The jokes are on us

by Robin Goldsworthy

Practical jokes were abundant this past Tuesday. I don’t know if you had the chance to check out the banner on the construction site for the La Cañada Town Center at Angeles Crest Highway and Foothill Boulevard. The proclamation that a Hooters was coming to the area caused residents to burn the phone wires as they called city councilmembers to voice their concern. Turned out that the whole thing was the mother of all practical jokes, giving us with an overworked funny bone yet another reason to laugh.

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Speaking of jokes, why not take a jab at our current presidential nominees? We’ve got Hillary Clinton, with a style that flip-flops as much as a pair of summer sandals. She is consistent, though, in her screeching declarations that she is not going to quit the race. And if you want to talk experience, there is no denying that she has had experience in the White House. Remember criticizing the Clintons that Hillary was too active in affairs of state when Bill was the tenant in residence? It seems to me that experience would be the best platform on which to stand.

And how about Barack Obama who has romanced so many with a style that is refined and composed yet enthusiastic. Too bad that he has so little experience, not to mention sitting in the pew of his church (for 20 years) where his spiritual advisor spewed racist viewpoints. But the man seems to be made of Teflon and it would not be surprising to see his name on the ballot in November alongside that of John McCain.

As a website promoting McCain says, "No on the job training needed." True enough. The man is 71 years old, for Pete’s sake. He has been involved in politics since being voted into the Arizona House of Representatives in 1982. I do admire the man if for no other reason that he admits that his age might be a detriment to his winning the race. He recently alluded to the age factor when he jokingly commented on the importance of his choice in a running mate.

So where does that leave us, the tepid voter?

An Illinois television station, WQAD, posted a quiz to give uninformed, or just plain discouraged, voters the opportunity to learn more about the candidates’ positions on key issues. Answer 14 questions on a variety of issues and **poof** the names of the candidates that most closely resemble your views pop up.

Illegal immigration is my main gripe, though other concerns are of importance, so I visited www.wqad.com/Global/link.asp?L=259460 and spent five minutes making my selections.

I admit that I was somewhat excited to learn which bandwagon I was about to hop on.

Unfortunately, when the list was revealed, my candidate’s bandwagon was one that has already gone belly up.

No current candidate agrees with me on immigration.

As a friend of mine said who had similar quiz results, "I’m moving to Canada."