At last, a touch of genuine grace. After being toasted by Mitch McConnell at the post-inaugural luncheon, Trump was invited to say a few words. He seemed a little caught off guard, and said he figured everyone had heard enough of him. Then he thought of something he did want to say, and warmly thanked Hillary Clinton for attending, and asked her to stand and be applauded. It all seemed sincere and spontaneous. It’s the kind of small gesture that sets a tone, and it’s a moment that bodes well for our 45th President.
The inaugural address was all work, no play. I like literature, and some political speech attains that level. But Trump talked plainly, like a man with a job to do, a man who lets his actions speak for him. What sets Trump’s speech apart from any other I am aware of was its almost total lack of self reference. He didn’t say one word about himself, his background, his experiences. There was a lot he could have said, but he didn’t. More reason for optimism.
May is just 100 days away, and I feel like a ten year old at the carnival. This could really be a lot of fun. Trump said it. “We are transferring power from Washington D.C., and giving it back to you, the people.” From your lips to God’s ear, Mr. President. This was Reagan’s project, but he sacrificed it in order to win the Cold War. But now there can be no excuse. This is long overdue, and the benefits are going to be enormous. So many good ideas, and legislation, has been laying dormant, waiting for this alignment of power, that all kinds of good things may happen. Let it be.
Meanwhile, Article V marches on. Loren Enns gave us further details on the win in the Wyoming House, which did not involve the help of a Democrat, as I’d thought. I want to thank and acknowledge the help of Rep. Scott Clem of Campbell and Rep. Nathan Winters of Thermopolis, home of the world’s largest mineral hot spring. And thanks, again, to Rep. Bo Biteman, for being willing to listen. The Senate will be working on its own bills for the next two weeks, so we won’t come up until early February. But during debate on another Resolution in the Senate, Senate President Eli Bebout made reference to ours, and let everyone know he expects it to pass. With Eli in charge, I think we’re just fine in the Senate.
Bills are filed in Arizona, Idaho, Wisconsin, Kentucky and South Carolina. As each bill goes through the committee process, and on to a floor vote, the BBA Task Force is going to need a representative on the ground, in the Capitol, at each step of the way. We simply can’t rely on our sponsors. They don’t understand all the nuances of this process, and can be misled into mistakes. If Loren Enns had not been present for the floor debate, our sponsors would have agreed to an amendment which would have nullified the effect of the Resolution. He was able to call Rob Natelson, who advised him that the amendment was deadly. The floor debate, and rules committee meetings on the floor, took up several hours, with the opposition trying every trick they could think of. We don’t really need to worry that this kind of fight lay before us in every chamber we need to pass, but we need to be prepared for it.
Dave Biddulph and John Knubel are raising money in Seattle, and are having some success. It would seem to me that the closer we get to 34, the easier it will be to raise money. 29 sounds better than 28, and when you get to 30 and 31 it starts to look real.
It all happens in the next hundred days, just as the Trump administration is making its mark on Washington. It will be a great beginning to a magical year. The year of the Great American Eclipse, the revival of the American economy, and the restoration of the United States Constitution.
And the 250th birthday of the great Andrew Jackson. It’s just two months away, on March 15th. President Trump should visit Nashville to pay his respects at the Hermitage. If he’s half the man Jackson was, we’re in good hands.
reaganproject.com 