Bilge

I don't think I am overstating when I describe politics today as 'bilge'. The campaigns for Governor and US Senator in California are particularly 'bilgey'.

I don't know whether I've ever seen another set of elections where the negative adds outnumbered the platform presentations by such a large margin. My fellow Californians and I barely know what these candidates stand for and plan to do if elected. We just know how horrible they feel our fates will be if we elect their opponents.

We hear, for instance, courtesy of Meg Whitman's campaign, that Jerry Brown would raise our taxes to the point of impoverishing us all, without blinking an eye. And we also know he represents politics as usual - albeit the 'usual' circa the early eighties, whatever that was.

We hear, from Brown's campaign, that Meg Whitman is a non-voter, a hypocrite on immigration, and possibly a criminal racketeer. Plus she's rich, and that can't be good.

On the Senatorial front, we have 'Carly' vs The Boxer. Carly paints the boxer as a demagog who spends senselessly from her imperious throne in Washington. The Boxer paints Carly as a heartless boss who tosses workers aside in the name of profit, and who'd outsource the whole economy if given half a chance.

I say it's all 'Bilge'. I get no freaking idea from any of their campaigns what these folks would really do if elected.

Wait - I take that back. I'm forgetting the little bit of 'positive' adds there have been. Let me see ...

Brown: he's experienced. Older, wiser, level-headed. Pragmatic. In other words he won't be the same old Brown who dated Linda Rondstadt. Shame, really.

Whitman: she knows how to run a business. Now if only governing were like running a business. Clueless.

Boxer: she's improved things for returning vets. What else, oh - she voted to give Bush the power to engage in war in the first place, putting all these vets at risk. Tough sell, Babs.

Carly: Hmm ... she ran HP? And she off-shored thousands of jobs? She has a haircut that reminds me of Jane Lynch's character's coif in 'Best in Show'? What the heck else is there?

Like I said, 'Bilge'. May as well close your eyes and randomly choose. May the better 'Bilge' win !