I think it is hilarious that there is a John McCain ad on the same page as this article.

McCain is Bush Lite.

It really won't matter who wins, we are all screwed unless you run a huge corporation or are an oil executive .

Considering all three mental midgets want to socialize businesses in America. I'd say the only winners are enemies of the USA. America needs strong leadership and so far no one has stepped up to the plate.

On that we can agree. One more election where I wonder, given the wealth and power of America, that this is the cream of our political crop! Pathetic. These people would have been knifed to death on the Senate floor in Rome.

"You too my child?"

Or, to quote a clever t-shirt I saw once, "If Caesar was alive, you'd be pulling an oar."

But my personal favorite was, "If I wanted your opinion, I'd read your entrails."

Both sum up my views of the average American politician. :-)

So have you really asked yourself why this is the best of the political crop?

Maybe Drudge and Rove have run anyone decent out of politics. Maybe navigating the political process is a bit more difficult than we all think. Maybe just because it costs a bloody fortune to run for office or maybe because most Americans wouldn't recognize a decent political candidate if one slapped them on the ass.

What do we use to judge whether a candidate is worthy? His preacher. How much is wife is worth. The tone of her voice. Pantsuits, windsurfing, bike riding or beer drinking. Jesus.

Not trying to discount the power of the executive office, but we place too many expectations on the President and tend to overlook the power of Congress. Two houses packed with career politicians that we keep re-electing because of their "stunning" performance in office? At least we get a new President every 8 years or less, we continue to re-elect the same 'tards to the House and Senate for not much more reason than an aversion to change. Talk about a ruling elite....we let it happen.

Obama, Clinton, or McCain aren't going to do a damned thing that Congress doesn't let them do....we put too much stock in the office of the President. Zap all them fuckers that put party before principle.

You mean like George W. Bush who put his executive above the law and who has tried for eight years, and fairly successfully, to trump the powers granted to Congress? Yup, zap them all.

Congress allowed that to happen....pure and simple. For fear of re-election, they didn't dare question the President when they should have been. President Bush could have been reigned in easily had Congress felt compelled to do so and made gestures more of substance than symbolic. Congress gave the President the power to go to war...made it a law. And guess what, most of those Congresspersons are still seated.

I can't argue with you...but I will. Perhaps the reason most of those congresspersons are still seated is because of the dearth of good candidates out there. There is a dearth because it's such a nasty and expensive business to run for congress.

I certainly agree congress should have stood up on its hind legs but there are two sides to every story.

I'll bet you wanted to invade Iraq after 9.11 and I'll bet most congress persons really wanted to, too. And our president distinctly said war would be a last resort and he really just wanted the big stick to use as a tool. So I will give some slack to those who voted to give w. the authority to go to war.

I'm not sure what congress could do when Bush's lawyers say that Cheney doesn't have to release the transcripts of his meetings with oil execs about oil policy or when the Vice says he is not part of the executive or the legistature and therefore is above the law.

Also, I imagine that there much discussion in the ranks that it is preferrable to keep you job hoping that the Dems will have the presidency and the White House in 09 and therefore don't want to piss off the public.

Remember when Nixon was pardoned? What did Ford say? Our long national nightmare is over. I'll bet there is an argument to be made that impeachment and law suits and big battles are only damaging to the nation. After all, we don't want a repeat of the baying, teeth-gnashing Reps of the Clinton years. Perhaps many legislators simply want to legislate and not battle.

And one last point. We've only had a Dem congress for a year. It was a Rep congress before that. Funny how the president got everything he wanted from them.

Nah...I never wanted to invade Iraq because of 9/11. It was clear how little a connection existed. I just always knew we would go back, and was surprised that it took so long to do so...we had all the reason we could ask for after the first resolution wasn't complied with. Thought we were going to kick some ass at some point during the 5 months I sat in the Gulf after Saddam expelled the inspectors in '97. All we ever did was delay the inevitable. Saddam had his chance in '03, thought we were bluffing, and got his ass handed to him.

Vice Cheney is a jackass...and his legal wranglings annoy me at how similar in principle they are to Clinton's argument over the definition of sex.

And the composition of Congress did have it's benefits to Bush getting what he wanted...but consider the number of dems still sitting in Congress that voted for passing of the same law. As far as Congress is concerned, if the majority of the American people are pissed off at our dealings in the Middle East....I'm surprised a single encumbent that voted for Iraq is still seated, or at the very least...that the republicans didn't lose more seats than they did.

The only reason impeachment hearings of Bush haven't occurred is because Congress gave him permission to do what he did....and as of yet, haven't repealed the law they granted. Impeachment hearings would bring over half the body of legislators in the House and Senate into question...and who the hell out of that bunch wouldn't take the 5th? Impeachment wouldn't pass the House...and the Senate won't ever have to investigate. The President and our defunct bicameral legislature are safe until the next election.

Don't you ever do any of that Arrrrrrmy training stuff? Thought you guys were out in the field all the time. My nephew just left the AF and joined the Army. The AF wouldn't listen to him so now he's going to set the Army straight. :-)

I appreciate your thoughts. I am still only supporting the idea that the minute someone makes a statement or takes a position they get labeled either liberal or conservation or Democrat or Republican. It might be helpful to concentrate on the issue rather than the labels (CAVEAT: This does not apply when addressing san, MomboMan, IrvingChang, CaliforniaDreamin', Nyecop, and a few others. They are fair game for every label and obscenity known to man.)

I have no great love of politicians, then again I've never been one so I really don't have an idea of the kind of pressures, roadblocks, and frustrations they face.

I remember as a young airman (and I was the oldest of the young airmen which probably gave me perspective) listening to my fellow teammates talking about how when they were team chiefs, or NCOs, or SNCOs, or shop chiefs, or section chiefs, or superintendents, or whatevers, THEY would never do this or would always do that. I had a bit more work experience than my fellow airmen before I came in so I knew how easy it is to say you would or wouldn't do this or that, but in reality, when you're in the job, nothing is quite that cut and dried. I can only assume the it is the same with politicians.

I disapprove of this congress but I've disapproved of most congresses. Set your expectations low and you'll never be disappointed. Except with Bush. Just had no idea how low my expectations would have to be...

No Army training....I'm Navy, flying out of an Air Force base in Southwest Asia(we have to say that out of deference to the host nation, I guess he doesn't want his people to know that a base full of infidels is on their soil..so I do my part to honor that request.)

Anyways, so because this is an Air Force base....I've got internet in my room. So, when I'm not flying...I'm screwing off and doing the Slate thing. I go home tomorrow night, and have a 5 month old awaiting me, and a honey-do list...I don't think my time on the Slate is going to be as copious. We'll see, maybe my kid is an angel and doesn't require much attention, and I'll get my honey-do list completed in a matter of days....HA! I'll have 3 weeks before I leave town again...nothing but time when on alert.

Damn, I've gotten everything wrong about your service. Sorry. Just as well, you won't have to worry about running into my nephew.

Have you ever seen the cartoon about the AF that shows an Army grunt crawling through the mud saying, "This sucks". Then it shows a special forces guy and he says, "This sucks good!" Then it shows an AF pilot and he says, "Sure sucks down there." Then it shows an AF airman in his lounge chair and he yells, "What? No remote! This sucks!" I always liked that cartoon.

I only lived on base when I was on remote tours and even in Korea we had Asian MTV. And a Baskin-Robbins. And a golf course. But honestly, it was a remote. And the dorms did suck.

I hope you have a great time at home. But you'll get worn out by the five month old and overwhelmed by the honey-do list and you'll be back on the Fray. I work full time, am working on my Masters and am remodeling my bathroom with my husband and I still find time to eke out some posts.

Besides, we'll miss you here so don't be a stranger (the wife does come first though....I must support my gender.)