Author Ed Wade expanded on this point in recent talks in the Chicago area. Wade is the author of two recently published books---CONSTITUTION 2000 and TALKING SENSE AT CENTURY'S END---both of which are available from leading bookstores and through his website at www.edwade.com. He has on previous occasions warned against a weakened Presidency. (See the September, 2000, Release: "Author Says the American Presidency is in Trouble.")

The profound damage inflicted this year on the Presidency proceeded in four steps, Wade says.

• Our two major parties stacked the deck against dissenters, such as John McCain and Ralph Nader, then nominated two weak candidates, and then shut competition out of the televised debates.
• Our two major parties and their candidates combined to spend about $2 billion on their campaigns --- nearly twice the amount spent in 1996. The candidates were almost lost in a sea of advisers and talking television heads.
• Despite all the hype, voter interest was cool and turnout was abysmal. Once again, our new President will take office with the support of only one out of every four eligible voters in the country.
• Then came the Fiasco in Florida. The sleeping menace of the electoral college finally awoke. The electoral college was designed to be a meeting of respected leaders whose assignment would be to elect the most qualified man to be President. It instead has become a charade starring career politicians doing the bidding for two competing party bureaucracies.

Our Presidency has just suffered another serious blow. It may not recover from this one for a long time.

For more information, contact:

Michael Lenn
Let's Talk Sense Publishing Company
312/558-1498
edwade@mymailstation.com
http://www.edwade.com