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originally posted by: queenofswords
a reply to: introvert
Sorry, intro. I know exactly what he was attempting to refer to.
A balance of power does NOT mean that at this crucial stage, we should vote to put more MAGA obstructionists in office. It is time to strengthen The People economically, put more people back to work, lower their taxes (and keep them lowered), strengthen our borders, improve our infrastructure, grow the economy, etc. etc.
Democrats obstruct these efforts. At this juncture, 2018, the LAST thing Americans should do is put more Democrats in office!!
originally posted by: OccamsRazor04
a reply to: introvert
Yes. And all that matters is what Madison meant. Comey and Madison are not talking about the same thing.
Entirely incorrect. The concept or principle was in regards to the consolidation of power among the like-minded, which would include political parties. There is no stretch. You simply lack the ability to understand what is being said, or your desire to be partisan conflicts with the principles laid out by Madison.
One of the most innovative aspects of the Constitution is the way in which the federal government was structured to control its power. Before the Constitution, governmental power was typically vested in one person or a small ruling council. The structure employed in the Constitution was just the opposite: Power was spread across three branches of the new government. But, by dispersing power, another problem was created: how to ensure that one branch did not overpower the other two? The answer was a system of “checks and balances.”
Madison initially observed that unfettered governmental power can only conflict with personal liberties, and not support them. To protect those liberties, he believed a system was necessary to protect autonomy among government departments. “Giving to those who administer each department, the constitutional means, and personal motives, to resist encroachments of the others,” was essential, said Madison. By “personal motives,” Madison sought to use an individual’s ambition to “balance” the government. While many political philosophers of the time sought to curb personal ambitions, Madison’s unique approach sought to use them for good; the end result being government would actually control itself. Madison suggested that to avoid one branch overpowering the others, each branch must be given the power to counteract manipulation by the other branches. In his view, the best way to achieve that was to differentiate the way in which the members of a particular branch attain their offices.
A system of checks and balance between the legislative and executive branches would use each branch’s “ambition” to check the ambition of the other. As Madison famously wrote, “Ambition must be made to counteract ambition.”
We continue our exploration of the thought of James Madison with this quotation again from The Federalist (1788).
The solution the Founding Fathers came up with was one taken from the thought of the French theorist Montesquieu - namely, “separating the powers” of the state into different “branches” with the intention that each different branch, jealous of its own powers, would keep the other branches limited in their powers.
originally posted by: introvert
originally posted by: OccamsRazor04
a reply to: introvert
Yes. And all that matters is what Madison meant. Comey and Madison are not talking about the same thing.
The principle is the same.
You just don't like what he said.
Again, that's fine. Regardless of your opinion or ignorance of the principle, it remains the same.
Comey doesn't like Trump and wants him to lose the ability to operate effectively. Nothing at all to do with Madison - he just wrapped himself in that cloak justify his bitterness and make it a little less obvious.
Federalist No. 51 addresses means by which appropriate checks and balances can be created in government and also advocates a separation of powers within the national government. This idea of checks and balances became a crucial document in the establishment of the modern U.S. system of checks and balances. One of its most important ideas, an explanation of check and balances, is the often quoted phrase, "Ambition must be made to counteract ambition."
Federalist No. 10 is the classic citation for the belief that the Founding Fathers and the constitutional framers did not intend American politics to be partisan.
For instance, United States Supreme Court justice John Paul Stevens cites the paper for the statement, "Parties ranked high on the list of evils that the Constitution was designed to check".
originally posted by: MetalThunder
I can hear the BLUE Wave now .... and a gurgle
originally posted by: queenofswords
a reply to: introvert
Why does the left have such difficulty with peeling back the layers of an issue? Why do they tend to have scales over their eyes on so many things?
"Ambition must be made to counteract ambition." That is the full quote from Madison.
Why do you think Comey intentionally left out "be made"?
The very structure of Congress, the Judiciary, and the Executive branches makes for the balance Madison spoke about. His words had absolutely nothing to do with political parties. The ambition of each branch would be a natural balance to the over reach of another branch.
Have a little faith in The People. We know that Dems are NOT the balance you are looking for this year. If Republicans maintain the House and Senate, only then can We move forward with the infrastructure projects, maintain lower taxes, increase employment, strengthen the borders, get a real handle on illegal immigration, and so much more.
If ever there was a time to NOT put Dems in office, it is now.
No, but thanks Mr. Comey.
I wouldn't count it out yet. Reality is Trump is really good at hurting himself politically. So there is no telling what crazy things he will say between now and the elections. Trump shoots himself a lot with his off the cuff remarks, i constantly have to laugh hes his own worst enemy.
Ex-FBI head James Comey urges public to vote Democratic