What new horrors vis a vis amending the Constitution could be expect from

[terrya]

a second Bush term?

I could actually see this White House pushing for a constitutional amendment banning abortion.

I can see this White House pushing for a constitutional amendment banning racial quotas in hiring, education, etc.

I can see this White House pushing for the official lifting of the ban of prayer in the public schools.

I was so shaken after the SOTU. I've read articles from people suggesting that there's a real agenda among the most rabid, right wing, christian people seeded in the White House, Pentagon and the government agencies and departments in the government. Overwhelming American dominance in foreign policy (hell, we've got that now with our official "pre-emptive" policy regarding the use of the American military). The ultimate objective of dismantling social programs (Head Start, Social Security, Medicare) that the hard liners don't want. A war against gays, women and minorities. I used to believe that the idea of a "hidden agenda" was paranoid fantasy. Man, was I naive. Not anymore.

Nothing this adminstration does surprises me anymore. I can believe and expect that this adminstration is capable of anything.

Terry

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

1. There could be a call for a new Constitutional Convention

Ever since the first one was ratified, the arch-conservatives have never liked the way the first one turned out. It can be done -- I'll have to do some research. I remember reading that we're close to calling one, and that only a few more states need to approve.

Wouldn't you like to see what would come out of THAT confab, given who's in power? NOT!

[terrya]

5. I've read suggestions on that.

That is my very worst nightmare. A constitutional convention, in this political climate...the "War on Terrorism", a blind hatred towards gays, women and minorities from this adminstration...and the right wing firmly entrenched in power. And a coporate owned news media that would roll over and go along. My God.

Terry

[nini]

2. I truly believe this may be the most critical election in history

I agree with you that if the BFEE gets 4 more years that this country will cease to exist on the fundamentals it was founded on.

We may NEVER recover from this.

We MUST get people off their asses and out to vote this year or we'll be paying the prices the rest of our lives.

[trof]

3. An amendment banning Democrats.

Remember, you saw it here first.

[DebJ]

8. not necessary. Terrorist attack planned for Boston June 04, any

residual problems can be handled with 'enemy combatant' status and Supreme Court support.

[DebJ]

4. fortunately amendments require 2/3 of the states to approve....thank God

our Founding Fathers had some sense. But then again, they were not pure politicians. Lots of them HATED the political games side...above all they were philosophers and true patriots who cared about our future for eons to come, not just through the next election.

[ButterflyBlood]

13. 3/4 of the states

2/3 of each house of congress.

[Parrcrow]

6. an ammendment removing Congress from all war making policy

and a Presidential line item veto

[SheilaT]

7. You are absolutely right.

I don't think they'd really risk a constitutional convention, but they could get through amendment after amendment until we're no longer living in the America we used to know.

The people currently in power came to that power in a coup, and we must never forget that. They don't. They have no intention of relinquishing that power, and certainly not in a fair, free, and honest election.

My biggest personal fear about these people not being removed come November, is that it will be too late to get away the day after the election. All young men of selective service age could be forbidden to travel abroad. A presidential directive could no doubt be issued forbidding all abortions, criminalizing homosexual relationships, declaring certain websites unAmerican. A Protection of the Family Act could be passed effectively removing women from the work force, or from positions of responsibility. It would go on and on.

I just hope that in November the Democratic nominee wins the election and my friends (and those here on DU) will throw all of these warnings back to me about how wrong I was.

[DebJ]

9. were you around when the country tried to pass an amendment for

equal rights for women? A constitutional amendment takes years and years and years and lots of effort and is extremely difficult to pass.

[DebJ]

10. much easier to go the terrorist fear / Patriot act route to get what you

want...totalitarianism

[Retrograde]

14. it depends

The 18th amendment (Prohibition) went through rather quickly. So did the 13th, 14th and 15th, IIRC (it helped that the states most likely to oppose them had left the union at the time)

OTOH, the most recently passed one was first proposed in the early 1800s.

Getting back to the topic - if there is a new constitutional convention, say goodbye to "We the People" as it is today.

linda, ardent supporter of the 3rd amendment

[terrya]

11. BTW I realize now I should have posted this in the GD forum.

This post doesn't really belong in the Lounge. My apologies.

Terry

[ButterflyBlood]

12. the president has no control over amendents

he can't even veto them. so it's not likely Bush will have much effect.

by the way, racial quotas are already illegal (affirmative action != quotas)

[lpbk2713]

15. I dread the thought of Raygun physically dying

during a repuker administration and repuker congress. (I qualify that statement by saying "physically" dying because he's been brain dead for years.) Every damn government building in the country will be named after his sorry useless ass. Hell, I wouldn't put it past those assholes to remove the star field from our flag and replace it with his moronic face. I am really dreading that day. He was a "B" grade actor and he was a "D" grade president.