On January 2, I began my participation in the current political world. Started paying attention to the various campaigns for president; tuned in to endless debates; stayed up late watching primaries. And, as much as I dislike talking heads, I tuned in to Bill O’Reilly, Anderson Cooper, Keith Olberman, and the like.
It is only four and a half months later — and we have almost six months to go until the Presidential election — but I’m exhausted. I’ve heard the same messages, most of them with little substance, again and again. I’ve seen Hillary jabbing her finger in the air and heard Barack’s unique intonation and noticed John, even though the media isn’t paying that much attention to him at the moment. I’ve felt their pains.
For now, however, I’m scaling back my grandiose plan of total immersion in Campaign 2008. It’s too much; it grates on my nerves; it makes me surly. At the same time, I don’t know how a couple of my friends do it.
The two I’m thinking of in particular might categorize themselves as “political junkies”; they were interested long before my starting date of January 2. One of them has read Obama’s books; the other actually went to Ohio in the last presidential election to make sure the voting process was conducted properly.
I admire their interest and wonder how they do it. My saturation point must be much lower than theirs, as about the only thing I’m passionate about regarding politics at the moment is that we have spending limitations and time limitations put on campaigns.
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