Posted on 02/08/2025 1:38:10 PM PST by Fester Chugabrew
Vetting the Candidates
Have you ever had Election Day creep up on you and feel flat footed when you don't know who is on the ballot (other than a name) and what they stand for in terms of public policy?
Have you noticed there are people who have attained to high public office and use their voice to advocate for violence in the streets? (Maxine Waters and Hakim Jeffries come to mind of late.)
Did you know that oaths of office are legally binding, and that to break the oath by advocating policies and actions diametrically opposed to the letter and spirit of the Constitution is ground for impeachment and removal from office?
Finally, how does it happen that such people ever get on a public ballot in the first place? It happens because we have no law or mechanism to test candidates in terms of their knowledge of, and fealty toward, the meaning and purpose of the Constitution.
We need to develop the tools to change that, and make sure it is applied *before* a candidates name ever gets on a ballot. To that end I have begun to research the process whereby an individual applies for public office and gets on the ballot.
My County Clerk requires an endorsement from the party under which a candidate running. So I called the party headquarters to ask, "How do you vet candidates that apply?" I have not yet arrived at an answer, but I'll tell you this: *This* is where a legal requirement should be in place no matter what party.
A candidate ought by law pass an examination, the results of which must be available for public view at any time. Crucial to that test are essay questions that solicit in principle what they believe about their oath and the Constitution.
For example:
What is the purpose of having a Constitution?
You will be swearing to uphold and defend the Constitution of The United States of America. What, in your own words, makes that Constitution different from that of every other nation?
What is the difference between a right and a privilege?
State in your own words what are the three branches of government, what each one chiefly does, and why we have those three branches.
State in your own words what is the difference between a straight democracy and a Constitutional Republic. ------- The examination must also consist of multiple choice and true/false questions for a more objective measure. The candidate can only take the test once, and the score will be made public. It will be on the ballot.
There will not be trick questions. The examination will be standardized with study in advance to be encouraged.
On the other end of this ought to be a body of diligent citizens who not only monitor the administration of this exam, but also the candidate's attitude and actions as pertains to their oath of office, so that force of law may be brought to bear promptly in the event, for example, they call for domestic violence either privately or publicly.
Good heavens, folks. These are people who aspire to generating and enforcing the public policies under which you and your family ought to thrive in piece. You probably went through more trouble to get your drivers license than Maxine Waters did to violate her oath with her mouth.
From a practical standpoint I must study the process for attaining to every public office held by virtue of the consent of the people. Beyond that are many unelected public servants who also take the oath. Every state DA should be vigilant, because the oath undergirds the whole idea of a free and prosperous people.
The development and implementation of this process ought to start with the oldest generation and be dedicated to the youngest, making use of their talent for a longstanding result.
I was not born on the 4th of July. I was born on the 19th of April, a date preceding that began the process of establishing the greatest nation in history. It matters that our mutual endeavor invoke the greatest honesty and integrity of those to seek and attain public office.
Let's vet them *before* they get on the ballot. Otherwise we will suffer the maleficent government we are currently struggling to upright.
This subject has been held in mind for a few years. To get this done will require a lot of work. Who knows? Maybe similar efforts are underway, but my view from here is not pretty.
God bless The United States and Free Republic!
That should be question number one.
The examination I propose should be the product of others more astute than me in civil affairs. Your suggestion makes sense. There are dozens of questions I would like to ask of any candidate, but I am notified when they apply.
That is another cog: a watch dog group that receives immediate notice when someone files for public office. Laser focus. “We’d like to have a public talk with you.” And that talk should focus on basic principles of self-awareness and self-governance.
*I am *not* notified when they apply.
As a practical matter, voters are rarely swayed by abstract legal and political points. Successful opposition research and negative campaign ads instead focus on issues that lead people to vote against a candidate. That usually means showing that a candidate is a kook, a crook, has engaged in bad conduct, or is otherwise of bad character or poor judgment.
This is not a matter of persuading voters. It is a matter of making sure that WHOEVER they vote for has been vetted in terms of Constitutional fealty and the weight of taking the Oath.
To what effect would such vetting be? Unless you defeat candidates who fail, the test will be of little practical consequence.
To what effect? It keeps rank despisers of our founding principles off the ballot and out of office. The process is not geared toward establishing public policy per se. Questions along those lines would result in partisan distinctions and further inform the voter.
Wow. You would be a great source to question about the process. I do not think my local Republican Party is doing enough to identify both whom they put on the ballot and the opposing party. Will find out.
Thanks for chiming in. My concern is simply enhancing ballot integrity so Maxine types never get on a ballot.
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