It is a legitimate mechanism, but suffers the same problem as any mechanism in a society with bad philosophical premises. That is not circumvented by choosing a different mechanism. There are no silver bullets. Wishful thinking doesn't make it so. The solution is to change the bad premises. There are no shortcuts to that, but without it, nothing will work other than short term gyrations which may or may not slow the overall descent.

We engage in various actions all the time fighting government abuse, and some of it helps to at least live to fight another day or another year. But do it without self delusion. Amending the constitution in a flurry of Mark Levin's tactic is not the Big Solution he claims. It is one mechanism among many, subject to the same underlying limitations, which takes enormous effort and resources which may or may not make a dent as it opens up the possibility for more "compromises". And even if every one of Mark Levin's proposed amendments were to be somehow adopted as he stated them it still would not change the downward direction of the country.

It may not be dirt per se however he has a history that is kind of hard for him to run from! Everything he is parroting is almost exactly the opposite of what he has been promoting over the years.

Unfortunately for him, being as wealthy and famous as he is, there are reams of quotes and miles of tape capturing his persona and beliefs. For that reason, many of us are having trouble taking his rhetoric seriously! His statements up until recently (past year) have been contrary to much of what he is pushing these days.

Wouldn't you agree that is the case? Basically, everyone seems to be willing to give him a pass, much like the electorate did twice with Obama. Look what we ended up with!!!!! I for one would rather not make that mistake with Trump.

At least with several of the other candidates, you "sort of" know where they are coming from. There is some past performance that shows consistency between their rhetoric and their actions historically. We shall see won't we?!

All of that may be true however if so, what is the solution? Mother said "never bring a problem without having a solution in mind".

The COS is a solution, whether it is the right one or the wrong one, that is an academic question and could only be answered by trying it. To not try it is to either endure the encroaching status quo or worse yet, putting our faith in a hero with feet of clay and no record of wanting to reverse the creeping Crony-capitalism engulfing our country!

I guess you are right. It didn't work for the White Rose students.

A cogent response.

What a strange piece. The implication is that we actually could get a conservative in the White House(?) I haven't thought that for quite some time.

I never really connected to Beck at all. He always missed the mark with me. It's like his arguments start off strong, making a good point, just before the conclusions veer off into the tumbleweeds.

Aside from support for Kelo v New London (eminent domain) - which few care about - and his marriages - which few care about - there really isn't much there. He's been giving money to both sides for a long time. He lives in New York, so he's met with almost all the politicians there.

A few things Trump has going for him:
1. His media presence. "The Apprentice" and other such shows mean he's a household name. I think people also like his no-nonsense attitude that focuses on performance in these shows. They're sick of the politicians where the performance is all acting.

2. That he is crusading on just one or two real policy matters, and they are resonating with people: especially illegal immigration. The Democrats have been pushing this for a long time - long enough for the results to start being known to people as a net negative.

3. His refusal to be politically correct, which he has parlayed into a platform from which he can say outrageous things like "I could kill a man in New York City and not lose a vote." and get away with it.

Vote for and drink your half cup of poison instead of a full cup? Either way your choice of the lesser of two evils is still poison. So long as people keep choosing evil they will keep getting evil.

At the top, of course!

It is not whether there is any dirt, there most certainly is. It matters only if anyone cares, and does anything about it. A populist movement with out any grounding has no care for this till it is way too late.