Texas Governor Calls For Constitutional Convention To "Wrest Power" From Obama

Tyler Durden's picture




 

When it comes to Texas' relationship with the Federal government, the word "rocky" comes to mind. And nobody embodies said rockiness better than Texas governor Greg Abbott, who recently made headlines after announcing that irrelevant of D.C.'s demands, Texas would refuse to accept any Syrian refugees.

This followed his announcement earlier this summer 2015 when fears over nebulous Federal intentions with operation "Jade Helm" were running high, that "to address concerns that Texas citizens and to ensure that Texas communities remain safe, secure, and informed about military procedures occurring in their vicinity, I am directing the state guard to monitor Operation Jade Helm 15."

Prior to this, Abbott was again in the news back in June when he signed a bill into law that would allow Texas to build a gold and silver bullion depository, which would allow Texas to repatriate $1 billion worth of bullion from the New York Fed to the new facility once completed.

In short: the Federal government and the state of Texas have been on collision course of many months, one which culminated on Friday when Abbott called for a Constitutional Convention of states, spearheaded by Texas, and which would amend the U.S. Constitution to wrest power from a federal government "run amok."

To achieve that, Abbott proposed nine amendments to "restore the Rule of Law and return the Constitution to its intended purpose."

“If we are going to fight for, protect and hand on to the next generation, the freedom that [President] Reagan spoke of … then we have to take the lead to restore the rule of law in America,” Abbott said, cited by the Dallas News, during a speech at the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Policy Orientation that drew raucous applause from the conservative audience. He said he will ask lawmakers to pass a bill authorizing Texas to join other states calling for a Convention of States.

According to the Hill, Abbott said that "the increasingly frequent departures from Constitutional principles are destroying the Rule of Law foundation on which this country was built,” said Abbott in a statement. We are succumbing to the caprice of man that our Founders fought to escape. The cure to these problems will not come from Washington D.C. Instead, the states must lead the way.”

Along with the speech, Abbott released a nearly 70-page plan – part American civics lesson, part anti-Obama diatribe – detailing nine proposed constitutional amendments that he said "would unravel the federal government’s decades-long power grab and restore authority over economic regulation and other matters to the states."

"The irony for our generation is that the threat to our Republic doesn’t come just from foreign enemies, it comes, in part, from our very own leaders," Abbott said in a speech that took aim at President Obama, Congress and the judicial branch.

Abbott's nine proposed amendments are:

  • Prohibit congress from regulating activity that occurs wholly within one state.
  • Require Congress to balance its budget.
  • Prohibit administrative agencies from creating federal law.
  • Prohibit administrative agencies from pre-empting state law.
  • Allow a two-thirds majority of the states to override a U.S. Supreme Court decision.
  • Require a seven-justice super-majority vote for U.S. Supreme Court decisions that invalidate a democratically enacted law
  • Restore the balance of power between the federal and state governments by limiting the former to the powers expressly delegated to it in the Constitution.
  • Give state officials the power to sue in federal court when federal officials overstep their bounds.
  • Allow a two-thirds majority of the states to override a federal law or regulation.

For those unfamiliar, a Constitutional Convention is one of two ways that the U.S. Constitution can be amended, and it’s described in Article V. One way is that Congress can propose amendments approved by two-thirds of the members of both chambers. The other method allows two-thirds of the state legislatures to call for a convention to propose amendments. Republicans backing the idea are confident that because they control state government in a majority of states, their ideas would prevail.

In both cases, the amendments become effective only if ratified by three-fourths of the states. Indicatively, of the 27 times the Constitution has been amended, none was generated by a constitutional convention.

Abbott is not the first to propose a convention: the idea has been gaining traction among some among conservative Republicans, comes just as the GOP presidential candidates begin to make forays into Texas ahead of the March primary election. The state, with 155 delegates up for grabs, will certainly be a key player in the party’s nominating process.

Earlier this week presidential contender Marco Rubio published a piece in USA Today endorsing the idea of a convention to amend the Constitution and restore limited government. In April, 27 active petitions had been filed with Congress seeking a convention to amend the constitution to require that Congress adopt a balanced budget.

Congress would be forced to act once 34 states joined the effort. So far, Cruz hasn’t endorsed the idea.

A convention, Abbott wrote, would force the federal government to “take the Constitution seriously again... The only true downside comes from doing nothing and allowing the federal government to continue ignoring the very document that created it,” Abbott wrote.

To be sure many conservatives agree with Abbott's posture that the only way to limit the powers of the Federal government is to resuscitate state power .

Of course, whereas Republicans are seeking to limit the role and power of government, Democrats demand just the opposite, and were quick to denounce Abbott’s plan Friday, saying the governor has misplaced priorities.

“America added 292,000 new jobs in December. But under Abbott, Texas fell to sixth in job creation, remains the uninsured capitol of the nation, wages and incomes remain far too low for hardworking families, our neighborhood schools are still underfunded, and college education is slipping out of reach,” Texas Democratic Party Deputy Executive Director Manny Garcia said in a statement. “Texas families deserve serious solutions, not Tea Party nonsense.”

What Manny Garcia did not add is that while oil was above $100, Texas was the state that had generated the most jobs under the Obama administration, and if it hadn't been for the Kerry-Saudi Arabia secret meetings which put into play the collapse in the price of oil, meant to cripple Russia but crushing US shale instead, Texas would continue to create record numbers of jobs.

However, since this is high politics, facts be damned, and the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas issued a statement with similar sentiment. “Governor Abbott, as Texans, we prefer the Framers’ plan. Don’t mess with the Constitution,” said Terri Burke, executive director of the ACLU of Texas.

A small but vocal Republican minority has also opined against the idea of a constitutional convention: last year, House legislators filed measures calling for such a convention. Texas senator Craig Estes unleashed a screed against the proposal when it came before the Senate State Affairs Committee in May. He compared the idea to “a petulant teenager who’s lost a few basketball games and plans to burn down the gymnasium.”

“The constitution has served us well for over 200 years. The problem is not the constitution,” Estes said, adding that the solution is to elect more conservative lawmakers. “Slap a bumper sticker for Ted Cruz on your car and get after it and knock yourself out.”

Estes went on to promise a filibuster if the measure came to the Senate floor.

Whether Abbott's proposal will gain steam and ultimately succeed is unknown, but it is virtually certain that the more the Obama administration governs via executive orders and other means to bypass the Legislative and short circuit the US government, the more powerful the grass-roots response at the state level will be, until eventually there is enough anger at the dysfunctional U.S. government at the 34 required states to do precisely as the Texan wants... that, or Trump is voted into the Oval Office as a protest against everything that is broken with the current political status quo.

4.636365
Your rating: None Average: 4.6 (11 votes)
 

- advertisements -

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.
Sat, 01/09/2016 - 19:44 | 7023611 besnook
besnook's picture

does this mean jade helm is about to go live?

Sat, 01/09/2016 - 19:49 | 7023632 bamawatson
bamawatson's picture

i saw them live at the ampitheater in mid 60's

Sat, 01/09/2016 - 19:56 | 7023652 Bangin7GramRocks
Bangin7GramRocks's picture

Did they open for Mott The Hoople?

Sat, 01/09/2016 - 19:59 | 7023658 stacking12321
stacking12321's picture

this all sounds well and good, but what does balancing the budget really mean?

the us is a bankrupt nation - is the gentleman from texas suggesting that the usa be honest and openly declare bankruptcy?

Sat, 01/09/2016 - 20:08 | 7023668 hedgeless_horseman
hedgeless_horseman's picture

 

 

Those amendments are a good start, but fail to address corruption. Swap out elections for sortition. One year terms. Make bribery of a public official a capital offense for both parties.

Sat, 01/09/2016 - 20:15 | 7023702 Chupacabra-322
Chupacabra-322's picture

HH,

Could you please STOP using the word "Corruption?" It's beyond that. It's open in your face Criminality. Period.

Sat, 01/09/2016 - 20:39 | 7023755 Atlas_shrugging
Atlas_shrugging's picture

"A small but vocal Republican minority has also opined against the idea of a constitutional convention".   Tough shit boys!   The beautiful thing about Article V is the Convention of States bypasses the Executive, Judicial and Legislative branches completely.  Congress can (and will) hate it all they want... we can only hope it passes enough State legislatures to become reality. http://www.conventionofstates.com


Sat, 01/09/2016 - 20:59 | 7023826 WordSmith2013
WordSmith2013's picture
The Lone Star state has plotted a course and there's no looking back as the headline says.

!   !   !

Texas Rebels Against Federal Tyranny, Set to Leave the Reservation, Secession Now a Forgone Decision

 

http://themillenniumreport.com/2016/01/texas-governor-wants-to-amend-the...

Sat, 01/09/2016 - 21:09 | 7023865 Wulfkind
Wulfkind's picture

Texas Rebels Against Federal Tyranny, Set to Leave the Reservation, Secession Now a Forgone Decision

 HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA !!!!

ROTFLMFAO  !!!!

LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL !!!!!!!

Sat, 01/09/2016 - 21:14 | 7023875 juangrande
juangrande's picture

Where was this fucker when W. ( and his overlords) was doing his satanic dance on the Constitution??? "The nigga did it!!!!"

Sat, 01/09/2016 - 21:34 | 7023924 Wulfkind
Wulfkind's picture

Exact-a-mundo !!

Not giving the Magic Negro any kind of pass here.....but for fuck's sake.....can a Republican anytime, anywhere, bring up a Constitutional Convention when there is a REPUBLICAN in office ?   It's like overlooking the fact that your wife is getting laid by a couple of hundred Republicans a night and suddenly the NEGRO comes along and ****SHAZAM**** you realize NOW she's got an issue.

Sat, 01/09/2016 - 21:37 | 7023938 conscious being
conscious being's picture

Better late than never. How about a sound money ammendment? Oh, that's already in the original document?

Sat, 01/09/2016 - 21:03 | 7023837 macholatte
macholatte's picture

and what sorts of things will be taken into consideration at the convention:

Amendment #28 - Gay Rights are superior to the right of others

Amendment #29 - Anybody can get an abortion at any time

Amendment #30 - Sharia Law can be imposed when there is a majority vote for it.

Amendment #31 - Amendment #2 is repealed

Amendment #32 - Presiedent can crown himself King and never have to run for election if he's a Progressive.

Amendment #33 - Senators and Congressmen never have to run for reelection again and can take bribes and never pay any taxes

Amendment #34 -  Freedom of the Press means whatever Mark Zuckerberg wants it to mean.

Amendment #35 - Michael Savage and Alex Jones are banned fom planet earth.

Amendment #36 - Minimum wage is zero.

Amendment #37 - Amendment 10 is repealed

 

etc. etc.

Sat, 01/09/2016 - 20:52 | 7023813 greenskeeper carl
greenskeeper carl's picture

This is a fucking terrible idea. No way in hell the government wouldn't end up granting itself more power at our expense. These people routinely sell us out, a constitutional convention would be no different. This would result in less freedom and a bigger government.

And what fucking good would more amendments do? The idea that this would change anything is laughable and I'm surprised so many on here are so naive. They don't follow the bill of rights now, and the wording could not be more clear. Even if this guy got his way and went about it honestly, why won't these new ones just be ignored like the current ones are now?

Sat, 01/09/2016 - 21:03 | 7023845 crossroaddemon
crossroaddemon's picture

This is why any revolution is doomed to fail. The entrenched interets are simply too powerful, and they will coopt anything you try. Revolution? Fuck that... the leaders will be bought and if they can't be they'll be killed and replaced with those who can. Any constitutional convention will be subverted by the big money, guaranteed. 

Worse, the governor of Texas knows all this. He's just playing ot his base.

Besides, who wants a constition? It's a document legitimizing power. Into the fire with it.

Sat, 01/09/2016 - 20:03 | 7023670 Davilis
Davilis's picture

It's a pretty simple concept: don't spend more than you make. The debt would still be there, but it wouldn't get worse.

I would appreciate a simple step like an audit and proper accounting at the DoD. Can you believe these guys can't even tell us how the money is spent? I say 20% yearly budget reductions until they figure it out!

Sat, 01/09/2016 - 20:13 | 7023696 cheeseheader
cheeseheader's picture

With ya bud.   Trump should slash 20% the first fiscal year, then 10% in each of the next three years. 

 

Short DC real estate...AND ex congresscritters now employed as lobbyists.

 

Throw the bums out!

Sat, 01/09/2016 - 21:04 | 7023846 crossroaddemon
crossroaddemon's picture

Keep dreaming.

Sat, 01/09/2016 - 20:25 | 7023725 nmewn
nmewn's picture

The debt "requires" interest payments...from either random printing of currency (the devaluation of currency & labor) or increased taxation.

The odious debt must be eliminated and the criminals who still draw their salaries & pensions who ran up the national credit card held in jail awaiting their first court appearance.

THEN (and only then) can we get back to being something resembling a Republic and respecting "the rule of law".

Or...we can legalize check kiting and credit card fraud, either way, I just sorta gotta know which way we're goin here ;-)

Sat, 01/09/2016 - 20:36 | 7023754 Debt-Is-Not-Money
Debt-Is-Not-Money's picture

2.3 trillion that Rabbi Dov Zakheim was responsible for (just before 911) and another 5.2 trillion that noone seems to want to talk about.

It's all odious debt anyhow and should just be repudiated.

Sat, 01/09/2016 - 21:13 | 7023874 Wulfkind
Wulfkind's picture

Did they open for Mott The Hoople?

 

(snap fingers)......Right.   Now I remember.  Jade Helm.  LOooove those guys.  What an epic song they did.  "In-A-Godda-Da-Vida".   Righteous man.....and.....and......hmmmm.......

......you know what......I may be wrong about that one.  I was so stoned at the time.

Sat, 01/09/2016 - 20:06 | 7023679 Jurgster
Jurgster's picture

When the US breaks the law at the international level, it's no wonder they break it here >> https://goo.gl/15VRor

Sat, 01/09/2016 - 20:11 | 7023690 NOTW777
NOTW777's picture

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

Sat, 01/09/2016 - 20:29 | 7023712 SWRichmond
SWRichmond's picture

Yes.

Anyone who has honestly read any signigifcant amount of Constitutional history knows that the Constitution already expressly prohibits most of what current fed dot gov does.  No paper can restrain the sociopaths, they must be forcibly purged periodically.

A convention, once called, cannot be restrained.  Ask Patrick Henry, who refused to attend the Phildelphia Convention becuase he said he "smelt a rat".  That Convention was called only to modify the Articles of Confederation, and soon they found themselves writing an entirely new document.  You weren't taught that in history class, I know.

When Virginia debated the state's ratification of the Constitution, George Mason had this to say (4 June)

Mr. GEORGE MASON. Mr. Chairman, whether the Constitution be good or bad, the present clause clearly discovers that it is a national government, and no longer a Confederation. I mean that clause which gives the first hint of the general government laying direct taxes. The assumption of this power of laying direct taxes does, of itself, entirely change the confederation of the states into one consolidated government. This power, being at discretion, unconfined, and without any kind of control, must carry every thing before it. The very idea of converting what was formerly a confederation to a consolidated government, is totally subversive of every principle which has hitherto governed us. This power is calculated to annihilate totally the state governments.

Sat, 01/09/2016 - 20:34 | 7023747 chubbar
chubbar's picture

Exactly the problem. Open the door to a complete constitutional rewrite and I think we get screwed.

Sat, 01/09/2016 - 20:40 | 7023765 Debt-Is-Not-Money
Debt-Is-Not-Money's picture

Total agreement with you and SW.

Question: If the Fed Govt. doesn't follow the constitution now, only an IDIOT would expect it to follow another one!

Sat, 01/09/2016 - 21:19 | 7023883 JLee2027
JLee2027's picture

Of course. A Convention of the States would be forced to form an entirely new Government and start a civil war to enforce it.

Sat, 01/09/2016 - 20:40 | 7023764 nmewn
nmewn's picture

"A convention, once called, cannot be restrained."

That is the great danger.

How would everyone feel if "the product" of the convention went something like "A well armed military being necessary for..." or "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, papers and effects unless a Presidential appointee says...."

It could be quite different ;-)

Sat, 01/09/2016 - 21:23 | 7023897 JLee2027
JLee2027's picture

The whole purpose of Article V is a failsafe against a runaway Federal Government. And now there is nervousness at using this solution?

How worse can it possibly get people? We have the Government spying, murdering, stealing with impunity. The next step is re-education camps. 

Sat, 01/09/2016 - 20:51 | 7023807 Wulfkind
Wulfkind's picture

"Anyone who has honestly read any signigifcant amount of Constitutional history knows that the Constitution already expressly prohibits most of what current fed dot gov does.  No paper can restrain the sociopaths, they must be forcibly purged periodically."

Exactly SWRichmond.  There are two choices.  One is just tune out and drop out.  The other is you have to take it down by force of arms.  Preferably with the miltary's help.  Kinda hard to see how you'd get enough folks who aren't addicted to the Kardashians to mount much of a force that couldn't be taken down by the National Guard much less the larger military.

That's it.   The time for Conventions is over.  Enjoy the suck or die trying to fix it.......for 40-50 years.   And then you'll just have more suck by the end of it.  Jefferson foresaw constant revolutions every 20 years or so.   Who wants to go Lebanon or Syria every 20 or so years.

Tune out and drop out I'd say.  This bitch is collapsing anyway.  

Sat, 01/09/2016 - 21:07 | 7023859 crossroaddemon
crossroaddemon's picture

Correct. Anyone who thinks the military won't follow it's orders is living in a dreamworld... and that means we lose.

Sat, 01/09/2016 - 20:57 | 7023773 Wulfkind
Wulfkind's picture

HAHAHAHA !!!     Another useless fuckwit "Rootin' Tootin'" Texan.

Are all ya'll in Texas as dumb as we all think you are?  Probably so.  Let's see.  After you voted in Ann Richards you voted in George W. Bush. ( Fuck you Texas for launching W.'s Presidential campaign ).  Then you elected Rick ( I suck Banker dick ) Perry.  You know....Mr. "Oooops" and "We're going to seceed".

And now this clod hopper with his Ten Gallon hat riding on a pale white horse calling for a Constitutional Convention.  That's SOOOoooo easy a call to make. 

#1:  It's a politcal no brainer.  Every Texan just lifted up a can of Lone Star beer.........nah.....who am I kidding.  Every Texan just held up a can of Nattie Lite, threw back a long one and yelled....."YEEEE HAHHHH !!!.  ( Some of you probably went out back and dug up your stash of Schlitz just to celebrate the Governer "Going For The Gusto").   But it's just red meat to keep you guys satisfied in your easy chairs.

#2:  He knows not enough states even come CLOSE to caring.  Once again.....easy piece of red meat to throw out.

#3:  If a Constitutional Convention ever got close to cominig about, his Bankster and Big Oil Puppet Masters would bring him to heal like the good little lap dog he is.

 

Texas.......the only place big enough to hold all of Texans bullshit.

Sat, 01/09/2016 - 21:05 | 7023847 Blankone
Blankone's picture

I did not recheck but I thought Texas approved having Jade Helm within Texas.

If this guy approved of that then he is in question.

Sat, 01/09/2016 - 21:10 | 7023868 besnook
besnook's picture

you forgot the most machiavellian path. a constitutional convention would more likely codify all that .gov has done surreptitiously to subvert the constitution.

Sat, 01/09/2016 - 21:13 | 7023873 crossroaddemon
crossroaddemon's picture

This, this, this.

Sat, 01/09/2016 - 19:45 | 7023613 90's Child
90's Child's picture

Yet nothing about the Fed?

Don't wanna bite the hand that feeds you?

Sat, 01/09/2016 - 20:09 | 7023685 Jurgster
Jurgster's picture

This is the reason the corrupt FED does whatever it pleases>>  https://goo.gl/2SIIh0

Sat, 01/09/2016 - 19:47 | 7023615 KesselRunin12Parsecs
KesselRunin12Parsecs's picture

Cute, but as soon as a Bilderberger stuffs his offshore account with 8or9 figures in printed fiat, his tune will change.

 

So basically, we're all NORK dictators now.

Sat, 01/09/2016 - 19:47 | 7023623 besnook
besnook's picture

i think they might send him nailguns for his birthday instead. it's cheaper.

Sat, 01/09/2016 - 19:52 | 7023644 KesselRunin12Parsecs
KesselRunin12Parsecs's picture

OK, then they'll buy a $12 million dollar nail gun from an Israeli company, charge it to the US taxpayer, & have him shoot himself TWICE in the back of the head with it (on Martin Luther King Day, while the media is covering Obama's latest crocodile tears).

Sat, 01/09/2016 - 19:46 | 7023618 besnook
besnook's picture

and one guy's solution is to elect a canadian for potus.

Sat, 01/09/2016 - 19:57 | 7023655 Bear
Bear's picture

Well we haven't got a good one from the lower 48 since ole Ike

Sat, 01/09/2016 - 20:46 | 7023780 Debt-Is-Not-Money
Debt-Is-Not-Money's picture

RR started off good but two months into it he was shot; GHW Bush took over and never relinquished (remember he was DCI before).

Ever since the JFK assassination CIA...

Sat, 01/09/2016 - 19:46 | 7023619 GhostOfDiogenes
GhostOfDiogenes's picture

Anyone who trusts this cuck shyster right wing lying lawyer who sued someone because a tree he was walking under fell on his dumb ass and made him wheel chair bound deserves what is coming for them.

Sat, 01/09/2016 - 20:11 | 7023689 Joe Mama 3
Joe Mama 3's picture

you ain't lying !!!!!!!!!   This nigga brought back debtors prisons to Texas and every court in Texas pisses on the Constitution every time they're holding court !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sat, 01/09/2016 - 19:48 | 7023620 Scooby Dooby Doo
Scooby Dooby Doo's picture

Good lord this guy crazy? This country would be nothing without our friends on the Federal level!

3 cheers for our Federal government:

Hip-hip-horray!

Sat, 01/09/2016 - 19:56 | 7023653 GhostOfDiogenes
Sat, 01/09/2016 - 19:49 | 7023629 Rich from PDT
Rich from PDT's picture

This guy is great, cut off funding to sanctuary sheriffs in Dallas, tells Obama to come and take it holding a shotgun, and now this! I love this guy.

Trump 2016!!!

All Trump supporters visit: www.ptdradio.com
www.powerthroughdiscipline.com

Sat, 01/09/2016 - 19:50 | 7023635 nmewn
nmewn's picture

So, ummm, any ideas on why they manufacture all cell phones now that don't allow the owner of the phone to turn of "Presidential Alerts"?

Jus checkin ;-)

Sat, 01/09/2016 - 19:54 | 7023647 Bear
Bear's picture

Dark Pools

Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site!