Dear Kamala. No.

Dear Kamala,

You can’t run for president again. Not because you are Black or because you are a woman, but because the country cannot go back ever again. And you being on the ballot and going on tour would be more than we can take.

We must move forward. Toward something. Not retreading anything. And, to be honest, you are a retread.

The country does not need a sequel. Hollywood knows most sequels disappoint, and Washington should learn from Hollywood. American politics has become a revival tour, and I would like to suggest we stop booking the old bands. Your movie was released. The critics weighed in. Relaunching the same film in a different year rarely improves the box office. Ticket sales do not suddenly go up because the calendar changed.

And let’s be fair and frank. You didn’t get it done.

You had a shot, and what you did was cater to those whose vote we already had. Your rallies were full, your crowds adored you, and your ego undoubtedly loved it. But we had those votes already. Your job was to expand the tent, not decorate it.

You were tone deaf to a good chunk of America that must be heard and included if we are ever to be a country again. I think like you. I vote like you. And I still saw it. Some of us even tried to tell you so at the time, but you knew better.

If we can do this, it will be a new country. Not one where one side or the other gets its entire agenda in order. The way I see it, it is a country that is centrist in the true sense of the word. Whatever your one-off issue is, it is probably not my business and not the government’s business either.

The government’s business is running the inner workings of the country. Infrastructure. Tax dollars. Education. Public safety. Scientific research. Roads. Bridges. Air traffic control. Water systems. The electrical grid. The thousand boring things that make civilization possible.

Nobody throws a parade for functioning sewer systems until they stop functioning.

Look at Denmark or some of the Scandinavian countries. People still disagree. Human beings remain gloriously human. But government is largely there to make society work. Your sexuality is not my business. Your religion is not my business. Government should be set up to serve the entire nation in a fair and even-handed way.

You know what is my business? Your education. Your health. Clean environments. Safe streets. Fair business practices. Everyone paying taxes. Let’s repeat that. Everyone paying taxes. Less war and spending more on our people, not war games.

This should not be an election about special groups. And you had your time on the stage, and you blew it. It has to be said.

Now there is a real possibility that we were cheated in 2024. That Elon Musk stole the election. That is a possibility, and perhaps even stronger than a possibility. But you should have been aware of that and prepared for it. Winners do not prepare only for what should happen. They prepare for what might happen.

Your handling of Biden or … all of it, rules you out.

Please do not run again. Do not waste our time. Do not bring back that painful, horrendous past to us again. I am not sure we can take it. I really am not.

Our energy now needs to be collaboration with everyone. With a single-minded purpose that says government exists to pay the bills, maintain the infrastructure, educate the children, and create the conditions so Americans can live their best lives.

I wish you well. I do. I think you are incredible woman, who has much to offer. But President of the United States is not on your bingo card in 2028. Trust me on this. Lunch soon?

Love to you and Doug.

Christine