In just five weeks American voters will elect a President in what may be the most important election since 1932. In 1932, our country was three years into the worst economic crisis of the twentieth century. Furthermore, the tide of fascism that brought World War II was sweeping out of Germany, Italy and Japan. In 2008 we face an energy crisis, global warming, fundamentalist religious terrorists and instability of our financial giants. Will we choose a President on the basis of a potential First Lady's wardrobe or who used "putting lipstick on a pig" first? We have bridges, levees and banks failing. We no longer have international cooperation such as seen during the Gulf War of 1991. Although it may not be a giant conspiracy, there is a clear relationship between expanding energy use, global warming and sending more and more money into the Middle East, for oil and nation building in Iraq and Afghanistan. The sky is not falling. However, we will need an administration that can distinguish between needs and wants. American voters must look for leadership that will find solutions to problems rather than seeking someone to blame. (Current candidates will blame problems on either George Bush, Congress, lobbyists or, as a last resort, Bill Clinton.) Look for a candidate who offers specific plans to solve domestic and international problems. It would be nice if there were one crucial issue, but there are many. Every voter should ask, "Am I voting based on one gut issue, or which candidate best can deal with many issues?" In the five years that Cedar Key News has served our readers we have never endorsed a candidate. That no doubt is because our Board of Directors has agreed to endorse only if the Board is unanimously in support of one candidate. Don't expect that to happen! But we are unanimous in the view that voters should examine the candidates very carefully. We recommend that our readers attend candidate forums and watch the debates on television with a critical eye. Think it all over and vote for the best candidate. | 