All My Presidents

It is getting to the place where free speech is no longer free in America. Not only is it not free, but its high price tag is troubling and causing pause. If free speech is too restrictive and not really free, it will always be 'overpriced' and only awarded to the highest bidder. Free speech is the bread and butter, the nuts and bolts, the wind beneath our wings, the heart and soul of America. Several years ago, I was offered to post a sign on my property, but I declined when I considered the prospect of the posting causing damage to my property. There are too many unamerican forces violently opposed to every voice except their own. The once free-flowing God-given wind of freedom has become as toxic as the air we breathe. So, responding to the question of which president is my favorite inspires a different approach. Although this is a first for me, I will freely enter this contest with no expectation to win at any level, because I will not directly indicate "My Favorite President"*. 88888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888 Since my birth in 1949, there has been 13 presidents elected**. Since my eligibility to vote in 1971***, of the 8 presidents on the ballot for me to vote for, I have cast a winning vote for 5 of them, and a losing vote for three of them. My winners were Carter once, Reagan twice, Bush#1 once, Bush #2 twice, and Trump once. I have cast a losing vote for Ford once, Bush#1 once, and a losing vote for Trump once. I greatly admired Mr. CARTER in 1976 and voted for him. I do not know if he lied, but I liked him for promising that "I Will Not Lie". Nevertheless, four years later my admiration had greatly soured. The American way is to be more loyal to our ideals than the person of the president. In my view, Mr. REAGAN had very strong convictions and made us feel secure again. To him, "Tear Down These Walls" was more than a figure of speech or a 'political feel-good moment'. We win some and lose some, but we stay the course when we believe the cause is right. I believed that his heart was right when he said, "Read My Lips". Yes, I read Mr. BUSH's lips, and I also read his eyes. I forgave him for succumbing to raising new taxes and gave him another chance. A calming presence is what the doctor orders, and being patient in the midst of confusion is required when we are clouded with alarming and massive chaos. I felt the pause and the poise of BUSH#2 as he slowly and surely unfolded and revealed himself as a God-fearing man with a plan. "Regime Change" seems to have been his quest. Unfortunately, its cost was enormous. It is not wise that one should proport to be right nor desire to be in all of one's opinions. In fact, sometimes I wish to be wrong. I could be wrong, but I have always said that no one can beat Mr. TRUMP but Mr. Trump. I believe that he was sincere and courageous about "Make America Great Again". Someone has said that America will cease to be great when America ceases to be good. I believe Mr. Trump was a champion whose quest was to retain America's greatness. I must also say that 'My' Presidents were not only those I voted FOR, but also those I voted AGAINST. They too were my Commanders-in-chief. No, I shall not speak of Mr. WASHINGTON or Mr. LINCOLN except to say that if given the opportunity, I would have voted for them. And indeed, they too are among my favorite presidents. No, I shall not pick a favorite for this contest, but these seven are my favorites. Although I was rather reluctant to enter this contest, in so during in the manner of my comfort zone, I sense that I am the better for it. 020621FBPSCtest, Your Favorite President, L MILTON HANKINS *With all due respect to the sponsor **Ford inherited the office after Nixon resigned and became a President never elected. After finishing two years of Nixon's second term, he ran for president and lost. ***Although I was eligible to vote in 1972, I do not recall casting a ballot that year.