Headline of the Day (presidential politics edition)

By Michael J.W. Stickings

My goodness, this is truly stunning:

Americans Announce They're Dropping Out Of Presidential Race

Here are the details:

Citing exhaustion, an overcrowded field of candidates, and little hope of making a difference in 2008, roughly 300 million Americans announced Tuesday that they will be leaving the presidential race behind.

The U.S. populace, which has participated in every national election since 1789, said that while the decision to abandon next year's race was difficult, recent events, such as disappointing victories by both Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and former New York City mayor Rudolph Giuliani in regional straw polls, left them with no real choice.

So much for American democracy. It's over. The people have finally given up. They've had enough. And can you blame them?

Sure, it will be a hugely important election, perhaps one of the most important in American history. Just consider the issues, what the next president will face upon settling into the Oval Office: Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, terrorism and the war on terror, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, China, Darfur, North Korea, global warming, social security, health care, the national debt, and so much else. With all this, and after eight disastrous years of Bush, America will require genuine statesmanship, a leader, a visionary who can also get things done -- a Democrat, I might add.

And yet it looks to be Clinton versus Giuliani, the triangulator versus the torturer.

No wonder the American people want out -- no wonder they're turning elsewhere, away from presidential politics.

Make sure to read the entirety of this essential article, a must-read if ever there was one.

It may be the most important thing you do all day.

Other than living your life.