6 Things to Know About Prospective Third-Party Candidate David French

[Dos Equis]

Never heard of this guy.  Will be interesting to see what happens if he runs. 

6 Things to Know About Prospective Third-Party Candidate David French
By VERONICA STRACQUALURSI
Jun 2, 2016

“Just a heads up over this holiday weekend: There will be an independent candidate - -an impressive one, with a strong team and a real chance,” “Weekly Standard” editor Bill Kristol teased ahead of Memorial Day.

Then yesterday, Kristol revealed on Bloomberg Politics’ “With All Due Respect“ that he hoped the white knight candidate who could provide voters with an alternative to Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton would be David French.

French is a staff writer for the National Review who holds conservative views and has never held or ran for political office.

But there’s more to know about David French, the man whose name has been floated for a independent candidacy:

His Wife Lived With the Palins

French’s hometown is Lexington, Kentucky. He now lives and works in Columbia, Tennessee, with his wife, Nancy, and their three children -- Camille, Austin and their adopted daughter Naomi.

Nancy was the ghostwriter for the memoir of Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin’s daughter, Bristol. According to Politico, Mrs. French moved from Tennessee to Alaska to live with the Palins for a month.

In the Frenches' book that they co-authored, “Home and Away: A Story of Family in a Time of War,” Nancy shared that they met in Nashville and married within months of meeting each other.

French and his family are members of the Presbyterian Church in America.

He’s an Iraq Veteran

French served in the U.S. Army Reserve for eight years, from April 2006 to April 2014, entering in as a first lieutenant and then later being promoted to a major. French was deployed to Iraq in 2007 for nearly a year.

He was awarded the Bronze Star, among other accolades, for his service.

In “Home and Away,” French wrote he was inspired at 37 to serve in the Army after reading a New York Times article about a family man who was wounded in Iraq.

“How was he different from me?” French wrote of his decision. “Why was it right for him to sacrifice and not me?”

He’s a Constitutional Law Attorney and Author

Before he enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve, French was a constitutional law attorney.

He got his degree at Harvard Law School and also had a career teaching at Cornell Law School.

When he was stationed in Iraq, he served as squadron judge advocate.

Besides writing for the National Review, French was a contributor to the book “Rise of ISIS: A Threat We Can’t Ignore.”

He's a 'Game of Thrones' Fan

Based on a few of his National Review articles, it seems that French both watches the popular HBO show “Game of Thrones” and has read the books the series is based on by George R. R. Martin.

“Good fiction can be a window into reality, and 'Game of Thrones' is very good fiction indeed,” French wrote of the show in an article posted in May.

He's Critical of Trump

In just one example of his criticism of Trump, French titled an article of his “15 Reasons Trump Is a Liberal -- and a Lunatic Conspiracy Theorist.”

“Conservatives can’t trust Donald Trump,” French argued. “One day he’ll boast of his commitment to the First Amendment and unborn children; the next day he either embarrasses the pro-life movement ... or signals his disregard for fundamental conservative principles.”

He Has His Own Thoughts About a Third-Party Candidacy

French and his wife were supporters of Mitt Romney in 2008 and in 2012. And again this election, French wrote an article in May titled “Mitt Romney, Run for President.”

French argued Romney is “the only man who can save us from future calamity” and leaving the race to Clinton and Trump “is to guarantee a terrible presidency marked by incompetence and cronyism.”

“There is just one hope -- however slim -- of avoiding this national disaster: America needs a third option,” French wrote.

In considering Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson as a viable candidate, French said Johnson has “serious credentials” and “more executive experience than either Clinton or Trump.”

However, French wrote of Johnson’s candidacy: “You won’t win, but you can matter.”

ABC News reached out to French for comment, but he did not immediately respond.

ABC News' Luis Martinez contributed to this report.

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/things-prospective-party-candidate-david-french/story?id=39540599

[240 is Back]

anybody but clinton/trump.

[Dos Equis]

Watched an interview with him for the first time.  He speaks the truth.  I like this guy.

Why I'm Not Running for President
by David French June 5, 2016

I never thought I’d type: After days of prayer, reflection, and serious study of the possibilities, I am not going to run as an independent candidate for president of the United States.

I gave it serious thought — as a pretty darn obscure lawyer, writer, and veteran — only because we live in historic times. Never before have both parties failed so spectacularly, producing two dishonest, deceitful candidates who should be disqualified from running for town council, much less leader of the free world.

Hillary Clinton lies habitually and changes position on virtually every public issue except for her pro-abortion extremism, and she has a suspicious record of making public decisions that favor donors to the Clinton Foundation. Her signal foreign-policy “achievement” was helping launch a war in Libya that not only cost American lives in Benghazi but also helped transform the nation into ISIS’s latest playpen.

To add to all that, she’s in the middle of an active FBI investigation. If I had handled classified information the way we know she handled classified information, my career would already be over, and the single goal of my life would be persuading the prosecutor to reach a lenient plea bargain.

Donald Trump also lies habitually (sometimes minute by minute), and changes position based on his moods. In one breath he claims to support working men and women, and then with the next breath he threatens to destroy our economy through trade wars or by playing games with the full faith and credit of the United States. He believes an American judge — a man born in Indiana who spent months hiding from drug cartels after they’d put a “hit” on him – can’t rule on a case involving Trump University because the judge’s parents emigrated from Mexico.

His supporters believe it demonstrates “strength” when he mocks the disabled and bullies women. He has attracted an online racist following that viciously attacks his opponents and their families — including my wife and youngest daughter.

Given this reality, it would be tempting to say that when it comes to confronting this national moment, “somebody” stepping up is better than nobody. But somebody is not always better than nobody. I’m on record saying that Mitt Romney could win. I believe others could run and win, and would make excellent presidents.

Indeed, the path is there. I spent the last several days with some of the best minds in politics. I learned that the ballot-access challenge can be met with modest effort (by an existing network ready to activate), that the polling for a true outsider independent was better than most people know, and that there are many, many Americans — including outstanding political talents — who are willing to quit their jobs — today — to help provide the American people with an alternative.

But given the timing, the best chance for success goes to a person who either is extraordinarily wealthy (or has immediate access to extraordinary wealth) or is a transformational political talent. I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve my country, and I thank God for the successes I’ve had as a lawyer and a writer, but it is plain to me that I’m not the right person for this effort.

I believe with all my heart that there is an American movement ready to both resist the corruption, decadence, and dishonesty of the American elite and restore the promise of the American Dream. But that movement may not emerge for some time, and it might emerge only after further heartache and pain.

Let me also say that each person involved in the effort to recruit an independent candidate is a patriot. They are standing strong on principle when the GOP leadership — in lockstep — now marches to Trump’s beat. I admired them before this process began, and I admire them more even now.

And the fight is not over. Men such as my friend and colleague, Boston filmmaker and philanthropist John Kingston, stand ready to continue the effort — with substantial resources behind them. But we live in a time when patriots are mocked and demagogues celebrated. Even good men have reduced themselves to excusing the inexcusable and defending the indefensible.

Last week, Reince Priebus said that those involved in the independent effort were “embarrassing themselves.” But what is more embarrassing? Is it doing your best to defend the nation you love from two people who are unworthy of its highest office? Or is it using your God-given gifts and talents to advance the interests of a man who cares only for himself and who rejects the very values you’ve long claimed to uphold?

As I’ve written many times before, nations are built on virtue — and courage is indispensable. But there is also prudence, and it was simply not prudent for me to take on this task. I remain against Trump and against Hillary, but I will do all I can where I am.

To those who prayed for me and my family, I’m grateful beyond words. To those who defended my wife and kids from vicious attacks — engaging in a fight you didn’t seek — I’m forever in your debt. To those I’ve disappointed, I’m sorry. It is your devotion and integrity that help keep America great, and I believe you will ultimately prevail. — David French is an attorney, a staff writer for National Review, and a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

http://www.nationalreview.com/article/436222/david-french-not-running-president