Donald K. Allen for President

Hi Phil,

Here are my answers. They were written entirely by myself, reviewed and edited by my wife, Paula. I do not have a staff of political analysts and campaign strategists to compose "politically correct" answers, so what you are getting is straight talk. I intend to be straight with the people of the United States of America throughout my administration.

Sincerely,

Don Allen, MS, DVM

---------------------------- Original Message --------------
Subject: Interview
From: "Phil DEFER" <phil_defer_f21@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, May 28, 2007 4:55 pm
To: "info" <info@donaldkallenforpresident.com>
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Mr Allen,

As a 22-year-old French student, I'm very interested in American politics. Since I read that you're a candidate for the 2008 campaign for President in the US, I wanted to ask you some questions in order to know you better.

Your answers will be published on my Forum ( http://forum21.aceboard.fr ), where you're invited of course, and on my Website (in French and English, and we are on Google News). I hope you'll help us promote the diffusion of your replies. Please, excuse me for my English, not very good...

Now, here are the questions :

1. Could you introduce yourself in a few sentences?

My name is Donald Kenneth Allen. I was born in Rockford, Illinois, April 16, 1947, and have lived in three different states during my lifetime. I also served 13 months in the Republic of the Philippines in the Air Force. I’ve been described a “Renaissance man” by several people who have come to know me, perhaps because of my many interests and accomplishments. A veterinarian by profession, I also serve as a public health officer in the Air Force Reserve, and am active in animal welfare issues. My maternal grandparents immigrated to the USA from Lithuania, and my father’s family has been here since 1734 from England.

2. How was your political engagement born?

The vagaries of politics have been a concern of mine for decades, but the constant bipartisan infighting that has occurred during the last two presidential terms has made me want to do something about it. As Edmund Burke stated, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” I am compelled to act.

3. What personal way drove you to compete for the presidency of the United States?

The requirements for presidential candidacy, according to our Constitution, are that you be 35 years old, a natural-born citizen, and have resided in this country for the last 14 years. Nowhere does it state that you must also be a millionaire, be politically connected, or have the backing of captains of industry. I am qualified, and I have the conviction of a sincere heart to see this through. My motivation is to make changes for the betterment of all Americans.

4. Can you tell me some key points about your program, the main ideas?

As an Independent, unaffiliated, candidate for president, I plan to work with both primary political parties’ members to instill cooperation for the betterment of our country and its citizens. I believe it is time to calm the waters and move on with solving important matters. That list is long, and the priorities are several, among them National (and border) security, health care, total tax reform, launching a true “war on drugs,” and educating our children (not necessarily in that order).

5. How do you view the upcoming campaign, can you give us some elements about what it represents in term of hardships, opportunities... in the US system, and what about your strategy?

Currently our country is embroiled in the “Primaries,” wherein the two significant political parties, Republican and Democrat, will be choosing their candidates for president. As an Independent, I am not involved in the Primaries, and, therefore, am little known at this point. The two parties want to keep our country’s politics all their own affair, and they make it extremely difficult for a third party to form and grow. The overall national disgust and disappointment with the way they have been performing make this an ideal time for “new thought.” Without the huge staffs of the two parties, I will be at a significant disadvantage both monetarily and general labor-wise. Nevertheless, I have many volunteers and my support will grow. I hope to enlist the votes of the approximately 40 percent of registered American voters who do not feel their votes are effective or worthwhile.

6. Political fiction: It's January, the 20th, 2009. You have just been elected president! What are your first steps, your priorities?

My first steps as President of the United States will include addressing Congress to lay out my plan for our country’s future. I will try to enlist their help and cooperation in achieving these goals, and also plan to use Executive Orders as needed to accomplish them. I will order the Army Corps of Engineers to finish the Mexican border fence (I really don’t expect that it will be done by then). I will abolish the Internal Revenue Service and institute the Fair Tax, which is a National Sales Tax, to take the place of our present income tax. That’s good for the first week.

7. What are America’s biggest internal problems today, and what are your answers?

In the forefront today (it will change with time) is the issue of illegal immigrants in our country. I fully agree that our economy relies on their cheaper labor for many of the service, agricultural harvesting, food processing, and manufacturing jobs in the United States of America. My only requirement is that they be positively identified and that we know where they are at all times. I plan to require proper identification and will set up registration centers throughout the country and also, perhaps, offer mobile offices for this purpose. Companies that hire unidentified workers will be heavily fined. There will be no amnesty program for illegal immigrants that would allow them to “jump the line” for citizenship. Many do not seek citizenship, but those that do would be required to follow the same procedures as someone outside our country. Other problems include dependence on foreign oil, tort reform and establishing a “loser pays” rule for lawsuits, improving healthcare affordability through the prior legal changes and thereby reducing health insurance costs, and making Americans the most highly educated society on this planet.

8. Same question for America’s external problems.

America’s image has suffered in the international arena during the past few decades. Our Liberal media has made other nations view us as “heavy-handed” and arbitrary, regardless of any good intentions. While some of our own citizens believe there were ulterior motives for our war(s) against Saddam Hussein, i.e., “getting their oil,” our foreign critics often had their own ulterior motives for opposing our actions. If the USA invaded Iraq to get their oil, how come our gas is now over US$3.00 a gallon? (I know your gas/petrol is much higher!) It is time the new President of the USA resolves to regain our former prestige as the Standard-Bearer of Democracy in the world. Our Statue of Liberty (thank you, again, very much) must once again shine her light as a Beacon of Freedom for all the Nations to see and appreciate. We cannot be the Earth’s police force, but the USA, along with other concerned governments, must stand up to tyrants, dictators, and evil wherever they arise.

9. More specifically, what do you think should be done on Iraq and national security?

I’ve saved the issue of international terrorism for this question. I sincerely believe that our military forces will continue a presence in Iraq for at least ten years. It has been 60 years since World War II and our forces are still in Germany and Japan! The crisis in the Middle East will not be resolved by pulling out our troops. Proposing this is only a ploy to appeal to some of our ill-informed voters. America needs to significantly grow its military forces to deal with a long-term confrontation with Muslim Jihadists. Our national security advisers tell us that the detonation of an atomic device in one of our major cities is not a matter of “if,” but a matter of, “when.” In my opinion, this country needs to make it perfectly clear to all the citizens of Islam that THEY must put an end to terrorism. (Look up the word, “assassin,” to see when this began.) Muslim mothers and fathers must stop teaching their children from the earliest ages that martyrdom would sublimely gratify them as parents. Imams and Muslim schoolteachers must stop teaching hatred and intolerance of other Islamic sects and other religions in general to these children as they mature. If 98 percent of Muslims are “good, peace-loving people,” then they must internally police the other radical 2 percent among them and stamp out terrorism. Terrorism cannot survive without the passive consent of an indifferent citizenry. Since this is a matter of “when,” and not “if,” then as President I would guarantee to the Muslim world that if any of their faith were responsible for the detonation of a nuclear device in this country, they could immediately expect a similar fate for two significant cities. Let’s make this perfectly clear. The gloves came off on Sept. 11, 2001.

10. What about environment?

Much ado about Nature. The cycles of global cooling and warming occur without our approval, and virtually nothing can be done to change or alter these trends. Truly, the Industrial Revolution has contributed significantly to world pollution, from burning coal to internal combustion engines, and air pollution must be reduced or eliminated, if possible. I am totally for finding an alternative to oil for mechanical power, and we are making progress toward that end. Not fast enough, however, and we need more incentive. That is why I am proposing a US$1-billion-dollar prize to whoever can make the USA independent of foreign oil in the next decade. Now, what will happen when all the Chinese start driving petroleum-fuelled cars? Hopefully, the solution to the prize challenge will benefit the whole world. OPEC will evaporate.

11. What about your political (institutions), social, economic and societal (civil rights, abortion, homosexuality...) positions?

This is evolving into a small book! My position statements available on my campaign website, www.donaldkallenforpresident.com, address most of these issues. Many people here claim that their civil rights are in jeopardy because of national security measures put in place after 9/11. I cannot think of one of my civil liberties that have decreased or disappeared. I don’t care if the CIA is listening in on my conversations with someone in Syria (hypothetical). That does not really interfere with my civil right to privacy if I am doing nothing wrong. It only affects those with criminal intent. Homosexuality has been a part of civilization since the beginning of recorded history. I much preferred the days, however, when it wasn’t constantly thrown in your face in magazines, on television, and the big screen. Live and let live, but I can do without culture shock.

12. What should be America's relationship with the rest of the international community?

America’s relationship with the rest of the international community should first be one of mutual trust and respect. Extreme power requires equally extreme humility, compassion, and magnanimity. We should continue to offer a shining model of democracy as an example to the world, and help those nations who choose to emulate. Though not a perfect form of government, ours is still one of the best systems in the world.

13. Political fiction, again. You're at the White House. Iran just acquired nuclear weapons, with abilities to launch them to Europe's doors. It now threatens to launch one on Tel-Aviv if the Israelis don't evacuate the territory under 48 hours. As the Commander in Chief, what do you do?

See 9. above. Israel has their own nuclear capability, much further advanced than Iran’s. The threat is absurd in that it is impossible to evacuate in that short a time, and we know that Israel isn’t about to. You could expect a pre-emptive strike on Iran by Israel and the USA would be in complete support of Israel’s right of survival and self-defense. America would back Israel 100 percent.

14. What assessment do you make of George W. Bush's presidency, and on which points will you be inspired or distance yourself from him?

Our country is incredible. There are so many people here who actually believe that, “Bush lied,” regarding Iraq. In my opinion, the weapons of mass destruction that could not be found in Iraq are probably sitting in Syria. There were semi-trailer-loads of unknown cargo leaving Iraq for Syria just before the invasion. They weren't all packed with gold and currency. Our entire Congress reviewed the information we had available at the time and voted FOR going to war. Not only that, but they accepted expected casualty figures that were many times higher than what we have seen to date. Yet, now they want to blame everything on Bush. It's ridiculous. He has kept our country safe from further terrorist attacks since 9/11, and for that the entire Nation should be grateful. I am. Whatever our Liberal press has to say about President Bush must be taken for the biased untruth that it is. I stand behind my Commander-In-Chief. His leadership has been an inspiration.

15. Could you tell me about you day of September the 11th, 2001?

I was at work in my veterinary practice that day and was not in touch with the news until my wife called me from the Youngstown State University campus, where she was taking courses. She saw it on television in the Student Center and was dumbfounded and shocked. It all seemed unreal and hard to accept. I turned on our television in the break room and saw the replays of the planes flying into the buildings. I believed I was seeing the start of World War III, and fully expected our country to go on a war footing for retaliation. Saudi Arabia immediately evacuated all its students and citizens in this country, apparently expecting the worst. President Bush, however, took all available information into consideration and gauged his actions accordingly.

16. What are, according to you, the 21st century’s greatest stakes, and how to face them?

I believe the two greatest stakes in the world today are the global ambitions of Islamic radicals and China. I’ve already discussed the Islamic problem, which generally includes conversion of the world to Islam. Muhammad founded his religion as a warrior prophet, destroying or conquering all who opposed him in over twenty battles. Those conquered had three choices: embrace Islam, become a slave, or die. Once established, the religion became tradition for subsequent generations. All the rest of us are infidels, to be treated as dogs. China, on the other hand, simply wants the old saw of Communist world domination. China is becoming stronger every day through the use of capitalism to develop a huge cash flow and tremendous imbalance of trade. For the People's Republic of China, the end justifies the means, and they will do anything, including masquerading as capitalists, to achieve their goal. It's working so far. I believe the West should stop investing in China and rethink our strategies. We are only making a sworn enemy stronger.

17. We were all marked by historical events. What are yours?

The assassination of President Kennedy is most memorable for my early years. I was in high school, returning to class when I overheard it in the administration office. When I arrived back in class, I told the teacher, but she didn't believe me until an announcement was shortly thereafter made over the public address system. We were all shocked and saddened by the loss of one of our truly beloved leaders. Next would have to be the Ohio National Guard shooting students on Kent State University's campus during a Vietnam War protest. Then there is the Vietnam War itself, which was a debacle due to the political restraints placed on our military leaders. We needed to let loose another Patton or MacArthur to turn it around. Instead, the politicians tied the hands of our military forces. I served outside the combat zone in the Philippines from October 1967 to November 1968.

18. What is your “vision of America” ?

My vision of America is a Christian nation with English as the national language, strong in defending our beliefs and steadfast in our moral convictions. America is the embodiment of “One Nation, under God, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all.”

19. Since I’m French, how do you view this nation, this country, what do we inspire to you, notably our new president Sarkozy ?

France is profoundly independent, with close ties to America ever since our Declaration of Independence. You are struggling with similar problems of immigrant absorption and changes in population profiles, yet the character of France remains unique in the world. Liberty, egality, fraternity are concepts all free people embrace, and you won your rights to them as we did. I look forward to a much-improved relationship with France through your new leader, President Sarkozy (and myself!).

20. More specifically, what did you think when President Chirac strongly opposed Bush on the issue of the war in Iraq?

I believed that France must be selling arms and equipment to Saddam, and that Chirac was looking out for France's best (economic) interests.

21. Which historical presidents, persons, dead or living, inspire you the most today?

Washington, Lincoln, Kennedy, and Reagan for their inspiring accomplishments and strength of character during dangerous and challenging times. I believe President Bush’s strong faith in God, and determination to “stay the course” in Iraq and Afghanistan will place him in history along with the other four.

22. In private, what do you like to do?

I enjoy reading World War II history, particularly about the Pacific Theater, and travel to historic places, like Tarawa and Guadalcanal. As time permits, I also enjoy fast driving on closed courses, firearm marksmanship, and scuba diving (thank you, Jacques Cousteau). Our six cats and one Doberman help me relax and enjoy their companionship when I am at home.

23. Do you have a motto in live, and if yes what is it?

I am an optimist, and sincerely believe that practically anything can be overcome through patience, persistence, and perseverance. With inspiration, hard work, and dedication, you can succeed in realizing your goals in life. You have to dream before you can ever have a dream come true.

24. Finally, why YOU more than another one at the presidency? Please give this interview's readers an infallible argument.

Only an Independent President can unite this country again and get it back on course to solve our Nation’s problems. Voting for either the Republican or Democrat presidential candidate will simply give you four more years of the same thing we have seen for decades - bipartisan, divisive politics that create dissent and turmoil throughout the land, and an antagonistic, wasteful government accomplishing very little. With no political debts to repay and party pressures to influence my decisions, I would be able to select a Cabinet comprised of the best from both parties, thereby providing our country with a truly balanced government for the benefit of all our citizens.

25. Free question, if you want to add anything...

I'm very excited and happy to embark upon this quest with full understanding of the trials and tribulations ahead. The road to the White House will be challenging and fraught with pitfalls, but I am confident that with the support of all the people who are disappointed with the status quo, I will emerge victorious in 2008. I have “a rendezvous with destiny.”

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