6/17 Top 3 Candidates for the Republican Nomination

Periodically, I will share my opinion on who should get the Republican nomination for President of the United States - the greatest place under God's blue sky.

This week - my first ranking - is as follows:

1. Senator Ted Cruz
Senator Cruz, who hails from my home state of Texas, is a passionate, charismatic leader who says what he thinks and does what he says.  There is never any debate on where the Senator stands on issues and is not afraid to tackle the Republican establishment when they are wrong which happens more often than it should.

He has lost a little momentum due to his early entrance in the race, but as long as he stays relevant and strong and keeps fundraising until the first debate, he will do just fine.  #whendidyoufightforit

2. Dr. Ben Carson
Dr. Carson continues to surprise people in GOP polls and has an ability to connect with people.  Some of his more controversial statements actually do make sense when you listen to his explanation - he is an individual of high intellect and an ability to communicate.  His momentum willy only rise. #getreadymainstream

3. Ms. Carly Fiorina
Ms. Fiorina has shown the capacity to battle the battles worth fighting, not shying away from confrontational conversations.  Many would argue, including those that are not her fans, that HP is still around today because of the very merger with Compaq that ended her leadership at HP and because of her cost saving measures.  (By the way, liberals have no problems when the government forces companies to do the same thing to the benefit of liberal donors - aka unions.)

She has not backed down from attacking RINO and Hillary Clinton.  #letherdebate

On the watch list: Senator Marco Rubio, Governor Rick Perry (mainly because of his passion an convictions) and Governor Bobby Jindal (wouldn't be the worst thing to have someone with an education focus).  I do not count Governor Scott Walker since he has yet to announce.

Something is missing...

Hillary Clinton likes to take populous stands – she did so as First Lady, as a Senator from New York and as Secretary of State.  However, taking popular stands and actually fighting for them, or heck even voting for them are different things.  I wonder if she requests for a bullet-proof limousine equipped with crudites and fancy water to take her from one populous stand to another.

People have made jokes about not being able to name one accomplishment which should not come as a surprise because there are none.  Some people said she was restricted because she knew she would run for President and did not want to have a ‘gotcha’ moment.   In other words, a person who desires to run the greatest and freest country in the world is afraid someone may second guess a vote she made.  Hardly seems to be a person of conviction.

Let me tackle of few other ‘excuses’ – she is an extremely private person and people do not know her.  She has been in the public light for two dozen years, written books and made a ton of speeches (many of which she was compensated at 25,000 times the people who actually worked at the place) – people do know her, and there is just nothing there.

Others say that she was only the junior Senator from New York and had a world that resented America to deal with as Secretary of State.  There are plenty of junior Senators who have done enough that people recognize who they are.  Heck, there are three of them running on the Republican ticket – Senator Marco Rubio, Senator Rand Paul and Senator Ted Cruz.  All three have done things that have made them well known, beyond their last name.

As for the world, if everybody did indeed hate America, which the lack of countries leaving military alliances in 2008 or ending economic/trade with the US in 2008 would say that other countries truly did not hate America, Hillary Clinton would have had an easy time improving those relationships.  Were there any peace summits that students will read about in their text books?  No.  Any international dispute that she successfully mediated or negotiated?  No.  Wait, there was that one thing that happened – the death of four Americans in an embassy in a city that all other countries had vacated at least a week ahead of time and that US soldiers could not get to ‘in-time’, despite not knowing when or if the attacks would occur.

Those that support Hillary Clinton want there to be something of grasp to show more than an idea of hope or a populist message.  The problem is that they just don’t exist, and if they did, they are on a hidden and illegal email server at her multi-million dollar Westchester mansion.

If You...You Are... (Part I)

Today, many folks struggle with the idea of being a proud American while realizing that we still have work to do.  This is caused by the media and talking heads that say if you support police, you support racism.  If you support free trade, you are against the American worker.  If you are against unions, you are for corporations.  All of this 'if you...you are...' is the kind of mindset and attitude that prevents us from moving forward in society.

I would be the majority of Americans in their heart, if not on social media, believe in the following:

1. We should help those in need, but help them to get on their feet, not survive on their knees.

2. We are a pro-life country where those that are born and unborn are showed compassion and valued.  Whether we want to turn that into legislation or keep it as a social cause is the difference.

3. Families are the center point of society.

4. We must restructure our education system but that does not mean we are indicting teachers.  We believe that we must expect more out of this institution so they expect more out of themselves and our students.

5. Education leads to economic freedom.  However, education just does not mean an Ivy League or northeastern/west coast education.  We have enough people from those places trying to run society.  Instead we need to educate people to have hard skills and think freely.  That may occur in a community college in a rural area, a trade school, a night class, high school or many other methods.  However we need education.

I am sure the list could continue for a while, and it will continue in future posts.  We should acknowledge and yes, exploit, our similarities and focus on resolving our true differences.