The Betrayal

The Right Side of Life is reporting:

Just in case you thought the entire eligibility issue was a big deal, now we have Rep. Jose Serrano (D-NY) proposing House Joint Resolution 5 (Enter “HJ Res 5″ at Thomas; GovTrack version):

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to repeal the twenty-second article of amendment, thereby removing the limitation on the number of terms an individual may serve as President.

This bill was introduced into the Judiciary Committee on January 6 (first day of the 111th Congress) and has no co-sponsors.

Before anyone starts freaking out, remember that a bill such as this must first make it out of committee, then be passed by two-thirds of the House and Senate, then be passed by three-fourths of the States before actually happening.

Regardless, this simply goes to show that the minority party or individual (the smallest minority there is) should always have their rights respected so as to provide a check against the majority.

A frequent commenter of this site, “Patrick McKinnion,” makes an excellent counter-point to the above:

I remember the GOP suggesting similar things when Reagan was president. And there’s been bills like this on both sides of the House and Senate for decades now.

I’d say the likelihood of it getting the 2/3rds needed AND then State ratification are in the slim, none, and forget it deparment. And even if it happened, I doubt whoever is in the White House at the time would be “Grandfathered” in.

The only amendment to repeal another amendment, the 21st amendment which repealed the 18th amendment, took a year to pass, and that was only after 13 YEARS of increasing unpopularity with the 18th. There’s no signs the American people are that unhappy with the 22nd.

I doubt it will fly.

Tags: Constitution in Peril //