Benjamin Weingarten:
In light of President Obama’s “I’ve got a pen, and I’ve got a phone” comments followed by calls fordirect executive action in his State of the Union, Senator Rand Paul’s 4th Amendment suit being filed against the President over NSA surveillance, the recent controversy over perceived pay-to-play appointments of U.S. ambassadors and the President’s joke about being able to do whatever he wants to French President Francois Hollande at Monticello, we found the below excerpt particularly striking.
It comes from Cato’s Letter IV of the “Anti-Federalist Papers,” dated November 8, 1787. All emphasis is courtesy of “Cato” (likely George Clinton).
It is remarked by Montesquieu, in treating of republics, that in all magistracies, the greatness of the power must be compensated by the brevity of the duration; and that a longer time than a year, would be dangerous. It is therefore obvious to the least intelligent mind, to account why, great power in the hands of a magistrate, and that power connected, with a considerable duration, may be dangerous to the liberties of a republic–the deposit of vast trusts in the hands of a single magistrate, enables him in their exercise, to create a numerous train of dependents–this tempts his ambition,which in a republican magistrate is also remarked, to be pernicious and the duration of his office for any considerable time favors his views, gives him the means and time to perfect and execute his designs–he therefore fancies that he may be great and glorious by oppressing his fellow citizens, and raising himself to permanent grandeur on the ruins of his country.–And here it may be necessary to compare the vast and important powers of the president, together with his continuance in office with the foregoing doctrine–his eminent magisterial situation will attach many adherents to him, and he will be surrounded by expectants and courtiers–his power of nomination and influence on all appointments–the strong posts in each state comprised within his superintendence, and garrisoned by troops under his direction–his
Yes.
We knew that.
That’s why a sane Federal Government would have term limits, so that persons would not have their entire career wrapped up in elected office.
That’s why President Washington only served two terms.
That was what was wrong with President Roosevelt serving four terms.
12 years in Washington: send them home. 12 years and no more Federal Service. Ever.
Six terms in the House, OR two terms in the Senate, and two terms as President.
It is called composting, and it is good for the garden.
It would also be good for the Republic.
Many times I have noticed that the founding fathers called their new creation a REPUBLIC. In the U. S. Constitution it is referred to as a REPUBLIC. In the Pledge of Allegiance, we pledge allegiance to the REPUBLIC.
If a news organization calls the USA a democracy, you know they are liberal, and are doing everything they can to get democrats elected, or they would be calling the USA the REPUBLIC that it is. The problem with calling it a REPUBLIC is that it would remind people of the republican party, and that we are a republican form of government, and the propaganda media don’t want you to know that.
NOTE: The Anti-Federalist letter mentioned can be posted in it’s entirety. All the Federalist and Anti-Federalist Papers are historical documents in the public domain. Here is the rest of it: