James Fox

This year's election presents the voters with some difficult choices. I think instead of spin, the voter should have easy access to national, state and local, incumbent candidate's voting and attendence records. They should also be informed about the challenger's public and private social philosophy and their prior, political activities.

The intelligent choice should be for a statesman, not for a politician.

A statesman is a person who shows wisdom, skill, and vision in conducting state affairs and treating public issues. A politician is nothing more than a dirty word; however, it has become very difficult to distinguish between the two because of the media dispensing misinformation and placing political partisanship ahead of the simple truth.

This November election presents the voters with really worrisome choices. It truly exemplifies the need for that third choice, “None of the Above!” On one hand we have an incumbent who has already demonstrated his preference for taking unilateral action and a determination to bring freedom and democracy to all the nations of the world - whether they want the change in culture or not. Even though his motives might be of the highest and purist, this single mindedness coupled with allowing religion to influence his command and policy decisions presents the voters with cause for alarm. The Crusades lasted 200 years and accomplished nothing, except to bankrupt Europe and kill thousands of Christians and Muslims.

This religious zeal and the access to that “Red Button” is a dangerous combination.

On the other hand we have a challenger who apparently believes firmly in nothing. He seems to be willing to say and do anything that fits the situation and enhances his image at the moment. His voting record in Congress reflects not only poor attendance, but also so much inconsistency that it doesn’t make much sense. He repeatedly flip flops on every issue, then denies doing so and attacks any source who points to his varying positions. He makes grandiose promises, but refuses to reveal any specific details about how he plans to accomplish their fulfillment. He is either living in a dream world, just a pompous, windbag politician or worse than that; he might have multiple personalities existing in that huge head. There might be a Kerry who thinks he was a hero in battle, a Kerry who hates wars and the United States for provoking them, a Kerry that thinks he can dominate the Congress and bring about all those expensive changes, a Kerry that lies, and a Kerry that denies.

There is a clinical definition of this condition it is called Schizophrenia, a serious form of dementia. I do not believe that the voters will want a leader with all those voices with opposing views rattling around in his head and his hand near the “red Button.”