The Four Pillars of the D.C. Swamp


Written by Walker Wildmon

There are four pillars of the Swamp in Washington, D.C. Each of them works against the American people and President Trump’s agenda.

The legislative and judicial branches are the first two pillars. Each institution, in their original form, were created for good. Now, these once good institutions have been remade into something that has and continues, to hurt our country.

The legislative branch is currently being used to maintain the status quo and prevent President Trump from carrying out all that he and other Republicans promised voters they would do. Legislative items such as defunding America’s largest baby killing organization, Planned Parenthood, fully repealing Obamacare, building a wall along the southern border and confirming conservative nominees to serve on the federal judiciary have not been completed because Republicans in Congress don’t have the necessary will needed to accomplish those tasks.

Not only has Congress largely been at a stand-still when it comes to conservative legislation but members of the Swamp have aided in unnecessarily blocking nominees. For example, Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) blocked Russell Vought from working in the Office of Management and Budget because the senator wanted billions more in wasteful aid money to Texas following Hurricane Harvey. The reason I say “wasteful” is because Texas had already received billions in aid in the months prior.

Another way that Congress has become an impediment is through something called “pro-forma” sessions. A pro-forma session is when Congress stays in session despite the fact that they’re not there. Each Thursday and during most holiday weeks, Congress goes home for several days at a time. Despite the fact that they’re not working during these times, they literally have a member of Congress gavel the empty chamber into session for the sole purpose of blocking President Trump from making recess appointments. To compare, Presidents Obama, Clinton, and Bush made a total of 242 recess appointments while President Trump has been allowed 0. This is because Republican members of the Swamp in Congress are stonewalling Trump’s agenda. On Thursday, May 31, 2018, Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) gaveled the Senate into session for 30 seconds before adjourning, all for the purpose of blocking Donald Trump. For this and various other reasons, the legislative branch is the first pillar of the Swamp.

Second, the out-of-control judicial branch. In recent years, federal judges have taken it upon themselves to issue nationwide rulings which exceed their authority. Legal scholars may disagree with me but it is my opinion that no court other than the Supreme Court should be able to issue rulings that apply nationwide. An example of this overreach is the multiple federal judges who struck down President Trump’s executive order which restricted travel from seven terror-infested countries. These judges issued nationwide injunctions despite the fact that the Supreme Court had previously upheld the executive order. If we continue to allow federal judges to issue nationwide rulings then they will become an extension of the Supreme Court. The whole idea of having federal district judges is so that they can issue rulings that apply to their district, not the entire country.

Who has allowed the judiciary to veer so far away from their purpose? Congress. The Constitution gives Congress the right to impeach judges for various reasons. Overstepping judicial authority by issuing unconstitutional rulings is enough reason for impeachment. If Congress would impeach a single judge it might send a much-needed message!

The legislative and judicial branches are only the first two pillars of four that are currently impeding President Trump’s agenda and the will of the American people. Stay tuned for part two!


This article originally posted at AFA.net