So here we are, sitting by our phones, ready to dial in our favorite candidate based on that last debate, that last speech, that faux pas that one liner, great quip, good comeback, or amazing nose blow. But the fingers are not dialing, other than to play games with the primaries and create a Sanjaya who will be the Omarosa and give Donald a run for his money. Other than that . . . what do we have and what does that say about us as a nation? We have asked presidents, on camera, what type of underwear they wear, while hearing under oath the color of tawdry dresses they helped stain. We see presidential candidates pandering in comedic lairs, groveling for laughs to prove they are hip and cool. We see them whack a sax, pluck a guitar and dance with Ellen to demonstrate their relevance to what . . . a shallow, self-absorbed electorate that is not trusted with a serious discussion of issues of consequence?

Well if they are one of us, then pick one of us to be president. There is no difference between them and the rest o the electorate, which says the distinction of mediocrity, is just not enough to lead this nation. Where are the people who will rise to the occasion, show maturity, humility, integrity and a foundation of standards? Are we reduced to choosing the best reality show candidate running for president and immediately begin vetting the contestants for the next show to air in 2012?

What makes this very interesting though is that because the qualifications to run for president have been so reduced to allow 95% of the population to be considered worthy candidates, John McCain is perfectly situated to bring his base back home by picking the most unlikely of VP candidates. He should look beyond the political backbench and pull in someone who has actually run a successful company and sees life from the other side of the glass. Because it has always been assumed, until now, that only infants raised by a political wet nurse, never actually having a “real” job in the only reality show that counts . . . life . . . are qualified to be president. We have never even entertained the idea that just a regular businessman could be considered as a serious candidate although the job they are seeking is the top CEO of the world. Since John McCain is considered stronger on national defense than the other two candidates, he could balance that appeal with a running mate who understands the workings of the economy, and how to run a country like a successful business where stockholders expect a profit, reject deficit spending, and like to invest in products with integrity that they can support with pride.

If Hillary wins, her running mate will be irrelevant, bland, lifeless and impotent. If Obama wins he would be wise to balance his ticket to gain a broader appeal and give the “good old boys” in his party a reason to go to the polls on Election Day.

The only way for any of these candidates to be taken seriously and win this election is for them to rise above the competition for mindless mediocrity and demonstrate that they are a real leader, operating in real time, not in the entertainment variety of reality TV.