This and That...

[Ross]

Could U.S. Constitution Be Changed to Eliminate Second Amendment?

Entire founding document may be up for review after Michigan vote

Paul Joseph Watson
Infowars.com
April 4, 2014

Image: U.S. Constitution (Wiki Commons).

The entire U.S. Constitution could be up for review after Michigan became the 34th state to vote in favor of a Constitutional Convention, satisfying a rule that states America's founding document can be amended if two thirds of state legislatures approve the measure.

Article V of the U.S. Constitution states that Congress "shall call a convention for proposing amendments" should the two thirds requirement be met, which it was last week when Michigan lawmakers endorsed the move.

Following the vote, California Republican Rep. Duncan Hunter called for a Constitutional Convention to be given the go ahead.

"Based on several reports and opinions, Michigan might be the 34th state to issue such a call and therefore presents the constitutionally-required number of states to begin the process of achieving a balanced budget amendment," Hunter wrote.

While some would welcome the opportunity to amend the Constitution to institute fiscal conservatism, others fear the move could easily be hijacked to negate parts of the document that protect fundamental liberties, such as the right to bear arms and freedom of speech.

Former Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens recently called for "improving" the Constitution by changing the second amendment so the right to bear arms only applied to those in a "militia" and not the general public at large.

"Nevertheless, in such a convention, the ENTIRE Constitution is subject to review and can be altered and changed. This could be everything from installing "social justice" to the dissolution of the federal government. Everything is on the table as if we were back in 1776 Philadelphia," writes Martin Armstrong, adding that the Michigan vote represents an, "unprecedented event to amend the U.S. Constitution."

Fox News' Barnini Chakraborty notes that it is unclear whether the 34 state requirement has been met since some have rescinded their votes, but constitutional scholar Gregory Watson said there could be no take backs.

"If it is ultimately adjudicated that a state may not rescind a prior application, then Ohio's 2013 application for a Balanced Budget Amendment convention would be the 33rd and Michigan's 2014 application would be the 34th on that topic," said Watson.

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*********************

Paul Joseph Watson is the editor and writer for Infowars.com and Prison Planet.com. He is the author of Order Out Of Chaos. Watson is also a host for Infowars Nightly News.

This article was posted: Friday, April 4, 2014 at 5:11 am

http://www.infowars.com/could-u-s-constitution-be-changed-to-eliminate-second-amendment/


States Rights

Did Michigan just trigger 'constitutional convention'? Bid gains steam

By Barnini Chakraborty
·Published April 02, 2014
·FoxNews.com

WASHINGTON –  Momentum is building behind what would be an unprecedented effort to amend the U.S. Constitution, through a little-known provision that gives states rather than Congress the power to initiate changes.

At issue is what's known as a "constitutional convention," a scenario tucked into Article V of the U.S. Constitution. At its core, Article V provides two ways for amendments to be proposed. The first – which has been used for all 27 amendment to date – requires two-thirds of both the House and Senate to approve a resolution, before sending it to the states for ratification. The Founding Fathers, though, devised an alternative way which says if two-thirds of state legislatures demand a meeting, Congress "shall call a convention for proposing amendments."

The idea has gained popularity among constitutional scholars in recent years -- but got a big boost last week when Michigan lawmakers endorsed it.

Michigan matters, because by some counts it was the 34th state to do so. That makes two-thirds.

In the wake of the vote, California Republican Rep. Duncan Hunter pressed House Speaker John Boehner on Tuesday to determine whether the states just crossed the threshold for this kind of convention. Like Michigan lawmakers, Hunter's interest in the matter stems from a desire to push a balanced-budget amendment -- something that could potentially be done at a constitutional convention.

"Based on several reports and opinions, Michigan might be the 34th state to issue such a call and therefore presents the constitutionally-required number of states to begin the process of achieving a balanced budget amendment," Hunter wrote.

"With the recent decision by Michigan lawmakers, it is important that the House – and those of us who support a balanced budget amendment -- determine whether the necessary number of states have acted and the appropriate role of Congress should this be the case."

If two-thirds of the states indeed have applied, the ball is presumably in Congress' court to call the convention.

But Article V is rather vague, and it's ultimately unclear whether 34 states have technically applied. In the past, states like Oregon, Utah and Arizona have quietly voted to approve the provision in their legislature.

But some of the 34 or so have rescinded their requests. Others have rescinded, and then re-applied. 

Alabama rescinded its request in 1988 but in 2011, lawmakers again applied for a convention related to an amendment requiring that the federal budget be balanced. It was a similar story in Florida in 2010.

Louisiana rescinded in 1990 but lawmakers have tried several times, unsuccessfully, to reinstate the application since then.

It's unclear whether the applications still count in these scenarios.

Some constitutional scholars like Gregory Watson, an analyst in Texas, say once states ask, there may be no take-backs.

"There is a disagreement among scholars as to whether a state that has approved an application may later rescind that application," Watson told The Washington Times. "If it is ultimately adjudicated that a state may not rescind a prior application, then Ohio's 2013 application for a Balanced Budget Amendment convention would be the 33rd and Michigan's 2014 application would be the 34th on that topic."

Others say if a state changes its mind, it can no longer be part of the 34.

Even if the requisite number of states have applied, questions remain about how such a convention would work -- and whether, as Michigan wants, such a convention could be limited to only discussing a balanced-budget amendment.

It still may be a long shot, but some analysts are warning about the unintended consequences of such a move.

In Louisiana, Budget Project Policy Analyst Steve Spire argued against the state's resolution, saying the convention could permanently damage the nation's political system.

The last time there was a successful amendment was more than four decades ago – the 26th Amendment which changed the voting age to 18. States ratified the 27th Amendment on congressional pay increases, but it took more than 200 years to do it.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/04/02/rare-option-forcing-congress-to-meet-change-constitution-gains-momentum/

[Ross]

[Warph]

At Least 29 Islamists Accidently Blow Themselves Up When They
Prematurely Detonate A Car Bomb

(Ooooops... another feel good story of the day!)

Via Daily Star:
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2014/Apr-06/252455-explosion-kills-at-least-50-rebels-in-homs.ashx#axzz2y9JBHnn9

DAMASCUS: At least 29 rebels died in a blast Sunday in the central Syrian city of Homs as they primed a car bomb for an attack, a monitoring group said.

In the capital, meanwhile, two people were killed when mortar fire struck the Damascus Opera House, state media reported.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said at least 29 people were killed, most or all of them believed to be rebels, in the besieged Old City of Homs when a car bomb exploded.

"The death toll is likely to rise because there are dozens of people missing and body parts in the area of the blast," the Britain-based group said.

State news agency SANA also reported the blast, saying a car had exploded while being loaded with explosives.

[Warph]

Dana Perino's Amazing Plea Has Veterans Thanking Her Passionately

(We don't need another group of Veterans demonized the same as the Vietnam Veterans were by the media)

Via BPR
http://www.bizpacreview.com/2014/04/05/dana-perinos-amazing-plea-has-veterans-thanking-her-passionately-110703

The Five's" Fox News co-host Dana Perino sent what was described as the "absolute greatest tweet" ever in the form of a plea for our nation's veterans, which set forth am avalanche of responses in agreement.

The former G.W. Bush White House press secretary tweeted her message late Friday. It reflects her former boss's love, respect and deep appreciation for the men and women who serve in the armed forces:

"With all my being I'm begging you don't let people further isolate vets with PTS because they're not homicidal. Hire, include, support them."
— Dana Perino (@DanaPerino) April 4, 2014

Twelve hours later, it garnered over a thousand retweets and many replies, all duly recorded by the team at Twitchy, beginning with this one from Floridian Marty Smith:

"@DanaPerino Absolute greatest tweet you've ever done and I couldn't agree more! Use the power of your position to make a difference!!!!"
— Marty Smith (@martysmith123) April 4, 2014

All too often, the needs of our veterans are ignored out of fear, ignorance or political convenience.

Hess Corporation is a global energy company that prides itself on its practice of hiring vets. http://www.hess.com/careers/hiring-veterans

What's more, the military seldom complains — they just want the chance to serve

"Senior Pentagon officials told Congress last ... that troops are willing to sacrifice portions of their pay and benefits if it means keeping and improving the training and equipment needed to do their jobs," according to a recent Military.com report.

Compare that kind of sacrifice to a Virginia congressmen's recent complaint that his $174,000 salary wasn't enough.

Let me join the others in saying "Amen and well done, Perino!"

[Warph]

Charlie Rangel Fails To Pay Rent On State Office For More Than A Year,
State Bails Him Out

(Now ain't that just precious... some are more equal than others, I guess)

Via NY Post:
http://nypost.com/2014/04/06/rangel-failed-to-pay-rent-on-harlem-office-but-state-bailed-him-out/


New York City's longest-serving congressman won't pay his rent.

State taxpayers were stiffed out of at least $87,000 when Rep. Charles Rangel stopped paying for the district office he rents in Harlem's Adam Clayton Powell Jr.

State Office Building, records ­obtained by The Post show.

His staffers' excuse? They lost the lease, according to state Office of General Services correspondence.

"I finally heard back from Congressman Rangel's office and it seems we haven't gotten the signed lease back because they lost it!" OGS real-estate specialist Sydney Allen wrote in a July 30, 2013, e-mail to a colleague that was ­obtained by The Post.

Rangel paid $7,253 in monthly rent on the 125th Street office he has rented since 2000, expense reports from 2012 show. But the payments stopped for all of 2013.
Incredibly, instead of demanding payment of the back rent and late fees from its deadbeat legislative tenant, the state cut him a huge rent break.

The state says it allowed Rangel in March 2013 to enter into a new sweetheart deal in which he could postpone paying six months of rent. That "abatement" money has still not been paid, nor has the other six months of missed rent from 2013, a OGS official said.

[Warph]

[Warph]

Students Fed Up With Mooch Obuma's School Lunch Overhaul —
Menu-Item Snapshots Spell Out Why

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/04/05/students-fed-up-with-michelle-obamas-school-lunch-overhaul-menu-item-snapshots-spell-out-why/

(Editor's Note: Some of the language used by students in this story
is of the colorful variety, just so you know...)

First, about one million public school students said "no way" to their cafeteria menus after Michelle Obama's anti-obesity campaign led to anger and frustration over food that apparently many American kids didn't want to stomach.

But for those without other options, all that's left is the power of social media and cell phone cameras when they simply can't take another bite:

This one might leave President Obuma in the dog house for a while.

During a speech celebrating Cinco de Mayo yesterday, the president decided to deliver what appeared to be an unplanned joke. That's fine. The only problem is it came at the expense of his wife Michelle who was standing right next to him. And it had to do with her eating habits. Yeah, it's as cringe-worthy as it sounds.

The president said that Michelle's favorite food is Mexican, and that "you do not want to be between Michelle and a tamale." The crowd let out an uneasy chuckle, while some even uttered "Oooo." Michelle shot a steely look at her husband, who eventually threw up his hands.

You can watch it below at the three-minute mark:

[Ross]

Armed Feds Prepare
For Showdown With
Nevada Cattle Rancher

April 7, 2014 by MR.H —

A Ruby Ridge-style standoff is brewing in Nevada, where dozens of armed federal agents are closing in on cattle rancher Cliven Bundy over claims that Bundy has allowed his cows to graze illegally on government land, endangering a protected species of tortoise.

Vowing to take a stand for, "your liberty and freedom," Bundy says he is prepared to be killed as authorities surround a 600,000 acre section of public land as a result of Bundy violating a 1993 Bureau of Land Management ruling which changed grazing rights in order to protect the endangered desert tortoise.

"With all these rangers and all this force that is out here, they are only after one man right now. They are after Cliven Bundy. Whether they want to incarcerate me or whether they want to shoot me in the back, they are after me. But that is not all that is at stake here. Your liberty and freedom is at stake," Bundy said.

Bundy's refusal to recognize federal authority over the land under dispute and his failure to pay tens of thousands of dollars in grazing fees stems from his assertion that his family's history trumps bureaucracy.

"My forefathers have been up and down the Virgin Valley ever since 1877. All these rights I claim have been created through pre-emptive rights and beneficial use of the forage and water. I have been here longer. My rights are before the BLM even existed," Bundy said.

Accusing feds of seizing Nevada's sovereignty, Bundy says he has fought the battle legally, through the media, and is now gearing up to fight it physically.

"Armed agents are forming a a military-like staging area to prevent anyone from approaching the area," writes Mike Paczesny.

Bundy asserts that his case is emblematic of how America has been transformed into a "police state," labeling the government's actions "pathetic".

Hundreds of federal officials, aided by helicopters, low flying aircraft and hired cowboys, began rounding up Bundy's cattle on Saturday as Bundy accused them of "trespassing," adding that the impact will only serve to raise beef prices for residents of Las Vegas 80 miles away.

Feds postponed a similar raid in 2012 over fears the action would spur violence. Bundy has drawn a lot of support from the local community and protesters are heading to the area to demand authorities back off. Officials have created a taped off "First Amendment Area" where demonstrators can voice their concerns. A sign placed inside the area reads "Welcome to Amerika – Wake Up" alongside a hammer and sickle logo.

"The rights were created for us," Bundy told the Las Vegas Review Journal. "I have the right to use the forage. I have water rights. I have access rights. I have range improvement rights, and I claim all the other rights that the citizens of Nevada have, whether it's to camp, to fish or to go off road."

Addressing the justification of seizing the cattle to protect a species of tortoise, Bundy stated, "I'll never get it. If it weren't for our cattle, there'd be more brush fires out here. The tortoises eat the cow manure, too. It's filled with protein."

The standoff has echoes of the 1992 Ruby Ridge incident, during which Randy Weaver, accused of selling an ATF agent two illegal sawed-off shotguns, became embroiled in a tragic confrontation with the the United States Marshals Service (USMS) and the FBI, resulting in the death of Weaver's son Sammy, his wife Vicki, and Deputy U.S. Marshal William Francis Degan.

The story also brings back memories of New Hampshire couple Ed and Elaine Brown, who were involved in a nine month standoff with armed law enforcement and feds as a result of their refusal to pay income tax. The Browns were later convicted of "plotting to kill federal agents" because of their refusal to surrender and were both given de facto life sentences.

In a series of YouTube videos, Cliven Bundy and his wife outline the background behind their decision to take a stand against the feds, arguing that their fight is a constitutionally-driven line in the sand to push back against the usurpation of big government.

http://banoosh.com/blog/2014/04/07/armed-feds-prepare-showdown-nevada-cattle-rancher/

[Warph]

KU Grad Students Are Concerned Work Hours Might Be Reduced By Health Care Rules

(They need to start a petition to repeal 0bamacare. Hours are also being cut in the work force outside of academia)

Via KC Star
http://www.kansascity.com/2014/04/07/4942718/ku-grad-students-are-concerned.html

University of Kansas graduate students are concerned the school might reduce the hours they are allowed to work on campus in an effort to comply with new health care requirements.

Hundreds of the students signed petitions in March asking administrators not to cut the hours they can work on campus. Currently graduate students are allowed to work up to 30 hours a week on campus. Many of the students work 20 of those hours as teaching assistants and take second jobs on campus to make ends meet, The Lawrence Journal-World reported.

Graduate students' concerns began when an email circulated that appeared to propose limiting graduate work hours to 20 per week. School administrators said they have not implemented a new policy but they are considering reducing hours to comply with a new mandate that employers provide health insurance for employees working 30 hours a week or more.

Kansas Vice Provost Diane Goddard sent an email to students recently that said regardless of the outcome of the current discussion, graduate students will still be offered health insurance.

The current policy of offering a health plan with a 75 percent university contribution satisfies the individual requirement to carry insurance under the health care reform law, but not the requirement for employers to provide group coverage to their full-time employees, said Gavin Young, a university spokesman.

Young said the university is working on several issues, including how to apply the 30-hour-a-week definition of full-time work to graduate student workers, how many current graduate students would be eligible for insurance and the cost of providing insurance for them through the state employee plan.

[Warph]

U.N. Climate Chief Calls Global Warming Fear Mongering "Enlightenment"

Groan...

Via The Hill:


The head of the United Nations panel on climate change is pressing governments to "exercise a high level of enlightenment" to reconcile differences over how to mitigate global warming.

Chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Rejendra Pachauri told governments and scientists on Monday that their goal during the week-long meeting in Berlin is to form a "robust, policy-relevant and informative document," the Associated Press reports. The policy will be aimed at keeping the global temperature increases below 2 degrees Celsius by the end of the century.