It really doesn't matter if ANY of the candidates

[hyphenate]

have some good ideas. It's completely and totally meaningless. The truth of the matter is that EVERYONE has a few good ideas in their lifetime. Even a broken clock is right 2 times a day, and even GWB has had an occasional lucid day.

It's not a candidate's attitude, either. The best politicians are the best actors--even Oscar worthy. What we need to do is look at the whole picture--the candidate, his or her entire philosophy, their voting record, the bills they have supported or sponsored, their friends, articles they have written, their history and their actions and deeds.

Have they shown some fault in judgment more than once on the same topic? If they have, they're hiding their support of that topic and can't come out in the open about it. Bad move.

Have they been associated with someone who has been convicted of a major crime? We're all familiar with the many friends of Jack Abramoff--we hardly need another scandal like that, do we?

Why did they get into politics? Do they want recognition and power? Or do they genuinely want to work for the people in the country?

What kind of education do they have? Are they literate? Can they speak without tripping over their own tongue? Are they articulate enough to make themselves understood by most people?

Are they real Democrats? Or have they become Democrats to secure votes and hide their true agenda?

What is their "pet charity?" Do they do volunteer work for the photo opportunities, or without extensive publicity because it's actually something they're devoted to?

The news media refuses to assist in showing us the true people behind the public persona of the candidates. They refuse to show extensive backgrounds and histories, but enjoy showing only tabloid worthy glimpses of them instead. Once upon a time, before the short attention spans of the mass millions, candidates could prove their worth and their devotion to their own causes and their own consciences. Now, if someone is photogenic, at ease in front of the cameras and can lie through smiling teeth, their future is guaranteed. Qualifications for statesmanship are pushed under the carpet as though they were embarrassing, and the field of politics continues to slide further into oblivion.

We need to encourage our candidates to forfeit a modicum of their public persona and show us in as many ways as possible that they are worthy of our votes and that they stand for the things we want them to stand for.

[Gregorian]

1. That's precisely what is needed in the next year.

Thank you for expressing what I could only bounce around in my own head. You really nailed it.

We all have had a great need for catharsis here. Gravel massaged that in one or two sentences. But how many of us know who he is? We now know he was pivotal in some very important legislation in the 70's. But is he the guy we need as president? I sure don't know.

I saw a documentary on the man who was the financer and essentially the Rove for Boris Yeltsin. Even today in Russia things are still highly corrupt. It made me realize that there are many Roves running roughshot over people's rights on this planet. I just Rove as an example. There are many more. Pol Pot's of the world, if I may. And I came away from it in a state of fear. I don't scare easily. But if anything has ever frightened me it was the extreme evil that can and does exist in this world. I love Kucinich, Gravel, and many others. But do they have what it takes to keep not only our civil liberties and safety in mind, but the threats around the world? And I do not use the word "safety" very often. I have zero fear that Iraqis are going to come here and terrorize us. Terrorists do nothing for me. It's the Roves of the world who are to be feared. And can Gravel handle them? And that's just one facet of leadership.

[hyphenate]

2. I have been thinking for a long time

that having the candidates begin the primary season this early was a mistake, but the truth is, perhaps we need it to be this long. This way, more and more of the different aspects of each candidate are exposed, and how they handle each challenge becomes more important and more visible. It might actually be a blessing in disguise.

[Gregorian]

3. I think so too.

Not to mention the ability to identify and counter the media's adversarial perspective and spin used in molding our perception of whom the candidates are.

What surprised me is that Gravel has created so much scattering of the people. I know someone who is quite liberal, but older, and is put off by his seemingly shrill attitude. I think of him as having cutting common sense. And I see people on this forum who are clinging to his legs. It was Gravel who led me to the realization that we all need to spend more time studying the backgrounds and histories of these candidates. Not that we could ever come close to the total failure that we are suffering currently. But simply that here is a man who ignited a spark in me, and yet I know literally nothing about. I had never heard of Gravel until he opened his mouth in the debate.

And on that note, I'm falling down with exhaustion and calling it a day. My body has been forced to bike ride way too many miles this week. Ouch!

[WA98296]

4. Exactly, Precisely, Can't Wait. I'm listening....

[hyphenate]

5. We better ALL be listening

and feverishly hoping that every single voter in the country smartens up and listens, too.