These American companies should just move their rigs elsewhere.

Dave,

There were tea parties in A-Town and Bethlehem, if you want the email address to the local folks I can send it to you.

John McCain is the closest thing we've seen to Ronald Reagan since Ronaldus Magnus himself.

I love my former home state, I miss her like a tooth. We'll get this thing passed in Pennsylvania too, not sure Rendell will sign it, but they will override him (like they always do) if he doesn't. My gut tells me Rendell will sign it, he's not a big government guy from what I can tell.

Any other lawyers out there want to run this up the flag pole with me, or am I on my own here?

How to get a Constitutional Amendment passed without Congress or Presidential approval.

2/3 (34) of the states must call for a Constitutional Convention to consider new amendments. It is unclear how this would operate, but probably would have to come out of state legislatures as a piece of legislation and be signed by their governor.

Then they would vote on the proposed amendment.

Then it has to be ratified by 3/4 (38) of the states to come into law.

I think this is doable. It will be hard, but it is not impossible. Lets discuss two amendments I think would make our country better.

Proposed Amendment #27:
Section 1: The 16th amendment of the Constitution is repealed.
Section 2: The Federal government may levy a flat tax on income not to exceed 20% of a person's income.
Section 3: During the ten year period between 2011-2020, the federal government may levy a flat tax on income not to exceed 32%. Any income tax collected over the 20% threshold must be used to retire the national debt.
Section 4: The National Debt must be retired by 2035.
Section 5: The United States Government is only authorized to issue new debt in the form of government bonds for matters regarding its national security. For this amendment, national security shall only be interpreted as to be used for defending its borders again foreign invaders, securing its borers, and certain necessary overseas military actions.

Proposed Amendment #28: The Sunset Amendment
Section 1. All Federal laws, agencies and regulations shall sunset November 30, 2011
Section 2. Any Federal law or regulation must include where their authorization from the Constitution comes from.
Section 3. There shall be no deference given to a Federal agency's interpretation of law (kills Chevron deference)
Section 4. Any new legislation must be posted on a web-site maintained by the federal government in searchable format for a minimum of ten days prior to it being voted on. The record of all votes of Congress and the House Representatives shall be posted on a web-site maintained by the federal government in searchable format (kills the games played in the stimulus bill) until they have vacated public office for a minimum of twenty years.
Section 5. Federal legislation may be vetoed if 2/3 of state governors issue a writ of veto. The writ of veto shall be voted on no more than ten days after the Senate and House of Representatives pass a bill.
Section 6. Federal legislation may be invalidated in 2/3 of state governors agree to issue a writ of invalidation. To call to order a writ of invalidation, a minimum of five state governors must call for an invalidation vote.
Section 7. Despite any Supreme Court ruling to the contrary, the Tenth Amendment is still a valid part of the Constitution.

Those are my thoughts at this time.

Can't be any worse than Souter is.

And the problem with these reasonable regulations are what?

There is no leader who has emerged yet, and I don't think there will be one until we agree that we will not agree on everything.