It would still be tough to adopt an amendment by Article Five convention. 38 states are needed for ratification and the Republicans currently control 30 state legislatures. The Democrats control 11 and nine are split between the two parties.
Agreed, there would be difficulties but we’re talking 30 likelies and 9+ possibles, depending on the proposals. On the issue of the 17th Amendment, the lure of reclaiming state power that was given away in 1917(?)might prove stronger than political partisanship and there would probably be other proposals with a similar lure. Given what we have now, which is zip, it certainly seems well worth going ahead. Besides we may strengthen our positions in some states and pick up some additional states in the next few years. We really can’t afford pessimism at this stage of the purposeful destruction of our Republic.