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Guest Column

Politicians, stop squabbling and start finding answers

By MARY PARTINGTON
Published January 2, 2008

Hold on to your hats, socks and sanity. You cannot escape the fact that 2008 is an election year, and what a frenzied year it is going to be! Running for the nomination are a man of color, a female, a divorced man, a Mormon, a Christian conservative, a war hero, a trial lawyer and the list goes on. I have not been able to discern how much money is being spent, but I would wager that the amount could provide health care for countless children and bring down the national debt.

States have been racing to have their primary or caucus first in the nation. Small states and rural states are holding the attention of the media. "Who's on first?" is an old comedy routine, and the comedy of the daily polls from Iowa is tiring.

One of the factors in this election may be the "O" dynamic. Oprah Winfrey is campaigning for Sen. Barack Obama. His events need larger venues to hold the people who want to see Oprah. He is just a tag-along.

I am so tired of the acrimony in the political discourse. I want to ask, "Can't we all just get along?" The business of the country is not getting done. There is no give and take anymore.

I am reminded of a horde of children in a backyard sandbox throwing sand and arguing which shovel belongs to whom. I used to tell the children that if they did not get along they would have to go home. I think the voters should do the same thing. Throw them all out of the yard and invite some new players.

The 2000 election was a time of turmoil, and George Bush has never recovered, in some minds. The question is now raised if Florida is prepared to have an election process that will not reflect disappointingly on the state.

Well, I say bring all the candidates to Florida. Bring them to Tampa Bay. Bring them to Busch Gardens for one day and we will sort them all out and find the one person who can lead this country. Talk about spin! Put them all on Montu and let them experience real spin.

I love this country with my whole heart and soul. I understand why people swim oceans and huddle in trucks to live in our land. When I see the flag flying and hear the national anthem or God Bless America, the tears flow. All the pictures of coffins enclosing our brave men and women shatter my heart.

I know that the candidates love our country, but I wonder if the quest for the power of the office obscures the true duty of the president.

The president must be a person of integrity. Everyone who seeks the office should have to take a course in ethics. We must be able to trust in the decisions our government makes. We have suffered from some major blunders by past presidents, but the country survived. The question now becomes, can we afford any more mistakes?

As this election approaches, everyone has a duty. The media must be truthful and unbiased, the candidates must have the best interests of the country as their goal, and the voters have the duty to search their own minds and hearts to vote for the person who will be the best president. The ultimate duty is to vote. We have too much at stake for any of the parties to fail in their duty.

Mary Partington lives in New Port Richey.

[Last modified January 1, 2008, 21:27:04]