Nice rant, Fred.

I often wonder if anyone anymore asks themselves if they are even being realistic in their demands of their opponent (politically speaking). What I mean, I guess, is...

...if the question that you were asking (a political opponent) were satisfactorily answered in a manner that disproved your supposition, would you change your position? Or are you just picking?

My guess is that there is little in the world that could make most people believe in, or be comfortable with a politician that their side has taught them to hate.

And as to the cosmetics of campaigning.......holy crap. I'm with you. Reason informed me that when Dean was "worked up" it wasn't an out of control thing -- nothing to make an issue.

And the silly things politicians do in the name of public perception -- my personal favorite to hate is the common practice now for prez candidates to walk around beyond their podiums and schmooze with the audience as they give their answers. There's only ever been one guy who could pull that off and look natural doing it (Clinton) and yet he set a precedent for all the awkward candidates that followed.