There are many thoughts on why Donald Trump was elected President in 2016. As I see it, this is a core underlying issue ascertained from listening to the concerns of our grassroots supporters. So, here goes.
The Tea Party movement began as a rejection of the profligate spending seen in Bush 43’s second term. The final straw was the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), in which the U.S. government purchased toxic assets and equity from financial institutions to strengthen the financial sector.
With the passage of TARP in late 2008, the Bush 43 Administration opened the door to federal government ownership of private companies, many of which failed due to federal policies enacted under the Clinton Administration--policies that continued, to some extent, under Bush 43.
The Tea Party worked to recruit and elect pro-limited government candidates in opposition of President Obama’s subsequent spending policies. Because spending bills originate in the House, the Tea Party movement targeted its efforts.
It successfully flipped the House of Representatives in historic fashion in 2010, only to see newly-elected conservative politicians swallowed up by the D.C. establishment. Speaker John Boehner’s excuse was, “We’re only one-half of one-third of the federal government.” Republicans needed control of the Senate, as well. So in the end, nothing changed.
Heeding Speaker Boehner’s advice, the Tea Party movement worked to flip the Senate to Republican control in 2014. (Note that during the Obama Administration, Democrats lost over 1,000 state governorships and state legislative races.) The federal government continued to grow. There were some legislative wins. But for the most part, nothing changed.
So, the mood of discontent was set going into the 2016 Presidential election. Upwards of 20 Republicans filed as presidential candidates. Several were relatively unknown nationally and were not serious contenders. A few other firebrands were viable, but mostly they resembled traditional candidates who had risen through local, state, and national political office.
Experience has shown that traditional candidates tend to preserve the status quo. By 2016 many Americans had rejected “politics as usual” and the massive growth of that government accompanied it.
There was one candidate who looked and acted differently. That candidate raised his hand when others did not have the courage to do so. That candidate spoke against the establishment when others cowered. They were part of the establishment. They followed the political class’ career path. One did not. Yes, he said things that made people cringe from time to time. Yes, there were things in his past that we did not support, but isn’t that true with every candidate?
This one candidate differentiated himself from the others. He fought back. He was a complete departure from what we were accustomed to seeing. While other candidates disappeared like Homer Simpson into a hedgerow, this candidate broke ranks. He defended the military. He defended law enforcement. He spoke to the issues and concerns of people outside of and within major cities--cities left decayed and dying for decades as a result of liberal government policies.
He proudly advocated that we needed to take care of America before other countries. There were problems here that needed fixing first. It made sense that we needed our house in order before we could effectively lead. His message resonated with the country.
Slowly, perhaps improbably, this candidate emerged as his party’s nominee. The frustration of almost a decade of effort to shake up the D.C. power structure with little to show for it had boiled over. Was it time to send an outsider to the White House? Was it time to send someone willing to disrupt the D.C. establishment?
For sure, there would be casualties from the shakeup. But seeing that the federal government causes so many problems, the chances of a more positive outcome outweighed the negative, and it was worth the risk. Devotion to an individual was not the issue. The issue was commitment to our constitutional principles and values. That’s why Donald Trump was elected President.
So, what have we learned?
We’ve learned The Swamp is much deeper and more corrupt than many thought. We’ve learned that the D.C. establishment will only act in its own self-interests. We’ve learned our advice against being “Trump Drunk” proved correct. We’ve learned the news media will stoop to an inordinate level of suppression and dishonesty to protect its interests. We’ve learned the federal government has grown well beyond the ability to be restrained from the inside.
The Framers understood these are the tendencies of governments and those tied to its growth. We’ve learned the urgency of using the Article V convention of states process to return the federal government to its constitutional box.
On February 16 the Convention of States Missouri will have its hearing in the Senate on SCR4 calling for an Article V meeting to discuss limiting the size of the federal government, term limits, for federal officials, and restoring fiscal restraints.
The Missouri legislature passed this application in 2017. However, the original application expires May 12, 2022, and we must act now to renew it. SCR4 is the exact same resolution, except it does not expire. Additionally, the Senate Committee will hear SB231, which establishes the process the Missouri legislature will use to select commissioners to represent Missouri at any Article V convention of states meeting.
Missouri is considered to be a Convention of States "passed state," but our work is far from over. The struggle for liberty never ends. If we rest, the forces of tyranny will gain further ground. You and I can make a difference. We do make a difference when we get involved in the political process.
You are here, because you believe in liberty, the Constitution, and our republic. The traditional methods have not worked. The Convention of States process has not been successfully used not because it is dangerous but because it is difficult. It takes more effort than action every two or four years. It takes eternal vigilance.
The Convention of States Project provides you the vehicle to make a difference. It will take an organized, diligent effort to return decision-making back to the state and local levels where it belongs.
I invite you to go to www.conventionofstates.com/take_action and participate in this constitutional revival and defend our republic now.
In liberty,
Brett
Past Blog Posts
