It might sound cynical, but I find it amusing that people have thought that this presidential election might center on actual issues. That may be the case for the wonks and activists on the fringes, both left and right. But for the 80% in the middle, I get the sense that this is the American Idol election.

Take a bunch of US senators, congressmen, and governors and send them with “the golden ticket” to Iowa and New Hampshire. There they work on their performances with the finest political coaches in the country, honing their skills, and adding style. Then they meet the judges at the Des Moines Register, and WMUR/Manchester, where they will be evaluated on their delivery and presentation, accepting criticism about being “pitchy” or thankful that they looked beautiful at the debates.

Finally, the caucus goers and voters get to decide who goes on and those for whom “it’s the end of the journey.” The judges at MSNBC and Fox News bicker and disagree and throw cheap shots at each other. This goes on for months and months until the Kodak Theatre finale on November 4th.

Meanwhile the viewers, er, voters, get sucked up into the excitement…will my favorite stay on message (read pick the right song)? Who won the week? How big are the crowds? That guy is getting too “handled” by his stage dad/communications director. I’m getting tired of hearing that guy, maybe I’ll take a look at the other.

It isn’t surprising that this very visual and entertainment-centric society would have a less than serious approach to picking their commander-in-chief. What I am fascinated by is the juxtaposition of a real lack of defined position statements on the very serious challenges that face our country, or at least coverage of them, versus the huge television audiences for the acceptance speeches and Rolling Stones tour-sized crowds at political rallies.

We’ve been on a symbolism over substance slippery slope since the Kennedy-Nixon debates. Right now, just under two months from the final vote, it looks like the very attractive Obama, who was cleaning the clock of the frumpy maverick McCain, is getting trumped by the new audience favorite known now singularly as Sarah.

Something tells me that Abraham Lincoln wouldn’t have a snowball’s chance in this political idol environment. Wasn’t it a girl from Westfield, NY who convinced him to grow a beard to better hide his lack of Brad Pitt-looks?