A peek at the life, times and thoughts of John during his two-year stint in Knoxville.

Despite my fascination with them and my minor in political science I really do try to stay out of politics these days.

For those of you who have read my blogging for any extended period of time, you know I have done almost a complete 180 from the days when politics were all over my blogging.

I'm failing to stay out of politics today, though because I have something to say today that I've decided not to hold in.

I feel like the Republican Party has left me.

Channel surfing earlier today (I'm on break, I can do that kind of thing) I found myself stopped on Fox News and there was John McCain standing with Rudy Giuliani and Gov. Ah-nold. I'd spell his last name but I'd mangle it. I'm too lazy to look it up and too prideful of my spelling to guess.

Watching them it dawned on me: not only does McCain likely already have the endorsements he needs to fend off Mitt Romney and win the GOP nomination, the endorsements that are swinging the GOP into his favor are guys who are on the fringe. Giuliani? No better than 3rd or 4th on the list of Republicans I would consider voting for just a short month ago. Gov. Terminator? Better than Gray Davis for California but hardly somebody I'd want with too much power, despite how much I enjoyed his "Don't be economic girlie-men" line.

The Republican Party is swinging to the left and it's a trip I don't want to take.

Since we're discussing it: how about a quick rundown of the remaining GOP candidates and my concerns about them.

John McCain: The only conservative thing he really has going for him, in my eyes, is his strong stance in Iraq. On many other issues he blends in with liberals. Great for getting votes, but not great for true conservative policy.

Mitt Romney: He seems more conservative than John McCain, but that's just about the only thing I can say good about him. He's the most conservative of candidates in this race that are actually electable.

Mike Huckabee: Not a particularly impressive candidate, anyway. Will be out of money by the end of Super Tuesday unless he wins big. The odds of that are on par with the odds of me going on a date with Team USA softball pitcher sensation Cat Osterman...tonight.

Ron Paul: I agree with Ron Paul on a few things, actually. Nonetheless, I think his foreign policy is potentially disastrous in this age. On top of that, despite everything his supporters tell you, Paul still has not proven he is a legitimate threat to win. You can come up with all the conspiracy theories you want, you can vote in all the Internet polls that you want but when it gets right down to it his super-conservative message will not resonate with enough Americans to get him the nomination, let alone the presidency.

There you go. I hope I got it all out of my system.