By David Ware
April 19, 2023
THE BRANDENBURG GATE
On June 12, 1987 President Ronald Reagan stood in Berlin on the dividing line between east and west. The contrast between free Western Europe and Soviet-dominated Eastern Europe was like day and night. In one of the most memorable and powerful speeches of the modern era, our 40th President spoke the unforgettable words:
“Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!”
America’s only near-peer adversary and enemy soon crumbled. I would venture to say that if Ronald Reagan had been with us longer, we would not have witnessed the re-emergence of Russian tyranny under Vladimir Putin.
FROM WHENCE THEY CAME
Ronald Reagan had spent the World War II years as a U.S. Army Reserve Officer making training films to help our troops around the world. He internalized the values and the commitment that liberated the world and restored freedom to people in Europe and Asia as well as here at home.
Despite many years in liberal Hollywood, he stood out as a bastion of conservatism amidst a sea of perversity. Anyone who doubted his heart was quickly relieved when Ronald Reagan became President and restored decency and patriotism to our national discourse.
Those of us blessed to be old enough remember so many inspiring heartfelt talks by President Reagan. He constantly honored those who had served, especially those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. He also reminded us of who we are and how we got to be the greatest country on Earth with liberty for all.
Ronald Reagan was a man of his day and age.
AMERICA NOW NEEDS A LEADER OF OUR DAY AND AGE
That person most certainly is not Joe Biden.
First, the biggest difference is in the moral status of our country. Second, it is in international respect or lack thereof. Nobody could ever doubt where Ronald Reagan stood and that he stood firm on his beliefs and convictions. Nor was there ever a doubt that he put America first rather than his own benefits.
AMERICA HAS ALSO CHANGED
This isn’t just a tale of two American Presidents. It is also the saga of the deterioration of the knowledge and the discernment of the American public.
One can only hope that any actual winner of a future election can safeguard it against cyber subversion. That is the first obstacle. But the generation that elected Ronald Reagan is not the generation that has acquiesced to the ascendancy of Joe Biden.
THE REMEDY
We cannot change where our country is headed unless we change ourselves. Elections and the candidates that attain office are a reflection of America’s decline. Joe Biden would have done no better than Walter Mondale against Ronald Reagan in 1984, but if that election were in 2024, the results would not be identical [hypothetically, discounting actual lifespans, just considering the temperament of American voters].
An America that abides a Biden has lost the reality of a Reagan.
Our 40th President understood and applied the lessons of history whereas our 46th President does not.
It starts in the home with parents properly educating their own children. It continues in the schools by taking them back and replacing political agendas with empirical facts, teaching our impressionable children to think objectively and make wise decisions while instilling legitimate scientific definitions of everything from gender to climate.
Unless and until we do that, our future elections will continue to reflect America’s propensity to self-destruct. None of us would have thought such a dramatic change could happen in 35 years as it has between Reagan and Biden. While we focus on 2024, we must not forsake those who will still be around and voting for President in 2056.
TIME TO PASS THE BATON
As a septuagenarian and baby boomer, I must sadly admit that those of my generation and older have lost the cutting edge to lead our nation. Joe Biden lacks the mental acuity to do his job. Reagan took office just days before he turned 70 and some said he was too old at that time but Biden will be 82 before Inauguration Day of 2025.
Donald Trump would be 82 before leaving office in January 2029 if elected to a non-consecutive second term. But, age is not the only consideration. We need someone who is in touch with what we’re dealing with today. Not just a shrewd businessman. One who has devoted his life to service of our country.
RONALD TO RONALD
Ron DeSantis is just 44. He was just 10 years old when Reagan left office. I don’t know how much he internalized as a precocious youngster, but he has demonstrated his patriotism and dedication to the better good of America and America’s people.
He graduated with honors from both Yale and Harvard Law School. He earned his Commission in the U.S. Navy as a JAG officer. That stands for Judge Advocate General. He served as a close legal counsel for a Navy SEAL Commander in Iraq.
During 6 years in Congress, he served in the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and Committee on the Judiciary. He is currently serving his second term as Governor of his home state Florida.
Ronald Reagan learned the lessons of World War II. Ronald DeSantis has learned the lessons of our modern era. No other candidate of either political party brings the experience and the overwhelmingly positive track record to this current campaign as does Ron DeSantis.
WHEN WILL HE DECLARE HIS CANDIDACY OFFICIALLY?
As of this writing, it’s obvious he’s already on the campaign trail in the typical early voting States of New Hampshire, South Carolina and Iowa. If you doubt that he is running, I can tell you for sure that Donald Trump doesn’t agree with you. It’s amazing how much attention POTUS 45 pays to an undeclared opponent these days.
One thing I have observed from afar, and Hawaii is about as far from Florida as you can get within the United States, the good Governor is cool, calm and collected. He doesn’t engage in tit-for-tat or respond in kind when called “DeSanctimonious”. In fact, he demonstrates a maturity greater than the much older name caller.
It may be a little ironic, considering the Disney controversy, but Gov. DeSantis likes to have his Ducks all in a row. Even those named Donald!
He doesn’t panic or react emotionally. In fact, his demeanor is much more appropriate for a future Commander-in-Chief of American Armed Forces with Chinese Communist Party war clouds on the horizon.
This said, I hope Ronald DeSantis will declare his candidacy for the GOP nomination for President of the United States sooner rather than later. While he was not my choice in 2016, I do commend former President Trump for doing a yeoman’s job while he was in office. But America’s future surpasses any attempt to claim entitlement to restoration to the Presidency. It must be earned. In this present campaign for 2024, not retroactively.
OTHER OPTIONS
Mike Pompeo has decided not to run. Nikki Haley has declared but has a credibility gap to overcome. Vivek Ramaswami is just 37 years old and a very bold spokesman for conservatism. But, he’s barely above the threshold that our Founders established for the Presidency. He is bold, but I’m afraid a bit too rash. Some of his proposals are not well thought out about implementation or dealing with repercussions.
It’s rather interesting to see Robert Kennedy, Jr. challenging Joe Biden for the Democrat nomination. Had his dad lived to be elected in 1968, things would be very different today and probably better. But, he still clings to the Democrat Party which is not the party of his father RFK or Uncle JFK. Even his own Massachusetts Clan is not totally behind him.
RONALD DESANTIS [R]
From my vantage point where I sit here in Hawaii, which is bluer than all the surrounding waters of the Pacific Ocean, I supported Trump for re-election in 2020. If he gets nominated in ’24, I will hold my nose and vote for him. But without any optimism of him getting more than barely 30% of the vote in the 50th state again.
No disrespect to all my conservative colleagues here because I share your frustration at the groupthink which stifles the intellect of Hawaii voters on the Democrat Plantation. We saw so many Trump motorcades and sign waving that still didn’t make a dent in the outcome of that election. Let’s don’t do what Einstein said is insanity by trying the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.
There are a number of people and organizations encouraging Governor DeSantis to become President DeSantis. The outpouring of support wherever he speaks in other states is generally at capacity levels.
I just hope he will make it a truly 50 state campaign. No Republicans visit Hawaii because they’re afraid it would look like a boondoggle and a waste of campaign funds. I get that.
But, with a different approach, this election can be different. I can’t guarantee you that Ronald DeSantis can put Hawaii on the red state map like Ronald Reagan did 40 years ago. [Has it really been 4 decades? Wow!]
HAWAII 2024 CONSERVATIVE STRATEGY
Forgo the sign waving. Forget the motorcade. Too much traffic, and gas prices are out of sight. I’m sick and tired of respectable showings. Go for the win or just don’t even bother.
Because we have the Democrat pocket media against us, we have to find novel ways to get the message out. You don’t win elections in Hawaii by trying to appease Democrats by playing Democrat-Lite. Unless you can convince them that the incumbent needs to be replaced, you have nothing worth listening to. It doesn’t matter how good you are.
People here have been spoon fed far too long. Whether or not we can ever overcome the malicious branding of Republicans in Hawaii, we will give them something to remember.
It’s also useless trying to elect conservatives to state and municipal offices here when the scales are so unbalanced. The biggest problem with Trump is that people here already have decided how they feel about him and he will never win this state.
They need to hear a new voice of reason, not just bombastic rhetoric.
RONALD TO RONALD … MORE
I can’t tell you precisely why Ronald Reagan prevailed in Hawaii in 1984. I believe one of the main reasons was that his opponent was one of the weakest the Democrats have ever nominated. Walter Mondale was not respected as a strong leader. Neither is Joe Biden. Biden will probably not be their nominee.
Whether it’s Gavin Newsom or someone else, they’re all vulnerable. Count on Barack Obama endorsing and campaigning for whatever Democrat is nominated. I would relish the opportunity to sully his reputation by showing what a Manchurian Candidate he really was. Actually, let’s make that the Indonesian Candidate. I have a lot of material about Barry Soetoro in Jakarta. The Dems don’t want that aired.
I’m also confident that Pierre Omidyar’s anti-conservative mouthpiece unCivil Beat doesn’t want to challenge me. They know better than to enter a battle of wits unarmed. They’re too witless to even try.
But, beyond that, the last thing they want is to promote an alternative conservative viewpoint. Their tactic is to ignore and bury our message. They will not discuss or debate the issues on a level playing field. I can promise and assure you that as a 100% certainty.
CONCLUSION
These are some of the reasons that Ronald DeSantis is the best GOP candidate for 2024. He isn’t polarizing. People may disagree with him, but they have to say why they disagree with him.
In campaigns here in Hawaii, he will have a fresh message which will be presented from a clean slate to the voters. The Democrats are going to have a hard time propping up whomever they anoint to run in ’24. He or she is going to be vulnerable to scrutiny.
Obama will need to think twice about whether he wants to insert himself into that or not. I hope he does. I would relish seeing his record on the Choom Gang at Punahou discussed candidly. Not to mention, Frank Marshall Davis. That’s a whole ‘nother subject that is ripe for picking low-hanging fruits.
This isn’t 1984 when it was a reputable Reagan against a weak Mondale. Since we know the Democrats will not have a strong candidate, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is the best antidote to lethargy.
A TRUE 50-STATE CAMPAIGN
You can’t have one of those without the 50th State. Just let me know, Governor, when you’re ready to get beyond Tallahassee to Honolulu. I can also warn you which RINOs in the Hawaii GOP to steer clear of. That may be a greater contribution than you realize.
Let the campaign begin!
Author David Ware 