Do we REALLY have a choice when it comes to electing a president?

The bailout cinches it. McCain should have had the guts and political savvy to take advantage of the extreme national negative feeling toward the buyout. If he had come out against it (even if he'd only been posturing knowing it would pass), he would have enjoyed a huge swing in the polls and probably carried the election easily on the strength of going against such an unpopular act. He could have championed one of several conservative alternative plans, but instead he folded and went with the rest of the panicked (and bought-off) Congressmen in voting for the bailout. Now he gets a negative Bush administration holdover on the economy because he's the Republican candidate.

He ignored his "maverick" moment that could have defined him and let it pass. Worse, he proved that there is no difference between himself and Obama when it comes to financial concerns about the country. So, making a short answer a long one, NO, there is no real choice in this election. Both men have proven they're going to dance the same old political two-step BS that we've been watching for decades. Our economy is going to suffer greatly in the next few years and whichever man wins will probably suffer a lingering reputation on the level of Jimmy Carter because of it. It won't really be their fault (except that they were both part of the Congress that didn't take a stand), but they'll receive a great load of the blame anyway.

We'll see if we get someone with actual fiscal savvy in 4 years. I certainly hope so. We desperately need such a candidate now, the need will be even greater by then.