Article I Section II of the United States Constitution specifically states, “The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second Year by the People of the several States.” But North Carolina Gov. Beverly Perdue (D) would rather we just skip over that section and suspend congressional elections for two years. Speaking at a Rotary Club event today, Perdue proposed holding off on elections for a while so lawmakers can focus on the economy — a suggestion that’s breathtaking just by virtue of how blatantly unconstitutional it is:

Speaking to a Cary rotary club today, N.C. Gov. Bev Perdue suggested suspending Congressional elections for two years so that Congress can focus on economic recovery and not the next election.

“I think we ought to suspend, perhaps, elections for Congress for two years and just tell them we won’t hold it against them, whatever decisions they make, to just let them help this country recover. I really hope that someone can agree with me on that,” Perdue said. “You want people who don’t worry about the next election.”

The comment — which came during a discussion of the economy — perked more than a few ears. It’s unclear whether Perdue, a Democrat, is serious — but her tone was level and she asked others to support her on the idea.

It’s not hard to sympathize with the sentiment behind Perdue’s remark. Because they have to run for reelection every two years, congressmen remain so fixated on fundraising and campaigning that they forget to be lawmakers and have trouble putting politics aside to focus on compromise and what’s good for the country. However, it’s a dangerous precedent to set to suggest we simply suspend democracy every time unemployment goes above 9 percent.

The serious, responsible way to pursue Perdue’s idea would be through a constitutional amendment. As the American Prospect observes, unnecessarily frequent elections contribute to Washington’s gridlock and the plague of never-ending campaigns. Extending terms for members of the House is a discussion worth having — but preferably in a legal way.


Update
Gov. Perdue’s office has responded to what they describe on her Facebook page as the “hubbub” about her remarks. Press Secretary Chris Mackey said in a statement, “Come on…Gov. Perdue was obviously using hyperbole to highlight what we can all agree is a serious problem: Washington politicians who focus on their own election instead of what’s best for the people they serve.” The Facebook page also helpfully defines hyperbole as “an exaggeration to create emphasis or effect” for those who might be confused about the clarification.

North Carolina Governor Proposes Ignoring Constitution And Suspending Congressional Elections For Two Years | ThinkProgress

She may have backtracked on her original statement and I do believe that there was a strong element of hyperbole in her statement, but I also beleive that there was also an element of her real desire in her statement. I don't think that she'd ever seriously back this idiotic idea, but I do believe that it's something she'd like to see happen. The next elections will see the Dems. lose control of Congress and that's something that does not make her happy. By suspending the elections, it preserves the Dems. political position through the end of Pres. Obama's term and that's an idea that she likes. It was a really dumb thing to say and I don't believe that she was completely serious, but I do believe that it was from her heart.

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Our nation has not always lived up to its ideals, yet those ideals have never ceased to guide us. They expose our flaws, and lead us to mend them. We are the beneficiaries of the work of the generations before us and it is each generation's responsibility to continue that work. - Laura Bush

Leftists and very small children don't seem to be able to understand that the Government isn't there to "fix" the economy, anymore than a tick is there to fix your dog.~Oftencold

Here's the audio...There's no joking involved...and not one laugh from the audience...


This is a Lefty talking to a Lefty audience, and espousing the very same logic third world countries and dictators deliver when they TAKE democracy away with the old line "I'll give it back when the emergency is over" and then declare the emergency is never over so the democracy is never given back...

Purdue is taking a page from Hugo's playbook...

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"You get the respect that you give" - cnredd

Although saying it out loud is pretty dumb, her point was much different than y'all are trying to spin it.

What I heard was that everyone is so focused on posturing for the next election, everything is at a standstill.

If that were taken out of the equation, maybe something would get done.

Keep in mind that it's not like the Dem's still have a super majority, which would definitely put a whole different light on it.

Now I personally don't think it's a good idea by any means, but it does go to the heart of the problems that occur when more effort is put into getting reelected...than governing for the betterment of Americans.

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Better than that just let the people send in their thoughts on a vote electronically. That way Goober Congressman knows exactly how his constituents feel on the matter.

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Perdue is not the only one proposing less democracy; less representation of the people; less of a democratic representative republic...

Peter Roszag (former director of the office of management & budget under President Obama) has called it "too much of a good thing."

Too Much Of A Good Thing | The New Republic

I suppose I should be shocked; but I'm not

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"Free people are not equal & equal people are not free." --- Mackinac Center for Public Policy

It's been proffered before, but England's way of throwing out the one party and letting the other control seems preferable to what we currently are experiencing here in the states.

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