Although I often scoff at corny liberal bumper stickers, the latest one "2008: End of an error" couldn't be more prescient, given the political landscape we find ourselves in. As an independent conservative, I readily admit that on the issue of George Bush, I now have come to agree with many a liberal, and believe that Bush has surpassed Bill Clinton as the worst president in American history.

That doesn't mean that I'll necessarily crowd the polls to vote for a Democrat just because Bush has turned his back on me and millions of other Americans, just that Bush was all talk. Nothing more than a bunch of Texas euphemisms. He has consistently failed to deliver, during the balance of both terms, angering Democrats (good) and alienating Republicans (bad).

His belligerent cowboy speeches declaring an end to major combat in the early days of the Iraq war simply increased enemy resolve. He has squandered every opportunity to foster any kind of cooperation among any group, anywhere on Earth, including here at home. To our detriment, he has quite intentionally ignored federal immigration laws, and has conducted token raids to try and appease conservatives. He exercised too much restraint wielding his veto pen, and not enough with his interference in the Libby case.

I wish the nightmare would just end...

Every general election cycle, Americans are filled with hope that someone will emerge as the candidate who delivers their salvation. The candidate whose votes actually correspond with the rhetoric they spew. The candidate who says what (s)he means, and means what (s)he says.

Every election cycle, those hopes are viciously dashed. Every election has become a race to the bottom. Technology, money, and weak campaign finance and election laws now accelerate the pace of every lap. These days, Democrats lean more to the wacky end of left, while conservatives fail to deliver on their promises to be more "Reganesque". The end result is large segments of alienated voters on both sides of the aisle.

2008 will be no exception. There are now almost two dozen candidates vying to occupy the most powerful office in the world. And not one of them -Democrat or Republican- has yet evoked anything in me other than unyielding scorn for their past records (or refusal to make them public), or an occasional yawn due to their lack of vision for the future.

Sure to be at or near the head of the pack is Hillary Clinton. But Hillary's biggest problem seems to be that she isn't currently running against her Republican rivals, or even her Democratic primary opponents. Judging by the statements that both she and her campaign staffers have issued since January, she's apparently running against George Bush.

The rest of the field thus far is filled with a bunch of progressively liberal Democrats who would take the country backwards in their quest to relive the halcyon days of the 60's, or a bunch of Republicans who are nothing more than the Democrats of the 1950s.

Barack Hussein Obama, the empty suit?

Bill Richardson, who allowed US missile secrets to fall into Chinese hands as Bill Clinton's Energy Secretary?

Geriatric, senile, imbalanced John McCain?

Duncan Hunter, who allowed US Marines from 3-1 Kilo Co to be railroaded on phony murder charges while serving as head of the House Armed Services Committee?

Wacko leftist Dennis Kucinich and his twin brother, Republican Ron Paul?

Tragedy capitalist and ambulance Chaser John Edwards?

Patronizing Joe Biden who really, really likes Barack Obama because -in his words- he is the first good- looking, articulate, African-American candidate to come along in some time?

Mike Huckabee who is against three strikes laws and eliminating parole for predatory offenders, but for escalating the drug war and stricter punishment for drug-related crimes? Supporter of the repeal of an existing law that could result in an illegal alien granted a future amnesty ascending to the Oval Office?

Former Bush crony, ex HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson?

Do-nothing bigmouth Chris Dodd?

Single issue Tom Tancredo, who along with most other candidates consistently refuses to make his positions on other issues known?

That's all you get.

Not very inspiring, is it?