Letter: Time is ripe for third-party candidate

Matt Ray's May 23 guest column 'A platform for a new political party” put forward the idea of a 'compassionate conservative” third party.

These words were weak 15 years ago when President George W. Bush used them - today they are a feeble attempt to reconcile conservative principles with anti-Trump sentiment. But the author is right in that the time is ripe for a third-party candidate.

What we need is a centrist that reaffirms property rights, gun rights, vetoes all but balanced budgets, enforces existing immigration laws, and otherwise leaves people alone.

A president who works to shrink, consolidate and streamline government and the laws it enforces, one where the U.S. code, as well as IRS regulations, are noticeably smaller after he or she leaves than before. We need a viable libertarian candidate and Gary Johnson is not him.

Would the individual who will defeat Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, or force the election to the House of Representatives, please come forward?

David Sheets

Marion