Dakota Beacon

Over the Independence Day Holiday I perused one of my Bibles, the New American Standard Bible version to be precise. Woven throughout its pages is an ancillary theme of American history making it appropriate for an Independence Day commemoration. Vignettes and readings touching upon every aspect of America’s founding and early years supported the idea of America’s Christian heritage. Consequently, this particular printing identified itself as The Founders’ Bible prepared under the direction of David Barton, Founder and President of WallBuilders. Barton specializes in America’s forgotten history having assembled a massive library of over 100,000 original source documents from the Founding Era.

This background leads to something that caught my eye. A small quarter-page monograph discussed the sixth President of the United States, John Quincy Adams, son of President John and Mrs. Abigail Adams. My curiosity piqued as I glanced over his early Minuteman exposure to the American Revolution. At age 10 he accompanied his father on diplomatic missions; at age 14 he was secretary and French interpreter to the American ambassador to Russia; at age 16 he was secretary to the American commissioners in France negotiating the peace treaty to end the American Revolution. Not too shabby for a young lad.

Then came the kicker. John Quincy Adams served as US President from 1825 to 1829. After losing the1828 election to Andrew Jackson, he retired to Quincy, Massachusetts but was persuaded to run for Congress. I had never heard of this. He handily won election to the US House and served for the next 14 years until his death in office due to a stroke. (Americaslibrary.gov)

Adams was particularly independent of political parties which allowed him to champion the anti-slavery movement as an abolitionist. He worked tirelessly for universal emancipation. However, in 1836 the Southern members of Congress passed a “gag” rule forbidding any discussion of slavery in the US House of Representatives. (Silencing discussion – cancelling -- sound familiar?) In 1844 Adams finally secured a vote of 108 to 80 to overturn the gag rule.

Enter Wayne Allyn Root, a contemporary conservative radio talk show host (USA Radio Network) and his exclusive one-on-one interview with Donald Trump on “Wayne Allyn Root: Raw & Unfiltered” radio show. Root covered many topics with the former President. Then Root sprang his suggestion, his idea, and his game changer.

What if the former President ran for a congressional seat in Florida? This would not be to oust another Republican but to replace someone willing to retire. No fracas in the Florida Republican Party, mind you.

Trump is popular in Florida and throughout the US and would undoubtedly win the seat. But this move is bigger than one House seat. Seventy-four million supporters across the nation would vote for their own House candidates who support Trump. His coattails are long enough and broad enough to pull many other Republicans along with him in their races thereby claiming a Republican majority in the House in 2022. Root believes that with Trump’s leadership the Republicans could gain at least 40 seats – a repeat of the 2010 and 2014 elections.

The next step would be to secure his election as Speaker of the House of Representatives, the second most powerful position in Washington. That should not be difficult given his current support among House Republicans and the newly elected House members. This would be Joe Biden’s and the Democrats’ worst nightmare.

Imagine for a moment the criminal investigations Trump could open against Biden. More importantly, Trump could stymie, if not block, every piece of legislation Biden proposes. Trump could easily become a folk hero setting himself up for a 2024 presidential run. Or, he could remain in the House as Speaker controlling legislation for the next decade.

Root acknowledges that Trump was clearly fascinated by the idea. Obviously Trump could not agree to it on the air. Nor would the Republican National Committee respond. But the seed has been sown.

Envision Speaker of the House Donald J. Trump sitting behind President Joseph Robinette Biden as Biden delivers the 2023 State of the Union speech to a joint session of Congress. Imagine further Trump’s facial expressions each time Biden utters one of his incredulous remarks, commits a faux pas, or whispers untruths fed him by his staff. Unbecoming? No more so than Speaker Pelosi tearing up President Trump’s State of the Union remarks on the House dais.

What the swamp breeds, the swamp deserves.

Dennis M. Patrick can be contacted at (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).