Last night I had the opportunity to meet Ryman Shoaf at a community forum in Jacksonville, Florida.

Captain Shoaf (USN, Ret.) is running for U.S. Congress in the 4th District against career politician Ander Crenshaw.

It is very rare that I see anyone running for elected political office that I can vote for.

Usually we find ourselves voting for the “lesser of two evils.

I didn’t find myself feeling like that after meeting Captain Shoaf.  For the first time since I have lived in Florida, I have found someone running for public office that I feel will actually represent me.  He is not a career politician seeking power, he is a citizen who wants to make a positive difference.  He is certainly not a Republican machine candidate.  In fact, the Republican party establishment doesn’t even like him, favoring their darling, Crenshaw.  That fact alone makes me want to vote for him.  Personally, I think the Republicans as an organization are finished, but that is a topic for another blog entry.

One thing that I appreciate about Captain Shoaf is that he answers questions directly.  Most politicians will talk for 20 minutes after you ask them a question and at the end still not have answered your question…or said anything of substance at all.  Captain Shoaf simply answers your questions so you know where he stands on the issues.  Agree with him or don’t, at least you know where he stands on issues and how he will vote.

He respects the U.S. Constitution that he was sworn to uphold as a commissioned U.S. Navy officer and will vote in accordance with it on the issues.

I also feel like he is a man who will truly listen to me.  I watched his interaction with the crowd who brought their concerns.  He does not claim to have every answer to every issue.  There are a lot of complex issues facing the nation, but unlike our current office holder, I feel that Captain Shoaf has the best interests of his constituents at heart and will actually listen to them and vote based on the Constitution, the facts presented, and the concerns of those he represents.

Captain Shoaf is not owned by any PACs (Political Action Committees).  The only allegiance he claims is to those he will represent which is huge.  Another single reason to vote for him.

“Representative” (and I use the term in title only) Ander Crenshaw is a career politician who mostly votes the way the Republican machine wants him to.  He voted most recently for the NDAA (National Defense Authorization Act) in 2013 which effectively nullifies the due process of law that the Constitution guarantees us.  If you are a fan of tyranny and think the government should be able to detain, imprison you indefinitely, rendition you to Guantanamo Bay, and try you in a military court, then this NDAA might be for you.  Interestingly, this is one bill that both aisles in Congress and the President could agree on.  It was passed, like all bad legislation, in late December (December 26, 2013) while most Americans weren’t looking.

Crenshaw also voted for the Bush Bailout, allowing Wall Street executives to plunder you further.  Interestingly, both Senators Barack Obama and John McCain raced back from their own presidential campaign trails to cast their vote in Congress for this bill which was completely against the best interests of every U.S. citizen.

Throughout the campaign I have received flyers from Rep. Crenshaw about how he is going to go to Washington DC to fix the things that are broken and hold the politicians accountable.  That’s tough talk, but I submit to you that Crenshaw is one of those politicians that needs to be held accountable.  Look, after 40 plus years in office, if you haven’t fixed it yet, you aren’t going to.  Crenshaw is not the solution to the problem, he IS the problem.  He is a career politician who is loved by the Republican machine that is pushing us down the road to tyranny.

The problems we face as a nation were not created overnight and are not going to be solved by one man in one term in office. It is going to be a long an painful struggle to regain what we have allowed to erode.  If we as citizens hope to turn the tide from the gaggle of globalists and bankers who seek to steal our liberty and foist the “New World Order” upon us, we must start by electing candidates who believe in and will vote in accordance with the Constitution.

We do not need a “leader” in Washington DC, we need a “representative.”   I had the opportunity on Friday to speak eyeball-to-eyeball with Captain Shoaf and I believe that he is that man who will actually represent us in District 4.

This Tuesday, August 26th, (Yes, THIS Tuesday!) is the Republican primary election.

If you love liberty and the Constitution, I hope that you will cast your vote for Ryman Shoaf.

If you need a ride to the polls, give me a shout and I’ll pick you up on the way.