It is a national tragedy that both national parties are more concerned with getting their candidates elected then doing what is potentially right for the country at a serious time of crisis.

The country appears to be more driven by fear and confrontation then by vision, purpose and working toward common goals and the future.

It appears that the Democratic Party lacks a spine at times. The party appears to lack the ability to advocate its positions and values.

It appears that the Republican Party has turned into a party of pure opposition. Its rhetoric is rather ugly, exclusionary, promotes fear and if you are not with them, then you are not an American.

William Buckley is probably turning in his grave. These present day "conservatives" appear to be afraid of a good old fashion debate of ideas.

Pure name calling and disrespect is not a political position or a platform for solutions, to be tendered by either party. Listening and the civil exchange of ideas appears to be a skill in decline.

Note to the American public, pick up a book (s), paper (s), listen to both conservative and liberal media outlets and become educated concerning both sides of an issue. Then make up your mind and not have a liberal or conservative media member just feed you a party line. Stop being lazy people.

Look for solutions to problems that work. Whether the solutions be deemed ultimately liberal, conservative or something in between is not important.

It appears that the Democratic candidates have strayed from the Reagan doctrine of not speaking ill of party opponents during a contest. It is with hope that both Senator Clinton and Senator Obama return fully to a serious discussion of the issues to be faced by the next President. Everything else is a collection of sound and fury that both candidates should rise above.