PERSPECTIVE FROM THE 19^TH HOLE: This is the title I chose for my personal blog, which is meant to give me an outlet for one of my favorite crafts – writing – plus use an image from my favorite sport, golf. Out of college, my first job was as a reporter for the Daily Astorian in Astoria, Oregon, and I went on from there to practice writing in all of my professional positions, including as a Congressional press secretary in Washington, D.C., an Oregon state government manager in Salem and Portland, press secretary for Oregon’s last Republican governor (Vic Atiyeh), and a private sector lobbyist. This blog also allows me to link another favorite pastime – politics and the art of developing public policy – to what I write.

It seems like it will be an eternity before we get to the 2020 presidential election.

It is not likely to be a statesman-like process as we select the next president and, at the moment, I fervently hope it will not be Donald Trump.

Here are some perceptions about the process so far.

Democrats continue to practice the art of personal destruction. Former vice president and senator Joe Biden is ahead in the polls, so the rest of the Ds go after him, trying to soften him up for the D primary.

Of course, their action – typical for a disorganized political party – is to give aid and comfort to the one they want to beat in the general, Donald Trump.

Republicans continue to rally around Trump who exhibits none – exactly none – of the attributes we expect in a president.

He builds walls, not bridges.

He demonizes all immigrants.

He separates immigrant children from their parents, with little chance of ever finding restoration.

When I attended my granddaughter’s class a few months ago in Woodinville, Washington, it was her turn to present a report to the call on a president. It turns out that her assignment was Rutherford B. Hayes who was described as the worst president in U.S. history.

Hayes now has a competitor for that title – Trump, whom I say, wins hands down.

One bright spot has emerged in all of the recent to-ing and fro-ing over the next presidential election.

South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg gave the first major foreign policy speech of the primary season a few days ago.

According to the Washington Post, Buttigieg deserves high praise for his willingness to devote a full speech to the topic, to speak for more than an hour, to cover not simply major themes but to hit issues affecting each continent, and to direct even-handed criticism at both Democrats and Republicans.

While other Ds talk about huge tax increases, establishing a so-called “green economy” (which would bankrupt the country), and moving down a path toward socialism, Buttigieg illustrated his credentials for the nation’s top job – credentials that rely on preserving democracy.

He provided an emphasis on responsible leadership with use of force only as a last resort; a commitment to alliances that make us stronger; a connection between American values and prosperity; and the U.S. role in the world.

He structured his speech around the three key components of his foreign policy thinking — our values, our interests and our alliances.

The Post said, “He is no left-wing isolationist. He said quite plainly that ‘the world needs America more than ever,’ and, while declaring the country in need of a new foreign policy, he showed he has smartly sifted through past experience and extracted lessons both good and bad.

Did Buttigieg’s speech answer all of the questions imbedded in U.S. foreign policy? Of course not.

But, as the Posts concluded in its report: “A candidate who can identify, not to mention analyze, the rise of illiberal regimes as a threat to our interests and can find Sudan and Algeria on the map, let alone speak intelligently about them, deserves praise.

“A candidate willing to explain that immigration is a national security issue because we want and need the talent of those seeking to come here to help innovate and contribute to the economy should get credit.

“A Democrat forcefully defending the good that the United States does in the world deserves encouragement. He set a high bar for other candidates. Let’s see how they match up.”

As we head toward the 2020 elections, I am hoping to find someone – I don’t care about political party – who has a decent chance to unseat Trump. It appears to me that Buttigieg deserves a further look.