As the biblical story goes, older brother Esau was entitled to his father’s blessing. Coming in after a hard day in the field, his younger brother Jacob had made an apparently sweet smelling soup that spoke to the fleshly needs of his elder brother. In a famished state, Esau promised to give his birthright blessing from his father in exchange for a bowl. Whether you believe the biblical story or not, the notion that one would trade something of a great long term value for a temporary need is as absurd today as it was then. Conservatives dismayed by the actions, words and character of Donald Trump have much to lament. However, with Donald Trump not on the ballot in 2018 they face a choice as crucial as Esau faced on that fateful day. As much as Democrats would like to paint it as such, disdain for Donald Trump is not on the ballot. Representatives with very different visions of America are pitted against one another. If you hold liberal vision dear, then vote your convictions. If you hold conservative values dear, then it would serve you well not to sell your conservative vision for a bowl of soup.
Holding Trump Accountable
One of the chief arguments being levied on anti-Trump conservatives is that the country needs the Democratic Party in charge because Republicans have failed to hold Trump accountable. Perhaps that is true or perhaps the Republicans simply recognize their constitutional function. Apart from a tsk tsk and wag of the finger, of which there has been much from the Republicans in Congress, the constitution doesn’t grant any authority to “hold the President” accountable apart from the impeachment process.
The truth of the matter is that Republicans have passed legislation that they support, like tax cuts, and reject those they oppose like a border wall. Many in Congress have concerns about Trump’s trade policies, but it would take veto proof margin to enact any such change. It is not apparent that there is a veto proof margin that is certain how to handle the real problem of America’s trade imbalance and dirty play from other nations like China. What liberals really mean when they try to convince conservatives that the Republicans are failing to do there is that they are failing to wield constitutional authority they don’t have.
The Pursuit of Liberal Policies
In effect, what liberals want is what they have always wanted and I don’t blame them. They want the obstruction of conservative policies and the implementation of liberal policies. That’s fair game as conservatives want the opposite and that is really what is at play here. Trump will still be the President after the 2018 midterms. If the Democrats take control after the midterms it will be not the end of Donald Trump, but the end of Conservative policies until at least 2021. So conservative voters have to ask the question as to if that is what they want? Otherwise, you will have traded your values for a bowl of soup. Liberals will have gained something of great long term value and anti-Trump conservatives will have the participation badge that they “did something.”
Finally, if by holding Trump accountable the Democrats mean failing to impeach Trump then every American should push back on that assertion because no crime or misdemeanor has been levied against Trump. The Republicans have not been given a chance to see what they would do as they are waiting for the Mueller investigation to finish. In that regard, Republicans are adhering to the rule of law and order. Would a Democratic House disregard due process and impeach for partisan reasons? Would that not be tantamount to a soft coup and the end of the peaceful transition of power in America? If you are a liberal, then by all means vote your hearts out for this substantive change in power. However, I’ll say it again that if you are a conservative don’t sell your conservative birthright for a bowl of soup.
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