I will admit, I’ve read exactly one Brad Thor book in my life. I was at the airport coming back from a business trip, and I picked it up because I was bored. I didn’t hate it. It was a fun read. He at least appeared to have done some research into the way the US national security apparatus works, which is more than a lot of thriller authors do (hint: every time I read a blurb that mentions “black ops agent” or “special forces operative,” the book goes back on the shelf). Thor has also struck me, based on his Twitter feed, as a solid conservative. He wasn’t a fan of Trump in 2016, but voted for him, because like many Republicans, he couldn’t stomach the thought of a Hillary Clinton presidency.

Now Thor has issued a primary challenge to President Trump, and he’s going to have to put forth some solid conservative policy positions if he hopes to garner any kind of conservative support, and if this isn’t just a goofy publicity stunt.

If this is just some publicity ploy, I’d want to slap Thor upside the head, because issuing a primary challenge to our President shouldn’t be a joke or a scheme to sell second-rate thrillers. But if it isn’t, I would be willing to at least listen and consider my options; I’m open-minded enough to do that.

Good hair and rugged good looks aren’t enough, Mr. Thor! Your books (at least the one I read) appear to be entertaining enough, but the Presidency is not and should not be about entertainment. Leading the greatest country in the world is serious business, and if you’re going to issue a serious primary challenge to a sitting POTUS, there are certain things I’d like to see.

This is not enough. It’s an empty platitude with pretty words, but vapid bromides do not a viable candidate make – even a candidate with a cool name like Thor.

If no conservative steps up, I will absolutely challenge Donald Trump in 2020. America deserves better leadership. pic.twitter.com/xwNG8LZs8c

— Brad Thor (@BradThor) April 21, 2018

In fact, let’s make it official. I’m in. https://t.co/Rd1gh4Atm3

— Brad Thor (@BradThor) April 21, 2018

If you want to show that you are a viable candidate and a serious primary challenger, you cannot be just another Evan McMullen Egg McMuffin. Don’t talk about the republic crying out for real leadership, but rather show us where you stand on issues important to real Americans.

Where do you stand on the Second Amendment? Don’t tell me how you support the right to keep and bear arms. Tell me specifically what policies you support. Do you support “universal” background checks, which are really just a way to eliminate private gun sales? Do you believe that anyone on the terrorism “watchlist” should automatically be denied their right to keep and bear arms without due process and without even being notified that they’ve been watchlisted? Do you believe certain firearms need to be controlled or outright banned? How about certain accessories?

How would you go about shrinking the size of the federal government? What specific agencies and departments would you eliminate and how would you go about it? HUD? HHS? Department of Education? EPA? How would you address the inevitable, albeit temporary, rise in unemployment? Tell us!

Under what conditions would you involve the United States in a foreign military conflict? What US interests would have to be threatened? How would you define “existential threat” versus “tactical threat” to the United States?

How would you improve border security? Be specific. What kind of criteria would you use to allow immigrants into this country? How would you address the issue of sanctuary cities?

How would you balance the real need to track terrorist financial transactions and the tools we have to use them with very real privacy concerns of Americans? How would you stop the very real and significant flows of corrupt state and misappropriated assets going through the United States?

What steps would you take to reduce government spending? Be specific. What discretionary spending programs would you cut?

What further changes would you want to see to the US tax code? How about the US trade policy? Do you believe NAFTA should be renegotiated? With what nations should we have free trade agreements? With what nations should we stop free trade?

Would you support a Constitutional amendment banning the burning of the US flag? Why or why not?

What criteria would you use when nominating judges to the federal bench, including the Supreme Court? What decisions would you most like to see the Supreme Court to reevaluate?

Tell me your thoughts on the JCPOA. Do you understand what that agreement involves and how to approach Iran on this issue? Do you understand how economic sanctions work? How would you use them as a foreign policy tool?

What kind of criminal justice reform initiatives would you support as President?

There are other questions that need to be answered. You need to show some knowledge about our military policy, our foreign policy, fiscal, trade, and economic policies. You need to understand current world problems and how we fit into them. You need to clearly define what our priorities should be and how you would approach our relationships with the world’s nations, both as President and as Commander-in-Chief of our armed forces. How do you see our role in the NATO alliance? Do you support NATO expansion? Do you believe the alliance should make stronger demands of its members, instead of benchmarks for defense spending and suggestions about how members should allot their defense budgets?

Words are pretty, but they’re only words.

America is a great and noble nation. Our greatness resides in the ideals we hold ourselves to. America deserves a leader who matches that greatness. #Thor2020 pic.twitter.com/InFNA1wB8b

— Brad Thor (@BradThor) April 22, 2018

Caring about America is not enough.

Tell us what you would do differently and how you would do it.

America has had enough of vapid platitudes and populist bromides. Tell us what you stand for, or STFU.