looking ahead

It's a whole lot worse than "More of the same", a mantra I'm already bored with because it is in danger of being applied to the Obama campaign. From the moment most people realized that 'compassionate conservatism' was as oxymoronic as 'moral majority', Democrats have bent over for the pummeling their bait-taking asses deserve. Houses are dropping, but they're not landing on the people who need to be woken up. Speaking for many of us who have watched our jobs, paychecks, home values, retirement funds, and savings disappear- it's too soon to be turning our noses up at that 'fat' Social Security check. Watching McCain/ Palin run a successful campaign against their own Party's record by suggesting that we just haven't privatized, deregulated, cow-towed to the evangelical community, or prosecuted a failed military initiative far enough has me wondering, well..., what country I'll be living in in a few months hence. I'm looking for something sub-tropical, hopefully English speaking, where the barter system still flourishes. (Spain is still on the short list, though). Since the equity in my home is exceeded by it's value as a pile of smothering ashes, and adjusted by the amount I'll end up owing on my 401K account in administration fees after the principal evaporates- I figure, a few good yard sales and we'll be 'squatting pretty' in a studio apartment in some picturesque fishing village. And since I don't fish, I imagine my future- painting clouds on the nursery ceilings of my fellow ex-patriots. Or just maybe, some percentage of the Republicans and Independants who aren't looking for candidates to have hypothetical beers with will see through this 'McCon job'. Let's apply an equally superficial measure to our candidates, one many of us are already comfortable using to pre-judge. The true measure of a great President- who would look best on our currency! It's been a long time since we've had a really 'hot' President. I don't mean 'not gross' like Bill Clinton, but drop-your-petticoats HOT, like Thomas Jefferson. Conceding that everyone comes off better in an engraving (and a wig), can you imagine the lumpy sort of thumbprint John McCain's mug would taint our bills with? Or on a coin- would you even know you weren't looking at another commemoration of the moon landing! I love my friend Doug Cluff to death. I've spent hours in bars with him. The fact that he doesn't drink only endears him to me further. And he'd make a great President. But for Lord's sake NO to the Doug Cluff dollar. (Great legs, though, DC). Barrack may not even drink beer (Scotch would be my guess, or maybe only silly Rum drinks... on vacation), but if led to imagine my grandchildren's pockets stuffed with cash, I'd have to pray as hard that they wouldn't have to wince every time they made change for a parking meter. Experience may account for a lot. And I need my next President to be a maverick. But let's be honest- looks ARE everything. Be honest now, they are. Visualize. Just where is the potential for greatness?