Constitutional Amendment whose time has come?

[Madisonian]

Talking on the phone Friday night with another member, the topic of the 2012 campaign came up.
During the discussion, I mentioned something that ticks me off to no end and we thought it might make a good discussion topic.

Here is the gripe.

I think there should be a Constitutional Amendment (the only way it could happen) that would require any person on the Federal payroll, regardless of position, to resign the current position prior to running for any other Federal elected position other than the one they currently hold.

If Congress member, Cabinet member, or whatever other federally paid position they hold person X is running for whatever elected position and running around the country campaigning or fund raising, first of all they are not doing the job they are sucking money from the government to do.

Secondly, if that person has the determination to run for an elected office (other than one they currently hold), then they should have the backbone to do it without having a still waiting job should they fail.

If a person is running for re-election to the same position, then their compensation should be pro rata reduced by the amount of time seeking re-election and their should be a time limitation (4 to 6 months) that they cannot raise funds or actively campaign before the general election.

The reasons for this should be obvious.
Any of us regular working stiffs could not go to our bosses and say we want to be paid and retain our job while taking 6 months to a year or more to seek another. Why should our elected or wish to be elected employees be any different?
As I also mentioned, whether it be John Kerry, John McCain, Michelle Bachmann, Hillary Clinton or whoever else, if you are going to run for President, Senator or House member, then quit your current job and let it be given to someone that will fill out the term. Otherwise they are short changing their constituents, bilking all the taxpayers and not doing the job they are being paid rather handsomely (by most of our standards) to do.

So what are your thoughts and what would you add or subtract if this were proposed as an Amendment?

[Rockntractor]

Talking on the phone Friday night with another member, the topic of the 2012 campaign came up.
During the discussion, I mentioned something that ticks me off to no end and we thought it might make a good discussion topic.

Here is the gripe.

I think there should be a Constitutional Amendment (the only way it could happen) that would require any person on the Federal payroll, regardless of position, to resign the current position prior to running for any other Federal elected position other than the one they currently hold.

If Congress member, Cabinet member, or whatever other federally paid position they hold person X is running for whatever elected position and running around the country campaigning or fund raising, first of all they are not doing the job they are sucking money from the government to do.

Secondly, if that person has the determination to run for an elected office (other than one they currently hold), then they should have the backbone to do it without having a still waiting job should they fail.

If a person is running for re-election to the same position, then their compensation should be pro rata reduced by the amount of time seeking re-election and their should be a time limitation (4 to 6 months) that they cannot raise funds or actively campaign before the general election.

The reasons for this should be obvious.
Any of us regular working stiffs could not go to our bosses and say we want to be paid and retain our job while taking 6 months to a year or more to seek another. Why should our elected or wish to be elected employees be any different?
As I also mentioned, whether it be John Kerry, John McCain, Michelle Bachmann, Hillary Clinton or whoever else, if you are going to run for President, Senator or House member, then quit your current job and let it be given to someone that will fill out the term. Otherwise they are short changing their constituents, bilking all the taxpayers and not doing the job they are being paid rather handsomely (by most of our standards) to do.

So what are your thoughts and what would you add or subtract if this were proposed as an Amendment?

I agree, but it is small potatoes compared to some of the stuff that goes on, like the redistricting, gerrymandering.
There is a whole laundry list of things we could use amendments for.

[NJCardFan]

A Constitutional Amendment who's time has come? That's easy. Amendment XVI.

[Madisonian]

No doubt about that.
It just bugs me that when Kerry or McCain ran for the top spot, they had all to gain and nothing to lose.
They were still Senators the night after the election.
On top of that they boondoggle off to "fact finding missions" or whatever other bloviated bullshit they call it on our dime while in reality they are campaigning or fund raising.
To me its called courage of your convictions.
If I were a Representative or Senator, I know there is no way in Hell that I could do the job I was holding and elected to do with the passion and determination required and run for President at the same time.
And I have seen and heard enough from these people to know that a super majority of them are certainly no smarter than I am.

[jnkbortka]

term limits for senators and representatives, anyone?

[Rockntractor]

term limits for senators and representatives, anyone?

Yeah, add it to the list.

[lacarnut]

No doubt about that.

And I have seen and heard enough from these people to know that a super majority of them are certainly no smarter than I am.

Most of them are lawyers too that do not enough common sense that God gave a jackass. .

[Odysseus]

term limits for senators and representatives, anyone?

Absolutely. And repeal term limits for presidents. I'd much rather have term limits for legislators than executives. The logic is this: A legislator can spend years hiding in the anonymity of the house or senate, without any accomplishments, and unless his/her conduct is so egregious that their own party ditches them, or they are convicted of a felony, it's almost impossible to get rid of them. A president, OTOH, is held responsible for everything that happens on his watch, right or wrong. By way of example, in the last 50 years, LBJ, Ford, Carter and GHW Bush failed to secure second terms on their own, and Obama is looking increasingly like a one-termer.

[fettpett]

term limits for senators and representatives, anyone?

that could/should be added to the OP.


@Madison I've thought that for years. It pisses me off that these hacks can run for higher office and their current office at the same time, while neglecting their duties in their current position.

[JB]

Absolutely. Especially in these long election cycles we have now. These aholes are on the campaign trail for a year or more.

Either that or look for your new job the way the rest of us do...lie to your boss about why you need to leave three hours early today.