>In 1980 I was 20 and paying close attention as it was my first Presidential election. I watched and listened and read everything I could. Now, this is my daughter's first election and she is pushing my political tolerance level :) She watches and reads everything - she looks up every single position both candidates have taken on every issue and tracks how their positions have changed. She has found - like most of America I think if they really researched it - that she agrees with both candidates about 50%. She is left to choosing which issues she feels are most important right now and voting accordingly. I am proud that she is doing due diligence in deciding how to vote and saddened that she has come to the same realization as many: her ideal candidate doesn't exist. It's a harsh reality.

Does credibility enter her calculation (or "remaining tiny bit of integrity" for half-cynics) ?
IMO that is the factor which is brought more into politics by the focus on the person elected
vs. party which elects a chancelor - see Angela draw one last line in the sand after another -
which CAN be a good thing, at least at more local levels.

One aspect I think the US system was better in compared to most other continental systems -
at least before being perverted by TV beauty contests.

regards

thomas