Photo of Allen West; Townhall opinion piece sized for Twitter

When in Charge, Be in Charge

AUTHOR

Allen West

DATE

December 24, 2024

Roman Poet Virgil (19 BC) is attributed with the saying “Fortis Fortuna Adiuvat,” which we know as fortune favors the bold. Back when I was a young Army Major, I was the Executive Officer (second in command) of the 1st Battalion (Air Assault), 377th Field Artillery Regiment, 18th Field Artillery Brigade (Airborne) at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, and it will always be Ft. Bragg. The motto of our Battalion, which traced its history back to being a glider artillery regiment at D-Day, was “Be Bold, Air Assault.” If there is one spirit that Republicans should embrace, it is the spirit of boldness. They should feel emboldened by the results of the November 2024 election, a repudiation of the progressive socialist, Marxist leftists who own the Democrat party.

We have just witnessed four years of what it means when the left is in power—abject tyranny. Now, when the leftists are in the minority, they resort to incessant tenacity. Republicans must find the boldness, being in charge to relegate the Democrats to irrelevancy. What that means is proactive messaging and resolve in going head-to-head with these leftists. How absurd that Republicans would agree to any funding of programs and agencies that censored conservatives. Republicans should not be kowtowing to leftists’ ideological agenda items. And to think that the leftists are trying to hire more DEI government officials is just an indicator of the quadrupling down on an insidious and odious policy. It is obvious that the Democrats are seeking to thwart, actually dare, any efforts by Republicans, and that has to be met with a determined, focused response.

I have listened to leftist pundits drone on about the constitutional threat of Republicans being in control of all the branches of government—Legislative, Executive, and Judicial. Funny, you heard nothing of the same from the left when the skinny little delta male divider-in-chief Barack Obama and the Democrats held the same advantage. As a matter of fact, a major leftist magazine had a front page theme, “We’re all Socialists now.” Talk about boldness.

So, the question remains: why are Republicans so reticent and recalcitrant in advancing a constitutional conservative legislative agenda and means of governing? Why do Republicans always acquiesce to the leftist calls for “bipartisanship” when the Democrats refuse the same when in charge? As Obama said, “Elections have consequences,” and “Republicans can get on the back of the bus.” The American people said to Republicans on November 5, 2024, “We do not even want the Democrats on the bus; let them walk in a cold rain with the wind in their faces.” And that is how it should be for the party that has elected officials claiming they will block the deportation of illegal immigrants, including those posing a national and domestic security threat. This is the Democrat party where NY Governor Kathy Hochul is ranting about ending the Electoral College. This is the Democrat Party that is signing contractual agreements with government unions saying that government employees do not have to show up for work for five years.

There is only one way to deal with such misplaced delusion: crush it, and the only way to do that is with boldness. The U.S. House of Representatives has to get back to regular order and no more behind-the-scenes deals with leftists. If the Democrats want their pet projects funded, just say no. Then, get to developing a plan on which government agencies and employees are essential; the rest can get a pink slip. I, for one, have grown tired of everyone fretting about government shutdowns, yet we allowed the government to shut down the private sector. It is time Republicans stood up for a Republican form of government, Article IV, Section 4 of the Constitution.

Fortis Fortuna Adiuvat only happens when the bold stop allowing the wimps, whiners, and wussies to control things. If President Trump is to be successful, then Capitol Hill Republicans, who benefitted from his success, need to steel their spine and get a killer instinct. Equivocating is not a recipe for success. Matter of fact, if you want an example of pure, undefiled boldness, look at Tom Homan. Embrace his spirit, one that does not back down, regardless of what political news shows on which he appears. Homan leaves leftists speechless, and when you look into his eyes, you see someone who is as serious as serious can be—no laughing, no stuttering, no apologies.

Americans, true Americans, do not like the progressive socialist left, and they sent that message in November. It is now up to the Republicans to act like they are in charge, to be bold, and to deliver. The midterm elections are just around the corner, and the message has to be conveyed that more Democrats on Capitol Hill need to be sent home in 2026. We are going forward, not backward, and the recurring massive political pendulum swing in America must end…and the only way that happens is with Republicans being bold. Bold like Paratroopers being dropped in the middle of the night behind enemy lines and fighting like hell…or as the Germans referred to them, “Devils in baggy pants.”

Or like the men of Lexington and Concord who came out 250 years ago, on April 19, 1775, and stood up against the greatest military power the world knew…”Fortis Fortuna Adiuvat.”

Steadfast and Loyal.

This article originally appeared at TownHall.com.

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