In the first highly researched, scholarly and non-controversial discussion by Lewis Grizzard (L.G.) in his publication “I Haven’t Understood Anything Since 1962- And Other Nekkid Truths” (Villard Books 1992) he gently suggests the creation of a panel called the Congressional Review Board to monitor the conduct of out duly elected public officials during their one-term limited tenure on members of Congress for six years for a senator and four for a representative:
“States would elect people who had never been politicians before and had no political ambition. But good people. Successful people.
In North Carolina, they could elect the Reverend Dr. Billy Graham, the only televangelist I trust. In Texas, they could elect former University of Texas football coach Darrell Royal, for instance. I think it was Darrell who said, “There’s only three things that can happen when you pass the ball, and two of them are bad.”
I like a man with deductive powers like that.
In California, they could elect Gregory Peck to the Congressional Review Board. Ever since I saw To Kill a Mockingbird, I’ve trusted Gregory Peck.
In Oklahoma, I don’t care who they elect, as long as it’s not Oral Roberts or his son.
I live in Georgia. We could elect television anchorperson Monica Kaufman, whom I’ve always admired for not giggling a lot when she is giving the news. Too many local TV people giggle and engage in repartee with the weather or sports guy to suit me.
Anyway, when a senator or representative had served his six or four years, this person would go before the Congressional Review Board, who would have been given a record of this person’s activities while in office- the voting record, the absentee record, how many checks he or she kited, how many DUIs there were, how many affairs took place, all that sort of stuff.
The member of Congress would be allowed to plead his or her case before the board. Then the board would vote on whether this person did a good job or bad job while in office. If the vote said, “good job,” this person would be allowed to live. If not, the scoundrel would go before a National Rifle Association firing squad.
I realize that sounds terribly harsh, but it’s time for a little harshness. Anybody who wanted to run for Congress would be warned ahead of time about the board and the firing squad, and I think that would weed out a lot of pretenders from seeking political office.
But you may be asking, “Who would review the board?”
I haven’t figured that out yet, either, but if Bear Bryant were still alive, I would think he would be a good choice.
So that’s my politics, and those are my plans. As I said earlier, one should not rest one’s case as long as one still thinks one has finished his say.”
Unfortunately L.G. passed before the now non-controversial black robed final arbiters in Washington decided in a 5-4 decision that 23 states could not put term limits on their congressmen (?)
In said case the members of the Judicial Branch of government ruled that “since the Constitution (U.S.) sets forth the criteria that determines the requirements for Senators and Congressional Representatives only the Constitution can limit the terms of Congress members.”
If still in effect the Volunteer State in 2023 would provide more material for the Sage of Moreland to update his Term Limit words of wisdom.
In March 2023, forward thinking members of the Tennessee State House introduced a resolution calling for a state constitutional convention to propose term limits for both chambers of Congress. If it is enacted in our progressive state will be put on the ballot to be considered as one of 34 states that has support of the resolution. Surprisingly the non-political proposal does not include a similar restriction on term limits for state legislators!
* * *
You can reach Jerry Summers at jsummers@summersfirm.com
Jerry Summers