Post # 364, Bob McKnight's Florida Commentary
A Constitutional Convention is Possible, but Improbable Because Trump Doesn't Want Bi-Partisan Support.
With such a sweep of the Presidency, both houses of Congress, 28 state legislatures, and arguably the Courts, it would make sense for the Republicans to use that clout to amend the Constitution. Why? Because that is the only guardrail they cannot change with their majority. Actually, they could still change it now through Congress although it would be very difficult, absent any precedent to guide the process. If passed, the changes would still take a major vote of the country to amend the Constitution.
The solution for the Republicans is to call for a Constitutional Convention. It was written in 1787 in Philadelphia. It could be amended by calling for a Convention by 2/3 of the state legislatures--34 states. Actually, there are requests pending now in some states, including California, but even advocates are unsure if a call is in their best interest.
The targets for the Republicans would probably be a balanced budget requirement for Congress, abortion restrictions, and civil rights. Details on how such a Convention would work are nowhere to be found in Washington documents. Even the Republicans know that one of Donald Trump's weaknesses is his lack of understanding of government.
Whether the Republicans can pull off amending the Constitution largely rests on how orderly Trump leads the country. As of this writing, Trump has hit speed bumps in reducing the cost of living; increasing the tariffs on China, Mexico, and Canada; expelling immigrants, transferring the Panama Canal back to America, acquiring both Newfoundland from Canada and Greenland from Denmark, and confirming several of his major appointments. Those speedbumps are primarily from Trump's colleagues in the Republican Party.
This writer is of the opinion that if Trump had built his control of the Republican Party with some bipartisanship, he might have succeeded in amending the Constitution through a Convention. But he is insistent on going it alone and does not know how to manage it.
So good luck on that Mr. President and Republicans.
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