Danley aims to restore Republican Party to former values in run for Senate

Sky Danley is not your typical Republican. At least, not a modern one, and he's running for U.S. Senate on a stance to “retake the party, reclaim representation, and reestablish civic virtue.”

Who is Sky Danley?

Danley is a Portsmouth resident who grew up in the Midwest, and earned a bachelor of science degree in aeronautical and astronautical engineering from Purdue University. He designed jet engines for General Electric and NASA, before joining the Air Force. He has logged more than 30,000 flight hours as a military and commercial pilot.

Danley has written two award-winning children’s books, worked in Disney Studios in animated films, designed his own shingle-style house, and is president of the Fitz John Porter Project.

“A jack of all trades, but a master of none,” Danley joked.

Danley is a history buff. His family is part of the formation of America — his relatives fought in the Revolutionary War, including at the Battle of Bunker Hill.

Danley is also a distant relative of President Abraham Lincoln. He has embraced this, being the same height and with the ability to grow a beard, by going to nursing homes and other events as a member of the Abraham Lincoln Presenters Association.

Why run for office?

Danley doesn’t think the current state of the nation is what was intended in 1776.

“I question whether the country is still existing, certainly not as the founders intended,” Danley said. “In name-only, almost.”

When Danley was in the military, he carried around a pocket Constitution, to remind himself why he was there.

“I just feel that the Constitution is being trampled on right now. And mostly — not exclusively, but mostly — by the Republican Party, which has transformed from what I knew just when I was a kid, and certainly from what it was when it was originated,” Danley said. “Before the 1960s, I think most Democrats would have been a member of the Republican Party, and vice versa. I think it’s very dangerous what’s happened.”

Danley said his party has been taken over by money from corporations and overseas interests. Social media, he said, has also become an issue, as this is where many people now get their news. This can be generated by “bots,” and foreign influence.

“Unfortunately, I think our government has been taken over by interests that are not the peoples’ interests.”

Danley said there have been three republics in this country thus far, starting in 1776, and then lost around the Civil War, before entering a third republic during the Civil Rights movement. He believes that in 1991, with the fall of the Soviet Union, the next republic has been lost, and led to everyone fighting amongst themselves. He doesn’t believe the U.S. government is functioning as founders intended.

“That’s why I’ve gotten into it, and that my purpose is to see that government of, by and for the people is returned to this country,” Danley said. “Whether it is through me or somebody else, that doesn’t matter. I’m not in this for myself. I’m in this to hopefully be a voice singing out from the wilderness and find, and join, some likewise voices in a chorus and create the change necessary to return and restore the Republic.”

Bill of Restoration

A key part of Danley’s campaign is what he calls the Bill of Restoration, which is similar to the Bill of Rights and includes four constitutional amendments, for the first time in more than half a century.

The amendments include setting term limits for House and Senate members; lowering the Senate’s impeachment conviction threshold to 60% to hold federal officials accountable; changing the Supreme Court system by appointing a new justice every two years so each one serves 18 years; and taking corrupt money out of politics by allowing only people who live in a district to donate to federal campaigns.

Danley said President James Madison said no republic can exist without virtuous representation, meaning decisions will be made with the best interest of the people. He said this has been lost.

“I believe that is one of the reason our republic has either fallen already, or is in the process of falling,” Danley said. “Bringing back the Republican Party back to its original roots, because I do think it’s been hijacked successfully.”

Trump administration

“I believe he’s a con man,” Danley said. “I believe he sold his soul to the devil in order to get con man abilities. And he not only got them for the greatest con man of our generation, but possibly all time. He can realistically tell a lie and get people convinced that it’s the truth. And unbeknownst to them, they’re becoming traitors to the republic.”

Danley said it was ironic that in the Civil War, the officer corps was 1,000 officers, and a third of them violated their oath to support and defend the Constitution. They actually became enemies of the Constitution, and fought against it, and the majority were likely duped, not evil. He sees a current parallel.

“One of the things I dislike most about Trump is he’s duped so many otherwise good people into becoming traitors.”

He said the only person he saw trying to cheat in the 2020 election was Donald Trump himself, and he said there is a danger, because there is a weakness to the Constitution. Danley said he follows Russian propaganda, going 180 degrees from the truth, to confuse the people so it is easier for them to take over.

Danley believes candidates John Sununu and Scott Brown are loyal to Trump. He said they may even believe 2020 was not a stolen election, but they won’t stand up to it, because they know it could be the end of their political careers.

“I would ask them, and I am going to go out and ask them, 'Would you have voted to convict Donald Trump?'” Danley said.

However, Danley doesn’t believe Trump is a problem anymore, due to his age and health. He said the issue is that he exploited an existing, corrupt system.

“So, what’s to stop another person?" Danley questioned. “Next time, it could be a Democrat. We don’t know. What’s to stop the next person coming in and exploiting the loopholes in the Constitution and seizing dictatorial power?”

War in Iran

Danley thinks the war in Iran should have been handled differently, but was quick to say he recalls the 1970s, under President Jimmy Carter, whose actions regarding a hostage crisis ultimately led to terrorism and wars. He said there is an evil regime in Iran, which was starting to change, until now.

“I think it was very ill-conceived and poorly executed,” Danley said. “Why he did it, whether it was to divert from [the Epstein files], whether he was concerned about his poll numbers and knowing a war usually raises poll numbers — I mean, George Bush went up to 90% after 9/11. I don’t know, but it’s been poorly executed.”

He said Iran will likely come out controlling the Strait of Hormuz, which was not the case pre-war, and will also likely come out with fewer sanctions.

“It’s a mess, and it’s probably going to last until 2028,” Danley said. “And the next president, assuming there is a next president, is going to have to deal with it.”

Immigration

Danley said if someone told him in the '70s there would be a masked police force running around in blue jeans, in unmarked cars, jumping out and apprehending people, he would have thought it was crazy.

“There is no way any federal officer should be wearing a mask,” Danley said. “It’s almost like they’re ashamed. They know what they’re doing. They shouldn’t be hiding their faces. It’s a tough job. If they get doxed, so be it. That’s part of being a public official,” he said, referring to sharing identifying information about someone online.

He thinks since immigration officers have been given blanket immunity, and there have been deaths, it is extremely dangerous. He also said illegal immigrants commit crimes at 50% the rate of U.S. citizens.

High cost of living

When Danley grew up, the average CEO made 20 times more than the average worker. That has dramatically increased, which he said is only one piece of the puzzle. He said many will blame Joe Biden for inflation, but he pointed to Trump’s tripling of spending in 2020, which had consequences.

He is against tariffs imposed by Trump, calling them a violation of the Constitution, and said the war in Iran has created an oil crisis, leading to high gas and diesel prices. Groceries also became more expensive, and he said many factors have caused prices to rise out of control, and it will be difficult to come back from.

What sets him apart?

Danley said he will work across the aisle, and not be bought, and has a desire to save the republic in which he believes so strongly.

“We should care about the republic,” Danley said. “We were bequeathed this great thing called the American Republic, and it was unique in the world. We led the world as other republics formed up, and it’s losing it. It’s our responsibility, as inheritors of this republic, to pass it down to future generations.”