Published: November 05, 2008 10:53 am         

2008 Prez election more rumble than reason

The 2008 United States presidential race resembled reality television more than campaigning. Smears, gossip, cat calling, sniping. Springer!?

I sometimes wondered if they didn’t drink the potion that transformed Mr. Hyde into Dr. Jekyll.

Some candidates, and not limited to the national stage, discarded their gloves, attacking with bared knuckles. Knockouts were few. Deflections, fakes, dekes (what word did you want here-no word dekes is there a word missing in this sentence?) many. It was more Toughman competition than a world championship bout.

Squaring off then throwing a few punches is good for debate, but Obama and McCain occasionally used the national stage and transformed it into Springer’s. They should have been his regular guests for the 2008 television season. 

The  American people. I know who they are, but who are they? Confusing?

National candidates pledge, suggest, decide, and often inform those they address that a policy or leader is demanded or desired by the American people. It is what the American people want? But, who are the American people?  Those who vote for them?

If 51 percent of voters vote for one candidate because of their ideology and 49 percent for another, is the 49 percent considered the  American people?

I thought our national candidates were supposed to be held to a higher standard, act as role models, leaders. Maybe the stakes are too high to demand civility.

Is reform needed?

I have a few ideas. They would have to be tinkered with, but if some politicians lay their hands on them they would wind up looking completely different.

One idea that would never be accepted is prohibiting polls. Polls aren’t exact science and sometimes hurt or help candidates. Who cares what others think about the issues. It is your vote and no one else’s.

1. The first reform is a restricted presidential campaign schedule. It feels like McCain and Obama have been campaigning before Reagan left office.

2. Candidates would be required to create a detailed information packet explaining their policies – taxes, international relations, energy are a few. These packets would be mailed to registered voters. Candidates then will be required to write rebuttals to their opponent’s policies and mail those to registered voters.

3. I kept hearing during the presidential campaign Obama and McCain had programs to strengthen the economy and fight terrorism. Show me, don’t tell me.

4. Debates would have to include third party candidates or allow a third party candidate to moderate debates.

5. Candidates can only use advertising to explain their policies, not attack those of other candidates. Let the pundits and blabbers on Fox, CNN, MSNBC, and the Big 3 – NBC, CBS, and ABC inject opinion, rumors, innuendo. 

6. Candidates could only attend rallies together.

The only answer to No. 7 is not to re-elect an office holder.  Promises. Ah, promises. Promises take flight more than blue jays. In the political world I don’t  know what politicians mean by promise.  I am starting to believe fulfillment is determined by degrees. A candidate  promises to regulate Wall Street. Are they successful if they regulate the banking industry, but ignore the SEC? I can’t  answer that. Can they?



Brian Niblock is the news editor at the Star-Herald. Email him at editor@starherald.net