Presidential campaigns are energizing

"We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for a more common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for The United States of America."

Every election, be it Fiscal Court, City Council, Senate or Presidential, we the people, have the opportunity to form a more perfect union. We all have the chance to promote the general welfare and secure the blessings of liberty.

It is interesting that a document of that importance does not say "We the Democrats," "We the Republicans" or "We the powers that be." We The People of the United States, the doctors, the lawyers, the nurses, the teachers, the writers, the sanitation workers, the football coaches, the homemakers, we the people have the power.

I know what you are thinking. George W. Bush lost the popular vote in 2000. He was actually the fourth president that entered the White House that way. It is probably still no consolation to Al Gore to hear that, but he has an Oscar and Nobel Peace Prize to keep him warm.

One of my favorite parts of the Constitution is Section 9 of Article I (paraphrased). The privilege of the writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in cases of rebellion or invasion the public safety may require it. I wish people still talked like that. Basically, you cannot be held against your will without just cause.

A couple of weeks ago, the people of New Hampshire, exercised this right when we were all told, for days prior to the election who the winner was going to be. "We The People" of New Hampshire decided different.

To look at the context of what is happening in this election is astonishing. The candidates: an African American male, a white female, and a vanload of historical presidential standards.

Barrack Obama is just the second African American to win a primary or caucus. Hillary Clinton has reset the standard by becoming the first woman to win a primary or caucus. These record-setting performances excite me so much, and I am a Republican. All the candidates are preaching change, and it's already starting. I am so proud to be a part of it.

As we look forward to our future as a nation, let us not forget our past, we don't want history to repeat itself. Sept. 11, 2001 brought an unfamiliar ring tone to our ears - one that had not been heard since Pearl Harbor. We can all hope and pray that never happens again.

As these elections grow closer, let's not put away the one weapon "We The People" have in our arsenal - our voices.

When these candidates promise everything from health care, to lollipops everyday in the mailbox for our children, they should lose sleep at night because of the loud thundering noise of this nation's voices.

John Stone

Campbellsville