Whether I agree or disagree with those who lead the country, they all have something to add.  And usually we gain from them.  This group of candidates look pretty strong on both sides - all my joking aside - and we should be fine moving into the next administration.

The economy seems to me to be much, much stronger than is reported in the news.  Now if the Fed is cutting rates aggressively, that means they see something not so good.  But with Corporate earnings so high, the all-important stock market is undervalued.  Homes are starting to tend to be undervalued and free trade has kept a tight lid on almost all prices.  This could be a launching point.

Divided government is generally paralyzed.  That's a good thing.

My family is healthy and strong.  We're worried about small, small things.

UT basketball is outstanding, despite last nights loss at Kentucky.  This is a team and these are days I'll remember as the best of the best.

I am slowly crawling out of debt.  The house is still 15 1/2 years from paid off, but that's a lot closer than the 30 year mortgage I originally signed in 2001 and then refinanced to 20 years in 2003.

We have an awesome church family.  And some very good neighbors.

The climate in Tennessee is just about perfect.  Four seasons, but none too harsh.

I like my house.

I like my wife.

I like my kids.

I like Democracy and freedom.  A lot.

sharp

What Obama is getting, which seems to me to be quite unfair, from a former President no less, is just what the Republicans got while Bill was in office. He's very good. Very polished. And very loose with the facts. For those who support Hillary, he'll convince them that Obama is the devil. Even suggest he's a closet Republican.

No matter how absurd it is, some will believe him.  Hillary will send out Magic Johnson and the head of BET to float disparaging comments, all while she looks Presidential.

Obama is right.  Real change can't happen with Hillary.  But it can with Obama.  I'm not in line with his politics at all, but a decent human being is a good thing.  He's definitely better from my point of view, but I'm stuck deciding between a minister and centenarian. 

This is almost funny.  Almost.

sharp

When Barack Obama stated that Reagan had changed the world in a way that Nixon had not and Clinton had not (the only other two term Presidents near to Reagan) there was an outpouring of bitter animosity.

Hillary characterized those years as horribly failed and heartless while Edwards said he'd never ever use Reagan as an example.

Restoring hope, reviving an economy that wasn't just dead it was carrying a disease (see stagflation) and working with the Pope to end the Soviet Union's crushing of democracy in Eastern Europe were a few of the things that those of us on the right remember about the Reagan years.  Perhaps to those on the outs politically (though the Democrats thrived in Congress in most of those years) it was a dark cloud that no success or progress or resurrection could make up for, but for those of us who lived through it and appreciated the earthquake of change we only grow in our admiration for the man and his two terms.  He was, put simply, the Republican Kennedy.

So what does it say that those who seek to unite us, presumably, are trashing his memory in the face of those of us who believe in his awesome legacy? 

I have many very intelligent friends on the left and some who are quite gracious, but I see most as angry and deeply disrespectful of things they disagree with.  Are we really that far apart?  Can we not disagree while recognizing the good that does happen on either side of the aisle?

Maybe not.

sharp

We've got a real race on our hands in both parties. Hillary is very smart, but has some weakenesses that a tough primary will address.  Obama is inexperienced but sincere and will have learned how best to respond to the negatives and project the positives.

McCain has been steady throughout and that may be his best quality, but we wouldn't have known that until he was tested. 

So while both parties are dancing on the graves of spent campaign contributions by the opposing party, I think the American people are much better off because of it.

1) Candidates will be tested and will get better or get gone

2) More Americans have a say in who the nominee is

3) Messages have a chance to get out and get beyond initial impressions and name recognition

Today will be the end of someone, but I see both parties having meaningful primaries and meaningful debates with a ton of voter involvement before anything is decided.

And that's really good.

sharp

...its starting to take shape.

The Republicans

Full disclosure.  I liked Romney at the start.  Less so now, but I still think he had the most potential.

Huckabee is a Christian and a minister.  Seeing as he has a day job, I'd suggest he keep it.

Thompson woke up.  He's interesting when he's off cough medicine.

Guiliani quit and just didn't tell anybody.

McCain has a big suprise up his sleeve.  The V.P. choice will be Liebermann.

The Democrats

Hillary's team will have her crying over spilled milk...and everything else.  Apparently the women in New Hampshire want someone weepy with their finger on the button.

Obama will be the recipient of a lot of ugly stuff in the next couple of weeks.  Then on Super Tuesday Hillary will become gracious again.  But Obama isn't about to join the "machine" he's railed against and he may not even stump for Hillary in the general election.  If she loses, and she will, he'll be ready with a network and a lot of excitement in 2012.

Edwards must be frustrated.  He's become a fighter for the little guy.  I think that's the same as the "Two America's" stuff from 2004, but I never can listen long enough to know for sure.  When he talks its like I hear Linus' teacher, Miss Othmar from Peanuts.  "Waaugh, waughh, wha, waugh, waugh."

Richardson never looked Presidential.  But he seemed like a really nice guy.  I have no idea what he was for.

Dodd never looked Presidential.  But he seemed pretty smart.  Except that his best friend was Teddy Kennedy.  There were bound to be skeletons in that closet.

Kucinich is a kick in the pants.  There has got to be funny smoke pouring out of that algae-fueled Mystery Machine of his. He would make a great crazy uncle.  Maybe he could be Secretary of Science fiction or something.  Just keep him on TV.

Biden must have forgotten that nobody has taken him seriously since he ran the first time in 1916.  Who is it that these guys hang out with that tell them "Oh, yeah, you're sure to win the White House".  Even though you only got 11 votes the last time.

So it's Hillary vs. McCain.  So far, he's got her in all the polls.

My call, President McCain and Vice President Liebermann.  That would be real unity.  Isn't that what the left wants?

sharp