by Helen Woytovech

Created on: October 24, 2008

Same old story - every campaign, we hear what great restructuring promises (in general terms) the campaigning presidential candidates will incorporate into our bureaucracy, the rumor mongering, the back stabbing, the mudslinging and the pointing fingers of "he said", "his voting record", "he disapproved/approved", the Obama/Ayers connection without making a level playing field of the McCain/Bush connection. Promises composed and invented by the parties' public relations people to appeal to the particular audience they are addressing. Don't believe any of it! For once, it would be earth-shaking if the candidates relayed to the citizenry what they really believed.

Frankly, the common citizens are aware of the problems - economically and politically. I, along with the rest of the citizens, am not interested in their pointing fingers I want to hear how and what they, with their parties, will put into specific tangible policies to address the decaying situation. This will never happen with all of the convert wheeling-dealing that occurs behind the facade of government to which citizens have no access.

Just once it would be nice to hear a candidate tell the American voter the truth - he is just a party figure head as he only can suggest bills, influence the passage of bills or veto bills recommended by his appointees, but cannot enact bills. If the Congressional majority is of the same party as the incumbent his job becomes that much easier, that is if he adheres to the party line and agenda. If not, his job is more fractious.

Still the candidates mouth indiscriminate promises without laying out a plan to pay for these promises in order to earn the presidential office to receive the prized stipend of $400,000 a year plus a generous yearly retirement amount plus perks (health, security, office expenses, etc.) for either two years work.

People are not particularly gullible but will vote for the candidate whose platform benefits them and their situation not what is best for the country or their neighbor. What the incumbents accomplish will be told at the end of a term. The rest is merely second-guessing by political analysts, polls who seem to vary in their statistics, and hype of the news media. At best, no one knows who will win the election until all votes are in and counted.

In the end, the party or person guessing the presidential winner will claim how smart he is another Rasputin.

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