I was 13 when Barack Obama took his oath of office on the west steps of the Capitol Building. My seventh grade algebra class was put on hold for a day so we could watch history unfold as the first African American was sworn into as President of the United States. I didn’t know much about politics then, but even if I couldn’t tell you why, I could recognize the importance of this moment. Fairfield, like the rest of Butler County, is a pretty conservative area—I can’t remember the last time we elected a Democrat to anything. Something like 60 percent of the county voted for McCain back in 2008, but there was still a sense of, if not excitement, cautious optimism. Here was a man who had just made history, a man who captivated audiences with sweeping speeches about hope and change, whose very election exemplified those lofty ideals. Here was someone who promised to end “politics as usual” in D.C., and a lot of people on both sides of the political spectrum were willing to give him a shot.

I’ll let history be the judge of whether or not President Obama has lived up to those expectations. His campaign, however, serves as a fine example of a sentiment that I believe runs deep in many Americans, regardless of partisan affiliation. Simply put, the average American is sick and tired of political posturing, negative campaign ads, and all the other hallmarks of standard operating procedure in D.C. We want a candidate that’s going to be upfront with their beliefs, not one that’s going to hedge their words based on the latest focus group polling. We want a candidate that’s going to stick to their guns in the face of opposition, not another “go along to get along” stuffed suit. We want a candidate who will resist the allure of easy money, not cave to interest groups and simply toe the party line.

Maybe I’m crazy, but these don’t seem like outlandish ideas, which is why I’m always a little hesitant when the pundits and politicos call for an “establishment” candidate. I understand the terminology—I’ve been guilty of using it myself on plenty of occasions—but I cringe when I hear supporters ascribe the moniker of “establishment champion” to their candidate. Most people I know—the ones back home or anywhere else but the halls of academia—see establishment as an insult, not an endorsement. There’s a reason candidates like Jeb Bush and Rick Perry were forced to drop out: Voters don’t want more of the same.

Donald Trump, for all of his many, many, manyfaults, understands this. He knows that plenty of people are upset with their government and don’t like where they see the country going. Trump offers them an alternative. He presents himself as a straight-shooting, no-holds-barred alternative to the politicians that people on both sides of the aisle—especially Republicans—are fed up with. Say what you will about Trump, and I’ll say a lot, but he knows how to read a crowd. If his opponents want to have a chance of beating him out for the nomination, they need to take notes.