Still the idealist after all these years

I'm trying to work up some enthusiasm for the upcoming presidential election, but so far I just can't. And the prospects for a resurgence dimmed considerably after Tuesday's elections. On the Democratic side the lesson from Texas, Ohio et al seems to be "OK, they want to play nasty, I'll show them nasty." The notion that the campaign might actually focus on issues that are important to Americans--especially in the wake of the disaster that has resulted from the current presidency--seems even more remote now.

Instead, the campaign seems to be focusing on which candidate is the best equipped to answer a telephone. Let's get one thing straight right now -- not one of these candidates: Clinton, Obama or McCain, is any better equipped to deal with an international crisis than the other. None of them have had that experience. So get over it. Of course, the same could be said about almost every person whose sought the presidency in our nation's history.

Instead of arguing over who can answer the telephone, I wish the Democratic candidates would present us with detailed plans about precisely how they plan to get the United States out of Iraq. Mr. McCain has already gone on record as saying he intends to pursue the current Iraq policy. And just because one of the candidates voted for the 2002 Iraq resolution does not make that candidate incapable of coming up with a withdrawal plan.

I would like to know each candidate's plan for making sure the United States can compete in the global marketplace and that American college graduates are at least on a par with others around the world. What we don't need are attacks on NAFTA--that doesn't solve anything.

I would like each candidate to quit criticizing the health care plan of their opponents and spend more time detailing their own plans. I would like the candidates to come up with ideas about the economy and home mortgages instead of just trying to come up with answers to questions on these topics only when they are posed.

Polls indicate the policies of the current administration are not popular. This offers a wonderful opportunity for Democrats. But instead of engaging in character assassination and mouthing empty platitudes, I wish they would really engage in discussions about the actual problems we are facing.

Perhaps then I could work up some enthusiasm.