North Carolina Governor Calls On Congress To Suspend Elections

North Carolina Bev Purdue (D) has come up with what may be both the most ridiculous and the most outrageous idea ever:

North Carolina Gov. Bev Perdue (D) proposed suspending congressional elections for a cycle so legislators could focus on fixing the economy.

“I think we ought to suspend, perhaps, elections for Congress for two years and just tell them we won’t hold it against them, whatever decisions they make, to just let them help this country recover,” Perdue said Tuesday, according to the Raleigh News & Observer. “I really hope that someone can agree with me on that. You want people who don’t worry about the next election.”

According to the North Carolina newspaper, it’s unclear whether Perdue was serious, although her tone did not suggest a joke.

One could only hope she was joking.

FILED UNDER: 2012 Election, Congress, US Politics, ,
Doug Mataconis
About Doug Mataconis
Doug Mataconis held a B.A. in Political Science from Rutgers University and J.D. from George Mason University School of Law. He joined the staff of OTB in May 2010 and contributed a staggering 16,483 posts before his retirement in January 2020. He passed far too young in July 2021.

Comments

  1. PD Shaw says:

    You want people who don’t worry about the next election

    What, like 80 to 90% of the current Representatives?

  2. PD Shaw says:

    If we’re going the martial law route, I’d throw everyone out of Congress and declare new elections with none of the incumbents eligible to run.

  3. Anderson says:

    NC has a Democratic governor? Who was the GOP nominee, Count Dracula?

  4. Bob Kutz says:

    Here’s an idea, we the people can then use our 2nd amendment rights to regain our article one rights!

    Gettin’ awful close to tyranny here.

  5. mantis says:

    NC has a Democratic governor? Who was the GOP nominee, Count Dracula?

    NC went blue in 2008.

  6. mantis says:

    Gettin’ awful close to tyranny here.

    Yes, every time a random politician says something dumb, it’s tyranny right around the corner!

  7. Michael says:

    Liberal fascism strikes again!

  8. PD Shaw says:

    @Anderson: N.C. has had Democratic Governors almost exclusively since Reconstruction. I’m guessing she’s your typical pro-gun, anti-illegal immigration, tough-on-crime Democrat.

  9. PD Shaw says:

    Yeah, a quick google shows she has supported banning illegal immigrants from college and requiring employers to E-verify their employees. Perry is to the left of Democrats on immigration in many of the swing states he would need to appeal to.

  10. Larry Little says:

    Folks,
    Please know this doesn’t represent what North Carolinians believe. Governor Purdue is such a dum dum. She doesn’t even use correct grammar.

    That’s what I called her office about last time. Don’t worry, she won’t be in the Governor’s Mansion long……well, unless she can convince us to suspend term limits.

    So so so so stupid she is.

  11. Sam says:

    @Bob Kutz:

    THAT was just politically incorrect! You are not supposed to bring up YOUR personally cherished Civil Right!

  12. Sam says:

    @mantis:

    Not in itself. Taken in totality, we are seeing a pattern over the last few decades.

    What do you think about the law we don;t hear about any longer? The Patriot Act?
    Was it not continued by Obama? Show me the last LSM article on it!

    Show me the last LSM article on Gitmo! How it needs to be closed.
    Show me the last LSM article on trying KSM after 10 long years!

    “Just sayin…”

  13. Bob Kutz says:

    PD Shaw; re; typical pro-gun, anti-illegal, tough on crime democrat . . . . wait, what?!?!?

    Is there really such a thing?

    How can anyone who’s pro-gun, anti-illegal, tough on crime still be a democrat?

    The national party clearly doesn’t allow that kind of talk on the hill or at convention.

    I was unaware that any dem’s still supported the second amendment or the punishment of criminals.

    And to mantis; yes, when a sitting governor suggests that the citizens cannot be trusted to pick their leaders and a suspension of elections, THAT is pretty close to tyranny.

    I am fairly sure the leap in Germany wasn’t much more that. In fact, in January 1932 Heinrich Bruning made the suggestion that his nation forgo scheduled elections. On May 31 of that year, Hindenburg dismissed Bruning and appointed Papen, who openly advocated for the destruction of democracy in Germany. In February and March of 1933 the Reichstag Fire Decree and the Enabling Act were signed into law by Hindenburg, effectively ending democracy in Germany. Gleichschaltung was now a fact of life for the German people.

    It started with a suggestion from Bruning in early 1932 that elections be suspended. By March 23 of 1933, there was no more democracy in Germany. What followed was as horrific as anything else in history.

  14. ImpeachOBAMA says:

    Just trying to stop the bleeding, huh Perdue? The Democrats would love to skip an election cycle – since they are all going to be voted out soon. What an idiot this Perdue is. Just a plain moron. Democrats can’t take the heat they have brought upon themselves. So, they want to “hold off” the wrath of the American people to collect a few more paychecks. Not gonna happen you crooks.

  15. Mike says:

    @Bob Kutz:

    Great comment, Bob K!

    Mantis has no real grasp of what either freedom or tyranny is, like a growing number of American voters. They are easily swayed by political emotionalism and need history lessons, such as you provided. Thanks!

  16. An Interested Party says:

    Not in itself. Taken in totality, we are seeing a pattern over the last few decades.

    Oh absolutely! How you must quake in fear that you are going to be whisked away one night to one of the reeducation camps…

    How can anyone who’s pro-gun, anti-illegal, tough on crime still be a democrat?

    Shocking, isn’t it!? Why, the next thing you know, we’ll see Republicans who are for abortion rights and gun registration laws…oh wait, Northeastern RINOs….

    And to mantis; yes, when a sitting governor suggests that the citizens cannot be trusted to pick their leaders and a suspension of elections, THAT is pretty close to tyranny.

    I am fairly sure the leap in Germany wasn’t much more that.

    Oh yes, Bev Purdue and the Nazis…the parallels are just so obvious…

  17. Ernieyeball says:

    BK writes: “…when a sitting governor suggests that the citizens cannot be trusted to pick their leaders…”

    Ernieyeball asks: “Isn’t everyone who supports term limits suggesting that the citizens cannot be trusted to pick their leaders…”?

  18. Ben Wolf says:

    @Mike: How is Mantis’ writing that there’s nothing to get excited over indicative of being swayed by “emotionalism”?

    Irony, thy name is Mike.

  19. mantis says:

    @Bob Kutz:

    You got it, Bob. Bev Purdue is the Heinrich Brüning of America. Brüning considered canceling the 1932 presidential election and re-establish the monarchy in order to prevent Hitler from taking control of the German government, so you’ve picked an interesting villain. Since Purdue’s dumb suggestion is apparently motivated by the belief that if representatives did not have to campaign constantly, they could get something substantial done, I guess unemployment is the Adolf Hitler of this little historical parallel. Or something. Rock solid so far.

    I wonder, what is the Beer Hall Putsch of our current descent into fascism? The Bush v. Gore trial?

    Anyway, since this is obviously creeping Nazism, tell me, how does a governor of North Carolina manage to amend the Constitution to somehow extend the terms of representatives all by herself? Do you know what it takes to amend the Constitution? It can’t really sneak up on you, you know.

    I am fairly sure the leap in Germany wasn’t much more that.

    I’m fairly sure you’re an idiot. Back to your fantasy world.

  20. Ronnie Ellard says:

    They sre desperste! This stuff about suspending elections to make congress deal with the debt, budget, and economy Is B(_)ll$h!t ! I say if we are going to gothe matial law route, let’s start with a good ole fashioned Military Coup!

  21. Tsar Nicholas II says:

    Not surprising. To be a Democrat at this stage you almost by definition have to be either too young to walk into a Hertz and rent a car, or too senile to think straight or too stupid to have brain wave readings on an EEG. Gov. Purdue appears to fit two of those categories.

  22. Ben Wolf says:

    @Tsar Nicholas II: Nice post having absolutely nothing to do with the subject. You’re on a roll.

  23. Franklin says:

    While it’s a stupid idea on it’s face, one must admit that a lot of our problems come from the fact that politicians spend most of their time fundraising (i.e. receiving bribes). Her idea doesn’t actually fix that problem, though.

  24. JKB says:

    Apparently, there is some concern that representatives won’t vote for hard left policies when their political future is on the line. Imagine that.

    Back when the cold war ended and we were brining armored brigades back from Germany, I suggested we have those units encircle DC at the Beltway and cut off all communications in or out. Think of how prosperous the country would be now if we’d contained the DC vampires.

  25. OzarkHillbilly says:

    @Mike:

    Mantis has no real grasp of what either freedom or tyranny is, like a growing number of American voters.

    Look in the mirror Mike. In fact, I outright guarantee that my wife has more knowledge about those those 2 subjects in her pinky than the 2 of you idiots have in total. She grew up in Franco’s Spain.

  26. Bob Kutz says:

    mantis,

    Did it ever occur to you that these people do not care what the constitution says?

    I won’t stoop to ad hominem attacks, as you have, though I have serious doubts about your ability to comprehend the situation.

    It’s so bad they’re having to characterize it as a joke. HA HA so funny!

    Except it’s not a joke, she said it in all seriousness, as the audio recording proves.

    No, once high level political officials start saying out loud in to a microphone, you can bet your bottom dollar it’s being discussed in closed door meetings as well.

    I know I heard Rev. Al Sharpton make the exact same accusation against GW without any evidence whatsoever, yet now, with actual recordings of a Dem. governor, we are supposed to ignore it, or at least respect the comedic value?

    Whatever, just know this; when they stop holding elections, I still get to vote.

  27. Racehorse says:

    North Carolina elects Democrat governors election after election. North Carolina elects Republican senators election after election (Jesse Helms was one). Try to figure that out.

  28. An Interested Party says:

    Apparently, there is some concern that representatives won’t vote for hard left policies when their political future is on the line.

    Oh? And which “hard left” policies are you referring to?

  29. Bob says:

    Seems to be a new meme among the Democrats. Too much democracy, kill the elections, just go around Congress. Their dictorial policies are based on a real idealogy of abrogation of individual rights. That is why the majority of Americans see the Federal government as a clear danger according to a recent poll. Political elites belive they should make decisions for the rest of us unfettered by the will of the voters.

  30. An Interested Party says:

    Seems to be a new meme among the Democrats.

    Oh really? And what other Democrats are pushing this supposed meme…

  31. Bob Kutz says:

    An Interested Party says: “Oh really? And what other Democrats are pushing this supposed meme… ”

    Well, Peter Orszag, for one.

  32. dean says:

    no!!!! do not supend elections… this leads the way to full communism. i had family who lived during hitlers run… i read and i heard the stories… looking alot like that… what has happend to the americans who fought years ago for the freedom and constitution… where did the feelings on freedom go?just sit back and let it happen or is there still that pride for the nation that was once great and their love for freedom ,family, the belief in God also gone?all great men in the past always spoke of God and family in all their talks… it looks like america has been on a down hill but now …. do any of you have the fight your fathers who fought for your freedom and their own still feel the same… they fought for the future families to come as the one they had… all has been taken little by little…. look up a great man who spoke of government t.j. if the people do not stand up now for ever hold your speech….. you won’t have the right to write on line or say how you feel…. it will all be too late.you will not even own your own home it will belong to the government and you may be removed…. communism is not a fun life no rights to come and go as you want… no votes even how much you eat if you are allowed to eat what money you make will be the governments.. not your own!you only work for it but how much you can keep not up to you any longer this isn’t joke or anything to joke about… it is in place. but if america stand up .. is it too late?is our nation worth the try? that is something to think about

  33. Mike & Ike says:

    Politicians are like diapers; they need to be changed often and for the same reason.”

    Mark Twain

    Doug, geographically your outside the Beltway OTB
    by a few miles. But you and your county are definitely inside the
    beltway, in income and double dipping. Where every seventh person
    is an attorney and every three cases is litigation

    Correct?

    I Like your website as well as GF politics
    I also like WMAL Chris Plante’s adult
    show as well as John Batchelor same station at night.