The great circus is returning.  2008 is the year of the grand presidential circus.  In the USA, we hold state and local elections every year, and national elections every two years.  Presidential elections occur only every fourth year.  The last one was in 2004 when president Bush amazingly won his second four-year term in office.  This year, we once again choose a new president.  It is shaping up to be a very interesting circus.

President Bush is not allowed to run for another term. Even if he could, his popularity is so low that even Mickey Mouse could garner more votes.  The majority of the people in the USA are tired of this unpopular war,  they are concerned about the state of the economy, they are disappointed with president Bush's performance and they have no confidence in his policies.   They thirst for a change.

The Republicans Party has a bit of a problem.  Half of them would like to disavow themselves from President Bush's policies and promise to bring about changes, but they cannot appear too disloyal to a president that came from their own Republican Party.  The more conservative half would like to continue this unpopular war and the unpopular policies of our president, but that would probably guarantee certain defeat.  They need to heal this schism within before they can take on their Democratic rivals.

The Democratic party is making history.  They are about to nominate the first woman presidential candidate in the history of the USA, or the first Afro-American presidential candidate in the history of the USA.  Either way, this will prove to be a historic milestone in the progress of our country.  Since they are unencumbered by loyalty to President Bush, they can both promise to bring about drastic change.  This historic president and this enthusiastic rally for change has invigorated masses of young people to join the political process in record numbers.

The actual elections will take place in November.  The chosen Republican candidate with compete against the chosen Democratic candidate to see who can win the presidency for the next four years.  Between now and then, the circus will become very interesting as the various cadidates will be positioning themselves and trying to convince the voters that they are the best choice as their party's candidate.  The republicans will be attempting to heal the schism between the conservative wing and the moderate wing of their party.  The Democrats will be determining if they want to make history with the first black candidate or with the first woman candidate.

 Meanwhile, all of us voters will be bombarded with countless television and radio advertisements.  We will see the same candidates interviewed over and over again.  We will hear the charges and the counter charges as they each try to discredit their opponents.  We have an old joke that says,  "How do you know which political candidate is lying?"  The answer is: "The candidate whose lips are moving is lying!"

 Actually, I am not that cynical.  I believe this is one of the most positive elections in many years.  Usually, we have several tired old political candidates to choose from, and we try to decide which one is the least objectionable.  This time, I think all of the candidates are intelligent, articulate and pragmatic.  Each of them offers certain strengths.  Each of them exhibits certain weaknesses.  Any one of them could probably become a decent president.