A Real-Life Perspective from Trucker Randy

I'm a 50 year old, Conservative, Catholic, Husband, Father & Grand-Father, independent Truck Driver from Michigan.

I am a Christian with deep traditional values, but do reject the label "born-again evangelical" that has been placed upon "all" of Mike Huckabee's supporters.  We are not all in a neat little box, but from varied beliefs, and many occupations and backgrounds.  The one thing we have in common is finding a true conservative voice in Mike Huckabee, who is a man of integrity, character, and someone we can TRUST.  All characteristics that are uncommon in politics.   There is no "typical" Mike Huckabee supporter.  Almost all of "us" have never been involved in politics before or enthusiastically supported a candidate until this election process.

Ronald Reagan was the 1st President I voted for, twice.                                                             George H.W. & W. Bush, each got my vote,       4 times.

I would like to offer to you some real world, street perspective, as I see things... as I criss-cross America and Canada in my work as an Owner-Operator.

First, freight is down and has been declining in the last two years.  Even with diesel fuel going through the roof, shippers are still shopping around to get the lowest shipping costs for the products.  We truckers, have not had a "raise" in the past 10 years, but are asked to lower are charges, every day!

I stay out 3-4 weeks at a time, leaving my family, my church and my own bed, just to make my payments.  After fuel, insurances, truck payment, maintenance on the truck...I have no money left over for savings, donations or even Christmas presents for my grandchildren.  My wife cried at Christmas 07...It made me feel horrible, the worst I've felt as the provider to my family, since 1984!

We need to change the economy, homeland security, energy and tax policies in our country, or we will experience another Great Depression!

Barack Obama will surely not make the necessary changes that our country needs, and will lead us directly into that depression.

Therefore, John McCain must be elected as our next President, period!

So, to make that happen, Mike Huckabee would be, in my humble opinion, Sen. McCain's best VP pick.

I would ask that Sen. McCain employ Gov. Huckabee to work with the Congress and Senate, like he did with the Democrats in Arkansas...to shut down the IRS, and implement the "Fair Tax" system.

Our economy would turn around...within months.  The Stock market would go crazy, corporations and the jobs they create would flock to the USA, offshore monies would come back to our Country, jobs would be created and due to the competition for skilled workers, wages and benefits would increase.  Un-insured people would be able to get a good paying job with health insurance.

Secondly, Mike Huckabee's Secure America Plan was the only reason Jim Gilchrist of the Minuteman Project, endorsed and supported Gov. Huckabee for President.

We true Conservatives, want the border shut down and closed!!!

We do not want Sen. McCain's comprehensive approach to illegal immigration and amnesty for those illegally here in our Country.

Sen. McCain could ask Gov. Huckabee to implement his Secure America Plan by working with Homeland Security, the Border Patrol, and grassroot citizens to "watch" the new security cameras on the border via the Internet and help secure our borders.

Getting the illegal workers that are getting paid cash...under the table, registered and paying into our treasury via the "Fair Tax", which they are not currently doing (I know this for a fact because I have asked them on the loading docks I bump every day in my work) would generate huge revenue to our Country.

Sen. McCain could then put to use his vast experience to deal with the Middle East, oil production there and here in our Country.  He could focus on alternative fuels and energy systems.

Sen. McCain could create a true and final peace that would stabilize energy prices and reverse the bad feelings and impressions most of the Middle East has toward our Country.

Also, he could veto every earmarked, pork-spending bill that Congress sends to his desk!

I think the only reason Sen. McCain didn't support W.'s tax cuts, was because they didn't contain the necessary spending cuts John thought were necessary to reduce our deficit that we are going to be passing on to our children and grandchildren.

President McCain could be the Maverick Republican he has always been and implement radical changes in the way our Country does things!

With his Navy experience he could turn this ship completely around and get it going in the right direction, for the first time since our founding Fathers invented this wonderful experiment.

By picking Gov. Huckabee as his VP, he would excite and bring our donations and grass root support from the entire Army of us true Conservatives, (who have compassion for the working class) and Iowa and the entire South, i.e. the states Mike Huckabee won in the primaries.

Along with the religious evangelicals and Catholics that believe in everything Sen. McCain and Gov. Huckabee support regarding abortion, marriage and family values.

Sen. McCain and Gov. Huckabee could make the GOP the real Grand Old Party it once was under Ronald Reagan, but on 110 octane ethanol enriched racing fuel!!!

We must change these things in order to win this November and take our Country in a new direction!

Sincerely and respectfully submitted,

Randy Bishop

A Truck Driver from Michigan

ttrandybishop@gmail.com