Susandoodles

Have you ever considered how a help wanted ad would read for the next American President?  I did. 

Let me begin with who I am:  a Midwestern female who grew up on a family farm, went to college, earned a journalism degree, married, returned to college and became a high school teacher, had two kids, was divorced, got a masters in education, moved, continued in education, remarried, and then answered the call to serve as a local pastor which meant more education.  Now I am officially retired.

Why is knowing who I am important?  I am like Americans all over this country, and I have some understanding of the qualities I believe are necessary for a President.  

First, and most importantly, the President must have a clear understanding of the United States Constitution and the historical background of the struggles that led to the country’s law and the amendments that were carefully vetted to adapt to our culture as it changes while remaining true to the statements that declared our independence.

The President swears to follow and to support the Constitution.  There is no grey area around that oath of office.

This leads to a foundation of ethics.  The President must maintain honesty, strong moral character, and practice healthy behaviors to maintain physical and mental stamina needed for the job. 

Secondly, the President must understand he/she is transparent.  As a figure head for this country, the role places that person into a position to serve as a model of the American principles—its laws, its people, its dreams.  

At the same time, American people must understand the President is human; therefore, susceptible to human weaknesses despite one’s strengths. 

The President’s past and present life will be scrutinized.  Certainly this scrutiny is not fair.  No one should expect anybody to live a perfect life; but individuals who step into public life must understand that life in the public eye eliminates privacy.

My own life experiences created filters which have led to my opinions and observations concerning our culture’s shifts in politics, but my educational career led me to study American history and to teach it.  These factors led me to develop my understanding of politics.  

For decades even centuries, the two-political party system dominated American politics.  These two parties followed a very basic division of ideals.  From my perspective, this has disappeared; and the ideals are no longer based on leadership of a country as much as it is one party maintaining power, for power’s sake.  

Forget the people.  

Forget the country as a part of a global community.

As this country braces for the onslaught of political news, voter polls, state-by-state primary caucuses and primary elections, everybody needs to stop and review what is needed in an American President.

Therefore, drop the party alignment.  Look at the candidates as individuals who can be a positive, productive leaders for the country.  Consider these questions:

• Who exhibits the qualities of leadership?
• Who listens and studies an issue, and then can communicates with other leaders even with different opinions and/or agendas?  
• Who looks at the big picture and then breaks it down to manageable steps to success?  
• Who seeks out qualified advisors—and actively considers their wisdom?  
• Who has the mental and physical health to manage the demands of the job?  
• Who can ignore the media and the power-mongers when making a decision in the best interest of the people and the best interest of the country co-existing in a global community?

Certainly, the time is not available to drop the idea of party labels for the 2024 caucuses and the primary elections.  But it is not too late to caucus and vote for candidates who best match the qualifications for an American President.  

Each individual American must vote for the qualifications not simply the leader in the polls or the party’s candidate.  Vote for the person that best fills the qualities for all the American people and for the global community in which we co-exist.