President Trump is right about one thing: Washington’s broken. The endless gridlock, the political posturing, and now another government shutdown. It’s enough to make any sensible American want to throw the rulebook out the window.

But there’s one rule we can’t afford to toss: the Senate filibuster.

Yes, it’s frustrating. Yes, it slows things down. But that’s precisely the point. The filibuster isn’t an obstacle to democracy. It’s a safeguard against tyranny. It forces senators to work across party lines, to find at least 60 votes, and to think twice before jamming through half-baked legislation that the other half of the country despises.

If Republicans use the “nuclear option” to kill the filibuster just to end this shutdown, they might win the battle, but they’ll lose the republic’s balance.

The Filibuster: A Conservative Guardrail

Conservatism, at its heart, isn’t about speed; it’s about stability. Our Founders designed the Senate to be the nation’s sober second thought, a chamber where passion meets prudence. The filibuster embodies that design.

Scrapping it would turn the Senate into a second House of Representatives, ruled by the momentary majority and swinging like a wrecking ball every election cycle. One year, conservatives could pass pro-life protections and border reforms; the next, progressives could ram through the Green New Deal, gun confiscation, or court-packing, all with a bare majority.

That isn’t governing. That’s political Russian roulette.

A Conservative Solution Exists

President Trump doesn’t need to nuke the rules to reopen the government. He just needs to outsmart the obstruction. Here’s how:

1. Pass targeted funding bills. Reopen the government one piece at a time — veterans’ care, border security, Social Security checks — and dare Democrats to vote “no” on paying our troops or securing our border. Make the shutdown about their obstruction, not his.
2. Apply pressure where it counts. Freeze congressional pay. Encourage Republican governors and mayors to raise the heat on Senate Democrats. Bureaucrats can take a long lunch; senators can’t afford bad headlines back home.
3. Negotiate from strength. Once Democrats feel the pressure, Trump should offer a narrow, responsible deal, maybe a short-term funding extension tied to a spending reform commission. Give them a way to save face without compromising conservative principles.

This approach isn’t about folding. It’s about governing firmly, lawfully, and strategically.

The Moral and Constitutional High Ground

Conservatives should remember what we stand for: limited government, constitutional restraint, and faith in enduring principles, not quick fixes. Killing the filibuster for short-term gain would betray all three.

As Proverbs 19:2 warns, “He that hasteth with his feet sinneth.” In politics, haste often turns victory into folly. The left plays the short game; conservatives must play the long one.

If President Trump sticks to principle — using leverage, persuasion, and patience — he can reopen the government, restore confidence, and show Americans what disciplined leadership looks like.

The Bottom Line

The easy path is to change the rules. The right path is to change the game.

Keep the filibuster. Beat the shutdown with brains, not brute force. Show America that real conservatism doesn’t need shortcuts, just courage and clarity.

Because in the end, protecting our institutions is protecting our freedom.