**The threat of a constitutional crisis is looming over our nation.

[elleng]

For decades, Republicans have been laying the groundwork to call a constitutional convention, and if they gain control of 34 state legislatures, they can do it unilaterally.

They’re nearly there, Ellen – just four state legislatures away – and if we let the GOP gain any more power, it would be catastrophic for our democracy. If Republicans were to successfully call a convention, they would have free rein to rewrite our nation’s founding documents.

The ONLY way to prevent this convention from happening is to defeat Republican majorities and protect our Democratic-led states from GOP takeover.

Chip in right now to elect state Democrats and help stop a Republican-led constitutional convention from being held >>

https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/page/dlcc3?

via e.mail from Defend the Constitution (via DLCC.org) ([e-mail])


THEY have been super-prepared for many years; 'WE,' not so much.

[SheltieLover]

1. Yikes!

Ty for posting, Ellen!

[empedocles]

2. WOW! TY

[KT2000]

3. Koch brother's plan all along

Our constitution would be a copy of ALEC wish list. This is for real.

[ShazamIam]

13. Yes, the very heart of the Kochnetwork, turn the U.S. into a strictly and separated

by race oligarchy, with no individual rights mentioned in their preferred version of a constitution.

[2naSalit]

4. I am being forced to move in the next 60 days...

And there is NO housing available in any habitable part of my state. Given how they legislature has been co-opted by troglodytes, I am looking for another state. Given this news, I am also now looking for another country or planet whichever comes available first.

[calimary]

5. The only prescription for this illness is to VOTE, DAMMIT!

The numbers are with US, not the other guys. If only we could rely on those numbers turning out to VOTE, DAMMIT!!!

[Lonestarblue]

6. Please, please, please let my state be one that flips to a Democrat next year.

I keep hoping that Beto will run against Abbott. I think he’s the only one who might have a shot at winning. Thirty-six states are electing governors next year: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

If we have strong candidates, I think the states we might be able to win from Republicans include Arizona and Maryland, with Arkansas, Georgia, and Texas possibilities. Taking three or four states out of Republican hands would help prevent a Constitutional Convention.

[Freddie]

7. PA has a Dem Governor

Thank God, or we'd really be Mississippi North. But he’s term limited. Most likely Dem candidate is our wonderful AG, Josh Shapiro. The R candidate will be an off-the-wall
RWNJ like Doug Mastriano, the state senator who organized busloads to the insurrection. On a statewide level we DO outnumber them.

[bucolic_frolic]

9. That will be the matchup.

My unsolicited (R) sources are talking him up, and he's touring the state's (R) organizations. He'll be formidable, having major pull in redneck areas who can't think beyond ethnicity. Very very dangerous.

[wnylib]

8. I am all for having Dem governors.

But I think this hinges more on the state legislatures than governors.

[bluestarone]

15. From North Dakota here BUT

I will donate to Beto PLUS any other states to help Democrats WIN!! WE ALL NEED to do this!!!

[Polybius]

22. I hate to be the one to say it, but Texas needs a moderate like Manchin to win

I like Beto, but he can't win statewide in a Red state, even a Light Red one like Texas.

[hamsterjill]

29. I want to be wrong.

But how do you think Beto has a snowball’s chance in hell with all of the voter suppression and gerrymandering that the Repukes have pushed through in Texas? Not to mention all of the brain-washed crazies.

Truly interested in your opinion because I really need some hope.

[Lonestarblue]

30. It would definitely not be easy.

The real key would be the Hispanic vote, and that is why Abbott is sending forces to the border to send the message that he’a doing something about the migrants even though he actually isn’t. I think national Democratic groups tend to lump all Hispanics in the Southwest as one group. But the recent migrants are from Central America, and that is not the same “tribe.” Many communities along the border have families living here and other family members in Mexico. Many Mexicans shop in the US, so there are ongoing relationships. No such relationship exists for Central American migrants, and indeed the migrants often soak up the charitable resources for those in need in the local community, thus creating some resentment in that community. I suspect that many citizens along the border also fear the impact on their jobs and earnings as desperate migrants take jobs at lower pay. I think we simply do not know enough about the needs and wants of those on the border and what drives their voting choices. For example, we need to find out why Hildago County, traditionally Democratic, voted for Trump. It may have been his tough stance on immigration, but it may have been something else. In a more recent election in a Democratic area, the Republican won the mayor’s race. We need to find out what’s going on.

Beto’s organization has spent months on voter registration, he speaks fluent Spanish, he’s more appealing to younger Hispanic voters (and younger voters overall), and he has a history with Hispanic communities along the border from his years as a representative. The state Democratic Party is also stepping up its voter registration efforts here, which is all well and good, but the real push will be to get voters to actually vote. Turnout among Hispanic voters statewide is pretty low. I believe Democratic officials have had discussions with Stacey Abrams group on getting people registered but also getting them out to vote.

I’m optimistic but realistic—it’s an uphill battle. But I believe that Beto is the only one with a chance. Julian Castro has also been mentioned, but I believe he has less chance of defeating Abbott, though he might have more support among the Hispanic community.

At this point, I think hope is all we have along with plans to register as many new voters as possible, craft effective campaign messages, get people to the polls, and have a battery of lawyers standing by for when Republicans try to nullify Democratic votes. I will be one person here doing whatever I can to help the effort!

[hamsterjill]

32. Agreed. I'm another who is willing to work.

n/t

[hermetic]

10. Yeah, I believe

we are truly on the brink here and I donate what I can. But how can we defeat the donations of the Kochs, the Russians, and the NRA? I get dozens of emails every day asking for a donation but I'm just an old lady living on SSI. It's very discouraging.

[Politicub]

26. The Koch bribes lit the match, but the fire is sustained by an angry mob.

And the mob is massive and out to punish its political enemies.

I still maintain that, if the Republican project is successful, the aftermath will be swift and brutal for their enemies.

The breaking of the American paradigm to something else that is unknowable is too much for my feeble brain to process. All of the sudden the rules will be completely different. New ideological classes of citizens will be created. LGBTQ citizens will be some of the first people to be dealt with.

The rich will get richer and the wretched right-wing mob will get its pound of flesh. It’s obvious who will make up the pounds.

If the worst happens, I hope that I can claim asylum in another country.

But that’s not a panacea. The right will have the weapons to bomb societies to oblivion. They already have a fetish for the idea of turning places like Iran into a sea of glass with a nuclear weapon.

[CloudWatcher]

11. Senate

Frankly I'd love to see a constitutional convention get rid of the Senate, it's ridiculous and not the least bit democratic.

But yeah, a convention with the GOP in charge would just turn the country into a fascist oligarchy. The ensuing riots would be, um, interesting to observe from a distance.

[Nexus2]

12. Thank you for posting that. It answers a question I've Its a dire answer but good to know, [nt]

[3Hotdogs]

14. Then the southern states can seceedcwithout firing a shot.

[RobinA]

23. Fine

Let them go this time.

[3Hotdogs]

28. Ok. But they have to take Mississippi with .em.

[Jim__]

16. My understanding is that any amendments proposed by a Constitutional Convention ...

.... still have to be ratified by 3/4 of the states. I believe 3/4 of the states is 38 states. At least that's a little bit more hope.

Article V of the Constitution:

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 this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the 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 its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage in the Senate.

[Angleae]

18. That's what the "sky is falling" types don't understand.

A convention is simply a process to propose amendments. Basically it allows the states to bypass congress.

[Kaleva]

17. 15 state legislatures so far have passed a resolution calling for a national convention.

Georgia

Alaska

Florida

Alabama

Tennessee

Indiana

Oklahoma

Louisiana

Arizona

North Dakota

Texas

Missouri

Arkansas

Utah

Mississippi

8 of which passed their resolution prior to the 2016 election

Below are the states where one chamber passed the resolution:

New Mexico, Iowa, South Dakota, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia, Wisconsin, New Hampshire.

Below are the state considering the Convention of States resolution this year. Note that there are several blue states in the list and you'll see some states above also listed below.

Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.

[Evolve Dammit]

19. Like sharks; they never sleep. And never stop pursuing ways to control the masses and extract $$.

[Ferryboat]

20. Koch money has been holding seminars

On what to do if a convention is held. How to run according to their wishes with a preditrimend outcome already drawn up.

[eallen]

21. If this happens, the blue states had better be ready to push for disunion

At some point, the alternatives are worse.

[Klaralven]

24. Any amendments proposed by a Constitutional Convention would have to be ratified by 38 states (3/4)

[Initech]

25. I've been scared shitless about this for years.

If somehow this were to happen, I would submit that it's not us who's going to change it. It will be corporations and the Christian right, which will erode most of our rights. If that happens, we're truly fucked.

[spanone]

27. K&R

[ScratchCat]

31. 3/4 of The States STILL HAVE TO PASS

Whatever comes out of a Convention. 3/4 of The States aren't going to agree on any damn thing in this day in age. Good grief, the hystrionics sometimes.