After tens of conversations with “non-political” Americans living outside of the poisonous echo chamber that is our Nation’s capital, I offer up this draft speech:

“Thank you for that warm welcome. I’m greatly honored to be here tonight.

As an American and as a Republican, I am fond of quoting one of our greatest patriots and presidents – Abraham Lincoln. During one of the most trying times in our nation’s history, Mr. Lincoln said, ‘If you once forfeit the confidence of your fellow citizens, you can never regain their respect and esteem. It is true that you may fool all the people some of the time; you can even fool some of the people all the time; but you can’t fool all of the people all the time.’

As we all know, there is a growing perception in this country that political campaigning is now more about fooling some of the people than it is about honesty, integrity, and trying to figure out how best to solve the very serious problems that plague our citizens and threaten the national security of our nation.

Let’s face it. Somewhere along the line, the message has been badly twisted and all but obliterated by a political process that needs an immediate and forceful overhaul. This election is not now, and never has been, about mindless statistics, slick sound bites, or hollow rhetoric.

This election has to be about the welfare of our people and the very future of our Republic.

Those of us who are involved in running for the highest office in the land – from the candidates, to the campaign staffs, to the media advisors – have, in a very real sense, become slaves to the limitations imposed upon us by the twenty-four hour media. We are being held hostage by an “instant messaging” mentality that only serves to deprive the American people of much needed information.

Twenty years ago, a presidential candidate may have gotten a minute or two to relay his or her message on the nightly news. Today, he or she has eight seconds if lucky. And even less if you’re a conservative.

I’m sorry, but that just won’t cut it. If we allow the principles of freedom, prosperity, and tolerance to be boiled down to the size of a bumper sticker, then shame on us. In an age of expanding terrorism and a world spiraling further into chaos, eternal vigilance demands more than a passing reference.

I believe, that with the presidential election of 2008, you -- the American voters -- are being asked to make the most important political decision of your lifetimes. Such a decision demands information, clarification, stark comparison, and a deeper understanding of the candidates and their stands on the issues. Issues that could impact every part of your lives. Such a scenario calls for a direct and honest message unfettered by censorship, interpretation, or bias attack.

Understanding that, part of my message today is that it’s about time we gave the election process back to those who it’s really intended for – you, the American people.

To my fellow candidate for this most exalted office we seek, I say let’s forget about the networks for awhile. Let’s forget about what the political pundits are saying about us. Let’s forget how far up or down we are in the daily tracking polls.

Today, let us make a pact that from this moment forward, we will do something that is perceived as all too rare these days – let us agree that we need to listen to the American people.

That’s all. That’s the common ground I seek. Not too tough. Let’s just listen for awhile. Together, let us hear their hopes, their dreams, their fears, their problems and most of all – let us hear their solutions to the mounting obstacles they fight to overcome.

It’s so very easy to get caught up in the three-ring circus that is a presidential campaign and forget that this election has to be about having a serious and ongoing dialog with the American people. At the end of the day, every candidate for any office in the land must understand that we answer -- and must remain accountable -- to the citizens of our nation. If we forget that, we have forgotten the lessons of democracy.

To those of you who are sick and tired of this process – who are sick and tired of being talked at, who are sick and tired of being taken for granted, who are sick and tired of politics as usual -- I am here to tell you that you have every right to feel that way.

I’m here to say that it is your right to demand the best from all of us. To demand the best from the candidates, to demand the best from the media, and to demand the best from your elected officials. It is your right as Americans. You are owed nothing less.

In many ways running for president has turned into a glorified reality show -- and it has to stop. For all our sakes.

I do believe in the simple but eloquent message of Mr. Lincoln. I’m not trying to fool anyone. Rather, I’m just searching for answers the same as you and understand that if your voice is not the integral part of my campaign, then I have failed.

Look, the simple truth that petrifies so many candidates is that we don’t have all the answers. Such a thing is impossible. I don’t pretend to have all the answers and if someone else says that he does, well, that’s reason enough not to vote for him in my book. Continued...