2008 Elections

What about this 2008?

I'm glad as always that I made it through another annum and all that but I know already that 2008 is going to have more ups and downs than a yo-yo tournament or some candidates' campaign poll rankings.

First, the good news: Spring training, the precursor of baseball season, is just a little more than two months away. That always makes me feel better than any of those dozens of pills which claim to make you feel better and make every imaginable body function better, easier or disappear if I ever choose to buy them, which I haven't. The side effects seem to be worse than any potential cure, improvement or easing of ailment.

The best part of 2008, besides the start of baseball season, should be the Olympics in China. It will be an eye-opener on several fronts. China never will be ignored again.

The worst of 2008: ELECTIONS.

I absolutely support Democracy and cherish the right to select our political leaders. I just can't stand the drawn-out campaigns which certainly are getting longer, more confusing, increasing stupid and costlier every election. 

As I write this first caucus (plural: caucuses, cauci, or cau-cau?) has already hogged the news and already I've heard enough to last me through the first week in November. But we all will hear, see and read mucho more, that's for sure. The holiday commercials for  salad shooters, clappers and Chia pets ads won't even hold a candle to the onslaught of “Vote for Me Because..” campaign ads coming down the pipe. This election season already is different from all the rest. With state after state moving up their primaries or caucus to snatch the national political spotlight, the circus started way before all the elephants and donkeys were off-loaded from the circus train. This season's circus has lots more clowns that normal and the battle for the Center Ring already is turning into a battle royal. You can bet it will get wilder and wilder and we've got about 10 months to put up with it all.

This, pholks, is a “Really Big Show.” The worst job in the country is a shovel person.

Personally, I don't have a clue whom I will root for to get the nomination, but likely it will be the one who irritates me the least. Right now it's a pretty tight race. The same goes for November.

And don't be surprised if some clever company comes up with a pill, ointment or suppository claiming to bring relief from ELECTION 2008. Even a placebo would work considering the potential psychological relief it could bring.

There are some comparisons between ELECTION 2008 to the China Olympics, especially in the degree of competition. I've always loved the Olympics and some day I hope to attend them.

This is the kind of event in which losers often win the hearts of the world and, for the most part, peoples of the world often hug one another and really mean it. The pageantry is second to none.

Heck, I've even watched some events on live TV well past midnight. You will never catch me doing that for an election campaign event.

Politics play a role in elections as well as the Olympics but in the great sporting event there are few political speeches. Judging, doping and dope testing along with diplomatic jockeying are often extremely fierce in the Olympics. They just don't give gold, silver or bronze medals for it. And most of that action doesn't get instant replay, ultra-slow motion and ex-jock analysis to the hilt.

I plan to do my best to survive ELECTION 2008, enjoy the Olympics and savor baseball, even with all the steroid issues sure to be mentioned in every game.

So in the end I again ask, “What about this 2008?”

Miles can be reached at mshuper@valleyvoicenewspaper.com