. . . The president no longer just represents a political agenda and requires managerial skills. He represents who we are. He embodies us. Time to cue H.L. Menken:

"As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day, the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron."

Enter, stage right, Trump. Being our embodiment, our “soul,” is not a matter of skill or talent. It is a matter of character. Sorry, Trump-haters (such as myself), he is half of the classic Janus soul of America. On the world stage, Trump represents America. You can scream, “He does not represent me.” But he does represent, to invert Lincoln, the lesser angels of our collective nature That is why we must elect more than the anti-Trump in 2020. .Any of the Democratic candidates meet that standard. Not just the anti-Trump, we need the antithesis of Trump. We need intelligence and intellectual curiosity. We need someone who understands and can articulate American values. We need someone whose vision includes the inclusion of everyone at the American table and America at the head of the world table. We need a president with empathy and courage and grace. We need a president whose life itself embodies those values. . . .

Too young? Do not confuse age with maturity or political vision. Go ask James Madison and Alexander Hamilton about that. Pete Buttigieg is the youngest candidate, but also the best. Do I support all his policy proposals? Of course not. I’m Left. He’s Left of Center. Besides, any new president’s policies will go through the massage therapy (sausage factory?) of Congress and come out compromised. But, the most indelible impression left on me after I watched the early debates? He was not really talking to the other candidates or to the moderators. He was speaking directly to the country. On those stages, he was the most presidential, admitting his own mistakes, but calling on Republicans to re-connect with their consciences and conservative Christians to return to the love of God and abandon their love of Trump. He called on America to be both humble and great at the same time. Of all the candidates, Pete has most eloquently articulated the need for “moral leadership” from a president.

I have always been skeptical of the expression, “This is the most important election of our lifetime” — until now. This election demands that we pay attention. We must go beyond sound bites and political ads. This election demands that we read, listen, and think. Imagine the next President of the United States on the world stage, representing us. Pete Buttigieg embodies the best of America. We can either reassert the better angels of this country by electing him, or we can re-elect Donald Trump. For me, it’s not a difficult choice.