Democrats Should Emphasize Constitutional Patriotism

[ludwigb]

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

Appealing to patriotism for the sake of preserving the constitution and the seperation of powers is not only good civics, it's a political issue that transcends the political spectrum and appeals to many conservatives. It makes for damn good strategy.

The hearings at the Senate Judiciary Commitee on politically motivated firings and other secretive Bush antics have brought the reality of this issue home. In particular, Sound bites with Senator Leahy and others schooling Bush's hapless henchmen are instructive and useful. This one in particular was pretty funny--re. Sara Taylor's oath to "the president".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWGSYj39G_I

The attacks on the Constitution by the current administration ought to be emphasized every single day by our politicos all the way up to the general election. Indeed, although some may dislike Cindy Sheehan, she is actually doing us a service in her campaign by reminding us that we all have a duty to the Constitution, and impeachment ought to be on the table in order to preserve it.

The things is, we are DAMN LUCKY to be living in a constitutional democracy. We are citizens, and we are lucky, and people need to be reminded of this.

Fundamental differences between the 2 parties should be made crystal clear and hammered again and again. They serve monied interests and exploitive Chrisitanists. We serve the rule of law and the interests of ordinary people.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. Agreed

and there are many conservatives who cherish the Constitution--they will agree with this, as they feel their party has abandoned them.

[ClassWarrior]

2. It's how Russ Feingold keeps winning in the prairies of the Dairy State.

NGU.

[dragonlady]

6. You beat me to posting this comment

Russ is the true patriot. He takes his oath to protect and defend the Constitution seriously.
When I was visiting Philadelphia years ago I went to Constitution Hall, where the founders wrote that document. When I looked into the room where they deliberated, the tears started flowing. Couldn't help it.

:hi:

[ClassWarrior]

13. Awwwww... that's a sweet story.

:hi: DL. Say hi to DG!

NGU.

[TechBear_Seattle]

3. Alas, they don't dare

It would only serve to highlight their own egregious complicity with the Junta's desecration of the Constitution.

[peacetalksforall]

4. K & R. The very people who are to uphold it are working every day

to revise it, demean it, disobey it, and take away parts of it - little by little. Those who plan major deceptions do it little by little so that it won't be noticed. SO NOTICE!!! Before it's too late.

Doing it overnight is a coup that makes the news and causes major disruptions with foreign countries. Doing it the way they are doing it provides time and opportunities to rave about our democracy and its privileges while the dirty rotten theft and destruction is revealed as proof of a truth of what's happening - truth that pains, but it doesn't pain if we don't know it's going on or can't recognize it. DUers cannot avoid recognizing it.

Irony - I often say that there is one thing to thank PNACers for - what they are doing to us has made some of us learn more about the Constitution, Bill of Rights, balance of power, recourse paths, court systems, political appointees where there should be any, processes to right wrongs, who's who in the legal world, who the enemies are, where the shortcomings of law are, what's up-to-date and whot's out of date, where the loopholes are than we ever thought possible.

Along the way, we have learned about disastrous acts and intentions of the regime and the equally disastrous knowledge about our elected Dem leaders.

Along the way, we've learned who within our country are our country's enemy insurgents - the players who do the grunt planning and implementing, plus the camera appearances as experts and authorities - from the Federalist Society to AEI, Heritage, AIPAC, etc. We've even learned which think tank to trust. IN OTHER WORDS - the crimes of this regime and the faceless people who are their bosses have brought Washington out of the beltline - we are learning faster than we can imagine. We are LIVING a CIVICS CLASS that means life, death, jail, freedom, rights, slave conditions, privacy, total and unlimited spying.

Profit through ownership of the earth recourses and control of the peolpe are not compatible with the Constitution and Bill of Rights and they get what they want by imbalance of powers.

[jsamuel]

5. Here is something from Edwards:

http://www.dailykos.com/comments/2007/8/15/174139/771/66#c66

Q: Is John Edwards committed to, after becoming president, voluntarily giving up powers taken by Bush into the Executive Branch that do not belong there?

Thank you.

Elizabeth Edwards:
Absolutely

None of the nonsense of avoiding constitutional and legal requirements for executive branch activities by issuing executive orders.
None of these signing statements intended to undermine legislative intent.
None of the refusal to enforce laws that have been passed.

Under John, the constitution returns.

[trayted]

7. Ron Paul would kill them over that. Democrats advocate a sort of "living, breathing" Constitution

I subscribe to that belief. This isn't the founders' time that we live in. People like Ron Paul want to take the Constitution at its word, as if the scope of it covers all problems that we face as a society, and therefore, any problems outside of the reach of the text of the Constitution, Ron Paul says government (our collective institution), should have no role in it.

I disagree with that. I'm not a Constitutionalist. I respect the Constitution and the limits that it places on government, but it's just the foundation.

[eallen]

9. Any good Constitutional scholar would hand Paul his head in debate.

Many of the conservatives want to read the Constitution as if it stopped before the Civil War amendments. Or at least, as if it stopped before the 14th amendment. As for the false kind of originalism that tries to understand the Constitution as it was understood in 1790, the written text of the Constitution belies that. There is no way to interpret open-ended language referring to what is reasonable, unusual, etc., except with reference to what actually is reasonable, unusual, etc., all of which change with understanding.

:hippie:

[ludwigb]

10. I guess in this sense I'm sympathetic to Paul

But the Constitution is not valuable as a kind of prophecy, or a document filled with God's wisdom. It is the basis of law, the basis of our community. If intelligent people believe that sensible policy is forbidden by the Constitution, then we should amend the Constitution accordingly. However, we should not do so lightly.

Fundamentally, the American power elite is less trustworthy than sticking to the actual law. If that makes me a Paul supporter, then so be it, but I think it's a POV that Democrats do (or should) embrace.

[YankeyMCC]

8. I agree but unfortunately

it might be to complex...certainly for those - what is it now 26% - who Still die hard shrub supporters - but even to the general public. I don't mean to underestimate the general populace it's just that civic education seems to be wholly inadequate these days - if it ever was good I'm not sure. And so 'constitutional patriotism' may just come across as another overcomplex, overwordy message from elitist democrats.

But that's just a question of how to sell it I guess maybe there's a way and it's certainly a good substantive point of distinction.

[ludwigb]

11. But the message is ultimately very simple

That there are basically 2 kinds of patriotism. That which relies on hatred and resentment of others to form identities, and the kind of patriotism based on loyalty to a certain body of law and the rights and responsibilities that law enumerates.

Now that is oversimplifying the issue, but it's the kind of dichotomy that speaks to all kinds of Americans, and it is not one the GOP can easily attack.

[CJCRANE]

12. The Repubs claimed the flag

so the Dems should emphasise the Constitution.

Unless they want "the terrorists" to win.

Use it or lose it.

[creeksneakers2]

14. Chris Dodd made saving the constitution a central issue

Here is a bill Dodd introduced to restore due process and Habeas Corpus.

http://www.restore-habeas.org/Restoring_the_Constitution_Act_of_2007.pdf

[JudyM]

15. Absolutely right on. John Edwards is almost but not quite saying it - hope Eliz reads this.

He - as well as the others - need something pithy to use as a catchphrase. I like it: constitutional patriotism.

:hippie: