Let's try this again.

Let's try and embed a photo

Isn't this a nice tree?

I really think it's been a crazy year in politics.  Two men who say they are above all the insipid name calling have lowered the bar of the horse race more than in any other race in history.  How does this happen?  What is wrong with the system that two respectable politicians with genuine ideas take their time stretching the truth about their opponent rather than offering their vision for the future?

The problem is with the researchers and analysts of the campaigns who crunch the numbers and regurgitate winning strategies from the annals of political history.  But, as this race is showing, a by-the-numbers approach to politics as usual won't fly in these troubled times and one candidate is suffering greatly for it.