

Tennessee today became the fifth state to join the Tea Party in calling for a constitutional convention to fix the federal government once and for all.

The resolution, which passed the state Senate last year, cleared the House this morning by a vote of 59-31 with one lawmaker calling it “the atomic bomb of politics” aimed at that evil Washington, D.C. It’s fair to say Rep. Judd Matheny, R-Tullahoma, is a little wound up over this.

“The federal government has usurped its constitutional authority,” he said. “The state is the fulcrum of power in this country. In this day and age the federal government allows all of us to exist. This is the atomic bomb of politics. The constitutional founders knew this was necessary if nothing else worked. The federal government must know the states have mobilized and we have put an atomic bomb on a plane and it is flying over the District of Columbia and, if they don’t listen, then we’re going to get done what needs to get done.”

We guess "getting done what needs to get done" means dropping the Big One on D.C. We bet Matheny would like to ride that bomb all the way to its target, whoopin' it up like Slim Pickens in Dr. Strangelove.

Calling a constitutional convention—the first since 1787—needs the consent of 34 of the 50 states, or a two-thirds majority. Conservatives think it’s a great idea to amend the Constitution to require a balanced budget, impose term limits and who knows what else to reign in the federal government and give power to the states. And that’s the problem, as even some Republicans pointed out today in the House. The convention might open the way for any issue to be raised and could result in changes to, say, the Second Amendment and the right to bear arms.

“It’s all on the table,” Rep. Rick Womick, R-Murfreesboro, warned.

He pointed out it’s not known how states would pick delegates to the convention or who could qualify to serve. And you know you’ve got problems when Womick, who’s not known for common sense, thinks something’s impractical.

“As far as I know, Colorado is going to be sending people who are high,” he said.



