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Oh boy – here we go again. In less than a year, we’ll be trudging to the polls attempting to find a landing strip for our dignity. 

The odds of success are about the same as winning the giant panda bear at a carnival. Both these enterprises are rigged in favor of the house.

As a precursor to armed revolution, voting remains one of our few means for fighting back. Keeping America on a solvent and rational path – or at least slowing the decline – is a worthy reason to leave the recliner once every four years.

Be ye a fan of conservatism or liberalism – here’s a quick guide on upping your game with ten vetting tools. Don’t expect your candidate to fit like a glove – they only pretend to be perfect.  Besides, history tells us we get the leaders we earn – a very scary thought, indeed.  

What Matters

More than casual awareness of America’s success equation— our unique country was founded on a simple equation:

Liberty + Opportunity + Responsibility = Success 

We’ve never been perfect with this demanding formula, but right up until this century we hit the mark more often than not. 

Since then, we’ve been busily ignoring, abandoning or corrupting one piece of the puzzle or the other with the party enthusiasm of a teenager with out-of-town parents. 

Leaders – real ones – look backward as surely as forward. The wisdom of the ages is hard won and ignored to our peril. Picking a president indifferent to America’s traditional success equation is like picking Barney Fife to head up the FBI.

Good with words, but not too good— Anyone in public office must have the ability to craft words.

Being crafty with words is another matter altogether. Far too many politicians have mastered the art of dodging truth and consequence. 

As the Bible suggests, “You shall know them by their deeds.” Whereas it may be true that most all of us occasionally stomp on the truth, the ones to watch out for are those who make it a practice. It is not possible to lead the free world without a truthful compass.

Constitutional enthusiasm – run from anyone describing the Constitution as a work in progress. That call reveals naivety or resentment of the true mission of our grounding document – constraining government. 

Funny how so many who achieve public office believe they have unique vision and answers. The Constitution stands between us and these vanity kings. All candidates for higher office have rash moments, so give them one mulligan.  Any pattern of constitutional error or indifference reveals an opportunist – not a president.

Frugality — for most politicians spending other people’s money is an easy and irresistible temptation. Raiding the public coffers is almost as addictive as crack rock. Anyone attempting to lay hold to America’s rudder needs a track record of fiscal restraint. Resist any candidate who is comfortable buying votes with debt that will be repaid by the unborn.  

Distance from special interest groups— To understand America’s growing fragmentation, consider the impact of special-interest groups – non-profit as surely as for-profit. 

The common interests get lost in an equation commonly finding special interests evolving into selfish interests. These groups wield enormous power in their ability to sidestep the common good, technologically manipulate the electorate, and buy political allegiances with campaign contributions. Take time to track the match between contributions, voting records and after-office employment for elected officials.

Care with our liberties — Next in line to spending our money comes pilfering our freedoms. Making rules that control the other guy is fun and provides the illusion one is doing something productive. Every new law leads to a ton of new rules, bureaucratic oversight and abuse potentials. It comes down to a simple choice of big government – with a resulting loss of individual authority and control – or big people. A good president is into the latter.

Resistance to power seductions — The minute one takes office, goblins start nibbling away at integrity and public service dedications. It’s a subtle process that rarely comes as directly as a black money bag. It’s the power of being accepted, praised, supported, appointed, and re-elected that corrupts most elected officials. Very few people have the strength to slip these temptations and stand for something better. Power is a drug that is extremely addictive and heartily attached to denial. We do not need power addicts in the White House.

Administrative experience — For the same reason you wouldn’t want a first year medical resident-in-training to operate on your brain, you don’t want an inexperienced public figure running your country. Untested elected officials, celebrities and personalities almost always make lousy leaders. 

There’s too big a gap between being able to talk things and run things. Per the impact of our most recent inexperienced national administrator, the next one needs to be the real deal.

Principles before party, politics, popularity or power— This one is tough. In that most everyone is attached to the last three, politicians who prioritize the first are swimming against a strong tide. Still, there are examples of leaders – 11th District Congressman Mark Meadows is one – who attempt a higher reach. Eagles don’t flock and that’s one way to spot a principle driven leader. They can get along with people, but they do not do so at the price of their values, standards and guiding principles.

A producer vs. a seducer — Look for people whose career has periods of productive action. Place keepers, posers and political conmen – and conwomen – are good at looking like they are doing something, but a serious review of their record reveals something different. For the same reason there’s a difference in a man pretending to dig a ditch on a stage and a real man digging a ditch in a swamp, there’s a difference in a political seducer and a leader. Increasingly, in America, things are getting swampier as we embrace the former over the latter.  

What should a conservative do?

No politician running for the highest office comes without blemishes. That’s where the 80-20 rule comes in. If you find a candidate who meets 80 percent of the above criteria, that’s reason to give them consideration.  

The 80-20 rule is important not only as a way to screen for the best of the best. It’s also a way to stop the character assassination conservatives routinely unload on their candidates. Note that the left does just the opposite in ignoring red flags and patterns of misbehavior. Conservatives pick at their candidates warts until they bleed to death.

If you find a man or woman who can meet your filters 80 percent of the time, you may have a place to hang your hat. 

But remember the majority of today’s voters aren’t looking for a leader; they’re looking for whoever will give them the best deal. 

On that basis your candidate may lose — but they won’t steal the dignity of your vote. If you’re a conservative attempting to hold the line in a fallen world with a slipping America, that may be the best you can get. 

What should a liberal do?

 The 10 filters still apply – just flip the reasoning….

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 Carl Mumpower is a former vice mayor and former member of Asheville City Council.