Laying the blame squarely at the feet of Joe the Plumber

I'm a big fan of editorial cartoonist Ben Sargent. Why does it seem so very much that our choices this election are stupid and mean-spirited versus weak and irrelevant? Surely, surely, surely there must be decent men and women out there who care enough about their country to help lead. Or has politics and our country's morally and mentally bankrupt attitude frightened off every possible candidate with talent and integrity? I blame Joe, the plumber and the Republican mindset of playing to the fears of the great unwashed masses.

It is a curious fact that when we get sick, we want an uncommon doctor; if we have a construction job, we want an uncommon engineer; when we get into war, we dreadfully want an uncommon admiral and an uncommon general. Only when we get into politics are we content with the common man. - Herbert Hoover