Why the Nation Is Scared of Hillary Clinton

These are precarious times to be a Republican.

It is inarguably true that America is in desperate need of a conservative president. Voters have waited and waited, and the havoc Trump has wreaked on the party on his path to the nomination may take a while to heal. This was not the 2016 we deserved. It is, however, the one we got.

But why is everyone so scared of a Clinton presidency? Put simply: The reason everyone is so afraid of Hillary is because Congress sucks.

With polls looking unfavorable for Donald Trump, the sense of dread at having to face four years under Hillary’s watch is compounded by the knowledge that these will be another four years of unmitigated defeat and progressive disaster. Clinton will undoubtedly consolidate more power and tip the delicately balanced scales of checks and balances ever more toward the executive branch. After all, that is what progressives do — it’s in their nature to transform institutions and centralize power.

To a large extent, they have succeeded. Americans cannot help look at the presidency as the strongest and most decisive force in government. The founders, of course, had no such intent when they established our system of checks and balances. Congress was created to be the motor of the republic, to set legislative priorities, rein in the president, and reflect most directly the will of the people. But through eons of feebleness and inactivity, its muscle has atrophied.

It didn’t have to be this way. Congressional cowardice and the entire legislative culture of surrender forces Republicans to look at 2016 as their last hope of rebellion. No one can fathom a scenario in which we lose the presidency and still take part in setting the national agenda. If this was a real possibility on the minds of lawmakers, the aura of doom surrounding November 8 would not be quite so palpable.

The American people — despite the demographics, despite the media, despite presidential elections that are increasingly more personality based — have given Republicans control of the house 18 of the last 22 years. Americans clearly want a check on government.

Shortly after his decision not to go to bat to defend Trump’s politically toxic comments about women in 2005, Speaker Ryan, R-Wisc. (F, 51%) held a conference call urging his members to “do what’s best for you in your district.” Politico quoted a source on the call who described the backlash Ryan faced from some congressmen unprepared to cede the race and unable to stomach the notion of spending another presidential term playing defense as saying: “A lot of these guys feel like there is a moral imperative to beating Hillary Clinton.”

In the 115th Congress, elected Republicans once again have a chance to lead. As several recent polls indicate — in light of the favorability of a President Clinton — come 2017, voters will take their cue from leadership as to how brutal a loss this will be. Are we in for another term of untrammeled progressivism and an opposition party eager to show a liberal media and Washington insiders it can be “reasonable” and “bipartisan”? Or will we get the conservative fighters the country deserves? Fighters that can halt the liberal Clinton agenda. Don’t forget, our nation did see conservative reforms during the last Clinton administration when Republicans asserted themselves as a check on the executive.

What will truly make America great again is reviving the most important branch of government, the only one directly tethered to will of the people.

The internet response to recent polling is filled with the terror of another liberal epoch. Republicans must stop being guided by the less awful of two fears.

I’ll say it again: Hillary is especially dangerous because Congress is especially gutless.

Please, GOP: Prove me wrong. (For more from the author of “Why the Nation Is Scared of Hillary Clinton” please click HERE)

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