We need a pledge from our candidates

[Blue_In_AK]

I've been thinking a lot about the Constitution this week, thanks to PBS and other disturbing things I've been reading, and I'm angry. We need to demand that the candidates pledge to us that if they are elected, they will give up the extra-Constitutional powers that Bush/Cheney have usurped since 2000. They must be willing to be a "weaker" president in order to restore our government to the founders' original intent. Our government only works if all three branches are equal. The whole idea of the Declaration of Independence was to get out from under King George's tyrannical ways, and the Constitution was carefully crafted to assure that American citizens would never again come under such autocratic rule. Now here we are. Executive immunity, signing statements, undeclared wars, private armies -- all that stuff has to go. It is very UN-American.

Where do our candidates stand on this? Why aren't they talking about it? I want some clarity here. Politicians swear to uphold the Constitution with their hand on a Bible, and then they ignore it. I want something in WRITING that says WE THE PEOPLE can get them out of there if they start getting too full of themselves. We need to keep them humble.

[Ghost in the Machine]

1. Vote for Dennis Kucinich

The ONLY candidate with a clear plan to get out of Iraq.

The ONLY candidate who carries a pocket Constitution and reads it...

[MaggieSwanson]

10. Word.

I don't think he even needs to carry it with him, he knows it by heart.

:patriot:

[robinlynne]

2. I'm with you on this one. And they need to pledge to NOT concede until every god damn vote is counte

counted several times.

[Kagemusha]

3. There is such a pledge, actually.

http://www.americanfreedomcampaign.org/

It's not quite as wide ranging as you suggest, but it's not far off at all... I like it. Not all candidates signed, though; some did er... they wrote a letter saying they supported the goals, but didn't sign the piece of paper per se. And there's no way that signing a pledge means they can be removed by any (legal) means other than impeachment after getting into office.

But it's not nothing, and the candidates who really mean it deserve props.

[jillan]

4. This is from Biden in July

http://www.joebiden.com/newscenter/pressreleases?id=0127

SENATOR BIDEN CHAMPIONS LEGISLATION TO STRENGTHEN COUNTERTERRORISM AUTHORITIES, RESTORE RULE OF LAW

Key points:

Prohibit Extraordinary Rendition

Close Black Sites & Extra-Judicial Prisons

Prohibit the Torture or Mistreatment of Detainees in U.S. Custody

Modify the Definition of "Unlawful Enemy Combatant"

Extend Habeas Corpus to Detainees

You can read the details at the link.

[Blue_In_AK]

5. Thank you for that.

I just think it's so terribly important that we backtrack, get back to where we used to be -- oh, pre-Reagan maybe -- and have a do-over.

[jillan]

6. And this huge step from Dodd. With Biden as the first co-signer, than Obama.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=3627472&mesg_id=3627472

[TahitiNut]

7. A "pledge" leaves the option open. Prosecution is the only satisfactory recourse.

Deliberate violation of the Constitution MUST be a "high crime" ... or "high crime" has no meaning whatsoever! This ain't a matter of a "gentleman's agreement" or a campaign promise. No fucking way.

If the high crimes of the Cheney/Bush regime go unprosecuted and unpunished, they become precedent. ANY subsequent President can then claim powers established by precedent. Completely and totally unacceptable.

[me b zola]

11. Agreed, but that leaves open another important question

Are we going to get the candidates on record for if they will issue pardons to the * administration? I think getting that answer from the candidates would be telling.

[ConsAreLiars]

8. My preference would be rather different.

First, take all the war criminals and "rendition" (isn't that a pleasing word) them off to US/Chimpco ally Uzbekistan for a bit of boiling in oil -- just an hour or so. Then confiscate all the assets of the war profiteering corporations and add them to the public coffers as a partial repayment for what they have stolen. Then sieze the assets of the uber-rich that they have accumulated since 2001 and redistribute the money to the general population. And declare that corporations will no longer be considered to be "people" with any rights, but only tools, and useful mechanisms.

Then restore the Constitution. At least humans would have a fighting chance, and the Constitution would mean something. (And my wish is as likely as yours.)

[cartach]

9. Pledges,demands?

How many times have these been made and nothing has been done? It's time for new rhetoric on what action is required to get something done.Time to shrug off the cloak of complacency.What you have said is great,it just is'nt enough.