After watching the recent first GOP debate and catching clips from the Tucker Carlson/Donald Trump interview, it dawned on me - like a sledgehammer - who you and I should vote for President in 2024.
It’s not about this policy or that policy, which only triggers diatribes more than debates and people talking at or over instead of to and with each other.
When I look at the final candidates for President, and candidates for other offices, what will be on my check list are:
Who do I trust? - This is about their always being honest and forthright and speaking the truth based on facts even when it means telling us something we don’t want to hear, but need to.
Who do I have confidence in? - This is about their actual, verifiable track record of getting things done from their prior endeavors. It’s not about what they say they will do as much as it is about what they have already done that made a difference. And how are those accomplishments relevant to their role as President? It is also about how knowledgable they are, their curiosity and desire to deeply understand issues, the quality of their advisors/Cabinet members they select and who they listen to and their judgment calls and how those turned out.
Who do I respect? - What values have they stood and stand for, stood and will stand up for?
Who do I admire? - What and how have they stood up and will stand up against anyone - including their own ego - that transgresses those values?
Who inspires me? - What do they say and do that brings back optimism so powerfully that my negative cynicism will go away?
Who do I like? - Do they have a sense of humor that is genuine, self-deprecating and never about maligning someone else? Remember JFK’s statement of, “I am the man who accompanied Jacqueline Kennedy to Paris, and I have enjoyed it” as compared to how King Charles couldn’t stand Princess Diana outshining him.
Who makes me proud to be an American? - Who will cause me to feel the way I did when JFK and Ronald Reagan were Presidents… without my falling prey to American exceptionalism that has always offended our partners in the world.
If you think the above are too woo woo or Pollyanna, would you instead prefer to vote for someone who:
You don’t trust
You don’t have confidence in
You don’t respect
You don’t admire
You don’t feel inspired by
You don’t like
You don’t feel makes you proud to be an American
I know I wouldn’t.