How can it NOT be treasonous to pledge to Norquist over the Country?

[MinneapolisMatt]

It's so blatantly obvious. It's not like it's a secret or anything.


Pledge to Grover Norquist:
I, _______________, pledge to the taxpayers of the _____ district
of the state of__________, and to the American people that I will:
ONE, oppose any and all efforts to increase the marginal income tax
rates for individuals and/or businesses; and
TWO, oppose any net reduction or elimination of deductions and
credits, unless matched dollar for dollar by further reducing tax rates.


Congressional Oath of Office:
“I,_____________, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.”


Senate Oath of Office:
"I,_____________, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God."



:mad:

[robcon]

1. Huh? Cannot make more than one pledge?

The tax pledge is stupid. But treasonous? Don't be silly.

[MinneapolisMatt]

4. "without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion"

Isn't that what they are doing though?

[KittyWampus]

7. When on pledge of fealty usurps their primary sworn duty to uphold the Constitution &

serve the public?

[flamingdem]

9. If it leads to the destruction of our delicate economy, with foreknowledge IT IS

and the media and pundits should fully label it as such.

[SDuderstadt]

11. It always cracks me how some people here...

just casually throw words like "treasonous" around.

[MinneapolisMatt]

13. I'm hardly throwing it around lightly.

This is very serious.

[SDuderstadt]

15. Yeah...

you are, Matt. You need to educate yourself about the meaning of the word "treason". What Norquist is doing isn't "treason" by any stretch of the imagination.

[MinneapolisMatt]

16. So domestic economic terrorism is not treasonous?

Because that's exactly what they are doing.

[SDuderstadt]

17. Here's an idea, MM...

Why don't you try presenting all this to a US Attorney and see how far you get?

[MinneapolisMatt]

18. Fine. You got me.

It wouldn't hold up in court.

Now I'll just pretend it's not happening.

[SDuderstadt]

19. If it's really "treason"...

why wouldn't it hold up in court? Hint: because it's not "treason"

Why don't you look up treason in the United States Code?

[MinneapolisMatt]

20. It's not treason by LEGAL definition in the USA

but it is treason if you look it up in the dictionary in the non-legal sense.

–noun
1.
the offense of acting to overthrow one's government or to harm or kill its sovereign.
2.
a violation of allegiance to one's sovereign or to one's state.
3.
the betrayal of a trust or confidence; breach of faith; treachery.

I comprehend this.

[SDuderstadt]

21. Then a lot of things would be "treason"...

MM.

The legal definition is the one that counts.

[MinneapolisMatt]

14. I'm hardly throwing it around lightly.

This is very serious.

[stellanoir]

2. It is treasonous

and it is eroding the fabric of our nation in plain sight.

Some would rather freak out about the Casey Anthony verdict though.

Yikes.

[robcon]

5. .. and some would use logic to dispose of your argument.

Why can't someone pledge several things??? to the armed forces when one joins? to the President of the Senate when elected Senator? to their church? to the VFW or American Legion? to the flag/country (Pledge of Allegiance)?

The tax pledge is not smart, but it is legal and is not treasonous.
edit:typo

[stellanoir]

6. "to defend against all enemies both foreign and domestic. . .?"

hmmmmm. . .can you say conflict of interest?

Coercive policies that impoverish citizens impoverish us all and do not qualify as friendship methinks.

Have a nice day.

[philly_bob]

10. Not logical. Tax pledge conflicts with Constitution.

Certainly 14th Amendment fourth section: "The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned."

The pledges you name are not likely to conflict with the heavy responsibilities of the legislators' pledges (unless the 'church' pledge touches on political matters, in which case it would also be a conflict.)

P.S. You can make an argument. You can use logic. But don't claim that your argument is logical just because you think it is right and convincing. Logic has a very special meaning, such as: A is true. If A then B. Therefore B is true.

[Buns_of_Fire]

12. "Legal" in what way? Can Groover claim their souls or something?

As far as I can see, all Groover can do is go to his KochBuddies, get a few million for ads, and say "Randy Rebubbalickin lied to us. He took 'The Pledge' and then voted to reduce the Sacred Boosh Tax Cuts(TM) by 0.0000025%. Waaaah, waaaah, waaaah!"

Obama takes a lot of flak (some of it deserved) for "bending over" for the nutbaggers in Congress -- while the nutbaggers are "bending over" even more for that little peckerwood who needs a shave.

[Atman]

3. IOKIYAR

Republicans never actually commit treason, they just accuse everyone who disagrees with them of treason.

[nuxvomica]

8. There's a bigger problem with the pledge: it's a scam

Norquist talks about it being a pledge to the "American people", though he's careful not to say "all Americans". We know from the debate over extending the Bush tax cuts that it's only for the rich. The Republicans were willing to go with no extension for the middle class unless it was also extended for the top margin.