The two remaining Democratic presidential rivals -- Senator Hillary Clinton and Senator Barack Obama -- are both running on an impassioned platform of change. Both are currently locked in a struggle for the hearts and minds of the Democratic party, and both have been working feverishly to position themselves as the last best hope, our best choice to finally achieve real change.

Where does the change come from?

Clinton is part of the, well, Clintons. Her husband represents a powerful insider block within the Democratic party, whom many describe as the best Democratic president since JFK.

Obama, on the other hand, has the backing of Ted Kennedy -- next to Robert Byrd, the longest sitting Senator currently serving. (He started back in 1962... that's alot of years in the Senate.)

So that's two "change" candidates backed by two of the three or four most influencial and powerful Democrats around.

Where does the change come from?

Both of these candidates, along with Senator McCain (another "change" candidate) are currently serving as US Senators. They've all been a part of the federal government, part of the establishment that all hope to "change" according to their rhetoric. If they were so hot on change, what have they been doing for the past few years?

You could argue, of course, that they were working on their fellow senators and congressmen and trying to push their agendas. Well, it doesn't look like they were able to get very much accomplished. What happens when the winner is no longer a Senator? Do they expect their agendas to get magically passed just because they're President? I mean, if they can't get the job done from inside the Senate, what chance do they have to get it done from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue?

Every election time, candidates for whatever office trot out speeches laden in rhetoric, empty promises, and thinly veiled scare tactics. They expect us to stampede to their candidacy and sweep them into office, at which point they seemingly forget what they promised and pretty much do what they (or their lobbyists) want.

I'm tired of being part of the voting herd. If you want my vote, you'd better earn it with something substantial. Not rhetoric, not empty promises.

That would be some real change, wouldn't it?