by Carol Levy

Created on: March 10, 2008   Last Updated: March 19, 2008

I remember when it was a reality show. At least the contest for the nominee.

In the 'good old days', when the primaries did not automatically crown a winner and the decision as to who got the nomination came down to the wire, there was a lot of nail biting going on.

"Come on (________ )" , I remember crying out to my television set.

"Let's go, Nebraska.", or New York, or whatever state was next and had the votes needed to turn the convention center into one gigantic party-hall.

We saw the people who were for the winner cheering, yelling, dancing around the floor, kicking and tossing about the red, white, and blue balloons.

The supporters of the loser, who was sometimes oh so close to getting the nod, were also shown, large tears streaming down their faces. Those were the days.

People were invested in this gigantic reality show. They cared, and they fought for their candidate, feeling that they were responsible for their candidate's win. Or they could not comprehend how their man could have lost.

Why not do the same for the actual presidential election?

Singing and dancing, a la' American Idol or Your Mama Can't Dance, does not have enough variety.

We need to see the candidates doing many different things - thngs that test ther readiness and preparedness.

Maybe a timed obstacle course.

The red phone rings. They're off!

They run from the starting gate to the phone and answer it. They listen a moment and write down what they heard. Is it right? We won't know til the end..

Hurrying now to the filing cabinet they must find the correct dossier for the country about to launch the nuclear weapon. Then to another file to look up the number for America's ally of the moment. Faster still, their breaths catching,they return to the desk, pick up the receiver again and talk into the phone. A note taker at the other end records what they are saying to the enemy on the other end of the line. The one who returns the receiver to the phone cradle first and has all the correct documents and notes, wins.

The second leg of the race is a test of eye - hand coordination and decision making ability.

A gun is fired. Simultanweously, the red button next to the phone lights up and the phone rings. What to do? Do I push the button or do I pick up the phone and see who is there? Do I panic or do I take the extra second to think? The candidate needs to move quickly. Hurry. What to do? What to do? The American people sit and watch the spectacle. Some wide-eyed, some screaming, some deep in thought. Maybe

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