"What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet."
Romeo & Juliet, Willliam Shakespeare

Okay, it's getting close now. We're only five days away. My heart is swelling in its optimism that this country will come to its senses and vote for the change we need. However, my stomach is churning over the thought of another eight years of HELL!!

Therefore, I reach out to you now. Let's take the names Barack Obama, John McCain, Joe Biden, Joe the Plumber, Sarah Palin, Republicans, Democrats, Independents, Undecided’s (blah, blah, and blah) and throw them out the window!

So, let's just examine the two men running for president, without names our political party affiliation. Let's just look at them as men, who they are, what they stand for and what they can bring to us as a president.

One man runs a dirty, smear campaign, even though he promised not. He claims to not know a lot about economic issues and vowed to choose a running mate who would. This same man chose an inexperienced and unqualified woman to be the possible leader of our nation. He supports big tax breaks for large corporations that bleed our wallets dry and send American jobs overseas. He also changes his platform every other week to appeal to your worst fears. He supported deregulation, and now is against it. He is erratic and impulsive. He believes in nuclear power over clean energy. He wants to privatize social security. He lies outright to the American public and distorts information to distract you from the insurmountable issues that we are all facing as a nation. Above all else, in the midst of a national crisis, he does everything in his power to scare and divide us as a nation instead of bringing us together to work for change.

Then we have another man, a relative newcomer. A newcomer that brings with him energy, optimism and a strong dedication to all Americans. A man who was against the very war that continues to suck $10 billion dollars a month out of our pockets. The same war that has cost the lives of thousands of Americans and hundreds of thousands of Iraqi civilians. He is a force of change ready to rid our administration of the corruption, greed and sheer awfulness of the Bush administration. He supports clean energy. He supports the middle and lower class. He supports corporations that create American jobs instead of sending them overseas. He wants to provide every American with the basic right to healthcare. He is intelligent, insightful, open-minded and ready to step into the role of president to bring us together, inspire hope and unity and dedication. For, it will take tremendous dedication to bring this country to greatness.

I ask you, please reflect on this information. No matter what your party affiliation, gender, social class or political views are. Which of these men do you really believe will bring about the change that we need?

Names aside, a rose will still smell as sweet as a rose no matter what it's called. And a lying, bitter old man who wants to regurgitate Bush's failed policies will still stink, even if you call him a "maverick".

I implore you, think about it.