IamA retired USMC Colonel running against Roy Moore and Doug Jones in the Alabama special election for the U.S. Senate. My name is Col. Lee Busby. AMA!

Have you ever dated a child? Pre teen or teenager as an adult?

-Former squid

Negative

What’s you’re stance on the legalization of marijuana. Born and raised I. Alabama my whole life good hard working man here and I’d rather relax with a joint at the end of the day then a beer. What’s so wrong with that?

I think it's an issue that the states should take up, not the Federal Government. I fully support the use of medicinal marijuana.

Do you think you might actually give Roy Moore the vote considering you're not getting his base but you might/probably will get some of Doug Jones votes?

We felt when we set out that there were moderate Republicans who would vote for Jones but our main concern was the estimated 82% of voters in the state who weren't planning on voting. Those estimates have changed since we entered the race, now turnout is estimated to be 25%.

Former airmen that spent 3 years at Maxwell AFB. What is your opinion on the widespread poverty and discrimination in Alabama? Do you have any plans to address either of these things?

For context, I am Hispanic. It wasn't something that happened every time, but there were times that I went outside of the base and felt like I had a target on my back. My first visit to Prattville, I got told "no espanol" and asked what part of Mexico I was from (and asked for picture ID matching my credit card).

Also, just driving down the road in Montgomery was so depressing. So much poverty.

The best remedy for combatting poverty is a good job. We're seeing that go on now. One of my concerns is whether jobs will be scared away by companies who are considering coming here but are watching this election. On cultural acceptance, it's coming, certainly not as fast as most people (myself included) want, but it is coming. Thanks for your service.

Colonel -

Alabama voter here. I heard you on NPR a few weeks ago, but since then, I have heard neither hide nor hair about your campaign. In fact, most of my coworkers and friends know nothing about your write-in campaign. Are you planning some kind of Hail Mary blitz leading up to tomorrow?

Trying our best to spread the message in the last hours of the campaign. We've focused more on local news in recent days.

Non-Alabaman here. What is the appeal of Roy Moore to Alabamans?

Many Alabamians are concerned their values are under attack and they've defaulted into believing Moore is the only one who is willing to represent those values. I believe it's possible to represent those values but perhaps in a way that's more palatable to the majority of Alabamians.

Could you please explain those values for those of us from out of state? Are you standing up for those values?

Two hot button issues are the right to life and the 2nd Amendment. In reality our values are defined more broadly. We're staunch believers that the Federal Government should have a minimal role in our individual lives, individual beliefs, and individual choices as long as those don't infringe on the rights of others. We certainly recognize our beliefs are more conservative than the rest of the country but we believe we have the rights to those beliefs and to live them out in our daily lives.

Are you allowed in every mall in Alabama?

I am "cleared hot" for all malls in Alabama

What is your favorite amendment?

The first (it allows me to get online and talk with you) followed closely by the second. I think the first has been coming under more attack than the second lately.

do you think you will get enough votes to affect the outcome of this election?

I do. I think we'll give Alabama voters a choice.

Colonel, I am an Army veteran of OIF. I am lucky to have served with minimal injuries physical or mental ,but many were not as lucky. What would you like to see done in the ways of improving the VA and other support programs for past, present, and future vets?

I, like you, was very fortunate. I get my healthcare through the VA now, I'm familiar with its strengths and its frustrations. My biggest frustration is simply getting to talk to a human being when I'm trying to get something un-screwed. I think one simple thing that would help is hire more veterans or make the workers use the VA health system.

Do you support the GI bill for veterans?

How about for civilians?

I support the GI bill for veterans. Can you clarify the second part? If you mean for defense contractors, no, they're employed by private companies and their compensation reflects that.

As a Canadian I can see you system is not working. I get the impression to many far right and left views attract big money from angry people. Do you feel a 3rd party will for out of the aftermath of all this extremism on both sides? Personally most Americans I know are very center, but just to lazy to do anything to fix it.

I think technology is removing the middle man in politics in the same ways it has in business. Right now, the middlemen are the two big parties. That's currently in the process of eroding. People are able to get their news from so many places outside traditional media and the two parties. Eh?

Colonel, if elected to the US Senate, where do you see yourself as a Senator in regards to Iraq and Afghanistan? Would you work to finally end our involvement or do you see it as something the US Troops will need to be involved in till the end of time?

I'd be a hardline supporter of funding the US Military to keep it the best in the world. I'd also be a hardline supporter of keeping our military out of roles that we aren't built for. There are other ways to win than simply putting American targets in there.

Colonel, do you have any plans or ideas on how to begin bringing the two extreme sides in politics back together again?

I thought this candidacy was one. Most of us are not really as divided as the media and political parties want us to remain. I'm trying to give that issue a voice.

Are you concerned that you could be blamed for "stealing" votes from either/both of the candidate's like what happens with the Green/Libertarian parties?

(I don't believe that anyone can "steal" votes from another candidates, you have to earn those votes)

I agree. The outcome of this election will be a function of party decision and strategy, not one retired Marine and a few volunteers.

Thank you for your service.

Do you believe Roy Moore's accusers, and why or why not?

I know nothing more than the average person walking in front of the television. The accusations created enough questions in my mind where I could not vote for him.

what do you thin kof the situation in venezuela?

It's the inevitable outcome of individuals who were too comfortable to stand up when it could have been stopped and reversed. It saddens me, Venezuelans are amazing people.

Thank you for coming on reddit and thank you for your service.

What is the major drive that brought you into politics? What helps you seperate from roy moore? (Besides the obvious)

I was brought into politics by this disgust I felt that so many of the centrist conservative voters in Alabama were not represented by the two choices they were given. I'm not a lifelong politician and have no desire to be. If you look at my professional background on our website, you'll see my experience is broader and more useful in the US Senate. This includes not only military service but a wide array of private sector experience. These experiences gave me a broader perspective than either of the two candidates.

Colonel, ima need to know your favorite 3 war movies please?

Full Metal Jacket, A Bridge Too Far, The Sands of Iwo Jima

what are the most overrated and underrated restaurants in Alabama?

That's out of my field of expertise. I enjoy home cooking.

Colonel, in the classic war movie "Heartbreak Ridge," the Gunny beats down a giant human meathead they called "Swede." Do you think YOU could have taken down "Swede"?

No but I've had plenty of gunny's who could

Colonel, is it true that dudes only go into the US Army if their ASVAB scores aren't high enough to get into the US Air Force?

Don't know. That's a question for the Army.

Colonel, let's say a person is transgender and wants to physically transition and at the same time wants to be a Marine. Assume that in order to do so, this person would have to undergo extensive surgeries and pharmaceutical and therapeutical regimens. Would this not then make that person ineligible for expeditionary operations and, as such, ineligible to serve? Aren't all Marines supposed to be expeditionary? Or are some Marines allowed to be designated POGs?

All Marines should be riflemen first and expeditionary always

Colonel, smug redditors insist that poor republican voters in the South are "voting against their own interests™" - do you believe that to be true? Or is this simply a vapid talking point propagated by lazy leftists?

No, I don't believe it to be true. At all.