A break from entertainment:

The nerve of these politicians!

Go out and NOT vote for them in 2010!

 by: Teri M. Owens

In this information age it is easy to be fooled by misleading claims even when they appear to be accompanied by a reliable source. We have to maintain a dedication to scholarship in the freedom fight – especially in matters involving the Constitution. Before relying upon information to make a critical decision it is necessary to examine the source documents to verify the truth.

Applying this commitment to claims made by aggressively pro con-con group, Friends of the Article V Convention (FOAVC), it is revealed that this organization is either uneducated on the issues or they are engaging in outright deception.

What do the Source Documents Reveal?

The following statement is from their website:

“…please see the following 7 Congressional Records that clearly demonstrates that the prerequisite number of states (i.e. two thirds) have already requested an Article V Convention, and Congress on 4 (or more) occasions (over the past 101 years) has ignored their peremptory duty to call an Article V Convention.”

The referenced 7 Congressional Records contain the resolutions of 8 states between 1907 and 1910, which made application for an Article V convention to propose an amendment providing for the direct election of U.S. Senators. The text of each application is identical:

“The House of Representatives of the United States has on four separate occasions passed by a two thirds vote, a resolution proposing an amendment to the constitution providing for the election of United States Senators by direct vote of the people;

And whereas the United States Senate has each time refused to consider or vote upon said resolution thereby denying to the people of the Several States a chance to secure this much desired change in the method of electing Senators…”

From the text of the Congressional Records, it is clear that it was two thirds of the House of Representatives that had passed a resolution for the desired Constitutional Amendment four times. Two thirds of the states did not apply for a con-con four times as they assert.  If you don’t have a good grasp on Article V, it is easy to be fooled by this.

The Ultimate Power of Ratification

Recently the FOAVC made rebuttal videos to the first and second part of the JBS video Beware of Article V. Beware of Article V is a comprehensive review of the plain language of Article V, the historical precedent from our nation’s only experience with a federal Constitutional Convention, and the opinion of legal jurists and Constitutional scholars about the danger of using this method for proposing an amendment to the U.S. Constitution. In less than one month since Ohio’s con-con resolution was introduced last Assembly, views of this video skyrocketed to more than 6,0000.

In an attempt to discredit the JBS video, FOACV co-founder, Bill Walker asserts that state legislatures “have the ultimate power of ratification,” despite the fact that the plain language of Article V grants the power to determine the method of ratification to Congress. Hawke v. Smith, 253 U.S. 221 (1920), the Supreme Court case that he points out in his rebuttal video says:

“The Fifth Article is a grant of authority by the people to Congress. The determination of the method of ratification is the exercise of a national power specifically granted by the Constitution; that power is conferred upon Congress, and is limited to two methods, by action of the legislatures of three-fourths of the states, or conventions in a like number of states.”

Also ignored by Bill Walker is the fact that the 1787 Constitutional Convention emerged with a new constitution which contained the ratification method within itself (Article VII). And that ratification method called for 9 of 13 states to ratify in conventions of the people, rather than unanimous consent of the state legislature under Article XIII of the Articles of Confederation.

The JBS video explains that due to the vague language of Article V, Congress would likely determine the method for selecting delegates to the con-con. FOAVC points again to Hawke v. Smith to assert that said Supreme Court case “ruled that conventions must be made up of ‘deliberate assemblages representative of the people.’” Unfortunately, Hawke v. Smith, in using that phrase, was referring to “ratifying conventions,” not constitutional conventions.

Noise and Confusion

Likewise, in the second rebuttal video, FOAVC claims that a Justice Warren Burger letter written to Phyllis Shlafly, referenced in the second part of the Beware Article V video is a fake. His proof? A posted copy on an unrelated website called sweetliberty.org that has the date as 1983, rather than 1988 which is the actual date of the letter posted on Phyllis Schlafly’s own Eagle Forum website.

He spends the rest of his rebuttal video trying to prove the letter is a fake based on the errant 1983 date. He plays on this error to wrongly accuse the JBS as well as Tom DeWeese, president of the American Policy Center of knowingly touting a fraudulent letter.

Finally, in their zeal to make the number of historic con-con calls seem abnormally large, FOAVC consistently counts each state application, when read in both the Senate and House, as two completely different applications.  Either Friends of an Article V Convention is woefully uneducated or openly engaging in outright deception, coupled with noise and confusion to keep legislators from their duty to consider a con-con with the appropriate awareness and deliberation.

Regardless, from a close inspection of the source documents cited, it is clear that this organization cannot be trusted. 

das was vielleicht ein cooles wochenende! freitag party, samstag grillen bei mir daheim, sonntag ausflug ans meer! schöner kanns ja echt nicht sein!

der ausflug nach vina und valparaíso war echt wunderschön. war wie urlaub für einen tag. aber erst hab ich in der früh eine unfreiwillige stadtbesichtigung gemacht, weil ich mit dem bus zu pablos haus gefahren bin. scheinbar hab ich mir da nicht gerade die direkteste kombination rausgesucht, hab nämlich für die strecke, für die man mit dem auto etwa 10-15 min. braucht 2 stunden gebraucht. naja, tolle öffentliche verkehrsmittel halt! dann war noch zusätzlich sonntag – also wenig busse – und citymarathon, was die ganzen straßen verstopft hat. bin also leider schon mal eine stunde zu spät bei pablo daheim angekommen. könnte man schon fast chilenische pünktlichkeit nennen dann sind wir richtung küste gestartet, ist eigentlich echt nicht so weit. dort angekommen, sind wir durch valparaiso und dort auf einen hügel raufgefahren. das war vielleicht ein ausblick!! ich hab dann gefragt, ob wir kurz stehen bleiben können, dass ich fotos machen kann, er natürlich gleich rechts rangefahren. hab mich richtig erschrocken! bin dann dort kurz herumgerannt und hab ein paar fotos geschossen.

nur hatten wir dann das problem, dass die straße ziemlich steil war und er recht knapp am vorderen auto stand. keine guten voraussetzungen zum berganfahren… nach dem 3. versuch knallten wir natürlich voll auf das vordere auto… uiuiui, dem einen auto ist nix passiert, aber pablos auto hat schon ne ziemliche macke abbekommen.. tut mir auch voll leid, war zwar nicht wirklich meine schuld, aber hätt ich kein foto machen wollen, wären wir gar nicht erst in die situation gekommen.. naja, blöd gelaufen!

sind aber nicht wirklich lang in valparaiso geblieben, weil pablo gemeint hat, dass es dort sehr gefährlich ist. also sind wir gleich weiter richtung vina del mar. sind ziemlich unterschiedlich, weil valparaiso viele kleine, bunte häuser auf den hügeln hat (schaut sehr nett aus, aber nach dem kleinen unfall wollt ich dann doch nicht mehr fragen, ob wir kurz stehenbleiben zum foto machen….) pablo hat mir dann erzählt, dass er 3 jahre in der gegend gewohnt hat, hab also einen ortskundigen dabeigehabt haben dann in con-con empanadas gegessen (mmmmh, waren die gut!) und dann an den strand. sonne, strand, palmen und meer!!! war sooo schön, wie urlaub für einen tag. hab mich sofort in den sand geschmissen und für die nächsten 15 min. bin ich nicht mehr aufgestanden. hatte zwar überall sand, aber das wars wert!

hab sogar fast meine ganzen aufgaben vergessen, die ich noch alle machen muss! ist nämlich ziemlich stressig momentan, weil ich auch nächstes wochenende, dem osterwochenende, mit harry nach valdivia fahren werd. und alle freien tage sind verplant… bis dahin sollte also eigentlich so gut wie alles fertig sein… uiuiui, da muss ich mich nächste woche reinhängen!

Dear Reader,

This is a must read article and I don’t want you to miss it so please click:

Wyoming: Don’t Mess with U.S. Constitution

Thank you for your patience while I transition to my new No Compromise blog

Kindest regards,

~No Compromise

UPDATE:Missouri State Police Orders Halt to Political Profiling-Puts DPS Director on Leave

This is unbelievable, but true….while you read this article just think of the founding fathers and you’d have to know they would be included in this list of folks  after you read this….This to me is profiling folks with a wide, wide brush and is guilt by association of your political beliefs. Just because you don’t agree with what our leaders are doing, we’re members of a milita? How crazy is that?  But it’s not profiling according to Lt. John Hotz of the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

Before you read this you may like to know if you fall into any of these categories you maybe a terrorist according to the MIAC’s fusion center. The fusion centers are nationwide…..check this out here:

The document lists numerous criteria that law enforcement officers should look for in identifying potential domestic terrorists and militia members. Among these criteria are:

Belief that:

Obama may enact firearms confiscation

Obama may not meet constitutional requirements to hold the office of President

The New World Order is a real agenda of certain politicians and other powerful “elites”

US military forces may be used for firearms confiscation and relocating citizens to FEMA camps in violation of the Posse Comitatus Act

US government may fall due to economic collapse.

Possible Contstitutional Convention may alter or remove the 1st and 2nd amendments

NAU is a real agenda of certain politicians and other powerful “elites”

Also:

Anger towards the Federal Reserve System and all forms of tax collection

Oppose Ammunition Accountability legislation

Oppose any required Universal Service Program in the US

Oppose RFID tracking of citizens

See the documents here:

‘Fusion center’ data draws fire over assertions

Tim Neal of Miller County was shocked recently when he heard a radio program about a strategic report compiled by state and federal law enforcement agencies to combat terrorism.

Titled “The Modern Militia Movement,” the report is dated Feb. 20 and designed to help police identify militia members or domestic terrorists. Red flags outlined in the document include political bumper stickers such as those for U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, talk of conspiracy theories such as the plan for a mega-highway from Canada to Mexico and possession of subversive literature.

But when Neal read the report, he couldn’t help but think it described him. A military veteran and a delegate to the 2008 Missouri Republican state convention, he didn’t appreciate being lumped in with groups like the Neo-Nazis.

“I was going down the list and thinking, ‘Check, that’s me,’ ” he said. “I’m a Ron Paul supporter, check. I talk about the North American union, check. I’ve got the ‘America: Freedom to Fascism’ video loaned out to somebody right now. So that means I’m a domestic terrorist? Because I’ve got a video about the Federal Reserve?”

But state law enforcement officials said the report is being misinterpreted. Lt. John Hotz of the Missouri State Highway Patrol said the report was compiled by the Missouri Information Analysis Center based in Jefferson City and comes purely from publically available, trend data on militias.

Hotz said MIAC, which opened in 2005, is a “fusion center” that combines resources from the federal Department of Homeland Security and other agencies. It was set up to collect local intelligence to better combat terrorism and other criminal activity, he said.

“All this is an educational thing,” Hotz said of the report. “Troopers have been shot by members of groups, so it’s our job to let law enforcement officers know what the trends are in the modern militia movement.”

The report’s most controversial passage states that militia “most commonly associate with third-party political groups” and support presidential candidates such as Ron Paul, former Constitutional Party candidate Chuck Baldwin and Bob Barr, the Libertarian candidate last year.

Hotz said using those or similar factors to determine whether someone could be a terrorist is not profiling. He said people who display signs or bumper stickers from such groups are not in danger of harassment from police.

“It’s giving the makeup of militia members and their political beliefs,” Hotz said of the report. “It’s not saying that everybody who supports these candidates is involved in a militia. It’s not even saying that all militias are bad.”

Not everybody agrees. At a “Tea Party” to protest wasteful government spending Thursday in Flat Branch Park, several people displaying the Revolutionary War-replica “Don’t Tread On Me” flag were upset to learn the MIAC report lists the banner as a “militia symbol.”

“That’s insane,” said Doug Wendt looking at the MIAC document. “That is not a militia symbol. That is American history. This is historic. The only animosity” American colonists “ever directed with this was towards England.”

Roger Webb, president of the University of Missouri campus Libertarians, also took offense. “It’s absolutely obscene,” he said of the report. “It seems like they want to stifle political thought. There are a lot of third parties out there, and none of them express any violence. In fact, if you join the Libertarian Party, one of the things you sign in your membership application is that you don’t support violence as a means to any ends.”

Neal, who has a Ron Paul bumper sticker on his car, said the next time he is pulled over by a police officer, he won’t know whether it’s because he was speeding or because of his political views.

Read the article at Columbia Daily Tribune.com

Also here’s an additional article by Chuck Baldwin in News With Views.com, click on the paragraph below to read the entire article:

Ignoring the threat of Muslim terrorists, the Missouri Information Analysis Center (MIAC) report focuses on the so-called “militia movement” and “conflates it with supporters of Ron Paul, Chuck Baldwin, Bob Barr, the so-called patriot movement and other political activist organizations opposed to the North American Union and the New World Order.”

December 12, 2008 

by Jefferson Paine

Freedom Does Not Come Free

Folks – If this story fails to get your American blood boiling, then likely, nothing will.  This absolutely STUNNING development was brought to our attention on last night’s No Compromises blogtalkradio show by our esteemed blogging affiliate Doctor Bulldog.  He will be updating NC as this stunner unfolds.

via Redrafting the U.S. Constitution – Just 2 States Away « No Compromise When it Comes to Being Right!.

Dear Reader,

This is a must read article, and I don’t want you to miss it so please click:

Redrafting the U.S. Constitution – Just 2 States Away

Please leave your comments on the new blog.  Thank you for your patience while I transition to my new No Compromise blog

Kindest regards,

~No Compromise

Kagabi ko lang nalaman na may malakihang rally ngayon sa Makati nang mapadaan ako sa gma news.tv.

Pumosisyon na ang 24 na senador na tutol sila,na ang may kapangyarihan lang bumoto ay ang kongreso,syempre nga naman itsapwera sila.Pati na, ang ilan obispo ng simbahan katoliko at JIL ni Bro.Eddie Villanueva ,PMP ni Erap,bisnes sektor at mga militanteng grupo ay “nag-merge” na.

Mukhang nagkakaroon na ng “polarization” ‘yun nga lang tipong hilaw pa.Kakayanin ba nila ang nangyari sa Thailand na inokupa ang pangunahing airport at ilan establisyamento ng gobyerno? Sabagay “muscle flexing” pa lang naman ika ‘yan masyado ka naman ekang atat.Ang tanong gumagalaw na ba ika ang militar? Solido ba ang simbahang katoliko,kasama o sasama ba sila Bro.Mike Velarde?

Sa tingin ko parang pagkain na naulaw ang masang noypi sa isyu ng impeachment,cha-cha,con-con, con-ass at kung anu-ano pang ka-asholan!
Ang ikina-elib ko kasi sa mga tao ng Maylakadyan , na anticipate nila ang isang bagay,malakas ang kanilang makinarya para bang KGB at CIA ,me political officer sila sa mga estratehikong pwersa sa lipunan.Baka naman sabihin nyo mahilig ako sa mga Hollywood film na ang tema ay espionage,counter-intelligence,political assasination,terrorist o revolutionary setting.Hindi kayo nagkakamali,kaya minsan nakikiliti ang utak ko,bat kaya ang El Shaddai ay hindi mapasama sa rali? Masama yan,ang mag-isip na walang batayan,meron pa mandin akong panyo ng El Shaddai,kulay green na bigay din sa akin ni kumpareng Elmo , isa din seaman.Patawad po Bro.Mike!

Mag ala-Thailand tayo? sila lang daw ang gumaya sa atin.Kawnter naman nila,na tsambahan lang daw natin noypi.Bat ilang EDSA na nga naman ang ginawa ay di madale “small but terrible” Hindi kaya na underestimate ang talino ng mga oposisyon at mga militanteng grupo at sa kabuuan ay ang masang noypi? Sabi, iba daw ang internal na lakas ng mga taga-Thailand,may kolektibo o pambansang kamalayan ang Thailand na wala tayo,hindi sila tuwirang napasakop sa mga dayuhan.

Sige na,wala na kung wala tayong tinatawag na kolektibo o pambansang kamalayan (nakakain ba ‘yun?) Ang bato naman natin sa mga Taylander,meron ba naman kayong pag-uugaling “unpredictable”-”kapag napuno na ang salop,dapat nang kalusin!”

Kaadduan kadagiti Ilocano nangruna dagiti agnanaed iti maikaddua a distrito iti Ilocos Sur ti umanamong iti amendasion iti agdama a konstitusion ti pagilian a Filipinas.

Daytoy ket kas maibasar iti naisayangkat a consultation meeting mainaig iti proposed constitutional ammendments babaen kenni Deputy Speaker Eric Singson. idiay Stern Mall, Candon City.

Inatendaran daytoy dagiti mamayores, bise mayores, sangguniang bayan, papadi, abogado, hues, mannalon, mangngalap ken dadduma pay a mangibagi dagiti non governmental organizations.

“Adda tallo a saludsod a sungbatantayo iti daytoy a consultation meeting, umuna ket no kayattayo a maamendaran ti konstitusion, maikaddua ket no ania a method ti usaren no kas pangarigan kayattayo, ken maikatlo ket no ania dagiti partikular a kayattayo a mabaliwan iti agdama a konstitusion.” Kinuna ni Singson bayat iti inna panagsarita.

Iti ngarud panagsarita dagiti partisipante, amang nga ad-adu ti umanamong ti panaka-amendar ti konstitusion.  Pakairamanan kadagiti mayat ket ni Atty. Eduardo Guirnalda a maysa idi a kameng ti nangimaldit iti 1971 constitution.

“Agarup iti 99 percent ti mayat iti panakabalbaliw iti konstitusion.  Ti laengen masapul a tamingen ket no ania kadagiti paset ti rumbeng a mabaliwan.” Kinuna pay ni Singson iti interview kenkuana.

Kabayatanna, pakairamanan kadagiti main-inaw a posible a maamendaran ket umuna, ti term limits dagiti agdama nga local officials iti gobierno ta kalikagum a daytoy ket saanen a maikkan iti limitasion, maikaddua ket ti 60-40 ownership dagiti foreign investors, maikatlo ket ti political dynasty, ken dadduma pay a benneg.

Mainaig met iti wagas iti panakabalbaliw ti konstitusion, 22 ti umanong iti constitutional convention kabayatanna a 122 ti mayat iti constituent assembly.  Daytoy ket iti naisayangkat a division of the house a kas inpropose ni Msgr. Vicente Avila.

dannyantalan

This post has moved to:

http://capsun.org/2008/11/06/reactions-to-the-election-results-hawaii-edition/

This post has moved to:

http://capsun.org/2008/11/05/reactions-to-the-election-results-national/

More Con-Con shenanigans? This morning I wrote this in my Beachwood Reporter column:

“I almost missed voting on the Con-Con referendum. After I thought I had completed my voting, I wondered where the Con-Con question was. I even thought it was missing. Then I found it at the very beginning of the ballot, right where I was instructed to ‘Start Voting Here.’

“It was shaded in blue, though, almost like a space for official use only or instructions. My guess is others will miss it too – and not go back looking for it.”

Cate Plys sends me this message:

“Bad news, you DID miss the con-con question. I, too, completed the question in blue at the very beginning – but that was just an example. I realized that when I got to the very bottom and found the real Con-Con question, which I almost didn’t see. Wonder if they did that on purpose? I checked with the election staff and they confirmed that the blue one was just an example. I checked with them because I was afraid filling out the sample one would ruin the ballot.”

You know, that was a vote I really cared about.

The Establishment (ie, Society of Strange Bedfellows) is spending nearly $2 million to tell we Illinoisans to vote against a Constitutional Convention. Their reasoning is hollow and faulty. To wit:

- Even if the Constitutional Convention costs X million dollars… our current broken system is clearly wasting millions each year. Sometimes you have to bite the bullet and invest in something new

- The powers that be will decide how to put a Convention together, but they don’t ultimately decide the final product. We do. There will be another vote after a Convention on whether or not to maintain the status quo or ratify the new document

- Some crazy and radical idea will not make it through a Convention. There will be too many people (and opposing viewpoints) involved in a Convention and, again, We the People get to decide whether or not to just stick with what we’ve got or ratify the new Constitution after the Convention

We know the current system is broken. We know there are options for changing the system.

We can vote YES on the Constitutional Convention to do just that.

–

UPDATE: Whether through convoluted ballot language, a high-profile/big-money campaign against a Con-Con or something else… the automatic, once-every-20-years call for a Constitutional Convention failed by a nearly 2 to 1 margin.

We now back to your regularly scheduled programming.

This election year you will see on your ballot a call to vote yes or NO on the Illinois Constitutional Convention.  What that means is basically a collection of politicians will sit down and rewrite our state constitution if a majority votes yes.  If you feel that the recent escalation of technological harassment (traffic cameras and the like) are a pain in your side, just wait until they rewrite the Constitution for us in Illinois!  Amending the constitution is one thing, but a total rewrite is a scary idea.

Currently there are class action law suits out against the state of Illinois for violations of the written law on traffic violations.  The law is written that it is the driver of the vehicle that must be issued a ticket not the vehicle.  With the current program under these cameras, it doesn’t matter who’s driving the car.  If you loan your car to neighbor Sally and she blows three of these lights – guess who has to pay the fine.  That’s right, the first name listed on the title of the car!  So if you loan your car to your teenage kid (probably a more likely scenario) or you share the vehicle with your spouse and they get caught on camera running a red light or speeding – you have to pay and it goes on your driving record.  This is just one of the issues I feel could be treated unfairly under a constitutional revision, and it isn’t just about traffic light cameras.  Blagojevich wants to institute speeding cameras on all the interstates and also see this link to view details about a class action lawsuit filed against Illinois for exorbitant toll booth violation fees.  What perfect timing for a constitutional rewrite.

Here are other issues at stake if the CON CON passes. I obtained this from this website by The League of Women Voters

(AN ILLINOIS CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION IN 2008? A distinguished panel of experts responded with an article giving background information and a summary of the issues likely to be raised. That article is reprinted HERE with the permission of the Union League Club. The article is also referenced in the bibliography of the Con-Con Study Guide.)

The following is a list of issues likely to be raised in discussion of a call for a convention:
“Merit Selection” of judges

“Merit selection” is the name given to the process by which a Governor appoints judges
from among three nominees submitted by Judicial Nominating Commissions consisting
of both lawyers (elected by the members of the bar) and non-lawyers (appointed by the
Governors). It is thus a sub-set of the an appointive system – other possibilities being the
federal model of nomination by the chief executive with confirmation by the Senate and
appointment by the state’s Supreme Court.

Such a change absolutely requires a constitutional amendment. To an extent, we have
experimented with a “merit selection” system in the judicial vacancy appointment
committees set up voluntarily by the Illinois Supreme Court.

The list of proponents and opponents of a “merit selection” system has changed since
1970. The opposition by minorities, who comprise at least 15% of the state’s population,
is still strong. Except for the Asian-American Bar Association, all minority bar
associations who have spoken about the issue have opposed it. The major bar associations
still support the concept although it is not clear if the membership agrees. The business
groups that have supported “merit selection” in the past currently find that they can help
determine elections by making campaign contributions and may now decide not to
abandon the system of electing all Supreme Court and Appellate Court judges and half of
the Circuit Judges.

School Financing

Changing the system of financing public high schools and elementary schools does not
require a constitutional change, but many proponents of a change believe that only a
constitutional amendment will actually effectuate a change.

Led by the teachers’ unions and school boards, there is a broad coalition favoring
reducing property taxes as the basis for school financing and favoring the equalizing of
funds among school districts. None of these groups openly favors raising state taxes or
instituting state control of schools. None seems to address the needs of home-schooled
children or children in non-public, particularly religious, schools.

Probably many suburbanites and taxpayers’ groups would oppose any major change in
school financing. (According to State Rankings 2006, Illinois ranks 13th in per capita
income among the states and 24th in state and local tax burden per capita.)

Public Employee Pensions

Article XIII, Sec. 5, of the Illinois Constitution is one of a half-dozen state provisions
“guaranteeing” the pension rights of state and local government employees. The issues of
full funding of pensions and permissible changes to the pension systems have become a
major controversy.

At present funding levels, the pension systems will probably collapse within two decades.
Public employee unions favor a mandate of full funding and a guarantee of at least the
status quo in the level of pensions. Taxpayers’ and business organizations favor changing
the systems to reduce the governmental burden, e.g., shifting from a defined benefit
system to a defined contribution system.

Legislative Redistricting

Every decade there is wide-spread condemnation of the tie-breaker system for deciding
legislative redistricting. However, no one has created a better plan for Illinois.

The Legislative Redistricting Process Review Commission was unable to devise a better
way that would be acceptable. Moreover, the increased role of federal judges in re-
drawing legislative maps has meant that use of the “tie-breaker” has become simply a
prelude to state and federal litigation.

The voters could initiate an amendment to Art. IV, Sec. 3, of the 1970 Constitution,
which establishes the present redistricting system, but that has not happened.

Gay Marriage

This would take the form of an amendment to Art. I, probably Sec. 18, saying that
marriage is defined as being between one man and one woman.

Death Penalty – Pardons

Opposition to the death penalty has grown.  On the other hand, many would like to
restrict the Governor’s power to issue pardons and commutations, as is the case in Texas.

Multi-Member Districts/Cumulative Voting v. Single Member Districts

While the 1980 Cutback amendment appeared to have settled this issue, the Midwest
Democracy Center has been urging a return to some form of the former system.  Restrictions on Municipal Home Rule

Home rule, especially for cities, is viewed as a “tax and spend” provision.  The anti-tax
groups would lobby for restrictions on municipal tax and spending powers.

Post-KELO/SWIDA Restrictions on “Takings”

There is a widespread movement to restrict the use of eminent domain to aid in economic
development projects that would principally benefit private entities and secondarily “the
public.”

Personal Property Replacement Tax

In order to eliminate the ad valorem personal property tax by 1979, it was necessary to
institute a replacement tax on corporations.  As part of any tax restructuring plan,
businesses would probably demand relief from this special tax on corporations.

Graduated and/or Restricted Income Tax

There is no “progressive” income tax currently allowed, but otherwise there are few
significant restrictions on the income tax.  Anti-tax groups would seek to impose a 5%
cap and other restrictions.

Initiative and Referendum for Constitutional Amendments and Legislation

Presently, the only initiative and referendum process is for certain amendments to the
Legislative article; there would be an effort to expand this to cover all constitutional
amendments and/or for legislation.

Please be informed!

Coincidentally as I was drafting this post the State Government issued pamphlet giving voters notice of the “Proposed Call for a State of Illinois Constitutional Convention” showed up in my mailbox today. Ha. I haven’t read it yet, it says it gives arguments for and against inside. We’ll see if it is slanted in anyway. Good voting to you and please do your research and spread the word.

Go to Two Lesbos Goin At It to read the actual script from the film “Who’s Nailin Paylin.”  Yes – you read it right.  And you thought porn movies are made without scripts, didn’t you?

__________________

A picture of Sarah Palin from 1995 at her Wasilla City Council desk is raising some questions.   Check out the magazine article on the top of Sarah Palin’s desk.   You can see the enlarged version below. 

(After the jump some interesting photos of Palin that you probably have not seen)

Palin Posing with John Birch Society Article

It’s an article on the “Con Con Call.”  I’ve read the article.  It’s a drawn out sneaky snake novel type article claiming that a states’ conference to be held back in the 90’s was actually a secret squirrel plot to call a Constitutional Convention and take away rights from the people and the states. 

We encourage you to read the Con Con article  Have fun.  One has to wonder why Palin wanted to publically showcase this wacky article which was written by Don Fotheringham & which appeared in the March 1995 edition of New American, a publication of the John Birch Society.  Actually the magazine supposedly can also been seen in the photo under the piece of paper.  However, the John Birch Society has denied this in an article titled, “Is Sarah Palin a John Birch Society member?”

We’ve ordered a back issue just to check it out and we’ll let you know.  

Just in case you don’t love to read this crap, here are some quotes from the Con Con article:

“The Conference of the States meets every requirement for a constitutional convention even though it has not been called pursuant to Article V of the Constitution. It would have the legal force of a free people if its proposals were adopted. It would make no difference whether Congress approved or not, since the whole people are superior to all institutions of government and have authority over them.”

“If held, the Conference would likely adopt amendments that would make legal that which is now unconstitutional. Many states would probably agree to increase the power of the federal government by insisting that the federal government fund the programs it mandates.”

Blah blah blah and the federal government would take power from the states and people. 

Even though the McCain camp swears that Sarah Palin isn’t some crazy member of the Alaskan Independence Party this picture was taken during the same time Todd and Sarah were attending AIP meetings.   Also, I still wonder why Palin quoted admitted racist Westbrook Pegler in her speech at the RNC if she wants to be distanced from these nut-jobs.

And, what’s even more interesting is the comment under the John Birch Society article on Palin.  The comment: 

I know Sarah Palin and she knows me 5 Saturday, 20 September 2008 08:20 Johnny from Wasilla

I went to RWU in Washington state every summer. I am from Wasilla. I worked on Sarah Palin’s first campaign for Mayor. I was on a conference call with state officials to stop the Con-con.  Here’s the deal my Birch society friends. One of Sarah Palin’s best friends (if not her very best friend) husband is an ardent supporter of the John Birch Society.  He served on the city council with Sarah. He was not a member last time I checked because he is a politician and lets face it, the JBS, even though the most sane organization out there, is perceived as crazies. He does not join the JBS, much like me, because we don’t want uneducated voter to write us off as an extremists.

That said, once she got into state office, Sarah has not proven as conservative as she used to be, or as we who supported her hoped.

But she blows Biden, McCain and Obama out of the water.

RELATED AND AMUSING POST:   No!  Stop!  Not More Katie Couric Video and Transcript! Sarah Palin Speaks About Dick Cheney   

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