The agony of this year's election

Somewhere between the confusion as to whether or not President Bush's National Guard memos were real, or if he actually shirked his military duties 30 years ago, along with questions of Kerry's military record, the public is drowning by the pointing fingers of each side and is struggling again to grasp the issues of this campaign.

Herein lies a sample of this ferocious, mud slinging presidential campaign; and the policies the candidates are promoting that will shape the lives for a majority of Americans for the next four years. The price so far paid by these two candidates and their supporters is close to $300 million more than any other campaign in history. That is enough money to build a huge mudslide amusement park where both candidates are freely shoveling dung and mud into the faces of the public.

Political analysts on both sides of the spectrum have held forth, for the most part, that Democratic nominee John Kerry and incumbent George W. Bush are virtually one in the same when it comes to issues such as foreign policy and homeland security. The question at this point is who can lead us through the crisis we've faced since 9/11?

But other issues these candidates should be addressing rather than allowing special interest groups, campaign managers and rich supporters to assist in the mud slinging commercials are healthcare, social security and issues that affect every American instead of the daily dose of the tabloid style politics the mainstream media has been dishing out lately.

But this seems to have been a problem ever since the Dole and Clinton campaign where the media made a day of reporting how each candidate parted his hair. In all recent election campaigns, most American's should be embarrassed, except for the adoring fans, or supporters of either Bush or Kerry.

There is no integrity, honor or ideals in our presidential campaigns, no real fair play, no class; it's a dish of totally low life politics. And this is what we show the world? We show the world, through these campaigns, not who the leaders really are, or can be, but the media, in the end presents them as buffoons, except perhaps during the debates where each candidate is scored fairly. In a way that's the best way for candidates to take a real stand on issues. Like a boxing match, each candidate comes out fighting with words and the best knockout punch wins. Debates may be the only saving grace for any presidential campaign, including this one.

People going to the polls need to remember what issues they feel most passionately about and who can best help with these issues after watching the debates. As far as these political commercials go, Americans should take a stand and say "I'm mad as hell! And I won't take it anymore!" And turn the television off.