My mistake

I have to apologize and correct myself, upon further investigation into Article V Applications for Convention of States there have been 370 instead of the 788 I failed my due diligence and counted all applications instead of the accepted Applications for that I apologize.. 

In an article posted by Larry Reams in the Patriot Post on Feb. 16 of this year, he stipulates the following;

“Historically, since 1788 when records began being kept, there have been @370 state applications for a convention. Every state except Hawaii has filed at least one application. Some were subsequently withdrawn, some were acted on by Congress without the convention process by proposing / passing new amendments. Since 2000, there have been 22 official applications mostly dealing with the debt and a balanced budget. Throughout history the issue

prompting the applications to be submitted has run the gamut depending on the “hot” issue in that state at that point in time. None have had the requisite number of states to hold the convention.”

Now if this is true as Mr. Reams has posted it seems that the apprehensions of the “Constitution” being put on the chopping block are somewhat exaggerated in their content.

“Our Constitution is a model for the world. We were not a divided nation in 1787. We are divided today, deeply so and by design. Divide and conquer is a strategy of the progressive movement and it has worked. This divisiveness may reinforce the argument against a run away convention. It may also guarantee that nothing whatsoever gets accomplished. That the convention attendees can’t even come together on a single issue, let along Levin’s eleven proposals. But there are “back room deals” nowadays. “You scratch my back I’ll scratch yours.” Call me a skeptic but I don’t trust politicians today, even supposed independent, bipartisan delegates from the populace at large, to come together in a process that has never been done in our 230 year history, and under such divisiveness as we have today.”

And there is a way to get that control before the Article V Convention gavels in the first meeting. It’s called the Madison Amendment a safety feature of the Article V Application which states;

The Congress, on Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, which all contain an identical Amendment, shall call a Convention solely to decide whether to propose that specific Amendment to the States, which, if proposed shall be valid to all intents and purposes as part of the Constitution when ratified pursuant to Article V.”

In other words, an open-ended convention is never called. A convention is called only to propose one specific amendment and nothing more. Therefore, the Madison Amendment, if proposed by Congress and ratified by 38 states, would become the 28th Amendment to the Constitution. From that point forward states could call Article V conventions whenever so desired, to propose only one amendment to the Constitution. That stops a “run away” convention in it’s tracks.

Ever since Mark Levin’s book came out advocating the convention, with his proposed 11 amendments, there’s been a stampede to have the states correct some of our many ills. Those proposals are as follows;

The eleven amendments proposed by Levin:[3][4]

1. Impose Congressional term limits
2. Repeal the Seventeenth Amendment
3. Impose term limits for Supreme Court Justices and restrict judicial review
4. Require a balanced budget and limit federal spending and taxation
5. Define a deadline to file taxes (one day before the next federal election)
6. Subject federal departments and bureaucratic regulations to reauthorization and review
7. Create a more specific definition of the Commerce Clause
8. Limit eminent domain powers
9. Allow states to more easily amend the Constitution
10. Create a process where two-thirds of the states can nullify federal laws
11. Require photo ID to vote and limit early voting
    

These as seen in accordance to the Madison Amendment, are suggested proposals and would only be approved once received by the Legislatures of each State proposing Amendments, through the works of a committee that would review the proposals, all proposals that carry the same intent would be grouped as a single proposal and be rewritten in new language to reflect the intent and purpose of such a proposal, that proposal shall be endorsed by the legislature and sent to the Congress as an Application for Convention of States once the Convention is called under the singular purpose of the amendment being ratified by the 38 states necessary to make it and Amendment to the Constitution, there is no chance for a “Runaway Convention” to run roughshod and make an attempt to restructure the whole Constitution.

Defining the intent and purpose of proposed Amendments is what a Convention of States is about, clarification of harnessing a runaway government by curtailing abuses of power was something thought of by the Founding Fathers and they made provisions for dealing with such abuses.

If we do have this authority as outlined in the “Constitution” then when these abuses are evident, it becomes incumbent on the citizenry of the United States to exercise that power and put the government back in the hands of the people be that through a Single Item Convention of States or a Identified Multiple Items Convention.

Is there a way?

Is there a way?

I say yes,

Will it work?

Again, I say yes.

Is it legal?

Definitely, as authorized by the Constitution.

How does it work?

Through the voice of the people of the United States.

Explanation please

As you wish

Article V of the Constitution of the United States of America provides that

“The congress, whenever two thirds of both houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose

Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States , shall call a convention for proposing amendments which in either case shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as part of the Constitution, when ratified by the legislatures of three fourths of the several States, or Conventions in three fourths thereof, as one or the other mode of Ratification may be proposed by Congress; provided that no Amendment which may be made prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any manner affect the first and fourth Clauses in the ninth Section of the first Article; and that no State, without it's Consent shall be deprived of it's equal Suffrage in the Senate.”

Simply speaking the Constitution authorizes the Congress of the United States to call for Amendments TO the constitution or on Application (formal request) of the Legislatures or two thirds of the total States of the United States or 34 States, SHALL, not should, but shall call a Convention for the express purpose of proposing Amendments to the Constitution, which in either case are valid as to intent and purpose, as Part of this Constitution when approved by 3/4ths of the States. That means that State legislatures can at the behest of it's people make application to Congress for the express purpose of proposing Amendments to the Constitution which are in agreement with the intent and purpose of the Constitution, not to take away from the existing Constitution.

When the people make such a request to the Legislature it cannot be haphazard in nature since if ratified, it becomes the Law of the Land, so as was the constitution, it has to be hammered our before presentation, that means it has to follow certain protocols as to intent and purpose or it will face being rejected even before it gets started.. The first requirement is to the intent of the Amendment, why is it being suggested, what are the causative factors that went into the fabrication of the amendment, the second is the purpose of the amendment, or what shall the measurable outcome be and how will it be fulfilled. The specifics of the intent and purpose of the Amendment must be clear and concise, any vagueness will be cause for scrapping and redoing the verbiage until it meets the requirements for functionality. An amendment can be singular of purpose, as in proposing a limitation of term for politicians in the congress, or multifaceted as in a series of proposals of the same nature and of the same outcome as the others being proposed, or a bundled package to serve a singular purpose. The suggested proposals must reflect a need to the continuation of the foundations of our government as described in the official documents of the United States of America.

A Convention of States cannot and I repeat CANNOT do anything to detract anything from the existing Constitution, because to do so would negate the Constitution, and thereby negate it's own existence because the existence of the Convention of States is derived from the Constitution.

I have heard that some think the calling of a Convention of States will put the Constitution on the chopping block to be decimated and cut up by any number of representatives from the states.

Two things in response

In order for the Constitution to be changed after all the arguing has been completed it takes a vote of ¾ of the State Legislatures to Ratify the changes before it becomes law, if there is no agreement, there is no change.

AND

Prior to going to the Ratification process the amendments have already been hammered out at the Legislatures submitting the applications. And the applications are limited to specific functions for specific purposes. Any Delegate (Commissioner) who goes against the mandate of the Legislature is subject to immediate removal and the possibility of a three year prison term. There is no limit to the amount of delegates that can go from any state, but, there is only one vote per state. That one vote, and set agenda precludes any tampering with the intent and purpose of the makeup and functionality of the Constitution.

That is the function and purpose of the Convention of States, to date there have been approximately 788 Article V Convention of States Applications filed the first in 1788 by Virginia and the last in February 2015 by New Jersey that's 227 years. In that 227 years there have been 17 Amendments added to the Constitution, so what does that say about the Constitution being torn apart by calling for a Convention of States?

The pettiness of the President

It is without regard to the stability of the Israel/US alliance that our so-called president acts.

He just continues to prove just how petty he in fact really is. This individual has no hesitation about showing his obeisance to the Muslim Brotherhood, he has no problem running interference for terrorists being held at Gitmo, he has no hesitation doing all he can for a traitor/deserter, yet for a staunch ally like Israel, he has no time, this fool is pathetic.

He holds himself as an example to the rest of the world and would parade around as would the character in the “Emperor's New Clothes.” Does this man really believe himself to be the epitome of all things good? If so, he is far, far, off course.

His actions are no longer comical, nor excusable as would be those of someone like Einstein. Einstein had a reason for his lapses that being his intelligence and veracity in calculating on the fly. With Obama, there is no such excuse. He is being what he wasd meant to be, that is a petulant child who has been put into a position of authority, a position which he is not equipped to deal with.

I used to get angry at his ineptitude, but now, it just makes me sad to think what the rest of his life is going to be like. Lots of people used to accord the title of the “Worst President in History to Jimmy Carter, but Obama released him from that apocryphal title, and the crown now rests firmly on his head, if it is over sized, not to worry, if it slips down onto his head, his ears will catch it and keep it in place.

His actions on the home front as well as those on the world stage are more suited to a person whom (in my vernacular) has an overabundance of mouth, but not even a shadow of the part needed to cover it (all mouth, no ass)

This condition is rather prevalent in a person who needs others to front him/her when it comes time to do instead of talk. I am sure those who mentored him you know Saul Alinsky, Bill Ayers, George Soros and that ilk of people would be very proud of the fact that he has moved their plans for the destruction of the United States along at such a brisk pace, yes, I am sure of that.

But you know what really bothers me is what is going to happen when his term of office is over, The United States will prevail I seriously believe the United States will still be viable after Obama. We may not be in the best shape in the world, but we will still be here. Because you see the “Dream of America” which is equated to the freedom of the human spirit will not die. So George Soros, take heed, your machinations will stop and you will begin to loose, you will loose more than you could ever amass in 10 lifetimes. The posturings of people like Saul Alinsky, and Bill Ayers will simply dissolve from the landscape as did that of Karl Heinrich Marx.

Communism has nor place in this worlds societies, everyplace it has been tried, it has failed. Communism/Socialism whatever you choose to call it could never succeed due to the simple fact of “What do you do after you tax everybody out of what hey have?” This preposterous philosophy in it's description never ever goes beyond the first 30 years of existence simply the rate of growth always, always outstrips the basis upon which it is built and taxing itself out of existence.

But that just the opinion of this fellow.

People always decry the need for critical thinking, to bad they don't do it.

Anyway, after the cookie crumbles and Obama and his ilk find out that they are in fact only blowing smoke, that defeat is going to be by far worse than anything we as Americans could ascribe to them.

As far as America, we'll still be here, you see, as much as they may try, no group of people on the face of the earth has the power to quench a dream. America has had 237 years of unbelievable existence, we have accomplished more in a far shorter time than any nation on the face of the Earth. We have raised the standard of living for people who came to our shores from every country on this planet.

Yes friends, I think that no matter what he does short of world war III the United States of America will outlast Obama by a long shot.

Getting Big Time Back-up

The man who single-handedly takes down . . . everything, calls on the 50 United States to get together and take down Obama. If anyone can do it Chuck Norris can. Remember, he’s the one who has his own legendary jokes:

“Did you hear about Chuck Norris? He threw a hand grenade into a den of Islamic Terrorists. Killed 50 of them. Then the grenade blew up!”

Chuck is speaking out in support of a new constitutional convention which would stop the federal spendthrift once and for all – and stop Obama in his tracks. Norris spoke out for the plan in an article he wrote for WND, where the legendary super-hero said his plan meant there was:

“Finally hope on the horizon to control the federal fiscal insanity by the states’ initiative to force a balanced budget amendment via an Article V constitutional convention.”

“Washington’s out-of-control outlays remind me of the words of President Ronald Reagan, who said, ‘We could say they spend money like drunken sailors, but that would be unfair to drunken sailors. It would be unfair, because the sailors are spending their own money,’” Norris wrote.”

“A constitutional balanced budget amendment, or BBA, is not a new idea, and neither is the states’ push for such legislation,” he continued.

“However, what could be new to many Americans is just how close its enactment is to becoming reality. Unknown to many, 25 states have already called for the convention to add the BBA, and only nine more states (34 in total, or two-thirds) are required to force the convention.”

“Many state legislators are fearful of a BBA because they fear that it would put the U.S. economy in further jeopardy during recessions or years with lower federal revenue by forcing policymakers to cut spending, raise taxes or both; hence, ultimately leading to higher deficits and a weaker economy, or so they say.”

“The Congressional Budget Office projects that under current law over the next 25 years federal spending will increase to 36 percent of national income.” Norris quotes University of Colorado economist Barry Poulson:

“The increased deficits and debt that accompany this spending will result in retardation and stagnation in economic growth that will make it virtually impossible to balance the budget.”

“If we wait another decade to constrain spending the task of balancing the federal budget becomes insurmountable. By then the economy will be stagnating; and eliminating deficits will require that federal spending be cut in half, something that will never happen.”

“The window to stop and correct the economic chaos perpetuated by Washington is narrow and passing. Without intervention, Washington will spiral our economy to its point of no return. All other solutions for economic federal restraint or solvency have proven fruitless, despite the best of intentions of some. The only way to save our posterity from inevitable economic peril is to enact this BBA as soon as possible. There is no reasonable alternative.”

Go Chuck Norris! It’s time for the states to use Article V to take back our country from a corrupt President and a federal government that cannot live within its means.

Do I hear a "Whats Going on here?"

I know the blog is beginning to sound very political, there is a reason.

Let me do some explaining.

I am an American born to this land 69 years ago.

My family has been part of this country since it's inception. I have had relatives in the Revolutionary War, and every other war that the United States of America has been in. 

My roots go back to 1655 when Jean Trudel landed on this continent. He chose to stay in Canada in the area of Three Rivers on the St. Lawrence River between Quebec and Montreal. Later our family gravitated to what now is the continental United States, part of us settled in the area of Boston and another part continued further south towards the Delta Region of the Mississippi. In one way or another my family has been part of the United States since before it was the United States.

My family has participated in the birth process, and the growth process of this country. I have had relatives fighting for this country prior to 1775 on down through to today, In the south there were relatives at the “Battle of New Orleans” with that pirate that came out of the bayous named Jean Lafitte who participated in the Blockade of New Orleans Harbor against the British Navy.

I am told, though I can't verify that relatives participated at Bunker Hill, at Fort Ticonderoga, at British Evacuation of Boston, at Invasion of Quebec, Canada. My folks also participated in the Civil War, and the Spanish/American war on, and on down through WW1, WW2, Korea (my Dad), Viet Nam (me) Kosovo (my eldest son) Iraq #1 (my middle son) Afghanistan (my youngest son).

We have always stood for this country as we did going back through the years to the beginning of our history. My family consists of people of the earth, and soldiers.

This is not to brag, nor is it to raise my family above others, because you see we are but only a part of what took place in the birth of this country other families participated, some at a higher cost, but so you would understand why I have chosen to put these facts in my blog about the Convention of States. I honestly believe that this is the way to get our country back on an even keel. 

Notice I did not say we are perfect, far from it, there is a lot that needs to be cleaned up and put right, but the only way for that to happen is to first get the government under control. Financially we cannot continue to let them (the representatives) spend us into oblivion, and at the rate they are going, that takes place in the next five to six years! We cannot afford the taxes they want to run their ever burgeoning footprint.

As I see it, there are two ways to preclude the catastrophic events that will take place if we as citizens do not do something. 

One is the legally authorized way, by means of a Convention of States where citizens participate through State Legislatures to restrict the unrelenting growth of government, reduce the financial burdens placed on the people, and nullify the over regulation of the government, through the process of debate and amendments to the Constitution, not to detract from what is already there, but to reaffirm what is there.

The other alternative is hard to even comprehend and that is insurrection. Being a soldier from soldiers, I can testify you really don't want it to go that far. 

If it were to, that would mean the end to the United States of America.

I don't accept that so I opt for the first choice, and I will do everything I can to ensure that it happens the way it is supposed to.

What is a Convention of States?

In Article V of the Constitution, it is my understanding that a Convention of States is a process that our Founding Fathers gave within that framework. It is the vehicle used by the people when the sitting government oversteps it's limits, thus setting up a form of government not described in the Constitution. They (The Founding Fathers) envisioned the possibility of such a thing happening and took steps to preclude it, thus leaving the final authority to the people of the United States as to how the government would run. It was long thought that the government should be able to tax it's citizens for the functionality in doing it's everyday jobs to fulfill it's mission of service to it's people. When the government goes outside of the restrictions placed on it by the Constitution, it then becomes incumbant on the people to do what is necessary to restructure that government until it meets it's responsibilities.

A Convention of States can be called by the Congress when 2/3 of both houses deem it appropriate, or upon application of the Legislatures of 2/3rds of the States. The application for the Convention is initiated at the behest of citizens requesting it, then the application advances to the Legislature which is passed by a simple majority of that body, it is then forwarded to Congress who upon receipt of the applications of 34 State Legislatures is required to call a Convention of States, and that is the extent of the Congress' interaction in the process. Once called, the states through debate in caucus arrive at suggested topics that could be discussed at the convention, The requirement for State Delegates states no maximum amount of delegates that might go, but only allows one vote per state for ratification of any proposed amendments prior to them becoming part of the Constitution.

As I understand the process of the proposed amendments, they are agreed to state by state then at the convention, they are again debated and the final result is set for ratification which requires a full ¾ agreement of the State Legislatures meaning 38 separate states must agreein totality, prior to the ratification process.

The convention itself is one of two types that being a particular subject as in limiting the power of the Federal Government through a series of proposals and that of a single subject such as in a balanced budget.

What is being suggested is a series of amendments designed to limit the extent of Federal power, those being:

1. A balanced Budget Amendments
2. Redefining of the General Welfare Clause
3. Redefining the Commerce clause
4. Prohibiting the use of international treaties and laws to govern the domestic laws of the United States
5. Limitation of the use of Executive Orders and Federal Regulations to enact laws
6. Imposing term limits on Congress and the Supreme Court
7. Placing upper limits on Federal taxiation
8. Requiring the sunset of all existing Federal Tax and Super-Majority votes to replace them with fairer taxes

As far as runaway Conventions, according to Robert Natelson (a constitutional Scholar) there are more political and legal restraints on a runaway convention than there are on a runaway Congress.

Each delegate is bound to the wishes of the State Legislature, any variance from that would be cause for immediate replacement and the possibility of a three year prison term being given to the offending person. If I am not mistaken, there are a series of checks and balances in place within the convention mandate to preclude Special Interest Groups and selection via legislature. The state legislature approves the delegation, but the people (Grass Roots) select for approval.

Amending the Constitution of the United States is a serious and daunting task and should never ever be attempted for reasons other than the continuation of this country as our Founding Fathers intended it to be.

In the very recent past, it has become paramount that since the government of the United States has failed to comply with the dictates of The Constitution and the mandates of the people, that there must be change in order to rectify this situation. There are problems that have risen that need to be addressed in a calm and effective way, not in the way of “Mob Rule.”

The people of the United States are not stupid, nor are they so detached that they cannot make “heads or Tails” of the processes needed to rectify these short comings at our capitol.

Accepting the fact that there is a lot to be fixed, it becomes incumbent on us as citizens to take up the gauntlet and live up to our responsibility of preserving this nation that we can fulfill our obligation to pass it on to those who would follow in far better shape than it was when we got it. To do this, it is time to learn the tools we have available to accomplish this task, which is why I do this, there are others of my ilk who do the same thing, join with us to save this nation and pass it on to our children proudly as our gift to them. Follow this link and join us to Save the United States of America, “As It Is Meant To Be.”

http://www.cosaction.com/?recruiter_id=1030270

                                                 God Bless America

I have a pen and a phone

Washington has continually overstepped it's boundries, this Administration is riddled with scandles, it's one lie on top of another and there's no end in sight. The President has usurped powers that are not legal in gaining his ends. He has invited his friends to take this country, he has denied the citizens of this country the rights they inherited from our predessors. He is in the act of dismanteling this country piece by piece, it needs to stop

For answers as to how to stop this decline

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The cost to us in time and support, if we don't, the cost to our children will be insurmountable, it your choice, do you want America, or do you want the Caliphate, you decide

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If you care about this country as much as others do please click the links above and help us to reclaim the country we were given, help us to effect the repairs needed in keeping this country free, help us to fix what is wrong the right way, not through a dictatorship, nor a monarchy, nor a claiphate. We have the tools to do the job needed as given by the Constitution, we don't need to re-invent the wheel, we need to repair the flats we have. The3n when we turn it over to those who follow (our children) it will be something worthwhile for them.

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