PRESIDENT WHO?

Well, now we can turn our attention to the 2008 Presidential election and all the excitement that it promises to be. Okay, excitement may be stretching things a bit, it should be interesting. Okay, maybe not interesting, maybe a bit intriguing. Hmmmmm okay it’s just going to be time consuming.

We are just a month away from Primary Season in the nation and finally, we can narrow down the list of candidates on both sides of the aisle. At this time I believe that there are more people running for President then we have ever seen before.

The slate of candidates is so large that when in a debate format you can hardly get all the candidates in the group picture, unless you use a wide angle lens.

The, so called, front runners for the Democrats in December 2007 are Clinton, Obama, and Edwards. On the Republican side you have Giuliani, Romney, Thompson, and Huckabee. The rest of the “also running” will soon be heading home unless someone on the top tier of their Party makes a major mistake.

As we get ready for the New Year, and the primaries that each state will hold, what should we be looking for as we search for next leader of the free world?

Well, if we use the past as a measuring tool we will be looking for style first, organization second, and substance last. Now this may sound a little cynical, but it’s the truth. This can be proven by asking a simple question. How many of you have gone to each candidates web site and read their position page on the issues that most effect our country?

What is your favorite candidates stand on issues like the economy, taxes, immigration, the military, and the big one, abortion and the right to life?

Now, I am not saying that people will not get educated on these and other issues before primary day in Connecticut, I am just saying that we in general pay more attention to polls and hype early on then we do to the candidates platform.

Then there is the issue of “electability” which focuses not on the substance of a candidate, but can they beat the other Parties front runner. Now, this is not without merit, but it is hard for me to compromise my vote to elect the lesser of two evils.

Recently both sides of the aisle have held something new called the “You Tube Debates” where average citizens could video tape their questions and have them presented to the candidates. But even this well intended idea was perverted with set up questions and political plants trying to catch the opposing side in a gaff.

So who will be our next President? Will it be Hillary and her years of experience dealing with health care…oh wait that did not work out so well. Will, it be John Edwards and his $100.00 hair cuts and his help for the poor. Maybe it will be Giuliani and his firm stand on abortion, oh wait he does not have one. It could be maybe Romney, the true conservative for the past couple of years. Okay, I am having a little fun at their expense, but come on it is humorous.

At least I am equal opportunity critic.

I long for the days of Pat Paulsen showing up on the Smothers Brother show and laying out his platform for the country. Yes, he did not have a chance of making it to Election Day, but there was always a bit truth in his dry personality and satire.

Now, that I have had a bit of fun with the presidential process let me say that this election will be an important one for our country. The next President will have to deal with ending the war, getting the housing market going again, and dealing with border control.

Just remember substance should always win out over political fluff. Don’t select a President based on the media’s support. Check out what they really stand for and choose the best person for the job.