Dave Guldenschuh has written a comprehensive summary of the recent history of the Article V movement. When it’s in final form and published — probably by the Independence Institute — I’ll link to it. Our two principal “competitors”, the Convention of States and the Compact, have three or four Resolutions to show for years of effort. The BBA Task Force has 27. Dave argues that the best course for all concerned is to unite behind the BBA, have an orderly Convention, and then move on to these other projects. It makes perfect sense but probably falls on deaf ears. For a variety of reasons these two groups will soldier on next year. It’s hard to see them doing much better, but institutional inertia is what it is. If we all come up short next year, though, Guldenschuh’s argument will carry even more weight. We would press on, but these other groups will fold their resources into ours. It will help.
Kasich announces July 21st, and no one this side of heaven has any idea of how well he’ll do. In a field of fifteen plausible and semi-plausible candidates, nobody knows anything. Kasich is certainly as smart as any of them, so he can compete. Plus he’s got balls, a record, and is pretty nimble. You’d be a fool to count him out. We in the Task Force have been cooperating with Kasich’s people for the entire year. He’s been very helpful to the cause. We have no idea of how he intends to campaign, and how much emphasis he’ll place on the BBA and his work to get it passed.
Comparing him to the field he has one outstanding qualification. As Chairman of the House Budget Committee he fought like a lion for a balanced budget and he delivered. Nobody else has those kinds of credentials. And balancing the budget should be a big issue. Republican primary voters care a lot about it. They’re worried about unsustainable spending and debt, and the very future of the country. When Kasich swears he’ll balance the budget, he’s got cred like nobody else.
So it makes perfect sense for him to talk about Article V and the BBA. The best thing he could do for us is ask his competitors at the first debate if they agree with using Article V to get a BBA. Ask for a show of hands. The only people who might hesitate are Walker, Bush and Cruz — I think. I’d like to know. In addition to helping us, such a question has an obvious subtext, i.e.what have you done to promote it? If you’ve done nothing, why not? I, John Kasich, have traveled 20,000 miles to lobby state legislatures. That’s how strongly I feel about it. That’s leadership.
Jobs and the economy will decide the election, and a BBA fits nicely in that paradigm. Barring an intervention by the devil the Republican should coast to a win. No Democrat has an economic recovery plan that doesn’t fall back on the federal government. Minimum wage, infrastructure, job training, stimulus, blah blah blah. It’s all government. Nothing new. Nothing remotely credible. Pure bullshit. The Republican can talk about regulatory reform, balancing the budget, cutting taxes, privatization, eliminating entire departments and agencies — growth, growth, growth, private sector growth. Why in the name of God would you vote for four more years of what we’ve had for the last eight? The Democrats are the party of government and government has never been held in such low esteem. How can we lose?
Lots of ways, of course. All of us, every one, know nothing. The stakes are high and the game is on. The tide rolls.
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