I don't normally go all political here, but I've got to make an exception. And no, it's not about the State of the Union address... I didn't record it and haven't downloaded video yet. *sigh*

Instead, I want to vent a little spleen on the way the Democratic Primaries are shaping up! In one Democratic corner we have Hillary Clinton. In the other Democratic corner we have Barack Obama. Can anyone see the political dead-end coming? Can anyone see the potential for none of the real issues to be discussed? I can already see the comments coming from "dumb America":

"I think it's time we had a woman running things." (Never mind that Hillary wouldn't know "woman" if it slapped her upside the head.)

"It's about time the white man was ruled by a brother." (Never mind that Barack Obama is more privileged than a significant percentage of "brothers" out there and probably couldn't care less about the problems those brothers face!)

What are the odds the Democrats will expect these two candidates to actually talk about the issues? About how to get our men (and women) home from the Middle East? About how to get the government out of our lives and let us handle things?

And things are likely to be just as pathetic on the Republican side. I'll most likely continue voting libertarian (after investigating them all!), but where is that candidate who stands out, who doesn't pander to public wishes and simply runs on what he believes?

I want to see a candidate who'll come straight out and say, "I stand for/against abortion, gay marriage, the death penalty, etc. If you feel I'd run this country well with these views vote for me." But I'm dreaming. It always comes down to catering to the aging Baby Boomers and their worries that they might have to actually sacrifice something in their pampered lifespan. It comes down to catering to large corporations who pay big money into campaign funds so the candidates can saturate the media with lies and half-truths. (And in return, the candidate will see to it that legislation which hurts those corporations doesn't pass and tax breaks for them do.)

I want a candidate who'll say what he believes, despite its lack of popularity. I want a candidate who will say what he believes in the rich towns and the poor towns. He'll keep saying it in the white neighborhoods and the Hispanic neighborhoods. He'll say it to the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, the Marines and the college graduates.

Don't spend a speech listing all the things you'll do. Use each speech to talk about one item and detail your plan. In this era of internet and virtually instantaneous reporting, we're all "present" for every speech, every ribbon cutting, every handshake. So quit repeating yourselves and say something new!

To the voters: if a candidate visits your area, listen to what he says. Then go to your local library or to the internet and read what he said in the other towns he visited. Did he just contradict himself, to get your vote? Stand up this time for a candidate who stands by his words, by his actions. And no matter how "common man" any candidate makes himself appear, consider how much money he's had for how long before having the influence to run on a major ticket. How long has it been since that candidate had to worry about the medical bills you worry about? How long has it been since he had to consider how to pay the mortgage, the car payment, the mandatory insurance, the electric bill, the gas for the car (!) and the groceries? How long has it been since he went grocery shopping for himself? (Have you seen the price of milk lately????)

Voters, don't fool yourselves and don't let the candidates fool you into believing they are "the common man". They may not have the money of the Bushes or some other oil-and-politics family, but they most certainly don't have the tight budget you're dealing with. They most certainly don't worry about the quality of education their kids are receiving (in their private schools, no doubt) and they surely don't worry about theirsons (and daughters???) facing the draft.

As the Presidential campaigns get going and we get through the primaries, keep these things in mind. And if the cards line up to put Clinton and Obama together as a team (the Universe forbid it!), please don't let it be about making history, about proving one sex or race better than another... Please look at their records, their stance on the issues and how they are going to get this country out of the crap-toilet it's in!

(And while I'm ranting about politics, did anyone else catch the bullshit being spread by Attorney General Alberto Gonzales? I guess a law degree requires a lobotomy these days?)

Fed up. That's me.