Seventeen months until election day 2012. The horror. The horror.

[Cyrano]

Enough money will be spent on political campaigns over the next 17 months to pay off the national debt and provide a job for everyone who wants one. Instead, we are about to be treated to 17 months of paid-for distortions, lies, divisiveness and hatred.

Shutting it all out will be virtually impossible. And as much as we try, it will find a way to creep in. So how do we survive it?

I’ve been wondering if it’s possible for a human to hibernate for 17 months, but that path doesn’t seem practical. And even if I threw away everything I own that runs on electricity, you know that someone will knock on my door with handouts filled with bullshit.

So what’s your plan for surviving the next 17 months without going totally insane?

[Autumn]

1. I'm not watching any debates,not listening to any speeches,

I intend to ignore all things political on TV. Some will creep in, but I am going to ignore all the BS as much as I can.

[IndyPragmatist]

2. I dont think your claims are accurate

"Enough money will be spent on political campaigns over the next 17 months to pay off the national debt and provide a job for everyone who wants one."

There will be a couple of billion dollars spent on the elections, nowhere near the $14.2 trillion debt we have. But you are correct in the sense that we spend WAAAAAAAAAY too much money on elections.

[Cyrano]

4. When you add in the dinners and the hookers, the numbers get really big.

[Freddie Stubbs]

3. How did you arrive at that figure? The national debt in over $14 trillion

[Cyrano]

5. So you've decided to focus on the hyperbole in the OP and

ignore the 17 months of hell we're about to be put through? But then, you're entitled to your own priorities.

[Freddie Stubbs]

16. Seeing commercials providing information on elections is hardly hell

[Cyrano]

17. "... commercials providing information on electrions ..." That

statement is so mind-numbing to me that I will leave it to others who may want to respond. I'm through bantering with you.

[Cannikin]

6. We hear enough hyperbole. Lets try not to exaggerate things x1000

[Cyrano]

7. Okay. Enjoy the next 17 months, Cannikin.

[Cannikin]

8. The exaggerations and hyperbole are usually the worst parts to endure during a campaign.

It causes me to tune someone out and not take them seriously if it's obvious that they are overstating facts. No matter what side its coming from.

[Cyrano]

11. Speaking of "overstating facts," please keep me informed

as to the number of overstated, understated, or just plain untrue "facts" you hear over the next 17 months. As my OP indicated, I am going to do my best to ignore it all.

[damntexdem]

9. Election? What election? Didn't that happen last year? Or was it 2008?

Meanwhile, here in the Dallas area, I've heard a rumor that a local team has won some sort of sports trophy or something. So, see -- I do keep up with current affairs. ;-)

(For the record, most of the front page of the Dallas Morning News was taken up with the story of the Maverick's victory in the NBA finals.)

[MineralMan]

10. What I'll be doing is what I always do for elections.

I'll be running my precinct caucus next year, attending the conventions as a delegate, and doing precinct walking and GOTV work. Every election is a challenge to help elect people who agree with my point of view and who will help change things for the better. I can't do that by hibernating.

Every two years. It's like clockwork.

[Cyrano]

13. I hear you MineralMan. And I've spent more years than I care to

remember being active in elections, doing as much proactive work as possible, and trying to help the "good guys" win. Right now, I'm really tired. I don't know if I've truly given up and I guess I'll find out as the election nears.

However, the one thing I'm sure no longer exists in me, is the idealism I once had. If I do get involved, it will just to be to aid the lesser of two evils (once again).

[MineralMan]

14. Nothing's ever perfect. I don't think it can be.

I still have my idealism, but it's tempered with realistic goals. I don't know what else to do, you see. So, I keep working on it. At least I'm trying. If I stop trying, I stop living. :shrug:

[Cyrano]

18. I admire your dedication. Just ignore my weariness and go for it.

[TheWraith]

12. Where did you get that ridiculous idea?

"Enough money will be spent on political campaigns over the next 17 months to pay off the national debt and provide a job for everyone who wants one."

No, not even close. The last Presidential election cost $1 billion dollars, roughly speaking. Even if you doubled that to $2 billion, the national debt is $14.4 trillion dollars, more than 7,000 times that cost. $2 billion dollars is as much as the national debt increases by every 12 hours or so.

[Cyrano]

15. Oh, Christ. Go read the earlier posts in this thread.

[Broderick]

19. I just hope Obama

has some coattails against this weak GOP field. Amazingly sad lineup of critters running to beat him. Gin(grinch)?? LMAO. Romney?? Good grief. Pawlenty? Who? Herman? Give me a break. Bachmann? Yeah right!!!! LOL. Even the Republicans are feeling underwhelmed....