Advice for the Candidate Who Wants My Vote by Col. Bob Pappas, USMC, RET

[admin]

Advice for the Candidate Who Wants My Vote by Col. Bob Pappas, USMC, Ret.

Please do not reply to this Email. It is being sent from an "Out Going Only" mailbox.

If you would like to listen to this column click here.

Advice for the Candidate Who Wants My Vote
by Colonel Bob Pappas, USMC, Retired

The following are characteristics and values that I would seek in the ideal President of the United States of America and none of the primary candidates come close.

My choice for President would unabashedly seek divine guidance and blessing in leading the country through this difficult period of divisiveness. He would energetically lead efforts at conciliation among the nation's diverse ethnic and cultural heritages. He would be pro-life and pro-traditional marriage and support States' efforts in that regard. He would even-handedly enforce Federal law while working to divest laws that are an obvious infringement on States' rights.

Unlike Obama not wanting to be perceived as taking sides, let's get it straight right now, my candidate would be on the American side and he had better damn well let it be known! And he would treat other nations with dignity, patience, fairness, and respect them; and expect the same in return.

He must assert his love for country, wave its flag, wear symbols of his love for it, sing its anthem; cheer its virtues, lament its faults and work to fix them; and urge those who hate America to set sail for China, North Korea, any African country, the entire Mid-East except Israel, any Islamic Country, Venezuela, or Cuba, legally or otherwise. I feel certain that most on the latter list have some virtues and can offer the world much, but I would not care to live in any of them because they are either too restrictive on liberty and/or the nature of their respective societies is too repressive.

He should actively seek solutions to thorny relations with China, North Korea, Russia, Cuba, Venezuela, and other dictatorships. And, he would nurture relations with Europe, Taiwan, Japan, Canada, Australia, and all others that choose to "play" fair. He would walk softly and carry a big stick in the international arena where he would extend a hand of conciliation to enemies and would promote strong bi-lateral ties with friends. Stated another way, he would be friendly to all who would be friends and seek friendship among those who would not. He should withdraw forces from Iraq and Afghanistan at the earliest possible date without jeopardizing the security of the United States, Iraq or Afghanistan.

He would submit a balanced budget to the Congress; and, work with it to strengthen the nation's moral fiber, economy, security, research and development, space exploration, energy research, development and exploration, undertake a five-year program of energy independence.

He would seek ways to undermine and negate OPEC's stranglehold on the U.S. and world economy.

He would veto any bill with "earmarks," "slam dunk" any one or any entity that tried to undermine the country's security, economy, culture, and/or its freedom.

He would address citizens' genuine grievances and seek equitable solutions. He would appoint apolitical judges who have a proven record of honesty, integrity and accountability and who would make their judgments based on the plain reading of the Constitution (i.e. a strict constructionist) , common sense and the general economic health of the country. He should cancel all Executive Orders that gave favoritism to any individual or group and seek legislation that would eliminate favoritism to any individual or group with one exception: veterans, with priority to disabled veterans.

He would seek legislation that the nation adopt of a set of core values based on the primacy of the Ten Commandments and also consider other great moral codes. He would seek even-handed solutions to the nation's social ills. He would seek legislation that restored the primacy of family matters to families.

He would create an atmosphere where Americans could prosper and be optimistic about the future. He would reduce the size and scope of the Federal Government. He would challenge those who look to government for solutions to their problems to seek solutions within themselves.

He would encourage work, do away with the minimum wage, seek increased capacity at medical schools, withdraw government from medicine other than research and development, protect the environment in a sane and responsible manner, provide an economic safety net for those who need it and "means test" to eliminate those who don't.

I have written it before and repeat it here: "neither Obama nor Rodham-Clinton will be the next President of the United States."

How can a man whose wife of some sixteen years, a graduate of Princeton with a major in Sociology (that explains a lot), and a law degree from Harvard; and himself graduated from Columbia with a degree in political science followed by a law degree from Harvard where he was President of the Harvard Law Review and graduated Magna Cum Laude, and is running for the Presidency of the United States have such negative attitudes about the country they have been blest to be born and live in?

And, how can Rodham-Clinton reasonably expect Americans to select her, given her and her husband's scandalous record?

Most Americans, including most liberals agree that despite its warts that include illegal use of drugs, overuse of alcohol, body piercing, abortion on demand, perverted sexual conduct, obscene greed, cheating, lying, racism, reverse racism (whatever that means), racial discrimination, for which believers should pray "God help America" not "God damn America," and a host of others, this remains the best country in the world. Liberals are compelled to agree that there is greater opportunity here than most, if not all other countries, and that the freedom they enjoy here is superior to all other countries.

Liberals gripe that there is no government sponsored universal health care. Okay. Move to Canada or some other socialist or semi-socialist country. Better yet, move to China, if they will let you in. If things are so bad here, why is it that there are 10 million or so illegal immigrants in this country? Besides, if we didn't have 10 million illegal immigrants for whom we are providing health care there would be no health care crisis. If it is so bad, why do so many try to come here legally and/ or illegally? If it is so bad, why are liberals still here? Surely Europe, Africa, Middle East, Russia, China, Cuba, Venezuela, would let them in. He would close the borders to illegal immigrants while working with the Congress to restore a guest worker program and vigorously enforce statutory limitations. He should repatriate all illegal immigrants and submit legislation that would deny citizenship to children of illegal immigrants who were born in the US incident to their parents' or parent's illegal status.

Most liberals have had eight years to move out and haven't exercised the option. However, a few Hollywood elitists have gone; "good" on them and good riddance, both the U.S. and they are better off. Unfortunately for us and fortunately for the rest of the world, too many remain here, determined to "change" America. Pray tell into what image? Middle East? China, Pakistan, North Korea, pick a European Country, like France? How would you liberals like to have your lips zipped for having the temerity to criticize Islam, à la Bridgette Bardot? So many "libs" are quick to want to be like Europe, okay, do us both a favor and move there! If they don't let you in legally, try illegal immigration. After all you are for illegal immigration here, aren't you? After all, you would be just an "undocumented" worker, right?

One need not worry about Rodham-Clinton or Obama because as previously stated, neither will be elected President even with all the noise and headlines they have captured during the nomination process. On the positive side, they have spent a lot of money and that's good for the economy. But other than the entertainment value of observing them make public spectacles and fools of themselves, they have done nothing worthy of serious consideration, except in the "who not to vote for" category. The truly amazing part is that there are more than a handful of dupes who express undying affection for either one.

On the other hand, the election is John McCain's to lose. How Republicans have gotten themselves in this "fix" is beyond rational comprehension unless, like a Democrat relative who changed his registration to vote for McCain in the primary, we have stealth Democrats masquerading as Republicans to thank for candidate manipulation not unlike what Rush Limbaugh is doing openly.

Now that McCain is the presumptive nominee he continues to shoot himself in the foot in a deranged effort to portray himself as someone for whom all Americans can vote. Come on Senator, the objective is to win, fair and square, but to win not snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Here's some advice, although I have learned that you don't take advice with grace, or at all. But since you are running for the big job you are going to get it anyway, so here goes:
1.. Don't be so quick to alienate those who you need, to win;
2.. Everyone knows you are no conservative, in fact you make it clear that you are proud of that fact, so don't be too arrogant and think you have them in the "bag." Pander to them and mean it, even if it's just a little;
3.. You may believe that you know it all, but since you've openly admitted otherwise, carefully consider the advice of those who actually want you to win despite your woeful so called bi-partisan legislative record;
4.. You've told us that you are a Federalist, fine. But don't go down to Louisiana and act like you own the place. You don't. The Federal Government doesn't. The last time I checked the Constitution it is the people who own it and the Mayor and Governor who are responsible for its governmental, including emergency functions. To the extent that the Federal Government has a role, fine, but the Constitution limits that role, unless invited by the States. Stick to your role under the Constitution; although I realize that you have a hard time doing that.
5.. Shooting yourself in the foot by apologizing for ads that people who want you to win believe are in your interest will not gain you future support when you will need it.
6.. You may not believe this, but you will need every vote to win and believe me when I tell you, you are not Ronald Reagan.
7.. Barack Hussein Obama will steam roll you in a heartbeat if you alienate the, not your, conservative base enough times. Why? Because if you portray yourself too far left too many times, conservatives will ditch you like a bad case of venereal disease.
More later.

Semper Fidelis

If you wish to send a comment or ask a question of Bob Pappas please use: pappas@gulf1. com

If you wish to write a letter to the Editor please use: http://www.gulf1. net/letters/ NewLetter. htm

If you wish to read PREVIOUS ARTICLES by Col Pappas, please see: http://www.gulf1. com/columns/ pappas/pappasfra me.htm

Copyright © April 30th, 2008 by Robert L. Pappas. With proper attribution, this essay may be quoted and redistributed. It may not be used in any way, in conjunction with any advertisement without the author's expressed written permission.