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Let's say there's a Constitutional Amendment you'd like to see repealed. Know what it takes?

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cherokeeprogressive Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jan-14-11 02:44 AM
Original message
Let's say there's a Constitutional Amendment you'd like to see repealed. Know what it takes?
It takes a Constitutional Amendment. Think about that. Repealing a Constitutional Amendment can only be done by Constitutional Amendment. Read Article V of the US Constitution again if you haven't already. Read it slowly.

First? Two-thirds of both Houses of Congress have to come together to propose it. That means 67 Senators and 290 Congresscritters have to come together in agreement that the Constitutional Amendment you want repealed should be repealed. Then, 37 states must ratify it through Constitutional Conventions. That means 37 states must hold Constitutional Conventions where a majority of their citizens must vote with your wishes. Not a majority of American Citizens overall, but a majority in EACH SINGLE STATE. 37 majorities. Can you name 37 states where a majority would vote with you to repeal part of the Bill of Rights?

A lot of people posting on this board are not old enough to remember ERA. The Equal Rights Amendment. Couldn't get it passed. The time period between proposal and ratification was even EXTENDED from seven to ten years. No joy.

Here's my point: Asking the Democratic Party to work toward passing a Constitutional Amendment that would repeal a Constitutional Amendment contained in the Bill of Rights is political suicide. The harder the Party pushes for the repeal, the more votes the Party loses. I'd bet my life on that.

Repeat after me: "Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Article_Five_of_the_United_States_Constitution

http://www.ushistory.org/franklin/quotable/quote04.htm
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Luminous Animal Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jan-14-11 02:51 AM
Response to Original message
1. Other than a stray anonymous commenter, who in THE PARTY is advocating for a repeal?
By the way, nice slight of hand segueing from "asking the Democratic party" to "the Party pushes".
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cherokeeprogressive Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jan-14-11 03:01 AM
Response to Reply #1
2. I don't know how legerdemain comes into play in my post, but I'll answer
There are plenty here today, and plenty whose posts I've read in the six years I've been a member here who advocate the repeal of the Constitutional Amendment in question. To argue that I've pulled this out of my ass is comical. Plenty of posters here have put forth the notion that the Amendment be repealed.

I'd venture a guess that most of them are Democrats like me. I'd also venture to guess that they want The Democratic Party to take the lead in repealing the offending Constitutional Amendment.

Either way, talk of regulating that which the Constitution guarantees as a right is a losing path to walk.
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Luminous Animal Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jan-14-11 03:17 AM
Response to Reply #2
6. Never said you pulled it out of your ass. Again, making things up to make a point.
There is a guy in my town the carries a sign about 12 galaxies. A music club was named after his theme and he was allowed to talk before shows.

A few people here and there a movement does not make. But just for shits and giggles, how about you PM me those links to plenty of posters. I'll publicly eat humble pie on DU if it equals more than 2% of the DU membership.
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cherokeeprogressive Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jan-14-11 03:37 AM
Response to Reply #6
10. 2% is over 3300. A safe bet if I've ever seen one.
I'm not biting.

You're going to tell me that there haven't been posts here, OPs, that haven't called for repeal of the offending Amendment? And you're going to tell me that in the five plus years I've been posting here those posts were from an extreme minority compared to the number of members DU has?

"A few people here and there" pretty much describes it most times. Post an OP advocating repeal of the deuce after a horrific incident (and for me, a single murder is "horrific")under a screen name no one recognizes and I guarantee it hits The Greatest Page before the twentieth response.
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Luminous Animal Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jan-14-11 03:50 AM
Response to Reply #10
13. Okay....
.1%

That is point 1 percent.

PM me.
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cherokeeprogressive Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jan-14-11 03:54 AM
Response to Reply #13
14. I won't chase your goalposts. Sorry.
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Sinistrous Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jan-14-11 03:06 AM
Response to Original message
3. Or, it can undergo repeal by a thousand cuts, like that suffered by
the now defunct Fourth Amendment.
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beevul Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jan-14-11 03:08 AM
Response to Reply #3
4. Do you advocate such? N/T
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Sinistrous Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jan-14-11 03:22 AM
Response to Reply #4
8. Gee. I never thought of overtly advocating such a thing. I guess it
was the subconscious of my evil twin that evoked the image of "death by a thousand cuts", and made me use the cheery word "suffered" in referring to the fate of the Fourth Amendment.

I really have to watch that guy, so insightful intellects like you don't have to stay awake to call out his mischief.

:toast:
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beevul Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jan-14-11 03:46 AM
Response to Reply #8
12. I did not intend to imply you did.
Its late and I was simply asking. No more no less.
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cherokeeprogressive Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jan-14-11 03:15 AM
Response to Reply #3
5. The Fourth Amendment hasn't been repealed.
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Electric Monk Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jan-14-11 03:19 AM
Response to Reply #5
7. ROTFLMAO nt
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cherokeeprogressive Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jan-14-11 03:40 AM
Response to Reply #7
11. When you're done laughing, please point me to the Amendment that repealed the Fourth Amendment. n/t
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Electric Monk Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jan-14-11 04:06 AM
Response to Reply #11
15. It rhymes with Watriot Wact
:shrug:
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cherokeeprogressive Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jan-14-11 04:11 AM
Response to Reply #15
17. You're saying something that rhymes with "Watriot Wact" is the 28th Amendment to the Constitution?
Really? Really?

I really need to pick up a newspaper I guess, I'm so far behind the curve when it comes to Amendments to the Constitution of the United States... I'm ashamed of myself.
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Electric Monk Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jan-14-11 04:13 AM
Response to Reply #17
18. Just because you haven't had surprise visits yet doesn't mean they don't happen.
:shrug:
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cherokeeprogressive Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jan-14-11 04:19 AM
Response to Reply #18
20. There are too many comparisons to this statement to even IMAGINE.
Just because I don't have a wart on the end of my nose today doesn't mean I won't die with one.

Just because the tires on my truck were at 32psi when I went to bed doesn't mean I won't have flat tires when I wake up.

Just because there were clouds in the sky when I went to sleep doesn't mean the sky might be blue when I wake up.

Do you monger fear much? Is your post not an argument FOR The Second Amendment?
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Le Taz Hot Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-15-11 05:38 AM
Response to Reply #15
25. LOL!
That was good.
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Luminous Animal Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jan-14-11 03:25 AM
Response to Reply #5
9. It has by a thousand cuts.
It always amazes me how 2nd amendment advocates advance their cause by claiming they are the vanguard to protecting the rest of the Bill of Rights but you don't hear a peep from their biggest lobbyist when the rest of those rights are eroded.

At least the Black Panthers had the guts to stand up for, not only the right to carry, but for the rest of the Constitution.

The NRA? No way. Property seizures? A-okay. No knock? No problem.
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beevul Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jan-14-11 04:09 AM
Response to Reply #9
16. They're...
They're a single issue lobbying organization.

:shrug:
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Luminous Animal Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-15-11 05:34 AM
Response to Reply #16
23. What is the point of a well regulated militia?
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beevul Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jan-16-11 03:03 AM
Response to Reply #23
30. First tell me the significance of the phrase.
What exactly do you assert that it means?
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friendly_iconoclast Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jan-14-11 04:16 AM
Response to Reply #9
19. The NRA looks out for the Second Amendment. It's a single issue organization
The ACLU could step up to the plate on the Second Amendment, and the NRA would shrink back to the gun training and safety org it

started out as. Maybe you should suggest that to them. Some of their state chapters already are (more power to them!)



Do you criticize NARAL for not lobbying for animal rights, or PETA for not pushing for drug law reform?
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Luminous Animal Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-15-11 05:31 AM
Response to Reply #19
22. Why should the ACLU step up for the 2nd? They've got there hands full protecting the rest.
Which by the way, the NRA abandons. How about the NRA step up to protect at least one of the other amendments.
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Kolesar Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-15-11 05:42 AM
Response to Reply #22
26. The thread is in "airplane glue" territory, now
Don't worry about it. :hi:
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varkam Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-15-11 05:55 AM
Response to Reply #9
28. Holy exigent circumstances, batman!
Is that marijuana I smell?
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Sinistrous Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jan-14-11 11:07 AM
Response to Reply #5
21. Technically true. And eunuchs aren't dead.
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Le Taz Hot Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-15-11 05:37 AM
Response to Original message
24. I think most DUers knew all that.
We're smart that way. What I can't figure out is what the hell, specifically, you're talking about. Who is trying to repeal what? And if you're going to offer a quote, cite who said it. In this case, Ben Franklin.
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annabanana Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-15-11 05:44 AM
Response to Reply #24
27. I'm with YOU, Le Taz
The OP is a headscratcher.
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pintobean Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-15-11 08:16 AM
Response to Original message
29. Stop making sense.
It pisses people off.
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