What do you look for in a politician?

My Grandmother sent me this picture in an email.  One of those chain mail email type things so I don't really know who to give credit to but apparently some citizen felt so strongly about his or her dislike for President Obama that they put their hard earned buckaroos behind it.  Maybe they figured it wasn't such a splurge after all once they  figured up the value of their dollars spent after inflation.  Or maybe they considered it an investment in their future.  Spend the money now, hope people get the point and your financial future might not be as grim after 2012.  Regardless, I found it amusing and thought you might too.
But what I really wanted to talk about today is, what do you look for in a politician?  With so many people announcing their candidacy, I am curious to know, what do you look for, and of course, what if any are deal breakers for you?

My list:

Trustworthy
Well Respected
Successful
Proven Leadership
Consistent
Someone who is not afraid to take a stand
Patriot
Someone who believes in a government that is big enough to offer national security, etc., but small enough to leave us alone!

Don't be so naive to think that there aren't candidates who could win with these qualities.  For me a career politician would not be a deal breaker but I would rather see someone like Herman Cain come in who has been successful in other areas with proven leadership abilities.  If they have the right values and moral fiber, lack of political experience isn't as big of a deal.  The keys to success are the same, no matter what you are pursuing.

Take me or leave me, but this is who I am.

I love the call of the big city. The pavement. The people. The lights. It makes me feel like I'm a part of something. It makes me feel like the world is at my fingertips. Suddenly I feel as though I should be singing and dancing down the sidewalk-- my umbrella in my hand and Gene Kelly at my side. It opens my heart to the possibilities of life and I feel like I can do anything.

But then there is that part of me that just loves the country. The peacefulness. The privacy. And the stars at night. The freedom to do, be, and think just about anything that you want. It reminds me of who I am, and what I truly want. I have thought a lot about that sort of thing lately and have reached a much deeper understanding of who I am at heart. Too long I have silently lived in the shadows of my thoughts. I have become too politically correct. I am tired of blending in with the crowd. I am different. I am smart. I think for myself. So take me or leave me, but this is who I am.

I am a red-blooded, God-loving, American Citizen. I am not on the endangered species list yet, but it seems as though every time I look out the window I see more and more of my habitat disappearing. If I listen to the news for more than five minutes I can't help but wonder if the American Dream is dead, or dying. If we don't start standing up for what we believe in soon America as we know it will be down for the count and in serious need of an autopsy.

I really am the last one who would want to go around spreading gloom and doom but anyone who really thinks this through can see that we are in trouble. The USA has already exceeded it's life expectancy and we are currently headed down a path that is not looking too promising. I know that President Obama is asking us to not change horses midstream, and I know that there are some who are buying into that because they want to give him a chance. Well, no offense to those people, some of whom I love dearly, but I can't in good conscience agree to support any politician who thinks the solution to our nation's problems is spending our way out of debt. That doesn't work anywhere else. Why would it work here?

In 2010 our nations debt was 98% of GDP. If you don't have a problem with that, you should. This is also an interesting article regarding the national debt. Notice in the fourth paragraph where it talks about how much we are borrowing. The taxes our nation raises only cover 60% of our obligations. The other 40% we are borrowing. No wonder the national debt keeps growing!

I like to think of this in practical terms. If I can't make it through a year without having to borrow 40% of what I was going to be spending, is there a problem? Probably. Now what if I kept doing that year after year? Then is it a problem? Definitely! Should I consider doing something differently? Should I cut back on unnecessary expenses, and maybe get a second job to start covering my expenses and paying towards the debt? I would hope so!

The above scenario sounds to me like the road to bankruptcy. Is that where our nation is headed? I hope not. It doesn't have to be. Think about where this country is headed because we all have a say. So many people don't vote or get involved because it is too much of a hassle for them. But everyday there are men and women around the world putting their lives on the line so that we can have the right to choose what we want for our lives. Not to mention all those that went before us that have sacrificed their lives fighting for this country, and the American dream. Don't take those sacrifices for granted. The very least we can do is to stand up for our rights before they are just taken away. And that is what I am doing. I refuse to remain silent when I am called to speak the truth.