It feels like just yesterday I was writing about the coming presidential election. It was Donald J. Trump vs Biden. I don’t think that panned out too well for Trump, and honestly I’m not sure how I feel about that.

We’ve had four years of Biden and Harris, and in my humble opinion, the world has gone to hell in that time frame. I’ve listened to a number of arguments as to why the world is in the state of affairs that it is. The running theme in nearly all of them blames Trump and his policies and executive decisions during his term as POTUS 45. Part of me can see these points of view. However, I digress.

I can’t help but notice that the very same people making these arguments are the same individuals who claimed Obama was coming for their guns or that he would declare martial law to stay in power; that the Clintons were in the pocket of the Chinese; and that Biden is an upstanding guy never mind his feckless domestic and foreign policies (read: free for all open border; wars in Ukraine and the Middle East).

I’d like to dig a little deeper. I don’t imagine the Ukrainians think Biden is a swell guy. Biden has steadfastly refused to grant Ukraine permission to utilize long range capabilities of donated American weaponry in their struggle against Russia. They fight with one hand tied behind their backs.

As Biden dithers Ukrainians die and critical front line Ukrainian cities and towns are pulverized and fall to the Russians.

Don’t tell Patty Morin or the family of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley or the parents of 2 year old Jeremy Poou Caceres, or the many other American families whose loved ones have been brutally raped or murdered by illegal immigrants that Biden is a swell guy. You might get punched.

What about Obama? Obama wasn’t such a bad guy after all. He didn’t take your guns; didn’t declare martial law; didn’t shred the constitution; and he was heaven sent for ammunition and gun manufacturers with how white America freaked out. Now that I think about it, Obama pulled off the greatest energy caper of the 21st century by doing what no republican president before him could: He got legislation passed allowing domestic oil producers to export to the world.

Obama singlehandedly immortalized the fracking boom. While environmentalist were throwing themselves face first beneath iron treads of bulldozers and chaining themselves to trees to stop the Keystone Pipeline, Obama pulled off the equivalent of 10,000 Keystone pipelines. Environmentalists are still asking themselves, What just happened?

For all of Barack Hussein Obama’s radical Islamic ties (remember that one?), he did what no president has done since him. He worked in good faith on bipartisan issues and actually got something passed across the aisle. Oh, never mind that republicans sold their souls for that one — but that’s how democracy works. Republicans can regroup in the afterlife so no worries.

Then there’s Trump, POTUS 45, Man of All Democratic Ire. No matter what you think of him, he did what no president has down since Ronald Reagan: He kept his promises no matter how insane. Sure, he tried to strong arm Mexico into paying for the border wall; and yeah, he blew down on NATO like a mafia boss saying pay up or be thrown to the wolves (read: Russia); and told China to go to hell before going nuts with tariffs. (I’d like to point out a little tidbit here. Despite the left’s hysterics and the media’s dozens of infallible economists, the Biden administration has kept most of the China tariffs on). Hmm. 🤔

Maybe Trump’s is a misogynistic racist and a habitual liar I’ll meet you there, but that doesn’t negate the fact that as POTUS 45 dictators the world over were on their best behavior. Why? As we like to say in prison, Trump is “that guy” the one who will put a missile up your ass and then berate you for making him do it. Except in prison we don’t have missiles.

A funy thing happened recently, I was napping and I could’ve sworn I woke to déjà vu Trump vs Biden all over again. Wait, what? I did? Until I didn’t?

All the talk of stolen elections and criminal trials makes my head hurt. It seems to me Trump hasn’t been paying attention for the past 8 Years. He simply needs to observe what the leftist democrats are doing and then copy them. When he trounced Biden in the first debate and polls swung wild like the needle of a Geiger counter, what did leftist dems do? They wailed and gnashed teeth before wiping away their tears to come up with a very Trumpian plan: throw Biden to the curb, trash the votes of 14 million Americans who chose him as their candidate, and prop in Harris. Shazam!  Totally legit and they’ll never have to face a day in court.

The stage is set for another hotly contested presidential election. The coming election has divided American families (*again*) created divisions (*again*) and frankly, opened my eyes to the hypocrisy of our elected officials and the United States lectures other nations about their electoral process?

Nonetheless, democracy trudges onward. This November millions of well intended Americans will go to the polls and choose one of two candidates — that is, if someone doesn’t off Trump in the mean time — and the outcome is sure to thrill half the world and half the country, while causing wailing and suicidal thoughts in the other half.

I have always wanted to vote, but being locked up for most of my life has taken that from me. Am I mad about it? Not in the least. No matter who wins this November and should Armageddon rain down in the very end, I will be able to cross my arms and say, See? You all did this not me.

Buy what if I could vote? Who would I vote for? I like to think I’m a logical man. I’ve listened to everyone in family about why one candidate should be chosen over the other; listened to talking heads on our unbiased news networks, and entertained the whining and crying men around me.

To figure out this Chinese puzzle (and I will, because I’m half Chinese), I ask myself, Who was the last president I truly liked and why? That person would be Ronald Reagan. What Would Reagan Do?

On the raging war in Ukraine where Russian hypersonic Iksander missiles rain down upon peace loving Ukrainian cities, What Would Reagan Do? Would he dither and withhold American approval allowing Ukraine to strike deep inside Russia with donated American weaponry like the Biden admin has? I think not. Would Reagan fear Putin’s attempts at nuclear blackmail like Biden has? Doubtful.

On the exploding war in the Middle East, where Hamas slaughtered 1,200 Israelis in their homes on October 7, 2023, the equivalent of 35,000 Americans, and Iranian proxies attack Israel hourly, What Would Reagan Do? I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t criticize Israel on their multi-front war for survival. Iran attacks Israel — not once, but twice — and Biden lectures Israel on ‘restraint’. Curious, what do you think America would do if Hamas slaughtered the equivalent of 35,000 Americans in their homes?

On illegal immigrants entering unhindered into the United States, What Would Reagan Do? I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t grant them amnesty or allow them to vote or put them up in hotels when our veterans are living in the streets.

I suppose I could go on but I will spare you this. By considering America’s glorious past I have solved the puzzle of who I would vote for.

Who you ask? I would vote for the candidate that would uphold the constitution and the rule of law, while sincerely working across the aisle. I would vote for the candidate who would support and not lecture our allies, while doing what is right for country.

How I miss Reagan.

*Christopher Monihan is a Society of Professional Journalists Stillwater award winner. His work has appeared in Prison Journalism Project and numerous other publications. He is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists and is incarcerated in Ohio.