The Neverending Story

When I looked at my calender today I realized it was my brother's birthday, so Happy Birthday brother.

But that's not the reason we're here. I also noticed (how could it be missed?) there's only two weeks left until the 2012 presidential campaign begins in earnest. Fourteen more glorious days where we can sit back, relax, enjoy the peace and quiet and not be hounded by never ending campaign ads...

Anyone else remember when this thing started? I don't. I had to look it up.

Here's the question: Who was the first person to announce he or she was running for president in 2008? Was it

A. John McCain
B. John Edwards
C. Rudy Giuliani
D. Hillary Clinton
E. Mitt Romney
F. Barrack Obama
G. None of the above

The answers are:
A. McCain announced he was forming an exploratory committee Nov. 10, 2006 (711 days ago).
B. Edwards announced he was running Dec. 28, 2006, in New Orleans (the same week the tsunami hit the Indian Ocean) (673 days ago).
C. Giuliani announced he was forming an exploratory committee the same day McCain did (711 days ago).
D. Clinton announced she was forming an exploratory committee Jan. 20, 2007 650 days ago).
E. Romney set up his exploratory committee Jan. 3, 2007 (657 days ago).
F. Obama announced he was forming an exploratory committee Jan. 16, 2007 (654 days ago).
As staggering as these numbers are, and as relentless as the assault on our minds and sanity have been the answer is, I can't believe it, G. None of the above. None of these candidates was the first member of their party (according to Wikipedia) to announce their candidacies.

Sigh. I feel like the guy in the picture up there.

The first member of the GOP to publicly say he was running for president was...California Rep. Duncan Hunter. He announced the formation of his exploratory committee Oct. 30, 2006 (723 days ago).

But Dunc has nothing on our first and second place finishers, both Democrats.

Former Senator Mike Gravel (D-Alaska), and failed 1972 vice presidential candidate (he actually asked for the job, but didn't get it) told the National Press Club on April 17, 2006 (918 days ago when he was 76 years old) he intended to run. Funny, didn't hear much out of this candidate during the campaign.

By a slim margin over the two-term Alaska senator, though, is the man currently running for VP on the Democratic ticket, six-term Delaware Sen. Joe Biden. On March 21, 2006, 945 days ago, Biden told the world he was running for president.

Seriously, this campaign started almost 1,000 days ago. Let it roll off your tongue: 1,000 days. One THOUSAND DAYS!!

Choosing the leader of our country is an important task, but does it really have to take this long and cost this much money? How can we make the system better and more efficient? I'm asking you...