Election speak: Discard all that fluff. If you want to win, say something with meaning.

Presidential campaigns have become more like clown acts -- or pleas for American Idol-like popularity votes -- in the last few years.

Politicians say what they think they need to say to capture the interests of voters, studying everything from the effect of a certain tie color to what hot button issues will get the base fired up.

But in the end, often, is more of the same old, same old, with campaign promises made -- and then broken.

The debates have begun for the Republicans who hope to take on the challenge of defeating President Barack Obama next fall.

And, just as there will be when the president starts his pre-election bid, there are already plenty of words and images being thrown around.

And that means that voters who want to have a say in the election of the next president need to be vigilant.

It is time for the promises and pretty speeches, but we need to ask "Where's the beef?"

No Republican without ideas and a realistic plan for getting there is going to have a chance at a seat in the White House, no matter how bad it gets under the current administration.

Voters will be looking for leadership in their next chief executive -- and that means making sure they have the ideas necessary to turn this country around.

Sure, speeches will work for some. But there are more voters who will be looking for something more.

And the Republicans better hope they have a candidate for them who has the substance to make it in the long haul.

Published in Editorials on August 12, 2011 11:21 AM