With the presidential election looming, Donald Trump finds himself alone in the race to be the candidate for the Republican party. With Kasich and Cruz both resigning themselves from the 2016 election, the prospects for a traditional Republican seems bleak at best.

Where do we go from here? Do we vote for the Donald? Do we sacrifice our moral convictions that this man can't and should not be president because he has neither the caliber nor the temperament necessary to be president? (Not to mention his terrible hair.)

Of course, it is an option to simply turn tail and switch sides. For any Republican who finds himself a Republican in little more than name, or a RINO the appeal of Bernie Sanders, a socialist with a good grip on the economic situation of our country (though not a good grasp on its application), and a seemingly genuine care for individuals within this great country is clear.

To those who still find themselves unsure, however, consider this: If you feel you have no choices, yet still having the compulsion to vote, there are other choices than to simply stick to your party.

There are those who would say a third party candidate could "never win." Yet, currently Gary Johnson, a libertarian who finds himself leaning in the general direction of many anti-federalist Republicans holds a whopping total of 11 percent of the popular vote, a polling study says.

Many Republicans would also find it interesting to note that Johnson shares what is generally referred to as "Christian Values." Johnson is a member of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod and has experience running New Mexico as governor. In general, he seems to be a moderate Libertarian seeking not to abolish the Federal establishment, but to minimize it where possible.

Republicans were once known for the values of a Republic, our country was founded on the federalist notion that the Republic, Plato's utopia, would stand with the inclusion of moral leaders, chosen by the people to decide for the people. To improve and to protect the rights and lives of its citizens and to defend the liberties that are both set forth and God given.

Republicans have a history of doing what is right (although ancient history now) and of being upstanding leaders.

To be a Republican is to believe in the Republic. In order to believe in the Republic, we must find a strong leader who believes in the notion of helping the poor, establishing civil services, connecting states and provinces and also allowing provinces to act on their own, thus lessening the chance of a true minority to seize power. (In this case, an economic oligarchy.)

The federal government may not have all the answers, but it may have some. I believe Gary Johnson can answer the call to be president.

I believe he has the temperament necessary and believe that we, faced with the proposition of Trump, should find ourselves wary of simply voting "Republican" in this election, if for no other reason than because this election and this man have shown us that the word "Republican" means much less than it once did.

Johnson's presidential campaign website can be found here: https://garyjohnson2016.com/