Grandpa Jim for President

Lessee, now, this could be an exploratory thing... what if I ran for President of the United States as an Independent? What would my campaign platform look like?

1. I would run as a strict Constitutionalist. That is, I would promise to not do anything outside the specifically and literally delineated duties of the President as outlined in Article II. More specifically :

2. As Commander in Chief, I would strictly abide by Article I, Section 8-11, and not order any US military personnel into a combat situation without first obtaining a declaration of war from Congress delineating (a) with whom it is the United States was going to war, (b) the intended goals of engaging in that conflict, and (c) the specific criteria for disengagement from that war.

3. With respect to the backlog of cases in the Federal Courts, I would submit to the Senate the names of qualified candidates for not only filling such vacancies as already exist, but also additional candidates to increase the number of sitting Federal judges to a level such that the number of cases settled each year was not less than the number of new cases brought in each calendar year. Should the Senate not act to confirm those appointees, I would commission them all according to the power vested in the President by Section 2. My candidates for Federal judgeship would be citizens of good moral character and reputation, and would not necessarily be attorneys or judges.

4. With respect to Article II, Section 3, I would engage in full enforcement of all laws enacted by Congress, and especially those which impinge on the national security and sovereignty of the United States. With respect to the National Guard, I would release to the governors of their respective States all control over such Guard forces unless they needed to be called into national service due to a declaration of war by Congress. I would fully abide by the Posse Comitatus Act, and would charge the governors of the several States with the sole responsibility of activating their Guard in time of emergency.

5. I would commit to a policy that, except in cases of national emergency, Presidential travel would occur by land transport (preferably rail) and with the intent of making the President maximally available to the people for reception of comment, complaints, and suggestions.

6. With respect to United States foreign policy, I would commit to choosing as ambassadors such qualified citizens who had by example shown dedication to the principles of our Constitution. As a matter of integrity with respect to the Oath of Office, my foreign policy would be forged with a primary focus on the needs and good of the citizens of the United States, and only secondarily upon the needs and good of the the citizens of any other principality. Representatives of foreign powers acting on their behalf would be treated with respect, and reciprocal respect would be anticipated for my representatives in their countries as well as reciprocal protection of law-abiding United States citizens visiting in that country; otherwise all United States representatives would be withdrawn from that country, and travel to the United States by citizens of that country would then be restricted to the full extent of the law. I would actively encourage the Congress to reduce all expenditures in United States government aid to foreign entities, including military aid, and at the same time actively encourage the private citizens of the United States to readily contribute on a volunteer basis to those humanitarian needs which might occur during my tenure in office.

7. With respect to Article 10 of the Constitution, the rights of the States to govern themselves as seen fit by the citizens of those States would be supported fully by my administration.

Nice start, huh? When do I get my Secret Service protection?

Of course, I would need a Vice Presidential candidate; someone at least 35 years old, a natural born citizen of the United States, who had resided in the United States for the past 14 years. Also, about 10,000 petition signatures per state to get on the ballots in each state.