As a resident of the state of Florida I’m not exactly a fan of the 2000 election, and when I start reading the political coverage and see the same garbage being recycled for the 2008 election I get a little testy.

The coverage of Democrats is going to the the same lightweight “style section” reporting that characterized 2000. I realized that the coverage of policy issues, like foreign affairs, health care, poverty, budgets, is not a world of excitement, but that is the way people know who to vote for. When all you write about is how much someone weighs, how much a haircut costs, what color their clothes are, you need to drop your “political badge” in the box on your way out of the building and start looking for a job in the Sunday magazine style section.

I, personally, don’t want to have a beer with any of the candidates. I gave up drinking a long time ago, and the ability to not get thrown out of a bar is not much a qualification for someone who is going to control the nuclear code of the United States.

I need to know if someone has actually been successful at something. Have they worked in a position of responsibility and what was their job performance? Do they have a working knowledge of the American system of government as outlined in the Constitution? Have they shown a willingness to actually show up for a 40 hour workweek? Are they going to embarrass the United States when meeting with foreign leaders? Do they know how to speak in complete sentences?

Do they have any goals? Do they really understand capitalism and basic economics? Can they balance a checkbook? Do they now know, or have they ever known, anyone named Monica?

Voters are hiring someone to lead the nation, not star in a movie. Why don’t we try to concentrate on the policies this time.

A minor suggestion for this year – why don’t we try real debates instead of modified press conferences.

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