In life, some things are inevitable: haters are gonna hate; players are gonna play; and the swamp is gonna swamp. What do I mean by this? Well, for those of you who have been living under a rock for the past few years, there is this thing called the swamp that aptly describes the cesspool of corruption that is the present state of our federal government.
Remember back in 2016, when Donald Trump first ran for the presidency on the theme of draining the swamp? Unfortunately, despite his best efforts, he was unable to accomplish that monumental feat. In fact, I can make a pretty convincing argument that underhanded tactics on behalf of federal bureaucrats, also known as swamp creatures, played a pivotal role in Trump’s inability to drain the swamp.
So, the swamp survived the Trump presidency. Then, it was made even more swampy under President Biden, who used every trick in the book to increase the power of the federal leviathan.
But then a truly unforeseen event occurred. Donald Trump won the presidency in 2024, and put the swamp on notice that this time he means business.
Specifically, Trump put the world’s greatest cost-cutter, Elon Musk, in charge of the Department of Government Efficiency with the express charge of draining the swamp once and for all.
As expected, the swamp creatures went into a tizzy, claiming that any and all attempts to reduce the size and scope of the federal government would result in Armageddon. However, we now know better. In fact, we now know that the swamp must be drained immediately for the preservation of our fundamental liberties and the sake of our hard-earned tax dollars.
Believe it or not, but the hopefully last and very desperate grasps of the swamp creatures are taking place before our very eyes. Exhibit A in this latest iteration of the nation’s macabre theatre is the current debate over funding the government.
The swamp creatures, which are bipartisan to be sure, see the writing on the wall; it clearly states that the days of wanton spending and useless government programs are ending soon.
Therefore, the swamp creatures have gone into self-preservation mode as they try to pass one more omnibus continuing resolution just before Congress goes into recess for the holidays.
In what can best be described as giving a giant middle finger salute to the millions of Americans who voted for fundamental change on November 5, the swamp is under the impression that it can muster one more pork-laden spending bill.
However, the swamp has miscalculated. The American people are up in arms over the latest attempt by the swamp to ram through a multi-billion-dollar spending package at the last minute that we do not need and cannot afford.
Moreover, Musk is playing hardball and putting the swamp on blast by using his social media company, X, to bring much-needed light to how the murky underworld actually operates. By showing the American people some of the most ridiculous spending proposals in the massive 1,567-page continuing resolution, Musk might have singlehandedly caused its demise. To that, I say: Amen, Elon.
Make no mistake, the swamp is a potent political force of nature. Hence, it will require an equally powerful force of nature to finally defeat it. Fortunately, President-elect Donald Trump is assembling a team of outsiders, notably Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, who have the temerity and tenacity to bring the swamp to its knees.
Although draining the swamp will not occur overnight, we are at least witnessing the initial battles that must be fought and won in order for the swamp to finally be defeated.
During my two decades of following politics, I have never seen anything like this. For the first time ever, I am optimistic that we can finally downsize the federal government. Moreover, I can even foresee a day in which deficit spending becomes a thing of the past and the national debt stops increasing at an absolutely alarming rate.
Come January 20, 2025, a new sheriff will arrive in the nation’s capital. If I were a swamp creature, I would probably be shaking in my waterproof boots right about now because the end is near and the swamp will be drained very soon.
Chris Talgo (ctalgo@heartland.org) is editorial director at The Heartland Institute.