2016 is our next presidential election year as most of us are aware. Every election is the most important election of our lifetime even the midterm elections. Why is that? Well with each election members are elected that will determine the direction of the nation for the next generation. The presidential election is more important because of one thing – the power to appoint federal judges and Supreme Court judges who serve long after those who appoint them.

Voters must pay special attention when voting for the office of President because of their power to appoint judges. The wording in the Constitution is that judges serve as long as they ‘behave’ which means they are appointed for life or until they choose to step down. The decisions they make, especially the Supreme Court will affect the nation far into the future. Therefore, we must know what type of judge each potential Presidential candidate would appoint to the federal benches and most importantly the Supreme Court. There are basically two types of judges: those who think they can make law and rewrite the Constitution to their liking, fondly referred to as activist judges. Then there are those who respect our Constitution and its timeless principles and limit their decisions to a strict interpretation of the law. These are fondly referred to as strict constructionist. We have so many of the first type now sitting on federal benches that “we the people” means little and is being replaced by “we the judges”.

“At the establishment of our constitutions, the judiciary bodies were supposed to be the most helpless and harmless members of the government. Experience, however, soon showed in what way they were to become the most dangerous… In truth, man is not made to be trusted for life, if secured against all liability to account.” –Thomas Jefferson, letter to Monsieur A. Coray, 1823

As a result these judges have given us public schools where prayer and the Bible are banned, abortion on demand is the law of the land, laws against sodomy removed, ruled that illegal alien children have a right to public education, overturned the will of the voters in numerous states on the protection of traditional marriage and many other rulings that even include forcing taxes on citizens. The left/progressives in this country have used the courts to pass laws that they could not get passed through the Congress and state legislatures. These are all laws that the majority of Americans opposed which is why they would not make it through the legislative process. These unelected judges impact our daily lives in a multitude of ways and have contributed to the downward spiral of American society.

How did the courts become so all powerful? I believe it is because the American voter has not fully understood the power of the presidency to appoint judges and the long-term effects of these appointments. Therefore, we have not been intentional in looking for the right presidential candidates who rightly value and respect the Constitution and desire to protect the Constitution from those trying to rewrite it. In our media driven world it is hard not to get blinded by personality and “coolness” in our candidates and take at face value what candidates say instead of questioning the meaning behind what is actually being said. The question then is how do we not get distracted by the media hype, personality and good looks? The other question is why do we allow ourselves to get distracted by a media that has proven it is nothing but an arm of the liberal/progressive camp?

When we just listen to what is being said and avoid looking at all the staged backdrops we can begin to really hear and perceive what is being said and the motives behind it. That is why I like radio. Next we need to read everything the candidates have in writing then check into the people who most influence them and what their governing philosophy is. Do they have a true leadership track record and the ability to govern? Character does count as does moral uprightness and a spirit of humility (acknowledging they do not know everything and need expert advisors).

With these in mind it is easy to understand why former governors are elected to the presidency more than any other. They have governing and leadership experience and a track record that is open to scrutiny on the judicial appointments they made as governor. This tells us much about their governing philosophy.

Next Week: Winning at all Costs Mentality – Good or Bad?

Dinner Table Discussion Question: Think about past Presidential elections and how you made your decision to support one over the other candidates. How did it turn out?