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View Full Version : Republican Senator says to "ignore the Constitution"




Matt Collins
04-03-2011, 11:25 PM
Republican lawyer Senator Overbey recently told his fellow state Senators "DON'T use the Constitution as a means for voting for this bill"

What was the bill?

It was the bill that forces the TN government to adhere to the TN Constitution (SB0127) by electing TN Supreme Court judges instead of appointing them by the Governor.

Senator Overbey wants elected officials to rely on what the Supreme Court says about the Constitution to make their decisions instead of what the Constitution actually says. Apparently Senator Overbey thinks the Constitution is a 'living breathing document' that is subject to the whims of 'interpretation'; Alexander Hamilton would be proud.

Article VI Section 3 of the Tennessee Constitution states: "The judges of the Supreme Court shall be elected by the qualified voters of the state." -- http://www.tncrimlaw.com/law/constit/index.html

Watch the video of Senator Overbey pleading for everyone to ignore the Constitution at this link:
http://tnga.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=196&clip_id=3909
(skip forward to time index of around 2:15:35)




This blatant disregard for the Constitution is appalling and should NOT be tolerated!!!




This bill removes the present law provisions regarding the nomination, appointment, and performance evaluation of appellate and supreme court judges and instead requires the election of all judges. Generally, under present law, trial court judges are elected but appellate or supreme court judges are appointed by the Governor, after being nominated by the judicial selection commission.



One political expert noted that "this an admission that he knows full well the present method of judge "election" is contrary to the Tenn Constitution, and [B]he is suggesting that the rest of the Senate join him in collectively violating their oath of office by ignoring the language of the Constitution. Next I suppose he will argue that all elections should be conducted in the same manner"

Here is the link to the bill itself:
http://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/Default.aspx?BillNumber=SB0127


If you disagree with Senator Overbey's argument that elected officials should ignore the Constitution and instead rely upon court rulings, please contact him and let him know!!!


HERE IS HIS CONTACT INFORMATION:
sen.doug.overbey@capitol.tn.gov
(865) 681-8236
(615) 741-0981

http://www.capitol.tn.gov/senate/members/s8.html

roho76
04-04-2011, 12:10 AM
We should start questioning them on this. Why do they swear to uphold the constitution and then do the exact opposite? I'm nit asking realistically just a rhetorical question.

Matt Collins
04-04-2011, 10:27 AM
This is starting to cause quite a stir in TN.

acptulsa
04-04-2011, 10:30 AM
It should. But it has nothing to do with the U.S. Constitution, the U.S. Senate or Rand Paul. So, maybe you should restart it in the Tennessee forum?

amisspelledword
04-04-2011, 11:07 AM
i thought this was going to be about the US Constitution

still concerning, though.

UtahApocalypse
04-04-2011, 11:15 AM
Recall.... He has Violated his oath of office and should be impeached.

ItsTime
04-04-2011, 11:22 AM
What a scum bag

Matt Collins
04-04-2011, 12:23 PM
He was top of his class in law school at UT.

Vessol
04-04-2011, 12:24 PM
Why is everyone surprised and/or outraged?

eduardo89
04-04-2011, 12:28 PM
Why is everyone surprised and/or outraged?

So we should just let it go?

Vessol
04-04-2011, 12:29 PM
So we should just let it go?

Well he is only following a precedent that was established in 1788.

speciallyblend
04-04-2011, 12:29 PM
Why is everyone surprised and/or outraged?

yeah typical gop republican bs, nothing new here move along!!

outspoken
04-04-2011, 12:54 PM
The Constitution when it is convenient mode of thinking is all too pervasive amongst politicians today. Why not just man up to the fact that they don't believe in the contract with the people and make it easier to citizens to pinpoint who is truly unAmerican?