WHAT IF? A Call for Convention

[Jim Delaney]

WHAT IF?  

(An Urgent Call for Convention)

 

On patriotic sites, I often read commenters’ heart-felt frustrations over both the unchecked lawlessness of the federal government as well as the painful absence of effective and concerted remedial action on the part of patriots everywhere to correct those abuses.

WHAT IF Obama is re-elected and stubbornly continues on his reckless course to “fundamentally transform the US of A”?

WHAT IF he, his progressive allies and acquiescent politicians on the other side of the political aisle continue to ignore and, by their neglect, enable the federal government’s continuing to routinely  flout and undermine the US Constitution with impunity?

My sense is that for millions of patriots, four more years of progressive tyranny would be a bridge too far. Backs to the wall and fearing for their lives, liberties and their ability to pursue  happiness, my guess is that these patriots would, with proper leadership and in a spirit of civic-mindedness,  tenaciously and unselfishly commit to taking all appropriate action to arrest America’s transformation and to otherwise nullify progressive tyranny.

With the Constitution as their guide, among these countless patriots, political accommodation, appeasement and compromise would be adjudged odious, self-destructive and, yes, treasonous. Seriously committed to restoring constitutional & economic order as well as to safeguarding and applying the foundational doctrines of “separation of powers” and “checks and balances” at all levels of government, my guess is that the resulting societal and political impact on the nation would be historical in both scope and intensity.

At least, that is my fervent hope.

Desperate, the question then becomes how can patriots, short of open rebellion, effectively push back and stop the progressive/statist tide, failing which Americans everywhere must, by their ineffective action or silence, reconcile themselves to subservience to the State?

While I’m sure my proposal doesn’t break new ground, here it is anyway:

First and foremost, to be effective, organized patriotic resistance must be rigidly guided by participants’ unwavering and fearless pledge to uphold, defend and fully implement the original meaning and intent of the Constitution of the United States as well as the Constitutions of the several States.  Importantly, personal agendas and self-serving playbooks cannot be permitted to play any part whatsoever.

Secondly, to effectively counter the power elite, and while retaining their independence from one another, patriotic organizations around the country must link up BEFORE the election returns are tabulated and pledge their “patriotic cooperation” to effect a reversal of progressive tyranny and to return to the foundational principles of constitutional governance.

Third, if Obama is re-elected, all patriotic organizations should immediately dispatch representatives to a “national convention of patriots” (ironic were it to be convened in Philadelphia) to develop both a list of grievances, again firmly grounded in the Constitution and our founding documents-- not in short-sighted parochial or self-aggrandizing considerations--and a corresponding list of specific strategies for effective, widespread and well-coordinated civil disobedience and other activist engagement. (Among countless others, these initial grassroots strategies might well entail widespread refusal to pay various taxes/fees whose payment would constitute a clear violation of the Constitution; actively resisting EPA bullying by on-site demonstrations of  solidarity with  those job-creating industries  (coal?) which have been especially injured by EPA overreach; developing a draft of Article V reforms; pressing State legislative representatives to resist federal overreach and to encourage States to immediately assume control over and to drill for oil/gas in those “federal lands” illegally held by the federal government. Obviously, the possibilities are endless . But, you get the picture.) Representatives might opt to extend invitations to constitutional scholars and historians to elicit their input and participation as well.

The burning question is what organizers of which creditable patriotic organizations already in existence who already enjoy notoriety and a following are willing to take the lead in this patriotic networking effort?  What knowledgeable organizers are willing to initiate contacts with other national and local grassroots patriotic organizations to propose this patriotic network and convention of patriots? Who’s willing to step up? All we need is leadership.

Finally, this: even if Obama ISN’T re-elected, why wouldn’t a “National Constitutional Convention of Patriots” be entirely appropriate? Both progressivism, the enemy of republicanism, and an insidious disregard for and  ignorance of the original meaning of the Constitution on the part of our other political elites--both on the left and right--constitute an insidious contagion, a “clear and present danger”, which imperils both our way of life and our republican form of government.

If, indeed, and as provided for in the Constitution and by the framers and ratifiers of same, We the People are the final arbiters of what is and what is not constitutional, and if We the People are, in fact, sovereign and pre-eminent in this republican system of government, then the duty rests squarely on our shoulders to remedy the “train of abuses”.

No more excuses. No more inaction.  No more let-the-other-guy-do-it. No more therapeutically preaching or venting to the choir. Going forward, we must fully understand that only active, constructive, effective and unified nationwide grassroots engagement will turn the authoritarian tide and restore constitutional order.

I pray someone steps up to help move this grassroots effort forward. Gov. Palin? Tea Party organizers/blogs? So many excellent possibilities too numerous to suggest here.

Truth is millions of patriots are chomping at the bit to make a REAL difference. Individually, we are reduced to whining, frustrated victims of tyranny. United, well-coordinated and firm in our civic-minded conviction to restore public trust and constitutional order, we millions are a powerhouse and can absolutely influence the direction both of our States and our nation.

If the re-election of Obama doesn’t spur us to effectively act in patriotic concert with one another, just what will—ever?

What are your thoughts/suggestions?

“What country can preserve its liberties if its rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance.” Thomas Jefferson

“The two enemies of the people are criminals and government, so let us tie the second down with the chains of the Constitution so the second will not become the legalized version of the first.” Thomas Jefferson

“Whenever the legislators endeavor to take away and destroy the property of the people, or to reduce them to slavery under arbitrary power, they put themselves into a state of war with the people, who are thereupon absolved from any further obedience.” John Locke

 

 

 

 

[Jim Delaney]

Teresa, Herta,

I'm not proposing a State or Congressionally convened "con con". That said, however, some day that sort of con con may be unavoidable.

For the moment, my emphasis is on a grassroots convention of patriots specifically intended to strategize and to implement an impactful and unified grassroots activism aimed at convincing the power structure to return to constitutional governance. To be impactful, this activism must be much, much more than mere speeches and feel-good ventings. The strategies chosen must necessarily lead to the implementation of bolder forms of resistance--peaceful, albeit well-organized & nationwide, civil disobedience, for a start. Again, grassroots, not politicians who are part of the problem.

The alternative is a dead-end return to inactivity, or at least a less impactful activity, and tolerance of the status quo.

 

[PHILIP SCHNEIDER]

To break away from the normal political and governmental business as usual, to create a new organizational structure to advance the changes we conservatives long for, is a monumental task.

I'm bent over with fatigue suffering like all of you on a daily basis watching the destruction by the liberal progressives dismantling our Constitution and our Liberties and Freedoms along with it. Our side seems impotent against them. The lack of coverage of conservatives hard work in congress is a result of the 4th arm of government (media) taking sides against us. Without being able to share our visions for Freedom we cannot succeed.

If Romney fails Jim, all the above, which you've outlined, will come true.

[Chris Horne]

The above is an awesome roadmap to really getting us, esp.Republicans, back on the right track.  We have numerous, and will have more, true conservatives when we keep the congress and take the Senate.  Ofcourse those two things would have to happen.  When we do hve. both houses we need to pressure, pressure, pressure, our elected officials to limit Hussein Obama if he should win and maybe Romney if he wins because we need limits in place for Hilary in 2016.  Yes bring in the Tea Party (75,000) strong and morf into American's for Patriotism.

[Teresa Smith]

A Con Con can be good and it can be dangerous. The wrong people could also get involved. IMHO, our Constitution is awesome and I think our Founders knew what they were doing.