Boo!

We're closing in on one month left until Election Day, and the conversations about who will become our next president are not showing any signs of becoming more civil. Digging in the dirt for an "October Surprise" is a tradition that dates back to 1980, when it was alleged that Ronald Reagan's campaign conspired to keep the American hostages in Iran until after the election in spite of incumbent Jimmy Carter's best efforts to work for their release. In 2008, many point to the financial crisis that boiled over in the midst of the presidential debates that year. Not a surprise, really, for those who had been watching their neighbors lose their houses.
What could it be this year? World politics are such a train wreck that it would be hard to find a particular spot to single out, but Libya certainly seems to want attention. So does Europe. And then there's those pesky unemployment numbers. Do we count the number of people without jobs, or the number of jobs created? And how about that forty-seven percent, or the ninety-nine or the one? Math is hard.
Who will be the voice of reason in the midst of all this name calling and finger-pointing? Who will stand up to the media and the pundits who are making hay while the mud is flying? How about Ann Romney? “Stop it. This is hard. You want to try it? Get in the ring. This is hard and, you know, it’s an important thing that we’re doing right now, and it’s an important election, and it is time for all Americans to realize how significant this election is and how lucky we are to have someone with Mitt’s qualifications and experience and know-how to be able to have the opportunity to run this country.”
Okay. It would be simple enough to snicker at how it was the candidate's wife had to come out on the front porch to admonish us all to pay attention to the real issues of the campaign. America can be a pretty tough town. While I wouldn't find myself agreeing with her on the matters that face our nation, she does have a point. Right now, even his own party won't cut Mitt a break. I suggest everyone take a stress pill and think things over. And keep your eyes open for that October Surprise.