The Washington Post reports there are those in the Arizona legislature prepared to resurrect an old and obscure statute that says that when an elected representative is unable to fulfill his or her duties for three months (for any reason) the position may be considered vacant. In Ms. Gifford's case, this could mean that the mean-spiritednes that has laid her low could conceiveably keep her down despite what appears to be the beginning of a remarkable recovery. To be sure, there is not anything like unanimity on the issue; AZ Law School constitutional law expert Paul Bender says that the law could not apply to Representative Giffords because she is a federal and not a state employee. Nonetheless, given that the issue has been raised in government circles in the state, I think it behooves, and immediately, people such as Senators McCain. Kyl, and Arizona Governor Brewer as well as Tom Horne, the state Attorney General, to quash immediately any further talk of this. If these people are sincerely seeking a new, more upbeat, way to talk about public issues, they should straight away disassociate themselves from any such peevish idea.
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Max Rivlin-Nadler
Linda Seccaspina
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SagCap
jmac1949
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Salon.com
Comments
Glad to see you're back from the disease of kings JW.
I'm hoping this nonsense doesn't get far at all.
rated with hugs and so glad to see you back
rated with hugs and so glad to see you back
rated with hugs and so glad to see you back
Oh yes, Jared was one mean-spirited dude.
♥
Glad you are back. I hope it was a vacation and you enjoyed the rest.
Article 1, Sec 4-- The times, places and manner of holding elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each state by the legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by law make or alter such regulations, except as to the places of choosing Senators.
That election was already completed.
Art 1 Sec 5 first sentence-- Each House shall be the judge of the elections, returns and qualifications of its own members
The Arizona lege has no say in the matter. Brewer has already poo-pooed the idea.
2. This was my first worry, that Rep. Giffords would be replaced for being unable to serve out her term; that, due to the realities of state politics, the seat would switch parties; and that other nutcases would learn from this that assassination is a viable, if self-sacrificing, way to change the elected balance of power in Washington, leading to the increased use of assassination by the fringes as a viable political tool. My own solution was to introduce legislation stating that if an elected federal official wasn't able to finish out their term due to an act of violence, their replacement must be from the same political party, which would pull a lot of incentive out of assassination. Old New Lefty tells me that many states already have such a law on the books. I don't know the overall status of this but, if Rep. Giffords is replaced, this is going to get really, really ugly.
It won't happen, as noted here by P.J. O'Rourke
Rated.
Lezlie
Given Arizona's dismissal of the Constitution on illegal immigration, etc, I wouldn't be surprised. However, I doubt that even the most creative "conservative" judge would dare to agree.
I really don't know what this is supposed to mean. A verb would help.
Your gift for understatement is really quite remarkable. But I suppose that if Giffords was laid low by mean-spiritedness, it's not that much of a stretch to say that a bullet through the brain causes "sadness."
Compared to Pelosi, Reid, and Schumer, McCain, Kyle,and Brewer make the Three Stooges look like the Holy Trinity.
-R-
Up to us, now.
As one who also suffers the occasional gout attack, I welcome you back.
Welcome back, I have missed you!