The President Missteps into the Election

The President of the United States -- once chosen and installed in office -- has the duty and responsibility to represent and to voice the best interests of the nation and of the American people, devoid of his personal partisan bias.

I, a former dedicated Democrat until Bill Clinton's personal (details obvious) and official misbehavior (e.g., the trashing of Glass-Steagall) and certainly not a Trump supporter, find it distinctly inappropriate and an abrogation of responsibility for President Obama to voice support for Hillary Clinton while occupying the most powerful elective office in the world. One would hope that such behavior would not require a legislative proscription, but this case indeed appears to make the case for such in a democracy -- or has America actually descended into oligarchy?

This specific fortifies my opposition to Mrs. Clinton's election, beyond my disapproval of oligarchic ascension, foreign personal and political "contributions," and her warring performance as Secretary of State -- putatively our chief "peace" officer.

Now having advised others how not to vote, it's fair that I should open the envelope of my privileged ballot: I will vote for Dr. Jill Stein. Yes, she currently enjoys but two percent of the vote forecast, and accordingly has no chance of "winning," if that's what democracy is really all about. But I choose to encourage such persuasions as hers with regard to expanding Medicare to all, providing cost-free tuition at our public colleges for all, and for the initiative for peace in the world rather than our fifteen-year warring excursion across two seas and into another hemisphere, leaving death and destruction without foreseeable outcome, to the benefit only of weapons makers and military provisioners, their financiers and exploitive politicians. (Note: This author is a nine-year military veteran, including service in Libya.)

Yes, we all have a vote. Use it as best you can. Whatever it is, one hopes we don't live to regret it -- and that our incumbent President keeps his partisan voice out of the people's choice.