you charged for murder!
For these posers, it's only a constitution when it's convenient ... for them.
the propblem for socieities today is that if differences are small, people can successfully negotiate. when the differences are big, it's war. the truth is, the stupid repoops have neither the brains nor talent to make a success of larger differences. they talk like they would rather die than - in their minds - be ruled over. it's called "paranoia".
look at the difficulty that the israelis have with palestinians. the israelis are so paranoid that they figure the only way they can live with palestinians is to live without them. this is a "mental" illness and a social disease and they have no reconciliatory process - just the crazed idf. now that same "cant live with others" non-philosophy is hitting the u.s. and the repoops are ranting about arming their followers to the teeth, arbitrary laws, owning the courts, ndaa, and the like just as this same antisocial practice is done in israel today. societies gone mad.
fear not. neanderthal didnt quite make it either.
That's an interesting take. I see the Repubs as being caught in a pickle. Their values act has played out -- wasn't legit in the first place. Also gone is the myth that they are fiscally responsible, that they support the military, that they are experts on foreign policy. They're a fraud, the show is cancelled.
Truth is they can't come out and say that they are bought and sold by multi-national corps. The sadder truth is that we have to live with them, as neighbors, co-workers, even family. We'll survive it.
What is left of the Republican party has shown they are incapable of governing and that they are not interested in working for the country to restore the economy that they destroyed. Their only purpose is to work against the American people and to obstruct all efforts to move the country forward.
"The nation’s founders didn’t really trust voters with the job of electing their Senators" from what I have see over the past 40 years...they were absolutely correct.
Do people in Texas even regard the U.S. Constitution in its original form?
I know there are surely exceptions, but I've heard the Lone Star State lovingly called the Great Republic of Texas.
luring all the repubers into the state of texas, then allowing them to secede, would be a godsend.
you must all remember that the gop wants america to be like in the days when the constitution was first written. lets take a snapshot. white rich men owned and ran everything. women had no voice or vote. most of the signers owned slaves. they were in politics so they could control things for their own good. wages were controled by those rich, white men. they didn't like england because england wanted them to pay taxes. does anyone out their see any matchups to todays gop?
In case anyone things the above is mere snark, check out this piece which quotes the author of the Georgia resolution as saying his goal is to 'restore' the Constitution. Welcome back, 18th century; we've missed you.
also, they are projectively jealous of those - like kingly george - with power and prefer to be large and in charge. control freaks. it is a mental disorder. and they have it.
An attack on our liberties is always a bad idea. Most Tea Partiers would shut up really quickly when you explained to them that yes, the 14th amendment is what gives people born in this country their citizenship, but get rid of the 14th amendment and you also get rid of Due Process of Law.
Of course, today we have both parties attacking the Constitution. Dubya attacked the First amendment right of the press and to peacefully assemble, he attacked the 4th amendment by spying on Americans and he attacked the 8th amendment by torturing people. Today, Democrats are attacking the 2nd amendment and in states like Missouri and Washington are attacking the 4th and 5th amendment by trying to forcefully take people's property and allow the police to inspect the homes of gun owners without a warrant.
I would love if someone, anyone would ask those dolts how they can take the oath of office when they put their pledge to Grover and their party before anything, including their oath. They pick and choose the parts of the Constitution they favor just like they pick and choose the parts of the bible they favor. And in the end it's the parts they want everyone else to follow. Do as I say, not as I do.
I guess one senseless civil war is not enough for these states rights advocates (i.e. tea party). They obviously have not read up on American history. Or any other history of human civilization, sadly. And so *all* of us are doomed to repeat it.
Also, it's getting incredibly alarming that so many people say "socialism" or "communism" when they mean dictatorship.
I guess American Cold War propaganda is still effective even one or two generations later. How incredibly tragic.
I don't know that I'd ever understand the thinking government knows what's better for the people than the people, no matter the political party or issue.
I'm a liberal democrat, and abhor pretty much everything the tea-party says and does. But I'm also in favor of a smart central government. To that end, I actually would support such a repeal. But if, and only if, an effective solution to gerrymandering was enacted first.
There is benefit to having states represented in the legislature. There is a benefit to having legislators who do not need to raise campaign funds.
But if the states remain dysfunctional custodians of the electoral process, then the state government will not be a fairly elected body, which would in turn taint the representation at the senate level.