THIS Does NOW Bode Well For The Democrats!

 

Don't Miss These Incredible Comments From RFK Jr.

🚨 BREAKING: RFK Jr. just SHATTERED the room with the most INSANE compliment ever delivered to President Trump…
In a live Cabinet meeting, the Health Secretary looked Trump dead in the eyes and DROPPED this absolute bombshell:
“My uncle prided himself on being the most open,… pic.twitter.com/77QHWpkEGf

— CONSTITUTION X 🇺🇸 (@ConstitustionX) August 1, 2026

POLIATRICS? Here's What It's All About . . .

Call it poliatrics.

It's at the intersection of politics and theatrics. And if you think it doesn't exist, you haven't been paying attention. In fact, highly theatrical moments have helped to define the major political figures of this country and theatrics have played a huge role in American politics and the presidency for more than a century.

Let's review some of the major rules of the show business and see how they apply:

1) Hype The Big Event. No performance can succeed without a hype -- even presidential inaugurals and political conventions. And part of the hype is keeping the audience guessing. After all, a certain shroud of mystery does wonders for heightening expectation. In 1964, President Lyndon Johnson needed to build anticipation for what would otherwise be a pro forma Democrat National Convention in Atlantic City. So, he staged an elaborate guessing game surrounding his vice presidential pick and kept everyone waiting until the last possible moment (even setting up decoys) before bringing on Hubert Humphrey. 

2) Make a Grand Entrance. Really Big Stars don't just walk onto a stage or a movie set, they make an Entrance. One of the first things Ronald Reagan learned when he was under contract to Warner Brothers was how to throw back his shoulders, lift his head high, rise up and stride forward purposefully. Of course it helped that he was also one of the first actors to wear contact lenses and his outfits were perfectly tailored from that day forward. Small wonder that defining what it meant to look and act presidential later came natural to this guy!

3) Give 'Em What They Came For. Can Springsteen appear without singing Glory Days? Fat chance! Ya gotta give the audience what they want. So Obama never gave a stump speech without Hope and Change. And when Trump's rally rhetoric reaches its climactic moment, you can guarantee it will build to that familiar litany ending with Make America Great Again. Feed 'em the vittles they crave!

4) Be Bigger Than Life. The big screen was invented for  bigger than life stars and stories. 125 years ago, Teddy Roosevelt ushered in an epic American era in part by establishing such a formidable stage presence that it was impossible to ignore him. He was vivid, daring, surprising, brash and (at the dawn of the motion picture era) visually intuitive. Hugely consequential, he helped to define not only the modern presidency but the 20th century itself. By sheer force of will he seemed to thrust America onto the world stage once and for all. And America and the presidency haven't been the same since.

5) Perfect The Comeback. In show business a setback is nothing more than a setup for a comeback. And nobody understood this better than Richard Nixon who, after losing the presidency in one of the closest races ever in 1960, came back to win the office in 1968. Ditto Donald Trump, who did it back-to-back in 2020 and 2024, becoming only the second president ever to serve two non-consecutive terms. And, how about the redoubtable Comeback Kid himself, Bill Clinton who bounced back after losing the governorship of Arkansas and rose from the ashes again during the 1992 Democrat presidential primaries. Yowza!

6) Always Leave 'Em Begging For More. AKA get the hell to get off the stage before they give you the hook. AKA don't overstay your welcome. Here's the deal: Ya gotta leave while the audience still loves you, while they're still crazy about you, before you're past your due date. Vain as they are, few (if any!) politicians have learned when and how to make a graceful exit. And here, they're mostly all notable for failing. Pelosi and Schumer immediately come to mind. But the penultimate (and most embarrassing) example remains Joe Biden. Two words: rotten tomatoes!

So now you know why they call politics "show business for ugly people." That's all folks!

Whoa! Anybody Still Remember THIS?

Six swing states pretty much simultaneously, like clockwork, stopped counting votes on election night, November 3, 2020.

So, let me get this straight: Six swing states simultaneously and like clockwork—a conspiracy—stopped counting on election night, November 3, 2020, and not a single member of the U.S. Congress has asked the obvious question:

WHO ordered the overthrow of the United States… pic.twitter.com/tnoKnXW6G5

— 🇺🇸RealRobert🇺🇸 (@Real_RobN) July 18, 2026

It Still Seems Downright Inexplicable!

 

Trump Heralds Opening Of Teddy Roosevelt Library!

President Donald J. Trump will join Freedom 250 and distinguished guests on July 1, 2026, for the dedication of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora, North Dakota. Held as part of the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration, the historic event will honor the life, legacy, and enduring contributions of President Theodore Roosevelt.

President Donald J. Trump’s participation underscores the significance of this historic moment for both the nation and the Semiquincentennial celebration. As the nation’s 45th and 47th President and the chief executive overseeing America’s 250th anniversary, President Trump will join Americans in honoring Theodore Roosevelt’s extraordinary legacy of leadership, courage, conservation, and national purpose. Roosevelt believed deeply in American greatness and challenged citizens to embrace service, pursue excellence, and take on the work of building a stronger nation. By participating in the dedication of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, President Trump will celebrate a leader whose life and accomplishments continue to inspire Americans to dream big, act boldly, and leave the nation stronger for future generations.

Few Americans have left a larger mark on our nation than President Theodore Roosevelt. A rancher, soldier, conservationist, and statesman, Roosevelt embodied the adventurous spirit, rugged determination, and boundless optimism that made America the greatest nation on Earth. And nowhere was that spirit forged more profoundly than in the North Dakota Badlands, the place that Roosevelt said transformed him into the man he became.

“North Dakota transformed Theodore Roosevelt into a leader and conservationist who would leave an enduring mark on America. It’s where a young New Yorker found grit, purpose, perseverance, and crafted a conservation vision that would shape America’s treasured places for generations. The dedication of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library will show how Roosevelt’s passion inspired the creation of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, dramatic expansion of our National Parks and the stewardship of our public lands,” said U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum.

“As we celebrate our country’s 250th anniversary, it’s a tremendous honor for our 45th and 47th President to cut the ribbon at the library and National Park honoring the President who led our nation during its 125th anniversary. Americans will experience Roosevelt’s remarkable story at an extraordinary place that pairs his timeless ideals with cutting-edge technology to inspire visitors to get “in the arena” and serve something larger than themselves.”

“Theodore Roosevelt believed America’s greatest work was always still ahead—that we are meant to dream big, dare greatly and take on the work worth doing. President Trump shares that conviction in American greatness, and in the belief that this nation’s finest age is yet to come,” Sec. Burgum continued.

After Roosevelt endured unspeakable tragedy at the age of 25, losing both his wife and his mother on the same day, he fled to the Badlands, desperate for a place to heal. The dedication of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library will celebrate the extraordinary journey of a young man who came west seeking solace and found his calling.

Inspired by the vast landscapes and untamed beauty of the American frontier, Roosevelt became the father of modern conservation, protecting millions of acres of public lands, creating national parks and monuments, and establishing a legacy of stewardship that continues to preserve the natural birthright of every American citizen. Set against the very landscape that transformed his life, this historic celebration will honor Roosevelt's enduring contributions to conservation, public service, American leadership, and the pioneering spirit that remains at the heart of the American story.

"Theodore Roosevelt's life encapsulates the American story: tested by hardship, remade by the frontier, and devoted to a cause larger than himself,” said Freedom 250 CEO Keith Krach. “As America celebrates 250 years of freedom, Freedom 250 is honored to mark the opening of a library that will carry his example to millions. This is exactly the kind of moment our nation’s anniversary is meant to inspire."

The dedication will draw directly from the landscapes, traditions, and experiences that shaped Theodore Roosevelt’s life and legacy. Beginning in Medora, guests will witness a ceremonial Freedom 250 rail arrival that pays tribute to the railroads that opened the American West, connected communities, and fueled the nation’s growth. The arrival will transition into a mounted Rough Riders escort, evoking Roosevelt’s legendary cavalry regiment and creating a dramatic procession to the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library. Together, these ceremonial elements will honor the courage, service, leadership, and frontier spirit that defined Roosevelt and helped shape the American character.

Set against the rugged backdrop of the North Dakota Badlands, the dedication will celebrate Medora’s unique place in Roosevelt’s story and the profound influence the region had on his life. The landscapes that inspired his conservation vision and forged his resilience will serve as the setting for a tribute to one of America’s most consequential leaders and the enduring values he championed.

As part of Freedom 250’s nationwide commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary, the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library dedication will bring together visitors from across the country to celebrate our shared history, reflect on the values that unite us, and honor a president whose life exemplified the spirit of a nation always striving toward new horizons.

WOW! Presenting The NEW Air Force One!

Well, It's A Monstrosity -- That's For Sure!

It has its dedication today.

It's called the Obama Presidential Center on the South Side of Chicago.

The Wall Street Journal calls it "a tower fit for a Pharaoh" and adds that its "colossal, haughty and ultimately inscrutable." They've also characterized it as a vanity project that "looks like a refrigerator that dropped off the Death Star" and an edifice that "doesn’t suggest any mistakes were made by its subject, nor does it delve into any related controversies." 

And this was one of the kinder reviews.

It sort of reminds us of Obamacare -- a big, ugly, intrusive, expensive imposition that lives up to all our worst fears.

And It's Damned UGLY, Too!

The Obama Presidential Library in Chicago is reportedly two years past its "opening" date, $600 million over budget and, some say many of the contractors have not been paid. On top of it all, its just this side of grotesque. Would you want this monstrosity in your neighborhood?

Complete Results: President's Annual Physical Exam

 

OMG! The Contrast Is VERY Revealing!

President Trump just posted this clip of VP Vance and Michelle Obama comparing what it’s like to have kids and live in the White House.

The drastically different perspectives of these two people epitomize the difference between the right and the left.

Vance says it’s a… pic.twitter.com/vJclomOXmw

— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) May 12, 2026

1970 With Nixon, 2026 With Trump: 56 YEARS!

 

WHEN And Where Did This Senseless Rage Begin?

The question now occurs, when did all this anti-trump rage and rancor begin? Or, who led us the point of rampant hate and political violence that now embroils us. In other words: Who started it, anyway?

For some insight, here's what I wrote on this website as Trump was about to take office after he won the first time, ten years ago in 2016. This should tell you all you need to know:

What we're experiencing from far too many of our liberal friends is a daily drumbeat of rancor, bitterness, resentment and invective. And, among the most surly and consistent offenders are current and former members of the news media -- the very people who would be expected to keep an open mind on such matters or at least set a minimal standard for balance and objectivity. But in many cases, that's not happening. Instead, they're tossing insults about during the critical period after the election but before the inauguration, a time that cries out for unity and cohesion.

What insults? Well, here are some examples gleaned from Facebook and similar social media outlets:

• A group of daily newspapers ran a political cartoon showing a cutaway of Trump's head featuring a pompadour, a scowl. a quadruple chin and a huge brain that happened to be completely empty - cavernous. The caption? "Central Intelligence Agency."

• A reporter listed the things that Trump thinks are overrated as follows: "the First Amendment, ethics, paying taxes, civil rights, climate change, equality, intelligence briefings and laughing." The same reporter posted items suggesting that Trump's cabinet nominations were being rushed through to avoid ethics probes; alleging that the GOP was "smearing" Obama's legacy to bring down Obamacare; terming Mitch McConnell a hypocrite and charging that Donald Trump is a "jerk store version" of a president. And then he called Trump "Putin's useful idiot.'

• A well-known local columnist featured a sign at the top of his Facebook page declaring "Not My President" and tagged the beginning of the Trump era as "nothing less than the slow creep of fascism." 

• Another journalist dismissed Donald Trump's victory as a matter of "petulance over politics" and sloughed off a Trump supporter as among those "who never take responsibility for their bullshit." Reacting to a post from someone defending Trump, he replied "you should Google this bullshit you swallow before you upchuck it."  

• Still another scribe referred to Trump as "our egomaniac-elect," called incoming White House press secretary Sean Spicer "a cartoon character" and concluded of Trump: "He can't put together a coherent sentence because he doesn't have any coherent thoughts -- except about himself." And President Obama? Well, he "was gracious, eloquent, and inspiring. In other words, everything his successor promises not to be." 

• A former journalist whose byline is still quite well known summed up his view of Trump as follows: "Petty ... Childish ... Boorish ... Ignorant ... Narcissistic ... SORE WINNER!" But that wasn't enough. He then added this: "Hey Trumpty Dumpty ... When the people get tired of your constant lies and self obsessed publicity stunts ... your hair is definitely going to get mussed!"

• Still another former journalist put it this way: "It's not politics, it's personal. It's about a self-aggrandizing, narcissistic clown." But that wasn't enough, because he felt the need to express his view that "anyone can see this man is unqualified and brazenly disinterested in properly preparing to lead our country." And, if you want to challenge this, he has a simple answer: "I'm tired of arguing with Trump people so I will not bother.

• And yet another correspondent has circulated the federal statute which he apparently feels will serve as grounds for the future president's impeachment. You got that right; he's actually gathering what appear to be impeachment material now -- something about a conflict of interest. This is a member of the media who seems to be savoring the take down of a president before he even takes the oath of office. 

Empty-headed. Clown. Self-aggrandizing. Unqualified. Incoherent. Childish. Boorish. Ignorant. Narcissistic. Jerk store version. Trumpty Dumpty. Cartoon character. Fascism. Petulant. Bullshit. Impeachable. . . . 

It's probably the name-calling that's the most destructive -- the continuing use of all these recklessly hurled insults, tossed about with such juvenile abandon. No one is looking for worshipfulness here but don't you think we have a right to expect more than this?

Don't you think we have a right to expect more than daily, conscious, calculated attempts to delegitimize the next leader of the free world?

 

Right Now, All Of This Is Worth Revisiting

They arrested President Donald Trump four times.

They brought 91 different charges against him.

They indicted him four times.

They saddled him with tens of millions of dollars in legal and court costs.

They spied on his campaign.

They impeached him twice and did everything they could to sabotage his first term.

They jailed his supporters.

They raided his private residence.

They tried to bankrupt him.

They attempted to remove his name from state ballots.

They excoriated him, vilified him and mocked him and his family.

AND, three times now they've attempted to assassinate him.

THIS is their handiwork -- theirs and theirs alone!

Right Now, These Are Our Feelings, Exactly!

 

The Third Attempt: Five Key Takeaways . . .

I was watching it live Saturday evening when a now all-too-familiar and chilling scene unfolded once again. Here are my five quick observations;

1) No president in my lifetime (and maybe none in history) has had this many attempts on his life. This is more than unprecedented -- it's dire, and it cries out for a moment of national reckoning.

2) The sheer stamina of this man continues to amaze me. Soon to enter (God willing) his ninth decade on this earth, he remained calm, lucid, forthright, in command and committed to his role in the life of our nation and the world. 

3) The left must step forward and assume some responsibility for creating the heated rhetoric and an environment which breeds political violence, for which there is no excuse. Remember, it was Obama who said, nearly 20 years ago: “If they bring a knife to the fight, we bring a gun". This didn't just happen. This has been brewing for a long time.

4) The alleged assassin is said to be a teacher from the far left environs of California and a Kamala donor. This man was "teaching" America's children. The teachers unions (NEA and AFT) are fanatical political operatives and millions of schoolteachers throughout the nation have been ominously radicalized.

5) Some sick people were no doubt hoping that the third time would be the charm and sadly, they've made those feelings abundantly clear, again and again. But in the Bible, the number three highlights key spiritual truths and is said to signal divine perfection. In the name of all three -- the Father, Son and Holy Spirit -- we pray for President's Trump's continued safety and the protection the and well-being of our nation!

Dems Destroying Democracy, Our Constitution!

🚨 LEGAL EXPERT JONATHAN TURLEY SAYS IT PERFECTLY:

"I cannot express how DAMAGING that is for our constitutional values and history — they're making IMPEACHMENT [of Trump] into the English vote of no confidence; that's NOT what it is!"

"It is something much more serious than… pic.twitter.com/sxEPPkTRVC

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) April 20, 2026

Did Jesus Listen To THIS Prayer? Huh?

This past Palm Sunday, Pope Leo stated that Jesus "does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war,” adding that God rejects the prayers of leaders . . . who have "hands full of blood."

The Pope went further in a sweeping condemnation with these words: "God does not bless any conflict. Anyone who is a disciple of Christ, the Prince of Peace, is never on the side of those who once wielded the sword and today drop bombs."

Now listen to President Franklin D. Roosevelt's radio address and his fervent prayer to "Almighty God" on D day, June 6, 1944. Did God not "listen" to FDR's prayer? Did God not ignore the pleas of America and the allied nations? 

Again, here is the full text of the prayer:

Almighty God: Our sons, pride of our Nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity. 

Lead them straight and true; give strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness in their faith. 

They will need Thy blessings. Their road will be long and hard. For the enemy is strong. He may hurl back our forces. Success may not come with rushing speed, but we shall return again and again; and we know that by Thy grace, and by the righteousness of our cause, our sons will triumph. 

They will be sore tried, by night and by day, without rest-until the victory is won. The darkness will be rent by noise and flame. Men's souls will be shaken with the violences of war. 

For these men are lately drawn from the ways of peace. They fight not for the lust of conquest. They fight to end conquest. They fight to liberate. They fight to let justice arise, and tolerance and good will among all Thy people. They yearn but for the end of battle, for their return to the haven of home. 

Some will never return. Embrace these, Father, and receive them, Thy heroic servants, into Thy kingdom.

And for us at home -- fathers, mothers, children, wives, sisters, and brothers of brave men overseas -- whose thoughts and prayers are ever with them--help us, Almighty God, to rededicate ourselves in renewed faith in Thee in this hour of great sacrifice. 

Many people have urged that I call the Nation into a single day of special prayer. But because the road is long and the desire is great, I ask that our people devote themselves in a continuance of prayer. As we rise to each new day, and again when each day is spent, let words of prayer be on our lips, invoking Thy help to our efforts. 

Give us strength, too -- strength in our daily tasks, to redouble the contributions we make in the physical and the material support of our armed forces. 

And let our hearts be stout, to wait out the long travail, to bear sorrows that may come, to impart our courage unto our sons wheresoever they may be. 

And, O Lord, give us Faith. Give us Faith in Thee; Faith in our sons; Faith in each other; Faith in our united crusade. Let not the keenness of our spirit ever be dulled. Let not the impacts of temporary events, of temporal matters of but fleeting moment let not these deter us in our unconquerable purpose. 

With Thy blessing, we shall prevail over the unholy forces of our enemy. Help us to conquer the apostles of greed and racial arrogancies. Lead us to the saving of our country, and with our sister Nations into a world unity that will spell a sure peace a peace invulnerable to the schemings of unworthy men. And a peace that will let all of men live in freedom, reaping the just rewards of their honest toil. 

Thy will be done, Almighty God.

Amen."

Pope VS POTUS: Did Vatican Set Collision Course?

Maybe we should have known when Cardinal Robert Prevost was chosen to helm the Catholic Church nearly a year ago.

Maybe we should have detected  a clear signal of this papacy's direction when the new Pope chose the name Leo, after Pope Leo XIII who styled himself an early champion of Catholic social justice. And maybe we should have seen what was quite clearly evident -- that this new man, though American, was in the mold of Pope Francis, was a portegê of his and came from the same South American missionary background.

But this was an American Pope -- the first ever -- and we were dazzled! 

My goodness, he grew up near the middle of America, near Chicago and graduated from Villanova University right here in the Philly suburbs. "He's one of us," we told ouselves. "We'll have a real friend in the Vatican -- a friend in charge of the whole Church." That's what many of us thought. 

And President Trump felt the same way. In fact, Trump described the election of Pope Leo as "such a great honor for our country to have an American pope" and added that he was "very happy" about it, calling it "absolutely great."

Things seemed cordial and most people expected Pope Leo to ease into his role, and like most of his predecessors, give everyone time to assess the transition and begin to understand where the Church might be heded. 

It was not to be. Leo had other ideas and he began to speak out on a variety of issues, sometimes seemingly off the cuff, often in English and even while holding spontaneous media availabilities and news conferences. It was unparalleled. Let's racap:

• May 2025: Pope Leo XIV is appointed, immediately setting a different tone than his predecessor, taking a more direct stance on US policies. Shortly thereafter, he urges U.S. bishops to back him up and speak with a unified voice on immigration, leading to a near-unanimous message against mass deportations
• May 13, 2025: After it's revealed that Pope Leo's brother, Louis, a Florida resident is politically conservative and a supporter of President Trump who has voiced his support in social media posts, Louis at first defends his posts. But he's reportedly "made aware of the need for  reduced public comment on sensitive issues" and quickly backs away.
• Nov. 5, 2025: Pope Leo calls U.S. immigration raids in Minnesota "inhuman" and demands "deep reflection" from the Trump administration on its handling of migrants.
• November 12, 2025: responding to the Pope's calls the US Conference of Catholic Bishops issues a "Special Message" condemning the Trump's Administration's deportation of illegals and opposing what it calls "the indiscriminate mass deportation of people."
• Jan. 9, 2026: Pope Leo condemns the Trump administration's actions in Venezuela following the Jan. 3 capture of President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. Forces, calling it a "diplomacy of force". The Pope once again encourage further action from the Cardinals.
• Feb. 18, 2026: The Vatican officially declines to join the Trump-proposed "Board of Peace" in Gaza, signalling a diplomatic rift.
• Feb. 2026: Pope Leo XIV declines an invitation from Vice President JD Vance to attend the U.S. 250th-anniversary celebration on July 4, 2026, with the Vatican confirming he will not visit the U.S. that year. The Pope instead plans to visit Lampedusa, Italy, focusing on migrant issues
• March 15, 2026: Pope Leo calls for a ceasefire in the US-Israel-Iran conflict, indirectly criticizing the escalation of violence.

• March 29, 2026 (Palm Sunday): Pope Leo intensifies criticism, describing the war in Iran as a "spiral of violence" driven by the administration. He states that God does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, emphasizing that such leaders have "hands full of blood"
• April 7, 2026: Following intensification of the US/Israel conflict with Iran, Pope Leo labels US threats against the radical Islamic state "truly unacceptable".
• April 9, 2026: In a move that raises eyebrows, Pope Leo meets privately with favid Axelrod, a liberal Democrat Jewish American and Fellow Chicagoan. Axelrod is a close advisor to former President Barack Obama and Obama's former Chief of Staff. The meeting reportedly discusses a possible future meeting between Obama and the Pope and the session extends longer than planned as the Pope keeps Italian Olympians waiting.
• April 12, 2026: In an unprecedented move, a group of three US Cardinals goes on the CBS TV program "60 Minutes" to further lambast Trump, calling the Iran war "a war of choice" and "not a just war". They also again voice opposition to the deportation of illegal immigrants referring to a "crackdowns on immigration."

Mind you, this is not a complete list of every criticism, every jab and every salvo that this Pope and his Cardinals have leveled at the US and the Trump Administration. 

The drumbeat has been quite steady, right from the start. And the Pope's pronouncements have been so intense and so sweeping that, we note again that at one point, he incredibly declared that "Jesus does not listen to prayers of those who wage war."

After remaining largely silent on the ongoing criticism from the Pope, the Cardinals and the Bishops, yesterday, President Trump responded and, to no one's surprise, he responded forcefully and directly.

Some would even suggest the response was long overdue.

Bottom line: You can't step into the political arena using your platform as Pope, Cardinal or Bishop and then complain (or attempt to shield yourself  under your mitre) when you get political pushback.  Or, as Barack Obama once said: "If you enter the arena, you should expect to get roughed up."

No Kings? OK, But How About A National Laureate?

"No kings! No kings! No kings!"

Okay, we get it. America's very founding was based on the rejection of monarchy. So, we've never had a king and don't have one now, regardless of what some may think. Of course, the fact that some on the left believe we have a king and are able to take to the streets over it simply demonstrates the health of our democracy and the vibrancy of our freedoms.

Still, it also shows how hopelessly polarized we seem to be right now.

And in the face of all this, we are nonetheless reminded that our governmental structure is far from perfect.

Yes, America’s Constitution is still a marvel of democratic engineering, but it contains one glaring omission. We have no head of state separate from our head of government. By design, the President is simultaneously chief executive, commander-in-chief, and national symbol—an awesome triple burden in an age of bitter partisan divide the likes of which we have not seen in some time.

Under these circumstances (under almost any circumstances, really) it's difficult for one person to credibly embody both partisan policy and the timeless idea of the nation itself. The result is a vacuum where unity and love of country should thrive.

Maybe it's time for a person who would fill that vacuum; not a king or potentate but someone who we will call our National Laureate -- a non-partisan, life-appointed figure of unimpeachable character who speaks for what Abraham Lincoln called “the better angels of our nature.”

This concept is not radical. Most stable democracies maintain a distinction between the ceremonial and the operational. Britain’s monarch, Germany’s president, and India’s president perform dignified works of state—welcoming foreign leaders, consoling the grieving, awarding honors—while elected governments handle the contentious business of lawmaking. These figures do not govern; they represent.

America never created an equivalent. We have instead asked the President to wear both crowns. When the occupant commands broad respect, the arrangement seems to work, most of the time. When the occupant does not, the presidency itself becomes a lightning rod and the country may come to feels leaderless, even when it has one.

A National Laureate would restore balance without altering a single power of the executive branch. This is not to say that we would definitively follow the European model, or any model. Our National Laureate would be uniquely American. The office would be strictly ceremonial, reminding us that there is something bigger than government -- that being the nation itself, as a whole and the state of our national character.

Where appropriate, such a person could lay wreaths at memorials; confer honors; comfort communities after disasters and offer measured, non-partisan reflections on moments of national triumph or tragedy. The Laureate would sign no bills, command no troops, and propose no budgets. The role’s authority would derive solely from moral stature, institutional independence and the unifying power of patriotism.

How would such a person be chosen? The mechanism and attendant process would have to be carefully planned and devoid of partisan interests, considerations or influence. Some have suggested a selection process overseen by the Supreme Court, the one one non-elected branch of our government.

Who could possibly serve in such a capacity? Candidates could be drawn from every walk of life: retired generals known for integrity; Nobel prize winners or those with other distinguished honors such as the Medal of Freedom; civil-rights icons; business leaders who built companies while serving their communities; even poets, artists or historians whose work has defined the American story. Wealth, fame, or prior office would matter far less than a lifetime record of putting country above faction.

History is replete with such figures, such as Benjamin Franklin, Frederick Douglass, Clara Barton, Andrew Carnegie, Eleanor Roosevelt, Bernard Baruch, Norman Rockwell, Martin Luther King Jr., Walter Cronkite and Billy Graham Even more recently, unofficial Laureates such as Coretta Scott King, Lee Iacocca and General Colin Powell have filled the unifying role through sheer moral force.

Formalizing the position would ensure it outlives any single personality. Amidst the political push and pull, the virulent passion of partisanship and frequently changing governments, a National Laureate would provide continuity. What's more, this would give us something which we'll call contiunity -- a newfound call to cohesion and stability, helping to fortify us in turbulent times.

Who could fill this role now? In his later years, former Senator Joe Lieberman likely would have worn this mantle honorably as he had risen above partisan politics and was capable of serving as an êminence gris -- a good gray counselor. The same could be said of the late historian David McCullough. Currently, the wise and soft-spoken Dr. Ben Carson might be a fine choice for this role.

It is true that America still prides itself on rugged individualism and suspicion of inherited authority. But this would not be an inherited position nor the possession of elites. Furthermore, we already venerate permanent institutions—the Constitution, the flag, the national parks—as embodiments of continuity. A National Laureate would simply uphold and personify that constancy, that heritage.

Polarization is not inevitable; in fact, it may simply be a design flaw we have allowed to fester. Perhaps the presidency was never meant to carry the full and complete emotional weight of national identity, especially in modern times. Of course, a National Laureate, would not heal every wound, but it would model the civility and long-term thinking our republic desperately needs.

In an age that too often foments division, we owe ourselves at least one institution that fosters unity. The better angels are still with us. It is time to give them a permanent voice.