“A few short weeks will determine the political fate of America for the present generation, and probably produce no small influence on the happiness of society through a long succession of ages to come.” –George Washington (1778)

I am returning today from one of several Department of Defense national security forums I attend annually. These briefings cover current operations, horizon and over-horizon threats, and our capability to respond to those threats.

In presidential election years, military briefings can be a challenge. Uniformed briefers are very good at respectfully concealing their political opinion, and should be. Indeed, expressing dissenting political views from those of the Commander in Chief will land senior officers in front of a UCMJ tribunal.

Fortunately, there is abundant criticism of Barack Hussein Obama’s failed foreign and national security policies from Special Forces Operators, both enlisted and officer ranks, who have recently been honorably discharged. One of the most comprehensive objections is a detailed critical review of those policies in a bold new video on Obama administration “leaks” and Obama’s use of the killing of Osama as campaign fodder. It features an impressive lineup of American Patriots who, unlike Obama, have honored their oaths.

At this week’s briefings, there was a clear consensus among those attendees not in uniform that the next election is pivotal to our nation’s ability to defend itself abroad, and moreover, the future of Liberty at home. It was no small coincidence that in the midst of these briefings, the last presidential debate of this election cycle took place, focusing on national security and foreign policy.

Let me be civil in my choice of words and say that among fellow attendees, there was no enthusiasm for, or confidence in, the CINC’s foreign or domestic policies (with one notable exception – a former ambassador from a major European ally, now living in the U.S. on a green card). I mention this consensus by way of affirming the strong case we have made against Obama since he first stepped into presidential politics six years ago. Thankfully that case has extended deep into the wells of undecided voters, and we regularly hear from Americans who were ambivalent about how to vote until the The Patriot Post‘s team of editors helped them understand what is really at stake – the future of Liberty.

So, the last presidential debate now concluded, the only question at this late stage of the 2012 presidential campaign is this: Are there enough adults among undecided voters, those who are not moved by the flood of Obama’s juvenile appeals, to turn back the socialist tide?

Obama can depend on two primary voter constituencies. About 30 percent of voters (60 percent of Obama’s support) comes from urbanites, whose allegiance has been co-opted by Socialist Democrats. Most in that group are enslaved on the Democrat Plantation where they have been inculcated with the belief they are dependent upon the state. Obama’s second constituency is the 10 percent of voters (20 percent of his support) who are irrevocably ideological socialists, from Leftist academicians to Hollywood glitterati and all malcontents in between.

So, are there enough independent voters who have the wisdom to discern between reality and Obama’s political rhetoric to make a difference?

The shrinking margin of independent votes will determine whether our nation moves toward the restoration of Essential Liberty, or follows Obama into the abyss of tyranny.

Clearly, this is a contest between a statesman who will restore the integrity and standing of the Office of President, versus a petulant adolescent and pathological narcissist who’s running the most disrespectful campaign in history, appealing to the worst in all who will listen to him.

As for the last debate and the two weeks remaining before Election Day, will Romney’s “adult” appeal work? Are there enough independent voters who qualify as “adults” to defeat Obama?

In the final debate, Mitt Romney sat quietly through accusations that his criticisms of Obama were “just not true” and that he was telling “whoppers.” Turns out that in each case, fact-checkers determined that Romney was right. But style is what gets points with the ignorant, and it too often trumps substance in political debates.

While there are significant threats to our national security, both foreign and domestic, the primary concern for grassroots independents is the economy. In three presidential debates, and at every Air Force One stop, Obama has and continues to insist, against a backdrop of economic decline, that his policies are working. His task is to convince independent voters that an outhouse has the fragrance of a floral shop – to divert their attention from the economy.

Will the deception work … again?

Romney hasn’t closed the gap in his disconnect with grassroots voters, not because he doesn’t genuinely care about Americans from all walks of life, but because his staff is top heavy with folks who, themselves, have no grassroots grounding.

The bottom line is that Obama can’t be trusted. If Romney will make that case over the next two weeks, it will resonate best with undecided grassroots voters.

At every campaign stop for the next two weeks, Romney must take the American people back to that moment just prior to the 2008 election, when Barack Obama said his objective was “fundamentally transforming the United States of America.” Impress upon all Americans that this transformation has indeed begun, that it has been catastrophic, and Obama’s just-released “New Economic Patriotism” plan for jobs will seal the fate of our nation.

Romney must continue to drive home the fact that Obama’s policies have failed – there are 23 million, unemployed or underemployed, and those who have simply given up looking for work – and tens of millions more who are working, but have not received pay increases to keep up with inflation. On Obama’s watch, we have “record spending on welfare” – households considered impoverished have grown to one in six and there are 47 million food stamp recipients – up 50 percent since Obama’s election. Obama has also amassed $5 trillion in new debt, and our national debt now totals $16 trillion, which for the first time in history now exceeds U.S. annual economic output. Finally, he should keep reminding the American people that median household income has declined by $4,520 (8.2 percent) since Obama took office. This is the real “Obama tax.” Also, energy prices have doubled because of Obama restrictions, and economic growth has slowed to an anemic 1.3 percent.

Romney must make the case that Obama’s road “Forward” is a dead end. He has been elected once so he believes the American people can be fooled twice.

Finally, Romney should end every speech at every stop between now and November 6th with this bottom line: “Obama can’t be trusted.” He can’t be trusted with our national security. He can’t be trusted with our national debt and he can’t be trusted to restore the health of our economy. And he most certainly can’t be trusted with the future of American Liberty.

Of course, Obama has one more ace up his sleeve. He’s banking on the next jobs report, scheduled for release on Friday, November 2nd, to affirm last month’s report of a reduction in new unemployment filings. If that report can be spun as affirmation that Obama’s economic polices are working, every 24-hour Leftmedia talkinghead will be promoting that fallacy until every vote has been cast. Unfortunately, that report may well swing enough votes to get Obama re-elected.