Back to politics for a moment:

The Adlai Stevenson quote is very glib and very quotable, but, much as I liked Stevenson at the time, I fear that by making such a statement, he was committing what is known as "the fallacy of self-exclusion."

One of the problems in these political discussions, Michael, is that what both you and Little Hawk are saying (and Little Hawk somewhat more politely than you, I fear) is nothing that we "loony liberals" don't already know. You're preaching to the choir.

But we "loony liberals" are at least seeking a solution. Whereas if all you seem to be doing is blanketly condemning ALL politicians, and then do nothing but heap insults upon those who DO support (even with reservations) one politician or another over the rest, you are simply giving up and trying to encourage others to give up too! That, put bluntly, is the coward's way. Loony liberals like myself—and Bobert, for example—are not about to flop down and roll over that easily. We at least vet the various possibilities on an otherwise unappetizing menu and try to choose someone who will, if not save the country, at least not wreck it quite as quickly as some of the others. Playing for time, if nothing else.

And picking "nice guy" candidates who are simply not in the running is not an intelligent option. I like Dennis Kucinich very much and would have voted for him had he been running. But he didn't even get on the ballot. And when was the last time in the country's history that a write-in candidate—or, for that matter, a third party candidate—got elected?

I'm sure as hell not going to vote for Mitt Romney. And knowing a great deal about the beliefs of Ron Paul, I'm sure as hell NOT going to vote for HIM, even if he did say he would end the war in Afghanistan (which is an empty promise anyway).

Of viable candidates, that leaves the incumbent, Barack Obama. Unless something really weird happens at the Democratic convention.

I had great hopes for Obama early on, but among other things, he has had to contend with a Congress that is perfectly willing to see the whole country go to Hell rather than let Obama get anything through. Obama apparently doesn't have the force of personality that someone like FDR had. The Repubs hated FDR as much as they hate Obama, but somehow FDR managed to get the people behind him. Obama has not demonstrated anywhere near the charisma that Roosevelt had.

But—seriously—what are the alternatives? Rather than sitting back and smugly heaping abuse on those of us who are trying to find ways to keep our leaders from driving the country off a cliff, let's hear how YOU would at least TRY to prevent that?

Fair enough?

Don Firth

P. S. By the way, I know a number of politicians personally who are ethical, caring people, not the bribe-grubbing vermin you and others characterize them as. And I have worked on a couple of political campaigns. But I do NOT belong to any political party.

So I'm not politically naïve. Been there! Done that!