Author Intrusion: Sifting Through the Dust of Fool’s Gold

By Cliff Fazzolari

I’ve spent this campaign season looking for signs of life from the candidates. I must say that my impression of the upcoming presidential nominations, and ultimately the election, is like that of the old prospectors who searched the streams looking for gold.

I can’t honestly say that I wouldn’t have been successful as a prospector of gold, but in this day and age it appears to me that I’m not bringing much up that is pure gold. My tongue-in-cheek look at the candidates so far:

John McCain is a war hero who spent years and years in captivity. I’m guessing that he had plenty of time to formulate his plan for the country, and there should never be an attempt to downplay what he did for this country. Yet everyone seems to dislike him for one reason or another. He is a Republican who used to be a Democrat, so the Republicans distrust him. He is a Republican now, so, of course, the Democrats distrust him. Sounds like he has some persuading to do.

Hillary Clinton – There is no need for introduction to this candidate, as we have watched her grow through the years. Yet she is the first female candidate for the highest office, and knowing all of the details of her fine marriage to Bill might be enough to make us hate her. Hillary conjures up all sorts of emotions in the minds of potential voters. I’m not sure we love her enough not to hate her.

Barrack Obama – The candidate we know the least about, other than he is black. He speaks eloquently of change, and that is certainly a welcome tune, but change to what? How well he answers this question will determine his electability.

Yet after sifting the candidates through the mill, one thing is certain: I am not shouting that “There is gold in dem der hills.”