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Published On: Mon, Dec 28th, 2015

What do I want from the President?

With 2016 literally right around the corner and the Iowa caucus commencing in February, I believe it’s important that every citizen truly examine what they expect from the federal elected officials. Here I want to discuss what I am looking for in a President.

Photo of the US Constitution taken in the rotunda of the National Archives photo Mr. T in DC via Flickr

Photo of the US Constitution taken in the rotunda of the National Archives photo Mr. T in DC via Flickr

I guess it is easier for me to start out with what I DON’T want in the President as this will rule out the bulk of candidates running for the head of the Executive branch.

I DO NOT want a “Strongman”, or “Strongwoman” for that matter. We have seen a dramatic and scary increase in executive power from administration to administration and while Democrats complained about the increase in Executive power under GW Bush, we saw an increase in this under the current administration. The last thing I want is more of the same. Most candidates, on both sides of the aisle, based on what they say, would increase executive power.

I DO NOT want a monarch, a dictator or any other description of some one, or few person rule of the nation in any fashion.

I DO NOT want someone who claims he or she is going to “take care” of any type of group.

I DO NOT want a President who believes government is answer to all our ills. I DO NOT want a progressive, left-wing or right.

I DO NOT want a President who will “take one for the team”.

Well, I believe I’ve ruled out just about all the candidates running for President, Democrat or Republican.

So you may be asking, what do you want?

I want someone who will abide by their oath.

In Article II, Section 1 of the US Constitution it states:

Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall take the following Oath or Affirmation:—”I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

Despite what we’ve seen in the past century or so, Article II, Section 1 gives the President few powers and clearly he or she was never meant to have more powers than the legislative branch, or the Congress (See Article I of the Constitution).

What Article II says is “The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States; he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any Subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices, and he shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.”

He or she DOES NOT have authority, according to the Constitution, to take our country into war or other military conflict without Congressional approval (Article I, Section 8, Clause 11 states “The Congress shall have Power To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water.”)

I want a President that will honor this clause with the exception of imminent or actual attack on the US. I want a President to show wisdom and restraint concerning affairs of this matter.

If the Congress does declare war, I want a President, as Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy to lead our military into war with the sole objective to win and come home.

Article II also give the President authority to appoint judges, ambassadors and make treaties. Outside of this, not a whole lot more since he or she is not a monarch, dictator or some other type of “Strongman”.

To “preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States”…

I want the President to veto ALL legislation that crosses his or hers desk that is not constitutional (is it appropriate for the federal government to be doing it?), regardless if it come from a Republican or Democratically-led Congress.

I want the President to go through the executive orders of ALL previous administrations and if they don’t pass the constitutional test, get rid of it.

I want the President to go through the Federal Registrar and eliminate ALL regulations that step outside the intent of the Constitution.

I want a President who cherishes liberty.

Is their anyone left to consider? Hmmmmm, that’s really unfortunate…

Robert Herriman is a microbiologist and the Editor-in-Chief of Outbreak News Today and the Executive Editor of The Global Dispatch

Follow @bactiman63

 

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About the Author

- Writer, Co-Founder and Executive Editor of The Global Dispatch. Robert has been covering news in the areas of health, world news and politics for a variety of online news sources. He is also the Editor-in-Chief of the website, Outbreak News Today and hosts the podcast, Outbreak News Interviews on iTunes, Stitcher and Spotify Robert is politically Independent and a born again Christian Follow @bactiman63

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