The Patriot Post - Alexander's Column 10-26-2016

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The Patriot Post - Alexander's Column 10-26-2016
From The Federalist Patriot
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Alexander, How Will You Vote?

By Mark Alexander

Oct. 26, 2016

“It has long, however, been my opinion … that the germ of dissolution of our federal government is in … the federal Judiciary … working like gravity by night and by day, gaining a little today and a little tomorrow, and advancing its noiseless step like a thief, over the field of jurisdiction, until all shall be usurped.” —Thomas Jefferson (1821)

Over the last six months, I’ve been asked by hundreds of colleagues, “How will you vote?” To each of them, I responded much as I have in every presidential election since I cast my first vote. More on that in a moment…

The contest between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton has created an extraordinary level of contentiousness, most notably not between political parties but rather between differing constituencies1 on the right side of the political spectrum. Conservatives, especially voters of strong faith2, are divided over support for Trump. That division is evident even among our staff. In 2012, millions of conservative and faithful voters were divided over the Romney-Ryan ticket3, and abstained — thus handing Barack Obama a second term.

But never has a national party candidate created as much intra-party discord as Trump, and it’s notable that the only way Clinton will win this election is because of that discord. She’s the weakest candidate the Democrat Party4 has fielded since Walter Mondale lost 49 states to Ronald Reagan5 in 1984. (A mere 2,500 votes in Mondale’s home state of Minnesota denied Reagan a clean sweep of the Electoral College.) I hasten to mention that Mondale was far more honest and qualified than Clinton, who is, arguably, the most corrupt and inept Democrat candidate since the party was established.

Astoundingly, and almost exclusively because of the aforementioned Republican infighting, Clinton leads in most media polls.

That being said, however, I’ve always argued that most media polls are outcome-based, which is to say they’re designed for a subjective outcome, which is then promoted as an objective outcome in order to propagate and expand the subjective goal. Years ago I dubbed this disingenuous media polling cycle the “Pollaganda Effect6.” It is for this reason that The Patriot Post rarely reports polling unless it meets our very high standard for objectivity.

How ironic it is that media outlets refrain from exit polling on Election Day, ostensibly to ensure that they don’t influence those who’ve not yet voted and, thus, the election outcome. However, they report their outcome-based polling incessantly up until the last minute before Election Day polls open, and they do so precisely to influence the voters and, thus, the election outcome.

So, how am I going to vote?

I’ll tell you, but first allow me to share how that question contrasts with where I’ll be on Wednesday, the day this column posts.

As you read this, I’ll be present for a gathering of distinguished veterans at the National World War II Museum7 for a preview of the upcoming film Hacksaw Ridge8. A month ago I wrote a column on the subject of this film entitled “The Most Unlikely Hero — Desmond Doss9.” Desmond was one of our East Tennessee neighbors. As a National Advisory Board Member of the Medal of Honor Heritage Center10 in Chattanooga, home of the first Medals ever awarded11, I’m honored to help escort Desmond’s original Medal of Honor for display at the Hacksaw Ridge preview.

Desmond Doss was a Patriot whose character reflects infinitely more about the essential spirit of American greatness12 than this year’s presidential contenders, neither of whom would be worthy of shining his boots. Desmond’s Medal of Honor citation13 reads like fiction, but his heroic actions over 22 days are well documented. In my humble opinion (though he would never have accepted such praise), Desmond’s citation is among the most awe-inspiring of all 3,514 Medals awarded since its inception.

In addition to celebrating the extraordinary courage and character of Desmond Doss, I am also observing the one-year anniversary of the passing of another WWII veteran, the most influential hero in my life, my father14.

I was reading through some notes I’d written on the day of his death, and one of the things that best characterized his life is that he always lived for the next sunrise, not the last sunset. Like so many in his generation who lived through the Great Depression and World War II, he learned not to assume there would be another day. He learned to appreciate life and especially the little things, the simple blessings and mercies.

In his final years, like so many of the Greatest Generation who gave so much to sustain Liberty for our nation and the world, he was dismayed that in 2008, and again in 2012, a majority of Americans could elect a man who represented the antithesis of the Liberty that men like him, before and since, had fought for.

I’m grateful that he hasn’t had to witness the ascension of the two candidates in this year’s presidential election.

So, regarding the question, “How will you vote?”