What John Kasich’s Thinking

I think Gov. Kasich of Ohio wants to run for President.  I don’t know that he will.  A lot depends.  If he does, I think one of his issues will be Article V, and his support of it.  It’s possible Gov. Mike Pence of Indiana is thinking the same thing.

As far as I know, it’s never been an issue.  But here’s how it might be in 2016.  Either we get to 34, and have a the first Convention of States in American history, or we don’t.  Either way, it still works.

If we have a Convention, it will be a big deal — lots of press, lots of speculation about what it all means.  I’m assuming the Convention goes well.  After appropriate deliberation, it passes a Balanced Budget Amendment, which is put out to the states for ratification.  Then it adjourns.  All the worries about a runaway convention are put to bed.  It was all bullshit, designed to scare people.  With that behind us, what’s next?  Obviously, another Convention of States, to propose another of the Liberty Amendments.  Actually, I suspect there will be competing proposals.  One group will be pushing a Resolution proposing the Madison Amendment.  Somebody else will be banging the term limits drum.  As the Chinese say, “Ding pot chong pow!”, or, “Let a hundred flowers bloom.”  Hell, I’d like to repeal the 16th Amendment.  If my health holds, I’ll get involved with some people to push it.  Repeal the Income Tax!  What’s not to like about that?  The damned progressives sold the thing with lies.  Let’s get rid of the son of a bitch.

This is all a big deal.  Lots of press.  The New York Times will have a nervous breakdown.  The former Enron advisor who writes for them will slit his girly man wrists.  People out in flyover country, the Tea Party, regular Americans, and a lot of previously cynical people are going to be all jacked up.  It’s a national issue, one that candidates for President must address.

Naturally, the Republicans will be all for it.  How could they not be?  2/3 of the States have pulled an Article V, first time ever! 

What’s Hillary going to say?  I have no idea.  But whatever she decides, she loses.  If she backs Article V, she loses the left.  The teachers, the civil rights gang, the abortion lobby, the environmentalists, the public employee unions, the trial lawyers, Hollywood airheads — they all hate Article V.  That’s her base.  She can’t abandon them.

But if she opposes Article V, she opposes the people.  She’s opposing the lifeline the Framers gave to the states, and the people.  This is political poiison.

So what if we’re short of 34?  The Republican campaigns on a balanced budget amendment, and the use of Article V to get it.  Hell, 65% of Democrats want a balanced budget amendment.  It’s a great issue to run on, make the center piece of your campaign .  It’s a winner.

And Ms. Hillary?  She’s got to oppose it.  And that, along with a whole lot of other things, sink her.

After the Republican wins, we get to 34, and the whole scene described above takes place.  With the President of the United States, whoever he is, as our main cheerleader, we pass a bunch of Liberty Amendments, and save our country.

This could happen .

YR’s and YALers

College YR’s, and their libertarian brethren, the Young Americans for Liberty, can be a great resource for us.  I’ve been racking my brain trying to figure out how to get to the national and regional leadership.  I think I’ve got it.

In Oregon I cold emailed the YR President at UO and got a response.  I’m following up, and hope to be able to arrange to meet the members.  I’d do it in conjunction with the Larson show and a trip to Salem to meet legislators and staff.  I think I can get these kids all fired up on Article V, and the BBA.  I’ll be asking them to translate their enthusiasm into hard work for Oregon state legislative candidates.  If it goes as well as I hope, I’ll ask the tendentiously named leader, Caleb J. N. Huegel (I’ve got to get him to drop either the “J” or the “N”) to talk to his regional or national YR leaders.  The goal is to get the whole college YR movement actively involved.  This could work.

I’ve got a plan for the YALers too.  I’m going to ask Sen. Marv Hagedorn in Idaho to invite the Idaho State Chairman of the Young Americans for Liberty, Dane Gower of Idaho State, to testify before the Idaho House or Senate Judiciary Committees.  He’ll be backing our resolution, talking about how his generation is the one that’ll be picking up the tab on all this bullshit.  I’m pretty sure we could get some local TV coverage.  If the kid looks good, sounds good, it would be a great boost for him, personally.  Hell, I wish I would have had a chance to do something like that when I was his age.  Anyway, the idea is for him to tell his YAL regional and national leaders all about it, and how Article V is so kick ass.

This could work.