Excellent points, Don. Yes, the political arena has become so full of nitpicking attacks on people's personal character and morality that it has been rendered virtually unworkable. It was as if the whole process had been co-opted by the National Enquirer.

You have to wonder what sort of person would even contemplate running for president under such conditions. It would have to be either an egomaniac, an obessively ambitious type, or someone of absolutely unquenchable ideals and an unshakable sense of duty to the greater good.

The latter would be nice to see.