I fell asleep while reading this thread and dreamed about a country where politicians were judged on the basis of their honesty, the logical consistency of their positions from one end of the interminable campaign cycle to the other, and the suitability of their positions to resolving the problems with which they must deal once elected to the office they seek.
It was wonderful. Teddy Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln, and George Washington were the only actual presidents who were in fact elected in this fanciful dream; the others who have served in the White House, including 43, all lost.
But, sadly, I woke up. So long as elections are media events instead of actual debates on the issues, the only people who can succeed are those who can manipulate that process to victory.
I have no delusions about anyone who reaches the nomination, much less wins the election.
The most telling statement in this entire cycle, for me, was the statement Senator Obama made early in the primary voting: that he and Michelle had talked at some length and agreed that if he didn't run now, he never would because another couple of terms in the Senate and he would be as corrupted by Washington as all those he ran against. Says mountains about his motivation. I vote for the "kick the bastards out" ticket and he's the only one in this entire cycle who has any credentials for actually wanting to accomplish that. The rest of them are embedded in the system, lock, stock, and barrel. I'll happily take my chances with the new guy. Remember term limits? I think it's a wonderful premise from which to elect our national leader!
