In the spirit of individual freedom, responsibility, and decisiveness, I thought I’d let USA Today tell me which candidate to vote for courtesy of their handy “Candidate Match Game“. Based on my “open and honest” responses, it appears John Huntsman, Newt Gingrich, and Mitt Romney best match my answers, in that order. (Huntsman? I don’t think so…)
Unfortunately, and predictably, Republican candidates have once again forgotten the two most important rules when trying to defeat a Democrat President: (1) “Thou shalt not speak ill of any Republican.” (California State Republican Party Chairman Gaylord B. Parkinson’s “11th Commandment“), and (b) Nominate “…the most conservative candidate who can win.” (aka: “The William F. Buckley rule“).
The result? Everyone’s picking on everybody else for being “too” something:
- Mitt Romney? – Too Mormon for his Business Acumen!
- Newt Gingrich? – Too Conservative for his Baggage!
- Ron Paul? – Too Looney for his Prescience!
- Herman Cain? – Too Conservative & Successful for his Ethnicity!
- Rick Perry? – Too Medicated for his accomplishments!
- John Huntsman? – Too Texan. (No good President ever came from Texas)
- Michelle Bachman? – Too Republican for her Femininity!
- Donald Trump? – Too Egotistical for his Ostentatiousness!
While the remaining Republican hopefuls verbally eviscerate each other in debate after endless debate by holding themselves to moral, ethical, and political standards that few very few almost no Democrat could ever come close to meeting, I propose another candidate for the Republican nomination for President: I say “Cicero for President!” Cicero? Yep, Marcus Tullius Cicero, the Roman soldier, statesman, official, and philosopher. His skills cover finance (quaestor), public works administration (aedile), justice official (praetor), chief magistrate (consul), and former chief magistrate (proconsul).
In my book he’s a natural – I can easily imagine his stance on a variety of important issues facing our country today:
On Freedom of Speech:
“If we are not ashamed to think it, we should not be ashamed to say it.”
On Teachers Unions?
“The authority of those who teach is often an obstacle to those who want to learn.”
On Morality:
“What is morally wrong can never be advantageous, even when it enables you to make some gain that you believe to be to your advantage. The mere act of believing that some wrongful course of action constitutes an advantage is pernicious.”
On Politicians
“Politicians are not born; they are excreted.”
On Majorities:
“In a Republic this rule ought to be observed: That the majority should not have the predominant power.”
On Over-regulation:
“The more laws, the less justice.”
On Wealth Redistribution:
“The men who administer public affairs must first of all see that everyone holds onto what is his, and that private men are never deprived of their goods by public men.”
On the Electoral System:
“Nothing is more unreliable than the populace, nothing more obscure than human intentions, nothing more deceptive than the whole electoral system.”
On Lawyers:
“According to the law of nature it is only fair that no one should become richer through damages and injuries suffered by another.”
On President Obama?
“It is the peculiar quality of a fool to perceive the faults of others and to forget his own.”
“It is the nature of every person to error, but only the fool perseveres in error.”
“The mansion should not be graced by its master, the master should grace the mansion.”
“He cannot be strict in judging, who does not wish others to be strict judges of himself.”
“Study carefully, the character of the one you recommend, lest their misconduct bring you shame.”
On Barack Obama vs. George W. Bush?
“I prefer tongue-tied knowledge to ignorant loquacity.”
I’ve even considered some possible catchy slogans for Cicero’s Presidential Campaign:
- “Put the “C” in “Democracy”!
- “Looking Back. Moving Forward.”
- “Even dead I’m Better than Obama.”
Sure, aside from Cicero’s own writings, we may not know too much about his personal life, such as school transcripts, legal clients, or medical, financial, or senate records – but, that shouldn’t stop you from supporting him, as the precedent has already been set by President Obama.
And, I’m not worried if Cicero doesn’t get the nomination – I’m already considering a backup choice.
Thanks for reading!
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