I know the rumor and gossip mill have been abuzz lately. I’m sorry I couldn’t be more public about this before, but certain preparations had to be in place first. Everything is now set – today is an exciting day! I’m proud to announce that that the rumors are true. I am declaring myself as a candidate for President of the United States. I will be running my campaign through the newly formed Contrarian Party.

I don’t take this responsibility lightly and I’m not doing this by choice. The feckless meat puppets who are currently running for office have left little choice. There is no single candidate who has both a vision for a future prosperous nation, AND the ability to win. Therefore I am willing to step in and fill the void.

Because I am not doing this by choice, and I am not a politician, I affirm that I will serve one term and one term only. The goal is to prime the pump and set the stage for future, more qualified leaders.

Four years is a very short time to make change on a national scale. I will not promise pithy feel-good platitudes that will never be achieved. My platform is very simple:

1. The border is closed. Period. The United States will employ as many troops, walls, concertina wire, and surveillance methods as required to stop all illegal entry into the country. Force will be authorized, including deadly force, to arrest any individuals who manage to cross the border illegally. Individuals arrested will be immediately flow back to their country of origin.
   
2. A five year moratorium on all work and student visas. The country needs time to figure out who’s here and what, if any, foreign skill sets are needed to enhance the American economy. Current, valid visas/green cards will be honored for the term of the visa.
   
3. Current visa/green card holders who are caught demonstrating, protesting, or publishing anti-American statements will have their visas immediately canceled and will be deported. Immigrating to this country is a privilege, not a right. Citizens have the right to criticize their government, not guests.
   
4. All cabinet agencies will reduce their budgets by 10% from a 2023 baseline in year one. Each successive year, an additional 5% reduction will be mandated, for a total reduction of 25% by the end of the term. The Department of Defense is excluded from this and will be reviewed individually.
   
5. The federal student aid program will be canceled except for students attending local community colleges. The department of education’s budget will be further reduced by the equivalent amount. Individual States and Universities will have to fund student aid, if desired.
   
6. The United States shall withhold all payments to the UN for the duration of my term.
   
7. The United States will no longer be the largest funding source for NATO. The US contribution will be the average of all other contributors.
   
8. All funding bills delivered to the Presidents desk will be vetoed unless they are single subject/item bills. The Executive branch will no longer support omnibus spending.
   
9. A panel of primary non-commissioned military veterans will be formed to vet the current armed forces command structure and recommend changes in personnel and mission. Members of the panel must have served in a combat deployment. Former officers will be considered only with unanimous consent of the panel.
   
10. The FBI Director, Deputy Director, and all department heads reporting to the Deputy or Associate Deputy directors will be terminated. All department heads below that level must re-interview for their jobs. A complete review of the departments mission will be conducted by an appropriate civilian panel, unaffiliated with the Justice Department.
    
11. A panel of appropriate military, intelligence, and civilian experts will be formed to provide recommendations on disbanding the Department of Homeland Security. Those recommendations will be sent to congress.
    
12. The Department of Energy will be tasked with creating a “moon-shot” program to implement nuclear energy facilities nationwide.
    
13. Across all cabinet departments and agencies, any budgetary item associated with climate change or DEI will be canceled.
    
14. In anticipation of future global disruption of trade routes, manufacturing, and supply, the Departments of Commerce, State, and Transportation shall submit a joint recommendation to protect and improve these areas to further strengthen our national economy and security.
    
15. The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, in partnership with the US border patrol shall be tasked with implementing a plan to deport persons in the country illegally and those who crossed illegally under asylum assertions. Asylum claims must be made from the country nearest to the refugee’s country of origin. Asylum seekers will not be granted entry into the US unless their claim is approved. The former funding contribution to the UN will be used to provide deported/displaced persons aid and shelter in their countries of origin or asylum.

I have no illusions – this will be difficult. The deep state will fight this with every tool they can find. There is a very real possibility that these changes will spark further division and chaos in this country. It is an unfortunate fact that we need to face this chaos if we hope to see a resurgence of the post-WWII American exceptionalism that built the economy that got us here. If we fail… well, I don’t think you’ll like where we’re headed.

So that’s it – that’s my campaign pitch. I’ll be putting together a GiveSendGo account if you’d like to contribute to my campaign.

A vote for Troutdog is a vote for a more prosperous future! (ok, I admit I need a better campaign slogan)