Walter Patterson Herald ColumnistA little over a year ago, Miss Judy and I traveled to Jackson, Mississippi, to participate in a “Leadership Seminar.”  Speakers from across the nation came to this seminar, and as you might expect, the convention hall was packed.  
Smart people who can speak well are a rarity, but, fortunately, there were two people who got my undivided attention.  They both were very successful.  One was a world class athlete and the other a politician.  
When Archie Manning spoke, you could have heard a pin drop.  He talked about dealing with adversity and keeping an optimistic spirit.  He pointed out that life has a way of throwing all of us curves, most of them unexpected, but if we as human beings can control our emotions and realistically deal with our problems, we can prevail.  When he finished his speech, he received a standing ovation from the audience.  All of us wanted to hear more.
Next up was Rudy Giuliani, the former mayor of New York.  Mayor Giuliani gained national recognition when radical Muslims attacked the World Trade Center on 9/11.  When the mayor strode to the podium, the people, most of them Mississippians, were on their feet applauding.  Here was a man, a leader, a Republican who had been tested by the hottest fire this country has seen since Pearl Harbor.  All of us knew that this great man had something to say that was important.  No one in the audience had to be told that he was a leader.  He walked like a leader.  He exuded confidence.  When he spoke, you knew that you were listening to a great man. On this day, I think the Mayor could have run for Mississippi’s governor, and won.   He is one of the few Northeastern politicians that I know of who connected with a Mississippi audience.  His bona fides were in order.  Everyone knew what he had done, and how he had inspired this nation during one of its darkest hours.
Last Wednesday night, the Republicans running for president held their last debate in Arizona.  I watched this debate through the eyes of a voter.  “Which one of these candidates would make the best president,” I asked.
The liberals, naturally, have tried to project the image that this is a weak field of candidates.  “None of them can even come close to our great leader, Barack Obama,” they claim.  Well, I’m here to tell you today that any Republican candidate presently in the race can win the presidency.  Obama is a weak and timid leader.  He is more interested in advancing his skewed agenda of socialism than helping the American people.  The economy continues to grow worse, yet he claims that he can do nothing about it. Gasoline prices are headed for $6 per gallon.  He claims that his policies are working, yet every day this country draws closer to the day that our nation can no longer pay its bills. If nothing is done, we will become Greece.  Iran is almost ready to construct a nuclear weapon, an act that will destabilize the Middle East, yet Obama is more interested in playing golf that tackling the problem.  Iran has already stated that it plans to blow Israel off the map, yet Obama, similar to Nero, sings blues songs at the White House.
I have not made up my mind yet about whom I will support, but believe me, the four debaters Wednesday night are light years ahead of our present leader.  Ron Paul, the man I have the most concern about, made some great points.  He is a strict Constitutionalist, a fact that I like.  His foreign policy worries me, but if he were elected, I can assure you that many of our economic problems would be solved almost overnight.
Mitt Romney, although a northeastern moderate, is coming around.  Unlike the news you see in the mainstream media, he is not dull nor does he lack charisma.  He is infinitely more qualified to be president than Obama.
Rick Santorum is a conservative, and he has solid religious values.  He says what he means and means what he says.  If elected, he will make a great president.
Then there is Newt.  Newt is so smart that it’s almost scary.  He can talk politics, advanced economics, science, history, and policy almost at the same time.  I like him.  He is a true revolutionary.  If elected, he will shake up Washington, something we sorely need.. I would pay to see him debate Obama.  Of course, that’s like pitting a modern jet against a crop duster.   It would  be unfair. Remember, Newt doesn’t need a teleprompter.
Republicans have a great field.  Vote for the man of your choice.  You can’t go wrong.