America, you're fired!(Off the Map) (Donald Trump)

• Author: Durst, Will

I want to know. You want to know. The whole world wants to know: What's the deal with the surprisingly retiring Republicans?

This discussion specifically concerns the 2012 GOP Presidential candidates--or more precisely, lack thereof. That is not to say they aren't busy.

You can see them floating trial balloons with fingers in the air to see which way the wind blows, or dipping toes in the water to ascertain the temperature of shark-infested waters, or running position papers up flagpoles to determine which focus groups salute.

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Normally by this time in an election cycle, running against a vulnerable incumbent in what can best be described as a sluggish economy, you should have about eighty gazillion candidates and their brothers and sisters scrambling in the thawing mud, biting each other's knees for supremacy in the all-important money scrum.

This year, not so much. What we do have is a light variation on the old '60s bumper sticker: "What if they threw an election and nobody came?"

The situation has become so dire, NBC was forced to cancel a May 2 GOP Presidential debate due to lack of interest. Not by the viewing audience. That's a given. The network's predicament was a lack of viable participants. A game of political chicken with everybody waiting for someone else to cluck first. And these are some mean mother cluckers.

As if in a recurring bad dream, Newt Gingrich called a press conference to officially announce he mayor may not be looking to set up an exploratory committee to talk to some people who might investigate the possibility of him perhaps considering making a run for the Presidency, later on, maybe. Some day.

Why?

Because America deserves decisive leadership, that's why.

Meanwhile, attempting to boost her foreign policy bona fides, Sarah Palin made a trip to Israel, met with...