by Bruno Somerset

Created on: July 24, 2008

I have always been of the opinion that reality TV was a bad thing for America. However, it has given me an idea. I say that we should jazz the whole presidential election process up by throwing out the primaries, caucuses and conventions and turn the race into a television reality show instead. If nothing else, turning the 2008 campaign into a reality show would cause a higher voter turnout than we've seen in decades. It might even enable junior high school students to identify Hillary Clinton as easily as they identify Miley Cyrus.

We need to do this for the sake of our electoral process. In spite of the non-stop media coverage of the Democratic and Republican candidates hoping to become the next President of the United States, the vast majority of people couldn't care less, maybe because the whole thing is simply too boring for most folks. This would liven things up considerably.

There would be compelling viewing from each party. Watching the Republicans fight over who gets the bedroom that's the farthest to the right (as the camera sees them, at least) in order to woo Conservative Christian voters will be better than a mixed martial arts tournament. So will seeing Ron Paul try to explain why he's running as a Republican when he's clearly a Libertarian.

On the Democratic side, the alliances forged between Hillary and John Edwards to get Barack Obama voted off would be as gripping as an episode of "House". Watching Dennis Kucinich debate Chris Dodd over which one of them is less relevant is the kind of train-wreck viewing we love.
As far as judges, I would include Martin Sheen and Michael Douglas since they were each better at being president than the one we have now. Jon Stewart would round out the panel, and keep things interesting and funny, especially when Mitt Romney starts to drone on about the New Massachusetts Miracle.

The challenges should fit the office they're seeking, and I don't mean things like diplomacy. You can be voted off for not knowing how much a gallon of milk or a gallon of gas currently costs the people you're hoping to lead. If you repeat a slogan or phrase too many times, you have to sleep outside in the rain, and if you at any point utter the words "stay the course" you will be immediately deported to Dagestan.

Seeing these candidates without their handlers and spin-doctors might finally help us make a truly informed decision on who our leader should be. I think it's a great idea. Just be sure to check all the votes from Florida.

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