I haven’t met many Presidents. The only formal introduction was to President George W. Bush in 2005. On that occasion I was paraded through the Oval Office with several of my Republican Virginia House of Delegate colleagues for a publicity picture shaking hands with the President. It was pleasant. He met with all of us outside of the Oval Office before we were ushered in one-by-one to stand with him in front of his desk. Then promptly we exited the side door to the Rose Garden. All very official.
In 1969 at a rally in Roanoke, I shook hands with President Richard M. Nixon. Years later, I was in an auditorium with thousands of other people to hear President Gerald R. Ford speak. And in 1982, while touring the Capitol, I was feet away from President Ronald W. Reagan as he left via the east portico after visiting Congress. I gave him a hand salute.
Of the three Democrats and 13 Republicans currently running for President, I’ve met just one, Senator Tim Scott. He’s a remarkably humble man and very pleasant to be with. It’s unlikely I will meet the others, but I’m interested in what they stand for and why they want to be our President.
I have never advised a President before and I’m sure none of them would have any interest in what my advice would be. I did write President Trump once during his first term with some advice on securing our borders. He didn’t take it as best I can determine. I heard back from him in the form of a pleasant “thank you for writing me” letter. However, my first and middle name were transposed in the correspondence. A common mistake in proforma responses, I suppose.
All that noted, I do have some advice for current candidates on topics important to me. I would hope they share their thoughts and plans concerning these areas of interest as opposed to carping at one another, using puerile nicknames, off-color language, and exaggerations that lack credibility about themselves, their view of the world, and promises they never kept or could ever keep.
National Security: Talk to Americans about our proper and legitimate role in the world. Like it or not, we have a significant one that should focus on freedom, free enterprise, conformity to the rule of law, and justice. And while it shouldn’t be our purpose to intervene in the internal workings of any other government, we can and must make clear our support for self-determination, human rights, and non-aggression. However, for the sake of clarity, I want to understand how these candidates will achieve those purposes in a practical manner. Superlatives won’t do.
Military Preparedness: This is of real interest to me and is part is the reason I’m supporting a veteran, Ron DeSantis, for President. As I’ve noted, being a veteran is not a prerequisite for being our commander-in-chief, but it’s comforting to me. Frankly, I am looking for more than Presidents wearing aviator glasses as a fashion statement or sharp hand salutes learned in military school. I am looking for someone who understands the need for a strong military though the eyes of those who may be called upon to fight and die in combat. In that regard, I want the candidates to speak clearly and specifically about what they will do to ensure we have a lethal military to protect us and our vital national interests when called upon to do so. I want to know how they will strengthen our forces following years of debilitating counterinsurgency wars to be prepared to engage our near-peer adversaries. Our military is too small, recruitment is on the rocks, and we have much to address from the combat lessons we are observing in Ukraine. And of special interest to me, what will we do to rid the military of social engineering and politically correct nonsense. Be clear to us on this.
The Size of Government: Simply put, the government is too big. Pare it back. Tell us specifically how you will do this. Share with us the agencies and departments you’ll eliminate. Declare how you will restore Federalism and roll back government overreach affecting our lives, invading our privacy, threatening our freedom, and usurping state’s rights.
Cut the Deficit: Why, how, and when?
The Border: Tell us how you’ll secure our border in exacting terms. Inform us how you’ll craft legislation to do so, including the necessary compromises you’re willing to make to attain it.
Focus on the Future, not the Past: Americans want to know what you will do. They are not interested in your whining about past elections, narcissistic expressions, or the drama in your lives. They want solutions, not distractions.
Alas, I suspect this advice will go unread by most of them.
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