I concluded more than a year ago that my only alternative was to NEVER VOTE FOR AN INCUMBENT.

The two things I think had a chance to change things in Washington were term limits for both House and Senate, and the federal government being the sole source of finance for all federal elections (including a time limit on the length of both the primary and general election campaigns). Neither will happen, leaving me (and you I presume) with that only alternative.

By the way, my suggestion for government financing of campaigns would include a prohibition on any advertising by the candidates or the political parties or contributions to either the candidates or parties by anyone--individuals, companies or lobbyists. The special interests would flood the media with advertising, but I can't figure out how to get around the first amendment's allowance for free speech.

While I voted for Obama this time, he's starting "in the hole" for re-election as far as I'm concerned. Unless he performs anything less than brilliantly as a first-term President, he won't get my vote for re-election to a second term.

The only pre-condition I'll place on my commitment to try to vote out the incumbent is if the GOP puts up an idealogue who passes all the litmus tests of the social and religious extreme right-wing, but isn't qualified to be the leader of the most important country in the free world. If that happens, I'll be forced to vote for Obabma again--if he's elected this time. To further define what I mean by my pre-condition, almost any of the candidates that ran for the GOP Presidential nomination this time would get my vote in 2012; Sarah Palin would not.