If Schmidt, Burton & Company are advising you to go the traditional book/listening tour route, please reconsider. Americans respect and support leaders of conviction. If you believe that your vision and leadership are the prescription America is in need of, then heed your own counsel. Disregard the naysayers who counsel you to stay out so as to not confuse the electorate by taking votes from the two major parties. Citizens have every right to hear your message.
You have correctly identified the 2020 opportunity: there is a broad path down the middle of the political spectrum for a centrist thinking, pragmatic candidate with a real plan to put America back on track. The feckless, big spending, overreaching, government growth collaborating GOP in the Obama years birthed Trump. Trump (a wealthy arrogant narcissist with surprisingly good political instincts but questionable character) has driven the DEM off their collective rockers. All of the currently announced Democrat candidates pander to the public with reckless proposals that (if enacted) would make Venezuela look like an island of peace, prosperity and financial stability. It is highly doubtful that even more traditional Democrats yet to announce can successfully escape the gravitational forces built up in the extreme left of the their party.
Objectionable personal characteristics aside, Trump has identified and taken policy positions on a wide range of issues that resonate broadly with the American electorate: a) winding down the perpetual expensive foreign wars; b) re-negotiating trade relationships that have decimated America as a place that builds things; c) repairing a broken immigration system that works (first) for current American citizens (and yes that means securing the border and points of entry); d) cutting excessive regulation and government controls as a means to priming the economy for economic growth; and e) securing energy independence. Take a knee jerk “Trump is for so I’m against” position on issues such as those above and you lose. There is a way to align with these same efforts using a more nuanced, less divisive adult approach.
The largest point of vulnerability among Trump’s 2016 voters is his complete failure to clean up the corrupt nature of DC politics. He has not Drained the Swamp. He has further infested it with his own version of swamp creatures (Cohen, Stone, Manafort, Pecker). His continued support comes in spite of discomfort with his tactless, arrogant self-promoting behavior. He is NOT the ultimate deal maker. Mexico has not paid for his wall. These were falsehoods. Find a way to sustain the general thrust of these policies while offering a specific prescription for substantive political reform and you have the key to independents, a large slice of GOP voters and Trump Democrats.
In a nation of 340M citizens, America wasn’t presented with very good options in 2016. The two-party political system that produced those options is BROKEN. Unless an independent steps forward with an alternative we are likely facing similar bad choices once more. 2020 just might be the year America is ready for an alternative.
Step 1. America has little tolerance (and even less love) for an equivocating leader. You either have the conviction that America needs your leadership or not. Announce a firm intent to #RunAndWin based on a plan for #PoliticalReform.
You have a fine resume. Congratulations on the hard work and success achieved from humble beginnings. Kudos for having billions in the bank. You have been an engine of job creation that has benefited many lives in America and around the planet. And yes, the coffee is usually decent. Guess what? It’s NOT about YOU. Resume's aren't determinant (see 2016).
Step 2: #StopTalkingAboutMe (a job for others). Reagan believed a lot could be done if one remained unconcerned about who got the credit. We have a POTUS today that is prepared to get nothing done if he doesn’t get ALL the credit. Americans are bored (See HDS) and weary with this act. We want to know what you are going to do for US: in real, specific, clear language. Vague platitudes don’t cut it. What are you going to do differently that will end the DC dysfunction and improve OUR lives?
You are somewhat trapped by your lifelong association with and adherence to conventional Democrat talking points, ideologies and identity politics constituencies. You are not going to get away with “running” from the cultural issues.
In a few short years, we have gone from “safe, legal and rare” to advocacy of “comfortable” infanticide (see Northam). There is no pursuit of liberty and happiness if there is no life. America broadly supports a “culture of life” and reasonable restrictions on abortion. Present a prevention and health plan and stimulate an economy that minimizes the conditions or circumstances in which a pregnant woman would need to contemplate such an option. Drop the extremist dogma. That’s a winning position.
There is ample scientific evidence that shows the optimal environment in which to raise a child is in a family unit where both gender roles are modeled by parents with both emotional and biological links. Life isn’t always optimal. Americans are tolerant and understanding of differences between us. We are an empathetic people. But the first duty of a civilization is to survive. A single successful model has been the standard for millennia across all societies. The assault on the traditional family that seeks to equate it as just one of many equally viable lifestyles should end. Advocacy of exposing malleable grade schoolers about gender choice that subsequently confuses/leads to elective surgical mutilation may be a fine topic for academic discussion among the coastal elites, but for most of America it is just plain idiocy. Yes, America is tolerant, but the belligerent, aggressive advocacy of division/diversity and “in your face” tactics of identity politics is not the path to harmony and co-existence. American's respect a plain speaking leader.
In the 1970’s, the great scare was that there would not be “standing room” on earth by 2020 for the world’s exploding population (I invite you to take a road trip through Beto’s old district…). Today much of the world has birthrates below those necessary to maintain current population levels, putting government run social Ponzi schemes at great peril. Middle America “gets” the ongoing incestuous relationship between alarmist academia and governments. The perpetual crisis mode consumes a lot of our hard-earned tax dollars and serves as a vehicle for those who would sacrifice individual liberty in the name of their particular vision of the future. Climates do change. Everybody wants clean air and water and preserved public spaces. Some of are wary of those who insist they have a full understanding of cause and effect in this magnificent, intricate universe in which we live. Most of us do not want to participate in the wholesale reversal of the advancement in standards of living that have been achieved at much effort and sacrifice in the name of some utopian central government administered scheme that seeks to control every aspect of our lives. We are firmly “pro-choice” on this topic.
Trump supposedly has the conservative evangelical base locked up. It is merely a temporary marriage of convenience. It is a "hold your nose" and live with it level of support. Trump is a thrice-married, porn actress fanboy, vulgar talking, incoherently mumbling, self-absorbed, navel-gazing, sleaze ball hanging with his own set of swamp creatures, disloyal, immature politician that has managed to memorize and parrot some key phrases at opportune moments that resonate with this group.
We recently learned that the Trump family now has very close relationships with the Kim family. This would be the same Kim dynasty who current scion summarily executes suspected threats to his sole authority with anti-aircraft guns under the watchful gaze of terrorized senior government officials. Is there a secret Trump-Kim marriage arrangement to cement royal family ties in the works? We hear constantly of great mutual respect for China's new self-declared emperor for life. Trump will likely conclude a trade deal soon that will only serve to strengthen a totalitarian police state. This is not in the interest of America's strategic long-term interests. US intelligence services' conclusion that MBS directed the Saudi journalist's killing is conveniently overlooked. MBS acknowledges China's right to suppress and imprison minorities. America’s foreign policy in the hands of an amoral naive man enthralled to be exchanging love letters with a tyrant is a disaster. Equally disastrous would be putting it in the hands of a man who spent his honeymoon celebrating in the Soviet Union.
The 2016 Democrat alternative to Trump was even worse: an infanticide promoting, incapable of following basic security protocols, Russia colluding (see Uranium One), pedophile enabling (see Epstein), women abusing enabler (see take your pick), power hungry, self-anointed “it’s my time”, flat broke mega millionaire after a lifetime of “public service”, just likeable “enough” corrupt politician. Where were conservatives, evangelicals and independents supposed to go?
America is a special nation because we have consistently stood for certain principles. This POTUS is purely transactional. It’s Trump for Trump. Everything is filtered through his personal lens. Is it good for Trump? How can Trump take credit? It has become painfully obvious he has no moral compass. Choosing a POTUS is an intensely personal process. Americans want to align with a candidate that shares their values. Give evangelicals, moderates and conservatives an alternative…
Step 3: #DemExit & #Evolve (Obama did…) as necessary on the many contemporary cultural issues (yes, they DO matter enormously to many) and find moderate, balanced positions that are consistent with the values of the decent, moderate, respectful, broad middle swath of the American electorate. If you can’t find your way in this area, then you cannot win.
Each cycle, presidential candidates invariably get sucked into the vortex of outdoing each other in developing detailed proposals to solve the many pressing contemporary issues facing America. They present themselves as the one indispensable missing element (see DJT: "only I can fix it…"). Four years later we are back at it. The dirty little secret: our basic institutions of government have become so corrupt, dysfunctional and distrusted that no single personality sitting atop the vast organs of the federal government in its current state can actually have much impact.
Having a plan to tackle contemporary issues is necessary but insufficient. Something more is needed. Doing the same thing over and over but expecting a different result is insanity (see Einstein). Expecting better outcomes from our broken politics based on merely changing the occupant in the oval office is vanity (see HDS ego critique). However, after both Obama and Trump, America just might be ready to consider a SERIOUS third-party option who demonstrates a willingness to get to the root causes of our current political chaos.
Step 4: #PoliticalReform is the one area that has the potential to unite Americans from all ideological persuasions. It will/cannot originate from existing DC institutions. It can only be birthed in the context of a national insurgency of exasperated citizens. A well-resourced independent presidential candidacy is as good a place as any to serve as its launch point. Fortunately, there is a constitutionally compliant process ready to be employed.
The Founding Fathers were smart enough to realize the federal governing structures they were creating 230 years ago were subject to eventual corruption and abuse of power. At the last moment, they added a second clause to Article V, providing an alternative method for amending the Constitution. This method allows amendments to be proposed by a Convention called by like applications from two-thirds of the states. Like amendments originating in Congress, amendments originating from a Convention must be ratified by three-fourths of all states. In the more than two centuries since its ratification, cracks have emerged. America has matured. We have learned just how far corrupt men and women will go to keep and exercise power while avoiding responsibility for not doing the jobs they were given. It is time for citizens, acting through their state legislators and a constitutionally compliant method to provide some “guidance” to and control of the federal government. Staff and incent DC officials properly and they will quickly arrive at reasonable solutions to our pressing contemporary national challenges.
There is currently a national initiative pursuing the Convention of States approach. Some 3.6 million citizens are linked to this movement. To date, 13 state legislatures have passed their application calling for term limits, fiscal restraints and limits on power and jurisdiction of the federal government. Unfortunately, though pitched as non-partisan, this application is simultaneously both too vague and tilted toward traditionally conservative end of the ideological spectrum. The vague nature of the application language allows the perennial (but perhaps unwarranted) fear of the “runaway constitutional constitution” to flourish.
Additionally, the general nature of the language leaves the effort in a position of advocating more for the “process” than for specific amendments and outcomes. It is the broken political process and resulting unending gamesmanship in DC that has given rise to the dysfunction and disgust in the first place. Historically, constitutional amendments have gained momentum around specific objectives: citizenship for former slaves, women’s suffrage, direct election of senators, etc. One more process proposal is unlikely to generate the excitement levels necessary to build and sustain the energy required to propel the movement through to a successful conclusion. The COS Project has laid the groundwork, educating state legislatures and organizing in all 50 states. It’s now time for specific content.
In 2019 we have the technological infrastructure to directly engage the citizenry in a direct national dialogue, seek input from all quarters, and distill ideas into a condensed set specific structural reforms to be enacted as constitutional amendments (Bill of Reform). This can be done in relatively short order. Preparation and execution could be accomplished in a matter of months. But the time to start is now.
Activate implementation by identifying at least one candidate for EVERY state legislative, senate, delegate, or assembly seat open in 2020 (nearly all of them) that is committed to supporting the defined reforms. Commitments can come from either of the two main parties or from independent candidates aligned with your independent presidential campaign. Give every citizen in every state an opportunity to support real, specific, no nonsense political reform.
Step #5: #Launch&Lead a #NationalDialogue on #BoldPoliticalReform. Lead and resource such an effort, putting the focus on filling state legislatures with reform-minded candidates. Make it about the desired outcome; not about you. Succeed in this and you will almost certainly be carried with the tide and rewarded with the keys to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. On the other end of the avenue, you will also have a Congress ready and willing to get serious about governing. (Additionally, the exercise itself (properly conducted) will connect you with the most politically engaged citizens...those most likely to influence friends, family, and associates).
America is thirsting for serious, balanced leadership. We want neither the extremist whacky socialist top-town solutions offered by the Left nor rule by an unstable, Twitter-in-Chief, unfettered corporatist with faux populist aspirations. As long as the conversation is all about him (good or bad) he is apparently content to sit atop a corrupted system of self-anointed elitists whose clear priority is little more than retention and enhancement of power they have managed to grasp.
America is hurtling towards the disaster of socialism because our current capitalist leaders have not curbed its excesses nor ensured our basic political and economic systems are transparent and working for all citizens. Before we go there, present America with a clear roadmap designed to clean out the corruption and special interest influence in Washington (Trump has already demonstrated that he is not going to deliver!). Give a reformed federal government a chance to succeed before this country makes a hard left turn and self-destructs. Give us a choice!
Step 6: Get a #CatchyCampaignSlogan. Sorry Howard, you are on your own for this one!!!
Eight Reform Ideas to get the Conversation Started
• Term of Federal Office Holders – advance swearing in of new Congress to the First Monday following General Election; President to First Monday in December; require three-fourths supermajority from both Houses for any legislation between General election and swearing in of new Congress
a. Losers shouldn’t legislate; remove the incentive to punt on “hard decisions” until after voters have been faced
b. POTUS candidates probably should have/announce key members of their potential administration during the campaign so voters can get an idea of the team they are electing (not just the personality at top)
c. 21st century. We have air travel (at least for now).
• Term Limits – limit terms of House members to 5 terms; Senators to 2 terms
a. Public service is a privilege; not a career. Every generation should have opportunity to contribute (see Dingell, Thurmond, Byrd, Kennedy)
b. Recognize there is a learning curve; but remove any possibility that holding federal office is a means to lifelong position to acquire wealth and power
c. Win, serve, demonstrate excellence and get promoted, or GO HOME and live under laws like every other citizen
• Ethics, Benefits & Conflicts of Interests – Require every federal officer holder to place all financial assets in excess of reasonable living expenses in a true blind trust for the duration of period in office plus 5 years; make every federal official subject to every law applicable to ordinary citizens
a. Ensures the motivation of candidates is to serve and contribute
b. Balances the privilege of service with personal sacrifice
c. Eliminates personal exemption carveouts, special benefits (no permanent pensions, special health plans etc.)
d. Removes the temptation of over regulate, dictate to and tax citizens
• Campaign Finance Reform – Limit financial contributions to federal campaigns to direct candidate contributions in the form of a fixed amount for both primary and general election to Citizens eligible to vote for the office holder; index to inflation; eliminate candidate-oriented (pro or con) PACS; every contribution above a nominal ($100) must be disclosed on-line within 24 hours; leftover campaign funds (both primary and general) must be donated to retire national debt; restrict/disallow campaign contributions prior to March 1st of election years
a. Eliminates special interest corporate and labor money
b. Eliminates national party intervention in local elections
c. Eliminates congressional leadership using committee assignments as patronage
d. Ensures candidate messaging comes from the candidate (no hiding behind others)
e. Ensures a federal office holder owes allegiance to NO ONE other than the voters to which he/she represent
f. Requires office holders to get off the fundraising treadmill and work for their citizens
g. Ensures voters have transparency in who is supporting which candidate with financial resources
h. Eliminates the possibility of campaign war chests being carried from cycle to cycle by current office holders
i. Ensures that early campaign efforts/visibility will me more about ideas than fund raising prowess
• Structured Federal Election Process – Each federal election cycle, by lottery one-third of states hold their primaries on First Tuesday in each month of May, June & July
a. Eliminates the never-ending destructive campaigning season; creates a season for governing (most democracies run national elections in a matter of 2-3 months)
b. Allows every state to be first, middle and last (ends current “one-ups-man-ship” around primary scheduling)
c. Ensures that no specific region has a permanent lock on national policies (candidate’s will be required to take positions that support the broad/national interest)
d. Removes the unfair and unequal influence that citizens in Iowa and New Hampshire have in national political discourse (plus it gives them a “break")
• Congressional Redistricting – require Congressional districts for non-single district states to be generated using contiguous postal zones counting only the population of citizens with NO consideration of race, ethnicity, religion or sex; rotate the point of initiation every six years and in the year following the Census.
a. Precludes the federal government from “seeing color”; the response to historical racism is not ongoing racism and quotas
b. Eliminates the practice of politicians choosing their voters
c. Eliminates the ability of politicians to keep citizens divided and pitted against one another
d. Frees up significant resources currently wasted in legislatures, commissions and courts
e. Positions political discourse to be more about character, ideas and vision and less about racial and ethnic differences
• Balanced Budget – transition to a 2-year budgeting cycle (once per Congress); within three cycles of ratification require total federal revenues to equal or exceed federal outlays; require all appropriations bills to be signed into LAW by April 15th following each election or ALL federal officers forfeit their offices with new elections being held (see Structured Federal Elections); by lottery only 50 percent of current congressional and executive office holders are allowed to contest the subsequent election; Year 1 of new fiscal cycle operated at 95% of current budgeted levels (when new elections are required)
a. Requires federal office holders to actually do their job or get fired
b. Retains the necessary degree of institutional memory required to run the federal government while guaranteeing non-performing, unserious office holders are purged
c. Ends the immoral practice of burdening future generations with benefits and services granted/promised to current voters
d. Brings a degree of seriousness to holding federal office (a place to set priorities and make hard choices, not to rule)
e. Keeps Congress focused on things that matter and away from the frivolous faux outrage at every issue of the day that currently has them preening in front of every available TV camera
f. Eliminates the theatrics around CRs, debt ceilings, government shutdowns
g. Preserves the credit rating of the federal government
• Judicial Term Limits – Limits all federal judgeships
(district/appellate/SCOTUS) to two 7-year terms; all federal judges are subject to retention/validation votes by citizens subject to their jurisdiction in the federal election following the third year of each term.
a. Eliminates life-time unaccountable rule by un-elected judges in black robes
b. Opens up judicial decisions and wisdom to broader public review and discourse (If a judge’s history of decisions is injudicious or overtly ideological, he/she has no lifetime right to office, salary and benefits)
c. Acknowledges the reality that the judiciary is indeed filled with partisans but provides a restraint on excesses
d. Will incent the Executive to select nominees for their qualifications and adherence to constitutional principals over ideology (no POTUS wants his/her nominees confirmed but subsequently thrown off the Court(s)
Note: A federal government operating under the incentives and staffed with officials elected/selected using reforms such as those listed here would look far different than what we have today.
