The Herald Bulletin, Anderson, Indiana

I've been out of it for a few days, and thus, no blogging. But this has got to stop.

Admittedly, I'm a Democrat. And although I pride myself on being fairly middle-of-the-road, I tend to be liberal. (There! I said it! Come get me!)

But I'm not naively liberal. And I think both candidates for president, Obama and McCain, have some great ideas and hopes for this country.

But I'm growing increasingly weary of their followers. The mean-spirited attacks on each other's campaigns are almost sickening. It's like watching bullies pick on smaller kids in the playground. It does no one any good whatsoever and serves only to confuse the issues.

And if politicians who profess to work for the people really understood the people, they'd know that we see through it. But more than that, it upsets us. Politicians keep saying that this is a critical time in our country, and tough decisions must be made. But they keep on flogging half-truths and outright lies to knock each other off balance.

Don't try to convince that the other guy is wrong. Convince us you are right! That's the way you'll win the heart of the American people.

Both McCain and Obama are decent, well-meaning guys. They just disagree on how to govern. Start from there and talk like grownups.

Or we'll turn this election around and go home.