Can an Independent Win?

I am running for president as an independent with no political experience. Can a candidate without major party support, coming out of “nowhere”, be an effective president? Why would we even consider such an idea?

President Kennedy once said, “Mothers still want their sons to grow up to be president. They just don’t want them to become politicians on the way.” It rings true, doesn’t it? And then we tell our children, “You can grow up to be anything you want to be in this country, even president.” Have you heard it?

Many of you may be thinking, this guy has no political experience at all. And you would be correct. I have no experience in bribery, back stabbing, lying to the press, breaking the law, or corruption…; but I see these as pluses!

Like many of you, over the years, I have voted for many candidates, and I have also voted against many candidates for various offices. We are often reduced to voting for the “lesser of two evils” and that’s the way it is. There is a Democrat and a Republican; choose one. I dislike labels but realize they are useful at times.

Because for me, and for each of you, and for anyone who is not content with today’s politics as usual – here’s a Democrat and a Republican; choose one… for those people, I want to offer something different. Someone outside the realm of politics, to stay outside it, and do the job I would be elected to do.

One day Benjamin Franklin entertained a few of his friends - Dr. Benjamin Rush and Thomas Jefferson. The conversation turned to what was the oldest profession. Dr. Rush, a physician, said the oldest profession was his. “After all, it was a surgical operation that made Eve out of Adam’s rib.” But Jefferson, who built Monticello, said, “No, it was the architect. Surely it was an architect who brought the world out of chaos.” Then Franklin replied, “You’re both wrong. It’s the politician. After all, who do you think created the chaos?”

Washington is full of problems, but not problem solvers. At least not those who can still be impartial. That is the freshness I hope to offer to the country. The words of Abraham Lincoln from his Gettysburg Address echo to us today, “That this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom – and that Government of the people by the people for the people shall not perish from the earth.”

Can you imagine a sitting president OF the people – one of us? Someone who knows and acts on the needs and concerns of the average American citizen…because they are one. Not insulated or distorted by years or decades of political deal making.

Can you imagine a president BY the people – a person chosen by popular vote as a response to common sense, and not someone bought by political action committee’s and political parties’ money?

Can you imagine a president FOR the people – not working for a party, not working to maintain a majority, owing no one for putting him in office except the voters… who the president should serve anyway? Someone who will work while in office, not touring the country promoting his party’s candidates. A president that watches out first for the concerns that you and I have and fixes the problems of our country that must be fixed now.

That is the dream. That is the plan.

But why not start with something smaller and work my way up? First, our country is running out of time. Changes need to be made now. Second, I want to make the biggest difference I can with the time I have. And third, remember it is my desire to be outside the realm of politics to be most effective. Working my way up through the ranks would have me looking for handouts and party power just like those who I am running against. Even if I fell 100% into a Republican or Democratic label, I don’t have the name recognition or the ability to raise enough money to compete. Each party is expected to spend $500 million dollars for the 2008 elections. That is a contest I cannot and will not compete in. When our presidency can be bought by the biggest spender, we all need to be ashamed and afraid.

You can grow up to be anything you want to be in this country, even president. Do you believe it? Do you dare to dream big enough?

Steve

Steve Adams was born and raised in Ohio, graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a Computer Science degree in 1988, and subsequently moved to Lexington KY. He has worked at Lexmark International since 1989 and has been a Part Time Local Pastor at St. Luke UMC since 2004. He is married with two children. He is not politically correct, but is politically active. He is a registered INDEPENDENT, running for President of the United States. No joke. You can read all about it on www.PresidentAdams.com or e-mail Steve directly at Steve@PresidentAdams.com.

Who is Running Washington?

I keep reading the news and see where every day or so, a presidential candidate at a press conference will “open mouth and insert foot.” A day later, they have an apology speech. Who needs reality TV when we have these people?

Some are overt blunders and some are subtle mistakes. Obama talked about “wasted lives” of our American soldiers. Not a great thing to say to those soldiers’ families no matter your view on the war. McCain jumped on the “I hate Rumsfeld” train after lauding him at his retirement since he “deserves Americans' respect and gratitude.“ Hillary demanded a beginning to troop pullout in 90 days… but with no end date. A bill sure to be struck down, but a lovely political maneuver for the sake of the publicity.

Putting all their blunders, misstatements, posturing and spin aside for the moment; who’s running Washington? We’ve got Senators and Representatives traveling the country - especially in primary states – trying to earn votes for primaries, grab money from anyone they can, and gain endorsements along the way. Don’t they have something to vote on or legislation to pass, i.e. THEIR JOB they were elected to do?

Did you know Congress only spent 72 days at work in 2006? 125 days if you count Mondays and Fridays, the “non-voting days.” The average over the last 20 years was 152 days. You and I work about 100 days more than that and they earn $165,200 per year.

On their “off” days, aren’t they still supposed to be representing their constituents rather than looking for a “better job” by campaigning? Think about it. Would you hire someone for a job you had, who did not show up to their current job? Of course not. Why then would you vote for someone for president when they did not do their job they were already in? Someone who, knowing they could not fulfill the duties of their current job, did not step down to allow someone else to do it?

This is nothing new and indeed incumbent officials have fought election battles while in office to stay in office. But even then, they were not doing the job they were elected to do and what they were getting paid for. This is the very reason that I have said, when elected in 2008, I will not run for reelection in 2012. I’m going to stay at work for you. If I’m doing a good job, you will vote for me again. If I am not, you should not vote for me anyway. Makes sense, doesn’t it? There’s more where that came from. www.PresidentAdams.com. Common Sense for Uncommon Times.

Steve

Steve Adams was born and raised in Ohio, graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a Computer Science degree in 1988, and subsequently moved to Lexington KY. He has worked at Lexmark International since 1989 and has been a Part Time Local Pastor at St. Luke UMC since 2004. He is married with two children. He is not politically correct, but is politically active. He is a registered INDEPENDENT, running for President of the United States. No joke. You can read all about it on www.PresidentAdams.com or e-mail Steve directly at Steve@PresidentAdams.com.

We Need Change - The Right Kind

I like to keep my messages and commentaries positive. But sometimes that is difficult. We live in a world of many worries. We are faced with post 9-11 fears of foreign terrorists and constant anxiety with our overseas wars. We also have things to fear in our own country, some of which are better known than others.

In the latest internet poll on Politics One that I am involved in, I came across a new evil that I didn’t think we would have to worry about in the land of the free and the home of the brave. My closest challenger today (Bowles) is in the National Socialist Movement, better known as the American Nazi Party. You can visit his site but hold on to your lunch as you see the swastika painted on our beautiful nation and read more about the “White People’s Candidate”, his denial of the holocaust, education for white children, bringing home only the white troops and more.

I realize he has the right to free speech and the right to run for president. And I’m sure I’ll get hate mail from his cronies for saying this. But this type of bigotry and hate has no place in our country.

Why do I bring this up? Because left unopposed, left undefeated, these are the people that are offering to run your country. If the closeness of the last few elections hasn’t convinced you yet, please listen now. It matters who you support. It matters who you vote for. And it matters now. Who do you want to lead this country? YOUR country?

Republicans and Democrats who will continue to argue against each other and accomplish nothing? Fractionalized third parties who are suing each other for their party names? Fringe guys who appeal to radical hate?

If your answer is none of the above, then I ask you not to withhold your vote. Don’t stay home on election day. Work and vote for a real and good change. Yes, change means risk. But can we afford not to change? I’m not talking about “change” offered by people who are already in office offering a new flavor of the same thing. I’m not talking about hate filled “change” to bring more division to our nation. I’m talking about change that brings hope, action, progress, growth, and pride back to our country.

I ask for your support now. Register on www.PresidentAdams.com so the country can see that change is demanded. Register today so the fringe elements will fade into noise after our voices come together to be loud enough to drown them out. Together we can make a difference and a change for the better.

Steve

Steve Adams was born and raised in Ohio, graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a Computer Science degree in 1988, and subsequently moved to Lexington KY. He has worked at Lexmark International since 1989 and has been a Part Time Local Pastor at St. Luke UMC since 2004. He is married with two children. He is not politically correct, but is politically active. He is a registered INDEPENDENT, running for President of the United States. No joke. You can read all about it on www.PresidentAdams.com or e-mail Steve directly at Steve@PresidentAdams.com.