 It's March and the weather is cool, the grass is brown and the sky has clouds.
So, by golly, I think I will run for election as president of the United States.
It is amazing how many people across America are waking up, presumably having a cup of Joe, and reaching this conclusion. "Yeah, sure, I'm running. I look good in blue suits and red ties."
For the average European, especially Eastern Europeans, it has to be confusing, all those nobodies who want to be somebody, all those retreads looking for the key to a brand new pair of roller skates.
To top it off, the media in the United States seems to have already picked the semi-finalists in what in essence - in the early stages - is hardly more than a beauty contest, judged on sound bites and blue sky polls.
 The Iowa Caucuses, which aren't until next January, tends to weed out what I call the fragile front-runners, those who come on like the great race horse, Secretariat, but fizzle like the old gray mare.
However, glam candidates - even if they fare poorly in Iowa - tend to look toward New Hampshire for salvation later in the month. New Hampshire is sort of a divining rod of primaries, and the winner usually has the "Big Mo," if he or she finishes in the money, which is first or second.
Interestingly enough, the two "front-runners" on the Democratic Party side come from the U.S. Senate, which might aptly be called the curse of the Capitol Building.
Sen. Hillary Clinton, even at this early stage, is considered the odds on favorite and is the early leader in straw polls. A newcomer to the Senate, Barack Obama, the African American senator from Illinois, is considered fast out of the chute as a fresh face.
 But do you know how silly this is?
The last president to come from the Senate was 47 years ago, John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated after three years in office. The only other senator to leap to the White House was Warren G. Harding in 1921, a world-class loser.
In fact, in the history of the presidency, the Senate has been rather cruel to wannabee presidents. Only 15 have actually become President, most being elevated from the vice presidency.
On the Republican side, a gaggle of senators are also running, the best known, of course, is the irrepressible John McCain, whose "straight talk express" two years ago gave Bush a scare.
McCain seems to have mellowed. He even found time to speak at the Rev. Jerry Falwell's mega-church, a ("hate the sin but love the sinner") demagogue who skewered McCain in 2004. Strange bedfellows, for sure.
 One republican senator coming on strong is Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, who, like McCain, is a Vietnam veteran. Hagel's shtick is his unfailing knack at getting on Bush's nerves, currently by opposing more troops for Iraq.
Altogether, there are about 15 possible candidates on the Republican side and about 17 on the Democratic side. Most are not, as one would suspect, household names. In fact, some probably aren't known outside of their own houses.
However, there are candidates who have a chance, and can have the organization and money to go the distance. On the Republican side I would list former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani.
On the Democratic side, though one-time acquaintances Sen. Christopher Dodd and Sen. Joe Biden are likable, they are not electable.
#I think the only other outside choice is John Edwards, the former senator from North Carolina who was on the ticket last go round with Sen. John Kerry.
 Who would I suggest as the two candidates in November 2008? It probably would surprise you but I would go for a senator and a former senator, despite the curse. I believe the favorites will falter.
I pick Edwards, the Democrat, and Hagel, the Republican. Having written this, I will look suitably ridiculous about next March or so.
Hagel seems truly to be a fresh face, a man of principle, willing to buck his own president. Edwards has the fire in the belly. He came close as a vice presidential candidate, and has a populous message.
Sen. Hillary Clinton is too polarizing and Sen. Barack Obama is too inexperienced. The new, improved box of McCain is not as fresh as the old one.
 However, who knows? The field is crowded for now. I remember when my old boss,
Sen. Robert Byrd decided to run for president a year before I worked for him. He formed an exploratory committee.
All of a sudden, he had a whole team of boosters and yes men around him, suggesting that he had exactly the same qualities, as did one of America's greatest presidents, Abraham Lincoln.
However, as one wag said at the time: "Someone should remind Byrd that he is not that tall, and maybe not even that wise."
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