Usually, I don't care about the United States (US) presidential elections, but I've been paying some amount of attention to this one.

Maybe it's because I don't think Barack Obama has been the great saviour many thought he would be and so I'm waiting to see if Americans are going to give Mitt Romney a shot (what kind of name is Mitt anyway?). However, during Wednesday night's debate, challenger Romney said he would cut the federal subsidy to the channel PBS which has, among other shows, Sesame Street. He then threw in the one-liner "I love Big Bird".

Yes, that Big Bird. The humongous yellow muppet that's been a resident of Sesame Street for decades. My whole thing is, how is it possible for a cartoon character to get into a political debate? Politics makes people say and do eyebrow-raising things. Just underscores why I won't be running for any office any time soon. You have to be hugging children you don't really want to (some of them don't even want to go to the wannabe elector), shaking hands with enough people to give you a cold or influenza, and appearing on some of the most ridiculous talk shows your country has to offer. All in the name of ratings. Of course, ratings and poll numbers don't necessarily translate into votes, as some political parties have found out to their dismay.

The consensus seems to be that Romney took Round One but Bredda Barack has time and, in my view, he could 'lose' all three debates and still win this thing come November. If Americans vote like we do, then it won't matter much what the candidates were saying about the economy, education and health care. But at least Big Bird did get a big-up!

Unfair

Locally, we're nowhere close to an election (not that it would matter, because we don't vote on issues) but there's been plenty going on. Too much, in fact, and it feels like most of it is bad news. But one that remains in my brain, painfully reminds me that life is brutally unfair. You will recall a teacher at Old Harbour High, Michael Melbourne, was mobbed and killed after running into four people assisting a hit-and-run victim.

The unfair part is that you realise the driver who killed (the victim died at hospital) the young man the people were attending to has disappeared without a trace? I've been scanning the various news agencies and he/she has not been found. I wonder if they can sleep well knowing that, at the very least, they are responsible for one death and, some will argue, two. Melbourne can't run into people attending to an injured man if he/she doesn't strike them. So nobody got justice. Tsk.

Link me at daviot.kell@gleanerjm.com