I'm irritated by at least 3 things about the presidential elections in 2008:
1. Why do i feel like the great states of the union are acting like kindergarden children trying to be first in line? I'm annoyed with the early and earlier primaries. The presidential election race started about 12 months before i was even vaguely interested. Pushing primaries earlier and earlier seems like more and more money wasted on soudbites and spinning, which leads to point #2...
2. What a waste of money - and on nothing but hot air!!!! Candidates are raising and spending more than ever before and we will still be making our decisions based on too little real information. I want voters to make educated choices. I want the public to be able to measure candidates based on clear stances on issues that are important to them. I don't think increased TV spending, etc., actuallly helps that.
3. Get over the personal [filtered word]! I refuse to vote (or not vote) for someone because she's a women, or he's Mormon, or they have been divorced. Will they be a good leader? Will they help our country be better, brighter, richer and kinder?
You're in the minority
You're in the minority if you don't allow a candidate's personal life/religion/whatever interfere with your decision about whether or not he/she would make a good leader. Most people see "divorced" or "Mormon" and assume there's something flawed in that person.
So, kudos to you. But good luck getting more people to think like you.
Something I would like to see.
Something that I would like to see put in place is a 'limited' spending account for candidates. All candidates should have an even chance. Their should be a cap on how much a candidate can spend on their campaign. They say there are laws in place that limit the amount of air time a candidate may have but that is [filtered word], I don't even think that is enforced.
Just my two cents.