Okay, let's talk politics. John McCain announced today that he is beginning the preliminary exercises for another presidential bid in 2008. No surprise, but Hallelujah! I'm going to go out on a limb and say this man is going to be our next President.

Here's why: I, like many other disenchanted voters, have come to revile not just the Bush administration, but virtually all of main-stream politics. Bush's tenure has been characterized by bumbling incompetence (Katrina, "you're doing a fabulous job, Brownie," Iraq); an emphasis of partisanship over policy (the only veto Bush has exercised was to block a stem-cell research bill); a shameful disregard for facts or the realities of today's world (read: total lack of leadership on matters of the environment and human rights); wastefulness (the number of total earmarks added to congressional spending bills has increased tenfold since the Republicans came to power); corruption (Jack Abramoff, Mark Foley); nepotism (Harriet Meiers); deciept; and just plain stupidity.

Shockingly, George Bush has developed a reputation as being a strong leader. He is precisely the opposite. George Bush is a bit like the typical Dot-com investor at the height of the internet bubble. He made ass-loads of money, but rather than attribute his fantastic gains to a market that was spinning out of control, he boastfully credited his own investing prowess. Bush is no different. He gleefully rode the wave of anger, fear and resentment after 9/11, no doubt thinking himself one of the greatest leaders our contry had known. A true leader, however, would have sought to soothe, comfort, and calm, rather than enflame.

The man believes that paying lip service to any one of the challenges facing our nation today is the same as actually doing something about it. In his 2006 state of the union address, Bush claimed that America "is addicted to oil!" Strong words, but what hard policy has come of this stance? Seriously, can you think of even one tiny little thing he's actually accomplished on the energy front?

Only slightly less despicable is Congress, who have spinelessly gone along whatever ruinous path Bush has chosen to lead us. The Republicans have become irredeemably corrupt, and the Democrats have no backbone.

Back to McCain. I think the next election will be less about partisanship and policy, and more about character, personal integrity, and intelligence. Frankly, the thought of more of the same kind of leadership that we've had in the last six years makes me ill, and I think many voters agree with me. And let's be realistic, the Republicans and Democrats have converged so much on policy that it doesn't make much of a difference which is in power. What I will be looking for is a man who I know will make competent decisions, who has the courage to stand by his beliefs, not do whatever is popular or fold when under pressure. I want someone who is going to tackle our problems with campaign finance, speak out against wasteful spending in Congress, and be a role model against corruption and nepotism. I guess what I really want is someone who is worthy of the role. George Bush clearly is not.