Republican hopeful Rudolph Giuliani has finally begun bragging about 9/11, and I’m already sick of it…

Notwithstanding the fact that I did, in fact, for some unknown and incompetent reason, vote for Bush to stay in office for a second term, and that during and after 9/11, I claimed I would readily vote for Giuliani should he ever deem to run for President, I find it doubtful that I ever would... and I would be hard-pressed to keep Republicans in the White House for the next 4 years.

I opine, however, not for the sake of stating my opinions on political parties, but on political candidates. Stating the purely obvious, I must admit that there just doesn’t seem to be a way to ever get a person in the White House who isn’t just a professional politician. I don’t want a politician… I want a regular person with exceptional leadership skills and moral fiber. Unlikely, I know.

What gets me the worst right now are the primary races in both parties. Even the most promising of the candidates are playing the politics game. Giuliani, having lost quite a bit of headway in the early caucus states, has started dropping the 9/11 card. While there have been fewer than normal mud-throwing ads thus far (although one did just pop up on my news radar), the debates have been heavy with accusations and finger pointing. I don’t need that… Don’t tell me why somebody else would be a bad leader, show me why you would be a good leader.

Republicans are finger-pointing at Romney’s religion, at candidates' records on abortion and immigration, at Huckabee for supporting state tuition for children of illegal immigrants. Democrats are pointing out flaws as well, from Obama’s past drug use and short tenure in politics to Clinton’s personality and Senate history (as a negative).

I REALLY want somebody who can rise above all that, and I don’t even care what they run as, be it Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, Independent or whatever. Certainly I will also look at where they stand on issues that are important to me, but please just let this game end!

The best part is that I know this will not happen. History shows us that you gain ground as a politician by raising doubts among the public about your opponents, and by raising awareness of your own achievements. It sickens me… It really does.

Come on people… Be adults… I don’t want another child in office.

Benazir Bhutto Dies, December 27, 2007

At 6:16pm today, Benazir Bhutto died in a hospital in Pakistan. She was 54.

Bhutto, a former Prime Minister of Pakistan, had been accused in the past of corruption and bribery, but what I remember her for is her protests against the iron-fisted rule of current President Pervez Musharraf. Bhutto has only been allowed back in the country of Pakistan for a few months now, after years of political exile. She returned to immediately rally against Mousharraf's military rule and his removal of members of the Supreme Court who had issued judgment against his recent actions as President.

Mousharraf placed those members of the Supreme Court under house arrest and immediately installed an all new Supreme Court... one that didn't support the previous court's ruling. The former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court had called upon all of the members of the Bar in Pakistan to protest Mousharraf's actions, and as a result, Mousharraf, who was also the head of Pakistan military, declared a state of emergency and filled the streets with military personel to control the mobs and quiet his opponents.

Bhutto was almost immediately placed under house arrest after her arrival, but she refused to be kept silent, advocating democracy for her home country, and for Mousharraf to step down as military leader. Due to increasing protests, General Mousharraf eventually did step down over the last month, but remained as President and passed laws and constitutional ammendments that would make sure his changes could not be challenged by the courts. Such changes to the constitution by the President were allowed without oversight due to the state of emergency rule, which was dropped earlier this month.

Bhutto commended him on these actions, and on allowing the upcoming elections to proceed as planned, but I think very few of those following the story ever felt that Mousharraf would be giving up his seat as President.

Despite her reputation, Bhutto really seemed to be what this country needed to restore equality and democracy to this country. Even if she were not elected a state official in the upcoming elections, she was not afraid to make her voice heard and to encourage others to do the same.

Her bravery has cost her her life today, and the whole world should be mourning her loss. With hope, somebody else will quickly step in to keep her voice alive in Pakistan, where the power-hungry do as they will to retain what they have. I pray that her accomplishments as an opposition leader will be shadowed by her accomplishments as a martyr. If anything good could come of this grim event, it could only be a better democracy for the people of Pakistan.

I hope it can happen this way.