DarkKnight

Thanks Blues... and good points/questions that you brought up. I'd be curious to hear your thoughts on this as well... since you are following it with interest.

For me, an "Average Joe" would be anyone who has had to work a real job for a living. Not brought up in some wealthy family with ties to who knows what, not some "professional" type that has no concept of what it's like to make a living doing anything but sitting behind a desk or hiding behind a degree. I've personally met folks that are farmers, teachers, small business owners, who seem to have more common sense then the puffed up blowhards we have in D.C. these days. The lifetime politician's we have these days can't tell you what their favorite meal is without some sort of double talking, fact finding, spin doctored response. Whatever happened to just answering a question?

What scares me? Well, I remember when I was considering between Obama and Clinton, and I saw a piece on Obama (I can't remember if it was 20/20, or some newsmagazine show), and in three sentences, he started to really play up the "race" thing. I want a president that's color blind. That whole "all men are created equal" thing in the Constitution should really be adhered to. But to tell the truth, the way Obama was speaking in that interview... his take on race just scared the heck out of me. Nothing specific that I can pinpoint, just that he was on and on about how it was about time that black America needed to be represented. Not that I think they shouldn't... I just think that EVERY American should be represented... irregardless of color (and a lot of other things). No, it's never going to be where everyone is happy, or that everyone feels their point of view is being represented. But right now.. unless you're in the loop of the ridiculously wealthy and privileged, you're not even thought of... never mind represented.

What would impress me? A candidate that would be willing to go into office, and do the difficult things that are necessary. Cut waste. Especially in the halls of the govt itself. Take away all those perks. Want to see medical costs come into a reasonable amount? Take away the free medical that govt gets, make them pay like you and I do... (even if it's just "co-pays") and you'll see some action taken quickly. Take away the freebies (and I mean NO loopholes) of travel, meals, cars, office furnishings, things YOU and I pay for and never get anything out of. Put an absolute end on pork barrel projects, and earmarks on serious legislation. Yes, this state may need a new highway, but that does NOT mean that you can also attach a ridiculous rider for a bridge to an island that's not even inhabited. Money that's just wasted, and no one seems to have to answer for it. I'm also still amazed that the govt is the only place I've ever heard of where they're allowed to vote on their raises. "Anyone think we don't deserve a raise?... anyone... anyone... OK.... it's passed". Wouldn't you just love to be able to walk into YOUR boss, and tell HIM what he's going to pay you? No? Well, that's basically what the overpaid stuffed shirts in D.C. do every time they vote themselves a raise. And there's not thing one you can do about it... and by the time they're re-elected... you've probably forgotten about it... but your wallet hasn't.

I'd also like to see term limits on all positions in govt. Those that stay too long, entrenched, become too close with influences/lobby's that erode away even the most sincere pol's intentions, and eventually they become the "strange bedfellows" that you always hear about. If you've only got a limited amount of time to try to enact your policies, your thoughts on how things can be improved, you'll really work your keister off to get get it done.

That's a couple of my thoughts.... anyone else?