The 2008 Presidential candidates may soon be decided. Senators Obama and Clinton are ready for the stretch run – with the March 4th Texas and Ohio primaries considered must-wins for Clinton. Hillary desperately needs to derail Obama’s run of 11 straight primary wins to stay in the race if she hopes to face off against McCain.

However, as I’ve watched both the Democrat and Republican primaries, I’ve wondered where all the great American political leaders have gone. With all due respect to Clinton, Obama, and McCain, I don’t feel the presence of greatness. McCain has certainly gained the respect of Americans as a war hero, and maybe it’s too early to judge the young Obama, but I’m not overly impressed with any of the candidates. I guess I’m tired from listening to politicians’ rhetoric, as they say whatever necessary to get elected. It has probably been that way since George Washington, but I just don’t remember it being so blatant.

The first President of my life was Harry Truman, but I was too young to remember him. I do recall President Eisenhower, however, the first presidential election and President of which I have great memory was John F. Kennedy. The first election in which I was able to vote was in 1972, Nixon versus McGovern. Another first for me would be if Obama is elected. He would be the first President younger than I. Hillary is a few years my elder, and I hope to live to be as old as McCain.

History certainly helps us define greatness. Therefore, Hillary, Obama, or McCain could one day be defined as great. However, I also believe that there have been presidential candidates in whom Americans saw greatness prior to their legacy being formed. I felt that about John F. Kennedy, but I was young and impressionable. Unfortunately, I have not had the feeling of greatness with any president since JFK. I remember my mother and father telling me of the same feeling regarding Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Not surprisingly, a Rasmussen Poll in 2007 indicated only six American Presidents received a favorable rating of at least 80 percent: George Washington (94%), Abraham Lincoln (92%), Thomas Jefferson (89%), Theodore Roosevelt (84%), Franklin D. Roosevelt (81%) and John F. Kennedy (80%). Richard Nixon had a 40 % favorable rating and George W. Bush 39 %, the lowest two rankings in the recent poll. The poll seems to make my point. JFK was our 35th President and assassinated in 1963. We have since had eight Presidents – none of whom are on the 80 percent favorable list.

Four Presidents comprise Mount Rushmore: Washington, Jefferson, Teddy Roosevelt, and Lincoln. If you could add one President to the monument, would you? I might add FDR, but the choices are few.

I wonder if I’ll ever see another great American President in my lifetime.

While opinions regarding whether of not Roger Clemens used performance enhancing drugs may not have been altered by the recent Congressional hearings…you must admit, it was great theatre. And even better politics.

Make no mistake about it, good ‘ole boy politics’ was at work. The Clemens – McNamee Congressional hearings had nothing to do with gaining the truth or protecting America’s youth from drugs. It was Democrats versus Republicans. It was time to call-in political favors. Clemens’ Texas roots were prevalent. How else can one explain this becoming a battle of political parties? Do you think it was a coincidence that most Republicans came to Clemens’ defense? Do you think it was coincidence that leading Republican Tom Davis rushed to Clemens side immediately after the hearing?

American politics is often behind-closed-door deals. Unfortunately, we saw it at its worst during this hearing. And politicians wonder why Americans question the integrity of its leaders? When lobbying is allowed during depositions and prior to Congressional hearings regarding the use of illegal drugs, it has gone too far.

My opinion as to whether Clemens used steroids or HGH is irrelevant. However, I find it difficult to believe that McNamee was telling the truth about Pettitte, Knoblauch, and Debbie Clemens, yet lying about Roger. Why? I also find it difficult to believe Debbie Clemens would get a shot of HGH from McNamee without her husband’s knowledge. Plus, if Roger wasn’t getting shot-up by McNamee – nor did he ever discuss drugs with him (as he claims), how did Debbie know to go to McNamee for the injection?

In every poll I’ve seen, most American’s believed McNamee. So what did the Republicans hear that the rest of us didn’t, which led them to support Clemens? Maybe they heard a Republican “voice” who was the former General Managing Partner of the Texas Rangers.

By the way, that former Managing Partner currently lives at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

I must have missed the memo. However, I know when it was distributed. You know the memo of which I speak. The one to all media members telling them that tabloid journalism would now be accepted in all forms. No longer should the public be forced to supermarkets to pick up a favorite rag to read the trash within. Nope. The memo must have said that all shoddy, unethical, shock journalism could now be published in respectable daily newspapers, highly-regarded magazines, and even on network television.

My assumption is the memo stated: ratings, sales and the all-mighty dollar is now more important than well-researched, informative, objective reporting. Forget about providing news…create news. Forget about being journalists…we’re in the entertainment business. Sports writers should become as popular – no, more popular – than those about whom they write or report. Journalists should not only be read, they should be seen and heard on every media outlet known to man.

You may recognize the date of this media memo. It was June 17, 1994. It was distributed immediately after the infamous white Bronco chase in Los Angeles. In preparation for what was to become one of the most famous trials in American history, all gloves came off in the fight for readers, ratings, and dollars during the O.J. Simpson fiasco.

During the time leading to the trial, supermarket tabloids made their way into mainstream America. I remember going to my favorite breakfast spot during the summer of 1994, where I read the local paper and other major newspapers – and, for the first time, found supermarket tabloids mingled with traditional papers. As Americans become obsessed with O.J. – and the tabloids fed the fever, the “real” media followed. It was the end of journalism as we knew it.

Today, with the explosion of the Internet, information is everywhere and instant – and, less objective than ever.

“And that’s the way it is.” – Walter Cronkite