Krehbiel Commentary

I don't think a president needs too many skills. Delivering a good speech and bartering with foreign leaders is about it. Other than that, I figure the actual work of running the country is delegated far down the chain of command and the president himself is just a figurehead embodying the spirit of America to the rest of the world. So with those cynical standards in mind, here are my ratings of the contending presidential candidates, in alphabetical order. (Contenders being those that the media likes.)

Barack. Delivers a good speech, but not so great without a script. I see him as largely an empty suit filled with empty rhetoric, but he would make a decent figurehead. The media is basically handing him the presidency on a platter; it's hard to imagine how he could screw it up at this point. Rating: Acceptable.

Fred. His biggest campaign mistake was entering the race. I just see him as a very old actor trying to play the part of a conservative hero. The media has all but lost interest, so I wouldn't be surprised if he dropped out soon. But if he should somehow persevere, I would mourn the death of Jefferson's informed citizenry. Rating: Embarrassing.

Hillary. Since she's more of a centrist, she is probably the most idealogically aligned Democratic candidate for me. Unfortunately the idea of continuing the 20+ year Bush/Clinton aristocracy is not appealing. But if she were elected, I suppose it wouldn't be the worst possible outcome. Rating: Tolerable (grudgingly).

Mike. The only social conservative politician I can think of that doesn't make my skin crawl. However, I'm not fond of the idea that a social conservative might get to pick any more Supreme Court justices, and his enthusiasm for a marriage amendment is very disturbing. Rating: Guardedly Tolerable. (I keep waiting for him to slip up and reveal his true nature -- it takes a lot of work for social conservatives to earn my confidence.)

Mitt. Personable but, even more so than Barack, I see him as an empty political robot pandering to whoever gives him money. I don't see him really doing anything while in office, but I don't see him doing any harm, either. Rating: Acceptable.

Johnny E. This is an unfortunate year to be a white male Democrat. The media screws him because he isn't breaking any racial or gender barriers, thus he is largely invisible and he can't win like that. I like his thoughtfulness, but his agenda leans pretty far to the left. Rating: Tolerable.

Johnny Mac. A centrist and good presidential choice for me idealogically, more-or-less. But he's not an inspiring speaker, he's a bit old and says "my friends" entirely too often. Still, there are much worse choices. Rating: Acceptable.

Ron. Not a contender, but I love that he is going against the party line and I hope he inspires more candidates to do so in the future. Maybe someday it will help end the citizenry-oppressing two-party system. Rating: N/A.

Rudy. Another centrist so I should like him, but I can't stand him. He acts like a Mafia crime boss. A terrible image for America over the next four years. Least desirable of the contenders, unless Fred survives. Rating: Embarrassing.

I have this terrible feeling that 2008 will come down to Barack vs. Mitt -- the two emptiest candidates possible. I hope I'm wrong about that.