And as for the so-called "neocons," thanks a lot. Having to listen to these mean-spirited, myopic D.C.-based know-it-alls is insufferable. The biggest joke is that they talk about issues no one cares about while the rest of the country is focused on reality. It took these insulated prigs months and months to figure out that there was a housing crisis. That's because in D.C. the local economy thrives -- because of its proximity to power and wealth.

Republicans have a lousy cast of leading candidates this year. It's just that simple. Not that the Democrats are anything to brag about, but that's their problem. Just think: These candidates have spent half their time talking about an immigration issue in a state, Iowa, where there is no immigration problem.

They held a debate on CNN in November in Florida and never once mentioned the housing crisis there, where there's been the biggest drop in the value of homes in the nation. Not one of the candidates spent any significant time on the issue. Boy, I'll bet cash-strapped Floridians were impressed.

Why are these guys running for president? What are their ideas to get the nation's economy moving? Who is willing to really shake up our ludicrous system of taxation? How do we actually stop wasting endless tax dollars on "bridges to nowhere"?

I don't want to regulate people's lives. I don't want to regulate the lives of everyone in every other nation of the world. The truth is, I don't feel like paying for everyone else's problems while I still see kids who drop out of school and homeless people who roam our city streets.

In the case of Iowa, as it was four years ago, it will be the Des Moines Register's poll that will likely choose the winner of our first contest in this year's painful presidential battle. Its poll usually becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. But it really doesn't matter.

No matter what leaders emerge for either party, we are headed to four more years of nothing. Oh, and by the way: Happy New Year!